Kingdom's Hope (7 page)

“Only one thing could force an entire herd to jump to their deaths like this,” Audric said. “A dragamoth.”

A distant screech echoed down the canyon walls. The mere sound of it brought shudders to everyone. It surely belonged to the throat of a hideous beast.

“It was believed that all were dead by now,” Audric said, “but I have heard of their existence in the Vale of the Dragons far south of here. It is strange that one would be in this region. We should be safe in the canyon.”

The people waited in silence and listened, but all was quiet. After some time, Leinad led them to where the antelope had fallen. The people feasted on fresh game and rested in the cool shade of the canyon walls. It was a time of replenishing—of both body and spirit.

After their respite, Leinad stood on a large boulder so all could hear him.

“The King will lead us into a land that He has promised will be ours. He will make you into a great people, a people that will birth a kingdom, a people that He will call His own. You are special, for you are chosen! He has given us a Code to live by. You must honor the King by honoring the Code. Write it on your hearts and teach it to your children. Live by it day and night. Now, listen to the words of the Code.”

Leinad broke the King's seal and opened the scroll to read it to the people.

“Honor the King with your life. Swear allegiance to Him and to Him only.

“Serve the King in truth, justice, and honor.

“Offer compassion to the weak, the destitute, the widowed, and the poor.

“Live for the King and serve others without cause for personal gain.

“Never abandon a fellow knight in battle or in peril.

“Equip, train, and prepare for battle against the forces of the Dark Knight.

“Serve the King and faint not in the day of battle.

“Use the sword not to seek selfish gain but rather to execute justice and the will of the King.

“Be merciful, loyal, courageous, faithful, and noble, but above all, be humble before the King and before men.

“Let your words always be spoken in truth.”

Leinad finished reading the scroll and looked out over the people.

“The King reigns!” Quinn proclaimed.

“The King reigns!” the people echoed.

It was a moment that sealed them to the King. It was the beginning of a new era; it was the dawn of a kingdom reborn.

They set out on their journey once more, and Leinad led them through the narrow gorge and out of the canyon. Many days they journeyed south across the land until they found the fertile and lush Chessington Valley.

Here they made their home.

Here they built a city … the beloved city of Chessington.

CAMELOT YEARS

In the Chessington Valley, the people prospered. The land was fertile, the skies were blue, and the future was promising. A small river flowed through the valley and into the Great Sea to the south. Forested hills bordered the valley to the east and to the west. The countryside was picturesque. It took some time at first to establish a community with farms, ranches, shops, and trade centers, but within a few years, the city of Chessington was thriving and growing.

Leinad kept the people true to the Code and taught them to love and serve the King. He reminded them of how the King had delivered them out of Fairos's hand and brought them to this prosperous land.

Leinad was preoccupied with community affairs, something he had grown to dislike. At the age of twenty-two, he did not feel comfortable as leader of the people, and he came to rely heavily on Quinn, Tess, and Audric to help
govern them. When time permitted, he instructed Quinn and Audric in the art of swordsmanship, which they learned quickly.

Though life for the people was good, it was not without some turmoil. Occasionally, thieves and marauders found opportunity to plunder the city and the surrounding farms. The people wanted protection, and they wanted a king.

“We know that the King is our true King, but we need a king we can see and who lives with us daily,” one man said at a meeting in the city square.

“Yes,” another said. “These marauders will continue to take from us until we can show them that we are strong enough to fight them. We need a king to do that!”

Shouts of affirmation rose up from the assembly. Leinad was disappointed and concerned.

“There is only one King in Arrethtrae,” Leinad said. “To establish another would be blasphemous.”

“Then call him a lord instead,” a man replied.

“You be our lord and we will build a castle for you,” another man shouted. “Give us an army of knights that will protect us forever!”

“No!” Leinad shouted. “I will not be a lord to rule over you. That is not what the King called me to do!”

“Then name another, or we will choose one ourselves.”

Leinad's heart was heavy, for he knew he could not persuade the people. He called for the meeting to adjourn, then mounted Freedom and rode into the hills to find solitude and time to think. With the exception of Tess, Leinad found the towering, peaceful trees to be his preferred companions. They did not argue, complain, request,
or petition him. They patiently waited for him and listened. He dismounted and let Freedom roam to find green grass to feed upon.

“The people are foolish indeed, my King,” he said aloud. “They ask for a lord … what am I supposed to do?”

“Give them one,” a familiar voice replied.

Leinad nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of it. He turned around and smiled broadly. “Gabrik!” He ran and embraced his friend from long ago.

“Well. You've certainly grown up since I saw you last,” Gabrik said, almost smiling.

Leinad realized that he had changed significantly since he'd last seen Gabrik. The tender edges of his youthful face had been replaced by the hard lines of a mature young man. Leinad was now at the pinnacle of his physical form.

“It is good to see you, Gabrik. Where have you been? Tell me what adventures you have lived over the past years.”

“The war with the Dark Knight is fierce, Leinad,” Gabrik said soberly. “His desire to rule this kingdom is great. My duty lies in that war, but I have been sent to give you a message.”

“From the King?” Leinad asked.

“Yes. He knows the heart of the people. Give them a lord to rule over them.”

“Who? Surely not I. I will not be a source of contention with the King.”

“There is one who can rule the people,” Gabrik said in a way that questioned Leinad.

“Quinn!”

“Yes. Let Quinn rule the people, but you must keep him loyal and true,” Gabrik said.

“Quinn is well-suited for the task, Gabrik, but I know that this is not what the King truly desires for His people.”

“You are right. This is not the King's way, but He will grant their request,” Gabrik said. “Perhaps when they have a lord to rule over them, they will come to understand the perfect ways of the King.”

Leinad thought for a moment and then took a deep breath. “I am relieved and grateful to give this burden to Quinn. He's a very good man. I will help him and do my best to keep him true to the King and to the Code.”

Leinad and Gabrik enjoyed a few moments together before departing. Leinad called for Freedom and rode back to Chessington.

The people will be pleased
, he thought,
but will it last?

T
HE PEOPLE WERE INDEED PLEASED
, for they loved Quinn. He possessed all the qualities of a leader. He was not a good leader; he was a great leader.

Leinad was cautiously optimistic. He had always known that Quinn's heart was good and that he desired to serve the King, but he knew that power and authority often changed a man … even a good man.

The people built a splendid palace for Quinn near the city square, and he raised an army of knights to protect Chessington from the bandits and marauders. They became known as the Knights of Chessington. Only the strongest, most honorable, and most skilled men were chosen. Quinn
organized tournaments in the square to help select these gallant men, and he implored Leinad to train them with the sword.

Soon the threat of marauders was eliminated, and Chessington became known throughout the land as a city of wealth and power. It was a golden era for the people.

“Q
UINN HAS DONE WELL,
” Tess said one day as she rode beside Leinad on her horse.

Leinad smiled. “He certainly has.”

Leinad and Tess's friendship had continued to grow over the years, and Tess was now a young woman of eighteen. The freckles of her youth had been replaced by a smooth, slightly tanned complexion. Her strawberry-blond hair was now darker, and she wore it long and in a single braid that hung halfway down her back. The posture that Peyton had taught her to maintain as a child was a constant companion to her form. Though her body was strong and fit, she was still a woman.

Leinad loved the time they spent together. Tess had never had the mentoring of a mother, and the softer edges of womanhood were not a natural part of her life. She was beautiful, but her beauty was somewhat masked by the roles she played as adviser, leader, and fellow warrior. Leinad saw her only as a kindred spirit. He never had the luxury or the time to explore a romantic relationship, and such a relationship with Tess would feel extremely awkward now.

“When are you going to get serious about training me with the sword?” she asked.

Leinad looked at her quizzically. “I have trained you as I have trained the others. You're quite good too … better than any other ladies I know of.”

“There
are
no other ladies that sword fight, and you know it.”

Leinad smiled. “I suppose you're right. So what's your point?”

“I want to become better than any men you know of. I want to become a master like you.”

Leinad stopped his horse and studied Tess's face to see if there was any jest in her countenance. He found none. Leinad so enjoyed Tess because she never quit surprising him.

“Are you serious, Sunshine?” he asked.

She looked straight into his eyes. “As serious as a dragamoth.”

“Yes, I believe you are. We shall begin training you seriously right now.”

And so beginning that very day and for many days that followed, Leinad gave Tess intense training in the solitude of the forested hills. Their preferred training arena was at the river, where the sounds of a nearby waterfall mixed with the rhythmic clang of their swords. Tess learned quickly, and Leinad was amazed at her aptitude for the more difficult maneuvers.

It would take time, but she was the best student he'd ever had.

L
EINAD AND
T
ESS WERE FREQUENT
guests at Quinn's palace. Over the following months, Quinn began courting a wealthy
lady from another city. The people were pleased, and soon the invitations were sent for a wedding ball to be held in the great palace hall.

The week prior to the wedding was full of festival and celebration. Lady Moradiah brought fifty of her personal knights with her to Chessington as well as many attendants and friends.