Kingdom's Edge (13 page)

AGE OF DARKNESS

During the meal with Derek and his family, we shared the story of the Prince with Cassy and the children. They too understood, believed, and were born into a new life of hope. The spilled blood of the Prince caused love and compassion to flourish where there once was a desert. This family was transformed by His story, and I knew they would never be the same.

We left their home and traveled on to our destination in northern Chessington. Our mutual joy in sharing compassion with a family had been uplifting but brief.

We passed a variety of shops and homes along the way. On every corner a message was posted, and the usual bustle of activity on the streets paused as small assemblies gathered to read what had been posted. The dust of the streets settled while all of Arrethtrae held its breath. We joined the crowd at one street corner and read the following:

Governor Supreme Alexander Histen is hereby appointed King of Arrethtrae. All people will swear allegiance to King Alexander Histen and acknowledge his authority over all subjects by complying with the following proclamation:

We stood in silence as the severity of this edict settled into our minds. It was the beginning of a new age of darkness.
What will happen to the Knights of the Prince?
I wondered.

“Well, gentlemen, life has just become very, very hard,” William said.

“Yes, it has,” I said. “But what better time than now to spread the words of the Prince? The people will feel the iron hand of Histen and know bondage as they have never known it before. He is trying to strip the people of all hope, but we will give it to them. We will find a way to carry on. The Prince expects no less from us. Let us unite in an inseparable bond of brotherhood and fulfill our duty to the Code, the Prince, and the true King of Arrethtrae!”

I placed my hands on the shoulders of William and Rob. I was confident that they too knew we must press on. Too much was at stake for us to lose hope and give up.

“Let us not forget the promise of the Prince. He will return,” I said, hoping to encourage them as well as myself.

William's jaw tightened in determination, and Rob nodded as we vowed to persevere no matter the cost.

The grain of our vow was quickly tested. Four of Histen's men were collecting a “fee” from a shop owner across the street. This was a normal practice since Histen had come to power, but the new proclamation gave his men renewed arrogance.

“In addition to our fee, King Histen requires your daughter to come and serve in his palace,” we heard the lead henchman say.

He was the largest of the four and wore a black beard cut close to his skin. His thick chest and dark eyes made him formidable. His three cohorts did not look as threatening, though sometimes looks are misleading. They sneered and obviously enjoyed the anguish they were about to cause this poor man and his daughter.

William, Rob, and I began to walk across the street toward the skirmish.

“I have paid you faithfully for over a year,” the man said. “I have even sworn allegiance to King Histen. My wife has died, and my daughter is all that is important to me. You ask too much! I will not hand over my daughter to King Histen or to anyone else!”

“Then we will take her by force. Step aside!”

I heard a panicked scream from within the shop as the owner tried to stop the brutes from entering.

“Leave him alone!” I shouted.

Rob and William positioned themselves on my left and right, a few yards in front of the shop. The three of us were no longer amateur swordsmen. Over the past few years, we had honed our skills and fought many enemies. If I must fight a battle, I prefer William and Rob at my side. They are veterans and men of honor—men that I can trust.

The four men turned to see what insolent fool dared to challenge them. The leader gazed harshly at us.

“Who dares challenge my authority and interfere in the King's business?” The man threatened more than he asked.

“No one you need be concerned with … as long as you leave the man and his daughter alone,” William said.

“You are in violation of the King's proclamation. Hand over your swords immediately or you will be severely punished,” the leader said.

“We will give our swords to you, but you will not enjoy the manner in which they come,” Rob said as his hand came to rest on the hilt of his sword.

The leader became enraged at our defiance and drew his sword from his scabbard. Within seconds, six more swords slid from scabbards, filling the air with a brief harmony of sliding steel on steel. The leader spoke in hushed tones to one of his men, and the man withdrew slightly from the impending fight. Three of them charged, and we readied ourselves for the assault. The bearded leader came for me.

I was challenged by my foe, as was William by his, but Rob gained the upper hand on his opponent quickly. He maneuvered him off to the left and away from the shop's door. The owner disappeared within, presumably to protect his daughter. From the corner of my eye, I saw the fourth man heading east toward Histen's palace.

A strong blow came from my left. I blocked it with the flat of my sword and countered with a slice across the middle that grazed my enemy's right shoulder. He cursed but was not seriously injured, and he renewed his fight with vehemence. I saw Rob parry a weak cut and counter with a quick thrust that put his opponent down.

“Rob,” I called, “get the man and his daughter south to Barrett. I fear reinforcements are coming, so you'll have to move fast. We'll meet up with you there.”

Rob entered the shop, and I turned my full attention to my opponent. William gained the upper hand, and his foe backed off and ran east. The bearded leader withdrew also. Down the street from the east, I saw a band of men coming speedily.

“You will pay for your treason with your lives!” the leader screamed.

We ran into the shop and locked the door, then exited through a back door into an alleyway. I saw Rob and his new companions at a distance to the south, but they were still vulnerable.

“William, we must stall Histen's men. We have to buy Rob enough time to get the man and his daughter to safety,” I said.

The shouts of men were getting closer with each passing moment. We ran through another shop and onto a street parallel to the street on which the fight had begun. We ran north one street, then west. Histen's men followed as we had hoped, but we kept them at a safe distance. Finally, we lost our pursuers and found refuge in a small, unoccupied hut off the main streets.

William and I rested, waiting for Histen's men to abandon their search. It was some time before we ventured out again.

“I hope Rob was successful,” William said.

“Many hours have passed—ample time for them to reach safety,” I said. “Let's take the back way out into the alley and start making our way home.”

“I'm more than ready to go home, my friend,” William said.

We slowly entered the alley, keeping a careful watch on
the street just to the left of us. At last, there was no sign of a search, and we were relieved. The alley felt more secure than the street we were about to enter—or so I thought.

Behind us, a subdued, evil-sounding chuckle broke my false hopes of seclusion. As we turned, the chuckle became a pompous, roaring laugh. Chills traveled up my spine.

It was Alexander Histen himself! He was mounted on a black stallion, which snorted and flared its nostrils. On each side of Histen stood four of the largest warriors I had ever seen. All four were darkly dressed, with leather straps crossing their chests. Each stood a full head taller than William or I. Obvious veterans of sword fighting, each owned a variety of scars. Their muscular frames alone were forbidding, but the massive swords they carried finished the picture of undaunted destruction these men were clearly capable of. We had faced similar foes before—these were Shadow Warriors.

Their brazen appearance with Histen told me one thing: The Dark Knight was near! Surely this was the age of darkness the Prince had spoken of. I glanced at William and knew he felt the same fear I was fighting.

The four Shadow Warriors surrounded us. We stepped back toward the rock wall on the side of the alley. I thought that to draw our swords would mean quick and certain death.

Histen spoke in a thick, condescending tone. “So this is Sir William and Sir Cedric of Chessington.”

Although I had never seen Histen up close, he seemed as large as the Shadow Warriors. I was sure this perception was because he was mounted.

“Your little escapades around the kingdom are over!” he said as he dismounted the stallion.

As he approached, he seemed to grow with each stride until I realized that Alexander Histen stood shoulder to shoulder with the Shadow Warriors. Unlike them, however, his face and exposed skin were free from any scars. His hair was jet-black and cut short. His facial features were sharp, and his eyes were deep, dark, and penetrating. It was clear he was the only author of commands when present.

“I am King of Arrethtrae. I will show mercy and allow you one chance to swear allegiance to me,” Histen said.

In all my adventures as a Knight of the Prince, this was my most terrifying. My true fight was within me
—fear
. With death staring me in the face, would my faith in the Prince give me the courage I needed to stand firm?

One of the Shadow Warriors drew his sword, anxious to taste first blood. Two of them moved closer to us.

“Swear your allegiance and bow before me or die!” The words shot like poisoned darts. I slowly began to realize just how truly evil Histen was.

William spoke first. “Our allegiance is to the Prince and His Father, the true King of Arrethtrae!”

Though they were monstrous men, all four of them winced when William spoke of the Prince. Even His name was powerful!

The Shadow Warrior closest to William struck him on the brow with the hilt of his sword. William fell to his knees and covered his head with his hands. Blood spilled between his fingers and onto the ground.

Before I could kneel and help him, Histen stepped forward
and gripped my neck with his left hand. It was then that I remembered the Prince's Silent Warriors.

“The King reigns—and His Son!” I voiced what I could through Histen's tightening grip.

Histen and the four Shadow Warriors bellowed in wicked laughter.

“The Silent Warriors will not save you, knave! I own this kingdom now. The former King and His weak Son are finished here.” As Histen spoke, his heinous smile turned to a sneer of disgust. “I have finished them in Arrethtrae, and I will return one day to His own kingdom and kill them both!”

My fear, though I know not why, instantly left me. I knew I could stand and die with honor. Though Histen tried to demean the King and the Prince, his voice betrayed him, and I knew that Histen feared the Prince more than any fear I would ever feel for Histen.