It was a long ride back to Byalito.
It has been a two week ride back. Eniarron was silent the entire ride, her hands manacled, her armor and weapons in a sack slung on her back. Damaro was unsettled by her silence. It was as if she knew something he didn't. But he still couldn't understand that she was the Black Knight. She was as cold as the mountains of the northern border of Lerufna, and as dark as a stormy night. And yet, she was so fiery, her attitude as fierce as a wild stallion, her eyes dancing with fury every time he looked at her. She was so unlike the other elves, except in her secrecy.
It was a welcome site to Damaro's eyes to finally see the northern gates. Eniarron didn't gape, as most did; she merely gazed over it, leading her silver-gray horse onward. Damaro glanced at her distastefully. "You'll face justice soon, witch."
At that, she shot him a glare so icy he almost shivered. "Two weeks of silence, prick, and you forget my first and only request."
He glared back, his mind reeling in an attempt to reply. He drew his sword, and put it to her neck. "One more word about it, witch, and you won't need to worry about it anymore." He removed his sword, sheathing it again.
"Slimy git," she hissed, smirking.
"You think I was joking?" he asked, reaching for his sword once more.
"What you don't realize, Prince Dumb-aro, is that without me, you have no title."
He sighed, seemingly giving up. "My humble apologies, Lady Black Knight, for knowing myself to be better than you."
"Only in looking uglier. If looks could kill, the whole Empire would be dead just by glimpsing your face."
They rode through the gates side-by-side, still arguing. "Common tavern wench."
"Female street slut," she hissed in reply.
He gasped, still leading the way to the royal residencies. "How dare you speak to me in that manner."
"How dare I?" she asked, laughing wickedly. "Because my words are my weapons when my hands are trapped."
He nodded. "When you look at it that way, it actually makes sense." He stopped his horse, Eniarron doing the same near him. He slid from his steed, and looked to her. "Do you need any-" His words trailed off as he watched her hop down. She looked at him pointedly, her expression unreadable. He grabbed one manacled wrist, and steered her inside gently while a stable hand took both horses.
The place was huge, a miniature palace with several servants bustling about. On their way, a lot of them glanced at Eniarron curiously. She simply looked about, mildly interested. Damaro led her onward, through several halls, and into a well-furnished study, shutting the door tightly behind them. A man sat at the desk, old age apparently catching up with him. Shockingly blue eyes appeared tired, and auburn hair was streaked with gray. He looked up as they entered, his aging face expressionless. "Damaro, my son," he said, rising. The man was once King of Lerufna, Sadabio. "Who is this Drayla?" he asked, using the honorific for a female elf, as he stopped in front of Eniarron.
"This, father, is the Black Knight," Damaro answered.
Sadabio gasped as he walked towards them in front of the desk. "But she's female! And an elf!"
"And one of the greatest fighters I've ever seen."
Sadabio nodded, looking her in the eye. "Do you know who I am, Draylana?" he asked, calling her dark.
"Yes, sir," she replied. "You are King Sadabio of Lerufna."
"No longer king," he replied sadly, his voice low. "Do you have a name, Knight?"
"Eniarron, sir," she replied, her crimson eyes sparkling.
Sadabio turned to his son. "You bested her in a fight?"
"Yes, but only just. I thought she was a man. And I intended to bring her to justice."
Eniarron glared at him darkly. "I have committed no crime!" she interjected, suddenly struggling against her manacles.
"No crime?" Damaro shouted, wheeling about to face her. "You are the Black Knight, the crime lord of the Cerapiri Empire!"
"Crime lord?" she yelled back. "Who ever said crime?" Damaro paused, suddenly unsure. She smirked. "There's the proof. I am no criminal."
Sadabio shook his head angrily. "You're still a villain," he hissed. "Guards!" he shouted, and two barged into the study. "Escort the elf to the lowest dungeon." The guards nodded, and each grabbed one of Eniarron's arms. They pulled her from the room, leaving the door open.
A woman walked in, her brown hair streaked with gray. "Why are your guards taking an elf to the dungeon?" she asked angrily.
"Adelaide," Sadabio said, "she's a villain."
"She's the Black Knight, mother," Damaro added.
Adelaide gasped. "But she's so… so…"
"Feminine?" Damaro supplied.
"Yes," she replied.
"There is nothing good in her, my love. Evil has possessed her," Sadabio said, taking one of her hands. "Stay away from the Draylana, for your own safety."
Eniarron sighed, and resumed her pacing around the cell. Not only was she the only female prisoner, she was the only prisoner.
Her armor had been moved to a table right across from her cell. Her sword and dagger, in their respective sheaths, tugged at her eyes through the small window in her cell door. And she could do nothing.
She was trapped like a bird in a cage. Though she was innocent, her reputation preceded her. No one knew the truth aside from her. And no one cared to learn the truth.
She stopped pacing, and sat atop the pile of hay rather than on the stone floor. Yes, she was innocent, and had only agreed to go with Damaro to prove that she was. It was to be a cruel process, but effective none-the-less.
Footsteps echoed from the beginning of the prison cells. Eniarron paid them no attention. Nothing in the world could save her from justice. She could no longer look to the sky with hope, and no joy would fill her voice. Doom was her destiny.
Keys clattered at the door, and it swung open. The older woman Eniarron had passed on the way down to her cell stood in the doorway. "Come with me," she said.
Eniarron stayed where she was. "I do not know you, and I highly doubt that you know me."
The woman nodded. "I am Adelaide, Damaro's mother."
"Eniarron," she said, rising from the stack of hay.
"I know who you are, Eniarron, and what you do," Adelaide whispered once Eniarron had come to the door. She handed the elf her black armor. "Pull it on quickly." Eniarron gladly obeyed. With all but her helm back on, she quickly placed her weapons back on her belt. Adelaide smiled. "Ready?" she asked.
Eniarron nodded. "How do you know who I am?" she asked.
Adelaide reached over, and brushed Eniarron's black hair away from the left side of her neck, showing a small tattoo of a rose. "'The long-necked rose in red will reside, their destiny entwined with dark; their reputation in turn will set others aside, and protect again with just one mark.'"
"The prophecy," Eniarron whispered.
"I saw your tattoo, and the small wound on your neck, while they dragged you off."
"But how did you know the prophecy?"
"I was the one who said it." Eniarron gasped. "I am the last of a great line of seers. It was I, and no other, who said it. I also delivered it. I know of your rank, and what you had to do to escape all of it. You are brave beyond recognition, Eniarron, and none realize that." Eniarron smiled weakly at the complement, and shifted her weight awkwardly. "You have to get back to Rednalwen, and quickly. From what Damaro told me, you walked your horses the entire journey. It will take you about a week, but it may be too late by then." Adelaide turned, and led the way down the long dungeon hallway. Eniarron pulled on her helm, and walked with her.
It was a long walk to the stables through dim corridors. Through windows, the late night sky was visible, and the moon threw its light through the panes. Adelaide led the way through a large doorway, and the Black Knight followed. The stables were extraordinarily well taken care of. The Black Knight quickly located her stallion, and quickly strapped the intricate saddle to its back. She climbed up, gripping the reins tightly in her gauntlets.
"Eniarron," Adelaide said, looking up at her, "take the northern street until you reach the gates. Head west along the wall and you will come across a smaller, unguarded gate. Sneak out through there, and head directly back to Rednalwen. I will do what I can to stall Damaro."
The Black Knight bowed her head deeply from her position on her horse. "Thank you for your help, Adelaide. I am forever in your debt."
"The time to repay my kindness is not now. Ride swiftly, Black Knight, for the good of all."
The Black Knight nodded, and dug her heels into the stallion. The horse reared, and galloped off, riding into the starry night.
Adelaide smiled weakly, and headed back inside the palace. There would be hell to pay in the morning, but for the moment, the night's peace would last.
