The Spectre

Chapter Five

"What do you mean he left?" The Duke shouted, and Trae found himself hating being yelled at. Loud noises, specifically someone shouting, often frightened him. But, as usual, he did not let that show. "I went to him, and while we were talking I asked him if he had seen your wife." Trae said, and the Duke interrupted by murmuring, "That's the Duchess, to you!" Trae corrected himself, and when the Duke seemed satisfied, he continued. "Well, I forget to tell you that I sent word to the town of Maplemoor, and they are certain she has not arrived after two days. The journey there only takes roughly half a day, so unless she decided to stay somewhere else, she is missing." The Duke paled and sat down in the velvet armchair behind him, his face a mask of fear. "However, when Zack came to this realization, he hurried off to go and find her."

The Duke now looked like a fool, having just shouted at Trae without thinking that the Blacksmith had actually gone to rescue his wife, wherever the hell she was. "What do we do to help?" he asked quietly, and Trae stepped closer to the armchair, trying to look as neutral as possible, "I suggest we do nothing." The Duke almost choked on air, for he was incredibly shocked by Trae's suggestion. "Nothing?" he asked, eyes wide, and Trae nodded. "I know Zack. He has worked tirelessly for months on end to make the very best weapons as your Blacksmith, along with saddles and reins. Trust me, he will bring her back." The Duke nodded, still looking shocked at the mere thought of just standing by while someone who he barely knew was off trying to find his wife. "And what of the Black Riders?" he asked suddenly, the question taking Trae off guard.

"That did not occur to me," Trae whispered, fear now creeping into his own voice. The Duke sighed, "Tell Lauren and Charlotte that, whilst I have enjoyed their company immensely, that they should prepare to leave." Trae looked confused, and the Duke sighed yet again, now looking tired. "The Black Riders are, apart from being a group of rogue knights, incredibly dangerous and, if they are paid right, they will work for anyone. As of now, I fear they are working for the Zodiacs. And if they are, God help us all."

***

Zack gently rode the horse onwards, traveling through the dense bushland as quietly as he could. The people who he had stopped to talk with were mostly cheerful and happy, but none of them seemed to know a thing about the Duchess. Aside, of course, from an elderly man who owned a neat little bar on the dirt road near the entrance to the forest. Zack had entered and, after asking several of the guests, the man came forward from behind the counter and told him he had seen the Duchess riding into the forest just that very morning, not in a carriage but on a small, grey horse! So now, Zack knew what horse he was looking for. He was currently following the tracks of small hooves, which he knew belonged to a small animal, most likely a small horse. He had been following the trail for quite some time now, the sun already beginning to set on the fine day, but then he noticed something.

The horse's tracks suddenly veered off the track from the rest of the footprints, the distance between the hooves seeming to grow greater with each step. It began running! Zack thought, turning his own white horse toward the tracks and making it trot along. Surely, he would find the Duchess before long, and that was when it all happened. Several people leaped out at him, four from either side and two even dropped from the trees above! "Traveller! You will hand us your valuables or we will take your life instead!" Shouted the man closest to the horse, and Zack realized, with a sinking feeling in his stomach, that they were robbers. Zack sighed and slid off his saddle and then letting the horse stride slowly away. "Bring your horseback!" one shouted, but Zack made no move to do so.

The horse had already been a good companion, and he knew that he would hate to let this horse fall into the hands of robbers. "Fine men; please be on your way. I am on a mission to find the Duchess and bring her safely home. If you do not let me pass, then I will have to link you to her disappearance!" The robbers exchanged surprised glances and then began laughing. "Who are you to request that?" said the closest to the horse. It was clear he was the leader. "I am the Blacksmith for the Duke," Zack replied, and yet again, the robbers laughed. "A Blacksmith, challenging us?" roared one of them, and then another chimed in, "Nothing but a filthy Spectre!" Zack sighed. He would have to teach them a few decent manners. "Do you want me to call the horse over?" Zack asked, noticing how none of them dared approach the creature, and the robbers nodded.