Kingdom's Quest

by Chuck Black

  “Come,” she said loud enough for her companion to hear.

  The hooded form came to Gavinaugh’s cell and waited for Leisel to step down the aisle before removing the hood.

  “Keanna!” Gavinaugh whispered.

  She smiled but her eyes conveyed the ache within her soul. “Are you all right?”

  Gavinaugh sensed a compassion from her that warmed his heart.

  She stepped closer to the cell door, and he cursed the bars of iron between them, for he wanted to hold her. “I am, but what are you doing here? This is very dangerous. Has she threatened you?” Gavinaugh looked toward Leisel.

  “No. She’s been very kind. I went to her.”

  “But why?” he asked.

  She put her hands on the bars, and he covered them with his own. She looked into his eyes. “Because I … a warrior came to me last night.”

  “Who was he?”

  “I don’t know, but he gave me a message for you. He said to tell you to be strong. You will encounter many difficulties, but the Prince will be with you. The Duke of Namor must hear your words.” Keanna searched Gavinaugh’s eyes. “I fear for you.”

  “I will be all right, Keanna.”

  She reached into her cloak and handed a vial to him. “He said that you must drink this.”

  “What is it?”

  “I don’t know. He said it will … protect you.”

  Gavinaugh removed the cork and smelled its contents. It was sweet. He lifted it to his lips, but Keanna grabbed his arm.

  “What if it’s poison?” she asked.

  “Did you believe him?”

  Keanna thought for a moment and slowly nodded her head.

  “That is all I need,” he said and swallowed the liquid. Its taste belied its aroma, for it was very bitter.

  “Are Weston and his family all right?” he asked.

  “Yes. They are safe.”

  Gavinaugh felt great relief. Knowing that he had nearly caused their deaths had been a great burden to him.

  “I have Triumph. He is quite agitated. I think he actually misses you,” she said and tried to smile.

  “We must go,” Leisel called to Keanna.

  Keanna leaned closer to the bars, and Gavinaugh touched her face tenderly. “I will come back to you,” he said.

  She reached up and brushed his hand with her own and then covered her head with the hood. She walked over to Leisel, and they turned to ascend the stairs.

  “Leisel!” Gavinaugh called.

  She stopped and turned back to look at him.

  “Thank you.”

  She gave a slight nod and left.

  The following morning, Gavinaugh was taken to the docks, where a large three-masted ship with a foreign flag was waiting. On the deck of the ship, a prominent-looking fellow greeted Kifus and his knights with a broad grin.

  “Welcome aboard the Raven, Lord Kifus.”

  “Captain Dante, it is a pleasure to see you again.”

  The men shook hands, and the captain looked closely at Gavinaugh. “I must say that your prisoner does not have the look of a criminal about him.”

  “Do not be deceived, Captain,” Kifus said. “This man is as dangerous as they come. If I were you, I would leave the fetters securely upon his limbs throughout the journey.”

  Dante scrutinized Gavinaugh. “His sword?”

  Kifus handed Gavinaugh’s sword to the captain, and he fastened it about his own waist.

  “My first mate has informed me that your payment has been received, and now we have your prisoner. On my honor I swear to deliver him to Duke Vespas in Namor. And now we must be off before the seas turn against us,” he said.

  Kifus and his men left the ship, and Gavinaugh was taken to a lower deck, where he was locked inside a small, bare room. Soon the crew was occupied with getting the vessel underway.

  Gavinaugh was not given any food or water the entire day. He became queasy but was not sure if it was from the rolling of the ship, lack of food, or both. In his solitude and distress, he thought of Keanna, and the image of her in his mind brought great comfort. In the bowels of a foreign vessel en route to unknown perils, Gavinaugh resolved to take deliberate action to win her heart if he should survive this trek and see her again.

  The day wore on, and toward what he thought must be evening, the door opened and a seaman took Gavinaugh to the captain’s quarters.

  The captain dismissed the seaman and turned to Gavinaugh. Captain Dante was a fair bit older than Gavinaugh, but age had not diminished his strength or stature. He was a tall man with a stark white beard that matched his hair. Perhaps forty years old, his hair had turned color early, and it gave him a distinctive look for his age.

  Gavinaugh saw a table full of food in the center of the room. The pangs of hunger tore at him, and he was feeling faint. He found it difficult to stand, but he remained still.

  “So you are the man who has caused such turmoil in Chessington—and in the entire kingdom, I am told.” He smiled crookedly. “What have you done to cause Kifus to hire my ship and exile you to Namor? And why doesn’t he just kill you?”

  He did not wait for an answer, but turned away and walked to a cabinet nearby.

  “Lord Kifus says you are a dangerous man, but my men have told me stories that say otherwise. Are you a dangerous man, Sir Gavin, or is it Gavinaugh?” This time he stared at Gavinaugh and expected an answer.

  “My name is Gavinaugh, Captain. I serve the King of Arrethtrae and His Son, the Prince. Only men who are afraid of the truth are threatened by me,” Gavinaugh replied.

  “And what is this truth?” Dante asked.

  “That the Prince is the Son of the King, who came to deliver us from the bondage of the Dark Knight and his evil work. And that by believing in Him, we are set free.”

  The captain stared silently at Gavinaugh, then suddenly burst into laughter. “And this is what Kifus is afraid of?” He laughed all the harder.

  He removed a set of keys from the cabinet and began to unlock the fetters that were latched upon Gavinaugh’s wrists and ankles. As they fell from his limbs, the captain reached for Gavinaugh’s sword, which he had secured about himself, and became very serious.

  “If you should try to escape or bring any treachery to my ship, I will slit your throat with your own sword. I wear the blade of my prisoner until he is delivered as a reminder of my blood-sworn duty. Will you comply, Gavinaugh?”

  “I will, Captain. I swear it.”

  “I believe you, for though you are an enemy of Kifus, I think you are also a man of honor. Come sit with me and eat. I desire to hear more of your strange and ‘frightful’ words,” he said as he seated Gavinaugh at his table.

  Gavinaugh thought he had never tasted anything better than the food he ate at that meal. Their conversation focused on the Prince, and the captain listened intently to all he had to say.

  “You are an odd fellow, Gavinaugh,” he said at the end of the meal. “And your words are strange indeed. A bit too strange for my liking, but I do not see the danger in them as Kifus does.”

  Gavinaugh thanked the captain for the delicious food, and from that day forward he had freedom to roam the ship at will. They journeyed southeast into the seas of the Namorian realm, and Gavinaugh wondered about his future. One evening, after many days of voyage, Gavinaugh could see dark clouds in the distance that met the watery horizon, but he looked beyond them to the brilliance of an enlightened kingdom—a kingdom under the wise rule of the Prince.

  TEMPESTS!

  The weather was fair, but the winds were not favorable for their trek. Captain Dante was not pleased with their progress. After two weeks at sea, the Raven and her crew were only little more than halfway to the ports of Namor. Gavinaugh and Captain Dante engaged themselves in lengthy discussions regarding the Prince and the future of Arrethtrae. Although Dante was intrigued by the bizarre story of a man who had risen from death to return one day to rule the kingdom, he was certainly far from becoming a Follower. Occasion
ally he reminded Gavinaugh sternly, usually in the presence of his crew, that he was a prisoner destined to spend the rest of his life in the dungeons of Namor. In the solitude of their evening discussions, however, Gavinaugh sensed that Dante looked fondly upon his prisoner.

  Captain Dante’s first mate was a gruff character named Huntly. The man had little time for silly discussions of affairs that had nothing to do with sailing the Raven. He was the perfect man for his position, for the crew both feared and respected him. He was the fierce disciplinarian of the command duo, which allowed the captain to appear more conciliatory toward the men without appearing weak. Gavinaugh noted that this gave the captain an effective tool to hold in reserve for times of retribution or adversity. His demeanor was seldom unpleasant, so when he became grave in his speech or bearing, the men took his commands as though their lives depended on it … and often this was true. Such was the case on a blisteringly hot afternoon when the lookout shouted a warning cry from the crow’s nest that sent chills up the spines of all the crew.

  “Tempests!” the man shouted and pointed off the starboard.

  In that single warning, the tension onboard escalated to a state that amazed Gavinaugh. All hands instantly became still, and the focus of the entire crew went to the direction indicated by the lookout. Gavinaugh joined Captain Dante and First Mate Huntly at the starboard rail and scanned the horizon.

  “How many?” Huntly shouted up to the lookout.

  “Three … at least!”

  “Do you think they’ve made us, Cap’n?” Huntly asked.

  “We wouldn’t be seeing them if they hadn’t first seen us,” Dante said with great concern on his face.

  “What are Tempests?” Gavinaugh asked.

  “They’re the piranhas of the open seas.” Dante didn’t take his eyes from the black specks on the horizon. “Their ships are light and fast. They sail in fleets to overwhelm the ships they attack. Every man aboard will wish he was in the dungeons of Namor rather than to fall prey to the likes of these barbarians.”

  Dante turned to Huntly. “Set sail with the winds, no matter the direction. Lighten the ship and make for speed, Huntly!”

  “Aye, aye, sir!” Huntly began barking orders to the men. It took no small effort to break them from their fearful trance, but once the reality of the situation sank in, their fervor in their duties was apparent.

  As the afternoon passed, the specks on the horizon became the distinct forms of sailing vessels, and there was no doubt as to their course. The lookout in the crow’s nest had been replaced and appeared nearly overcome with apprehension as he stepped onto the ship’s deck.

  “Anything else to report, Denton?” Dante asked.

  “I saw at least six ships, and they’re gaining on us fast! What are we going to do, Cap’n?” The man’s fear was rising with each word he spoke.

  “Be at ease, seaman,” Dante said.

  “Is it true about what they do to their captives?” Denton asked.

  “Report to Huntly,” the captain said without responding to his question.

  The man lowered his eyes. “Aye, aye, sir.”

  Gavinaugh waited for the man to leave. “Where do they come from?” he asked Dante.

  “No one knows for sure. The myth is that they rise up out of the sea like monsters from the deep. I have never encountered the Tempests before, but I’ve seen the remains of those who have.” Dante nearly shuddered. “The Tempests are less than human, Gavinaugh. My men would rather drown in the depths of the sea than fall into their hands.”

  As evening approached, the black flags of the pursuing Tempest ships were unmistakable. The captain called the first mate and two other men into his cabin to discuss their fate. Gavinaugh was allowed to stand by and listen.

  “I can hardly contain the men, Cap’n,” Huntly said.

  “Keep them focused on their duties,” Dante said. “How long before the Tempests overtake us?”

  “Late afternoon tomorrow, if the winds stay as they are.”

  The captain focused his attention on the map before them. “Our course takes us near the Isles of Melogne. It is our only hope.”

  The men stared at the captain in disbelief.

  “Captain, navigating through the Isles of Melogne is suicide,” Huntly said. “Not to mention that the islands themselves are haunted. No man who has set foot on the islands has ever returned.”

  “Huntly’s right, Captain,” one of the other men said. “I was a shipmate onboard the Charlotte Louise. When we went to rescue the shipwreck of the Peconic, not a soul was found.”

  The captain looked solemnly at each of the men. “There are six Tempest ships on our heels, men. If they should catch and board us … well, I’ll take my chances on the Isles of Melogne. As far as navigating through the waters, we’ve got the best crew in Namor. And as for the islands, I’ll believe your stories of ghosts when I see them. We’ll just have to keep a steady eye, a firm hand, and a stout heart. Set course for the islands, Huntly. Cast off whatever you need to in order to make the isles before the Tempests overtake us. Dismissed!”

  “Aye, aye, sir,” the three men said in unison as they departed.

  That evening, Gavinaugh heard the splash of wares being tossed overboard as the men attempted to lighten the ship’s load. By morning, however, the Tempests’ ships were ominously close. One ship had outdistanced the others and was nearly upon them. The Isles of Melogne were visible ahead, but the distance was too far and the time was too short. The crew began casting everything that was not absolutely necessary overboard, but the lead Tempest ship continued to gain on them. By noon, the two ships were nearly side by side, and the grisly flag of the sinister Tempest ship matched its dark crew. Over sixty vicious seamen stood in silence with swords drawn as their shipmates brought the vessel abreast of the Raven. The silence of their pursuit was eerie, and the crew of the Raven readied themselves for the fight of their lives. If by some miracle they survived the attack of this vessel, there would still be five more to come.

  Dante approached Gavinaugh. “I understand you handle a sword well.”

  “I can hold my own,” Gavinaugh replied.

  “Never before have I released a prisoner’s sword to him, even when I thought I might die. But you are different, Gavinaugh.” Dante loosened the scabbard and sword from about his waist and gave Gavinaugh his sword. “My death could mean your freedom.”

  “My freedom is not worth the death of a good man,” Gavinaugh said as he secured the sword about his waist. It made him feel complete.

  Dante gave a slight smile and turned his attention to the impending fight.

  The two vessels were now side by side. The Tempests cast a half dozen binding ropes with hooks across the remaining distance and bound the vessels together. In an instant, the crews of the ships were entwined in a ferocious battle of flashing swords. The Tempests were merciless in their cause, and the crew of the Raven fought desperately against the evil sea warriors.

  Gavinaugh fought gallantly and saved the lives of many men during the battle. He tried to stay close to Captain Dante, for he knew that the survival of the crew depended on this man’s leadership. As the fighting progressed, Gavinaugh felt the power of the sword of the Prince pulsing through him. He sensed the tides of battle and dominated with each blow he struck.

  Dante was embroiled in a desperate fight with a large Tempest who seemed impossible to defeat. Gavinaugh deflected the blade of an adversary just as the captain narrowly dodged the thrust of his grisly opponent. Gavinaugh brought a deadly slice across the torso of his enemy and then went to give aid to Dante. By the time he reached the captain, Dante had ducked beneath a high slice and executed a deadly thrust to end the life of the massive Tempest. Just then a spear flew from the Tempest ship directly at Captain Dante.

  “Captain!” Huntly shouted, but the warning was too late. The speed of the spear was great, but Gavinaugh had already initiated a response. He took one more step and timed an incredibly powerful slice dow
nward to meet the spear as it passed by him on its path to Dante’s chest. Gavinaugh’s blade severed the shaft of the spear and deflected the tip so that it embedded into the main mast beside Dante.

  Gavinaugh’s influence in the battle was significant, for his skill and courage rallied the men to overcome in the fight against the Tempests. As the fighting lessened, Gavinaugh maneuvered his way along the starboard rail and cut the binding ropes that held the Raven to the Tempest ship. The ships broke apart, and the remaining Tempests onboard were quickly eliminated and cast overboard. A cheer rose up from the crew of the Raven because of their victory, and Gavinaugh was heralded as a hero of the battle.

  Captain Dante approached Gavinaugh and thanked him for saving his life. “Why don’t you hang on to that sword for a bit … just in case,” Dante said as he slapped Gavinaugh on the back.

  The fanfare was brief, however, for the battle had significantly slowed them, and the other five vessels were closing fast. They recovered their speed and raced on toward the Isles of Melogne.

  By midafternoon, the Isles of Melogne loomed large before them, and it looked as though they might make them before they were overtaken. There were five islands, all very close to each other. The main island was large with steep, rocky cliffs that comprised the northern shoreline. One of the smaller islands sat just a few hundred feet off the north shore of the main island, and the two steep cliffs on the islands formed a water canal between them.

  As their ship approached, large rock outcroppings began to appear above and below the waterline.

  “Captain, we will tear the hull apart if we hit these rocks,” Huntly said.

  Death pursued them from behind, and calamity awaited them ahead. It was a precarious situation, and Gavinaugh could feel the crew’s apprehension.

  “Slow our speed and mark the depth,” Dante ordered. “There must be a canal deep enough. The cliffs of those islands surely go deeper than the waterline. Make our way for the canal.”

  Although the Tempest ships continued to gain, it was apparent that they too had slowed their approach in the treacherous waters of the isles.