Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione (9 page)

Duncan and Kendrick arrived back at the shop just as Elise emerged carrying a small satchel. Duncan stammered out an offer for Elise to ride his horse, and she graciously accepted. She guided them down various streets toward the southwestern edge of the city, then pointed out a road that led into the country.

“It’s not far now,” she said. “We live a short distance out of Bel Lione.”

Before they had gone far, Elise directed them down a less-traveled road that branched off to the right. Large trees stretched their limbs overhead to form a shady tunnel, now vibrant with colorful autumn leaves. Duncan, who had been tongue-tied since he met Elise, gradually relaxed as they went down this enchanted byway, and soon the two young people were engaged in small talk. Kendrick lingered slightly behind them, wondering if Duncan had any inkling as to how to win a maiden’s heart.

The end of the road brought them to the beautiful front courtyard of a rambling, unpretentious manor house. The place looked comfortable and inviting, although ragged hedges and worn paint gave evidence
the estate had fallen on difficult times. Kendrick assumed the death of Elise’s father had something to do with that.

A boy of about sixteen came to greet them as they neared the manor.

“Hello, Ancel,” Elise said as she dismounted.

“Hi, El,” he said with a look of curiosity on his face. He was a handsome youth whose blond hair was darker and curlier than Elise’s.

“Sir Kendrick, Sir Duncan, I would like you to meet my brother, Ancel. Ancel, these gentlemen are looking for room and board for a few weeks.”

“You’re knights, aren’t you?” Ancel blurted out, his eyes shining. “My father was a knight. I’m going to be one someday!”

“Then we should talk,” Kendrick answered with a smile.

“What order do you belong to?” Ancel asked.

“We are Knights of the Prince,” Duncan replied, “and we’re on a mission of discovery.”

“Really?” the boy asked with a quizzical gaze. “What’s there to discover in Bel Lione?”

“Ancel!” Elise said with a tone of mild rebuke. “These gentlemen are tired from their journey. Please take their horses to the stable and see that they are well cared for.”

Ancel’s smile returned. “Sure, El.”

“Is Mother about?” she asked.

“I think she’s in the kitchen.” Ancel reached for Thunder’s reins. “If you catch her, she may have time to put on some extra food for dinner.”

Elise led Duncan and Kendrick into the manor, seated them in a comfortable parlor, and excused herself. She returned with a stately looking woman that Kendrick presumed was Lady Odette. The resemblance between Elise and her mother was obvious.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen. I am Lady Odette of Lionsgate.”

Kendrick and Duncan rose and bowed. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Kendrick of Penwell, and this is Duncan of Trinalda.”

“Elise tells me you are in need of room and board.”

“Yes, my lady, if it isn’t too much of an inconvenience.”

“Not at all. We often host gentry from other cities when the inns are full.” Lady Odette smiled apologetically. “I hope you will forgive the rudimentary service. My two children and I have had to take on the duties of our former servants. Our situation has become a bit difficult since my husband passed away.”

“We are grateful for a bed,” Kendrick replied, “and expect nothing else.”

She smiled. “If your business allows, we should be delighted to have you join us for our meals—midmorning and late afternoon. Just let me know the evening before.”

“We would be honored,” Kendrick said.

“Elise, please take them to the guest rooms while I finish preparing the meal.”

Kendrick and Duncan remained at Lionsgate for many days, learning as much as they could about the castle at Bel Lione. They were careful not to draw too much attention to themselves, for if Kendrick’s suspicions were true, Lord Ra would not ignore their investigation. The town of Bel Lione was large enough to hide their identities, at least for a time, and staying beyond the town’s edge at Lady Odette’s manor helped greatly.

Duncan took it upon himself to escort Elise to the tailor’s shop each morning, and Kendrick suspected his young friend was stricken with love. Over the passing weeks, it became obvious that Elise was just as taken with Duncan. Soon they were taking long walks together in the evenings as well.

Their blossoming courtship obviously pleased Lady Odette, and Kendrick was not inclined to interfere as long as Duncan’s duty to the mission was not hindered. He saw no signs of such. If anything, Duncan’s
interest in Elise seemed to settle him, tempering his restless edge and helping him focus on their work. Kendrick had come to rely on the young man’s quick mind and dedication.

If only the mission were going as well as their partnership. For as weeks passed, Kendrick grew increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in their investigation. The young people of the town declined to divulge specifics of what happened at Ra’s monthly festivals and weekly fetes. The adults seemed to know very little. The need for secrecy made it difficult to ask probing questions. By the end of a month, with another festival fast approaching, he was no closer to discovering the origins of the Vincero Knights than when he first arrived.

Kendrick finally decided it was time to journey back to Chessington and report all that they knew. He informed Duncan they would stay for the upcoming festival and then depart.

“I wish you didn’t have to go.”

“Let’s not think about that—not yet,” Duncan said. “It’s too beautiful a night.”

The evening of the festival had turned out still and fine. Elise held Duncan’s arm as they took their customary evening walk. Her closeness made him feel as though all was right in the kingdom. The cooing of the evening doves gently fell upon them while the fallen leaves swished delightfully beneath their feet. Duncan thought he could be happy in this moment forever … as long as he could forget he was leaving in two days.

“It has been good for Mother to have you and Kendrick stay with us,” Elise said. “Having guests to attend to helps ease the pain of missing Father.”

Duncan nodded. “Your mother is a remarkable woman.” He hesitated. “Are you as pleased as she that we are here?”

Elise looked up at Duncan, her eyes gleaming in the evening light, and Duncan felt his heart skip a beat.

“No.” A charming smile crossed her lips. “Even more so.”

Duncan smiled more broadly than he’d intended. He couldn’t help it. He had never felt like this about anyone before. He loved being with Elise, even though her presence sometimes left him feeling rather addled.

“If only you could stay,” Elise said softly.

“Oh, but I will return. I am certain of it. The Council of Knights will surely want further investigation, possibly action, based on what Sir Kendrick will report.”

“But if they don’t?”

“Come now.” Duncan scrambled to recapture the enchanted mood of the evening. “Let’s not waste our last evening thinking about what may or may not happen.”

Elise met his eyes and mustered a smile. She pulled gently on his arm to bring him a little closer to her as they walked. “Shall we walk as far as the Bel Lione garden?”

“It’s one of my favorite places.”

It took them a while to get to the manicured garden just within the town limits, but they hardly heeded the time. They strolled the garden paths as they had so many evenings before. They sat upon the ledge of a stone arched bridge that spanned a small stream and watched an early moon rise as the remnant light of the day faded away.

Duncan sighed. “It’s getting dark. I should take you back.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Elise leaned her head upon his shoulder and made no move to stand.

Duncan reached out an arm and held her close. He resisted the passing of time for a few more moments, then yielded to its endless and emotionless march across their lives.

“I do think we need to go now,” she finally said. “Mother—”

“Elise!” an urgent voice shouted from the distance. “Elise!”

“Marian?” Elise called out.

They looked up to see a young woman hastily making her way toward them. Elise jumped up, a worried look on her face.

Apprehension began to swell within Duncan, for Marian came from the direction of the road that led to the castle.

Kendrick was in the stables currying Thunder when Lady Odette walked in, a troubled look on her face.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I … I’m a bit concerned. Ancel is not yet home, and it’s getting late. And there is the festival—”

They exchanged a gaze that revealed thoughts neither of them wanted to speak.

“He is a good lad, my lady. I’m sure he has just been detained. I’m sure—”

“Mother! Kendrick!”
Elise’s voice was yet in the distance, but the urgency in her tone left no doubt that something was drastically wrong. Kendrick and Lady Odette ran to meet her in the front courtyard.

“What is it, Elise?” Lady Odette asked. “Where is Ancel?”

Elise reached for her mother’s arms to steady herself. She tried to catch her breath but couldn’t wait and blurted her news in broken phrases.

“Marian came to us,” she gasped. “She said Ancel … went with his friends … to the festival.” She paused to take a couple of deep breaths. “Duncan’s gone after him, to try to stop him before he gets to the castle gate. I came for you as fast as I could. But I fear that Duncan may have gone into the castle after him.”

Elise turned to Kendrick with panic in her eyes. “What will happen, Kendrick?”

Spurred by a rising dread, Kendrick turned and ran to the stables,
where he grabbed Thunder’s bridle. Lady Odette and Elise followed seconds later. Wordlessly they worked to help him fasten the bridle, breastplate, and crupper.

“What will happen?” Elise asked again as he led Thunder out into the courtyard.

“Stay here!” He hoisted himself into the saddle and pressed his steed into a full gallop down the road that led from the manor. A wake of leaves lifted behind Thunder’s powerful strides.

Kendrick’s mind raced through a thousand possibilities as he rode. All but one ended in tragedy. He fought the powerful feelings of impending doom that flooded his soul, for this ride felt like one that had occurred ten years before—right before the discovery that all but destroyed his life.

No, Duncan … no!
he pleaded in his mind as his horse charged forward … forward to the castle of Bel Lione!

A PLACE OF DESPAIR

Duncan ran through the eastern streets of Bel Lione until he reached Lure Road. He could now see the castle, which even from this distance loomed large in the dusk. He wondered if there was any chance of stopping Ancel before he got to the castle, for it must have taken a fair amount of time for Ancel’s friend Marian to reach them in the garden.