Warriors of the King: The Adventures of a Young Christian Soldier in the King’s Army

By K. Dennis Chambers

Alaric doesn’t let anyone tell him how to live his dangerous life spent robbing the rich barons and wicked squires who inhabit his medieval world. One day, deep in the forest trails, he encounters a soldier of the King. Far from robbing this formidable knight, Alaric is persuaded to visit the King’s castle and discover for himself what a meaningful life looks like.

This new life that unfolds in front of him is filled with adventures, sword fights on flat prairies and steep mountains against powerful enemies, new friends, and even a girl whose smile lingers in his mind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973645993

K. Dennis Chambers

A former Navy officer in the Pacific Fleet, Dennis Chambers has worked in the creative departments of major advertising agencies, taught English at several colleges, and enjoys exploring the coulees and mountains of Montana. He holds a Master’s Degree in 18th Century English Literature from Boston University and has studied advanced grammar teaching in Ireland. He once, to his surprise, placed third in a state epee sword fighting contest. He lectures frequently on the Tabernacle in Exodus. A father and grandfather, he lives with his wife and Boston Terrier on the seacoast of Massachusetts.

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Copyright © 2019 K. Dennis Chambers.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-4598-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-4597-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-4599-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018913728

WestBow Press rev. date: 12/21/2018

CONTENTS

Chapter 1     The Highwayman

Chapter 2     The Village Carpenter

Chapter 3     Fight on the Plains

Chapter 4     Witton Meets the Hill Soldiers

Chapter 5     The Evil Ones Return

Chapter 6     Akara and the Fight in the Coulee.

Chapter 7     The Cleft in the Rock

Chapter 8     The Path to the Castle

Chapter 9     The Castle

Chapter 10   Zeeveldt’s Lament

Chapter 11   People of the Castle

Chapter 12   The New Soldier

Chapter 13   Morgan and Alaric

Chapter 14   The Fight on the Prairie

Chapter 15   Evil in the Forest

Chapter 16   Three on the Trail

Chapter 17   Fight in the Meeting House

Chapter 18   The Battle Looms

Chapter 19   Peril in the Forest

Chapter 20   The Powers of Darkness

Chapter 21   The Great Loss

Chapter 22   Lesson from the Sword Master

Chapter 23   The Quest Begins

Chapter 24   The Highwaymen

CHAPTER ONE

The Highwayman

T he horse and rider worked as one.

The large chestnut mare stepped carefully along the narrow path in the forest, while the rider ducked the low branches and patted his horse gently on her powerful neck. Good girl, he said. We’ll be through this soon and I’ll have some oats for you.

Dolly The Horse responded with a gentle shake of her neck. She and this man had spent many years together. They were both not young, but they were a formidable team.

The man sat easily astride a plain leather saddle. He had been riding horses since he was a boy a long time ago. But now he was weary. About five hours earlier they had stopped by a bubbling creek for a rest and a quick lunch: grass for Dolly, dried beef and water for the man. Now the sun was dipping behind the trees and the shadows were lengthening. Soon he would have to stop to build a fire and stretch out a canvas cloth for a tent and a welcome night’s rest.

Dolly stopped abruptly. She neighed softly, tapping her right foreleg on the turf. The man leaned down to her ear: Something wrong, eh, girl?

The rider was wearing a full-length cloth cloak with a hood that covered most of his face. Now he pushed the hood back and scanned the forest on all sides with eyes that were still keen. A figure stepped out from the trees and stood directly in their path. Dolly snorted. The rider looked at this youth – not older than nineteen or twenty, he guessed – and waited calmly to see what would happen.

Stand and deliver! the youth shouted, much louder than necessary. The surrounding trees absorbed his voice. He seemed taller than most boys his age, if perhaps a little thin. The brown hair on his head was long and unkempt. He was dressed in forest garb: soft leather shoes, tattered brown leggings, a cloth shirt that once had been green, and a plain leather hat with a small brim all around. His face was dirty and his eyes were bright. On his left thumb he wore a large gold ring that sparkled with jewels – a ring far too big and too rich for the lad to have bought for himself. He held a short broadsword in his right hand. He was all business.

I’m glad to stand, the rider said. I’ve been riding all day. As for the other part, what would you like me to deliver?

Stand and deliver! the boy said again. He had evidently rehearsed only one line. Silver, gold, scrip, coins, anything valuable. Wouldn’t mind some food, either.

Silver and gold have I none, the rider said. I am but a poor soldier in the service of another, and everything I own is on this fine horse.

The youth narrowed his eyes in annoyance. Is there no one in this forest who carries valuables? Yesterday my quarry was a monk who had taken a vow of poverty. A vow to be poor! I have managed to be poor without bothering to take a vow. Perhaps I should have taken a vow to be rich. And now you! A soldier with no money.

The soldier could see the young fellow was frustrated and took pity on him. But be of cheer. I can give you something worth far more than gold.

Now you are talkin’, the youth said, his mood instantly improved. Climb down from there, old man. And then deliver. Be quick about it. We haven’t all day.

Very well, the rider said, seeming to accept his fate. He leaned forward, patted Dolly again on the neck to reassure her, lifted one leg over the pommel and eased down to the ground. He put his hands on his hips and stretched his back in relief. My name is Lanus, he said. And you are right. I have grown old in the King’s service.

The man called Lanus pulled the cloak from his shoulders to reveal that he was clad from neck to feet in armor that gleamed faintly in the gathering gloom of the forest. The youth’s eyes widened in awe.

I heard that there were real soldiers – with armor and trumpets and all – up in the mountains, Alaric said, but I’ve never seen one before.

Lanus stood quietly with a sympathetic expression on his face and gave the boy time to take in this new experience. He wore a shirt of flexible chain mail on which hung a steel breastplate. His hips and legs were guarded by steel plates. His shoes looked to be made of steel as well, with leather inserts showing at the top edges. A battered but shining silver helmet hung from his belt on his right side, and on his left, suspended from a silver chain, was a straight sword encased in a plain steel sheath. The handle was long enough to be held by two hands. Across the knight’s back the young man could see the top of a broad shield gleaming brighter than all the rest. Every piece was exquisitely made, and the soldier wore the ensemble lightly, as if were made of cloth.

My name is Alaric, Sir Knight, the boy said, using courtesy to keep his victim calm. And now you may deliver. Including the armor. I can get a good price for that down in the village. And it seems a fair tax for you to pay for using the trails in my forest.

He brandished the sword higher in front of him and pointed it at the soldier, who seemed oddly unconcerned.

You have made two mistakes, young Alaric, the soldier Lanus said. One, you let me stand on firm ground, and two, you have given me room to show you that I too have a sword.

With that Lanus unsheathed the biggest and shiniest sword the boy had ever seen. It was over three-feet long with a double-edged blade honed to razor edges. The handle was covered with wide strips of leather roughened from long use, like the glove Alaric had seen on the hand of a stonecutter. The soldier held the weapon in his right hand easily, as if it weighed nothing at all. With astonishing speed he slipped the point of his sword inside the handle of the boy’s weapon and flipped the sword out of his grip, spinning it away to the side of the path where it plunged point first into the soft earth. Lanus grinned, as if it had been a juggling trick they could both enjoy, and sheathed his own weapon.

You may pick up your sword, friend Alaric, so long as you put it away.

The boy wrapped himself in all the dignity he could find, walked over to where his sword quivered uselessly in the ground, pulled it free, and stuck it in his belt.

What do you have, the boy said, looking sideways and squinting at the soldier, that’s worth more than gold? He had not run away, Lanus observed. Even disarmed, he was game.

Well, let’s see, Lanus said, pretending to search for pockets that did not exist in his armor. Then he looked steadily in the lad’s eyes. I have nothing like that fat ring on your thumb, which you doubtless stole from some frightened squire.

The boy’s face flushed red as he tucked the hand in a pocket.

Lanus smiled. But I have something far, far more valuable: an invitation for you from the King himself to come visit his castle. Let’s see, what else? I have a flask in my saddle of the sweetest water you will ever taste. You cannot drink gold when you’re thirsty. I have news of how you may obtain eternal life. I have a story to tell you that will almost certainly change how you think about robbing other people for a living. And just between you and me, my young friend, you are not the best highway robber I’ve ever seen. I can give you a way to put your feet on a new path and fill your life with hope and joy. And that’s just the beginning of what the King can open up for you! So what do you think?

Alaric put his hand on the handle of his sword. I think you are making fun of me.

Lanus went to his saddle, took out a metal flask, and tossed it to the boy. I suppose I was having a little bit of fun at your expense, but you are the best thing to happen to me in many days. I’ve been asking the King to send someone my way on this lonely path, and he sent you. Please forgive me. And try that water. It’s from the King’s own well. You’ll see that I’m serious about helping you.

Alaric uncapped the flask and sniffed the pure aroma. He became suddenly thirsty and took a long, cool drink.

This is the purest water you will ever taste, Lanus said. People tell me it fills their soul with the deepest refreshment.

The boy seemed to be impressed with the water, but reluctant to show it. In spite of that, he held up the flask and Lanus indicated he should take another swallow. He seemed to enjoy the second even more than the first.

Alaric capped the flask and tossed it back to Lanus with a nod of thanks.

Who’s the best highwayman you ever saw, if not me? Alaric said.

Me, Lanus said, taking a deep drink of the cool water himself.

But you’re a soldier.

"Not always. I used to be lazy and shiftless. I stole money from an old widow one time. I cheated a man out of a cow he was taking to market. I would sometimes get into fights down in the village. I robbed a few pudgy manor lords on paths much like this one, and I always found something worth stealing.

"The next-best highwayman in the world is a fellow named Durbin. Taught me everything I know. If you ever run into him, tell him Lanus was a better robber than he was. See what he says.

He told me the trick is to size up the quarry before you reveal yourself to him. And always keep an eye out for those who cannot fight back. I’m not proud of any of it, but that’s who I was. Now there, the soldier said, smiling broadly. You see? Already a valuable lesson – and it’s free.

I don’t steal from widows.

Well then. That’s something. Lanus looked at him. Who’s with you?

The boy stiffened. Who says somebody’s with me?

"You did. You said we don’t have all day."

Alaric looked down at his feet, disgusted with himself. Come on out, he said loudly. Come meet a fancy soldier who robs old ladies.

From the forest shadows emerged two youngsters, a girl about 15 and a boy about 11. They were even dirtier than Alaric, with grubby hands and tangled, matted hair. Their clothes were in tatters. They both looked gaunt and underfed. And defiant.

Dolly snorted nervously upon seeing them. The children smelled of damp earth and sweat; the horse could sense their agitation.

This is my sister Morgan, Alaric said, and my little brother Gwayn. I take care of them.

Yes, I see that, the soldier said, and tossed the flask of water back to Alaric, who shared it with his siblings. They too widened their eyes at how delicious plain water could be. Lanus started taking the saddle off of his horse. Dark soon. Let’s camp here for the night. I have enough food to share – that is, if you like dried beef, hardtack biscuits, plums, and more of that fine water.

You ain’t afraid we’ll rob you and run away?

Lanus chuckled. My armor is too heavy for you to carry, and it won’t fit you. My horse, Dolly, listens only to me and is the stubbornest horse in this whole Valley. Oh, wait, you can keep the water – it’ll do you good. You can have whatever trail food is left. And I have a small copy of the King’s Book in my saddlebag – you can have that too.

Alaric shook his head in anger. Your armor don’t look all that heavy. You walk around like it’s nothing. I could carry it just like you do.

That’s the thing about the King’s armor, Lanus said, if you truly serve the King it weighs nothing at all. But if you don’t serve him, it’s heavier than a hay wagon.

With that, Lanus unhooked the silver helmet from his belt and tossed it to the boy. Alaric caught