Sir Reginald

Chapter 8: Unbound

Racing out the door, bashing through it like an enraged animal, Feirult grabbed his beloved and sped to the first floor of the castle with Reginald right behind them. All three of them pounced into darkness as Daisella was dragged along, hiding behind the stone walls just before the downed portcullis.

Feirult asked Reginald, "What's the plan, knight?"

Daisella was at a complete loss. She looked at both of them and asked, "What are you two talking about?" She had not seen the arrival of the evil black knight.

Outside, Nimdock dismounted his dark steed. His black armor a stark contrast to the wet, green grass as he stomped towards the portcullis, grabbing his double-headed battle ax. It had large, obsidian, half-moon blades with bright red flowing through it, like engorged, bloody veins. Nimdock held it at his side as his hitches behind him writhed and hissed. They watched Nimdock's back as he stood down the portcullis.

Reginald poked his head around and saw Nimdock through the bars, standing like a statue. The old knight gripped his sword in both hands and took a couple of hardened breaths.

Feirult looked at Reginald, asking, "Why doesn't he say anything?"

Reginald stared at the black knight. "He doesn't have to. He already knows you're home."

Daisella worriedly asked, "What are we going to do?"

Reginald looked over at Daisella with a smile. "You are going to stay in here, dear."

"No I am not!" Daisella protested. "I'm not a weak woman, sir knight." Daisella used the word 'knight' more like an insult than a title.

Feirult then put her down from his loving, protective embrace and said, "My sweet princess, you have to stay here. You know anything about black knights?"

"Well only what Reginald told me."

"That's not enough, dear."

Reginald nodded his head, agreeing silently as he kept a sharp eye on the black knight.

Nimdock began to survey the castle, looking up the stone walls and well-kept towers, searching for a way in. His hitches behind him writhed and hissed. They looked like the undead with their mangy white hair and grayish skin.

Feirult looked at his beloved and held her shoulders tight. "My beloved, go to the gate controls. It's me he wants, not you."

Daisella looked at him confused, and bit her bottom lip. She shook her head violently. "No, no!" She repeated. She sunk her head into his chest, and kept saying the same thing.

He caressed her and told her, "Darling, beloved princess, listen to me – come on, listen to me."

She looked up at him with tears down her cheeks, her face a mess from sobbing and crying.

Feirult slowly told her, "There is not a knight I have never been able to beat. I have lived all my life and never fallen to one. This dark knight won't be able to beat me either. Please, my wonderful beloved, raise the gate."

She swallowed hard and demanded, "Promise you'll come back to me. Promise me!"

Feirult smiled, "I never make a promise I can't keep, but I can promise you one thing..."

She waited for his answer with tears and abated breath.

"I promise you that he will not hurt you or our baby."

"That's not good enough!"

"It the best I can do, love."

Suddenly, Reginald yelled out, "Feirult!"