Kingdom's Call Read Online Free PDF Page B

toward Chessington.
    Kifus spoke only loud enough for the knights to hear.
    â€œThe traitor and his men are a short distance over this hill. We will split into four contingents and surround them. Jayden, Gavin, and Braden will each lead a contingent. We attack together on my command. For King and Code!”
    â€œFor King and Code!” the men intoned and then separated.
    Within a short time, Gavin and his knights crested the hill and were charging in unison with the other three contingents. They descended from the hills upon the stranger and his men. Their swords were all drawn, and the sound of nearly one hundred skilled knights thundering toward their enemy on massive steeds was enough to unnerve any man.
    Kifus halted the knights as the four contingents joined to form an impenetrable circle around the stranger and his men.
    Although the followers of the stranger looked like frightened, cornered rats, the stranger did not. There was a moment of intense silence. Then Kifus moved his steed forward a few paces.
    â€œToday your lies and blasphemies end,” Kifus declared.“Your death and the deaths of your petty servants will restore order to this kingdom once and for all!”
    The stranger walked toward Kifus with his sword still sheathed. He stopped midway. “Kifus, your grievance is with me, not my men. Spare the needless spilling of blood, and let my men leave peacefully. I will go with you as your captive.”
    Gavin looked at Kifus. This was exactly what Kifus had been hoping for, Gavin knew. He desired to one day be as wise.
    Kifus hesitated, pretending to consider the stranger’s proposal. He did so with an air of authority.
    â€œSo let it be,” Kifus said. “Make way!”
    The mounted Noble Knights opened their ranks and allowed the followers to flee to the surrounding hills unharmed. Once they were clear, the circle of Noble Knights closed in on the stranger until he drew his sword.
    What a fool
, Gavin thought.
Does he really think he can defeat a hundred mounted Noble Knights?
Gavin glanced toward Kifus and was amazed to see fear on his face. Kifus and the knights paused, but instead of fighting, the stranger threw his sword high above and beyond the ring of knights and surrendered unarmed.
    The knights bound the stranger’s hands tightly behind him. They proceeded back to Chessington, and Gavin noted that Kifus chose the longest and most public route to the great hall. It was an opportunity to show the people of Chessington that the Noble Knights were truly the supreme authority, despite the turmoil this stranger had caused over the past months. Word spread quickly through the city, and soon the streetswere lined with people. The reaction from the onlookers varied from dismay to delight. They followed behind the knights and their captive until they reached the palace grounds. The throng of people grew to such a mass in the outer courtyard that Kifus had to assign extra guards to keep order.
    In the great hall, the stranger was placed before Lord Kifus’s table. All of the knights gathered to see how the stranger would endure the shrewd words of Kifus. Gavin remained behind the other knights, just as Kifus had ordered. He was surprised when he saw Demus quietly enter the hall and stand across the room, apparently unnoticed by everyone there.
    Kifus brought the assembly to order before addressing the stranger. “As Noble Knights, we are the keepers of the Code and the protectors of Chessington. We were chosen by the King to defend justice and honor here among the people. Your acts of treason against the Code and the city of Chessington demand severe punishment.”
    Kifus glared at the stranger. Gavin had never seen him so intent in his dialogue before.
    Kifus took a deep breath and seemed to relax slightly. “However, we will consider a lesser punishment if you will refute all of your preposterous claims.”
    The stranger did not respond. He only stared at