Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart (16 page)

STANDING FIRM

Sir Dalton’s journey of knighthood took him into the snares of Lucius and out again. It is a tale I oft tarry to tell yet tell it often, for there are far too many young knights who do not escape the wiles of the Dark Knight. Perhaps by your hearing of it, your heart will be strengthened and your resolve set firm to stay upon the Prince and His ways. It truly is the only way to conquer the evil that casts a shadow upon the hearts of many. Dalton discovered great power to overcome this darkness in the wisdom and instruction of the Prince, for greater is the Prince within than all the powers of Lucius without.

Of Lady Carliss, I should dare to tell of what became of her, and yet her story is one of equal telling and deserves its own chronicle. Whether her chronicle be good or bad I shan’t say, for doing so would diminish the purpose for which she strove to live. But in life or in death, you can know that her heart beat strongly for the Prince. She stood firm, and Sir Dalton was inspired by her.

Therefore I leave you with this challenge: stand firm, young knight. Stand firm as Sir Dalton and his faithful friends learned to do, and know that the Prince is with you!

Much of the allegorical symbolism in the Knights of Arrethtrae Series originated in the Kingdom Series. Here are a few questions to review this symbolism:

1. Who does the Prince represent?
   

2. Who are the Knights of the Prince?
   

3. Who are the Noble Knights?
   

4. What is Chessington? Arrethtrae?
   

5. Who is the Dark Knight/Lucius?
   

6. Who are the Silent Warriors and the Shadow Warriors?
   

7. What is a Vincero Knight?
   

8. What is a haven?
   

1. Drox tells Dalton that he loves to kill incompetent Knights of the Prince. According to 1 Peter 5:8, who is the enemy who is seeking to destroy Christians?
   

2. Drox exclaims that whoever has the power to kill you is the one who is lord in your life. Do you agree with this statement? Find a Bible verse to support your answer.
   

3. Why was Dalton unable to defend himself against Drox? If you were faced with a problem like the one Drox represents, how would you use your sword (the Word of God) to combat it?
   

4. The Bible says that Satan is the “father of lies” (John 8:44, NASB). One of those lies is trying to make people believe that God doesn’t really care about them. What are some ways that
   you have experienced God’s love in your life? Find a few Bible verses that show how much God loves and values you.
   

1. As Sir Treffen is introducing Sir Dornan to the knights-in-training at the haven, he tells them that Sir Dornan will be their source of instruction and guidance. Who/what should you look to as your primary source of instruction and guidance?
   

2. All of the trainees at the haven seem to like Sir Dornan’s instruction except Koen and Carliss. Why do you think that is?
   

3. The trainees at the haven make fun of Koen and Carliss for being too serious about their devotion to the Prince and to the Code. Have you ever been teased for being serious about your relationship with God?
   

4. Sir Dornan claims that he became a Knight of the Prince only after he had undergone training. Does this view line up with the message of Scripture? Use a Bible verse to explain your answer.
   

5. Sir Dornan claims that the Code is an antiquated guide, not a mandate, and that it is too archaic to apply to the present world. Do you agree? Why or why not? Use Scripture to support your answer.
   

1. Dalton was unprepared to explain about the Prince to the boy at the water bucket. The Bible says that we are always to be ready to give an answer for what we believe. Read 1 Peter 3:15 and 2 Timothy 4:2. Using Bible verses, how would you explain to someone about Jesus?
   

2. Each book in the Knights of Arrethtrae Series deals with a specific set of virtues and vices. Can you identify which vices are represented by the boy at the water bucket?
   

1. Dalton’s encounter with the young man in the city of Millvale is the second phase of doubt, each time growing larger and stronger. How does doubt grow? What does the Bible say about doubt? What can we do to overcome doubt?
   

2. Satan often uses ridicule or criticism to bring doubt and unbelief into our lives. Have you ever been ridiculed for your faith in Jesus? How did you handle the situation? What attitude does the Bible teach us to have in those situations? Read Matthew 5:11.
   

1. Sir Dornan explains to the knights-in-training that because of the great chaos in the Kingdom, it is logical to conclude that the King has removed His influence and involvement from the people of Arrethtrae. What type of view of God is this called? What verses in the Bible counter this philosophy?
   

2. The attack of the marauders on the village is symbolic of Satan’s true intentions for humankind in the world. What are some of the ways he brings devastation to the lives of people? What are some of the ways Jesus brings healing and protection?
   

1. In chapter 6, Dalton is faced with the third phase of doubt, and it comes upon him much more strongly than before. Why?
   

2. Each wound Dalton receives from the harbingers of doubt is deeper than the one before. The wounds are the hurt foot from the bucket, the cut on his leg from the man in Millvale, and the wound to his shoulder from the battle with the warrior. What do these wounds represent spiritually?
   

3. Why could Koen defeat the warrior when Dalton could not?
   

4. Koen demonstrates the virtue focused on in this book. What is that virtue? Can you find a Bible verse that defines it?
   

1. Dalton is attacked in spite of all of his advanced training. Is it possible for a person to receive great biblical training and still not have faith in Christ? Which group in the Bible had this problem?
   

2. Lord Drox identifies himself as Skia Ek Distazo, which means “shadow of doubt.” Dalton’s doubt is now huge and impossible for him to overcome on his own. How or why did this happen? What does this mean in a spiritual sense?
   

3. Why did Drox fear Koen, yet have control over Dalton?
   

1. Who do you think the dark lord represents?
   

2. Si Kon tells Dalton that it is fear that imprisons them—not the iron bars. Is this true in your life? What do you think hinders believers from sharing the good news of Jesus with everyone they meet? Find a Bible verse that might encourage someone who is dealing with fear in his or her life.
   

1. The prisoners of Distazo were discouraged from talking among themselves, and this eliminated any camaraderie or unity. Can you think of an example in our world today of how Satan has deceived Christians and discouraged them from being unified?
   

2. Drox exclaims to the prisoners of Distazo, “Let he who is strong and not a fool come forth and profess these truths, and I will set him free.” Why is this a lie? Find a Bible verse about Satan being a liar.
   

1. After Dalton escapes Distazo, seeing evidence of the demise of others causes doubt and unbelief to rise up in him. How does
   Satan use what we see, hear, and think about to cause doubt and unbelief in our lives? Find a verse in Philippians that tells us what to think upon.
   

1. As Dalton is drifting in and out of consciousness, he hears Mister Sejus singing. Can you find the Scripture verses he is singing?
   

2. Mister Sejus makes the comment that as a collector he can “take old things and make them new.” Can you find a Bible verse that compares our old, sinful nature to that of the new, righteous nature we receive when we are in Christ? What happens to our old nature when we receive the new one?
   

1. When Dalton is asked what is most important to him, the first thing he mentions is Lady Brynn. What should be most important to Dalton as a Knight of the Prince? What are the priorities in your life?
   

2. According to Mister Sejus, why did Dalton’s sword break? Can the Word of God ever “break” when one misuses it?
   

3. Mister Sejus tells Dalton that he has the sword and the mind of a Knight of the Prince, yet he lacks the heart. What does this mean spiritually?
   

4. After talking with Mister Sejus about the condition of his heart, Dalton “felt pierced again, but this time in his heart and with a different sword.” Can you find a verse in Hebrews that talks about the Word of God piercing the reader with truth?
   

1. How does the sword that Mister Sejus retrieves from the pile of rubble represent Dalton’s condition as a knight and his understanding of the Code?
   

2. Mister Sejus instructs Dalton to polish the sword according to the designs of its swordsmith. How does this apply to how we read and understand the Bible?
   

3. Dalton says that many people in the kingdom deny the existence of the King. Sejus replies that those people live a life of contradiction because even the kingdom itself testifies to the King’s reign. Does this statement apply to our world today? How? Find a Bible verse to support your answer.
   

4. One of Satan’s most successful lies of all time is that of evolution. Why do you suppose he chose to convince people to believe in evolution, and why is it so successful in destroying people’s faith?
   

5. What does Nedehaven represent?
   

1. Dalton was under the false belief that it was training from instructors that directed the thoughts and actions of Knights of the Prince. Mister Sejus guides him to the truth that it should be the Code and the life of the Prince that direct the thoughts and actions of a Knight of the Prince. What does this represent, and why is it important for us to understand?
   

2. Find a verse in John that relates to the Prince’s being the personification of the Code.
   

3. Who does Master Sejus represent? What is the significance of Dalton finally addressing Sejus as
   Master
   rather than
   Mister?
   

1. Master Sejus says, “Even the treasures of a king are oft neglected, but it does not diminish their value.” What do these words refer to in a spiritual sense?
   

2. Master Sejus gives Dalton’s life and the sword to him as gifts. How has Jesus done the same for us? List a couple of Bible verses to support your answer.
   

3. Dalton believed Sejus to be different than He really was. Dalton’s perception of Sejus changes the more he gets to know Him. How can we know who Jesus really is? How does our perception of the Lord affect our relationship with Him?
   

4. Dalton has come to the realization that the Prince is the “cornerstone” of all Master Sejus has taught him. Find a Bible verse referring to Jesus as the cornerstone.
   

5. To what is Sejus referring when He tells Dalton that He will be in Dalton forever and Dalton will be in Sejus forever? Find a passage of Scripture that explains this.
   

6. Just before Dalton and Sejus part ways, Sejus reminds him, “Dalton, I came to you because you called for me.” What does this represent? Use Romans 10:13 to support your answer.
   

1. Why do you think that talking so much about the Prince brought tension to Dalton’s relationship with Lady Brynn? Have you ever experienced tension in a relationship because of your strong faith in Christ?
   

1. What do the death ravens represent according to Matthew 13:4, 19 and Ephesians 6:16?
   

1. When Dalton encounters Drox on his return to the prison of Distazo (doubt), he tells Drox that he (Drox) feeds on the fears of others and that he has no real power over any of the knights he holds prisoner. If this is true, where does Drox’s power come from?
   

2. Has there ever been a time in your life when you have determined to pursue God wholeheartedly or encouraged others to follow Him? Does it seem that the devil attacks more fiercely at those times? Why or why not?
   

1. Dalton was encouraged to find that Koen and Carliss had joined him in the battle against Drox and the Vincero Knights. Have you ever gone to battle against the powers of darkness for a friend or had a friend go to battle for you? How might you do this?
   

1. After the prisoners were released from Distazo, some refused to leave out of fear of Drox’s threats. Can you find a verse in Galatians that encourages believers to live in freedom and not in bondage?
   

2. Christ has equipped and commissioned you to the same call as that of Sir Dalton—to free prisoners from darkness. Can you find a passage in Isaiah that confirms this truth?
   

1. When Koen becomes concerned about Carliss’s disappearance, Dalton and Orland offer to help in any way possible. They are true friends to Koen. Read Proverbs 18:24. What might produce such a close friendship?
   

2. Review the virtue and the vice or stronghold this book focuses on. Can you name them?