Isle of the Ape

by Jason Halstead

  * * * *

  Aleena waited on her knees outside the testing room. The door remained shut while she prayed to Leander for guidance and strength in the coming trial. Sir Celos had gone before her, his right by seniority. When the thick door had shut, she had heard nothing more of him.

  The door opened, pushed by an acolyte and held for her. Aleena swallowed and offered a final silent thank-you to Leander before she opened her eyes and rose. A sense of calm drifted over her, quelling her nerves and setting her at peace. She offered the acolyte a smile and then stepped forward into the room. He shut the door behind her and stayed on the outside of it.

  She saw Sir Amos sitting next to Sir Reynard, the eldest Knight of Leander in Portland. He'd transferred only a few months ago from the temple at Everlin, the kingdom's capital. Rumor held that he was to take over the Portland chapter of knights from Sir Amos but she'd seen no sign of it. The third man at the table was Father Ledell, the high priest of Leander in Portland.

  Aleena bowed her head respectfully to the three men. Celos was nowhere to be seen, nor was there anyone else present. The only explanation was that Celos and the others had gone out one of the other doors that led into the temple.

  "Squire Aleena," Sir Amos said in a clear voice. "Sir Reynard, Father Ledell, and I have gathered to test your merit for advancement within the Church of Leander."

  "It is the dream of many a young squire to become a knight and then one day join the rank of paladins," Father Ledell said. "It is a rarity at the best of times and in the past fifteen years, an impossibility. To seek both in the same day seems excessive."

  "Ours is not to question the will of Leander," Sir Amos added with a glance at the priest. "But there are many who question by what right you come to this trial."

  Aleena kept her chin high as she responded to them. "I am here at Leander's will. I serve him and ask only that he show me how best I can share his blessing."

  "And what do you get out of it?" Sir Reynard asked.

  Aleena looked at the knight and decided she didn't particularly care for his mustache or his surly tone. What she liked didn't matter, though; he was where he was because of his service, and that deserved her respect, if nothing else. "I get joy, Sir Reynard."

  "Joy?"

  "Yes. Joy in knowing I have done His will. Joy in knowing that I have helped others in some way. It fills my heart and justifies the hardships that we endure so long as we can bring Leander's Light into the eyes and heart of others."

  "You are a child. What do you know of hardships?" Reynard asked with a hard edge to his voice.

  "I stood beside knights and squires alike at the battle of Dragonsgate against insurmountable odds. Our faith held the line when our brothers fell. We kept the people of Highpeak and of the kingdom safe until my friend, Alto, could slay the dragon that Sir Gareth sacrificed himself to drive into hiding. I have seen the horrors of war and had my hands stained with the blood of my brothers as they breathed their last."

  "Sir Reynard," Amos spoke as soon as Aleena stopped. "What she speaks is true. Without Aleena's unconventional wisdom and tactics, our lines, however pious, would have been swept away long before. I dare say we owe the day and much of the northern reaches to this young lady, whether the dragon was felled or not."

  "And what of the new troubles that brew in the mountains?" Sir Reynard asked.

  Aleena stiffened. She knew nothing of new troubles.

  "That is a separate matter," Sir Amos said.

  Father Ledell cleared his throat to gain their attention. "Gentlemen, this questioning gets us nowhere. Squire, you know that while your presence has brought renewed faith and interest among the masses, there are those who are resistant to seeing you succeed."

  Aleena stared at him without blinking. "I do now, Father."

  He smiled. "There have been female knights in the past, of course, but it was long ago. Many believe it is best to leave it behind us."

  Aleena's heart was hammering in her chest but she remained frozen and silent. Was she to be tested or ridiculed for being a woman instead of a man?

  "I have heard that you pretended to be boy to even gain the right to test to be a squire. Is this true?" Father Ledell asked.

  "It is no matter," Sir Amos snapped, sparing her everything but the flash of heat on her face. "Saint Leander has blessed this girl time and again. She has been picked by Him. We cannot stand in His way."

  Father Ledell bowed his head respectfully. "Of course there are none who would challenge Leander's wisdom. I merely wish to point out there are reasons to question her."

  "Then let the true testing begin," Sir Amos said. "Let her prove she has Leander's blessing."

  "Come, Sir Amos, strength of arm and speed of steel are no proof of Leander's will. We preach of it, but you and I are fighting men. We know that trial by combat is not proof against duplicity," Sir Reynard said.

  "I don't speak of combat," Sir Amos said. He turned to Aleena and said, "Squire, approach our table."

  Aleena walked forward until she stood directly in front of it.

  Sir Amos nodded and looked her directly in the eye. "Bring forth Leander's Light and let it fill the hearts of these men so that they know the truth of you, that you are an angel sent from Saint Leander to bring His word to the people again."

  Aleena's eyes widened and it was mirrored by the gasps from the other elders at the table.

  "You speak of heresy," Father Ledell threatened.

  Sir Reynard began to speak but Aleena's eyes were locked with Sir Amos's. He nodded at her and she could feel the strength of his spirit in his gaze. She nodded back to him and ignored the bickering at the table. Aleena lowered her head and prayed, calling upon Leander to help her show the men before her the clear path to truth that he had blessed her with. Her heart slowed as the feeling of calm came over her again. She felt the heat in her hand, knew He had answered.

  "Leander's grace!" Father Ledell whispered.

  Sir Reynard turned and blinked, his lips still parted from the last argument he'd spoken. Now he stared speechless at the glow that Aleena's hand emitted. She stepped forward and leaned over the table to brush her hand against Father Ledell's forehead. He gasped and stared at her as tears ran down his cheeks. Sir Reynard was next. He sat there stunned when she touched him, though his lips did curl up into a faint smile.

  Aleena touched Sir Amos last and this time it was her turn to gasp. She felt his body, beaten down by years of stress and work. Most of all, she felt his heart, how it struggled with every beat. But there was nothing the soothing light could do for him, save to ease his worries and take some of the toil from the weary muscle.

  The light faded from her hand, prompting her to step back.

  Sir Amos turned to the other two men, who continued to stare at her. He smiled. "My brothers, have you any doubts remaining? This girl—no, this woman is no mere serving maid."

  "She's meant to be a paladin," Sir Reynard said. He rose from the table and drew his sword so he could reverse it and place it on the table before him. "My sword will fight at your side, young lady."

  "She is Leander's chosen," Father Ledell whispered. He shook his head. "I don't believe it, but it's true. Such belief and strength is rare, even among the priests. Rarer still is the clarity of Leander's blessing. These are amazing times. First Sir Celos, now this."

  "What of the young priest you speak so highly of, Karthor?"

  Father Ledell jerked his head as Sir Amos pulled him from his thoughts. "What? Oh, yes, Karthor. The same strength, I think. Amazing times indeed. We are fortunate to live in them, I think."

  "So is it agreed upon then?" Sir Amos asked.

  Sir Reynard nodded and took his sword back. He sat down without a word.

  "I accept the nomination, but she must still complete a quest," Father Ledell said.

  "She and Celos will be sent to the Northern Divide to learn the source of these troubling rumors we've heard and put a stop to them," Sir Amos said before he t
urned his attention back to Aleena. "Squire Aleena, you are a squire no longer. Kneel."

  Aleena knelt before the table. Sir Reynard and Father Ledell rose and walked around the table, forcing her to turn on her knees to face them. Reynard drew his sword and pressed it against each of her shoulders and then her forehead, reciting the words that elevated her to the title of knight. He handed the blade to Father Ledell and let the priest recite his own variant on the tradition.

  Sir Amos came next and stood before her. He drew his own blade and held it up with an arm that trembled. Golden radiance erupted from the tip and traveled down its length. Aleena knew she should have been blinded by it but she found she could stare at it without harm. Sir Amos pressed the flat of the blade upon her three times.

  "By Leander's Light, accept His blessing into your heart and seek always to do His will," the elder paladin said. He lowered the blade as the glow faded and then sheathed it at his side. "That is the final proof. Leander gave you his blessing through another. You are a squire no longer. Rise, Dame Aleena, and prove Leander put his faith in you wisely."

  Aleena stood, blinking back tears. She bit her lip and nodded, and then turned to leave.

  "Aleena," Father Ledell said, stopping her short. She turned back to him. "Take care, young lady. Having Leander's blessing and ours is one thing, but it may not save you from the jealousy of your former peers."

  Sir Reynard chuckled. "Former or present."

  "Go, Aleena," Sir Amos urged. "Find Celos and journey with him to the north. He knows as much as we do; he can fill you in."

  Aleena nodded but still couldn't trust herself to speak. She managed to mumble, "Thank you!" before she strode back through the door she'd come through and hurried through the halls of the church. She'd accomplished the impossible and she needed to tell people!

  She nearly halted when she realized it might have to wait. She had a quest to go on. No matter what she'd accomplished, she still had much yet to do! She nodded and smiled. She had Leander's blessing; His light would shine on her and show her the way.