Kingdom's Hope (15 page)

“Yes, Keef, what is your report?” Gabrik asked.

“I have just returned from Wolf Ridge. Last night Lucius dispatched the Arrethtraen force under Zane's command to the south. I fear they are headed toward Chessington. I would have reported sooner, but Lucius positioned his forces between us, and it took me until now to evade them.”

Gabrik became solemn in momentary thought.

“I must leave for Chessington at once,” Leinad said.

Leinad's brief encounter with Zane as a sixteen-year-old was enough for him to understand how wicked his estranged brother had become. It was hard for Leinad to think of Zane as a brother at all, for he was the epitome of all that Leinad strove to defeat.

“Yes,” Gabrik said. “Unfortunately our forces will be unable to assist you until we can defeat Lucius here.”

“I understand, Gabrik. The Noble Knights are ready. We will defend Chessington to the end.”

“Keef, you will ride with Leinad as far as the river. Verify that Zane and his army are headed for Chessington, and report back as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, sir. Give me a moment to find a fresh horse,” he said to Leinad and left.

“Gabrik, Greshane said that this battle between the Shadow Warriors and us is to prevent the foretelling,” Leinad said. “What is the foretelling, and why are the Shadow Warriors so concerned?”

“The foretelling is what will bring hope to Chessington and to all of Arrethtrae,” Gabrik replied. “The King commissioned me to bring the foretelling to you, and were it not for Micalem, it wouldn't have happened.” Gabrik took a deep breath and paused. “Leinad, the battle we are fighting here, and the battle the Noble Knights will fight in Chessington, is all about this.”

Gabrik withdrew an item wrapped in cloth from his saddle and faced Leinad.

“This is the promise your father spoke of just before he died,” Gabrik said reverently as he held the item before him. “Delivering it to you is the most important mission
I
will ever have. Delivering it to the people of Chessington will be the most important mission
you
will ever have.”

Leinad held out his hands, and Gabrik laid the item in his open palms. He then opened the cloth to reveal the most beautiful sword Leinad had ever seen. Leinad gazed at the sword in astonishment. He slowly looked up at Gabrik in wonder.

“I have seen this magnificent sword once before, Gabrik. The man that carried it was fearless and noble. What does this mean?”

Gabrik stared into Leinad's eyes. “It is the promise, Leinad.”

A FUTURE HOPE

Leinad and Keef rode at full gallop back toward Chessington. Leinad carried the burden of knowing that his beloved city and his people would soon be under attack by a fierce army led by his own brother, but he also carried the promise that offered them hope of a bright future.

At the river, the tracks of many horses in the muddy shoreline made it obvious that Zane was headed straight for Chessington. Keef bid Leinad farewell and turned his steed back toward the Northern Mountains.

Leinad's anxiety grew with each stride of his horse. Though he had faith in the Noble Knights and in Audric's ability to command them, he did not know how large or how strong Zane's army was. The promise he carried from the King would be worthless if there were no people left to give it to.

And of course there was Tess. She would be at the leading
edge of the battle. Though she was any man's equal as a sword fighter, Leinad felt an urgency to be near to protect her. He attributed this to his role as her mentor, but in the quiet places of his heart resided a stronger motivating force than this.

Leinad entered the Chessington Valley in the early afternoon of a dark and cloudy day. The air was wet with mist that collected on his face until the drops fell down his brow and cheeks. This day was the culmination of his duty to the King as a knight, though it did not feel like the grand event it should have. He was weary, worried, and worn. The anticipation of battle was dulled because of his fatigue, and he wondered if he was capable of focusing on the tremendous task before him.

In the distance lay the beloved city of Chessington. Tiny figures formed a dark mass in the plains north of the city. Leinad estimated that Zane's forces outnumbered the Noble Knights five to one. Like a protective wall, the Noble Knights were positioned between their enemy and Chessington.

Leinad did not want to risk losing the precious sword of promise he carried in the throes of battle, so he placed it in the hollow of a large fallen tree.

Leinad saw the charge of Zane's army and felt the rush of war surge within his blood. His weariness released its hold on him, and he pressed his steed all the harder toward the converging armies. Just before he reached the battle, his exhausted horse collapsed beneath him, and Leinad fell to the ground. He rolled, recovered, drew his sword, and ran the remaining distance to the fight.

He did not hold back as he penetrated the deadly lines of Zane's forces from behind. Victory today would require a miracle, for Zane and his warriors were not the trivial bands of thieves that had raided Chessington in times past. They were vicious, battle experienced men.

Leinad vanquished enemy after enemy as he made his way to where he thought Tess was fighting.

The darkness of the day accentuated the darkness of the battle. There was no glory in the fighting—that would come later, when the swords were still and the spilled blood had disappeared into the soil. Leinad was not a warrior at heart, but he knew that war was the necessary evil to fight evil itself. He looked for the pasture of peace that lay beyond the trench of war.

The sound of a thousand clashing swords filled the air. The Noble Knights fought gallantly against these warriors who served Zane and ultimately the Dark Knight.

Leinad saw Audric and Tess immersed in the most intense part of the fight. He continued to work his way toward them until he came across one foe that would not fall.

Though Leinad had seen Zane only once before, the scar on his face left no doubt that the man he faced was his brother. Zane was an excellent swordsman, and his blows were powerful. Leinad remembered their encounter years ago in the forest north of his farm on the tragic day his father died. Zane's skill had improved significantly since then, or the rush of battle had heightened his performance, for Leinad found it difficult to capitalize on any weaknesses. Zane aggressively advanced on Leinad, but his sword met the guard of Leinad's mastery.

Zane paused. “Your fight feels familiar to me,” he said.

Leinad glared at Zane in disgust. “Why do you serve the Dark Knight when you know the extent of his evil?”

Zane appeared surprised at the question. “Why does a man who is about to die ask such a foolish question?” Zane replied and attacked with a combination of cuts and slices.

“Because you were taught to love truth, honor, and justice … to be loyal to the King!” Leinad said with emotion.

“Those words are made of the fluff of clouds by the fools who chase them. The Dark Knight will rule Arrethtrae one day, and I will rule with him.”

“He who serves the Dark Knight is a fool already,” Leinad said.

Those words sparked a furious attack from Zane. Leinad defended each attack and countered with a powerful combination that put Zane in retreat.

The battle continued to rage about them, and Leinad was forced to disengage Zane and fight another. The relentless, brutal aggressors were overcoming the defenders of Chessington, and Leinad knew that his only hope to save the city lay in Zane. He faced two other warriors before he and Zane once again faced each other.

“Who are you?” Zane asked.

“I am who you should be—the son of Peyton, loyal Knight of the King!” Leinad could not deny the desire for his brother to turn from his evil ways and become a servant of the King.

Zane's sword nearly froze as he eyed Leinad with a look of astonishment. “You are the boy in the forest … the one who.” Zane's left hand slowly covered his right side
where Leinad's sword had wounded him years ago. He scowled at Leinad. “Father was a fool. I led the Dark Knight to his home, and I took pleasure in killing one of his sons. Now I will kill another!”

Zane's confession and his lack of remorse released in Leinad a flood of righteous anger that no sword in Arrethtrae could defend. Leinad's sword flew like a falcon diving on its prey. His fury pounded upon Zane's defending sword like never before. The wicked, battle experienced warrior was in full retreat.

Leinad's continual onslaught of powerful and precise blows was too much for Zane. He stumbled over a body and fell to the ground. One of Zane's warriors turned on Leinad to save his leader, but with two quick cuts, the man lay dead on the ground beside Zane. Leinad held his sword at Zane's throat.

“Call for retreat, or your words of impertinence will be the last you ever speak!” Leinad said.

Zane glared back at Leinad, and his apparent hatred seemed to grow even deeper, but finally he nodded.

“Swear it!” Leinad shouted.

“I swear it,” Zane said in a low, gruff voice.

Leinad let Zane rise but kept him at the tip of his sword until retreat was called and the dark forces of Zane's army were a good distance up the valley. One of Zane's men brought a horse for him to ride and waited twenty paces away.

By now Tess had joined Leinad at his side. He was relieved to see that she was unharmed.

“Is Audric all right?” he asked.

“Yes, he is attending to the men.”

Zane stood still and silent.

“You may go,” Leinad said to Zane, and he let the tip of his sword fall.

Zane eyed Leinad a moment longer. “I will destroy you, brother. One day, I will destroy you!”

Leinad looked on Zane and pity joined his anger. “You have already destroyed yourself, Zane.”

Zane clenched his jaw and walked to his waiting horse. He mounted and pulled on the reins of the horse to face northward.

Leinad turned to face Tess. He breathed deeply and let the sight of his faithful friend begin to assuage his anger.

Tess looked at Leinad questioningly. “Brother?” she asked as she glanced toward the departing man.

Her eyes widened, and Leinad turned his head to see the cause of Tess's concern. He felt the push of her body as she threw herself against him and heard her gasp as they fell to the ground. He grabbed her to soften the impact and felt the handle of a knife protruding from her side.

“Tess!” he screamed.

Zane and the warrior with him bolted toward the rest of his army.

Tess closed her eyes, trying to bear the excruciating pain. Leinad laid her on the ground and screamed for Audric.

“Hold on, Tess!”

In one quick motion, Leinad pulled the knife from her side, and she screamed from the pain. He tried to bandage her wound the best he could, but the blood came too quickly. Near panic swept over him as the futility of his
efforts bore down on him.