Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione by Chuck Black Page A

Then, very slowly, he lowered his sword and opened his arms. He took a great risk in doing so, for he would find it difficult to recover in time if the man chose to take advantage of his evident vulnerability.
    “We are an order of peace … and of hope,” Kendrick explained to his opponent. “We have only one enemy—Lucius the Dark Knight and his Shadow Warriors.”
    This statement visibly stunned the man, and his sword lowered slightly. “What is your name?”
    “I am Kendrick of Penwell.”
    The man hesitated, not completely relinquishing his defensive posture.
    Kendrick opened his arms wider. “I am at your mercy, sir, for I come on behalf of a fellow knight. His life and now mine will be determined by your choice this moment.”
    The man hesitated. “Remove your breastplate.” He tightened his grip on his sword as if to ready himself for an attack.
    Kendrick sensed he needed to trust this man, yet struggled with the courage to do so. He thrust the tip of his sword into the snow in front of him with the hilt still within arm’s reach. Then he removed his breastplate and let it fall to the ground.
    The man approached slowly, never taking his gaze from Kendrick’seyes. He reached up with his left hand, grabbed Kendrick’s tunic by the collar, and pulled it down to expose Kendrick’s chest to the chill of the mountain air. His gaze slowly dropped to Kendrick’s chest—as if probing his heart for his true intentions—then back up to his eyes. Finally he released his grasp on Kendrick’s tunic and stepped back.
    “I am Landor,” he said. “Come with me.”
    Relief flooded through Kendrick as he recovered his breastplate, sheathed his sword, and moved to follow the other man through the snow. Landor walked quickly, despite a slight limp in his gait. He led them deeper into the mountain forest, climbing steadily until eventually they reached a steep and rocky cliff. Once they had scaled it, Kendrick turned about and realized he could see the entire southern approach of the mountain range from this vantage point. Another fifty paces on, behind a thick curtain of pine trees, stood a small secluded cabin.
    Kendrick entered behind Landor and discovered a comfortable, neatly kept dwelling. There was only one room, for the place was obviously meant to shelter but a single man. It appeared to Kendrick that Landor had lived here for a very long time.
    “Sit.” Landor pointed to the single chair next to his table. He placed some bread and an urn of water on the table between them, then retrieved a stool from the corner and sat across from Kendrick.
    Kendrick nodded his thanks but didn’t eat or drink. Neither did Landor. He just sat and looked at Kendrick through narrowed eyes. “Regardless of the words you are about to speak, one of us will die today.”
    Kendrick understood instantly. Landor would kill or die rather than let anyone know of his existence or his location.
    “If this is true,” Kendrick replied, “then I have journeyed in vain to find you. For my quest involves saving lives, not destroying them.” Kendrick met Landor’s hard stare as he searched the man’s deep blue eyes for the slightest hint of compassion. He found something else instead.
    “How did you know to search for me here?” Landor asked. “Why did you come?”
    “You can be at peace. No other sane Arrethtraen knows you live on this mountain.”
    Landor’s brow furrowed as if he didn’t understand.
    “As for my purpose, I have a friend who is in great peril, and I am told that you are the only one who might be able to help me.”
    Landor huffed out a mirthless laugh. “I help no one.” He looked away. “It is not my … purpose in life.”
    “I hear your words,” Kendrick replied, “but I see something very different.”
    At that Landor looked back and nearly sneered at him.
    “I am here, alive, and sitting in your cabin,” Kendrick said. “Your allowance of my presence here testifies to something more in you.”