Kingdom's Quest

by Chuck Black

  Gavinaugh leaned against the coarse texture of the spire and wondered how he could possibly save Keanna from such a beast. He took a moment to look at her and was amazed, for in spite of the terror, he saw new life in her eyes. He cocked his head slightly to one side as he wondered at the transformation.

  “He found me, Gavinaugh. In the depths of this wretched place, He found me. My heart belongs to the Prince—and to you!” She kissed his cheek.

  Just then the Tarmuwth shrieked. It was only a moment before it would be upon them. Gavinaugh had faced the blades of hundreds of men, but this was different, and he worried that he might fail Keanna here in the beginning moments of her newfound life.

  He heard the guttural growls of the beast just on the far side of the spire.

  “I need to get behind it somehow,” he said.

  “Give me the shield,” she said and began to take it from him.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I am giving you the opportunity to save me, my brave knight,” she said. With that, she darted into the open with the shield before he could stop her. She yelled at the Tarmuwth, and Gavinaugh’s heart sank into his stomach. The dragon came to her on all fours, then raised itself up to strike. Gavinaugh quickly circled around the spire and advanced on the dragon from the rear. The beast convulsed, and Gavinaugh drew back his sword beneath the outstretched forelimb of the creature. He called upon every ounce of his strength as he executed a slice that tore into the belly of the Tarmuwth.

  The flame that had expelled from its mouth toward Keanna was cut short as it screeched in pain. The large talons struck wildly at Gavinaugh, and one slashed across his thigh. Gavinaugh rolled away in gut-wrenching pain. The creature lowered itself to all fours. The beast’s tail pounded down into the ground near where he lay, and Gavinaugh continued his roll to avoid its deadly spikes. Keanna ran to Gavinaugh and covered him with the shield just as the spade-shaped tail smashed into them. The shield flew from her arms and left them exposed to the dying thrashes of the injured dragon. The creature snapped at them with its powerful jaws, and Gavinaugh swiped back with his sword. Gavinaugh pushed Keanna away from the beast. He could barely stand because of the wound to his leg, but he tried to ready himself to strike again.

  The tail swung once more at Gavinaugh. He ducked, but it was not enough. One of the spikes pierced deep into his side, and the impact sent him reeling toward a towering spire. His body slammed against its jagged edges, and he lost his grip on his sword. He nearly faded out of consciousness from the impact. The dragon writhed in pain but made its way toward Gavinaugh for the final kill. Keanna tried to come to him, but the wrathful beast was between them, and its tail was still whipping through the air. She looked for a weapon and saw the long-knife protruding from the burnt corpse of the Shadow Warrior. She ran and grabbed it.

  Gavinaugh fought against the pain and searched for his sword as the dragon descended on him. Just as the Tarmuwth opened its jaws wide to crush him between its teeth, he found the hilt of his sword. The pain in his side was more than he could bear, but he knew that if he failed, Keanna would also die in the jaws of the dragon. He yelled and lunged at the heart of the beast with all his might, the tip of his sword leading the way. His sword plunged deep into the creature and found its mark. One final terrifying shriek emanated from the throat of the Tarmuwth. A moment later it fell to the ground on its side and became still in death.

  Gavinaugh collapsed, and Keanna came to him. Her eyes revealed her great concern. She used the knife to cut long pieces of cloth from her dress and tightly bandaged his side and the gash in his leg. But his blood quickly soaked through the bandage, and the severity of the wound was clear—Gavinaugh was struggling to breathe. Her efforts seemed futile.

  He reached up and touched her soiled cheek. “I … love you, Keanna,” he said softly.

  Tears welled up in her eyes as the gravity of the moment crushed down on her. “I love you, Gavinaugh. You can’t leave me!”

  She brought her face close to his.

  “My sword,” he whispered and then coughed. He grimaced at the pain.

  Keanna ran to the body of the Tarmuwth and withdrew his sword. She brought it to him and held the hilt of the sword so he could see it, but he wrapped his hand about hers.

  “Now … you must … carry the sword,” he said with great difficulty.

  Tears flowed freely down her cheeks. “Together, Gavinaugh … together we will carry the sword.”

  He managed a weak smile. “The Prince will be with you.” His hand began to loosen about hers.

  “No, Gavinaugh … No!”

  Keanna’s head jerked as she heard men approaching, and soon Weston and Sandon were beside her.

  “Help him, please, help him,” she pleaded.

  At Porunth’s command they had detached from the battle to come to Gavinaugh’s aid. They looked at his wound, and their faces revealed their fear.

  “Sandon, my pack,” Weston said, and Sandon quickly went to retrieve it. He put fresh bandages over Keanna’s, but the blood continued to flow freely. There seemed little he could do, and Gavinaugh slipped closer to the pit of death. “Gavinaugh!” Weston called, but his words were interrupted by the quick approach of another rider. A large cloaked warrior on a white horse was making his way through the spires to their position. He dismounted and came to them.

  “The battle is over, and Porunth has sent me to help,” he said in a deep voice. Weston moved aside to allow the warrior access to Gavinaugh. Keanna looked hopefully into his eyes. The warrior reached beneath his cloak and produced a flask.

  “He must drink this,” he said and brought the flask to Gavinaugh’s lips.

  Keanna grabbed the long-knife and slashed across the flask and the hand of the warrior. The flask spilled to the ground, along with the blood from the warrior’s gash. He recoiled and screamed in pain as he backed away.

  “What are you doing, Keanna?” Weston shouted.

  The warrior looked at her with fury in his eyes and reached for his sword.

  Keanna stood up and pointed the knife at him.

  “I have served under enough masters to know the good ones from the evil. Get away from him!” she yelled and drew back Gavinaugh’s sword.

  The Shadow Warrior cursed and drew his sword. “Fools! I will spill the blood of you all!”

  Weston and Sandon drew their swords and positioned themselves between the warrior and Keanna.

  “Leave, or the only blood spilled will be your own!” Weston said.

  Suddenly, the sound of many horses began to filter through the spires of the dragon’s lair. The Shadow Warrior cursed again. He quickly mounted his horse and departed. A moment later the clearing was filled with a dozen massive warriors. Porunth dismounted and came to Gavinaugh. Keanna knelt down opposite the warrior.

  “Gavinaugh,” Porunth said.

  Gavinaugh opened his eyes and tried to speak but couldn’t. Porunth motioned to one of his men, and he brought a pack to him. Together they tended to Gavinaugh’s wounds and gave him water to drink. Porunth applied sweet salve to his wounds and dressed them with fresh bandages.

  There in the eerie shadows of the Tarmuwth’s lair, the Silent Warriors encircled the hero of the Outdwellers and watched him fight for every breath and for every beat of his heart. The moments passed, and Gavinaugh slipped in and out of consciousness. Keanna squeezed his hand and would not let it go. Porunth held a small vial to Gavinaugh’s lips and carefully poured its contents into his mouth.

  “He will not make it here,” he said quietly and then looked at Keanna.

  “No … no! Don’t take him from me,” she pleaded.

  “He will die, Keanna.”

  She looked at Porunth and then at Gavinaugh.

  She knelt down and kissed him. Although the anguish in her heart was obvious, she eventually released him to Porunth to save his life. “I shall never love another,” she said, and her tears spilled onto Gavinaugh’s cheeks.

  Weston pla
ced his arm around Keanna’s shoulders. He lifted her up, and the Silent Warriors carried Gavinaugh away.

  The sorrow of that night hung thicker than the fogs of Moorue about the hearts of his companions, and Keanna seemed as though part of her had died.

  KINDRED QUESTS

  Keanna, Weston, and Sandon rode in silence back to Namor, for they were not prepared to begin the long journey back to Chessington and Cresthaven. They arrived at Captain Dante’s estate late on the third day. Dante greeted them joyfully, but there was no joy in their hearts. They told him of Gavinaugh’s demise, and he mourned greatly with them.

  After four days of rest and preparation, they rose up to depart Namor for Cresthaven.

  On the morning of their departure, they sat to eat a final meal with Dante. Although there were various attempts to lift the cloud of oppression during breakfast, the sadness upon each of their faces was impossible to hide. Midway through the meal, a servant came to Dante and whispered in his ear.

  “Very good, thank you,” Dante said and dismissed the servant before turning to the others. “It seems that a visitor from Chessington has just arrived and would like to see you before you depart,” Captain Dante announced to the sober trio. “He claims to have known Gavinaugh.”

  They wondered if perhaps William or Cedric had come to visit them and the haven there. Dante brought them to a room in his manor where they were greeted at the door by a large fellow who was blocking their entrance to the room.

  “It seems Sir Gavinaugh is more headstrong than I realized,” Porunth said as he stepped aside. Gavinaugh was lying on a bed and carefully raised himself up on his elbow and smiled broadly.

  “Gavinaugh!” Keanna screamed and ran to him. She embraced him, and he winced in pain, but it was soon replaced by a broad smile that expressed his joy. She sat on the bed next to him.

  “It is good to see you, princess,” he said.

  “I can’t believe it is really you.” Her smile filled the room with radiance.

  Weston and Sandon approached, and both seemed as giddy as schoolboys. Weston put his hand on Gavinaugh’s shoulder as if to convince himself that he was real.

  “What happened?” Sandon asked and looked at Porunth.

  “During the days when we were preparing to ready our ship and take him across the sea, he recovered enough to refuse the voyage, in spite of the fact that he might still be in great danger.” Porunth walked over to them and became very serious. He looked at Gavinaugh, a bit perturbed, and then turned to the others. “He will not fully recover here. He could collapse at any time. It is foolish to leave him, but his mind seems to be set.” He looked at Keanna and raised one eyebrow, but she didn’t see it for she had not taken her eyes from Gavinaugh.

  “I am sure that my leaving him here will cause me no small amount of grief, but since I have come to know him, I have grown accustomed to that!” Porunth said as he walked over to Gavinaugh. He held out his arm and Gavinaugh took it.

  “We are grateful to you and your men,” Gavinaugh said as he looked up at his large friend.

  “And the kingdom is grateful to you,” Porunth said in return. He gave a flask and some salve to Keanna. “Make him drink this, and apply the salve to his wounds each day until it is gone.”

  “I will,” she said.

  Porunth turned and walked to the doorway. “Gentlemen, it is time for me to depart.” He looked at his Arrethtraen friends and smiled. “It is a time of the Outdwellers. The Prince needs knights brave and bold to carry His words to the far reaches of the kingdom. Keep your swords sharp, and remember … we are always here, fighting with you side by side. Whether you see us or not, we are always here.”

  With that, Porunth exited the room and disappeared into the secret world of the Silent Warriors.

  Gavinaugh’s recovery was slow, but he was fueled by the realization that his mission to train and equip his fellow knights was not yet fulfilled. If his days in Arrethtrae were to be cut short, he wanted first to be sure that the havens were ready to stand by themselves. He also did not deny that his heart could hardly bear the thought of Keanna dealing once again with the death of someone for whom she cared so deeply. He had spent many months trying to share the compassion of the Prince with her and win her forgiveness. In the beginning days of her new life as a Knight of the Prince, he could not abandon her, no matter the cost. He decided that the risk of dying from his wounds was not enough to nullify the joy of living even a short time with the affections of Keanna.

  In time, Gavinaugh began to diligently train Keanna in the art of the sword, and her heart waxed strong in the ways of the Prince and of the Code. She became a mighty knight, who stood beside him and the other knights as they continued the mission given them by the Prince.

  Gavinaugh, Keanna, Weston, and Sandon journeyed onward. Before them lay the vast regions of a grand kingdom, and they had been called to go. It was a time to rise up and be strong—a time to honor the King and His Son. Gavinaugh felt the hearts of many people calling out for a Deliverer, and he had purposed in his heart to answer them with the only name that could ever bring them hope and new life—the Prince!

  FINAL DAWN

  Alas, the tale of Sir Gavinaugh and his valiant quest to reach the kingdom of Arrethtrae for the King and the Prince is told. I, Cedric of Chessington, count it a great honor to have known the heart of such a brave and courageous knight. The fame of the gallant Sir Gavinaugh went forth throughout the entire kingdom, and he is considered a champion for the Prince, for his sword flew forth to destroy the strongholds of many Shadow Warriors. Through his quest, many people were gathered to the Prince.

  I tell the story of Sir Gavinaugh, not to bring glory to him, but to inspire others to rise up and put on the armor of the King … to cross the barren lands of the kingdom with hope and joy in the One who sacrificed Himself to save many, to bring the power of the Prince against the strongholds of the Dark Knight that imprison the souls of men. All who hear are called. All who are called are able.

  It is now time for me to cease the telling and prepare for the battle that is coming. But perhaps before I go, you might care to know what ultimately happened to the mighty Sir Gavinaugh and the fair Lady Keanna. It is said that their love for each other grew to transcend the highest mountains of Arrethtrae. Their marriage was as simple as a peasant’s but seemed as royal as a king’s—for their hearts needed nothing more than each other and the Prince. Unfortunately, not long after their union, Gavinaugh’s wounds from the Tarmuwth dragon eventually overcame him during one of his battles with a Shadow Warrior, and he was carried away across the Great Sea by the Silent Warriors. Keanna’s grief was so great that the entire kingdom could feel the pain within her heart. But she rose up and carried on the work Gavinaugh had begun. As for the saga of the rest of their lives, I am afraid I cannot tell it, for such a man and woman as these deserve the eloquent words of a herald far better than I.

  The time of my departure is here. Place your hand gently on the soil beside my own, and feel the rumble of the earth beneath. The power of a thousand thousands is coming … evil warriors fighting against the Noble One. Here I stand with Him. Take up your sword and come with me, for the Prince is calling. And if you do not go … who will?

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  To further facilitate the understanding of the biblical allegory of this series, a few discussion questions and answers are provided below.

  CHAPTER 1

  1. Throughout the first chapter, Gavinaugh slowly realizes what his mission from the Prince entails. What is that mission?

  2. The Outdwellers are people of Arrethtrae who are not citizens of Chessington. Who do they represent?

  3. Porunth, a Silent Warrior, tells Gavinaugh that it is “easy to tell when one has been with Him.” We should live so it is easy for others to see that Christ lives in us as well. Find a verse that talks about this.

  4. When Gavinaugh first meets two Knights of the Prince, they fear that he has come to arrest them. They
even call him the “Tyrant of Chessington.” Then Weston comes and proclaims that Gavinaugh is a true Knight of the Prince. What does this event portray, and who is Weston?

  5. Gavinaugh tells William and Barrett that “the Prince has made all things new” in him. Find a verse that supports this statement.

  CHAPTER 2

  1. In the first paragraph of this chapter, there was a disagreement among the Knights of the Prince regarding the Outdwellers and what they must do to become true Knights of the Prince. Find the passage in Acts where the disciples had a similar disagreement regarding the Gentiles.

  2. Until this point, Weston represented Barnabas. However, his biblical representation broadens. Who does he become now?

  3. What does the conversation between Gavinaugh and Cade represent? Find verses in the Bible that are discussed in this passage.

  CHAPTER 3

  1. Gavinaugh confronts the Shadow Warrior who is terrorizing Kumbria. His moving words speak of the power of the Prince. What event in Acts does this represent?

  CHAPTER 4

  1. What does Santiok represent?

  2. Weston tries to pacify Gavinaugh’s intense anger over the despicable treatment of people by saying, “They do not know the ways of the Prince. They have lived in this darkened condition since the beginning of the kingdom.” Paul states something similar in chapter five of the book of Ephesians about living in a darkened condition. Can you find the verse?

  3. Gavinaugh addresses the people of Santiok in order to share the words of the Prince with them, and at the end of his address, Gavinaugh pleads, “Free your slaves and show compassion to your fellow citizens, as the King has shown His compassion to you.” The people’s obnoxious response prompts Gavinaugh and Weston to leave the auction. Find three parallel events in Acts 13.