Queen Of Knights (43 page)
Authors: David Wind
Sparks exploded when her blade cut through al-Nasir's scimitar. His scream of rage was cut off when the glowing blade paused in midair and returned to take the gift it had only moments ago given. When Gwendolyn turned back to face Saladin, her silver sword was coated with the lifeblood of Saladin's greatest warrior.
Then she saw the other man with Saladin and watched helplessly as he released a shaft into the air.
Signal!
her mind screamed. Instantly, she willed herself into rapport with Valkyrie and saw fifty mounted Saracen knights spur their horses on.
Withdrawing from Valkyrie's vantage point, Gwendolyn stared at the high dunes surrounding the Arena of Souls. Then she saw Saladin draw his scimitar and face her.
Instead of accepting the challenge, Gwendolyn ran to the black stallion who was waiting patiently. Unhindered by the weight of maille, Gwendolyn was able to leap onto the stallion's back.
She kicked the horse's flanks, urging him forward. Then she held the sword high, withdrew the restraints from her mind, and channeled her energy into the blade. Light flared around her, and an ethereal glow filled the arena, freezing everything and everyone as it did.
Then she was at the cart. The silver sword flashed four times, cutting through the chains that bound Miles as if they were but silken cords. She waited until Miles was able to stand in the cart. When she saw his smile of love, she kicked the stallion forward again.
She rode toward the oncoming wave of Saracens and stopped. Closing her eyes, she willed the power of the sword to magnify, and when she felt the blade vibrate powerfully in her hands, she unleashed its might within the Arena of Souls.
Light erupted everywhere, shooting from the silver blade, rushing up from the dry sands of the desert floor. The dunes exploded with bands of silver and white, and the charging Saracens drew to a halt before the power they rode within.
Gwendolyn knew that nothing would make them come forward this day. Satisfied, she whirled the stallion around and rode toward Saladin.
The ruler of the Moslem world stood bravely before Sir Eldwin, his scimitar ready to do battle, his hands as steady as his eyes. But before the masked knight reached Saladin, the black stallion stopped, and Eldwin dismounted.
The blade still glowed as Gwendolyn neared her enemy, but she stopped ten feet from him and lowered the sword. She freed one hand from the pommel, and with her eyes locked on Saladin's, lifted her hand.
She grasped the chamois edge of the mask, and with excruciating slowness, began to withdraw it from her head. A moment later it was free, and with a shake of her head, Gwendolyn unleashed her long hair.
"Would you break our agreement, Saladin, King of the Moors? Would you try to win this day in any method, and then dare to share a bed with me?"
Saladin stared at the vision before him. His eyes told him the truth, but he could not believe them. No woman could best al-Nasir. No woman could have pulled him from beneath the horse that had fallen on him in battle. No woman could have stood up under the onslaught of his legions. But his eyes continued to stare at the wheat and silver hair of Gwendolyn Delong.
"Do not look as if you see a ghost. I am no Saracen jinni, come to take you to hell. I am but a woman in search of my husband. Yet, Saladin, despite your treachery and lies, you have gained a victory this day. Today was the last battle of Sir Eldwin. Neither I nor my husband will have more of your hypocritical bloodbaths, called for in the name of a God who you, as well as the Christians, say is a God of love and peace. No more will I or mine fight for such an unworthy cause. The Frank devil, as your people call me, has died this day. Salaam, Saladin. Remember this day, and what you have witnessed. Think carefully before you give your word to someone and think doubly when you make a promise of duplicity!"
Gwendolyn moved quickly while Saladin stood paralyzed, her words ringing over and over in his ears. Miles was on the ground now, walking toward his wife. They met, and Miles Delong caught Gwendolyn to him, lifting her from her feet, and spinning her in a circle.
Their embrace left the rest of the world behind. Their lips met for the first time in two years, and Gwendolyn became whole again. The empty place within her heart filled, and she knew that this was only the beginning of the destiny she had been born to follow: that in the years to come, she and Miles would rise to greatness, and in the centuries that followed, their issue would ensure the continuance of a destiny that had been decreed when the earth was being formed, and the silver blade had been forged.
When Gwendolyn and Miles parted, they turned to face Saladin again. What they saw caught them unprepared. Saladin was kneeling, his head bowed before Gwendolyn.
Then Gwendolyn heard the voice of the old one echo in her mind. Throughout the breadth of the land, greatness will follow, and kings will bow low before the issue of Kildrake.
***~~~***
OF SIGNIFICANCE
On August fifth, seven thousand Moslem warriors led by Saladin attacked Richard Coeur de Lion. The Christian knights battled heroically, and held off wave after wave of Saracens. At the proper moment, Richard led his mounted knights in a charge against Saladin. There were only fifteen knights who followed Richard, but they were mighty fighters, inspired by the mightiest of English kings.
Richard and his men fought gallantly, wreaking havoc through the width of the Saracen line. Richard was like a man possessed, going to the aid of any knight who needed his help, while battling the Saracens in deadly combat. Then, suddenly, Richard's horse was killed from under him, and he was on the ground, facing the wrath of the entire Saracen army.
Before a fatal blow could be landed, a Moslem knight galloped through, stopping before Richard, and offering him the reins of a fine stallion. When Richard was mounted, the Saracen spoke.
"The horse has been sent by Saladin, who knows the truth of chivalry."
Richard rewarded the Saracen knight and then returned to the battle.
One month later, a five-year treaty was signed by Richard Coeur de Lion, and Saladin.
Who is to know? Who is to judge why Saladin, when victory over Richard was ensured, held back his forces and gave the gift of life to the only man he had never been able to completely defeat? Could he have been remembering a time when another knight had done the same for him? Could he have been remembering long flowing hair the color of wheat and moonlight?
But all of that is fantasy….Isn't it?
David Wind
Chestnut Ridge, N.Y.
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Dear Reader,
Thank you for your support! Without you my stories would sit on a bookstore shelf, a warehouse, or in a database somewhere in a ‘cloud’ waiting for you to find them. I don’t write because it’s a job, I write because it’s my passion. I hope reading and enjoying the worlds created by writers is your passion.
I hope as well, you have enjoyed
Queen Of Knights
, as much as I did writing it, and I would love to hear from you about your reading experience.
If you like this book, and would like to lend me your support and help spread the word about
Queen Of Knights
, please tell a friend and share it with the world by writing a review. Nothing fancy, just tell the world what you think—even just a sentence or two would be appreciated.
Reading your reviews, and receiving emails from you, means a tremendous amount to me. I have included below, some convenient links for you.
Thank you for taking the time to read
Queen Of Knights,
David
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David Wind
When my first novel was published in 1981, I had no idea where I was headed. Since then, I've published thirty-five novels, thirty-three of them with traditional publishers, but in 2007, I decided I wanted more freedom than the traditional publishers would allow and began a new phase in my life as an Independent Author.
I live and write in a small village about thirty miles upstate of NYC, and share my house with my wife, Bonnie and our dog Alfie, an apricot poodle. Our three children have ventured out into the world on their own (or so they think). Our son Zach works on the CBS show 48 Hours. Our daughter Devon, her husband Russell and my grandson Sawyer live in New Jersey where Devon teaches Special Education. Alana, our youngest daughter, is a Pastry Chef in San Francisco.
In 2008, I published
Angels In Mourning
, my 'homage' to the old time private detective books of the 50's and the 60's. I used to love to sneak them from my parents’ night-tables and read them as a young boy. Angels, is a modern day take on the old style hardboiled detective. In April of that year,
Angels In Mourning
won the Amazon.com Book of the Month Reader's Choice Award.
My Fantasy,
Queen Of Knights
, reached
#2
on the amazon.com bestseller lists for historical fantasy and medieval fantasy, and my sci-fi of parallel worlds,
The Others
, received wide acclaim.
I am currently working on the third volume of the
Tales of Nevaeh
. Volume II will be out in the late spring.
My novels have been translated into 11 languages and published in 15 countries.
David’s Links
David’s Amazon.com Author’s Page
Twitter:
@david_wind
Facebook:
authordavidwind
David’s website:
http://www.davidwind.com
Available Novels by David Wind
Born To Magic
, Tales Of Nevaeh, Volume I
Short Stories
The Guardian At The Edge Of The World
– Published in André Norton’s
Witch World 2
anthology, TOR Books
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For more information about David Wind, please visit
http://www.davidwind.com
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A Special Preview of the New Series
Tales Of Nevaeh
Volume One:
Born To Magic
Available February 5, 2015
From Amazon.com
Available for
Pre-Order
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The Tales Of Nevaeh
Volume I
Born To Magic
By
David Wind
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Copyright © 2015 by David Wind. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact
David Wind
.
ISBN-10: 0990003531
ISBN: 978-0-9900035-3-3
First Edition February 2015
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