On the other side of the fortress, the governor had returned from his meeting in a neighboring city, and stood quietly within the open gates looking out into the night.

So much work to be done, he thought as he remembered each of the city's needs they had been seeing to that month. He thought for a moment about something one of the workers had brought up. What was it he had said? Something about some bad spots in the wall.

The governor turned around and looked off to one side. He squinted in the pale moonlight, trying to see the wall a little better. Part of it did seem to be crumbling away, even somewhat hollowed out and weathered in spots.

He moved toward a little mound of mortar and crushed rock at the base of the wall. Yes, we'll have to get some workers on that first think in the morning, he thought.

Then he half turned to look at a weather-beaten house that sat near the wall. One shutter dangled awkwardly by a single hinge and the window was slightly ajar with its latch down as though someone had carelessly gone to close and lock it without watching to be sure it was secured.

The whole house is in a state of sheer neglect, the governor thought as he looked it over carefully.

His eyes moved toward a long row of houses nearby. What a beautiful set of buildings. So many good things lay before him.

A deep feeling of satisfaction welled up inside him as he recalled the great projects all the people had worked on so hard. So many successes and past accomplishments. So many wonderful works that they were even now doing. So much to be proud of, and yet, so much still to be done.

Well, there'll be time enough to see to these things tomorrow. Right now I could use a good night's rest, he thought and headed for his home.

---

---

The Gray Knight pressed up against the wall cautiously. He tried to slow his rapid breathing from the run across the clearing, not daring to make a sound.

Above him, the guard in the northeast tower listened quietly, his eyes searching the edge of the forest ahead of him.

What was it? he questioned silently. Nervously, he waited for several minutes, watching for some sign of movement in the trees.

"Must have been an animal," he assured himself, tense muscles relaxing a bit. He turned and walked to the steps to go down and begin his rounds.

Below, the Gray Knight smiled knowingly. He scanned the edge of the wall above him watching for guards, then quickly began to make his way along the rows of huge stone blocks.

This wall is stronger than the others, he thought. I may have to go over the top.

The thought pleased him. He could use a little challenge for once. Besides, it would make his job more satisfying to have thwarted the King's best defenses. The destruction would be more rewarding as he struck the telling blow and ripped the King's goods away from the people.

He laughed about the easy take he'd had in the nights before, especially in the lone cottages scattered around the countryside. There had been no walls to climb there and the people within knew nothing of the dangers around them.

Those were easy targets, he thought. Those are the ones who have no weapons against me -- AND no defense.

He laughed again. He liked the ones who rebelled against the governors and the King and who lived outside of their 'confining' walls. Such easy targets -- and such steady suppliers.

It amazed him the way they never seemed to catch on. He and his men would rob them and destroy their goods and the people would blame the governors and the King. They just kept working to rebuild their houses and replace their lost goods.

"But enough of them for now," he said to himself. He had reached the far end of the wall and knelt below the corner tower. There were too many guards on this wall. He needed a place where there weren't so many, or perhaps where they were too busy chatting away to notice an unwanted visitor.

He stopped for a moment to think. Perhaps he should wait for awhile. Warm quiet nights like this have a way of tiring men quickly. The guards wouldn't have to sleep long for him to get in.

Above him he could hear a gentle tapping on the window ledge of the tower. He could imagine some young guard standing there looking out into the night, humming away or softly tapping out a tune on the cold stones to break the lonely silence.

The Gray Knight moved slowly around the base of the tower to look along the length of wall ahead of him. Spotting the southeast roadway, he moved quickly along the wall to reach the safety of the shadows surrounding the gate towers.

Once there, he crouched down close to the ground, listening carefully for the sound of guards pacing the walls above. As their footsteps faded off into the direction he had just come from, he rose up quietly and inched his way around the stone structure.

His eyes followed the roadway before him as it moved across the open clearing and through the dark woods. He mustn't be spotted by any lone travelers returning late to the fortress.

Satisfied that there was no one there, he looked across to the other tower above to be sure no one was watching as he crossed the road to the other side.

As he moved out into the road, he was startled to feel a warm breeze gently blowing from between the two towers. Eyes wide open in utter disbelief, the Gray Knight stood staring into the open gates of the city.

---

---

Halfway down the long row of houses a man and his wife prepared to retire for the evening. The woman stood at their upstairs window gazing out into the bright moonlit night.

"Such a beautiful night," she said half to herself. As she reached up to pull the curtains closed she took one last look over the top of the houses and down the street to the gate towers. She frowned as her eyes stopped at the gates.

Are they open? She strained her eyes to see more clearly. It was so hard to tell. The walls made such long dark shadows she couldn't be sure.

"George," she said, "I can't be certain, but it looks like the gates might be open."

"Wouldn't doubt it around here," muttered George, who was already in bed. "These guys who work here are always doing something stupid. You'd think they'd get things together by now."

"I don't know why they do some of the things they do," the wife added flatly.

"Oh, by the way," she said, "the governor's wife asked if we could take care of some things on one of the committees, ..."

George, who wasn't really listening at all, interrupted her. "Do you know what one of those crazy leaders did today?" he asked.

His wife closed the curtains, completely forgetting about the gates, and joined him in bed. They discussed the problems of the city and the King's choice of leaders late into the night.

In the room below, the Gray Knight listened for a moment to their condemning remarks. He chuckled quietly as he helped himself to some choice treasures. In the morning, he knew, they would blame the governor for their losses.

---

---

The Gray Knight stood still against the side corner of the house, quietly listening to the approaching footsteps.

These were no ordinary street shoes out for an evening stroll. Definitely a soldier, he thought. But not one of the tower guards. These were the steps of one who was looking for something -- or someone.

Perhaps he had been seen. Good, a challenger. He began a mental evaluation of the potential attacker.

The footsteps were light and steady. Not a big soldier, he thought, and not fearful. Probably a younger man.

He laughed within. Some of the young ones were fun. Trusting in their youthful strength, they would start their attack only to find his cunning and experience were no match for THEIR lack of both.

The Gray Knight looked up at the sky above him, watching a small cloud move across the face of the moon, blanketing the earth below in a long dark shadow.

On came the footsteps, deliberate, strong, steady. Finally, an armor-clad figure appeared in the middle of the street just past the corner of the house. Turning towards the Gray Knight, he came to a halt planting both feet firmly.

The Gray Knight moved out from the side of the house to face the dim outline of his challenger.

"You have no right here, Gray Knight," came a youthful voice.

So, the young man knew his name! "No right?" he questioned in mock surprise.

"This is the King's land and you have no place in it,." came the soldier's firm reply.

"Why, I was given an open invitation," he said motioning to the open gates behind him.

"In the King's name I revoke the invitation and command you to leave!" he answered.

"The King!" the Gray Knight laughed. "And what is the King to you?"

He stretched his opened hand out towards the rundown house beside him accusingly. "See how your 'King' cares for you and helps his people," he motioned. "See how they live in poverty and shame."

"The King has never failed to provide for those who will receive it," the soldier replied. "In His name they may partake freely of all that they need."

Looking at the weather-beaten house, the young soldier added sadly, "The fault is not His if they reject, misuse or neglect it."

Angrily, the Gray Knight lifted his javelin. "And what protection will he give you from MY strength?" he called, throwing the weapon with perfect aim.

Standing firm, the young man deftly moved his shield into the path of the hurtling missile. The javelin struck it with a resounding clang, bounced off to the side and fell harmlessly to the ground.

Fear rose up in the heart of the Gray Knight at the sound of the javelin striking the shield. He knew that sound! That was no ordinary shield and this was no mere hireling soldier.

Suddenly, moonlight filled the street as the covering cloud moved back. Standing before him, reflected in its brilliant beams, was a Golden Knight in the King's Service.

Anger, fear, and hatred rushed together in the heart of the Gray Knight. This was not the flimsy protection of those who trusted in their own strength. This was the powerful armor of the King Himself and this was a knight who new his King!

Every piece of the armor fit him perfectly. The helmet of the King's salvation rested squarely on his head leaving no room for doubt or similar weapons to enter.

The breastplate itself bore the seal of the knight's right-standing with the King and was held firmly in place by the very belt of truth. Even the shoes spoke of his standing in the Kingdom.

The shield of his unwavering faith in the King rested motionless on his arm, its solid perfection bearing witness to the knight's devotion to his King. There were no cracks or weak spots of bitterness, anger or judgment toward his fellow man. This knight walked in the King's perfect love, and because he knew his King, he understood His plans and His heart. That which his King loved and held dear, the knight, too, would love and give his all to defend.

The Gray Knight shuddered as his eyes moved down the length of the man's arm. There, in the challenger's hand, was the powerful sword that he dreaded so much. This was the weapon he was powerless against, for its sharp edges represented the very power and authority of the King's matchless Word.

This young knight didn't hold it with fear or uncertainty as had some of the Gray Knight's victims. His grip had the strength of the King's authority and the firm ease of an experienced warrior.

As the young knight moved effortlessly toward him, sword swinging with calculated precision, the Gray Knight backed away quickly. There was no use fighting here. He knew his limits. Dropping the bag of riches he had taken, he turned and fled through the open gates behind him.

I'll be back, he thought to himself. There will be other open doors and invitations. Where will the King's knights be then?