Kingdom's Dawn (Kingdom, Book 1) [Paperback]

Chuck Black (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 1, 2006

A Riveting Medieval Parallel to the Bible

Good and evil clash. Leinad and Cedric are determined to not only survive, but claim hope and victory! In Kingdom’s Dawn, Leinad and Tess, along with all the king’s people, must escape slavery by the powerful Lord Fairos. Kingdom’s Hope finds them free and arriving in the Chessington Valley. But when they forget the king, will Kergon and the Kessons capture them for good? After many years, Kingdom’s Edge finds Cedric living a hopeless life until a stranger appears with powerful words of a new kingdom and a grand army. Finally, Kingdom’s Reign marches you through the danger of earth’s last days as the evil dark knight threatens to defeat the prince once and for all. Swords, knights, and battles define these captivating tales that parallel biblical events from Genesis to Revelation!

He’s just a young man, but that doesn’t change the truth.

He was chosen…

Sixteen-year-old Leinad thought he was a common farmer’s son, nothing more. He wondered why his father had trained him for years to master the sword—not exactly a tool of the trade for farmers—but one tragic event initiates a world of revelation.

Only then does he begin to understand his calling—a calling no other man in the entire kingdom of Arrethtrae can fulfill—a calling given him by the King himself.

Teamed with a young slave girl, Leinad is thrust into adversity and danger—for the Dark Knight and his vicious Shadow Warriors will stop at nothing to thwart the King’s plan to restore the kingdom. Leinad will need more than a sharp blade and a swift hand to fulfill his mission and survive the evil plots of the King’s sworn enemies!

Journey to Arrethtrae, where the King and His Son implement a bold plan to save their kingdom; where courage, faith, and loyalty stand tall in the face of opposition; where good will not bow to evil—and the future of a kingdom lies in the hands of a young man.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDED

Story Behind the Book

“When my six kids’ eyes glossed over during a reading from the Bible, I paused to explain the significance of redemption to a sin-sick soul. I was rewarded with patronizing elephant nods and more blank stares. Shortly thereafter, I awoke in the middle of the night with a medieval story enveloping my mind. I wrote it down and later read it to my children. Their waning attention transformed into complete anticipation. I was amazed and disappointed. Why did it take a fictional story, not a Bible passage, to get that response? Then I realized—that is how Jesus taught! Parables are powerful! I penned the Kingdom series to help young people get excited about the supremely significant story of Jesus Christ and His mission to save mankind.”

— Chuck Black

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chuck Black spent eight years in the Air Force traveling the world as a communications engineer and an F-16 fighter pilot. He has invented or coinvented eleven patented construction products now being sold internationally. He earned his BS in electrical and electronic engineering from North Dakota State University and today, with his wife, Andrea, is in his thirteenth year homeschooling their six children. The Blacks take their family music ministry on the road, singing Christian gospel, contemporary, and traditional songs. Chuck is enjoying his eighth year teaching adult Sunday school classes at First Baptist Church in Williston, North Dakota.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Prologue

Voyage to the Edge

The occasional cool mist of the sea quietly reminds me of the unyielding truth of my journey. I am too far from battle to feel the rush within my muscles and yet too close to sleep.

The ship I am on is a grand ship and is only one of many. The night breeze chills my moist face as I gaze across the rhythmic mass and see the outline of hundreds of other gallant ships. Gallant ships carrying gallant knights. As I lean upon the mast, the creak of the timber and the melodic swish of each wave breaking against the bow tug upon my memories.

I am Cedric…Cedric of Chessington. You and I are alike in that we are on a journey. I am not referring to my trek upon this ship, although it is the final leg of my journey. No, my journey began a long time ago, when I was just a boy.

At ten years old, my heart was full of dreams and adventure. An old man by the name of Leinad enticed my appetite for adventure with his stories. His impact on my life was powerful, though I did not realize it at the time. I believed him as a boy, humored him as a young man, and honor him now, for the stories he told of his life were true. They were
of a truth that lost its believability as I grew into the reality of life and dared not believe. And yet, here I am on an adventure every bit as unbelievable as Leinad’s.

As I close my eyes, the moist air reminds me of the damp smell of spring nearly twenty-five years ago. There was a small stream east of Chessington that meandered south until it emptied into the vast sea. I loved to play upon its banks with my friend William. Our swords of willow clicked in the morning sunlight as we rescued the fair lady from the clutches of the Dark Knight.

William had been warned by his parents to stay away from the “crazy old man” who lived in a hut near the river, but I could not. He was odd for sure, but he was not dangerous at all. His tales of valor drew me to him. He was a mentor and a friend, and the memory of his voice has been a companion to me often, especially now that I know how his life fits so perfectly into the King’s plan for the kingdom. He had the voice of a seasoned knight…

“Sit down, lad, and share a slice of apple,” Leinad said as my mouth became wet in anticipation of the tart fruit. His worn hands worked the knife firmly and delicately to produce eight perfect slices.

“Sir Leinad, please tell me again about the mighty sword,” I pleaded as he slid a cracked wooden bowl across the table with the green apple slices. I thanked him and took a small nibble of my first slice to allow my mouth a chance to recover from the blast of sweetness that flooded my tongue and cheeks.

His silver hair seemed to betray the heart of a mighty warrior within. Though he was old, his shoulders were broad and his arms were strong. The firewood he chopped was an easy challenge for him, and the blade of the ax landed on its target every time. His gentle brown eyes were framed by tan wrinkles that ran toward his temples. They were eyes that I could gaze into and not turn away from. At times during his orations they became a living canvas that revealed love, pain, courage, and fear. The years of age only slightly masked what I knew was once a very handsome young man.

“Ah, Cedric, my dear boy,” he said and lowered himself into an adjacent chair on my right. It faced him toward a window that looked south to the sea, which was just beyond one’s vision. “That is a story worth its telling.”

A veteran hand landed on my shoulder, and his smile accompanied a wink. “It was a new beginning for the people, the dawn of a new kingdom…”

Leinad’s story is one of knights, swords, treachery, and love. There is no story like it, and though it is my beginning, it is his story–a story that must not be forgotten.

Chapter one

Vision Search

The razor-sharp tip of the sword screamed deathly close to Leinad’s chest as he quickly recovered from a foolish overextended thrust aimed for his opponent’s torso.

I’ll never underestimate his speed again, thought Leinad as he carefully took up his position, once again facing the older man. A quick exchange of cuts and parries ensued with no clear advantage. The older man advanced an attack with seasoned experience, carefully but aggressively. Leinad countered each attack with precision and confidence as he gave slightly, waiting for the expended energy to take its toll on the muscled frame of the older man. At sixteen years old, Leinad was just a boy to some, but his daily training by his mentor had developed strength and discipline in him before his time.

There it was–the first hesitation in his opponent’s volley of cuts was a clear indication to Leinad that his attack was ending. He had studied his opponent carefully and knew that if he was to be victorious, he had to capitalize on such a moment as this. As he deflected the last cut to his left, Leinad quickly rotated his body one full circle, which doubled the force of his blade as it raced toward the older man’s stomach. He risked the momentary unprotected
exposure of his back based on the fatigue he sensed in his opponent. If he miscalculated, he would die. If he was successful, he would be the victor.

As he neared completion of the circling maneuver, Leinad turned his head to locate the target for his following sword to strike, sure that it was impossible for the older man to retreat quickly enough to avoid his deadly blow. He was suddenly gripped with fear. His sword was screaming toward nothing but air; his opponent was gone.

The older man had dropped to one knee and raised his sword for protection as he saw the deadly arc of Leinad’s sword coming toward him. Leinad knew in an instant that he had miscalculated once again.

“Observation and experience build prediction, for if you study the past, you will know the future.” Leinad recalled this lesson from his mentor, and now he was about to die as
a consequence of forgetting it.

The speed of the sword was too great for him to change its direction, and yet once the sword passed over the head of his adversary, he would never be able to recover in time
to stop the fatal thrust from his opponent that would surely follow. As the sword approached the vacant target just above the head of the master swordsman, Leinad pulled
and jumped with all his might, using the momentum of the sword to catapult him, as though he were mounting a horse, over the top of the older man.

The last-chance maneuver sent Leinad tumbling on the ground behind the older man, but he was able to regain his footing before his opponent could turn and attack again.

The two swordsmen faced each other once again with sweat-soaked tunics and brows that could no longer hold the salty fluid that fell from their foreheads. The lush green meadow that hosted this fight seemed to wait patiently for its interrupted peace to return. The fight had lasted much longer than either of them had experienced before, and there was still no sign of a champion.

Leinad looked into the eyes of the older man–eyes that revealed experience, wisdom, and patience. He sensed a mutual respect for each other’s skill as a swordsman and for each other’s character as a man.

“That was a bit daring, son!” Leinad’s father said as he yielded his sword to his scabbard.

Leinad smiled and knew that his father had just rebuked him for his carelessness.

“I’m sorry, Father. I will be more careful in the future,” Leinad said as he too found a home for his sword in his own scabbard.

Leinad had been trained by his father every day for the past four years in the art of the sword. Peyton was a master swordsman, and Leinad saw his father’s commitment to
pass this mastery on to him through these lessons. Leinad also learned from his father that sword training alone was more devastating than helpful to a young man were it not
tempered with discipline, honor, integrity, loyalty, and honesty–the very qualities his father demonstrated each day. Today Leinad revealed his proficiency, and he knew he was fast becoming a master swordsman like his father.

Leinad was of average height but still growing. With dark hair that curled when wet, he bore a strong resemblance to his father, which even included the slight dimple in his chin. His smile was slightly higher on the left and accentuated the handsome features of a maturing young man. He felt himself growing stronger each day, but he knew his boyish look was still quite evident. Leinad was glad that his voice no longer cracked when he talked. He found it difficult to say the right things to folks other than his father, and attempting conversation with a voice that cracked didn’t help matters. Leinad’s eyes were different than Peyton’s though, for the deep, sharp eyes of his father gave way to the compassionate eyes of his mother.

Leinad remembered his mother, although the image of her delicate face had become faint with the passing years. This upset Leinad, and he clung to the memory of her love for him all the more. Dinan had died when Leinad was eight. Even then Leinad could sense a deep ache in her heart that never seemed to leave her. The winter she fell sick and died was too grievous a time for Leinad to talk about. He assumed that was true for his father as well since he talked only of the pleasant times they once had as a family.

Although it was not complete, his father’s gentle love was enough to carry Leinad into nanhood without his mother. His father fulfilled both roles as well as any man could. Leinad knew this and responded with respect and loyalty.

As they walked toward a favorite sprawling oak tree for a time of recovery, Peyton placed his arm around Leinad’s shoulder.

“Excellent lesso...

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books (May 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590526791
• ISBN-13: 978-1590526798
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.4 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #91 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Literature & Fiction > Science Fiction & Fantasy

More About the Author

Chuck Black is the author of nine novels including the popular Kingdom Series and The Knights of Arrethtrae series. He spent eight years in the Air Force traveling the world as a communications engineer and an F-16 fighter pilot. Today, Chuck is a product design engineer and has invented or coinvented eleven patented construction products now being sold internationally. His passion in life is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and to love his wife, Andrea, and their six children. The Blacks take their family music ministry on the road, singing Christian gospel, contemporary, and traditional songs. Chuck and his family live in North Dakota.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE this book! February 23, 2007

A Kid's Review

Format:Paperback

I really enjoyed this book and was anxious to read the next in the series. As a teenager I highly recommend this book for all age groups. The author did a good job of portraying the bible in a medieval setting which made for exciting reading. This book goes goes from creation through captivity under the Pharoah which in this book is named Fairos. Great book! Highly recommend and I am so excited to see that the author has written more for a total of 6 in this series as of May 2007!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great fun, great story March 29, 2010

By J. Foster

Format:Paperback

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. Biblical allegories are often lame, and you get the feeling the author is trying too hard. I didn't get that feeling here. The story is different and strong enough to stand on its own. Kids who are not familiar with the various Biblical stories will still be on the edge of their seat. And if your child is familiar with Bible stories, once they "get" what is going on, it adds another whole level of interest as they try to link the story they are hearing with the stories they already know. But, that usually happens after each episode, since some of the segments are so tense they are completely lost in the story. I have three kids between 10 and 14, two girls and a boy, and they all love this book. "Please! One more chapter!" is a refrain I hear nearly every night.

One thing to note - the author does not shy away from accurate descriptions of battle and torture. They are age-appropriate and not gratuitous, and Black seems to have a knack for just getting to the point where it might be a bit much and then backing down. It's a fine line, but I think he walks it well. The Bible is not all neat, clean, and tidy, and I'm glad the book is not either.

Highly recommended.

29 of 39 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars An Adult's review August 7, 2006

By Debbie TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

On the back of the book it says it is supposed to be for teenagers. I enjoy a lot of 'young adult' fiction, so bought this book. Frankly, it's written more for pre-teens, maybe 8- to 12-year-olds. The language and writing is very simplistic for teenagers. I do think a pre-teen could really enjoy it, though.

I think I would have given this book at least 4 stars if it wasn't trying so hard to be an allegory. In an allegory of the Bible, usually one person, event, or idea in the book represents one person, event, or idea in the Bible. Here, a sword can be a real sword used in a real battle or representing a spiritual battle with the Word of God. His two main characters, Leinad and Tess, represent multiple people in many different events covering all of the Old Testament (from Seth to Moses in this book). He also is too loose (or not loose enough) in this allegory. For example, his retelling of the Biblical Flood is: our heroes are warned of a bunch of sea creatures that will eat any living thing that are coming their way. They race to the nearest village to warn them, but the villagers don't listen. Leinad and Tess ride their horse into the hills and barely escape, losing their horse to creatures in the process. All humans, plants, and animals in their valley are destroyed and they nearly starve, but they travel over the hills to the country beyond.

The author tries so hard to make it clear this is an allegory that he occasionally even uses Biblical names and asks what various people represent in the discussion questions. Yet the events rarely follow the Biblical accounts very closely. The story was good fun in itself, but this "I'm a Biblical allegory and this represents this if you couldn't figure it out!" style really was distracting from the story for me.

So, if you can ignore it's supposed to be a Biblical allegory, it's a fun story.