Kingdom's Hope Read Online Free

and of Fairos’s people.
    Unlike the previous day, the people were not gathered around the drawbridge. They were working hard, and the oppression of the overseers was severe. Virtually the only action the slaves took that did not bring a scourging from the overseers was when they cursed Leinad as he rode by. Hungry, exhausted, and beaten, they were a people in the depths of despair and hopelessness like they had never felt before.
    It was almost too much for Leinad to continue, but he saw the face of the boy who had first recognized him when he returned three days ago and found all the encouragement he needed. The boy looked up from his burden and smiled at Leinad. It was a smile that gently said, “Take us away fromhere.” Leinad found affirmation in the heart of one boy.
    Leinad took his position in the middle of the drawbridge. There was no announcement, no herald. All knew he was there, but Fairos did not show.
    By midafternoon, Leinad was still waiting in silence. He knew that Fairos could not ignore him forever. With every passing moment, Fairos was admitting defeat.
    Eventually Fairos left the safety of his chamber and exited the castle gate. He rushed upon Leinad without any exchange of words.
    The initial ferocity of Fairos’s attack set Leinad in early retreat, and it took him some time to recover and counter with an advance of his own. But soon Leinad was aware of an attitude in Fairos’s fight that he had never seen before. Though the strength of the fight was still available to Fairos, Leinad could feel his resignation to defeat. He guarded himself against a possible ruse Fairos might have planned.
    The work on the castle grounds stopped once word of the fight spread. The slaves were not sure who they wished to win, for they could not imagine bearing the next hardship that was sure to come if Leinad was victorious again.
    The fight continued and positions were exchanged many times until Leinad’s back was to the castle. Fairos advanced with a quick and powerful combination just as Leinad heard the quick but quiet approach of someone behind him. Leinad knew this new attacker was close behind him, so he parried a hard thrust from Fairos slightly downward and began to sidestep and turn to face his second opponent.
    â€œNevin!”
    The scream of Lady Fairos reached the ears of the combatants on the drawbridge, but it was too late. Fairos’s young son, with his boy-size sword, had charged Leinad from behind to end his father’s disgrace. As Leinad stepped clear of Fairos’s deadly thrust, the boy ran full into his father’s sword.
    An instant of shock silenced everyone. The scream of a hysterical Lady Fairos shattered the silence. The boy looked briefly at his father and then collapsed to the deck of the drawbridge.
    â€œNo!” Fairos screamed in disbelief of the horrific scene before him. He withdrew his sword, threw it aside, and fell to the decking beside his son. He cradled him in his arms.
    â€œMy son! I’ve killed my son!”
    Leinad stepped back in silence. Lady Fairos ran to her dead child and wept uncontrollably. Some of the castle guards approached with swords drawn, ready to do Fairos’s bidding. Fairos looked up at Leinad with the face of a completely broken man.
    â€œYou have taken my honor … you have taken my son. Take these wretched people and leave me forever!”
    Fairos lifted the limp body of his son and carried him into the castle. Lady Fairos’s servants all but carried her back to the castle.
    Leinad was shaken by the tragedy as well, but he reminded himself of the countless people that had come to an early death, some of them children, because of Fairos’s enslavement of the people. He steeled himself for the monumental job that lay ahead.
    He spoke to one of the guards he had once trainedwhen he was instructing Fairos’s men. “Tell the rest of the guards and the overseers of Fairos’s command to