//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: A Grave Misstep // Story: The Red Knight // by PhantomBulwark //------------------------------// Twilight glanced uneasily up at her father, “so… what did you think of Ser Solaris’s victory?” Lord Night’s face gave away nothing. “She is impressive, if a bit unseasoned,” he hummed noncommittally. “I’ve no doubt she has some connections, to get away with winning over royalty like that. Otherwise she’d be beheaded at the Night Princess’ command.” Shining Armor cringed at Twilight’s horrified expression, “you must admit father, she did very well for someone so young.” “There are many young impressive knight’s here,” he replied mildly. “Why is this one of so much interest to you?” With uncharacteristic boldness Twilight said, “I’d prefer Ser Solaris to court me over Lord Spruce any day of the week.” Lord Night’s eyebrows bounced in surprise. “I see. I will take your opinion into account of course, but Lord Spruce makes an excellent argument for himself. We shall see what this, Ser Solaris has to offer.” It took less than fifteen minutes for Sunset to be found. She was disheveled and annoyed as she glared at the Lord who had dragged her from their victory drink. The barkeep at the local tavern had been a fan and plied Sunset with drinks in exchange for stories from the road. “What,” asked Sunset somewhat icily, “can I do for such an esteemed Lord of this nation on this glorious evening?” Lord Night smiled smugly, “my my, drinking with riff raff after a match… how very provincial." He shot a glance at his daughter. "You were summoned Ser Solaris to speak with me on the subject of my daughter.” Sunset’s eyes nearly bulged from her head when she set eyes on her lady. “Forgive me, my lord,” she bowed low, “I assure you I meant you no insult.” She turned and faced the lady. She was dressed all in purple and with her eyes gleaming she looked the picture of grace. She bowed to the lady as well and kept her head down as she greeted her, “good evening to you, shining star of my sky.” Twilight’s face flushed at the compliment and she did not miss the way her father’s eyes flickered with something like pride. “G-good evening, S-Ser Solar-ris.” Sunset’s heart thundered like a thousand horses running across cobblestone. “It is an honor and a privilege to be invited to speak to you, my lord, but I must ask again what you want of me.” “It seems you have made quite an impression on my children. I would like to ask you Ser if you have interest in courting my beloved Twilight and if so-” Sunset’s heart galloped even faster and before she could stop herself the name was rolling off her tounge. “Twilight,” she breathed, “Twilight. Twilight.” It tasted like a memory, long forgotten, of fresh bread and she forgot herself for a moment, openly staring at her. At Twilight. Lord Night cleared his throat loudly and she jumped. “F-forgive me again, my lord. Until this moment, the lady would not permit me to know her name…” He raised a brow at his children and hummed, “and by what name did you call her?” “She dubbed me ‘Ser Hound’, my lord, I called her only the lady… or when I was most brave, I called her my lady.” “And did it ever occur to you, Ser Hound,” he scoffed, “that you aim far higher than your own stature? What do you have to offer my daughter that others cannot? His face grew redder the more he spoke, “what could you possibly give her?” Sunset recoiled at the venom in his voice and could see that both Twilight and Shining were also startled. Straightening her back, Sunset met the lord’s eyes and gave what she hoped was a charming shrug. “I have only my affection and respect to give.” She tried not to think about how stupid the words sounded. The lord was clearly hoping for something material… and Sunset had so very little to her name. “I am, as you surely already know, a provincial knight from the south of Trotland. I have only my title and a small amount of gold that permits me to compete.” The lord frowned at her, “so you can offer nothing.” His tone made Sunset feel very small. “You are hardly more than a peasant. A street rat dressed in gold.” Sunset knew what she should do. What she was meant to do. She should bow to Lord Knight and his house and be on her way. She should run back to their camp with her tail tucked and lick her wounds. She should forget about Lady Twilight and try to ignore the sting in the pompous noble’s words. She did not do any of those things. “A street rat?” she asked coldly. “Perhaps I am.” Her chest felt like the sun itself had risen behind her ribs. Her heart beat a proud marching beat and her pride roared inside her. “But I will say this and only this in reply, Lord Night. I have seen many ‘peasants’ worth twice any noble.” Her tone made clear her contempt and she saw him open his mouth to respond but she cut him off swiftly. “What really makes a person noble? Is it their title or their heart? I say it is better to have a heart of gold than a house made of the same.” She recognized Twilight staring at her with something like awe but she was not yet finished. “No knight of any house is good enough for my lady… not even me. This I already knew, all seeking to humiliate me has done is make you seem foolish, my lord. Judge me now as who I am. I will not try to convince you of my worth with flowery words.” Apparently stunned the Lord stuttered a little in surprise. “You- you are nothing but an arrogant child! You know nothing of pain! You are-” Sunset’s eyes blazed, “I know nothing of pain!? You, Lord Night, know nothing of me! You do not know my mind, or my heart. You most certainly do not know my pain.” She turned and bowed once more to Twilight and then turned on her heel. “I can see myself out.” “W-wait!” Twilight’s voice brought her to an immediate halt. “A test!” Her father, his face still red with rage huffed, “what are you on about?” “She can prove her worth with a test! Something you pick, father. Any test you like to prove her worth.” Twilight stared up at him with big, pleading eyes. “Won’t you at least give her a chance?” He glanced at Sunset, who raised a defiant brow. “Fine,” he muttered, “a test then.” Then he smiled, “to prove your… devotion... to my only daughter: you will lose.” “Lose?” “A hundred knights have won tournaments in Twilight’s name; it is nothing special to win. You claim that you know true pain, so you may prove it and win my approval at the same time. The next tournament is in the Crystal Empire. Lose. You cannot withdraw, you must lose each match. If you succeed, I will give my blessing.” Her pride bellowed and pounded at the cage she’d placed it in but she gave a curt nod, “fine.”