THE Knight's Hidden Princess
Chapter 93: Close To The Border

Chapter 93: Close To The Border

DAHLIA POV

By day break we were already back on our journey. The rest wasn’t much but we looked better than before and it also helped that the horses were well rested. Sometime during lookout, Eddie fell asleep. It didn’t take long for him to do so and I had grabbed a cloth to cover him with while I kept watch for the rest of the night.

The night turned cold sometime around midnight but I didn’t still fall asleep. I was used to being outside most of the time and used to the cold which had nothing to do with my activity as the black knight. I suppose I do have my father and Madam Heidi cruel training to thank for that.

When I didn’t behave well or did anything that was displeasing in the eye of my father, I get stripped down in my underwear and then lock me in an old windowless pitch black cellar. Over the years I grew accustomed to the cold and even the darkness became my closet friend.

So staying out in the open with the cold and nothing but darkness for comfort wasn’t anything new to me.

Once I noticed that Eddie was starting to get awake, I laid on my side and pretended to fall asleep. I felt Eddie come towards me and draped the cloth I had used to cover him over me instead. I almost smiled...almost but I didn’t, not willing to blow my cover.

"If we hurry, I think we will be getting closer by nightfall." Heather said as she rode up next to me.

I smiled nodding my head at her in response. If we rode faster, there’s a high chance that we might be able to meet Reagan and his army on the road. With that thought in my mind, I rode faster but we had to stop a few times to relieve ourselves on the way.

It was almost dawn when all of a sudden we noticed the rising of smoke in the trees far away from where we were. A dark, thick column twisting upwards into the air, warning us to prepare for something ahead.

Heather pulled her horse to a stop right next to me, her expression grim as she stared at the trees ahead. "You do not think..."

"Reagan!" I said with one word, my heart skipping a beat as I took in the sight in front of me.

Without further thoughts, I snapped the reins of my horse faster and headed towards the smoke without hesitation. Heather and Eddie followed closely after me, the sounds of hooves filling the air as we raced towards the burning smoke.

I didn’t think as I raced with full speed causing branches to hit my face as I rode harder, pushing my horse to its limits. The ground made the landscape indistinct while strong wood smoke scents filled the air.

Please.... I pleaded to the gods above. Please, let him be okay! Let them all be okay!

I thought as we continued to race forward. The rode ahead was a rocky one and we were already getting too close to the spot so we decided to leave the horses alone. The smell of the smoke was heavy in the air and it caused a fog to appear in the air which we might use to our advantage.

Securing our horses to a nearby tree, I brought out my weapons. I removed a bow and strapped it to my back then grabbed the quiver. I checked to see if my daggers were still in place before I grabbed a black scarf which I wrapped around my face.

"You are going to stay here Heather, keep a watch on the horse."

"But my lady..."

"Please do not argue with me!" I cut Heather off causing her to swallow whatever arguments she was about to say, "I can’t worry about more than one people on the battlefield!"

Heather arched a brow up as if offended by what I had said. "And what you think carrying a child to a battlefield is going to help?"

Eddie suddenly fired an arrow at a tree just right next to where Heather was standing. "Apparently this child is more qualified than you are." He said and I was impressed at the way he foud his mark.

But apparently, I was the only one who seemed to be impressed with the way because Heather released a growl, "Careful where you fire your arrows boy or I will whoop your behind so hard you will get a natural tan!"

Eddie swallowed visibly as he tucked his arrow back into his quiver. "Yes ma’m."

Smiling at them, I motioned for them to follow me. "Alright, come on let’s go!"

Without waiting to see if they would follow, I headed towards the line of the smoke. Hiding behind some bushes, I peered through it trying to see the situation and what I saw made my stomach churn. Kneeling in a circle filled with red painted faced men knelt Reagan and he wasn’t alone. Beside him was a man who looked to be around Reagan’s age but that was just it, he was the only one.

"Where are the rest of the guards?" Heather whispered, asking the question that we all were wondering.

I stared at Reagan who looked like his hand were tied behind him. A blank look settled on his face while his friends looked rather bored even though they were surrounded by a couple of hefty men who looked rather scary.

The Kashkil warriors! I thought as I felt dread crept up my body.

But what were they doing here, they were a long way from their border. Reagan and his guards couldn’t have crossed it yet so how on earth are the Kashkil here and most importantly where were Reagan’s army.

"So," One of the men said, his voice booming loud in the forest, "You are the famous hellhound?" The man asked speaking with an accent so thick it was almost impossible to hear what he was saying

Hellhound? I asked myself.

"That’s the nickname given to him by the town’s people." Eddie whispered and I realized that I must have spoken out loud, "He got it because of his ruthless reputation, the type of man to strike first and ask questions later."

Oh, don’t I know that? After all, I’ve been on the receiving end myself! I thought before I turned my attention back to the scene in front of me.

Instead of answering, Reagan continued to stare at the same blank on his face. The man didn’t seem fazed by it so he snorted in response.

"Not quite chatty are we?" He asked before he turned his gaze to the man beside Reagan, "But you on the other hand, I hear you’ve got quite a man on you?"

"Yeah I hate to disappoint you man but I don’t swing that way." The man said and the man threw his head back and laughed out loud.

The man’s laughter sent a cold sensation within my spine and I could tell I was not the only one because I could feel Heather and Eddie go rigid beside me. The Kashkil warriors gained a reputation for their cruel behavior along with terrible treatment of captured enemies. It could also be a violent aftermath if they possessed Reagan and his companion.

The Kashkil leader who stood taller than others and wore his forehead decorated with war face paint lowered himself to speak with Reagan’s companion. "Oh I liked you but it’s a shame you have to die so soon, but before that tell us how you found us?"

"Oh let’s see..." The man said pretending to think before he smiled, "Oh that’s right we followed the rotten stench of your breath. Man it stank so bad we actually heard it from miles away."

Silence.

The leader’s expression turned twisted before he hit the man with such force that his jaw made a gruesome breaking sound. Despite the blood dripping from his open mouth the wounded man managed to produce a derisive small laugh while holding himself together.

Reagan didn’t move. He didn’t even flinch but I noticed the way his body became rigid, a look settling in his gaze even though he wore that blank expression on his face.

"You can laugh all you want but you will be meeting your demise soon!" The leader said.

The man beside Reagan straightened to his full height. "The only death that will be happening right here, will be yours, I promise you!"

The leader smirked before he brought out a wicked looking sword which he aimed at Reagan’s chest, "I guess we will just have to see about that then, don’t we?" He asked with a wicked looking grin on his face as he raised his word up high.

"NO!" The word was out of my lips before I grabbed my bow and arrow and fired without any hesitation.