Kingdom's Reign (19 page)

By midafternoon Talea and I crested the east ridge of the Chessington Valley just north of the city. The valley pulsed with celebration and ceremony. With the exception of the people from Norwex, all the King's people and all the Knights of the Prince appeared to be present. It was the largest gathering in the history of Arrethtrae—many, many thousands. The sky was bright blue, and the sun radiated its warmth on the King's tenth celebration feast.

We paused for just a moment to look northward toward the looming disaster. Even now I could see the faint lines of Lucius's forces coalescing on the valley. Talea and I pressed our steeds into their final full gallop and reached the edge of the courtyard of the feast. We forced our way through the throng of people to the main platform, where I hoped to find the Prince. A ceremony to honor the Knights of the Prince was in process as we ran to the front of the platform to capture the Prince's attention.

The knights all applauded, perhaps assuming we had been delayed due to some inconvenience. I saw my fellow knights smiling in their ignorance, full of glee. But some saw my bandaged shoulder, and their faces turned serious in an instant.

The Prince held up His hands to hush the knights and the people. His countenance was unexpectedly stern, almost as though He knew my news was of ill report. The throng fell to silence for the Prince.

“Sir Cedric of Chessington, what is so urgent?” He asked.

I shouted loud enough for the knights to hear as well. “My Prince, we have just returned from Norwex. Lucius and the Shadow Warriors have escaped from the Wasteland! All of the cities of the kingdom have rebelled and have joined forces with him. They approach the valley as we speak!”

Exclamations and murmurings rumbled through the mass of people as my words were passed from mouth to mouth. The Knights of the Prince looked shocked and alarmed. Some drew their swords. Leinad, Tess, Gavinaugh, Keanna, Weston, William, Rob, Barrett, and Cullen stepped forward, nearer to the Prince.

In a moment, fear swept through the assembly as everyone began to scan the horizons for this massive force of destruction of which I had just spoken.

The Prince looked to the horizon as well, but I saw no fear upon His noble brow. His eyes could always see what we could not. I studied His face, for in His countenance rested my assurance and my faith in the future. Somehow, the powerful confidence of His kingly form did not falter for even an instant.

How … how, my King, can there be any salvation for Your people now?
I thought in wonder as I beheld the glory of His face.

He dropped His gaze to Talea and me. “You have risked your lives to bring Me this warning. Well done, Cedric. Well done, Talea.”

The Prince turned to face His knights. “Knights of the Prince, surround My people with your swords drawn and ready for battle. Do not engage the enemy until you hear My command to do so. Go!”

All the knights drew their swords and began to disperse to the perimeter of the people. The Prince called Leinad, Tess, Gavinaugh, Keanna, Weston, William, Rob, Barrett, Cullen, Talea, and me to His side.

“Follow Me,” He commanded and marched us through the mass of people to the northern edge of the temporary courtyard.

As we walked, Lucius and the armies of the cities encompassed the Beloved City of the King and the Knights of the Prince, intending to bring battle to the valley once again. Great were the numbers of the evil army that surrounded us—like the sands of the sea. We broke from the northern edge of the courtyard, a fair distance up the valley, as our fellow warriors positioned themselves around the perimeter of thousands of frightened people.

It was a peculiar feeling. Ten years earlier, in the same valley with many of the same warriors, a similar battle had been fought—only
we
had been in the hills with the element of
surprise to our advantage. I had hoped it would be the battle to end all battles, but today was proving me wrong.

The Prince and our small band of knights broke from the people and continued twenty paces into the open country of the higher valley—and waited.

“Have faith, My knights,” was all that the Prince said. Once again I was in the company of heroes. These men and women were the emblem of the Code the kingdom had lived by for many years. It was an honor to stand with them this hour … even if it would be our last.

We did not have to wait long, for Lucius's confidence in his victory negated any need for a surprise attack. They came from the east, they came from the west, and they came from the north. It looked so hopeless. Not even the Silent Warriors were with us.

Lucius marched south down the valley to meet the Prince. Those who followed him seemed to stretch forever. As he neared our position, he halted his forces some forty paces away. He broke from the mass with five of his Shadow Warriors by his side and approached the Prince. They dismounted and covered the remaining few paces.

Here before us stood the epitome of wickedness. I remembered facing Lucius many years ago in the streets of Chessington just before the Prince called us home. The vengeful wrath that shone upon his face today was more ferocious than ever before. I supposed the years in the pits of the Wasteland had taken the bitter heart of an evil warrior and seared the lust for revenge even deeper into his every fiber. He bore the deep scar of his previous
encounter with the Prince … a scar that had never let him forget his failure.

The Prince of all that was good stood face-to-face with the prince of all that was evil.

“You have no escape … Your destruction is in my hand!” Lucius said with vehemence as he clenched his fist to emphasize his words.

“Your arrogance has always been your weakness, Lucius. And it will be your destruction,” the Prince replied. His voice was stern but amazingly calm.

This enraged Lucius—he seemed desperate to force the Prince to yield.

Lucius's face crinkled in an expression of hatred. “Bow before me, and I will kill you and only half of these pitiful Followers of yours. If you do not, I will not leave one beating heart in this valley or in all of Chessington!”

“I will not bow before you, nor will you draw one drop of blood from any of My people.” The Prince's voice began to rise, and His wrath began to emanate so powerfully from His being that Lucius cowered for a brief instant, and his men stepped back. Even now, with all odds against the Prince, they still feared Him.

“In your contorted mind you believe you are free, Lucius, but you are actually a prisoner of your own future—a future that will end today!” the Prince said fiercely.

Lucius recovered and sneered at the Prince. He spoke loudly for all to hear. “Look to the hills! What I see is
your
destruction—not mine!” he bellowed.

The Prince glared at Lucius with eyes that burned like fire. “Yes, Lucius. Look to the hills—your judgment draws nigh!”

The Prince pointed upward to a ridge just east of Chessington, where Lucius's forces were not. There, upon a gallant white stallion, was the form of a lone Man carrying a longbow and one flaming arrow. He could not be mistaken for any other, for His form was too majestic. It was the King! He rode His steed along the ridge of the valley and into the forces of Lucius. They parted like the wake behind a ship to allow His passage until He sat abreast of our position in the lower valley. I glanced at Lucius—the arrogance and vengeance in his face had turned to consternation.

The King drew back His bow and let fly the single arrow. Every eye in the valley watched the fiery arrow fly toward us. It arced high across the evil army and plunged into the soft soil but a few paces to our right. The flame extinguished immediately. Then very slowly, something strange began to emanate from the head of the embedded arrow. Like the oozing of blood from a wound, a bright, fire-red substance began to spread across the lush ground. It seemed to devour the grass and Life Spice plants—gaining momentum with each passing moment. I saw Tess grab Leinad with a fearful look upon her face.

“Vactors!” she whispered. Leinad looked anxious too.

“What is this?” Lucius exclaimed and looked at the Prince.

“Vactors of Fire, Lucius, and your judgment,” He replied.

The Shadow Warriors standing with Lucius stepped backward in sheer panic, away from the spreading fire-red mass.

The Prince turned to us. “Do not fear. You have been
sealed to the King through the bitter wine. Stand still.” His calm voice helped, but the panic so evident in Lucius and the Shadow Warriors was unnerving.

Lucius and his men ran toward their horses as the leading edge of the Vactors of Fire reached the feet of the Prince. They did not touch His feet but bypassed and continued to spread at an incredible speed. I reached for Talea's hand as the Vactors of Fire neared us … and passed on. Like a rock thrown in a still lake creates ripples that flow outward, the Vactors of Fire spread outward from the arrow. A pungent orange fog rose up from the consumption of the vegetation. The fire-red color of the Vactors combined with the rising fog gave the impression that fire was burning up the valley.

Lucius was the first to feel the torment of the King's judgment. The Vactors of Fire reached his feet and began to envelop his legs. He screamed and turned to face the Prince one last time. He fell to his knees with a clenched fist in the air and a curse on his lips … and then he was gone!

The Vactors of Fire reached the front edge of Lucius's army and consumed them without a moment of hesitation. Soon the entire army was in complete hysteria, but there was no escape. They had come in rebellion against the Prince and the King. It was hard to watch their demise, but it was their own doing. The Vactors of Fire raced across the valley, consuming everything and everyone in their path—except those who had been sealed to the King by drinking the bitter wine. They spread in all directions to the uttermost parts of the kingdom, and then the episode ended as quickly as it had begun. When
all had been consumed, the fire-red color of the Vactors faded to a dull gray, and the pungent orange fog slowly dissipated.

The King rode His steed down the valley to the stunned people below and dismounted near the Prince. The majesty of the King and His Son overwhelmed us. This was the end of one kingdom and the beginning of another. We stood here before Them, saved and alive, simply because They loved us. The entire valley full of people knelt before Them unified in awe and adoration. He was our King … We were His people.

The King placed His hand on His Son's shoulder.

“It's time to take Our people home, Son,” He said, with love and admiration in His eyes.

The Prince placed His hand upon the King's.

“Yes, Father … Let Us take them home, where We will live with them forever, and there will be no more sorrow!”

The King lifted His hands to the sky. “Rise up, faithful servants of the King,” He exclaimed for all to hear. “Rise up and be glad, for I will take you to a new kingdom!”

Leinad stood, raised his sword high in the air, and shouted. “The King reigns … and His Son!”

The Chessington Valley erupted in unison. “The King reigns … and His Son!”

The people rejoiced, and I embraced all of my fellow brothers and sisters in victory. Lucius and his Shadow Warriors were gone—it was finally over!

I found Talea and pulled her close to me. I kissed her, and she embraced me. Victory was sweet—as was our newfound love for each other.

THE FINAL KINGDOM