Alex rushed to her room, shuffling through the winding corridors with ease. The rough sound of her boots scuffling across the aged stone echoed through the servants' passages, nearly as loud as Alex's blood pumping past her ears. She ducked her head down as she brushed past the few stragglers in the halls, not looking to answer the question in their eyes upon seeing her out so late.
She strode into her room, securing the iron bar across the weak excuse of a door. Kicking her ragged boots into the corner, she let out a tired sigh and began to get ready for bed.
Alex knew why Lady Kate was so protective of her, but she didn't need to be coddled so much. She could very well fend for herself, and her mother knew that better than anyone. Still, she couldn't blame her mother for trying. She had always wanted a daughter who was the epitome of silk and lace where Alex was fired-forged steel.
Alex stared up at the stone ceiling above her, the coating of webs in the corners showing the years of abandonment.
Her racing thoughts drifted to King Orpheus, the former ruler of the kingdom. Titania had been a joyous place when he had reigned, but then the ruler of the Dark Ones forced her king and his knights out and into the haunted remains of Traiton.
She had dreamed of fighting alongside her king ever since the Battle of Cairse. It was that battle where Alex had lost her beloved father, so she felt it was her duty to step up and fight in his place among the knights.
Unfortunately, no man would even think about letting a woman fight. Just the suggestion of it could have Alex imprisoned and beheaded, shame brought to what remained of her family.
After tonight, she knew there was little left to lose. The infected grew restless, turning on their own when food proved to be scarce. Alex had been watching them for a time now; the minions were escalating and soon there would be little to protect the remaining survivors.
She peered between the rusted bars that protected the fragile glass of her window. Her mother would mourn her, as would the few friends she had.
There needed to be change before it was too late. At this rate, death was not the worst thing that could happen.
Peering into the moon-lit darkness, her hardened gaze rested on the flimsy stables hiding in the shadows.
I'll show them, Alex thought to herself. She was going to do the unthinkable, and she knew exactly how she was going to do it.
YOU ARE READING
The Lady Knight
Fiksi RemajaNo one knows where the Dark Ones came from, or what they are. All that was known is that they were extremely deadly, powerful, and worst of all: they were here. Alexandra is a 19...
