The Lady Knight

Chapter 6

          "Shut that thing up!"

          "I can't help it! I'm hungry!"

          Two ginger-haired men stumbled from the bushes. Alex kept her stance ready, but couldn't stop the confusion from appearing on her face when she noticed that the men looked exactly alike.
          "You just ate not even an hour ago!" one of them snapped.
          "Your point? When my stomach is hungry, it sings me the song of its people," the other replied with a satisfied grin on his freckled face.
          "You're impossible," the first man grumbled.
          Nightmare and Alex shared a confused glance. Alex raised a sharp eyebrow and loudly cleared her throat, alerting the men of her presence. Immediately both had their swords out and pointed at Alex. Noticing she was a woman, however, made them hesitate.
          "Miss? We will not harm you. Why are you out here by yourself? Please, put that weapon down before you hurt yourself," one man gushed soothingly to Alex.
          The other man snorted, "God, why don't you write sappy love songs while you're at it? Go write a poem about rainbows and butterflies and crap like that."
          "Shut the hell up, you moron," the first man snapped back, his hand reaching out to smack upside his friend's head.
          Nightmare snorted with a huff. Alex cocked her head to the side and lowered her sword to dangle casually by her side. Who were these men? They didn't seem very intimidating. 
          "Who are you, and why are you here?" Alex called out in a strong voice, gripping her blade with calloused fingers.
          Both men straightened, recognizing the threat in her voice. The first man stepped forward, holding a freckled hand against his plated chest.

   "Please forgive our bad manners, my lady. I am Sir Henry. This nimrod beside me is my twin brother, Sir Archer," he announced, jutting a thumb towards his sibling.
          Alex studied the brothers with her analytical gaze. Both stood above six feet tall and their physiques suggested years of hard training. They shared the same short ginger curls and spotting of freckles covering their bodies. Looking to be a bit older than Alex herself, their faces appeared to be filled with childish enthusiasm and mischief.
          "Why are you here?" Alex demanded once again.
          "Um, isn't this the part where you tell us your name?" Archer asked dumbly, his lips curling into a pout.
          "Only when I know why you are here," Alex stubbornly retorted.
          Henry and Archer gave each other a confused look but shrugged in defeat. 

    "We are knights of King Orpheus. We're scouts on the hunt for Dark Ones," Henry replied solemnly.
          Alex couldn't believe her own ears. Knights of King Orpheus! She hadn't noticed the familiar gold armor that both men donned. This was the opportunity she needed!
          She raised her head proudly, "I am Alexandra of Titania. I have come to fight alongside my king."
          Silence echoed throughout the campsite.