Chapter 6 #6
“W-Will we have to f-fight them, then?”
“If he continues to be unreasonable, we may, yes. But he has thirty knights with him.” Ruth frowned, considering their odds should violence become necessary. “If those men are real knights, they’ll be difficult to deal with. Even the lowest-ranking knight is capable of eliminating ten sentries.”
Ruth was clearly anticipating a full-blown confrontation, the mere notion of which made Maxi’s throat tighten.
“What would make matters significantly worse,” Ruth continued, “would be if this man really is a Livadonian noble. He might take offense at us refusing him entry and use his political standing to retaliate—even going so far as to start an armed conflict. The ceasefire may have stopped the war between the Seven Kingdoms, but clashes among the nobility are still fairly regular.”
“Th-Then what sh-should we do?”
“What would you like to do, my lady?” Ruth’s eyes bored into hers.
Maxi flinched, her shoulders slumping under the sudden pressure. As lady of the castle, it was her duty to keep Anatol safe in Riftan’s absence.
“I…” She bit her lip to still her trembling jaw. “I-I will go to the g-gates and try t-talking to him myself. I’ll d-decide what to do a-after I’ve d-determined who th-these people are.”
“I think that’s a good idea.” Ruth nodded in approval. “I’ll accompany you. And we should also bring the guards with us in case this escalates. Rodrigo, inform Sir Obaron and Sir Sebrique of the situation at once.”
“Yes, sir. Right away!”
“Come with me, my lady.”
Without waiting for her, Ruth turned and strode from the room. Quickly, Maxi handed her piece of parchment to Ludis and rushed after him. When she finally reached the garden, she found Ruth taking the reins of two horses from the stablemaster, Qenal.
“Do you know how to ride a horse?” Ruth held one set out to her.
“I-I do.” She nodded, even though she had never ridden a horse this large on her own.
With the help of a servant, she clambered onto the lean brown mare, gripping the reins and pressing her thighs against the saddle to keep herself from toppling over.
Ruth watched for a moment, and when he was satisfied by her ability, he mounted his own horse.
“The guards should be waiting for us at the training grounds. Follow me.” He had barely finished speaking when he spurred his horse into a gallop. Maxi followed close behind.
When they passed through the castle gate, they found thirty guards standing in formation and awaiting their arrival. An elderly knight with white hair sat proudly atop his steed at the head. As Ruth approached, the knight turned his horse around.
“I heard some rabid bastard is causing a ruckus at the gates,” the white-haired knight growled, tapping the sword fastened to his hip. “This old thing was starting to miss the taste of blood.”
“You won’t be fighting them, Sir Obaron. Your task is to protect her ladyship.”
“What?” The old knight glanced over at Maxi, clearly disappointed.
Maxi suppressed the urge to cower under his gaze and nudged her horse forward. “Th-Thank you, S-Sir Obaron.”
The old knight awkwardly scratched his cheek with one finger. “Rest assured, my lady, you’ll be safe with me here. Those troublemakers won’t be a problem.”
With that, Sir Obaron returned to his position at the head of the formation and led the guards out of the castle.
Ruth galloped after them, nodding for Maxi to follow.
She trailed behind them as they crossed the drawbridge, her heart racing in time with the pounding of hooves, and her anxiety grew only stronger as she rode through the grove.
It reached a point where she was trembling so badly that she had to clench her teeth to keep from biting her tongue.
Maxi kept up with the guards’ charge down a steep hill and through the bustling town square below, though not very confidently.
She was terrified, never having ridden at such speed before.
Her hands shook as she gripped the reins tightly.
Eventually, after what seemed like eons, the rampart finally came into view, and one of the sentries stationed above the gates rushed out to meet them.
“You’re here!”
Ruth and Sir Obaron leaped off their horses, and Maxi dismounted soon after with the help of another guard.
“Where is this man who c-claims to be a L-L-Livadonian noble?”
“He’s just outside the gates,” said the sentry. “This way.”
“This way, my lady,” Ruth said, motioning for her to follow first.
Maxi followed the sentry up the rampart on stiff legs. Once she was standing on the battlement, she saw thirty young men on horseback gathered beyond the wall. Their faces were tanned, and they were dressed in heavy robes with a long sword hanging at each of their waists.
Ruth peered over the parapet and addressed them loudly. “Which one of you is the nobleman?”
“It is I, Rob Midahas!” The haughty voice came from a man astride a chestnut horse. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties, with golden-brown hair and a bulky frame. He squinted up at Ruth. “Are you the Lord of Anatol?”
“I am but a mere servant. Our lady is here on the lord’s behalf.” Ruth calmly gestured to Maxi with one hand.
When the stranger’s intense gaze fell on her, she instinctively took a step back.
The corners of his lips rose into a sneer as he addressed her.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m sure you’ve already been informed, but I am Rob Midahas, the Lord of Kaysa, a province in Western Livadon.
I come seeking an alliance with the Remdragon Knights after hearing about their victory over the dragon. I hope you’ll welcome me in.”
Maxi glanced at Ruth, but he remained impassive with his arms crossed. He obviously had no intention of humoring the unwelcome guest, and so it was up to her to sort out the situation. Trying as best as she could to loosen her rigid tongue, Maxi slowly opened her mouth to speak.
“I-I heard…you h-have nothing to p-prove your identity. I c-cannot allow…unidentified individuals t-to enter!”
“We lost them on our journey here, unfortunately, but your cleric can confirm my identity once you let us in.”
“Anatol does not welcome unidentified g-guests. Th-This is our lord’s command, and his word is l-law within our b-borders. C-Come back when y-you have new i-identification.”
Midahas furrowed his brows, and his voice grew irritated. “I can’t understand a word you’re saying. I demand to speak to someone who can talk properly!”
Maxi blanched at the blatant insult, but Ruth quickly stepped forward in her defense.
“You’re speaking to the Lady of Anatol. Mind your manners.”
“I only spoke the truth! I can’t understand her!”
Maxi clutched at the fabric of her skirt, fighting back the urge to flee, and mustered every ounce of her courage once more. “A-As I’ve said…C-Come back w-when you have some s-sort of identification w-with you. I w-will not open the g-gates until then.”
“We passed through monster lairs to reach Anatol! You would have us weary travelers turn back without rest?” The man’s voice took on a menacing edge as his diplomatic facade began to crack.
Maxi took a nervous step back, but her meek reaction only made him more incensed.
Furious, Midahas began to shout even more loudly. “Is the Lady of Anatol so uncharitable?”
“I-I…”
“If you deny me entry, I swear to you I will return with hundreds of knights. I won’t forget this insult!”
“W-Without identifications, I c-c-c—”
“Your cleric can confirm my identity! I’ve said that already!”
As Midahas grew increasingly hostile, a familiar sense of dread paralyzed Maxi, and sweat prickled at her back. Maxi began to tremble, so Ruth intervened yet again.
“Stop being so unreasonable! It isn’t our fault you’re unable to prove you are who you claim to be. How in the blazes do you expect us to simply allow a band of armed men through our gates?!”
“Ha! Is Anatol so weak that you’re afraid of letting thirty men enter?” Midahas’s mouth twisted into another sneer. “I see now. Without your lord, Anatol is merely a den of cowards.”
“How dare you!” Sir Obaron’s fury finally burst out of him, and he drew his sword in outrage. “Ruth! Open the gates! I’ll cut off that arrogant bastard’s head myself!”
“Sir Obaron!” Ruth twisted around and gave the old knight an admonishing glare, then he immediately spun back, his hands outstretched in a warding gesture.
But it was too late.
A massive flame hurtled toward the gate and collided with a force that shook the rampart down to its foundations. Maxi shrieked and gripped the parapet to keep her balance while the guards scrambled in confusion.
Rob Midahas unsheathed his own sword. “You want my head?” he called up to Sir Obaron. “I’d like to see you try!”
Ruth grabbed Maxi by the arm and led her back down the battlement. Frantic and disoriented, Maxi barely stifled an alarmed cry when she saw that the ball of flame had demolished the gate.
“Shield!” Ruth threw one hand out in front of him, conjuring gusts of wind that made a barrier to hold the invaders at bay. But Midahas shattered the barrier with a vicious swing of his sword. “I can’t hold him back! Obaron!”
“Leave it to me.” Sir Obaron leaped down from the rampart with a roar, swinging his massive sword as he charged the intruders. A cacophony of metallic clangs pierced the air. Maxi tried to run clear of the fighting, but she stumbled and was pushed to the ground by someone from behind.
“My lady!” Ruth looked over his shoulder at her, but he was busy creating another barrier to stem the tide of enemies and could not help her.
Defenseless, Maxi looked around with wide, fearful eyes. Sir Obaron and the guards were locked in fierce combat with Rob Midahas and his knights, while a crowd of Anatolians—people who had come to the gate to see what the commotion was about—fled in terror.
Then, Ruth’s voice cut through the chaos again. “My lady! Take shelter!”
“B-But…”
“Please get out of here! There’s nothing you can—”