by Chuck Black
“We are grateful for a bed,” Kendrick replied, “and expect nothing else.”
She smiled. “If your business allows, we should be delighted to have you join us for our meals—midmorning and late afternoon. Just let me know the evening before.”
“We would be honored,” Kendrick said.
“Elise, please take them to the guest rooms while I finish preparing the meal.”
Kendrick and Duncan remained at Lionsgate for many days, learning as much as they could about the castle at Bel Lione. They were careful not to draw too much attention to themselves, for if Kendrick’s suspicions were true, Lord Ra would not ignore their investigation. The town of Bel Lione was large enough to hide their identities, at least for a time, and staying beyond the town’s edge at Lady Odette’s manor helped greatly.
Duncan took it upon himself to escort Elise to the tailor’s shop each morning, and Kendrick suspected his young friend was stricken with love. Over the passing weeks, it became obvious that Elise was just as taken with Duncan. Soon they were taking long walks together in the evenings as well.
Their blossoming courtship obviously pleased Lady Odette, and Kendrick was not inclined to interfere as long as Duncan’s duty to the mission was not hindered. He saw no signs of such. If anything, Duncan’s interest in Elise seemed to settle him, tempering his restless edge and helping him focus on their work. Kendrick had come to rely on the young man’s quick mind and dedication.
If only the mission were going as well as their partnership. For as weeks passed, Kendrick grew increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in their investigation. The young people of the town declined to divulge specifics of what happened at Ra’s monthly festivals and weekly fetes. The adults seemed to know very little. The need for secrecy made it difficult to ask probing questions. By the end of a month, with another festival fast approaching, he was no closer to discovering the origins of the Vincero Knights than when he first arrived.
Kendrick finally decided it was time to journey back to Chessington and report all that they knew. He informed Duncan they would stay for the upcoming festival and then depart.
“I wish you didn’t have to go.”
“Let’s not think about that—not yet,” Duncan said. “It’s too beautiful a night.”
The evening of the festival had turned out still and fine. Elise held Duncan’s arm as they took their customary evening walk. Her closeness made him feel as though all was right in the kingdom. The cooing of the evening doves gently fell upon them while the fallen leaves swished delightfully beneath their feet. Duncan thought he could be happy in this moment forever … as long as he could forget he was leaving in two days.
“It has been good for Mother to have you and Kendrick stay with us,” Elise said. “Having guests to attend to helps ease the pain of missing Father.”
Duncan nodded. “Your mother is a remarkable woman.” He hesitated. “Are you as pleased as she that we are here?”
Elise looked up at Duncan, her eyes gleaming in the evening light, and Duncan felt his heart skip a beat.
“No.” A charming smile crossed her lips. “Even more so.”
Duncan smiled more broadly than he’d intended. He couldn’t help it. He had never felt like this about anyone before. He loved being with Elise, even though her presence sometimes left him feeling rather addled.
“If only you could stay,” Elise said softly.
“Oh, but I will return. I am certain of it. The Council of Knights will surely want further investigation, possibly action, based on what Sir Kendrick will report.”
“But if they don’t?”
“Come now.” Duncan scrambled to recapture the enchanted mood of the evening. “Let’s not waste our last evening thinking about what may or may not happen.”
Elise met his eyes and mustered a smile. She pulled gently on his arm to bring him a little closer to her as they walked. “Shall we walk as far as the Bel Lione garden?”
“It’s one of my favorite places.”
It took them a while to get to the manicured garden just within the town limits, but they hardly heeded the time. They strolled the garden paths as they had so many evenings before. They sat upon the ledge of a stone arched bridge that spanned a small stream and watched an early moon rise as the remnant light of the day faded away.
Duncan sighed. “It’s getting dark. I should take you back.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Elise leaned her head upon his shoulder and made no move to stand.
Duncan reached out an arm and held her close. He resisted the passing of time for a few more moments, then yielded to its endless and emotionless march across their lives.
“I do think we need to go now,” she finally said. “Mother—”
“Elise!” an urgent voice shouted from the distance. “Elise!”
“Marian?” Elise called out.
They looked up to see a young woman hastily making her way toward them. Elise jumped up, a worried look on her face.
Apprehension began to swell within Duncan, for Marian came from the direction of the road that led to the castle.
Kendrick was in the stables currying Thunder when Lady Odette walked in, a troubled look on her face.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I … I’m a bit concerned. Ancel is not yet home, and it’s getting late. And there is the festival—”
They exchanged a gaze that revealed thoughts neither of them wanted to speak.
“He is a good lad, my lady. I’m sure he has just been detained. I’m sure—”
“Mother! Kendrick!” Elise’s voice was yet in the distance, but the urgency in her tone left no doubt that something was drastically wrong. Kendrick and Lady Odette ran to meet her in the front courtyard.
“What is it, Elise?” Lady Odette asked. “Where is Ancel?”
Elise reached for her mother’s arms to steady herself. She tried to catch her breath but couldn’t wait and blurted her news in broken phrases.
“Marian came to us,” she gasped. “She said Ancel … went with his friends … to the festival.” She paused to take a couple of deep breaths. “Duncan’s gone after him, to try to stop him before he gets to the castle gate. I came for you as fast as I could. But I fear that Duncan may have gone into the castle after him.”
Elise turned to Kendrick with panic in her eyes. “What will happen, Kendrick?”
Spurred by a rising dread, Kendrick turned and ran to the stables, where he grabbed Thunder’s bridle. Lady Odette and Elise followed seconds later. Wordlessly they worked to help him fasten the bridle, breastplate, and crupper.
“What will happen?” Elise asked again as he led Thunder out into the courtyard.
“Stay here!” He hoisted himself into the saddle and pressed his steed into a full gallop down the road that led from the manor. A wake of leaves lifted behind Thunder’s powerful strides.
Kendrick’s mind raced through a thousand possibilities as he rode. All but one ended in tragedy. He fought the powerful feelings of impending doom that flooded his soul, for this ride felt like one that had occurred ten years before—right before the discovery that all but destroyed his life.
No, Duncan … no! he pleaded in his mind as his horse charged forward … forward to the castle of Bel Lione!
A PLACE OF DESPAIR
Duncan ran through the eastern streets of Bel Lione until he reached Lure Road. He could now see the castle, which even from this distance loomed large in the dusk. He wondered if there was any chance of stopping Ancel before he got to the castle, for it must have taken a fair amount of time for Ancel’s friend Marian to reach them in the garden.
He ran until his chest hurt and his legs began to feel weak. With each stride, Lord Ra’s castle loomed larger before him, an ominous fortress of towering spires that warned the wary and beckoned the foolish.
Numerous groups of young people shared the castle road with Duncan. He questioned them all about Ancel until he got an answer. Ancel had
entered the castle with two other boys over an hour ago.
“Foolish boy!” Duncan muttered. Then he shook his head, realizing he sounded just like Kendrick.
Duncan took a moment to recover from his run and consider his options. Then he walked a short distance into the thick trees that bordered Lure Road to the left and found a place to hide his sword. He hesitated before loosing his hand from the hilt, feeling he was abandoning his protection and his reason at the same time, but the urgency of the moment forced him onward.
For once in his life, Duncan was grateful for his youthful features. He mussed his curly hair, put on a naive grin, and joined a group of boys heading for the castle gates. Duncan stuck to the middle of the pack as they passed two armed warriors standing guard at the near side of the drawbridge, then two more guarding the massive castle gate. Duncan held his breath but managed to pass into the castle’s spacious inner yard without being apprehended. He stood with heart pounding, knowing Kendrick would be furious with his decision, no matter the outcome. But surely the immediate danger to Ancel outweighed his commitment to Kendrick to exercise caution.
Duncan scanned the castle yard, where thousands of youth milled about. Hundreds of torches lined the castle walls, illuminating bright banners. Several consorts of musicians played for clusters of dancing youth, and dozens of banquet-sized tables overflowed with meats, wine, and fruit. Cheers rose from a fenced-off arena just ahead, where groups of young people competed in some sort of sporting event. In the shadows, others paired off to flirt with each other.
The gala celebration was like no other that Duncan had ever seen. He was momentarily dazzled by the opulence of it all … and surprised by the powerful pull upon his heart to join in and indulge himself. Then he looked to the far side of the castle and was immediately shaken from the lure of the castle’s torrid temptations.
A gallery surrounded the exterior of the great hall, overlooking the castle yard and games arena. A lone figure stood there, peering intently down upon the festivities. Duncan was too far away to see the man’s face, but he seemed to watch the festival with a predator’s pleasure. Duncan’s mind was awakened to something great and evil happening that was masked by the delectable food and enticing music.
“Duncan!”
He turned to his left and saw Ancel pushing through the crowd toward him.
“Duncan, what are you—?”
Duncan grabbed the boy before he could say more and pulled him into a congested area far from the gate guards.
“Are you all right?” Duncan asked Ancel, trying not to sound too angry.
“I’m fine, but I want to get out of here.” Ancel glanced toward the sports arena. Duncan thought he looked like a frightened pup.
“This place is—”
“I know,” Duncan said. “Follow me.”
The two walked to the gate, and Duncan held his head a little straighter as he approached. The two guards stepped in front of them, halting their exit.
“No one is allowed to leave until morning!” one of the guards said sternly.
Duncan considered making a run for it, but with the two massive warriors guarding the end of the drawbridge, he knew that their flight would be short.
“My friend’s not feeling well,” Duncan said. “I need to take him home.”
Ancel put his hand to his stomach and winced.
“I’ll take him to the infirmary.” The guard grabbed Ancel’s shoulder.
“No!” Duncan pulled the guard’s hand away. “I’ll take care of him.” He put an arm around Ancel and led him away from the guards, feeling suspicious stares on them as they went.
They had gone but a few paces when they heard the thunder of a horse’s hooves on the wooden planks of the drawbridge. Duncan turned to see the guards stiffen to attention as a mighty knight in armor rode through the gates. An azure cape hung from his shoulders and draped about the haunches of his steed.
“Where is Lord Ra?” the knight demanded as he reined in his horse. A guard pointed to the gallery across the yard. The knight raised his visor, peered toward the gallery, then looked down at the participants of the festival. Duncan realized the man’s identity only when their eyes met in a frozen gaze.
Duncan broke eye contact and whisked Ancel through the crowd, hoping to lose themselves as quickly as possible. His heart pounded, and he could not help feeling that the walls of the castle were beginning to collapse on them. The spacious castle yard now felt like a small stone cell with nowhere to run.
“We must separate, and you must mingle with the others until morning,” Duncan told Ancel urgently.
“But I want to stay with you.”
“No!” Duncan grabbed Ancel’s shoulder. “It isn’t safe for you to be near me. Get out of here at first light. Do you understand?”
“Yes … but what’s wrong?”
Duncan ignored the question and hurried away to hide among the frolicking bodies. He kept moving and stayed in the shadows as much as possible, hoping that morning would come quicker than calamity. But soon he spotted two large warriors moving youth aside to make their way to him. He instinctively reached for his sword, but his empty belt was a stark reminder of what he now knew to be a foolish decision. He had nowhere to run, no way to defend himself, and no one to help him.
The two warriors approached with scowls on their scarred faces. Each grabbed one of his upper arms, their powerful fingers nearly piercing his skin. None of the revelers seemed to notice as the warriors dragged Duncan across the castle yard into a chamber on the southeast side of the castle.
Once Duncan was inside and the door closed, the warriors slammed him up against the gray stones of the wall. One of them drew a long dagger and held it to his throat. Duncan tried to swallow against the steel of the blade, but could not do it without cutting his throat. A fear he had never known welled up within him as he looked into the warrior’s vicious eyes.
“Lord Ra will want to see him before he is unable to speak.” The voice came from a darkened corner of the room. Sir Casimir stepped forward and into the light.
The warrior holding the dagger snarled and looked at Casimir, then back at Duncan.
“Tell Lord Ra we have him,” Casimir said. The other warrior left.
Casimir approached Duncan. He slowly shook his head and said with a wry smile, “You will die here, foolish knight.”
The warrior pressed the dagger further against Duncan’s skin and began to chuckle in anticipation. Duncan tried to turn his head away, but he could press no further into the stone wall. He began to gasp for each breath as the reality of his impending demise bore down on him. The distorted face of the warrior before him left no shred of hope beyond that of a quick death.
The door to the hall opened, and a dark figure entered. Even from across the room, Duncan could feel the evil power it emanated.
Casimir bowed low as Lord Ra strode past him toward Duncan, his black cape snapping behind him. He was outfitted in partial armor that was dark gray with red etchings. Duncan sank deeper into despair as he recognized the image engraved on Ra’s breastplate—the same dragon he had seen on the Vincero medallion. Ra stepped nearer, and Duncan gazed into darkened eyes that made him tremble.
“Gorrock, that’s no way to treat a guest.” Lord Ra’s deep voice reverberated through the chamber.
“Forgive me, my lord.” The warrior pulled the dagger away from Duncan’s throat and stepped aside.
Duncan slumped, his hand about his throat as he took his first deep breath in a long time. Ra reached for Duncan’s shoulder and straightened him to an upright position. Then he lifted Duncan’s chin slightly, inspecting him as one would a horse before making a purchase.
Duncan willed himself to look back—or up, for Lord Ra was as tall as his guards and perhaps even a bit broader. Glossy black hair hung down to just above his shoulders and only partially hid a deep scar that ran diagonally from above his left eye to his cheek. There was no question in Duncan’s mind that Ra was a lofty and d
ark power in Lucius’s evil regime.
“So this is one of His followers.” Ra smirked. “He looks as puny as the rest of them.” Ra looked over at Casimir. “Are you sure?”
“I am,” Casimir responded.
Without looking back, Ra moved an enormous hand to Duncan’s throat and slowly began to squeeze. Panic washed over Duncan, followed by an uncanny sense of calm. From somewhere came the realization that Ra and his minions feared only one thing … the power of the Prince. And he belonged to the Prince.
“I am a Knight of the—” Duncan began, but Ra’s grip tightened and stopped his words.
“There is no Prince here, knave!” Ra’s face was a grotesque contortion of evil. “I rule this region, and Lucius rules this kingdom. The feeble efforts of the Prince through His pitiful knights will only make us stronger, and He will one day bow before us in humiliation!”
Duncan strained against Ra’s grip with both hands but could not break his hold. Ra leaned closer, fixing Duncan with a glare of hate and loathing. Then he released his grip and threw Duncan to the floor.
Gasping, Duncan raised himself up to one knee. “I will … tell you nothing,” he managed to say.
Ra sneered. “Don’t be so naive as to think you know something I don’t. No, the torture you will endure is for one purpose only—our pleasure! Gorrock, take your time killing him … but do kill him!”
Duncan heard the guttural laugh of evil and glimpsed a movement from the corner of his eye just before a rivet-lined boot struck his face. The force knocked him onto his back, and he felt something pop in his neck.
The two warriors grabbed him and dragged him into a back chamber, then down a staircase that led into the depths of the castle. The putrid smell of death permeated his nostrils as he stumbled through musty corridors, pulled along by merciless escorts who reveled in the anticipation of his abuse.
I am so afraid, my Prince … Please help me. Duncan called out with his mind to the only One who could possibly reach into such a place of despair and hear his plea.