by Chuck Black
The room fell silent, and for the first time since the questioning had begun, the stranger lifted his head to stare directly into Kifus’s eyes. In that moment, Gavin was shocked at the authority that seemed to emanate from this stranger.
“I AM!” the stranger said. “And there is no man in Arrethtrae who has ever truly fulfilled the Articles of the Code, nor will there ever be. I have come to fulfill the Code so that all men may become true Knights of the King by Me. No one may come to My Father except through Me!”
Shouts of protest from the Noble Knights rose up throughout the hall. The very core of their existence was to live by the King’s Code, and for this peasant to claim royalty equal with the King was blasphemy. Jayden drew his sword and struck the stranger’s head with the pommel. The stranger fell to the ground, and blood flowed freely onto the stone floor beneath him. Others descended on the fallen man and began to kick him. The gauntlets they wore struck his back until he was bruised and bleeding everywhere. Kifus did nothing to stop the men, but looked upon the abuse and appeared justified.
Gavin felt the heat of the stranger’s insult as well, but he was glad it was the fists of others that brought silence once again to this man. Gavin looked for Demus, but he was gone. When the anger of the knights had abated, Kifus ordered that the stranger stand before him to receive his sentence.
“For the words and acts of treason against the King and the Code, I hereby sentence you to death by hanging.”
Shouts of approval rose up from the knights. Gavin looked over the shoulders of his cheering comrades to see the stranger’s reaction. He offered none.
CURSE OF A CHARLATAN
The following day, word spread throughout the city that the imposter was to be hanged in the city square on the afternoon of the next day. Kifus wanted all the citizens of Chessington to see the judgment of this man. It would serve to show the people that the authority of the Noble Knights was still supreme, and it would eliminate any foolish attempts by his followers to continue in their unsanctioned training.
Over the course of that day, Gavin had many long conversations with other knights regarding the stranger and the remarkable influence he had gained over the people in such a short time. By midafternoon, he was weary of such talk and sought solace in a garden on the palace grounds.
Questions entered his mind that would not go away, and the peace he was searching for evaded him. Is the death of this man the only way to end the rebellion that is sure to come if we let him continue? he wondered. How truly dangerous is this man?
Gavin’s thoughts turned to Demus and the two or three other knights who had disagreed with their judgment regarding the stranger. For just a moment, Gavin entertained a possibility that he had never dared let his mind consider: what if the Noble Knights were wrong? Gavin could only know one heart for sure, and that was his own. He knew that he was wholly committed to the King and the Code, and this imposter had threatened and ridiculed the Noble Knights in front of the entire city of Chessington. That was enough to solidify in his mind that their course of action was indeed the right one, and he vowed never again to question their resolve as a force of nobility to protect the King, the Code, and the people, even against one as skilled with the sword as this imposter was.
“Sir Gavin,” a sweet and gentle voice called from behind him.
Gavin turned to see the lovely form of Leisel approaching with all the grace of a princess. He stood to greet her. “Good afternoon, maid Leisel.”
“May I join you for a moment?”
“Certainly, my lady. I would be honored.” Gavin bowed slightly.
“You seem a bit troubled,” Leisel said. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
Leisel came close to Gavin, and they sat down on a stone bench. Gavin had not noticed the beautiful flowers surrounding him until now. Leisel’s perfume mingled with the fragrance of the flowers, diverting his thoughts from the concerns of the day. He had taken the opportunity to visit Leisel on occasion over the past few months, but was reluctant to actively pursue a courtship. It was no fault of Leisel’s, for she was a beautiful girl and had provided Gavin ample opportunity to advance their relationship. However, with each passing week, he had become preoccupied with the growing threat of the stranger and his followers. As one of the top Noble Knights, his duties were extensive and, at times, overwhelming.
“The city is full of tension, and we have come to an hour of great turmoil,” Gavin said.
Leisel looked into his eyes. “Is it true that some of the knights are against the execution of this imposter?”
Gavin hesitated. “They are few, but yes, it is true.” Speaking these words made their dilemma feel all the more real. He was also surprised at how quickly Leisel was able to make him feel as though he could spill his whole heart to her. He wondered if this was true for all men and the ladies they conferred with. He was not used to being vulnerable.
“Is this what troubles you, Gavin?”
“Yes. I am disturbed that these men could be swayed by such an imposter as this stranger. I have fought beside them, and they have proven themselves to be men of courage and valor. And yet they stand opposed to your brother and the rest of the Noble Knights. How is this possible? How could they be so beguiled?”
Gavin looked at Leisel, not really expecting an answer, but he was thankful for the attentive ears of one who was removed from the influence of the politics that often entangled the Noble Knights.
“I do not know, but this I do know: you have a heart that is strong in the Code, Gavin. Your integrity as a Noble Knight will guide our people through this time of deception. Tomorrow all will be set right.”
Gavin looked into Leisel’s eyes and smiled. “Yes, tomorrow all will be set right.” Her words were soothing to him, and he realized what a comfort she was to him during these difficult times. He resolved in his mind to make her a larger part of his life.
Their conversation turned to lighter subjects, and by the end of the afternoon, Gavin had nearly forgotten the troubles of the city … at least for a few hours.
By early afternoon of the following day, the Noble Knights had assembled in the palace courtyard with their prisoner, who was bound and bleeding from fresh wounds. Bremrick was his gruff escort and did not refrain from harsh treatment. Gavin had learned that one of Bremrick’s personal servants had joined the followers of the stranger months earlier, and Bremrick’s bitterness was evident.
Most of the knights rode ahead and entered the city square to bring order to the throng of citizens that was gathering. Kifus led the remaining fifteen knights, with the prisoner walking in tow behind Bremrick’s horse. Gavin chose to trail the procession. When they arrived at the square, it looked to Gavin as though the entire city was present. Kifus made one complete circuit about the square so everyone could see that the imposter was not so mighty anymore. Their final destination was the large oak tree in the center of the square, where the advance contingent of knights had prepared a rope.
The prisoner was set atop a horse, and the noose was placed around his neck. Gavin was amazed at his composure—he did not plead, nor did he look afraid.
Kifus spoke loudly for all to hear. “People of Chessington, this man is guilty of treason against the King, against the Code, and against you. He has lied to you and misled you. He brings chaos to the kingdom. Today justice is served!”
Kifus raised his hand to slap the horse on which the prisoner sat. Strangely, Gavin cringed inside. In that instant he felt as though the entire kingdom of Arrethtrae would split in two. In the depths of his soul, he knew something profoundly significant was happening, and it frightened him. Kifus slapped the horse and the man hung. Triumph whinnied and snorted, and Gavin had to work hard to restrain the steed. Gavin chose to watch the reaction of the people rather than the man at the tree. Some of the people were cheering, and some were weeping.
Gavin recovered himself. Now it is over, he thought, for he could not imagine any reasonable person continuing to follow
this man beyond his death. After some time had passed and the death of the stranger was sure, it did not appear to Gavin that there was threat of an uprising, so he eased away from the square and the mass of people as quickly as possible. He rode back to the palace, entered the courtyard, and dismounted. Gavin didn’t really know how to feel about what had just happened, but he was becoming angry—angry for the months of turmoil this charlatan had caused the people of Chessington. Regardless of today’s judgment, Gavin felt that the reputation of the Noble Knights had been tarnished. It was an unpleasant but necessary execution for the preservation and restoration of all they knew to be true.
Gavin walked into the great hall and back to the doors that led to the Chamber of the Code. This is where he knew he would find the assurance and peace of the King. Midway down the hall he realized that something was amiss. His heart seemed to rise up to his throat. The massive doors of the Chamber were broken in two and lying on the stone floor. It looked as though they had been ripped off their hinges. Gavin’s immediate thought was that marauders had taken advantage of the distraction of the hanging and stolen the precious treasure of Chessington.
He quickly grabbed a lamp and ran into the chamber to find the Articles of the Code still in place—untouched. He was relieved and confused at the same time. He studied the parchment with the King’s seal to verify that it was indeed the original and not an imitation. Within a few moments, he heard the quickened steps of other knights.
Kifus and another knight entered the chamber with concern on their faces. “What happened here?”
Gavin turned, startled by Kifus’s entrance. “I don’t know. I’ve only just arrived myself.”
“Thieves?”
He looked at Kifus and saw the same confusion in his countenance that Gavin felt. “Thieves pick locks and steal treasure. They do not tear doors off their hinges and take nothing. This is bizarre.”
They walked back to inspect the doors as other knights entered the hall. Kifus knelt down to look closely at the massive hinges that had once held the doors in place. Although the iron hinges were as thick as a man’s hand, they were twisted and bent as if made of clay. Gavin knelt as well and ran his hand along the jagged edge of one of the thick doors that was broken in two.
“Who could have the strength to remove these doors in such a fashion?” Gavin asked.
Kifus rubbed his fingers along his forehead. Silence was his only answer. Kifus stood up. “The Articles of the Code are vulnerable to any who enter here. We will post guards for each of the three watches until the doors can be replaced.” Kifus posted two knights to stand watch until things settled down and guards could be assigned.
Gavin left the great hall and rode toward home. He was not angry any longer—he was disturbed.
THE PRECIPICE OF PERIL
In the days that followed, Gavin focused on helping Kifus and the other Noble Knights restore some normalcy to Chessington. They had dealt with other fanatics in times past, but none had generated such a strong influence over the people as this stranger. And the Noble Knights had never needed to use such drastic measures to quell the previous fanatics or their disturbances. Like the dissipation of a passing thunderstorm, the knights hoped that the passage of time would calm the people.
Kifus had decided to leave the body of the stranger hanging in the square as a reminder to his followers of their fate should they attempt to continue in their foolhardiness. It seemed to be quite an effective deterrent, for there was nary a trace of the former followers of the stranger.
“Do not look so troubled, Gavin,” Kifus said with a smile as they walked toward the great hall early one morning a couple of days after the hanging. “All is as it was, and the streets of Chessington are peaceful once again.”
“I find it difficult to believe that it is this easy, Lord Kifus,” Gavin said. “Lesser men have had more lasting effects on the people. I don’t think we should be too comfortable in our victory.”
“Without his charisma and skill,” Kifus said, “the peasants this man chose will return to the dirt of peasantry from which they came. Even if they attempt some sort of insurrection, they are no match for the Noble Knights, and we will crush them before it begins.” Kifus made a fist to emphasize his point.
Gavin nodded but was not convinced.
As they entered the great hall, many of the knights were already there, and a heightened level of conversation told Gavin that something important had happened.
Gavin walked with Kifus to the head table and watched the men stare at them as though they were hesitant to reveal their information.
“Well, what is it?” Kifus said impatiently.
“The followers have stolen the body,” Jayden said.
“And?”
“That is all, Lord Kifus. But it is an insult!” Bremrick said.
Kifus laughed loudly. “Let them have their decaying dead leader. This is no insult. It is a ludicrous attempt to save the minuscule pride of a defunct band of foolish peasants—nothing more.” Kifus’s laughter seemed to put the knights at ease once again.
But they’re gutsy, foolish peasants, Gavin thought.
A few weeks passed with little disturbance, and Gavin was still wondering if Kifus was right about the end of the followers.
Shortly thereafter, however, rumors began to circulate within the ranks of the knights that the followers were gathering and meeting in one of the shops near the city’s center.
“How do you know this to be true?” Gavin asked of Sir Rolson.
“I have a servant whose son was coerced into joining the followers. My servant is concerned for the boy since he seems increasingly interested in only the teachings of this stranger,” Rolson said. “My servant claims that the influence of these heretics is growing, not diminishing, and he wants his son back. I came to you because I knew you would consider the matter seriously. The death of the stranger seems to have lulled many of the knights into complacency, including—”
Gavin held up his hand to stop Rolson from speaking the name. He did not tolerate even the slightest disrespect. He thought for a moment. “I will call for Sir Jayden, and together we will take this to Lord Kifus.”
Jayden was eager and more than willing to join Gavin and Rolson to petition Kifus. They met in the great hall and walked to Kifus’s residence. He joined them in his greeting room.
Gavin wasted no time. “Lord Kifus, we need to talk to you about—”
“—the secret meetings of the followers?” Kifus interrupted.
In an instant Gavin understood that Kifus’s apparent lack of interest was nothing more than a ploy to soothe the emotions of the men and the people. There was no hint of complacency in him now.
“I have been watching the followers and their attempt at solidarity since the death of the imposter. It is foolishness, and the time has come for us to end it,” Kifus said. “Gavin, tomorrow at dusk assemble twenty knights, and quietly make your way to the large poultry shop just across the south bridge. Do you know of it?”
“I do.”
“Warn them and disband them. Use whatever force is necessary, but do so with good judgment.”
Gavin nodded.
“For King and Code,” Kifus said.
“For King and Code,” repeated the three knights.
Upon their return to the great hall, Gavin and Jayden were intercepted by a fellow knight.
“Gentlemen, there is a disturbance at the city square, and I think we should see about it,” he said.
Sir Bremrick and a number of other knights joined them as they rode to the city’s center. At the edge of the square a crowd was gathering to watch a young man in a sword fight with one of the Noble Knights, Sir Oran. It was an odd scene, for never before had a common citizen of Chessington dared fight one of the chosen knights.
Gavin and the rest of the knights dismounted and approached the altercation, but it did not dissuade the young man from his duel. At first glance it appeared as though the fight would end qu
ickly, for the Noble Knight’s attack was relentless. But the young man’s sword matched each cut and slice with the skill of an expert.
“I will cut out your insolent tongue, peasant!” the knight said.
“Try as you will, sir, there will be a hundred more to take my place,” the young man said defiantly.
The size of the crowd was growing, and Gavin felt a need to get control of the situation.
Jayden whispered into Gavin’s ear, “That is Severin, Bremrick’s former servant. He is but a peasant.”
Gavin glanced toward Bremrick and saw his face redden in anger. He wondered at the skill he’d already seen in the young man.
“What is the meaning of this?” Gavin asked during a pause in the fight.
“This man speaks lies and blasphemies against our King and our Code,” Oran said, somewhat winded by the duel.
“My words are upheld by the power of the Prince. The only deception among us is the hypocrisy of the Noble Knights!”
At that, Bremrick cursed and charged upon Severin. He did not fight with finesse, but with sheer brute force. He powered his sword with two hands as he wildly cut at the defense of his former servant. The young man shockingly stood his ground and endured the tremendous blows of his master with the courage of a true nobleman. In Bremrick’s recklessness, Gavin saw numerous opportunities for Severin to execute a deadly thrust, but he did not take advantage of them. The fight moved about the edge of the square between trees and shop tables. Bremrick’s apparent frustration and inability to defeat this peasant was actually becoming an embarrassment to the knights. Some of the people began to cheer for the young man.
At one point, Gavin stepped forward between Bremrick and the peasant.
“Sir Oran claims that you speak against the King and the Code. Are you a traitor to both?” Gavin asked.
The man drew a deep breath. “I am not!” He turned his back on Bremrick and Gavin and jumped on top of a nearby table. He held his sword up high. “Listen, people of Chessington,” he shouted for all to hear. “Many years ago, our King chose a boy to bring about His purpose in this kingdom. Sir Leinad was sold into slavery under the hand of Fairos of Nyland. Our people endured the hardship of his rule until the King called Sir Leinad to deliver them. By the sword of the King, Leinad brought our people out of bondage and into the safety of the Red Canyon. Here many of the people were deceived and despised the King’s work and Sir Leinad, for their hearts were weak in the Code. But the King was faithful to His promise and brought them to the beautiful Chessington Valley.