by Chuck Black
He shivered and looked up into the branches of the tree and was strangely comforted. His mind was drawn back to another tree years ago that had shaded him and his father back on the Plains of Kerr near their farm. He ached for those pleasant times and the companionship of his father.
The dawn was edging closer to begin another day, and first light began to break the night-sky blackness.
“Father, did you know what would become of your son?” he asked out loud, breaking the desert night silence. “Did you know that your training would lead me to this desolate place?”
Leinad began to question all that he was taught. Questions rose that he had not dared to ask before, but the solitude of the desert night forced them from his lips.
“Who is this King that you taught me to serve? Who is this King that you taught me to honor? Who is this King that you say loves this land and the people in it?”
Only silence replied, and he wondered if he would ever know.
“I AM!” A powerful voice shattered both the silence and his questions.
Leinad leapt to his feet and turned. The rush in his body overcame any pain he was feeling. Not sure of where the voice came from, he crouched and searched in fear.
“Who’s there?”
“Leinad … do not be afraid,” the rich voice responded compassionately.
“Who are You?”
Leinad realized that the voice came from the other side of the tree, and he moved to the side to see better. The morning light was growing. A majestic form adorned in royal clothes stood before him. A white stallion stood beside the figure.
Leinad thought he must still be dreaming, or perhaps hallucinating from lack of food. He trembled not only because of the chill of the night, but also because of the power that emanated from the one before him.
“Who are You, sir?” he repeated.
The one before him did not seem to need the morning light. His stature was regal, and the likeness of His face was majestic. Though His eyes seemed to burn like fire, compassion accompanied His gaze.
“Leinad—”
He had never heard his name spoken with such depth of familiarity.
“I am the One your father taught you to serve. I am the One he taught you to honor. I am the One who loves this land and the people in it. I am your King!”
His words resonated off the basin slopes, and Leinad felt more insignificant in His presence than he had ever felt before. Now he trembled in his heart for having doubted the one who stood before him. He knelt before the King in humility.
“Please forgive me, my King. I am not worthy to be in Your presence.”
The King walked toward Leinad and stood before him. “Rise, Leinad.”
Leinad slowly stood but dared not look the King full in the face.
“You have been faithful, but yet you doubted,” the King said. “Now be faithful … and never doubt.”
Leinad slowly looked up and beheld the royal King.
“I shall never doubt again, my Lord.”
The King penetrated Leinad’s thoughts with His eyes. There was nothing Leinad could hide from the King, and he knew it. The King smiled and placed His hand on Leinad’s shoulder.
“Come, Leinad. You must eat and heal.”
The King gave Leinad food and fresh water that nourished his body and his spirit. He also gave Leinad water to wash off the mud and to clean himself. The King dressed Leinad’s wounds with the same sweet smelling ointment Gabrik had used on Peyton, and then He covered them with bandages. He gave Leinad fresh clothes that fit him perfectly.
Leinad had shoes on his feet, clothes on his body, and food in his stomach. By late afternoon, Leinad felt human once again, but he was still exhausted from the previous day’s ordeal.
“Lie down and rest, Leinad,” the King said.
“But my Lord, what if the Moshi Beasts return?”
The King looked at Leinad unconcerned. “They will not return. Rest.”
Leinad submitted and lay down beneath the large shade tree. The sun did not seem as hot, and his wounds did not seem to hurt as much. Within moments, he fell into a long, sweet, peaceful sleep.
When he awoke, the crisp desert morning air greeted him, and so did the smell of breakfast cooking on a fire. Leinad had slept the rest of the day and on through the night. The King gave Leinad food to eat but took none for Himself.
Midway through breakfast, Leinad realized in astonishment that the wounds on his body did not hurt. He gingerly felt under his arm where the first Moshi Beast had bitten him.
“You may remove the bandages at your convenience,” the King said. “Your wounds are healed.”
Leinad pressed where the wound ought to be and felt nothing. He looked at the King in amazement. “But—”
“Leinad, from this day forward, you will no longer question the purpose of your mission.” The King spoke firmly and with incredible authority.
Leinad was still amazed at the release of pain, but the King’s words enticed him to listen closely.
“The people I have chosen are in bondage under Fairos of Nyland. I have heard their cries, and the time for their deliverance is now.” He paused. “You will deliver them.”
Leinad’s eyes widened. “But my King, I am but one man, and Fairos is powerful and an experienced warrior. How could I possibly free the people?”
“I will be your power, and I will give you the experience you need to defeat him.”
Leinad slowly shook his head. “Surely, my King, You must seek someone better than me … some mighty warrior with an army of gallant men. I could not possibly do what You—”
“Leinad!” The King’s voice was quite forceful. “I have chosen you for this day. I know you better than you know yourself. I will prepare you for this crusade.”
Leinad bowed low. “Yes, my King. I will try with my very life to do as You ask.”
The King went to the white stallion and retrieved an object wrapped in fine linen.
“Are you ready to accept the responsibility of one who serves the King?” he asked Leinad.
“I am, my Lord.”
“Then take your sword and boldly follow Me!” commanded the King as He unveiled Leinad’s sword.
“My sword!”
“I gave this sword to you years ago because through it I will deliver My people.” The King allowed Leinad to take the sword. “You were chosen to carry the sword because your heart was always loyal and true to Me. You may not have understood the significance then, but today begins your transformation … and the kingdom’s transformation through its might. I will help you unlock the power of this sword to do My will and begin to transform this kingdom from chaos to hope.”
Leinad held the sword and looked upon its beauty with a new understanding. The mark of the King in the pommel was prominent. In his awe, Leinad realized that it had never been his sword. It was, and always would be, the King’s.
“I thought Keston had the sword. How did You get it?” Leinad asked.
“No one carries a sword that bears My mark except by My permission. Are you fit for training, young Leinad?”
“Yes, my King!”
Leinad remembered that his father had told him how the King Himself trained him. Now it was Leinad’s time. The thought of being trained by the greatest swordsman in all of Arrethtrae and beyond, and being reunited with the sword, invigorated Leinad.
“What your father began, I shall complete.”
The King unsheathed a sword that had no equal … nor ever would. It seemed to glow in its magnificence, and Leinad stared in awe at its glory. So this was the sword that Gabrik and his father had talked of that day in Mankin—the King’s sword! Leinad felt honored and humbled at the same time. Who was he to have this honor bestowed on him? He relished the moment and was determined to learn as much as possible from the majestic King and His sword.
The training was difficult and demanding. The King seemed tireless. Each night Leinad fell to sleep exhausted and awoke to delicious provi
sions and a refreshed body. The King was always there … waiting patiently for the dawn to arrive … looking beyond the horizon to the future of His kingdom and His people.
Through the days and weeks that followed, the King brought Leinad’s skill with the sword to a level of mastery never attained by any man born this side of the Great Sea. Finally the day came when Leinad’s training was complete.
The following morning when Leinad awoke, the King was not nearby as He usually was. After some searching, Leinad spotted His regal form standing atop the basin hill, against the bluish-pink skyline. Leinad cautiously approached Him from behind, not wishing to disturb Him as He gazed into the distant lands of the kingdom. Though Leinad’s approach was nearly silent, there was no surprise in the King.
“Leinad,” the King said, “with what I have given you, there is only one who can defeat you now.”
“The Dark Knight, my Lord?”
“No. The one I speak of is more dangerous than even he … it is you yourself, Leinad.” The King turned and looked at Leinad with those eyes that burned like fire.
Leinad was taken aback and did not understand.
“If you begin to rely upon yourself and become arrogant in your skill, that is the day you will fall.” The King’s gaze was hard and serious. “You must always come back to Me, Leinad. Never forget who you serve.”
Leinad knelt before the King.
“My sword is Yours, my hands and arms are Yours, my heart is Yours, and my life is Yours. I shall always be humble before You and before my fellow servants. On Your sword I swear it.”
The King drew His sword from His scabbard one last time. “You knelt as Leinad of Kerr and of Nan, but you will rise as Sir Leinad, Knight of the King!”
The King knighted Leinad in the harsh landscape of the desert, the only place where a man truly begins to understand his purpose in life. Leinad was a man in his own right, but he was a knight by the King’s right. Although the future was not clear, the vision he’d been searching for was. For the first time in his life, Leinad did not question who he was or where he was going. Nor did he doubt the King he served. His path was set, his heart firm, and his mind secure.
Leinad journeyed to call his people to freedom, and the blades of one thousand warriors would not stop him. For as the King said it, so shall it be.
AT KINGDOM’S EDGE
Leinad’s story is not over, but I am afraid I cannot tell its end just now. My own journey awaits me, Cedric of Chessington, and I must pause the tale to resume my own course.
The ship’s crew is rising to their duties, and I can hear the anxious pawing and neighing of our mounts beneath the deck. They desire to feel the solid ground under their hooves again, for it has been a long journey. They need not wait long now. I can see a jagged break in the smooth, watery horizon. The shores of Arrethtrae await our arrival.
Ah, the knights on the flagship ahead are preparing to disembark. I hope you will join me again soon, for the saga of gallant Sir Leinad is the foundation of my own life and very possibly yours as well.
It is a story worth its telling indeed!
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. Peyton represents Adam, and Leinad represents the Old Testament prophets and devout men of God from Seth to Malachi. What does the sword represent, and why does Leinad question the training his father is giving him?
2. The Great Sea separates the kingdom across the sea, where the King resides, from the kingdom in which Leinad, his father, and the rest of the people live. What does the Great Sea represent?
3. Peyton tells Leinad at the end of chapter 1, “No matter what a man’s occupation, he must be ready to fight for the King. One never knows if he will be called upon to serve the King in battle.” How are you preparing yourself for service to God in this ultimate battle between Good and Evil?
CHAPTER 2
1. In chapter 2, the character of Gabrik is introduced. Who does he represent?
2. Many of the names within the Kingdom Series are formed from arranged words and letters derived from representative words. What words were used to form Arrethtrae?
3. Gabrik responds to Leinad’s question about the sword with these words: “The sword is for one who is willing to serve the King … and the people.” What does this foreshadow?
CHAPTER 3
1. In this chapter we learn that Peyton and Dinan were chosen by the King to establish a new kingdom in Arrethtrae. What does this part of the story represent?
2. Why does Peyton feel responsible for the destruction of the new kingdom when it was Dinan who accepted the gift from Lord Sinjon?
3. Leinad and Peyton discuss the training Leinad received from his father, and Peyton asks Leinad which of the teachings was most important. Leinad responds, “To be loyal to the King, even unto death, and to have compassion for my fellow man.” This statement is the heart of the Code; what does it represent?
4. We learn that the King doesn’t want to rule over Arrethtrae by force, but wants the kingdom to submit out of the people’s own desire. This symbolizes a very important aspect of God’s character. What is it, and why is it important to know this?
5. Leinad realizes that his father trained him carefully and purposefully. Can you think of times in your life when God was training or teaching you for a specific purpose?
CHAPTER 4
1. In chapter 4, Leinad is captured by an enemy army but is given the opportunity to fight with a scarred man. Who does this man represent?
2. At the end of the chapter, Gabrik says the hope still lives on even though Peyton is dead. What does this mean, and what does it represent?
3. Leinad and Zane fight in this chapter. Because of Leinad’s extensive training with the sword, he is able to survive the fight. Christians often experience trials because of their faith. Have you ever felt that you were at odds with the world because of your faith in Jesus Christ?
CHAPTER 5
1. Leinad asks Gabrik, “What is the promise and where do I find it?” This is the key question in Kingdom’s Dawn and Kingdom’s Hope. What is the promise?
2. Leinad’s first assignment from the King is to warn the people of Mankin about the Vactor Deluge and to help them flee to safety. What does the Vactor Deluge symbolize, and who does Leinad represent here?
CHAPTER 6
1. Leinad and Tess ride Deliverance to safety in the Tara Hills Mountain Range. What does Deliverance represent?
2. Leinad becomes very discouraged when the people of Mankin ignore his warning. Only when Tess speaks words of encouragement does Leinad remember his responsibility to Tess and to the King. Can you think of a time in your life when a brother or sister in Christ encouraged you? Try to be a Tess to someone you know.
CHAPTER 7
1. In this chapter we are introduced to “a man from a distant land” who saves Leinad and Tess from starvation. Who do you think this man is? Who do you think he represents?
2. Who does Leinad represent in this chapter, and why do you think so?
3. The man from a distant land gives Leinad his next assignment from the King: He and Tess must travel to the Valley of Nan. Why doesn’t Leinad doubt this man?
CHAPTER 8
1. In this chapter, the biblical character Leinad symbolizes changes again. Who is he now?
2. Leinad despairs and doubts that the King is truly powerful enough to rule over Arrethtrae. He questions whether his misfortune is a part of the King’s plan. Not until later in the book do we see that it really was in the King’s plan for Leinad to go to Nyland. Have you ever felt that God wasn’t big enough to be in control of your life? Find passages to help you remember that God is good, just, powerful, and always in control.
CHAPTER 9
1. Tess survived an attack by vicious raiders, later identified as Eminafs, who had no purpose other than to
“kill people and steal things.” What do the Eminafs represent? (Hint: Rearrange the letters.)
2. Although she becomes a slave, Tess is preserved because she flees the destruction of the Eminafs. At this point in the story, what biblical group of people does Tess represent?
CHAPTER 10
1. During their duel, Leinad impresses Fairos with his swordsmanship. What biblical event does this portray?
2. When Fairos orders Leinad to kneel and swear his allegiance, Leinad refuses because he already serves the King. Leinad recognized that “no one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). Is there anything in your life that demands your time and energy and diminishes your devotion to God?
CHAPTER 11
1. In this chapter Leinad trains Fairos’s guards using his skill as a swordsman. Later, Fairos and his guards are victorious in their battle against the Eminafs. What do these two events represent?
2. Leinad tries to warn the people from the Valley of Nan about Fairos’s intentions. Once again, the very people he’s trying to save are apathetic about his warnings. Because of this, they are enslaved by Fairos. Have you ever ignored the godly counsel of a friend or a parent? What happened?
CHAPTER 12
1. In this chapter, Leinad’s biblical character representation changes. Who does he symbolize, and how do you know this? Find specific passages in the Bible that the allegory is based on.
2. Leinad becomes angry when he sees a fellow slave being tormented by a guard. The Bible has a verse regarding righteous anger; find that passage. Have you ever experienced righteous anger? If so, what were you angry about?
CHAPTER 13