by Chuck Black
Our group fell silent as we contemplated Talea’s last bit of information.
Leinad finally spoke up to restore the festive mood. “Talea, after dinner you must challenge William and Cedric to a bout on the Intrepid Course. I think you might find your equal in one of them,” he said with a sly smile.
From Talea’s response, I could tell she had a competitive side that was no small part of her character. That had been evident even on the ship.
“Intrepid Course?” William asked.
“Yes,” Tess answered. “While on the Isle of Sedah, the Silent Warriors mentored Talea and trained her in the art of the sword while I recovered. To condition her, they developed a challenging course that she loved to run. Over the years, as she grew, she began to beat even the Silent Warriors. The course tests not only strength, but stamina and speed.”
“Don’t even bother trying, gentlemen,” a deep voice from behind us said. We turned to see Yutan smile admiringly at Talea. “You will save yourself a dose of embarrassment at the hands of this little lady if you refuse.”
“Yutan, you let me win to make me feel good,” Talea said jokingly.
“Yes … when you were just a lass, my lady. But I have not bested you in years and not for lack of trying, as you well know.”
Talea laughed. “Yutan reconstructed the course here on our palace grounds for me. It was an important part of my childhood.”
“Because of her skill,” Yutan said, “Micalem has allowed Talea to accompany us on many of our sea missions. Take her challenge, but know that I have warned you.”
William shook his head. “I think I shall leave my dignity intact and refuse. But thank you just the same.”
Leinad looked at me with a raised eyebrow. I felt coerced, but thought it might afford me an opportunity to acquaint myself more with Talea.
“I humbly accept the challenge, provided Talea will be kind and not humiliate me too dramatically,” I said.
Yutan slapped my back with a large hand. “Eat lightly, my friend, for though she is as pretty as a flower without, she is as tough as the largest of Silent Warriors within.”
Shortly thereafter, Gavinaugh and Keanna arrived, followed by Sandon, Weston, Marie, Addy, and Keaton. Addy and Keely became instant friends, and Keaton was now old enough to hold his own with them.
It was good to see Gavinaugh, for I desired to talk with him but had not yet had the opportunity since our arrival. “Sir Gavinaugh, what a delight to see you. You look well.” I offered my left hand to greet him, but he smiled and extended his right instead.
“What a pleasure to see you as well, Sir Cedric.” He grasped my hand, and I felt the full strength of his grip.
“I see your thorn has been removed,” I said, joyful for him.
“Yes, and I am stronger than ever. I can’t tell you how good it feels to be whole again,” he said. He formed a fist with his right hand and opened it. The injury he had received from the blade of a vicious Shadow Warrior had left his right arm useless for years, but now it seemed completely healed. His eyes gleamed. Keanna joined us, and she slipped her arm in his.
“Good evening, Lady Keanna. I see that you have been made whole as well.”
She smiled and leaned into Gavinaugh. “I’ll never let him go again,” she said, gazing at him with great admiration.
There were more introductions and light conversation before we were called to dinner. It was a marvelous meal and a time of pleasant fellowship. Taking Yutan’s advice, I did not eat quite so much.
As the afternoon lingered, Leinad eventually brought us to the Intrepid Course on the far side of the palace grounds. It was a veritable plethora of obstacles and challenges that I had never before seen. There were ropes, trees, targets, beams, and even a rock cliff, which I imagined was to be scaled at some point in the run. I began to question my decision to accept Talea’s challenge, or rather Leinad’s. I had never pictured Leinad as a father. It was interesting to see the healthy pride of a father within him.
Leinad turned to the large Silent Warrior. “Yutan, in all fairness to Cedric, would you run the course first for him so that he is not at too much of a disadvantage?”
“Certainly, Sir Leinad,” he replied.
Yutan removed his outer tunic, revealing well-sculpted muscles. As he ran the course, I concentrated on each task he performed. There were ropes to climb, beams to walk, pendulums to evade, arrows to shoot, and rocks to scale. At one point, he was required to retrieve a sword and strike three opposing targets in a specific sequence all within a certain amount of time. His sword moved quickly, but it took him two tries before he was rewarded with a drawbridge that automatically lowered in place to allow him to cross a wide ditch filled with water. It took some time before he completed it, and when he did, sweat ran profusely down his brow, neck, and torso. He finished the course by ringing a small bell at the end. While he was running the course, Talea had disappeared and returned adorned with the same outfit, minus the cape, that I had first seen her wearing on the ship. She looked fit for combat in an unusual way.
Talea came and stood before me with her fists on her hips. The sweet smile from before had been replaced with the stern face of a competitor. “Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked. The tone of a fierce challenge was in her voice.
“Lead the way, my lady,” I replied.
We readied ourselves, and Yutan gave the word to start. I instantly became aware of a social dilemma. How do I not look a fool and yet preserve the honor of Talea? I entered the course with every intention of letting Talea win, but within minutes it became evident that “letting” her win would not be a problem. Although my strength was superior, her speed and agility were like that of a cat. She quickly maneuvered into the lead, and it took all I had to stay up with her. Before long, I was breathing hard and sweating like an overworked horse.
Talea seemed to move from challenge to challenge undaunted by physical strain. Partway through the course, I caught a second wind and started to feel the rhythm of the obstacles. I was closing on Talea, and the challenge of the competition soon took hold of me. Keely, who had been watching closely, found it an opportune time to cheer exuberantly for Talea.
Our leads were exchanged many times during the last half of the course. Talea became fiercer in her competitiveness, as did I. She edged forward just near the end with one obstacle remaining, and I knew I could not overtake her. After clearing the last obstacle, she glanced back toward me as I redoubled my efforts. We both stretched our hands for the rope of the bell, but she stumbled and missed. Without thinking, I grabbed the rope and pulled. I regretted it an instant later when I saw the hurt on her face.
Our audience politely applauded, and I reached to lift Talea to her feet. She hesitated but took my hand. I felt horrible. “I am sorry,” I said quietly.
“Do not be sorry. You have won fairly. You deserve my congratulations.”
“I am sorry you tripped. You were quite in the position to win,” I said, trying to ease the tension and make both her and myself feel better. It did not seem to work.
“It appears we have a new Intrepid Course champion,” Leinad said without much enthusiasm but with a genuine smile.
But there was no victory in the victory. I reminded myself that it was just a friendly competition, but I still felt miserable. Tess gracefully redirected all of us back to the palace for refreshments. Talea resumed her pleasant demeanor as she helped Leinad and Tess host their guests. Everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves except me.
Talea and I were polite to each other the remainder of the evening, but I felt a distance between us that I did not like and did not know how to close. It was the only sadness I had felt since arriving in the kingdom.
When William and I left, we walked in silence for a while. He finally placed an arm over my shoulder. “Your heart is good, my friend. She will see that with time.”
“You are a good friend, William. Next time, please rescue me from my folly, lest I make a bigg
er fool of myself than I did this evening,” I responded.
“You are no fool, Cedric, and there was little I could do for you. I do not think you would feel this way were it not for Talea.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant by his last comment, and I chose not to ask him. I was thankful for William. He knew me like a blood brother, and I hoped I was as good a friend to him as he was to me.
Some days later, I revisited Leinad and Tess’s home, hoping to make things right with Talea, but she had departed on another sea mission with Yutan. I awkwardly apologized to Leinad, but he reassured me that all was fine. I could not convince myself of it though until I met with Talea personally. Unfortunately, it seemed that might not happen for a long time. But other matters helped occupy my mind and my time, for which I was thankful.
THE AWAY YEARS
A few weeks passed, and as Knights of the Prince, we resumed our training once again. We knew that our reprieve from the clutches and effects of the Dark Knight was only a temporary respite. The Prince continued to teach us, train us, and prepare us for a future mission back in Arrethtrae. He brought our skill with the sword to a higher level of mastery. He was patient but did not allow complacency in any aspect of our training.
“Cedric, you have mastered the sword and all of the maneuvers I have taught you,” the Prince said as He observed my training. “But now you must master your feet. When you encounter a Shadow Warrior, your footwork is what will save you. The sword and upper body will be ineffective if your legs and feet cannot carry you to a position of advantage quickly. Balance and speed start at the ground.”
“Yes, my Prince,” I replied and watched closely as He demonstrated.
When He finished, He looked intently upon me. “Life is good here, Cedric,” He said and placed a hand on my shoulder. “In Arrethtrae, the threat of evil kept you on your guard, but remember this: the most dangerous threat of evil is when it seems to be absent.”
I pondered His words and vowed not to forget them.
“Do not neglect your training, Cedric … here or in Arrethtrae, for the days of evil are not over!”
I was struck once again with the realization that the Prince was no ordinary man. It was as though He could see the future. His intelligence, discernment, and wisdom seemed to have no bounds.
During our absence from Arrethtrae, a time of great peril had come for all who remained. Their portion of anguish was doubled, for not only were they under the absolute, tyrannical rule of the Dark Knight, but the King’s wrath against the people was great because they had rejected Him and the Prince.
Although none of the Knights of the Prince were allowed back to our beloved land during the years of peril, we learned much from the Silent Warriors’ reports about the condition of Arrethtrae. Their role in the kingdom had changed once all of the Prince’s Followers were taken. They had become observers instead of messengers, and implementers of the King’s judgment instead of protectors of His people. Although I was joyful to be with the Prince again, I could not deny a heart that was heavy for the kingdom and for the people left behind, even though they had rejected the King. I wondered if I could have done something more.
The Dark Knight, Lucius, established total control of the kingdom under the name Alexander Histen. His rule was ruthless, and since all of the Knights of the Prince had been taken across the Great Sea, there was no one left to counter Lucius’s reign of terror. The people of Chessington who remained were confused and beguiled. Unwilling to accept the Prince as the King’s Son, they continued to look for a deliverer. Initially they wondered if Alexander Histen was he, but they quickly came to understand the treachery that followed in his wake. He established his throne in our beloved city of Chessington. It was the ultimate insult to the King, since this was the city and the chosen people through which the Prince would deliver those who followed Him.
Although the citizens of Chessington who remained rejected the Prince as the King’s Son, they had not rejected the King or their belief in His promise of a deliverer. And although the King was grieved by their rejection of His Son, He did not abandon the people of Chessington forever. He knew they would eventually accept the Prince as their king in Arrethtrae. As the reality of Histen’s treachery became obvious to the people of Chessington, they found themselves at enmity with two kingdoms and two kings: one glorious and good, the other evil and loathsome.
As their days of peril lengthened, the citizens of Chessington began resisting Histen’s rule and his proclamation that he was the true king of Arrethtrae. Histen ruled all of Arrethtrae with a fierce hand. He demanded the allegiance of all and received it from all—all except the citizens of Chessington. Though intense persecution followed, they would not bend their knee to him. It was during this time of immense tribulation that the people of Chessington began to turn their hearts to the Prince. Some remembered the Prince and His profound words, while others listened to the stories and knew that they had misjudged the man … the deliverer. Now they wondered if there was any hope left. They felt the abandonment of the good King and the hatred of the evil one.
In the culmination of his anger and vengeance, Histen temporarily left Chessington to gather together a force of Shadow Warriors and Arrethtraen men so massive that no castle or fortress or city could stand for even an hour against its attack.
Now Histen wanted to utterly destroy Chessington and all of the King’s people once and for all, for they were a reminder of the one he could not be—the one true King. Their only hope was to stand honorably against the coming onslaught of an evil army, even though it would mean certain death, for rule under Histen was not an option the King’s people would accept.
Shortly after Histen left Chessington to gather his final forces of destruction, an assembly of the King’s people gathered in the city square beneath the very tree upon which the Prince had died. A Silent Warrior named Gabrik had made a number of voyages across the Great Sea to report the condition of Arrethtrae to the King. Oftentimes, Gabrik’s reports were given aloud at the King’s grand palace courtyard for all the Knights of the Prince to hear. Upon his last return, he had recapitulated the words of Fenton at this assembly. Fenton was one of the men of Chessington responsible for turning the hearts of the people back to the Prince. I will never forget the impact his passionate words made upon the King. Through Gabrik we heard the words and saw the King’s response:
“People of Chessington, our hands are red with the blood of the One who would deliver us! Only in this dark hour do we see our grievous mistake, for our King has rightfully abandoned us, and our sworn enemy has gone to gather an army to utterly destroy us. The truthful words of Leinad fell upon our fathers’ deaf ears and hardened hearts, as did the words of the Prince upon our own. There is no promise left for us … no hope … no future. My soul is sick with grief at our betrayal, and yet within my bones I feel the zeal to make my life count for the King and His Son. Our final hour is come! Stand with me for the King and His Son against the evil one.”
Gabrik spread his arms open wide as he recalled Fenton’s final words to the people.
“Hope against hope do we call across the Great Sea. Oh my King, forgive us for our betrayal! We beseech You to incline Your heart to us one more time. Though we only deserve Your wrath and judgment, we appeal to Your kindness and mercy as King of all. Forgive us, oh King, and let us be Your people once again!”
Gabrik lowered his arms and bowed his head, and our assembly stood in silent contemplation before the King. A tear fell from the royal cheek of the King as He turned to face His Son.
“It is time!” the King proclaimed.
The Prince rose to His feet. “Silent Warriors and Knights of the Prince, prepare your hearts. We sail for Arrethtrae!”
The Silent Warriors drew their swords and lifted them high into the air. In unison they shouted, “The King reigns … and His Son!”
The Knights of the Prince drew their swords and echoed their cry, “The King reigns … and His Son!”
/> The Prince looked at Micalem, the commander of the Silent Warriors, and nodded.
Micalem turned to face his warriors. “Prepare the ships. Arrethtrae awaits her King!”
Under the majestic evening sky in the heart of the Kingdom Across the Sea, the distant cry of the people of Chessington had been heard, and the heart of a King was moved.
CHESSINGTON’S HOUR
We left the Kingdom Across the Sea and sailed back to Arrethtrae, where the massive and evil army of Lucius would soon be descending upon Chessington. Our force disembarked far enough southeast of Chessington to escape the attention of all. The journey to the hills east of the city was made at night under the protection of dark. The full moon was enough to light our way. Just beyond the crest of the near horizon lay the Chessington Valley. The Prince sent a small contingent of Silent Warriors to scout the approach of Lucius’s army. By the time of their return, the direction of the deadly force was already evident by the rising dust cloud to the north where the higher lands of the plains were dry.
The voyage across the Great Sea and across the southern kingdom to this place has afforded me time to remember. And upon this trek I have shared the saga of this great kingdom with all who would listen, for its telling has changed the destinies of many people. But my time of reflection is over, and the future is unknown.
Once again, the Chessington Valley north of the city would host the battle of the ages, just as it had when Leinad and the Knights of Chessington faced Zane and his army many years before. As I scanned the horizon from left to right, my eyes came to rest on the line of gallant knights and Silent Warriors beside me that stretched as far as the eye could see. I saw Sir Gavinaugh, a brilliant sword affixed on each side of his belt—for now both arms were whole and skilled instruments of the King’s judgment. There was also the mighty Leinad, whose eyes were fixed upon the Prince before us, now ready to give our orders.