Kingdom's Reign

by Chuck Black

  The eyes of every man fell upon the Prince—both enemy and ally.

  Micalem raised his sword in triumph. “Behold, the King of Arrethtrae has come!” he proclaimed and then knelt before the Prince.

  As was foretold, every knee bowed down and proclaimed that the Prince was now King of Arrethtrae—from Silent Warrior to Shadow Warrior to every Arrethtraen. The Prince stood alone and welcomed the proclamation, for it was His Father’s will. In my heart I knew that this was the beginning of an era to which even the days of Quinn could not compare, for every fiber of our King was true and noble. Power could not corrupt Him, for He already had all power and yet remained pure. I did not see pompous arrogance in Him as He stood the proclaimed King of Arrethtrae. No … I saw the restored joy that you see only on the face of a father whose child has been safely returned to him. The peace in the Prince’s heart flowed out to the people, and those who loved truth and justice were comforted. Those who did not were ashamed.

  Shortly after the people had accepted the reality that true victory was won, the city of Chessington rose up with shouts of adoration and praise for their new King. Fenton led his men and the rest of the city in a victory celebration as they welcomed the Prince as King of their city and of Arrethtrae. It was a celebration of the ages to end the battle of the ages, for only now could the King’s people enjoy the fulfillment of complete restoration through the Prince.

  RETURN TO CAMELOT

  The Prince ordered that all the injured be treated. The Dark Knight and the Shadow Warriors were gathered together under the guard of the Silent Warriors and taken away to the prison pits in a distant place called the Wasteland. The rest of the enemies of the King were given an opportunity to swear their allegiance to the new King of Arrethtrae. Those who did so were released to return home without weapons, and those who did not were eventually taken to the prisons of Daydelon in the land of the Kessons.

  The news of the battle at Chessington and Lucius’s defeat spread quickly through the kingdom. The few remaining forces of the Dark Knight dispersed and became a challenge for us to find. Nearly every city welcomed the Prince as King with open arms—some out of joy and some out of fear. The daunting task of restoring truth, justice, and honor to the kingdom lay before us. I could not even begin to know how the Prince was going to accomplish it, for you cannot order a heart to change, and many hearts were still inclined to do evil. Many were joyful and desired the peace that the Prince wanted to give them. But many struggled, for even though they wanted to change and embrace good, they had lived so long under the evil rule of Lucius that it was hard for them. Some harbored rebellious and evil hearts and did not want to change at all. They still loved Lucius and his wicked ways. Unfortunately, these people were also very deceptive and difficult to root out.

  A few days after the great battle, the Prince called His knights before Him on the palace grounds of Chessington. The palace—and the entire city of Chessington for that matter—had fallen into a state of disrepair. The palace, the city, and the people had been abused and mistreated for many years during Lucius’s reign. Now it was time to rebuild, restore, and reclaim all that had been taken under his tyrannical rule. There amidst the partial ruin of the palace stood the Noble One, unperturbed by the formidable task of renewing an entire kingdom. We gathered in silence as He looked over us and beyond, to the future of His people.

  “My gallant knights, from this day forward Arrethtrae will be a kingdom of peace and prosperity once again.” His penetrating eyes fell upon us, and His regal form seemed immovable. “You will be My arms of justice; you will be My arms of compassion. Together we will restore Arrethtrae to the perfection it was before the Dark Knight’s shadow of evil fell upon the land. You have been faithful … you have been loyal … now you will reign with Me!

  “Sir Leinad and Lady Tess, Knights of the Prince, to you is given the city of Daydelon. Rule with hearts of wisdom and with the courage the King has relied upon in times past.

  “Sir Gavinaugh and Lady Keanna, Knights of the Prince, to you is given the region of Namor and the seas of the south.

  “Sir Weston of Cresthaven, Knight of the Prince, to you is given the city of Thecia in the heart of the kingdom.

  “Sir William of Chessington, Knight of the Prince, to you is given the region of the United Cities of Cameria.

  “Sir Rob of Chessington, Knight of the Prince, to you is given Kroywen, first city of the United Cities of Cameria.

  “Sir Barrett of Chessington, Knight of the Prince, to you is given the city of Chandril.

  “Sir Cullen of Elttaes, Knight of the Prince, to you is given the city of Elttaes, second city of the United Cities of Cameria.

  “Sir Gunther of Norwex, Knight of the Prince, to you is given the city of Norwex …”

  And thus was given rule of all the regions and cities to the Knights of the Prince. The Prince looked at the knights as He gave them their reigns. I waited and listened, but no assignment was given to me. Did the Prince see something in me that might inhibit my ability to rule a city or a region? I rejoiced with each of my companions but admittedly was downhearted, for I felt as though I must have failed my Prince.

  “Sir Deidrik of Canterbury, Knight of the Prince, to you is given the city of Canterbury.

  “To all of My city prefects and regional governors, rule with wisdom, compassion, and diligence, for you are My eyes, you are My arms, and you are My lips. Stay true to the Code!”

  My heart was broken, until the Prince paused and looked directly at me. His gentle smile warmed me, and I found contentment in His gaze.

  I will gladly be a servant in the house of my Lord rather than rule a city, I thought.

  “To Cedric of Chessington, Knight of the Prince”—He paused, and I wondered if each knight had felt as I did when the Prince looked upon me. The strength in His eyes seemed to flow into my heart—“I give the role of ambassador to all of the kingdom of Arrethtrae. From Chessington, Cedric will deliver My words and My missions to all.”

  I lowered my head in gratitude, embarrassed at my previous feelings of self-pity.

  A moment later, we all knelt in unison before our King of Arrethtrae. I am sure each of us felt honored and undeserving of the authority the Prince had entrusted to us. We resolved in our hearts to fulfill our responsibilities as knights beholden to the Code.

  “Rise up, My knights,” said the Prince. “Prepare yourselves to go forth and deliver the peace and prosperity I have desired for this land from the beginning. Take to the people that which restores.”

  The Prince held up a flowering plant of the Life Spice. “Take the Life Spice to all the people. Plant it in your cities and in your valleys and in your hills. Fill the kingdom so that all may be healed and restored. The days of sickness and pain are gone. From this day forth, Arrethtrae will be a kingdom of peace, prosperity, and good health!”

  Many knights did not receive the authority to rule a city or a region. Some were assigned as guards to the prefects or regional governors. And the Prince warned us that some regions would not welcome His rule.

  Later that day, the Prince walked with me among the remains of the once beautiful gardens of the palace.

  “My King, I am unworthy of the noble mission You have given me … I do not even know how to begin,” I said, feeling humbled.

  He placed an arm around my shoulder. “Cedric, you are more than able. The mission is difficult because your travels will take you throughout the kingdom, but I have the utmost confidence in you. I need you to help My knights establish their rule. For the time being, I have assigned a contingent of men to be your escort. There is still danger.”

  We paused in our walk, and He turned to face me.

  “Where do I start, my Lord?” I asked.

  “I want you to travel with the knights who go to the United Cities of Cameria and establish My rule in that region. From there you will know where to go.” He smiled as He read my lack of self-confidence.

  “I have assigned a
fellow knight to assist you … one with skill and discernment that I have not found in any other.”

  I was pleased and relieved. I would have hoped for William, but his duty lay in Cameria. “Who is he, my King?”

  “The knight arrives by ship this evening. The Valiant will dock before sunset.” The Prince resumed walking. We arrived at a spot that looked over the once majestic city of Chessington. I saw the ruin, but I knew He saw the potential splendor.

  The Prince smiled. “Ah Cedric, it is good to be here. My beloved city will be beautiful once again, and the people will find the goodness they have sought for so long.”

  I tried to imagine what He saw but knew that my picture must pale in comparison to the one in the mind of the King.

  I arrived at the docks south of Chessington late in the afternoon to wait for the arrival of my companion. I wondered who the Prince had chosen and if I knew him. Many ships arrived carrying supplies for Chessington, and the Valiant was among them. The crew began unloading the cargo, and I immediately recognized the slender form of Talea overseeing the operation. She was occupied with her task and did not seem to notice me, which was fine because I felt entirely awkward around her anyway. There are certain moments in our lives that we wish we could erase, for the embarrassment we live with is uncomfortable. Although Talea was a fascinating woman, she reminded me of such a moment, and I found it difficult to get past it. Yutan was beside her, as usual, helping organize the shipment.

  I waited for the passengers to disembark. Three gentlemen exited the ship and walked toward the city without any hesitation in their step. After some time, I boarded the Valiant and sought out her captain to inquire of my assistant. As I approached, he hailed me first.

  “Sir Cedric, I assume you have come to welcome your assistant?”

  “Yes, Captain. Can you tell me where he is?”

  He looked a bit puzzled and then smiled as though a thought entered his mind. “If you can be a bit more patient, I will help you in just a moment.”

  By now the unloading of the cargo was complete, and the captain called for Yutan. They had a short discussion to which I was not privy. I began to wonder if something was amiss. The two Silent Warriors approached me.

  “Sir Cedric, I am sorry for the delay, but Yutan will assist you,” the captain said and returned to his duties in his cabin.

  “Yutan, it is good to see you.” I reached out my hand. For some strange reason, I felt as though I had also offended Yutan that day I unintentionally insulted Talea back at Leinad’s home, for his demeanor toward me was a bit cool. He obviously felt an obligation to Talea. I had perceived that his role for her was one of personal guard. Perhaps Leinad had asked him to watch over her? I could only guess.

  “The captain tells me you are here to receive your assistant,” he said brusquely.

  “That is correct,” I said, wondering why Yutan was charged to aid me with the matter.

  Just then Talea approached. I took a deep breath and bowed slightly. “Lady Talea, I am honored to see you again.”

  She responded by nodding slightly. “It has been some time, Sir Cedric. What brings you to the Valiant?”

  She stood tall and poised. A tousle of hair had come loose from her braid and hung down the left side of her face. The ever-present air of competence hung about her. I was momentarily taken by her eyes and wondered what mission of adventure she would soon be upon. She caught my gaze and wiped away the loose bit of hair, tucking it behind her ear.

  “I am here on business, my lady,” I replied. “I am here to—”

  Yutan interrupted. “I am told that the Prince has chosen Sir Cedric to be his ambassador to all of Arrethtrae,” he said to Talea, almost bragging on me.

  I was surprised and embarrassed by his comment. I turned my head away.

  “Impressive …” Talea looked at Yutan strangely.

  “I fear it is a task I am ill-equipped to handle on my own,” I said, trying to recover some humility. “I am here to receive my assistant, whom the Prince has assigned.”

  Now it was Yutan’s turn to look embarrassed. He looked away to the sea. Talea’s poise turned into a look of confusion.

  “You must be mistaken, Sir Cedric, for we do not carry such a man on the Valiant … Perhaps the Dauntless delivers the man you seek. She is due to dock after we depart.” Talea looked at me and smiled briefly.

  Now I truly was bewildered, for the Prince Himself had sent me to the Valiant. I did not respond but silently contemplated what had gone wrong.

  Yutan turned back to Talea. “My lady,” he said, “I must ask your forgiveness for not informing you earlier … Cedric comes for you.”

  I was as shocked as Talea looked. “I … but … that is not what I …”

  “There is some mistake, Yutan,” Talea said matter-of-factly.

  “Yes, surely there is some mistake,” I chimed in, then quickly regretted speaking it as I caught Talea’s cold gaze.

  Yutan looked at the deck. “There is no mistake, my lady. The Prince has chosen you to be Cedric’s assistant. Your mission now lies in the heart of Arrethtrae. I will miss you.”

  “Excuse us,” Talea said as she grabbed Yutan’s arm and turned away from me. They walked to the end of the deck in serious discussion.

  This was not at all what I had expected. The color of my mission had changed dramatically in an instant. It wasn’t that I didn’t like Talea, but I certainly was not comfortable with her … especially as an assistant. It seemed quite clear, however, that she did not like me, and that made things even more challenging. I did not relish the idea of becoming a despised authority.

  I looked over at Talea and Yutan. Their words were intense at first, but as the reality of the situation sank in, Talea visibly softened toward Yutan. She stared down in silence and then looked up at him. I saw her quickly wipe away a tear and then embrace her large friend. She stepped back and resumed her confident posture.

  As they returned to me, I tried to appear indifferent, as though I were receiving the knight I had expected.

  “I will gather my belongings,” she said and quickly walked past me.

  Yutan and I stood in silence for a moment. “Take care of her, Sir Cedric,” he finally said. “She has been like a daughter to me.”

  “I will protect her with my life, Yutan.”

  He smiled and we shook hands, and in that moment there passed a silent transfer of responsibility. “I know you will, and she will do the same for you. That is what worries me …”

  PERIL AT LAKE PENSING

  Talea and I left the ship and boarded a small carriage that awaited us. She traveled light—just one small satchel—and I was pleased about that. The silence between us was awkward. I hadn’t been expecting her as my assistant, and she hadn’t been expecting such a drastic change in her mission for the King.

  “It is good to see you again, Talea,” I said, trying to be cordial.

  “And you,” she replied without looking my direction. It was not an enthusiastic reply by any means, but it was not indifferent either. Sitting across from me, she gazed out the window at the streets of Chessington as we traveled north toward the palace. I knew life had just taken a drastic turn for her, and she was trying to adjust. Talea was a stunning woman in both beauty and character, but any initial attraction I’d had to her was quickly dying with each encounter. I was about to ask her how she had been, but she cut through my attempt at casual conversation and pressed right to business.

  “What is the purpose of our mission, and how long will it last?” She turned and finally looked at me for the first time since leaving the ship. For one brief moment, I thought I saw an expression of kind fellowship, but it was fleeting and the look of a professional warrior replaced it from that moment on.

  I cleared my throat. “Initially, we are to help the newly selected city prefects and regional governors establish their governments. Once that is complete, which I am sure will take a fair amount of time, we are to represent the Prince and del
iver His commands to the cities and regions as well as keep Him updated on the kingdom’s progress.” I looked at her briefly and then gazed out the carriage window myself. “As to the length of the mission or your assignment, I simply have no idea.”

  “I see,” she said.

  I looked back at her, and she stared blankly at me. I knew that I must clear any misconceptions from her mind and try to get us back on the right foot.

  “Lady Talea, we are going to be working together for quite a while, and I am committed to fulfilling my duty to the Prince. Just to be up front with you, I didn’t request you, nor did I know you were the one selected as my assistant until Yutan told us both on the ship. I’m sorry that you were surprised by it, but we have a job to do, and it’s not going to be an easy one. If I’ve offended you in any way, I apologize. Let’s respect each other and get on with our business.”

  She looked at me a bit less coolly and nodded. “Agreed.”

  Our relationship would remain purely professional, I was sure of that. It was painfully clear that she wanted nothing more to do with me than to accomplish our mission. I was not completely sure why she was so stoical toward me, but I accepted it and appreciated her abilities and planned to use them effectively in our dealings within the kingdom. Talea was charming … just not to me. And it was probably fortunate, because our businesslike relationship allowed me to focus completely on our mission and duty for the Prince rather than on civilities.

  It took a number of days to prepare for our departure to Cameria. Five city prefects, one regional governor, and six contingents of knights made for a fairly large force of armed warriors. Additionally, Barrett and his men traveled with us as far as Chandril, where he was to rule.