The Code Of Chivalry
Eleven year old Devon Niles, heir to the chivalry chapel, with
sword to his hip, just coming from his studies, tread the
corridor to the chivalry chapel. Slows his pace to something
he sensed.
Detective Liam Niles enters the center of the hallway. His feet
set apart, hands clutched behind his back, stood tall in gallant
with trench coat. ”Devon Liam Connor Drake Niles, me son.
You will have to get through me to get to your mother. The
one who has your crown of honor.”
Devon gives his father a look of ’get out of my way’. Lifts up
his sword, charges toward him.
Liam quickly pulls out his sword from behind his back, parry’s
his son’s sword, swiftly redirected his swung sword back
down with a thwart steel edge as Devon loses his balance,
falls down to the cold stone floor.
Liam, raised his brows at his son in disciplining adamance.
Devon, with scrunched mouth, pulls himself up off the floor,
rams straight into his father’s stance.
Liam, swipes his sword directly hitting it Devon’s sword,
whipping it out of his hands, as Devon once again, falls to the
floor.
The sound of Devon’s steel blade smack the floor hard next to
him. With a sore expression spread on his face.
Liam stood valiant of less effort breath. “Me son. The day
you defeat me, your father, is the day you take over. He
extends his hand out to him, grips his hand, pulling him up off
the floor in honorable good sportsmanship. Takes his hand,
rubs his son’s head in loving care.
Trey and his son, join them.
Lady Tauna Drake gracefully enters into the room, sighs
deeply seeing the results, nodding her head back in forth,
with an admired smirk.
Later that day…
Devon and Tauna, walking through the misty forest, they
began side by side the way back home. The cool air blushing
their faces.
Devon, glanced at his mother in inquirement. “Mother, why is
father always outwitting me when I clearly know I can out win
him.”
Tauna glanced back at him. “Devon, you must try to
understand your father. He only wants what’s best for you. It
is his responsibility to prepare you for knighthood. Someday
you will take over chivalry Chapel as nobleman.”
Devon, in deeper thought. “Mother, is it true about the
rumors. That I was born out of wedlock on the same day of
father’s return, while you ditched another man of promise?”
Tauna looked down in acknowledgement, then back up. “Yes,
my son. I could never fathom to carry another man’s child. It
was either your father………or none at all. Nor could I ever be
another man’s wife. My love for your father is as strong as a
three strand tightly woven celtic knot. A covenant by god that
is not easily broken. Even with that Englishman strut of his”
She smiles at him. “His valor runs deep in his son’s blood.”
Devon, with pride look. “And I, his chivalrous son.” He smiles
back to her.
Tauna smiled back. “Yes. And once again, the Chivalry
Chapel’s jubilee comes upon us. And so does the eve of my
son’s twelfth birthday.” She concluded as they approached
the chapel’s door. “And I shall see you after your studies.”
Devon grins slightly as he treads away from her, going toward
his room.
Pastor Connor at the alter.
Tauna, in prideful moment. “ Your grandson is in anticipation
of his rightful heritage of turning twelve. He marvels daily of
his father’s endeavor of great gallant strength.”
Connor stands with pride. “My grandson is a mirror of his
father. The jubilee is about to begin in a few days. And in my
grandson’s honor. Second in line heir of Chivalry Chapel.” He
grins at her in pride.
Tauna gives him her adored smiles.
A man in a monk’s clothing slowly treads the isle, stops at
midpoint. Stood? His hood half covered his face.
Pastor Connor turned to the monk like stranger. “Yes, may I
help you?”
Tauna veered at the tall, inconspicuous man.
The monk like stranger continued to stand in silence.
Tauna looked at her father in question.
Pastor Connor looked at her, then back to him.” Are you here
for personal prayer?”
The monk like stranger, slowly nodded his head up and down
in ‘yes’ gesture.
Pastor Connor cupped his hands. “I see. You are free to do so.
Come, bring your prayers to God.”
The monk, taking his few steps toward the alter, then
dropped down to his knees, lay his prostrate body, unto the
cold stoned castle’s floor, spread his arms flat forming into a
cross.
Tauna, giving her father a strange questionable expression,
while her father gave her a slight awkward, yet acceptable
shrugged shoulder, takes her hand, while they leave the
sanctuary in quiet.
Liam and Trey enter inside. They see the prostrating monk.
Liam, standing in speculation. “The jubilee, I suspect.”
Trey, seeing the monk with a keen eye, then around the room.
“Yet, something seems not quite right.”
Liam lift his hand in precaution. They look around to see a few
men in the small group sporadically taking glimpses at them,
one, raising his hand to slowly pull out his steel blade.
Trey, taking notice, places his hand upon his attached sword
just under his trench coat, closes in on his brother with
outward whisper. “Liam, I don’t like the looks of this.”
The prostrated monk, crept back to his feet, turns to both
Detective Niles’, taking his hands, pulling off his hood to
reveal himself.
Suddenly, the group of men sharply extract their swords, their
nimbled feet swift in advanced attack!
Liam, extracting his sword, grabbed his brother’s shoulder in
on guarded protection. “TAKE ARMS! RETREAT!!!” Liam
hollered out to his brother, while holding his sword in warning
position to the enemy.
The group of bandits moving in on them, Liam and Trey
moving quickly toward the sanctuary’s double doors in
escape.
Tauna, opening the doors, nonchalantly steps inside toward
them, her long hair flowing with ease, stood in place, her
eyes widen seeing Liam and Trey scurry in struggle with each
other, with the bandits fast approaching behind them coming
toward her.
Liam alongside of Trey, charging toward her.” TAUNA!
RETREAT!” Liam hollered at her, as they swooped her up with
each one of their arms in protection, their swords in their
other hand, taking her out of danger from the room with
them.
Tauna, hanging on for dear life, seeing the bandits just a few
feet in back of them, her hair flowing toward her terror-eyed
face, as she managed to break upon her own feet, while
running with urgency out of harm’s way.
Devon, just arriving home, stands center in the corridor,
seeing the congregant members in chaos and carnage all
around, then, his parents with his Uncle Trey scurrying
towards him, his wide eyes embraces for impact.
Liam, holding Tauna’s hand tight, while she ran alongside of
him. “DEVON! RETREAT!!!” His father hollered out to him, as
they extended their parental hands out to grabbed hold of
their son in emergency mode, as he reshuffled over to Trey’s
grasping hand upon him, onward as they all kept running the
corridor yet into the castle’s next entrance toward yet
another corridor.
Pastor Connor step around the corner with his wife Bren in
smiles. They paused to witness Liam, Tauna, Trey and
grandson franticly rushing toward them. “God almighty! What
have I told them about running amok in my church!!” Connor
lamented.
Bren, taking a lingered better view. “Connor, Amok isn’t quite
the right word love.” Her hand squeezes his hand tighter for
what’s to come.
Pastor Connor,”HUH? What do you mean, Woman!”
Liam,Tauna, racing with Trey and Devon, while moving swiftly,
approaching toward her parents. “CASTLE UNDER
SIEGE!!!!”…………they hollered out to the both of them.
Bren side hustled Connor in stepping prep for a much mighty
run. ”That!” She tugged him away in a flight mode yet further
down the corridor, with them joining all as a noble family
escaping from a horrendous endangerment.
The mob of bandits continued to pursue them, not wavering.
Following them from one corridor to the next. Their heavy
breathing steady in steadfast.
Liam, keeping his hand tightly around Tauna’s hand, briskly
running, making to the end of the corridor as the forerunners,
their sudden unpredicted halt in their tracks stopped hard to
see the head bandit casually stand in center point, the rest of
family, all halt in same demeanor. Liam, held his sword up in
warning, looking for another escape route, then, tugging her
hand, taking her with him yet into another corridor, once
again, stunted their escape route, stood. Held his sword up.
Bren, Stood in acknowledge. “The chancery!! Everyone, this
way!” She led them into the hideaway.
Liam, let go of Tauna’s hand. ”Trey, take them!” Swinging his
sword at the bandit, the bandit fell hard. Liam, turning to
follow them right into an ancient looking room into safety. As
he approached deeper into the room to join them in standing
in awe of what he saw of an array of sunlight hitting upon the
ancient days of the room’s 16th century artifacts. The
ambiance of holy spirit filled the room’s atmosphere. Of many
coat of arms from many generations aligned the stone wall. A
suit of armor stood as if guarding. Shutting the ancient tutor
styled wooden door he stepped forward for a better view.
”Connor. Sir, Looks like he’s still here.”
Pastor Connor, stood in much reverence. “Yes. The effigy of
Sir knight john Drake. Our ancestor’s owner of chivalry
Chapel.”
Tauna, in rememberance. “Here we go again.”
Devon stood in hesitation. “But Grandad. It’s his
coffin.….which means…..his body…is like still in there. Right?”
He swallowed hard.
Tauna, gives her mother a glimpse of rationality.
Bren,took note. “Devon. This is the final resting place of your
16th century great grandfather and grandmother All the
archives are in here. This is their effigies. Where their bodies
are indeed. And within this room. All the archives from the
days of long ago. Stories of maidens and princesses. The
knights who rescued them.”
Tauna, taking a loving glance at Liam, as she saw him taking a
glance at her.
Bren continued. “And somewhere in this room contain the
code of chivalry.”
Devon, veered at his grandmother. “The code of chivalry?”
Bren, confirmed. “Yes. The code to the knights for them to
adhere to. And the scroll of chancery papers to the owner to
Chivalry Chapel are here.”
Liam direct seized his eyes upon Bren. ”Bren. You’re quite
knowledgeable of all this important information of facts.
Now, pray tell. Where is the chancery papers?”
Bren, gave him a confirmed look. “Inside the effigy, there’s a
small hidden compartment.”
Liam, with his sleuthing deduction. “Thank you Bren. I’ll take it
from here. Trey. Please assist me. We’re about to meet Sir
Knight Drake.”
Pastor Connor, with objection. “That’s sacrilege son.”
Liam, revered him. “Don’t worry Sir. I’ll be sacred in doing so.
The man was a tough knight, I’m sure he can handle it.” With
Trey’s assistance, taking their hands, they felt around the
edging of the effigy just under the image of sir Drake. Liam
paused in place, as he ever so carefully pulled a secret
compartment to reveal an old ancient parchment paper scroll
with the words, ‘The Code Of Chivalry. And next to it, a
document deed of ownership to the castle signed with a
calligraphy signature belonging to a Sir Knight John Drake of
Ashe, England.
Pastor Connor, assisting him to unrolling the slight discolored,
slightly tattered ends scroll, with a waxed seal still broken
upon it ,he read from the legal document of Sir Drake:
‘I Sir Knight John Drake, hereby am owner of Chivalry Castle
with all said belongings, payment of my earned bequeath of
moiety property, a sum of one hundred shillings. Year of our
lord of 1586.’
Trey’s phone rang. They all look at each other, as a sound of a
pin dropping silence. Trey taps onto his phone. “Hello.”
“Hey love, it’s me, Lauren, Just bringing home our son. We’re
just driving up to the chapel now.” She hung up.
Trey immediately looks at Liam. “My wife and son.”
Noise coming from the corridor.
Trey once again veered at his brother. “They’re coming Liam.
And I hear the renegades.”
Bren, acknowledge. “Or the congregants started coming into
the chapel for the jubilee.”
Liam took knowledge. “Right, Trey, come with me to get
Lauren and Treman. Devon. You stay with your mother and
grandparents.”
Tauna, with opposing look. “What do you mean. I’m coming
with you. Devon, stay with your grandparents.”
Pastor Connor stood with Bren, taking hold of Devon.
Liam stood firm in adamant. ”No way, absolutely not! You are
to also stay here with your family!”
Tauna, asserted. “I certainly will not! This is my castle and I
will fight for it!”
Liam, insisting. “Tauna, when are you going to get it through
the beautiful head of yours. You and our son are heirs of the
chapel. God forbid, if something happens to me, trey has
agreed to take over as he sees fit, you are not to be part of it!
Is that clear, little girl?”
Tauna, taken aback. “What, Trey? Oh, fine time in telling me
this and without my consent!”
Liam in dire stance. “This is no time for dispute love. You are
to stay here.”
Tauna, just as stubborn. “And I told you, I’m coming!”
Liam, putting his adamant foot down. “Tauna, for the last
time. You are to stay here! Save your orneriness for our bed
love.”
Tauna, stumped, giving him a dread expression, then places
her gentle affectionate hands upon his face with loving kisses
upon his lips, as if it’s the last.
Liam, does the same in return, their heads bond.
Devon, with straight face, watching his parents in silence.
Trey, summons. “Liam, they’re approaching.”
Liam, pulling away from Tauna, prepares his sword for battle
“I mean it love.” He says with quick raised adamant brows.
As they leave the room.
Trey, waiting for his brother to close the door behind them.
Liam, briefly looks at him, then directs him to proceed toward
the foyer.
Proceeding with cautious steps toward the foyer, Liam and
Trey, having their swords next to themselves, the careful view
of any signs of possible bandits, ready to strike if needed.
Then, in a quick moment of seeing Lauren and Treman enter
into the building, them sprinted toward the door, Trey, swiftly
taking her arm, Liam, taking Treman’s arm next them into a
hidden corner.
Lauren, with questionable expression. “Trey, what on earth
are you doing!?” She insisted for answer.
Trey, places his finger of silence to his mouth to her. “The
castle is under siege.” He quietly said to her.
Lauren, in disbelief. “What? The castle. Oh lord. Where is
Tauna?”
Trey continues to explain. “She is in the chancery with her
parents and Devon.”
Liam, ready to direct them back to the chancery. “Right.
We’ve got to get back there.” He moves forward, then
suddenly stops again as they hear the bandits coming their
way.
Trey, taking his wife’s and son’s arms to stop and stay.
Liam, pushing them further back into the dark obscure corner,
gesture his finger to his lips in silence, then sees the bandits
walk passed them.
Lauren and Treman, looking at Trey for guidance, held their
quiet position.
Liam, holding his stance, placing his hand unto his sword in
caution, awaiting to move again.
The bandits, in chaotic hollering, move steadfastly toward the
chancery door, as they began to bang their mutiny fists on the
door to get in.
Liam, Trey, Lauren, Treman, watching, Liam, Trey prepare
their swords for possible impending fighting rescue.
Tauna, hearing the chaos, gets up from her ancestors throne
chair, her eyes widen .
Pastor Connor, Bren, keenly aware of the possible dangerous
consequences of the impending barging.
Devon, with quick thinking. “I have an idea. Let them in, we’ll
quickly leave, then we’ll entrap them inside. Grandma has the
key!”
Pastor Connor looked at Bren, Bren looked at Tauna, Tauna
nodded her head In agreement, as they all simultaneously
open the door, watching the bandits hustle their way into the
room, then Connor signaling his family to abruptly leave,
quickly rushed out from the room, swiftly closing the door on
them. Bren, swiftly taking the key, locked them into
ambushing them inside.
Liam, Trey, stood amazed. “Blimey.”
Lauren, with Treman by her side, directed the police to the
room.
The jubilee commences……
A gathering of congregants waited in line on each side of the
door in anticipation of jubilee and the acknowledgement of a
future coming heir’s twelve birthday.
Pastor Connor Drake tread his walk to his alter. “Let the
ceremony begin. Devon, please attend.”
Devon, casually walks up to his grandfather, stands in place.
The congregants shift their position, continued to stand in
revering.
Pastor Connor, stands in pride. Takes and holds a dull shined
broad sword into the palm of his hands. “Devon Liam Connor
Drake Niles. My grandson. In acknowledgement of your
twelfth birthday and of such quick thinking valiant bravery to
capture Chivalry chapel’s enemies to protect your family, you
have displayed the code of chivalry. Kneel before me.”
Devon, kneels to one knee before his grandfather, focused at
him.
Tauna peers at Liam in loving pride, as she sees him giving her
a dimpled grinned wink of approval at her.
Pastor Connor, with such pride. Hands to him an heirloom of
great significance. “I present to you, this sword of honor as
Sir knight John Drake precede before you. You are now, Squire
of Chivalry Chapel.” He lay the sword into his grandson’s
hands.
The congregants cheer with clapping happiness.
Pastor Connor, raise his face to all. “ Everyone. Let the
celebration of the jubilee and my grandson special day
commence.”
In the middle of the room, the music began with drum beat
rhythm celebration. Congregants dressed in their finest of
commoners peasants, maidens apparel, dance interweaving
with dance steps in and out of each other giddy with joy,
hooping with laughter .
Trey, standing next to Liam, drinking his ale. “ Ahh, to be
twelve again.”
Liam, taking swigs of his Guinness. “Yep. That pre-adolescence
at its best. Voice cracking, skin blemishes, the awkward
approaching silence of nervousness in front of the girl of your
dreams.”
Trey, adhere to his words. “Thank god those days are over
Next thing you know, his intense want for his dream girl will
be sought with fighting another man for her.”
Liam, repositioned. “ Yes and that’s how I got his mother.”
Trey, with a Niles’ manhood acknowledgement between
them. “Like father, like son.”
Liam , takes another swig of his drink. “ You betcha. But now
of what’s next. Preparing my son for nobleman.” He looks at
his son with challenge.
Devon and Treman admire the new sword with exciting eyes.
Breyen Mckenzie, one of the congregant’s daughter, joined
them.
Devon, looking upon her, smiled.
Bren, taking her daughter’s hand, Tauna taking Lauren’s hand,
making their way integrating within the congregants dancing.
Forming a three hand held circle, they rotate in circulation,
then dropping their hands, they danced in singular moves,
strutting their step by step feet to the melody, twirling, their
long hair flowed in elegant movement.
Tauna, step her last dance steps toward Liam.
Trey, with sly grin. ”Hey big Brother. I think your cue just
came.” As he placed his arm around Lauren.
Tauna, taking Liam’s hand, taking him into slow dance in
celebration, with tender kisses of their heir son.