Chapter 1

The Stranger at the Inn

At the small coastal village of Denrith, a traveler stopped at a local inn for the night. The tall man, dressed in dark greens and grays, handed his reins to a stableboy.

"Make sure you clean him up well. We've traveled quite a ways to get here."

"Yes sir." The boy replied. "You can count on me. What is your horse's name?"

The tall man smiled. "His name is Star."

The boy turned and led the gray horse toward the stable, while Derek made his way inside. The noise died down somewhat as the other occupants looked in his direction. Denrith didn't have many visitors, and those who came were regarded with much curiosity. Presently, however, the activity resumed and conversation flowed.

"Evenin' sir, what can I get for you?" The innkeeper, a friendly middle-aged man asked.

"I need a room for several days. Do you have any available?"

"Certainly. The cost is only two florins per night."

After depositing his pack in his room and ordering a meal Derek began to quietly observe the other occupants of the common room, where he now found himself. His attention was attracted to a group sitting in the corner opposite his. They numbered three and were all dressed as knights. He recognized the emblem of the Prince on their tunics.

It appears I've found the ones I was looking for, he thought.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"How are things going at the new haven Marilyn?"

The question was directed toward a young woman with blonde hair that fell to her shoulders, cobalt blue eyes, and a smile on her face.

"It is progressing quite rapidly, Robert. I expect to be sending some of them out on missions soon."

Marilyn and her brother, Carter, were helping to start a haven for the Knights of the Prince at Denrith. Robert, a short, heavily-built man with gray hair, was one of their friends as well as Carter's mentor. He was helping them establish the haven.

"I wonder if we'll get a visit from The Wandering Knight." Carter said.

The Wandering Knight was the name of a strange man who often helped the Knights of the Prince in many ways. Nobody knew his actual name though. Carter had often thought of what it would be like to meet this mysterious character.

His gaze drifted over to a newcomer in the corner on the far side of the inn. It was hard to make out any of his features because of the hood, made of dark brown cloth, that was pulled over his face. The stranger's green tunic and gray pants were stained with mud, as were his boots.

"It is possible," Robert replied. "He's said to appear in the most unexpected of places. Just last week a friend of mine told me –"

Robert broke off as several things began to happen all at once. There was a crash from the back room and several menacing figures burst into the common room. They were dressed in black, and had hoods and kerchiefs pulled over their faces and mouths. Because of this, it was impossible to make out their features. The man in the corner opposite theirs jumped up and drew his sword just as the black-clad figures noticed him.

With a ringing clash sword collided; people lept out of the way as tables were overturned in the ensuing fight. Cater locked eyes with his sister and Robert.

"For the Prince!" they shouted as the three of them came to the stranger's aid.

One of the warriors turned and attacked with the ferocity of a tiger. The knights fought well and soon the combatants were run out of the inn. Everyone stood still, trying to regain their breath as the adrenaline rush died down. Carter turned his face toward the stranger, who was leaning against the wall.

"Who are you?"