by Chuck Black
Leinad reached the top of the canyon wall late in the afternoon. He lay for a while on the ground until he could catch his breath.
“Sir Leinad.” The deep rich voice of the King seemed to strengthen Leinad. With great effort, he rose to a kneeling position.
“My King,” he said, “my heart and my life are Yours.”
The King placed His hand on Leinad’s shoulder. “You are a faithful knight, Leinad. Come … eat and rest.”
After he had replenished himself, Leinad said, “We are trapped in the canyon, my Lord. The people are hungry and worried that they will die there.”
The King looked sad. “The people are foolish and ungrateful, Leinad. But in spite of this, I will use them to establish My kingdom. You must teach them the ways of the Code.”
Leinad was perplexed. “What is the Code, my King?”
“The Code is what gives the sword its strength.”
“How is this possible?” Leinad asked.
“Because when one without the Code bears the sword, he does so only for himself … only for selfish gain. But the one who bears the sword with the Code does so for a higher calling … for a purpose greater than self-service. He does so for the King and for his fellow man. You did not defeat Fairos because of your sword. You defeated him because of what you believed in—Me. This is the meaning of the Code.”
“How do I make the people understand the meaning of the Code, my King?” Leinad asked. “I have been with You and have seen You, but they have not. I have lived it and felt it, but they have not.”
The King withdrew a rolled parchment from His robe. His royal seal was upon the scroll.
“Give them the Articles of the Code. They must live by them. If they do, I will make them into a great people.” His firm voice rose in volume. “Through them I will establish a kingdom like the world has never seen.”
The King’s voice echoed across the canyon. All of nature seemed to stand still at its sound. Leinad saw the power of the King firsthand. He saw the mighty warriors that followed Him. He felt insignificant in the King’s presence, yet chosen. And though Leinad did not understand it all, he followed faithfully. The King gave the scroll to Leinad, who received it humbly and knelt before the King.
“My heart and my life are Yours, my King. I will do Your bidding.”
“Bring the people up the east canyon branch. There you will find another gorge that will lead you out. Travel south across the plains until you reach the Chessington Valley. This is the land I have chosen for them. This is the land to which the kingdom will come.”
Leinad bowed. “Yes, my King.”
The King nodded and left.
It took Leinad longer to descend the canyon wall than it had taken to climb it. He rejoined Tess on the ledge and gave her food and water. It was dusk so they decided to wait until morning to finish their descent. Leinad placed some rocks on the edge of the ledge to keep them from falling off during the night. It was cramped, and the night’s sleep was not refreshing.
BY LATE MORNING, LEINAD and Tess had finished descending the canyon wall just as Quinn, Audric, and the rest of the people arrived at the canyon fork.
“Quinn, Audric … it is good to see you,” said Leinad. “How did it go?”
Quinn looked frustrated. “We would have had a revolt on our hands were it not for Audric here. Garrin mysteriously tripped, hit his head, and was knocked out,” he said with a wry smile.
Audric looked slightly embarrassed. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, Audric,” Quinn said. “It was the most peace we’ve had on this trek.”
Garrin worked his way to the front of the people and approached the four. His brow was furrowed, and he held a hand to his forehead as if he was suffering from a severe headache.
“Well? Did you see a way out of here?” he asked Leinad.
“No. But I know which way to go to find one,” Leinad said. “Gather the people so I can talk to them.”
Within a short time, all the people were gathered to listen.
“I know you are weary and tired of this journey,” Leinad said, “but the end is near. I know of a way out of this canyon. We must persevere for a while longer.”
“You said you did not see a way out. How do you know the way then?” Garrin said, loud enough for all to hear.
“I know because I have seen and talked to the King.”
Some of the people looked skeptical and murmured to themselves.
“You expect us to believe that?” Garrin said. “Why have none of us seen Him? This is some elaborate story you have created to get these people to follow you.”
“No!” Tess said. “I saw the King too!”
“And did you talk to Him as well?” Garrin asked.
Tess was silent.
“That’s what I thought,” replied Garrin smugly.
“The King was above us on this canyon wall yesterday,” Leinad said. “He told me the way out. Farther down the eastern canyon branch there is an exit.”
The people moaned, for this was the most rugged and treacherous route.
“He promised to guide us to the lush Chessington Valley and make us a great people if we live by the Articles of the Code.” Leinad held up the scroll with the King’s seal on it.
Garrin grabbed the scroll from Leinad. Audric moved toward Garrin, and some of Garrin’s supporters moved forward. Leinad held out his hands to quiet the situation.
Garrin pointed at the people with the scroll. “You are fools if you believe this man. He is going to get us all killed if we continue to listen to him. I can tell you right now that the eastern branch will bring you nothing but death. Look … look up the northern branch. The route is easy and wide. The canyon walls look less steep farther down. Ignore this fool and travel with me. I will lead you out!”
Garrin threw the scroll at Leinad’s chest and began motioning for the people to follow. Many shouts of affirmation rose in support of Garrin.
Leinad shouted for the people to be quiet.
“I cannot force you to follow the King,” he said. “Make your choice now! Those who want to follow the King, separate yourselves from the others and come with me through the eastern canyon branch.”
Leinad turned and began to walk toward the eastern branch. Tess, Quinn, and Audric immediately followed him, but the rest of the people hesitated. Then slowly many of them began to join themselves to the King’s people. Over two-thirds of the people followed Leinad toward the rugged, narrow route. Garrin laughed and ridiculed them as he led the others northward.
The people parted, and those that traveled with Garrin were never seen again.
The stream that flowed down the eastern route was small but still provided ample drinking water for the people. Their progress was half of what it had been, and it was further slowed because the older people needed help over the jagged rocks and loose soil.
When the afternoon heat became unbearable again, Leinad halted the people to rest. They were weak because their food supply was gone, and the rough terrain exhausted them.
“Quinn, take Audric and see if you can spot another gorge that might lead out of the can—” Leinad stopped midsentence and his eyes widened.
Quinn turned to see what had captured Leinad’s attention. “What in the—”
Not far ahead, antelope—hundreds of them—were leaping off the canyon wall onto the jagged rocks below. All of the people stared in amazement, wondering what could possibly make the antelope take such bizarre action.
“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?
THE 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.
“QUINN 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 co
ntinued 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.
LEINAD AND TESS 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.