Ernest Dempsey
The Excalibur Key
PROLOGUE
The king’s final orders began with a fit of coughing, as did nearly everything he’d said in the last three days. A thin line of blood oozed from the corner of his mouth into the dark blond beard, his pale face the ghastly color of eminent death.
Godfrey stared at the far wall, eyes bloodshot and sagging. He’d been propped up on a stack of pillows to make him more comfortable, but the cushions did little to ease the pain from the illness ravaging his insides. Ever the warrior, Godfrey didn’t give in. He hardened the muscles in his face so as to not show weakness to the others in the room.
His younger brother, Baldwin, stood nearby with hands folded. He wore a solemn expression — lips drawn into a frown, eyes sullen and full of pity.
No one was sure what had happened.
Godfrey was a relatively young man, only forty years of age. Up until the day he first noticed the symptoms, he’d been in near-perfect health.
Baldwin searched the eyes of every man and woman in the room, hoping to find a traitor in their midst on whom he could place the blame. He suspected poison, but there was no way to be certain. There was also the fact that he’d never seen symptoms like this before from any poisoning. That didn’t mean it could be ruled out. They were strangers in a strange land. The rules were different here.
“Brother,” Godfrey said after the violent stretch of coughs ended. “Come to me.”
Baldwin gave a nod and stepped close to the bed. “Yes, my king.”
The line pried a dismissive snort from Godfrey’s nose. He forced a feeble smile across his face and shook his head. “I’ve told you before, Brother, I do not deserve the title of king. There is only one king of Jerusalem, and that is Jesus Christ. I am merely an advocate and defender.”
Another series of coughs racked his body as soon as Godfrey finished the sentence. Baldwin reached out to steady his brother and give him comfort. When the fit subsided, Baldwin waited for a moment before he spoke again.
“Brother, what would you have me do?”
Godfrey looked into his brother’s eyes and pinched his lips together. He was in a tremendous amount of pain, and it was all the great leader could do to not scream. “Leave us,” he said and waved to the others. “I would like a moment with my brother.”
Baldwin watched as the assistants, nurses, and military advisers filed through the door and disappeared into the hall, leaving the two brothers alone in silence.
Godfrey swallowed. “There is something… something I need you to do.” He struggled to speak.
“Name it, Brother, and by God it will be done.”
Godfrey admired his brother’s loyalty, his fierce determination. He would make a great leader for Jerusalem. “For many years now, I have waged war on the Muslims, fighting for God and His kingdom.”
“And fought well, you have.”
Godfrey raised a weakened hand, signaling that he wasn’t finished. “I believed in the war. I still do. And that is why you must do exactly as I say.”
“Name the task.”
“First, I must make a confession to you, my brother. I… I have kept a secret from you… from everyone, all these years.”
Baldwin frowned, his eyebrows knitted together. “A secret? What kind of secret?”
Godfrey grinned as best he could. “A secret that bears enormous power.”
Baldwin wanted to ask what kind of power, but another string of coughs cut him off.
Godfrey’s body sagged, and for a moment Baldwin thought his brother’s life had come to an end. A quiet whistle seeped out of Godfrey’s nose and told Baldwin his brother was still alive, albeit barely.
Godfrey drew in a deep breath and did his best to straighten up. “This power does not make one invincible, as you can see for yourself. At the end of this day, I will be dead. Nothing can stop that now.”
“Don’t talk like that, Brother. The nurses—”
“The nurses do not know what is wrong with me. My race is run. I accept that and look forward to meeting my God. There is something, however, you have to do for me. And there is something you must know.”
He paused for a moment, reflecting on something from the past. What it was, Baldwin didn’t know.
“Jerusalem will fall to the Saracens again, Brother. No matter how strong our line, no matter our defenses, they will return, and they will overrun us.”
Baldwin started to refute the notion, but Godfrey went on. “I do not wish that to be the case, but I know that is what the future holds. Things always change, Baldwin. They cannot stay the same forever. That is not the way of the universe, and certainly not the world of men.”
Baldwin’s head bowed low. “Will this happen in my lifetime?”
“Difficult to say. I think not, but it is possible.”
“What can I do to stop this?”
Godfrey’s eyes narrowed. “You must lead the people as best you can, Brother. Be true to God and to them. Let that be your guiding principle.”
Baldwin waited a minute before he spoke again. “You mentioned a power.”
“Yes. It is the great secret. Eight others possessed it before me. It is a relic of incredible importance, and must never fall into the hands of the Saracens. Were that to happen, I fear the worst.”
“I… I don’t understand. If this relic is so powerful, why not use it to fend off the Muslims? We could destroy them forever.”
“It does not work that way, Brother. Its power is not infinite. It fades. I do not know how to describe it other than to say that this relic must be returned to its home until it calls to another.”
“Calls to another?”
Godfrey gave a slow nod. “I never told you this. In fact, I never told anyone. You must promise to keep this information secret until the day you die. Is that understood?”
Baldwin hesitated and then nodded his agreement. “I swear.”
The answer was good enough for Godfrey. “I remember it as if it were yesterday. I was out for a ride on my horse — you know, the path that runs through the forest on our family land.”
Baldwin’s head rocked up and down. “I do.”
“The great leaders of Christianity were calling for soldiers to lead a Crusade against the Saracen hordes in Jerusalem. I was uncertain whether or not I should go. Of course, I knew the answer. It may surprise you to know that I had a good amount of fear in my heart.”
That did surprise Baldwin. He’d never known his brother to fear anything. On more than one occasion, Baldwin witnessed his brother overcoming incredible odds on the battlefield. One such occasion was during the main assault on Jerusalem. While many leaders would have stayed near the back of the lines, Godfrey led the men into battle, cutting down enemies from atop his steed. Even after losing his horse, Godfrey fought on, hacking his way through enemy lines as if some kind of divine power coursed through him, surging him forward without ever tiring. Baldwin recounted times when his brother had even fought off wild beasts with his bare hands, killing ravenous animals three times his size.
“Fear is a natural thing, Baldwin. It is the point in the road in which men make a decision to be courageous, or cowards.” He let the words sink in before he continued. “During my ride through the forest, I decided to take a moment to pray. So I got off the horse and knelt by a large oak, one that has been on our land since long before we were born. I prayed that God would give me strength to do what is right, and to fight for Him in all things. When I arose and opened my eyes, I was surprised to see a man in gray robes standing less than twenty feet away.”
“A man in gray robes?”
“Yes. I drew my sword and demanded he tell me who he was and what he wanted. I told him he was on my land and that by rights I could cut him down for trespassing.