Chapter 3 A New Face

Daffid heaved his aching and heavier-than-usual body up. It was no easy task for him. Being a thief, he had to wear the scarcest of clothes to make himself light and agile. He still had no understanding as to why knights wear such heavy armor. He smoothed a hand on his auburn hair.

Standing awkwardly, Daffid drew his gaze to the burly man who had thrown him as if he weighed a sack of feathers. The man, no, the giant was not staring at him as he would have thought. The giant's eyes were glazed, as if in deep thought. His lips moved in an impish grin.

Chance. Time to retrieve my shield and scoot.

Daffid crept slowly at the giant who was still oblivious to his surroundings. He didn't like what was happening. And he especially didn't like the on-looking crowd. He glared at them. Some of them backed away and resumed their business.

He came here to forget his new life and to start a new one. He was sick and tired of his previous one. He had carefully thought out the plans. Fed up with stealing and being treated as a third class citizen, he had gone here. He was here to claim his lost dignity. What better way to claim it but to become a knight?

Being a knight, he might be able to walk the streets with pride in his eyes and an air of confidence about him. No one will be bad-mouthing him anymore but instead, talks of his greatness will spread like wildfire. All he needed was someone who will proclaim his knighthood.

But now this, this – giant is going to mess up his plans!

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Burris' eyes still flashed with images. Every second of that mortifying day rolled with lightning speed but with terrifying clarity. An image of his best friend, Skuld, wearing a smile retained itself in his mind before he became aware of his surroundings again. The knight, or whatever he was, was within his view. He froze.

Reddish-brown hair. Emerald green eyes. Romanesque nose. Skuld's mirror image. The likeness is unmistakable. Oh, Odin! Why didn't I notice this before?

Oh, holy Gods! Is this some sort of sick joke? A punishment?

The realization hit him like a ton of bricks dropped on him. He started to hear a buzzing sound. His heart started to palpitate slower. His breathing became ragged. His brain was losing its capacity to function. He looked around but everyone and everything was blurry and going in slow motion. For the first time on Burris' life, he lost his consciousness.

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Daffid, with eyes in utter astonishment, saw the giant fall to the ground like a tower of unstable cards would. Gasps were heard from the spectators.

Damn it to Hel!

He couldn't leave the giant lying on the ground. He was still dressed in knight's clothing. If he was planning on a new life as a knight, a dignified one at that, he should handle this straight on. He silently cursed the nosy spectators for being there. He looked at the able-bodied men watching.

"I need help."

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The giant, or old man Burris, as the head nurse had heard him call him, was now safely tucked in one of the beds in the infirmary. He gathered his shield and his pouch and headed for the door.

Before he was able to reach the door, it crashed open. In came a girl, gasping for air. He couldn't see her face since the girl was bent forward with her hands on her knees. Raven black hair was tied in a coiffeur. Some tendrils had escaped, maybe from her exertion.

When the girl was able to get her breath back, she looked up. She smiled.

"Oh, good I caught up with you!"

He couldn't take his eyes off her face. It was… exquisite. She had the deepest cerulean eyes and perfect ivory skin. She had the most sensuous cherry lips. She looked fragile, but beautiful. It made him think of delicate magnolias. Something ignited inside him that made him want to be her protector with or without her consent.

He was still looking at her when the girl remarked uncertainly, "You are the knight that brought him here, aren't you?"

"Um, I'm not exactly a knight. I have to go. I still need to register at the inn before it becomes full. As you can see it is nearing sunset."

"Applying for a knight then. You can stay at our place. After all, you did bring him here. Anyway, my father might be able to give you some pointers on becoming a skillful knight."

"Your father?!"

The girl brought her hand to her blushing cheeks. "Oh my, I haven't introduced my self, haven't I? I'm Madeline. I'm Sir Burris de Montmorency's daughter. And you are?"

Daffid digested this in silence. He glanced at one of the occupied beds.

So the giant is a knight? I guess a slight change of plans wouldn't hurt.

Before he could utter a word, a voice still groggy from sleep barked.

"Madeline, is that you?"

"Yes, Father I'm here."

"Well what are you doing standing there by the door? Come here!"

Madeline grinned. She circled her fingers on Daffid's wrist and dragged him to her father who was hefting himself out of the bed.

Burris stiffened when he saw the boy Madeline had in tow. He threw a baleful glance at Daffid.

"Now, now Father." Madeline wagged a finger to her father's direction. "Stop acting like a senile old man. After all Sir – uh – he – uh," she looked at Daffid with inquiring eyes.

"Daffid."

"Yes, Daffid did bring you here. I asked him to stay with us, Father. He needed a place to spend the night, you see."

Burris grunted.

"And what is your full name young man?"

"Daffid Iolo."

Iolo.

The doubtness that had been nagging at him while he was feigning sleep became a certainty. Skuld Iolo. Could this mean that Lilibeth is still alive?

"Where is your mother?"

"Why not ask for my father?" Daffid countered skeptically.

"Just answer my question," Burris replied with a hint of annoyance to hide his discomfort.

"I am an orphan, Sir. The Sisters in the Prontera Sanctuary were kind. They told me both my parents are dead. They let me keep my last name."

Burris felt his heart constrict. I'm sorry.

"So you grew up there?"

"No, Sir. I grew up in Payon. I worked as a thief."

Daffid saw Burris' face register one of satisfaction. He had no idea why.

"So you are a thief!"

Madeline, who had kept silent and contented herself by listening to the conversation, suddenly perked up. "A thief?!"

Daffid's face burned. Grudgingly he answered, "Yes."

Burris thought for a moment. A penance for my sins?

"And you want to become a knight? Well you have met the right person!"