Black Ryder

The Beginning of Heroic Status

"Cayman, where have you been? You've been neglecting your duties! I've half a mind to send you packing girl!" The head-woman of the house scolded the young woman.

Cayman winced at the woman's tirade.

"I'm sorry ma'am, I've been running errands for my father," she said haughtily back.

Cayman's father was the chief of palace security, the King's most trusted general and slipping him into the conversation was an unprofessional way to go about it but it was the only way to avoid getting fired.

She needed the money, even if it wasn't the best of jobs.

But that sometimes tarried with her secret life as Black Ryder.

She could most certainly not miss knight training in the palace and so she had to slip out of her maid duties for a while to complete them.

Her father, though disapproving of her ways, did help in anyway he could, knowing she'd do it either with or without it.

The older woman narrowed her eyes at Cayman but said no more for a few moments.

"Get back to work," she said grudgingly.

Cayman hid her smile as she walked out of the room

She made her way to her room which happened to be a few doors down from her best friend Macon's room.

Macon had just gotten done at training and was elated to tell Caymen about his day, especially the part about him training with Black Ryder.

Wait till she gets a load of this, he thought as he changed and made his way to her room where she was just opening the door.

Cayman smiled brightly at Macon as he walked towards her.

"You'll never guess as to what happened to me today!" He said excitedly as he walked through the open door, her following behind with a sigh.

She knew exactly what he was going to boast about.

Black Ryder.

She hated keeping this from him but she knew he would disapprove of it and would discourage her not too.

And it was dangerous. If he knew, he could be used against me if I became a knight.

Macon was oblivious to his companions sadness and excitedly told her the events of the day.

"...and then I got to train with black Ryder! The black Ryder! It was amazing! He's quite the skilled swordsman and he's got a brilliant graceful way of hand to hand combat.  It's magnificent..." He rambled on and on.

Caymen forced a smile as he finished and turned to her.
"That's amazing Macon. I'm glad you had such an amazing day," she told him honestly.

Macon noticed the forced smile and frowned. "What of your day? Are you ok?"

Caymen laughed it off. "No no it was fine. Just a busy day," she said. 

Macons frown deepened. He could tell his friend was lying to him.

He'd known her since she came to the kingdom when she was 14.

He stared at his beautiful friend.

With his pure blonde hair and green eyes, she was quite the catch really, all the Knights talk of marrying her, or catching her eye, or courting her.

He understood why though, who could not want her?

But that's why he had to be there for her.

He had to find the right person and make sure she was happy. He would not let her be forced into a marriage when he knows she deserves better.