The Knight

Chapter 7

     We followed the men out of the castle. As they'd said, it was completely empty everywhere. I don't know how I hadn't realized that the fighting had stopped.
     As soon as we got to where the men's horses were tied to a post, Ray stepped over to his. A white stallion, if you can believe it. He climbed on, held his hand out to Anne and said, "My lady." Anne's eyes shone as she took his hand and climbed onto his horse.
     Kenneir gestured gruffly toward his horse- a stallion, brown with white spots and a black mane. I shook my head. "I have my own horse, thank you."
     Both men raised their eyebrows at me.
     I'd left Midnight nearby here, hopefully she hadn't been scared off by all the fighting but even if she had, maybe she'd come back. I put my fingers to my teeth and wolf-whistled.
     Sure enough, my sleek black mare came trotting up out of nowhere. I jumped on her back, saddle-less the way I always do.
     The men gaped at me, before Ray cleared his throat. "Let's go." He said.
     Even though Anne couldn't have weighed as much as my armor and they were riding a stallion, my Midnight was still much faster than the other horses. I think she has some kind of powers just like me. Either that or mine have rubbed off on her after all these years.
     It wasn't long before our horses had to stop and drink. Midnight snorted impatiently, waiting while the other horses rested.
     The ride to Ashenn took 4 days. When Ray and Kenneir finally took us into the castle, we ended up interrupting court.
     "Ray?" A man dressed in expensive clothing called, probably Ray's father. He looked just like him. "Where did you go, and who have you got with you?"
     "So sorry for interrupting." Ray said. "Kenneir and I went out to Blazier to find that it had been completely been overtaken in a surprise attack by Reinguard. These are the only two known survivors, knight Corona and Princess Anne."
     At the word "known," Princess Anne flinched slightly, but otherwise, she kept her head held high.
     The king sat on his throne. "I will see you when I am finished with this."
     We were shown to rooms and bathed and dressed while we waited. Through the whole time, I hated being separated from Anne. I was supposed to be there always, to protect her.
     When a page brought me to the Kings chambers, I found they were very similar to those of the queen except with a different, more manly style. The King waited for us with Ray's father and a strange man. Anne, Ray and Kenneir got there just a moment after me.
    "Greetings." Ray's father said. "I am Ray's father, Lord Farleir."
     So there were brothers Farleir and Kenneir, and Ray was Farleir's son.
     The other man was tall and strong, with dark eyes, a head of dark hair and a long, dark, bushy beard. The dark color of all his hair made his skin look like cream.
     "My ladies." He said, bowing to both me and Anne. "I am Ken, Kenneir's son and Ray's cousin."
     A voice boomed from the throne. "And I," said the king, "am King Lirian of Ashenn. I share the same mother as Kenneir and Farleir."
     Whoa. I knew family ties really mattered in Ashenn but technically, Ray was the nephew of an important lord and the King!
     Anne and I curtsied before him. "Rise." He said, and we rose. "I promise you two that you will be treated and have the same title and life as you would at your castle. I have heard all about the attack, and I personally will help find Anne's mother. Please, make yourselves at home."