Kingdom's Quest by Chuck Black

PENWELL
    After a few days of healing, Gavinaugh resumed his training with the Knights of the Prince in Penwell. He also continued to recruit, and their numbers grew steadily. Under the most severe persecution, Gavinaugh had found the strongest devotion to the Prince. Those who chose to join them did so with full knowledge of the possibility of hardship, so none came halfheartedly.
    As the haven of Penwell grew, so did the regional governor’s anger. Eventually Gavinaugh was again arrested and thrown into the dungeon.
    â€œYou are alive!” Sandon exclaimed. Gavinaugh had been cast into the cell across the aisle. Sandon stood at his cell door and smiled broadly.
    â€œSandon, it is good to see you!” Gavinaugh said.
    â€œQuiet!”
barked the guard as he turned and left.
    â€œDon’t mind him,” Sandon said. “He’s just having a bad day. I made Followers of the last two guards, so now they won’t let me talk to them anymore.”
    Gavinaugh laughed. “Somehow I’m not surprised, my friend.”
    The two men rejoiced at their reunion and encouraged each other greatly.
    Three days later, the guards brought a third captive into the dungeon and cast him into the cell next to Sandon.
    â€œWeston? What in the kingdom are you doing here?” Gavinaugh asked.
    â€œWell, I heard there was trouble in Penwell, and it didn’t take me long to figure out that you were in the middle of it, so I came to see if I could help,” Weston said.
    â€œI see that you are doing a fine job of helping,” Gavinaugh said. “Sir Weston of Cresthaven, meet Sir Sandon of Penwell.”
    The two men shook hands through the bars of their cells.
    â€œThe governor here was not very tolerant of me once he discovered I was associated with you,” Weston said. “At least he released Keanna, though.”
    â€œKeanna? You brought Keanna here?” Gavinaugh asked.
    Weston nodded. “When word came to us that you were in trouble, she insisted on coming with me and would not have it any other way.”
    Gavinaugh was not happy that she was in a city that was so hostile toward the Followers.
    â€œI thought that perhaps since she found it no longer necessary to kill me, she wouldn’t care to ever be near me again,” Gavinaugh said.
    â€œYou know, Gavinaugh, you seem to have that effect on a lot of people,” Sandon said with a grin. “Now you have a woman who wants to kill you as well?”
    â€œYes, what is it about you?” Weston joined in.
    â€œThat would be quite humorous, gentlemen, if it weren’t for the fact that tomorrow we may
all
be sentenced to death.”
    It was a sobering thought, for they knew that the governor was extremely concerned about their influence in the city.
    Two more days passed, and their only connection with the outside world was the guard and a small barred window at the far end of the aisle. By day it gave enough light to see the rotten food they were fed, but at night the dungeon cells became black with darkness.
    One evening, the darkness came early to their cells as they heard a storm building outside. The occasional crash of thunder echoed downto them through the corridor. The door to the dungeon opened, and a guard entered with an oil lamp. Behind him followed Governor Thurman. The governor was pompous and carried himself with an air of arrogance. He stopped before Gavinaugh’s cell.
    â€œYou are a persistent fellow, aren’t you?” he said with a sneer.
    Gavinaugh stood and walked to the cell door.
    â€œI like to consider myself a peaceful ruler in this province, and you have brought great unrest to my people.” The governor spoke with a condescending tone. He took the keys from the guard. “I could easily have you sentenced to death, but my reputation has already been tarnished by your apparent inability to die. And unfortunately, the people seem taken with you.”
    He took a step closer