Horseback riding was one of Adela's favorite timepass activities.
Like a bird trapped in a cage, the overprotected Lady longed for the floating sensation she experienced every time all four feet were off the ground. Her mare's exhilaration was contagious, and Adela was one with her, flying through the open space of the Archduchy as if her father's lands were a world of boundlessness.
She seemed to fancy all the prohibited activities deemed unbefitting a noblewoman such as herself, first one on that list was sparring, yet another outlet the Archduke turned a blind eye to so long as Adela did not do it excessively enough to get calloused skin on her soft hands.
Kaiser secretly welcomed it like any other protective measure he took for the safety of his daughters, not that Adela would ever need that sort of protection, she who had a platoon of knights at her beck and call, she whose noble status presented an impenetrable shield of its own.
Forgive me, father. Adela sent the prayer to the abyss hoping never to be found by him should the worst happen to her. She dismounted the horse.
"Arkin! A sword!"
The proud Lady de Lanark was not about to succumb like easy prey or crack under the pressure of the thugs' vulgar threats. She was not delusional to think that she could survive when it was only two against so many, but she would rather go down fighting for her honor.
"Ride my horse and get the hell out of here!" Her knight's voice boomed as he launched himself forward to attack the enemy.
As if her hand had a mind of its own, she slapped the animal startling it into a run then watched it escape with regretful eyes.
Arkin shot one last exasperated look at Adela before focusing on the fight that broke off, he blocked the redheaded rebel's attack and dodged a jab delivered by another rebel then kicked the latter in the groin throwing him off balance only to deliver a fatal stab to his heart. "One dog down!" He yelled as a frenzy of bloodlust took over him. In one swift motion, he whirled on the heel of his foot right as his redheaded opponent was lifting a sword in the air, the sound of steel cutting through flesh and bones preceded the unnerving thump the bandit's head made when it fell on the ground and rolled over.
Training with the knight was one thing, watching him kill and behead the men who spoke of bathing her in a river was something else entirely.
She nearly fainted when he threw his bloodied sword at her feet then drew the dead man's sword and swung it in the air bracing himself to fight the four furious men who charged all together at him.
"Run and never look back!"
Adela heard Arkin's order that thundered in the forest, but she was already trapped in a transparent cage made out of the most primal fear of them all, her entire body froze under the cold gaze of the only man who did not charge at the knight.
The leader of the group smiled sadistically at her, "Go ahead and do what your dead beau told you to, I like to chase hard-headed harlots like you around before ravaging them into obedience,"
Background noise. The repeated shrieks steel against steel was making at a close distance seemed irrelevant when compared to the threat the man posed to her. She bent down to grip the blood-soaked sword with both of her hands then stumbled up and readied herself to use it, sucking in as much air as she could, her trembling chin went down, and her eyes got bigger as she glared at the foe across from her.
He clicked his tongue, "We might not make it all the way to the river…" The thick bald man winked meaningfully as he shrugged away from the darkness of the trees around him and marched Adela's way.
"Stay away… I-I am warning you…"
She stuttered pathetically instead of sounding brave like she had intended to. And the grin that slowly split the man's face into two was disheartening enough to almost change her mind about fighting him. She struggled against an acute basic instinct to run — a pessimistic sensation filled her mind and spoke like one of the forest's vengeful spirits in her head. You do not stand a chance against him.
Enough!
She shouted inwardly trying to quiet it down, her grip around the sword becoming slippery because of her sweaty hands.
No…I will at least wound him…I can do that much.
Determined to put the sword that had already tasted blood into good use, the only thing left for Adela to struggle with was the urge to scream as the wild boar-like man was only a few steps away from her.
"Run damn it!" Arkin let out a miserable cry.
On what feet? She wanted to answer the knight who was sacrificing his life for her, but her throat was too dry.
Forgive me, father. Adela sent the same prayer once more and steeled herself when the leader was one step away. Her last hope was simple, she asked for strength above the immobilizing terror in her muscles, she asked for the power to overcome her weakness and lift her arms up now that she must fight for her honor and the honor of House de Lanark.