Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione by Chuck Black Read Free Book Online

around to face him again. “What happened?” he asked sternly.
    Duncan looked sheepish. “Just as I was leaving, Casimir’s sword and the medallion fell to the floor. He awoke and investigated, but I was out of sight before he came to the window. He may suspect an intruder, but I’m quite certain he doesn’t know it was me.”
    “Let us hope not.” Kendrick reached down to tighten the girth.
    “There is one more thing,” Duncan said.
    Kendrick waited, perturbed at Duncan’s piecemeal confession.
    “I wasn’t alone last night,” Duncan added.
    “What is that supposed to mean?”
    “When I was nearly discovered by Casimir, a large man lifted me to the roof and helped me escape. I don’t know who he is or where he came from.”
    “Did he speak to you at all?” Kendrick asked.
    “When we were a safe distance from Casimir’s inn, he told me to tell you something—that the battle to come is at Bel Lione.”
    “Bel Lione,” Kendrick murmured.
    “Do you know of it?”
    “Yes, though I’ve never actually been there. My home was in that region of the kingdom, south of Bel Lione.” He paced a few steps away, then back again. “But how can we possibly trust the word of this stranger? Why would he help us? We don’t even know his name.”
    “True, but he saved me from Casimir.”
    Kendrick stopped pacing. “We aren’t looking for a battle, at least not now. We’re looking for Casimir’s place of training, and we need more to go on than the cryptic message of a—”
    “Kendrick!” Duncan’s eyes lit up. “Where is Bel Lione?”
    “It is in the center of the kingdom, near a small mountain range. But—”
    “That’s it! When I was inspecting the medallion, I noticed an indented mark within the outline of the image of the kingdom. It was right in the middle of Arrethtrae.”
    Kendrick considered this. “I noticed the same thing on the medallion we inspected back in Chessington, but it was in a different region of Arrethtrae. I thought it was just a blemish on the medallion … but what if the indented areas signal different strongholds, different regions of influence for Lucius?”
    “The Vincero Knights serve the strongholds?”
    “And our friend Sir Casimir may be tied to one at Bel Lione.” Kendrick went to his pack and drew out a rolled vellum map of Arrethtrae. He spread it on a nearby bench. “Show me where you saw the indentation on the medallion.”
    Duncan traced a rough rectangular-shaped region with his finger, and in the center was the city of Bel Lione.
    “It looks like your large friend may truly be an ally. Perhaps he is one of the King’s Silent Warriors.” Kendrick smiled as he saw Duncan’s faceilluminate with surprise. He put a hand on Duncan’s shoulder. “Although I don’t condone your method, young knight, I must admit you have gathered enough information to make our mission a success.”
    Duncan beamed. “So what do we do next?”
    Kendrick pondered this for a moment. “Chessington is far to the south, and Bel Lione is even farther to the north. We would lose many days if we first traveled south to report to the Council of Knights.” Kendrick rerolled the map and returned it to his pack. “Let us see what lies on the hinder side of those mountains then, shall we?”
    “Yes, let’s leave for Bel Lione as soon as the tournament is over.”
    “There is no need to stay for the tournament.” Kendrick reached to unfasten the breast collar that helped secure his jousting saddle. “We have what we came for.”
    “But you are undefeated, and today is the last day,” Duncan argued. “If you beat Casimir at the Joust, you could be the tournament champion!”
    “We are not here to win a tournament. I participated only to find a knight with a medallion, and your discovery last night has taken care of that. We will leave at once.”
    “But I am told that jousting is your best event!” Duncan protested. “Surely it could do no harm to finish out the