Kingdom's Quest (7 page)

“Keanna … I … I …,” he struggled for words, but everything seemed wholly inadequate.

For a moment nothing was said. Her weeping eventually diminished.

“I tried to kill you,” she said quietly.

“I don't blame you. What stopped you?”

She looked away. “I saw the emblem of the Prince on your tunic. I don't know why, but I couldn't once I saw it.”

“I am a different man, Keanna. This same Prince has changed me. If I could right all of my wrongs, I would a thousand times over. I am so very sorry I ever hurt you.” Tears filled his eyes—he was cut to the core as he realized how that single act of abandonment had destroyed a family and the heart of the young woman before him.

She looked at him and did not answer, but the fierce anger in her eyes seemed absent.

“Your words of the Prince keep filling my mind, and I have not been able to make them go away,” she said.

He turned and leaned against the rock beside her.

“That is why I couldn't be around you any longer in Santiok,” she said. “Every time I heard you speak to the people about the Prince, I felt my grip on revenge loosen. I wanted you to pay for the pain you put me and my family through.” Keanna began to weep softly again.

Gavinaugh lowered his head. “I have caused many people much pain, Keanna, and I deserve death more than any other. But I swear to you this day that my purpose is now to bring healing by the power of the Prince. He has granted me the undeserved forgiveness that I longed
for. I can hardly ask such a thing from you, even though it is my heart's desire. My hope is that perhaps one day you will not hate me quite as much as I deserve.”

Keanna was silent, and Gavinaugh expected nothing else. His heart had been stirred earlier by her presence in his life, and now he felt an overwhelming compassion and responsibility for her as never before.

After a lengthy time of silence, Gavinaugh stood and offered his hand to Keanna.

“Sir Weston is also searching for you and I fear is very concerned. I can't leave you here. Please come with me,” he said tenderly.

She did not recoil as before, but took his hand and stood. They walked back to camp and rejoined Weston. Few words were exchanged as they tried to regain what was left of the night in sleep, but Gavinaugh could not rest. It was his turn to look upon the sleeping form of another. For the first time since Santiok, he thought she looked at peace. He remained watchful the rest of the night, not daring to falter in protecting his charge.

HEALING THE FAIR OF HEART

Penwell lay far north of the Forest of Renault. Gavinaugh's intent was to take the story of the Prince to many cities and villages along the way, establish havens, and make Knights of the Prince of all who were willing to follow. However, Gavinaugh could not deny that he was looking forward to an interlude at Cresthaven. During their journey, Keanna did not seem spiteful toward him any longer, but she was certainly distant.

The reunion with Marie, Addy, and Keaton was a delight, and they implored Gavinaugh to stay a couple of days with them before traveling on to Penwell. He acquiesced, in no small part due to the pleading of Addy and Keaton. Gavinaugh's heart was particularly warmed by the change he saw in Keanna. Over those two days, the joyful spirits of the children and the tender affection that Marie bestowed on her seemed to heal many wounds in Keanna's soul. This led Gavinaugh to linger a few more days. Before long, Addy and Keaton had captured the affection of Keanna's heart, and Gavinaugh noticed that she quickly became as a big sister to the children.

Occasionally there were moments when Keanna became intensely sad, and Gavinaugh believed it was because Weston's family reminded her of her own. One evening during supper, a humorous story about
Addy was told that brought laughter to all. Keanna witnessed the joy of the family and seemed to be overcome with sadness. She lowered her head, and the others grew silent.

“What's wrong, Keanna?” Addy asked as she gently touched her arm. At their request, she and Keaton had been seated on each side of Keanna.

Keanna looked at her and tried to smile, but a tear fell from her cheek. Keaton rose from his chair and put his arms around Keanna's neck. She leaned into his little body and seemed to melt in the warmth of his loving heart. He remained in her embrace until the grief of her past had fallen away. Addy rested her head on Keanna's shoulder, and Gavinaugh saw the love of the Prince in the children's tenderness.

Of such is His kingdom
, he thought. Gavinaugh was greatly moved by Addy and Keaton's simple acts of compassion. The moment lingered until Keanna relaxed her hug. Keaton looked at her as if to say,
Will you be all right now?

Keanna smiled and wiped away her tears. She seemed embarrassed.

“Papa says that when you're sad, it's best to do something that will make you happy,” Addy said. She furrowed her brow as if she were thinking hard. A big smile crossed her lips, and she looked directly at Keanna. “Playing hide-and-seek always makes me happy. Do you want to play hide-and-seek with us?”

Keanna laughed. “I'd love to.” She seemed relieved to have a reason to leave the table. Before long, laughter and giggles filled the house, and Gavinaugh marveled at the unfolding beauty of the woman who just weeks earlier had been an embittered, battered slave girl. Like a rosebush breaking free from the grasp of winter, the warmth in her smile drew the children to her. She was slender and slightly shorter than most young women, but Keanna's poise and humble spirit conveyed a noble beauty that her prior persecution had not been able to erase. Gavinaugh could hardly stop watching her, mesmerized by the transformation and the clarity of her true, tender heart. He had never seen her smile, let alone laugh … until now.

“She seems like quite a young woman, Gavinaugh,” Marie said with a smile. Gavinaugh, Weston, and Marie were sitting at the dining room table catching glimpses of the playful antics of the children and Keanna through the arched doorway.

“She has been through a great deal,” he replied. “The children are so good for her, and your kindness toward her is truly a blessing, Marie. Thank you.”

At one point Keanna grabbed unsuspecting Keaton from his hiding place beneath the grand staircase and tickled him. He giggled and struggled free, leaving Keanna smiling. She happened to glance into the dining room, and Gavinaugh's eyes caught hers, but her smile did not diminish as he would have expected. He was not certain if she was truly looking at him, but in that moment Gavinaugh was taken and his heart was inclined toward her, for the radiance of her smile illuminated his soul as never before. The exchange was brief, but the impression was permanent.

Until now Gavinaugh had considered his role with regard to her as protector and provider only, but something changed in that single glance, and now his heart was no longer his own. He could not explain the strange feeling in the pit of his stomach, nor did he understand it—it was something new and powerful. He tried to reason out the foolishness of what he thought must be a new affection for her, but logic found no place to wrest the anchor of love from his heart. He was certain, however, that she had no such feelings toward him because of the pain he had brought into her life. All he could really hope for was forgiveness.

“… do you think, Gavinaugh?” Weston asked, apparently finishing a question that Gavinaugh hadn't heard.

Gavinaugh jerked his head around. “I'm sorry … Ah, what do I think about what?” He was embarrassed by his distraction.

What was that?
Never before had his attention been so diverted.

Weston glanced toward Marie with a perplexed look, but Marie just smiled.

“I said that maybe it would be wise to have Keanna stay here with us for a time. She seems to be doing so well, and the children absolutely love her,” Weston said.

“Yes, that is an excellent idea,” Gavinaugh said, attempting a thoughtful pose. “Where I am going will potentially be dangerous. It would be best for her.”

When they offered Keanna the opportunity to stay, she accepted, and Gavinaugh found himself strangely disappointed, but he knew it was for the best.

The following morning, Gavinaugh prepared to leave. Keanna held Triumph's reins and stroked his neck as Gavinaugh embraced Weston and his family. He then turned and looked upon Keanna.

“I am pleased that you are here with Weston and Marie. They will take good care of you,” he said.

“Yes … I am grateful.” She looked briefly into Gavinaugh's eyes.

“Farewell then, Keanna,” he said and bowed his head slightly.

“Farewell, Gavinaugh.”

It was the first time she had spoken his name, and as he rode away, he could not help replaying their parting in his mind many times.

How ridiculous!
he thought.
I have a mission to fulfill and no time for such silliness
.

He set his course toward Penwell, but the memory of her voice speaking his name accompanied him for many miles.

Gavinaugh journeyed through various towns and villages, carrying the story of the Prince to all who would listen. There was no mediocre welcome at any of the towns—he was either received heartily or rejected most fiercely. It seemed to Gavinaugh that the Prince created great division among all people.

Having finally arrived in Penwell, he discovered that the people there were most irritated by his words and his presence. He had managed to recruit a dozen men as Knights of the Prince, but the leadership of the city was quickly becoming hostile toward him. In spite of this,
Gavinaugh found one young recruit who inspired him, for he was zealous for the Code and the Prince. Sandon at first seemed quiet, not because of shyness, but because his words were well thought out before he spoke them. On serious matters, he preferred to listen first and then speak. Gavinaugh also discovered a keen sense of humor in the young man, which often surprised those who did not know him well. Sandon's hair was dark and his jaw was strong. Gavinaugh sensed his loyalty to the Prince and to him.

The regional governor had issued numerous edicts ordering Gavinaugh to cease his activities and leave the region, but Gavinaugh continued. One day, Sandon stood beside him on the main thoroughfare and boldly petitioned the people to listen to the words of the Prince. When a crowd had gathered, Gavinaugh once again shared the story of the Prince and His life-changing message. What he didn't realize was that a force of guards was gathering nearby to end what Governor Thurman saw as a threat to his power and to their way of life. Within moments, they were surrounded by an overwhelming force and bound in fetters.

Gavinaugh and Sandon were briskly taken to the office of the magistrate, where the governor looked on, and the trial and sentencing was conducted in less time than it took to eat an apple. Sandon was sentenced to six months in the dungeons, but Gavinaugh was to be beaten and cast outside the city limits. The sentence of beating was really a sentence of death, since the thugs executing the sentence often would not stop until there was no sign of life in their victim.