Kingdom's Call (7 page)

“Certainly, my lady. I would be honored.” Gavin bowed slightly.

“You seem a bit troubled,” Leisel said. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

Leisel came close to Gavin, and they sat down on a stone bench. Gavin had not noticed the beautiful flowers surrounding him until now. Leisel's perfume mingled with the fragrance of the flowers, diverting his thoughts from the concerns of the day. He had taken the opportunity to visit Leisel on occasion over the past few months, but was reluctant to actively pursue a courtship. It was no fault of Leisel's, for she was a beautiful girl and had provided Gavin ample opportunity to advance their relationship. However, with each passing week, he had become preoccupied with the growing threat of the stranger and his followers. As one of the top Noble Knights, his duties were extensive and, at times, overwhelming.

“The city is full of tension, and we have come to an hour of great turmoil,” Gavin said.

Leisel looked into his eyes. “Is it true that some of the knights are against the execution of this imposter?”

Gavin hesitated. “They are few, but yes, it is true.” Speaking these words made their dilemma feel all the more real. He was also surprised at how quickly Leisel was able to make him feel as though he could spill his whole heart to her. He wondered if this was true for all men and the ladies they conferred with. He was not used to being vulnerable.

“Is this what troubles you, Gavin?”

“Yes. I am disturbed that these men could be swayed by
such an imposter as this stranger. I have fought beside them, and they have proven themselves to be men of courage and valor. And yet they stand opposed to your brother and the rest of the Noble Knights. How is this possible? How could they be so beguiled?”

Gavin looked at Leisel, not really expecting an answer, but he was thankful for the attentive ears of one who was removed from the influence of the politics that often entangled the Noble Knights.

“I do not know, but this I do know: you have a heart that is strong in the Code, Gavin. Your integrity as a Noble Knight will guide our people through this time of deception. Tomorrow all will be set right.”

Gavin looked into Leisel's eyes and smiled. “Yes, tomorrow all will be set right.” Her words were soothing to him, and he realized what a comfort she was to him during these difficult times. He resolved in his mind to make her a larger part of his life.

Their conversation turned to lighter subjects, and by the end of the afternoon, Gavin had nearly forgotten the troubles of the city … at least for a few hours.

By early afternoon of the following day, the Noble Knights had assembled in the palace courtyard with their prisoner, who was bound and bleeding from fresh wounds. Bremrick was his gruff escort and did not refrain from harsh treatment. Gavin had learned that one of Bremrick's personal servants had
joined the followers of the stranger months earlier, and Bremrick's bitterness was evident.

Most of the knights rode ahead and entered the city square to bring order to the throng of citizens that was gathering. Kifus led the remaining fifteen knights, with the prisoner walking in tow behind Bremrick's horse. Gavin chose to trail the procession. When they arrived at the square, it looked to Gavin as though the entire city was present. Kifus made one complete circuit about the square so everyone could see that the imposter was not so mighty anymore. Their final destination was the large oak tree in the center of the square, where the advance contingent of knights had prepared a rope.

The prisoner was set atop a horse, and the noose was placed around his neck. Gavin was amazed at his composure—he did not plead, nor did he look afraid.

Kifus spoke loudly for all to hear. “People of Chessington, this man is guilty of treason against the King, against the Code, and against you. He has lied to you and misled you. He brings chaos to the kingdom. Today justice is served!”

Kifus raised his hand to slap the horse on which the prisoner sat. Strangely, Gavin cringed inside. In that instant he felt as though the entire kingdom of Arrethtrae would split in two. In the depths of his soul, he knew something profoundly significant was happening, and it frightened him. Kifus slapped the horse and the man hung. Triumph whinnied and snorted, and Gavin had to work hard to restrain the steed. Gavin chose to watch the reaction of the people rather than the man at the tree. Some of the people were cheering, and some were weeping.

Gavin recovered himself.
Now it is over
, he thought, for he could not imagine any reasonable person continuing to follow this man beyond his death. After some time had passed and the death of the stranger was sure, it did not appear to Gavin that there was threat of an uprising, so he eased away from the square and the mass of people as quickly as possible. He rode back to the palace, entered the courtyard, and dismounted. Gavin didn't really know how to feel about what had just happened, but he was becoming angry—angry for the months of turmoil this charlatan had caused the people of Chessington. Regardless of today's judgment, Gavin felt that the reputation of the Noble Knights had been tarnished. It was an unpleasant but necessary execution for the preservation and restoration of all they knew to be true.

Gavin walked into the great hall and back to the doors that led to the Chamber of the Code. This is where he knew he would find the assurance and peace of the King. Midway down the hall he realized that something was amiss. His heart seemed to rise up to his throat. The massive doors of the Chamber were broken in two and lying on the stone floor. It looked as though they had been ripped off their hinges. Gavin's immediate thought was that marauders had taken advantage of the distraction of the hanging and stolen the precious treasure of Chessington.

He quickly grabbed a lamp and ran into the chamber to find the Articles of the Code still in place—untouched. He was relieved and confused at the same time. He studied the parchment with the King's seal to verify that it was indeed the
original and not an imitation. Within a few moments, he heard the quickened steps of other knights.

Kifus and another knight entered the chamber with concern on their faces. “What happened here?”

Gavin turned, startled by Kifus's entrance. “I don't know. I've only just arrived myself.”

“Thieves?”

He looked at Kifus and saw the same confusion in his countenance that Gavin felt. “Thieves pick locks and steal treasure. They do not tear doors off their hinges and take nothing. This is bizarre.”

They walked back to inspect the doors as other knights entered the hall. Kifus knelt down to look closely at the massive hinges that had once held the doors in place. Although the iron hinges were as thick as a man's hand, they were twisted and bent as if made of clay. Gavin knelt as well and ran his hand along the jagged edge of one of the thick doors that was broken in two.

“Who could have the strength to remove these doors in such a fashion?” Gavin asked.

Kifus rubbed his fingers along his forehead. Silence was his only answer. Kifus stood up. “The Articles of the Code are vulnerable to any who enter here. We will post guards for each of the three watches until the doors can be replaced.” Kifus posted two knights to stand watch until things settled down and guards could be assigned.

Gavin left the great hall and rode toward home. He was not angry any longer—he was disturbed.

 THE PRECIPICE OF PERIL

In the days that followed, Gavin focused on helping Kifus and the other Noble Knights restore some normalcy to Chessington. They had dealt with other fanatics in times past, but none had generated such a strong influence over the people as this stranger. And the Noble Knights had never needed to use such drastic measures to quell the previous fanatics or their disturbances. Like the dissipation of a passing thunderstorm, the knights hoped that the passage of time would calm the people.

Kifus had decided to leave the body of the stranger hanging in the square as a reminder to his followers of their fate should they attempt to continue in their foolhardiness. It seemed to be quite an effective deterrent, for there was nary a trace of the former followers of the stranger.

“Do not look so troubled, Gavin,” Kifus said with a smile as they walked toward the great hall early one morning a couple
of days after the hanging. “All is as it was, and the streets of Chessington are peaceful once again.”

“I find it difficult to believe that it is this easy, Lord Kifus,” Gavin said. “Lesser men have had more lasting effects on the people. I don't think we should be too comfortable in our victory.”

“Without his charisma and skill,” Kifus said, “the peasants this man chose will return to the dirt of peasantry from which they came. Even if they attempt some sort of insurrection, they are no match for the Noble Knights, and we will crush them before it begins.” Kifus made a fist to emphasize his point.

Gavin nodded but was not convinced.

As they entered the great hall, many of the knights were already there, and a heightened level of conversation told Gavin that something important had happened.

Gavin walked with Kifus to the head table and watched the men stare at them as though they were hesitant to reveal their information.

“Well, what is it?” Kifus said impatiently.

“The followers have stolen the body,” Jayden said.

“And?”

“That is all, Lord Kifus. But it is an insult!” Bremrick said.

Kifus laughed loudly. “Let them have their decaying dead leader. This is no insult. It is a ludicrous attempt to save the minuscule pride of a defunct band of foolish peasants—nothing more.” Kifus's laughter seemed to put the knights at ease once again.

But they're gutsy, foolish peasants
, Gavin thought.

A few weeks passed with little disturbance, and Gavin was still wondering if Kifus was right about the end of the followers.

Shortly thereafter, however, rumors began to circulate within the ranks of the knights that the followers were gathering and meeting in one of the shops near the city's center.