Chapter 24: Chapter 24

GUESS GUESSES

Arin forced me to take a break, handed me food that I had to eat, and only rode on with me once he had tended to the horses.

In order to cross the river's frozen sheet of ice, we walked ahead of the horses as slowly as possible. I noticed that Arin wasn't able to take my hand or kiss me. I saw a hardness in his eyes. an anger. Something so cold it ran down my back.

His eyes were scowling, his hair hung in his forehead, and his jaw was constantly clenched. He really did look like the dreaded man that peoples avoided and powerful governments sought. You lost sight of that side of him when you saw his dimples or when he was cradling his son. They forgot that Arin had murdered his uncle, fought in battles and was known for his frightening ways.

His black cloak slipped down his sleeve as he rested his hand on his sword. "When will this god damn river end?" he growled harshly.

"Any moment..." Syman stammered, clutching Arin's coat. He kept slipping.

"Lord God one more thing..." he stopped abruptly and grabbed Syman. With a flourish he threw it over his shoulder. "You'll only break your neck like that!"

The boy looked relieved. So he could handle Pocket and calm him down. The black horse was surprisingly nervous. Although he always seemed very controlled. He probably caught Arin's mood.

As we sank into thick snow, Arin lowered Syman again. He immediately avoided him again. "Thanks."

"Schon gut..."

Arin helped me onto the stolen mare and then mounted it himself.

"Where to now?" Thick white clouds formed in front of my mouth. It was really freezing. I forced myself not to think about my child. I had to be factual if I wanted to be of any help. Otherwise I could have stayed at home.

Concentrated, Arin rubbed his thumbs over the hilt of his sword, which I had used to defend myself two nights ago. "I'm trying to understand what Benita thought after the kidnapping. Where would you ride, Elain?"

Where would I ride? Her father's tailoring was too obvious. And questioning Eldonaro would probably do no good. Either he didn't know anything, or he wouldn't want to betray his daughter. She didn't have a husband and thus her own home. But she hated me for marrying Arin. She hoped I would have a daughter so Arin would leave me to have a son with her. Then Armin was born and she threatened me. So?

Would she kill Armin? Would she blackmail Arin with his own child? And where is her hiding place? She had to reckon with the fact that nine strong men would turn on their heads to find her. So she wasn't at court...

"Arin, she wasn't alone. Maybe they all rode out of the country." But my husband didn't hear me at all. "Arin?"

Suddenly Pocket stood on his hind legs and protested loudly. Arin wasn't surprised. His eyes were fixed bloodthirsty on a point in the distance. Then Pocket darted forward and sped across the snow-white hills, kicking up snow.

Syman exchanged a look with me, then we followed him as quickly as we could.

I saw Arin jump off and walk towards someone. Oh no Benita?

When we got to them, Arin drew his sword. "You..." his voice sounded strange.

"Arin..." she sounded weak and tearful.

When we got close enough, I saw small red droplets falling on the snow. Her otherwise beautiful skin had blue spots. She was injured and cold. And where were Armin and her assistants?

Arin roughly grabbed her arm and threw her to the ground. I have to admit I was shocked. He slapped her in the face, only to press his sword blade to her throat.

"I'm hurt..." she gasped, pointing to her thigh. "Don't hit me, please..."

"I will not." Arin didn't bat an eyelid. "I'm going to kill you."

Benita was in sheer panic written all over her face. "No! I beg you! I didn't know what I was doing!" Arin grabbed her by her brown cloak and regarded her indifferently. "I swear to you! My heart was broken and-!"

"WILL YOU BREAK MINE FOR THIS!?" His roar echoed across the landscape. Syman and I jumped, startled, and the horses staggered. Benita whimpered. She trembled all over. It was terrible...

"Where are your assistants?" Benita was shaking and trying to wriggle out of Arin's grasp. "Where!?"

Syman stared at me as if I could stop Arin. But the way it looked, no one would be able to.

"Do your soul a favor. Tell me where my son is, then maybe God in heaven could have mercy on you!"

Benita closed her eyes, whimpering as Arin pressed the point of the sword under her chin.

The wind blew a single word across to me. A name that should have come to mind right away. Who had never brought me anything good.

"Florenz."

Arin let go of Benita, raised the sword and...

"Arin..." my voice was just a gasp, but he paused. "She told you..."

Of course, this woman had already threatened me twice and stolen my child. But she did it because she harbored a sick kind of love for Arin. I didn't want him to hurt her... He wasn't like that anymore.

"Where can I find them?" His indifference made him cruel. mercilessly.

"They wanted me to harm the child." Arin growled. "But I didn't want to! So I ran away. She threw her blade after me and hit my leg. It was in the learned city..."

Syman's eyes widened. "Where Arin was captured?"

Arin stowed his sword in its scabbard. As he approached Pocket, he gave me a shattered look. He left Benita behind. He mounted and turned his horse south. "What about me...?" Benita whimpered.

"You can die here alone." Arin stopped looking at her and urged Pocket on.

Syman and I followed, but I couldn't get Benita out of my mind. Would she really die? Why the hell should that bother me? When will I get my hands on Florence?

With a weak gasp, the last man went down. Blood was dripping from his nose and his hips were soaking the fabric with even more blood.

W

I stood there frozen, looking at the four Dead Men around Arin. He himself only had a slight cut on his upper arm and cheekbones. And much blood of the other men on his robes.

With a quick movement he wiped the blood off his sword and wiped his chin with his forearm.

These dead men were paid by Florence. They probably thought Arin was so easy to defeat and attacked us just a few meters from Eberworry. Arin had killed them all.

Syman looked down in confusion. "How did Florence know we were coming?"

Arin sheathed his sword at his waist. His gaze dark and veiled. "Spy. Or she expected Benita to betray her."

As he stopped beside me and took Pocket's reins, I eyed the drop of blood on his cheek.

Ever since he tried to kill Benita, he has hardly spoken a word. I tried to find out if he was still angry with me. Couldn't see anything though. He wasn't rude, nor was he grumbling more than usual.

"Should we really ride into town then? Maybe we should find another way."

Arin's cold gaze focused on Syman. "You think I'm afraid of her people? Look around you. You should be more afraid for her than of her."

Syman looked down, cheeks flushed. I understood him. Arin was really intimidating.

"I'll be right back." The squire reached for his saddlebag and fetched a jug. "I'll get us water."

When he hadn't disappeared far away, I tried my luck. I was painfully aware of the bodies next to us. Even though they wanted to kill us, I was shocked at how quickly it had all happened.

Arin was about to climb back up when I grabbed his arm and stopped him. With my handkerchief, I wiped the blood off his cheek. He paused and looked down.

"It'll be fine..." I muttered. "You'll find him. We both know that."

For the first time in what felt like forever, I saw something other than coldness in his eyes. Namely vulnerability. He nodded. He knew that himself. He knew that he would crush everything until we got Armin back.

"Are you still mad? Because I didn't want you to kill Benita?"

"Not in a long time." he whispered. His hand reached up to my cheek and gently caressed it. "I just can't stand still. Thinking. Pondering. I can't help it, Elain. Even though I hate it that you see this side of me. There's no other way."

I felt the same way. This short moment of togetherness was enough and I felt miserable again. My baby wasn't with me.

Looking into Arin's eyes made me soft and receptive to all the pain I was trying to deny. It's getting harder for me to breathe again.

I clutched at his shirt. "I understand that. But I have you." I looked up and arched my back. "I trust in you. So you do the same with me. Depend on me."

A proud smile spread across his face. "Who says I don't?"

After Syman returned, we rode, re-energized, to the learned city of Eberworry. We spoke to nobody. Searched notorious corners, Arin spoke to acquaintances - wanted people - and looked closely at each bundle.

None was Armin...

Syman sighed in frustration but looked up at Arin. Like he was the only one Syman could count on. Inconspicuously he sought his closeness and did not leave his side. I knew Arin, I knew he noticed, but he didn't shy away from him. But to keep his composure, he concentrated so much that he didn't have time for tenderness or many words.

"A brunette with a bundle came by here." the old sergeant on a corner was scratching his gray beard. "She had a restless look and I immediately yelped. The child screamed and she kept hissing at him angrily. When I tried to speak to her, she was gone again."

My whole body tingled as Arin asked the important questions. I heard nothing, I could only imagine the image of Florence yelling at my baby! I almost lost my mind.

"Indeed. A man had them with him. He reminded me of a nobleman, but I can't remember who that was. I was never interested in anything like that."

"But you already know if he's from this part of the country, right?" Arin's jaw tightened.

"Not from here, no. Both had ragged clothes. But it must have been expensive once. They can only have gone in this direction. They came from the front gate and I've been guarding this here very closely for a few days. The only way out would be that direction. It leads to the fields." The man pointed north.

Arin flinched as if he had been slapped. "That was really helpful. Thank you!" He climbed up and gritted his teeth. "I'm so goddamn stupid!"

Syman touched his forehead. "You could never have guessed that."

"Oh yes. What else should she do in this direction!?"

I didn't understand a word. Forced slowly we led our horses north, to where the warden had told us. I slowly recognized an alley.

"What do you mean? I don't understand all this."

Arin growled softly. "My old cabin. You've never been there, but it's behind the fields. I should have known."

"How does Florence know about it?"

"Benita." Arin pronounced her name like a swear word. "She knew about it. That bitch should have told me right away that I had to go to the hut! I thought Florence would want to sell Armin here."

To sell? Oh my God. Bile rose in my throat. "What do you want there anyway? Do you have any treasures there or something?"

The alley was big enough for a whole ox-cart to fit comfortably through, so we were able to quickly get past it with the horses.

"No. And that worries me. What is she doing there right now?"

Syman bit his lip and stared at Arin. "We're not late, are we?"

How was Arin supposed to know? The little boy struggled to find his footing by any means necessary.

"No. The sergeant saw her last night. It's noon now. What could have happened?"

all sorts. But neither of us wanted to say it. Arin stopped at the edge of the alley. "Syman, you stay here."

"What? Why? Please, Arin! I won't ask any more questions!" My heart broke when I saw Syman's tears glistening in his eyes. Arin swallowed as well.

"Because I don't want Florence to get her hands on you." He tossed Syman his purse. "Go to a restaurant and wait for me to pick you up. Got it?"

Syman's shoulders trembled, he wept. "I have to stay with you!"

Arin put a hand on the back of Syman's head. "You have to do this for me. I have to make sure you're alright. Do you have your sword?"

Sniffling, the boy raised the hilt of his sword.

"Very good. Take care then, okay?"

"Promise me that youcome for me."

The seriousness in his voice amazed me. Was he afraid for the black knight?

"None other than me." Surprisingly, Arin leaned towards Syman and hugged him. The boy relaxed. "I won't leave you alone."

After Syman told Arin which inn he would be staying at, we rode off. Tonight we would have Florence and Eberhart appear before their creator.

56

THE KNIGHT'S COTTAGE

The white landscape was endless. Little white hills covered them like little waves. We threw up so much snow that at one point it felt like it was going to snow. It was dead quiet, the rhythmic panting of the horses and the crunching under their hooves were the only sounds.

Finally I spotted a cloud of gray smoke on the horizon. Shortly thereafter the small dark brown hut. It barely seemed to have enough room for one, even though Arin had shared it with Syman. Quietly we urged the horses closer. It was so far.

We dismounted close enough to the hut and led the horses behind the house. Without saying a word, Arin tied the two there and drew his sword. I did the same when at the same moment a heart-rending scream came from the hut.

"My God, shut the brat up!" Florence Gezer immediately followed. "Otherwise I can't take it anymore and I'll kill him immediately!"

"Not unless we have what we want." Eberhart murmured calmly.

"I won't be able to wait that long." I heard footsteps. "Shut up!" she yelled.

Arin grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him. I got really sick with anger. These heartless people... good thing I grew up with my aunt.

Arin pressed me to a window against the wooden wall and crept on alone. It was unbearable to hear my child cry. It sounded lonely and hungry. But it was alive.

I held on to that. He was alive and would continue to be. At least we found him.

"I suggest you just get some fresh air and wait." demanded Eberhart. Again footsteps. Suddenly they stopped abruptly.

"There... There was something." Florence noticed something.

"I'll go see. Stay with the child and don't let it out of your sight." The duke growled, then the door opened. I couldn't see anything from here, but suddenly I heard Eberhart gasp.

Arin's sword caught Eberhart's blade. He'd lifted it over his head fast enough to avoid Arin's blow. No problem, you're still mine, he thought to himself.

"Florence!" screamed Eberhart, but before he could say anything else, Arin punched his leg. The now wounded Duke parried and sprang back, panting.

With a wicked smile, he walked away. "I'm a duke, you spoiled dog! I was taught to fence in my cradle!"

He lunged forward and slashed at Arin's neck, who pulled him back and slashed up at the attacker's sword from below. He went back a few steps.

Arin smiled just as maliciously. "Was, Eberhart. You were a duke, now you aren't anymore, not after going into so much debt and losing everything. Now you two are worth no more than the usual dirt under my boots."

Arin had clearly struck a nerve. The man gritted his teeth and let out a roar as he lunged at Arin again. Enough playing, Arin thought.

He only took half a step backwards, only to lunge forward again and catch Eberhart in the hip. Even as he took a painful breath, Arin immediately struck at his arm that wielded the sword. Which immediately landed in the snow.

"Florence!" I heard Eberhart yell. He had spotted Arin.

With the pommel of my sword I smashed the window and threw myself in. Landed on a bed.

A second bed stood on the other side of the small room. A round table with two small chairs and a chest under a window stood in the middle of the small hut. Pots hung from the ceiling, mugs and plates stretched out onto a small shelf by the door, below the fireplace with a fire burning.

I caught a glimpse of Arin outside the door as he relentlessly attacked Eberhart.

Florence recoiled, startled. Then her eyes narrowed as she recognized me. She stood between the bed and the chest. "You!"

Where was Armin!? I heard him cry softly. Many hiding places were not possible here. Bed, table, chest... The chest! I had to lure Florence away from there.

"What's this about Florence!?" I shouted angrily. I heard him, I was so close to him. "What do you want with an infant?"

"Revenge." she spat back without hesitation. "Because of you I lost everything! Everything!"

"Here I am!" I spread my arms. "Avenge yourself on me!"

I heard swords clash outside the door. Florence grinned serenely.

"It's much nicer that way." She slowly strolled past the table to the fireplace. "Suffering, bastard. Feel how it feels. Missing your baby? The feeling of owning something important?"

With every step she took, I took a step towards the chest.

"Well, that's how it was with my castle! My title! My money and the many things I called mine!"

As I stood in front of the chest, Florence smiled ghostly.

"Look at how stupid you've become! Do you think I'll give you the way to your brat just like that?"

Screaming, Eberhart grabbed his wounded wrist. His hand curled. Arin immediately swung back and hurt his shoulder. He could have beheaded him. Without much trouble. But Eberhart should suffer.

For all the years they had tormented and humiliated Elain. For all the burdens they presented again and again. For his kidnapped son, dammit!

Eberhart writhed at his feet. Arin allowed himself to look up to see Elain, who had her arms outstretched.

"Here I am! Take revenge on me!" she screamed.

Was she crazy!? Only over his dead body!

He bent down to the fallen duke and hauled him to his feet. Arin put the sword to his throat. Full of hatred, he returned the angry look of his opponent.

"You shall burn in hell."

Eberhart weakly grabbed Arin's wrist and tried to pull the sword from his throat.

"It's all your fault..." petty stuff.

"What do you want to achieve with this action!?"

Eberhart winced at Arin's loud words. "I want my title back! My country and my servants!"

Naturally. Arin could have guessed that. Blackmail.

Without batting an eyelash, Arin stabbed the sword into Eberhart's stomach. He watched Eberhart as he slowly fell to the ground.

"You can die miserably."

"Like I'm really making room for you to have your kid." Florence laughed dryly. "Then what would stop you from killing me?"

I laughed too. "Since I can hear him, he's not far away. So I guess there's nothing stopping me from blowing the light out for you."

"If only it were that easy, huh?" She cocked her head. "What did Avan say before he missed me in such a degrading intoxication?"

Suddenly a bright fireball flew onto the bed which immediately burst into flames. The old wood of the walls creaked and immediately joined. Within a few seconds, it burned all around me.

Florence stood at the door and grinned slyly. "Oh yes - two at a time!" she laughed hysterically and watched me while I tried to open the box in a panic. He would die in a short time from the smoke alone.

Armin would suffocate!

"Arin!"

Florence laughter echoed through to me. The sweat of the heat ran down my cold spine. My fingers were numb from the cold.

Hoping to do something, I stuck the point of my sword into the slit in the lid and tried to pry it open.

It just didn't work. "Arin!"

"Two at once is really good, you know? I never wanted you and I would have killed the kid anyway. No matter what happened."

I was so angry. But my fear was worse. When the sword failed and the flames and smoke increased, I dug my fingers into the slit, trying to consume them. I jammed all the splinters in my fingers, my nails broke off and blood ran down my forearm from my fingers.

Suddenly Armin stopped screaming.

Eberhart looked up at Arin, pale and full of resentment. "So the Black Knight strikes again?"

"Are you saying you underestimated me? Did you think I would let my child be taken?"

Eberhart pulled himself to his feet. "Be a man and end it like one. Kill me now."

Arin smiled coolly. "That would go much too fast. Suffer Eberhart. Wish you die. Because what Avan does to you afterwards will be much worse than that."

"If he sees me alive." sarcastically he points to his bleeding wound.

"You could even survive that. Otherwise you would have been dead long ago."

"Arin!" Elain's voice shattered his concentration. Black smoke slowly crept into his field of vision, then he could smell the fire too. The cabin was on fire and the two were still in there!

Horrified, Arin swallowed. When did the fire start!?

In that brief moment, Eberhart grabbed Pocket and stormed off. Arin gritted his teeth, but he didn't mind. Eberhart would not get far. He actually rode right in Avan's search party.

Florence hysterical laughter pierced him. This bitch. He rushed to the door. Florence stood inside.

The sight in front of him shocked Arin.

"Arin!" Elain was panicking.

Her fingers were smeared with blood as she tugged at his mother's old chest. The flames ate their way to her. His son screamed in fear. Florence stood before him, doubled over with joy.

Just as he reached out to decapitate her, the infant's screams stopped. The blood in his veins froze. He stopped in motion.

"Try to take the chest out!" he yelled.

Florence jumped and banged her back against the table as she whirled around to face him.

Smeared with soot, Elain grabbed the handle of the old wooden chest and tugged at the iron handles. Inside, the chest was reinforced with iron inserts. So it was heavy and not that easy to move.

Arin held the sword before Florence. "Did you mean to set my wife and child on fire?"

Florence realized that she had lost. Some emotions were reflected on her face. It stayed with angry crying. "What do you think!?"

"What do you have against your own child!?"

Although he really had never understood why she was so angry with Elain, why he might have been genuinely interested under other circumstances, at the moment he just wanted to stall her so that she wouldn't get in the way of Elain. And just killing her wouldn't work. She would fight back, only doing more damage. First Elain had to be out of the cabin, then he would finish it.

"What do you think!? She destroyed my reputation! If she had never been born, my father would never have rejected me! It was my luck that Eberhart didn't kill me! Her father... He was to blame for everything!"

Everyone but Florence herself, he thought to himself. "Who is her father?"

Finally Elain had managed to move the chest. She pushed away the burning chair and pulled the chest past the table.

"Her father?" Florence's face twisted in pain. "I loved Lou."

Everything behind Florence was on fire. The walls, the roof, the floor, the furniture... They had to get out of here immediately.

"He was big and a cunning fox. Stubborn and defiant, always on the go on his horse. He wanted to take me with him, show me a life that was just as good as Eberhart's. Then I got pregnant and he left me."

She glared at Elain who was almost out the door behind me.

"She's like him! Her blond hair, her eyes, her demeanor! And she scared him away!" A beam fell from the ceiling and smashed the table behind Florence. She didn't even flinch.

Arin lowered his sword and held out a hand to her.

"Come with me, you will die here!"

She laughed hysterically. "And it's her fault that I lost my title! That I lost everything again!"

"Florence!" Arin tried to grab her when part of the roof fell at her feet. "Do you want to burn!?"

"I have nothing left!" she hissed and slapped his hand away.

"Florence!"

"But at least I took her child." Florence glared hatefully at Elain.

It creaked above their heads. Arin took a step back and wanted to ask Florence to follow him again. Then a thick beam fell down.

Sparks flew at Arin and he looked away.