Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione Read Online Free PDF Page A

the plots of the enemy.”
    Duncan squinted and nodded. “So tell me, oh somber one, are you as good with the sword as you are with the lance?” Duncan’s boyish grin returned.
    Kendrick shook his head but couldn’t hide his smile. He resumed his walk, leaving Duncan behind to inspect the gold coin.
    Duncan quickly caught up. “So why did you want to make Casimir angry?”
    “Because angry men make mistakes. In tomorrow’s competition I am hoping he will become reckless and reveal some information we need.”
    “You think he wears the medallion?”
    “With the armor, I don’t think there is much chance of spotting it. But keep your eyes open. Before this competition is over, we’ll no doubt learn what the man is made of.”
    Unlike the Skill at Arms competition, Swords was a face-to-face event. Each round was timed, and judges gave points for a successful strike or thrust that landed upon the opponent’s armor. If a knight lost his sword, suffered injury, or was completely overcome, he was eliminated from the round, and his opponent was granted the victory.
    Much to Duncan’s delight—and surprise—Kendrick advanced with relative ease. He and Duncan watched Sir Casimir fight each round as well. The man’s skill was impressive, and so was his aggressiveness. With each advance, Casimir’s tactics seemed to become more brutal.
    The crowd swelled as the day progressed. The amphitheater was full for the semifinal round. Kendrick and Duncan watched as Casimir engaged a worthy opponent from Keighwick.
    “Casimir’s excellent with a sword,” Duncan said to Kendrick as they watched the first volley of exchanges.
    “He’s more than that,” Kendrick replied. “He’s vicious, and I suspect we haven’t yet seen the full extent of his skill or his cruelty. He’s holding back even now.”
    The swords flashed back and forth, and the crowd exclaimed their approval with each engagement. The other knight made an advance and was able to score a wide slice across Casimir’s breastplate. The crowd responded with shouts and applause, and the judges scored two points for the knight from Keighwick.
    Casimir stepped back as though dazed. His sword lowered slightly, and the other knight came at him with renewed hope. Just when it looked as though Casimir would be scored upon again, he exploded with the power of a battle warrior. The other knight instantly began adefended retreat, but there was no stopping Casimir’s furious assault. Within minutes he had scored enough points for a sure victory, but he did not stop. The knight in retreat looked almost helpless as Casimir continued his volley of cuts and slices until he found the perfect opening. He thrust his sword into a shoulder joint of his opponent’s armor and angled its path so it would severely injure the knight.
    It was a subtle but deadly move, and Kendrick knew it was no accident. The knight collapsed, and Casimir loomed over him like one who had conquered a true enemy. The crowd gasped, and the tournament officials called for aid to be given to the fallen knight.
    “Did you see.?” Duncan turned to Kendrick, eyes wide. But Kendrick simply turned without a word and began to prepare for his own semifinal round.
    Kendrick’s duel was challenging, but he successfully analyzed his opponent’s weakness and took advantage of it. The knight never adjusted, and Kendrick ended the round with an easy win. The next contest was the main event of the day—the final round of Swords between Sir Casimir and Sir Kendrick.
    “Are you sure you want to do this?” Duncan asked.
    Kendrick looked at him and nearly laughed. “I’m the one who didn’t want to come here in the first place. Remember?”
    “But that last knight, the one from Keighwick—I was told he died.” Duncan shook his head in disbelief. “Why would a man be so brutal as to kill another so unnecessarily?”
    Kendrick paused and looked at his young charge. “When a man’s eye is so full of evil that no