The Lost Knight (Volume II) The Lost Girl

Chapter 38: That Girl

Trelix squeezes me tighter and then sets me on my feet. "So, you liked that?"

"Oh, yes! I don't know—how can I explain?" I babble. "It's like everything makes sense now. I get it! I understand what all the hours and hours of riding lessons were for. It's like I've been training very hard for a goal that I didn't understand. It's like it's all falling into place in my head."

Trelix chuckles. "Well, let's use up some of that energy. Go run a lap."

I pick up my shield and run, moving my body as swiftly as my racing brain calms me down. I run as fast as I can, and when I finish my lap, I ask Trelix if I could run another. After that lap, I'm calmer and more coherent.

"So the next time I tell you that you're gifted with the pegasus, you'll believe me?"

"Yes, sir," I say. "You were right, and I'll believe you when you tell me stuff. Now, can I hit someone with my new sword?"

He smiles at me. "Yeah, let me suit up, and I'll let you try out the sword. Do you want to use that shield or the other one?"

I don't want my new shield getting banged up, so I opt for my old one. When Trelix returns, I see the ebony mane of the black helmet he's carrying. With all the excitement of my new armor and riding Lenox, I forgot about the helmet. I know it's mine because it's the helmet of a Knight and different from the Mounted Guards' ponytail ones.

When I put my helmet on and slide the engraved nosepiece into place, a feeling of invincibility fills me. I'm powerful and sure of myself—I'm a Knight.

As soon as my helmet is on, Trelix hits me in the head with his sword.

"Hey, I wasn't ready yet."

He looks at me with a devilish smirk. "You are a Knight. You are always ready." Then he swings at me again. This time I jump out of the way. I unsheathe my sword, and the two of us fight on the ground and then mount up and battle on unicorns. The skirmish finally ends when he hits me so forcefully, I'm thrown off the back of Stryder and hit the ground with a thud.

"Ow," I say when I can breathe again.

Trelix holds his hand out and yanks me to my feet. The armor is incredible. I'm rattled, but I'm not in pain. My fall from Stryder was barely anything.

"Had I'd known this change would occur, I would've had them rush even more on the armor," he says once I'm on my feet. "You're getting quite skilled. I really had to think on some of those moves."

That makes me smile. "I like the sword. Aside from riding Lenox, that has to be my favorite. I like the hand-to-hand, too. Who knew? If you'd have told me a year ago that I'd enjoy any of that stuff, I would have laughed in your face. After all, a proper lady would never hit anybody. How undignified," I say with a high-society affect.

Trelix shakes his head. "Humans and their rules."

We chat briefly, then I dismiss Lenox and leave to put Stryder away. While at the uniquestrian center, I track down Levise and excitedly recount my experience with flight. She's thrilled about it and asks if next time she could watch.

When I walk back to the castle, many of the elves watch me, and a few of the Guards even salute. This is respect. I like it.

When I arrive at the Temple, I can't find Master Sarpedon or Gurador. I'm starving, but I want them to see me in my armor. I search through many of the hallways and empty rooms until a voice from behind me says, "Well, well, don't we look official?"

I beam at Gurador. "What do you think?" I turn in a circle so he can see the whole picture.

"I thought you were fierce until you did the little spin," he says with a laugh.