Falsified (Tarnished Book 2)

5 Knight for Now

Sorry for the late posting. Enjoy!

I wandered out of the grove. The sun was beginning to veer to the west which meant time was up for hiding in the grove's borders. Upon my exit from the ash oaks, the Ravelian guards and the Old Crow were awaiting my return.

I strode past them without a word escaping my mouth. The Old Crow's eyes followed when I peered over my shoulder at him.

He did not even realize this was wrong and neither of us would remain on loyal or friendly terms forever.

Tearing my sight from him, I continued to make headway to Zelme's store.

A twinge in my heart told me that I would bear more agony for my deceit than I could afford to receive. But it was not up to the Old Crow or me to decide how this will all unfold. He will discover it is me in this body and when that day comes, I need to know how to send him to the underworld for his crimes.

Few citizens stared behind me, but my eyes fixed ahead of me. Zelme's store up ahead in the main street. It sat so sound and undisturbed by the recent offer of knighthood from Regales. The stones of the store bound together with a sealant sat neatly sandwiched together layer after layer up to the thatch roof. I opened the door and shut it behind me.

Zelme was eying me while a sigh came out of him. "Dane, you said you wanted him to pay for all his injustices so why are you hesitating to take the opening he gave you?"

I avoided his eyes and went up to the counter to sit down on the wooden stool. After situating myself, I inhaled and shut my eyelids. "I am not declining his offer, but it bothers me he trusts me so much," I raked at the long ruby locks back behind my ears. "It is not as if he knows what I am like and thinks after saving his life once that he owes me. The man truly is a monster to put such an offer in my hands,"

A scoff came from behind me. "Well, it's an advantage nonetheless. Stop moping and accept it so you can get back home. You can't leave the isles any other way than to curry favor with the guy,"

Shortly after Zelme said so, a knock sounded on the door. It opened while I listened to the squeak of the hinges. Footsteps grew closer and I did not respond to them. When those steps stopped, I glanced behind me to see Regales. His eyes pierced mine while his hand at his side balled up into a fist.

"Dane, I can tell you do not want this," he uttered.

This was the softest his voice had ever been since we meet in front of the grove.

I pulled my gaze from him.

"The truth is I need you, but I do not wish to force you into knighthood,"

Fool, it is precisely what you want from me. Too unfortunate to realize you cannot see that.

A taut tension in my backside grew while I sat by the counter. "Does it occur to you that I'm a stranger, Your Majesty?" I questioned while I traced circles on the oak counter. "Why do you believe in me?"

I heard an exhale from behind me. "Because you are the first person I can trust with the responsibility of a knight. It may sound like an assumption, but I have a hunch you did more than study herbs and medicines."

For a moment, it felt as if someone punched me between the shoulder blades. I bit my lip hard at the statement. "My father taught me how to use a sword, but it was merely for protection. In truth, it isn't a blade befitting a king." I contested while I listened for the next time that he would move toward me. "I've told you I'm not good at helping others find what they are searching for, but you ignored it. I'm a failure and that isn't knightly,"