Chapter 55 - Dark Knight

"What kind of knight are you?"

He was silent... like he didn't expect me to ask none talk to him, must be a thing here... well too bad because like Camille said I'm an outsider.

"Will you not speak?"

"Forgive me, my lady... I'm a dark Knight" he said bowing his head in respect.

"A dark knight? not just a knight?", was there was a difference?

"It is what I'm my lady"

I just nod seeing he won't speak more of that, maybe it was professional for them.

"What's your name?"

"My lady you're no-"

"I should at least know your name... I mean at the other outing you were part of the guards weren't you? and also the same person who escorted me to the church for my wedding"

"How do you..."

I smiled.

"You have a Peppermint scent... When I was escorted to the church was when I first recognized it and then the same at my first outing and now" I turned to him.

"I have a very keen sense of smell", I smiled but he remained silent.

"So will you tell me then? Your name?"

"I do not have a name my lady"

I frowned at his words, how could someone not possibly have a name?

"Why?" I demand, for whatever reason, it might be I needed to know.

"Dark Knight are nameless... we are bred to fulfill our duty until the day we draw our last breath... my duty is to you My lady, Normally I would have served you the moment you were brought into the Empire as a child but I shall still fulfill it, it does not matter if I do not have a name"

My eyes were saddened at his words, so that means Danette and Camille had their dark knights protecting them too, my eyes trembled, how could someone be subjected to such a fate? I guess he and I weren't too different, the moment we were born our lives were decided for us like a fixed system, weighted upon with duties we never called our own, none a life we never asked for.

"It's unfair... and sad", I grip onto the collar rope of my horse, tightly.

"Because of so-called duty, you're nameless... because of duty I was forced to make a choice... I was forced to marry and brought to a foreign land I know nothing of... surrounded by people I do not know, like an unfit placement", my lip quivered.

"I-I mean I'm married to the wealthiest house, I should be happy shouldn't I, raised from rags to riches, any woman's dream right? Like Mother always say... ladies would kill to be in your position?" I faced him with a forced smile.

"Then why are you crying my lady"

My cheeks were wet with tears without me realizing it, I sobbed quickly wiping my tears with a handkerchief.

I cleared my throat.

"Shall I give you a name?" I offered to try to lighten up the mood.

"That is not necessary my lady... none should you waste your time with me," He said plainly but out of respect.

I giggled.

"Come on now it wouldn't hurt to have one"

"It's forbidden my lady, not accepted"

"I will call you by it only when it's just you and I, don't worry... besides I'm good at naming"

He was silent.

"Well I don't know much about you none do I know what you look like... but I do know your scent. Yes! That's it... Mint I will call you Mint, have a nice ring to it doesn't it?"

"Thank you my lady but I can't accept it"

I sighed, It wasn't a big deal to have a name, but it seemed like to him.

"Mint" I urged.

"Shall we go back my lady we shouldn't stay here for long"

I just rolled my eyes, he was really stubborn, he should just accept the name.

"It's a lovely name" I state as we turned on our horses.

"Mint," I said smirking, but he didn't say anything.

Oh, I could do this all day, this was fun for me, it helped me forget what happened moments ago.

"Mint... Mint... Mint... Mi-"

I paused instantly when I heard a branch snap, Mint halts when he heard it.

"W-What was that?" I asked suddenly scared, the sound was almost unusual.

"Be silent my lady... something is not right" Mint said his head in every direction trying to pinpoint where it came from, he must have sensed it too... something off.

My heart slammed loudly in my chest because the forest was now suddenly quiet too quiet, not even the birds chirping anymore, it was almost like a presence filled the area, a dark presence and it gave me the chills.

Mint stayed alert but we didn't move, my eyes just traveled around the area, my loud heartbeat the only sound I could hear.

Suddenly my ears twitched, something was coming I could hear it from afar approaching, coming fast, I didn't know what it was, I turned in the direction. My eyes went wide when I saw an arrow coming for me... fast, my breath caught when the arrow almost pierce my head but it stopped not moving further.

Mint caught it before it got to me, the arrow was odd, I have seen an arrow before and it looked nothing like this, this was black completely back and shaped in a cricket sharp.

"Nightshades!" Mint yelled flinging the arrow.

I was still in shock of what just happened, Nightshades? what does that mean? Whatever it was, it can't be good.

"My lady we must ride, Fast!"

Hearing the panic in Mint's voice, I knew we were in danger, The next thing I knew was we were fast on heels, I took panic breaths not knowing what was happening, I was scared and confused.

I heard the trees behind make a loud twisting noise, in panic, my eyes went wide when I saw them bending and shocking, I caught a hint of dark figures jumping on them on all fours but they had human shapes, was it possible for humans to run like that on trees? What are these Nightshades and why were they after us.

Instantly an arrow came again, once again for the head, Mint bent me to dodge without bothering to turn like he sensed it coming, the arrow passed right through, my hat went off at the action, my silver hair going loose.

"What are those things and why are they after us?" I demand.

"Not us... it's you they are after my lady"

I froze at his words, why were the Nightshades after me?

More arrows came, at this point we were lucky we dodge them, it was mostly by the help of Mint like he could tell whenever they released one and their directions. I gasped when I saw the trees ahead of us, twisting and bending... the realization struck me.

"They are coming ahead too!" I panicked.

"We must change route!"

We turned to the left going deeper into the woods, we slowed down, but I could hear them in a distance coming.

"My lady you must ride ahead, take this path back to the tents I will deal with them"

"What? No! I'm not leaving you Mint" I yelled.

"I can't have you with me when I fight them off... they will keep at nothing to have your head"

"Bu-"

"My lady my duty is to protect you I cannot allow anything to happen to you or else I'm of no worth"

I shook my head negatively, the idea of Mint staying behind didn't sit well with me.

"Please My lady if you're with me it will only put you in danger more... please go"

I nod, although it pained me to do so.

"Forgive me for this"

"Wha-" I gasped when he ripped a piece of fabric from my skirt, from beneath.

"Nightshades track through smell... it's their nature, with this I can lure them out" As he explained he took off his black cloak giving it to me.

"This will mask your scent they won't be able to tell where you are" I hesitantly took it, putting it on.

"Make sure you follow this straight path, my lady, and do not diverse from it... this forest tends to make things lost"

I gulped at his words. He turned on his horse drawing his sword.

"Be safe, Mint" I said on the verge of tears, he was risking his life for me, although I knew it was his duty but still it made my heartache.

He didn't answer.

"Come back, that's an order," I said turning on my horse as I followed the straight path.

I couldn't stop myself from sobbing as I rode Luna, If only I listened to him and not wandered far from the tent then this wouldn't have happened. You're always so stubborn Sylvia, I scolded myself.

I was terrified and confused.... and all I could think of was Cedric.