Free Kingdom's Hope by Chuck Black

Moradiah, you are being held as prisoners of the palace and charged with treason against the city of Chessington.” The leader of the knights stated the charge matter-of-factly. He was one of Moradiah’s personal knights who had come to Chessington with her.
    â€œThis is preposterous! Take me to Quinn!”
    â€œSilence!” the knight shouted. “Take them to the prison cells.”
    Leinad and Tess were taken to the lower level of the palace where the prison cells were located and thrown into one of the compartments. The heavy door was shut and locked.
    â€œI guess neither one of us will be leaving the city,” Tess said as she sat on the floor and leaned against the wall.
    Leinad checked the strength of the door and then sat on the cold rock floor next to her.
    â€œAnd the young child falls off the cliff,” Leinad said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI’m sorry, Tess. I’m sorry for the hardship of our past, and I’m sorry for the hardship of our future.” Leinad leaned his head against the wall. “You deserve so much better.”
    Tess placed a gentle hand on his arm. “I’m not sorry, Leinad. I wouldn’t change a day of my life after I met you and your father.”
    Leinad smiled as he remembered that day long ago when the world seemed brighter. He looked at the slender, pretty face of his companion and remembered the freckles and dirty strawberry-blond hair of her childhood. His anguish for the people of Chessington subsided for a few moments as they reminisced.
    T IME PASSED SLOWLY, AND THE thick walls of the cell insulated them from the fierce battle that ensued above. Leinad and Tess mourned for the people and for the city. Many hours later, a servant boy came running down the stairs with keys jingling in his hands. Soon the door of their cell was opened, and Leinad and Tess exited quickly.
    â€œI know you are good people, and I have seen the wickedness of Moradiah firsthand,” the boy said.
    â€œThank you, son,” Leinad said. “You have done well. How goes the battle?”
    â€œThe city is nearly overrun. Most of the knights are dead, and the Kessons are approaching the palace as we speak.” The boy looked down. “It is awful, Sir Leinad.”
    Leinad put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “What of Lord Quinn and Lady Moradiah?”
    â€œLord Quinn leads the battle on the steps of the palace. Lady Moradiah tried to flee, but the Kessons pursued. She is dead, sir.”
    â€œWhere did they put our swords, son?”
    â€œI don’t know, sir. I think they were taken to the armory.”
    â€œDo you know what my sword looks like?”
    The boy smiled. “Yours is the grandest of them all, Sir Leinad.”
    Leinad knelt down to face the boy eye-to-eye. “Do me a favor, lad. Find my sword and stow it in a safe place. Do you know of a safe place?”
    The boy ran into the cell that Leinad and Tess had been in and slid a brick loose from one of the corners. A dirt alcove that was deep enough for a sword lay behind the brick.
    â€œFor a young boy, you sure seem to know a lot about this palace,” Leinad said with a slight smile.
    â€œNobody pays much attention to a servant boy, so I know a lot more than most folk realize.”
    Leinad put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “If you can’t find my sword quickly, find someplace out of the way and stay put until the fighting is over, all right?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    Leinad and Tess hurried up the prison stairs, and the sounds of deadly fighting filled the air.
    The Kessons were at the palace gates and were overrunning the few remaining knights. Quinn and twenty or so knights were heavily engaged in a last stand on the palace steps. Leinad spotted Audric at the front of the line beside Quinn. It was a desperate battle.
    Leinad looked for a sword so he could join the fray, but there was none.
    Quinn fought with more courage and valor than