Under the Oak Tree

Chapter 74 – Familiar Fears (2)

Ruth then clarified, “Your job, sir, is not to go to battle, but to protect the Lady.”

“What?” the old knight said and whipped his head around to see Max. She straightened her back and spurred the horse towards him.

“N-nice to m-meet you.”

The old man scratched his cheek with his fingers at her careful greeting and replied.

“There is nothing to worry about, ma’am, as long as I, Ovaron, have your back.”

He then led the army of men through the gate with confidence. Ruth went with them and sent a nod to Max. She also tagged along and crossed the drawbridge, her heartbeat racing with the clatter of hoofs hitting against the stone floor.

As she continued to walk along the path she once took with Riftan on a different occasion, she became more and more uneasy. She pressed her lips together, anxious not to bite her tongue, and went down a steep hill and through the busy village.

She was frightened to death as she had never ridden a horse at such a fast speed. It was some time since Max maintained her tight grip on the rein and chased the soldiers in front of her when she finally saw the rampart. A young guard by the entrance hurried his steps towards the men on horses as soon as he saw them.

“You’re here!”

Reaching the gate, Ruth and the old knight jumped off their horses, and minutes later when she finally caught up with the crowd, Max got off as well with some assistance.

“Where is this so-called lord from Libadon?”

“He is just outside the gate. If you follow me here…”

“Madam, this way.”

Max moved her stiff legs and followed them up the stairs to the top of the rampart. There, she saw thirty-one men on horses on the other side of the wall. They all had fearsome, tanned faces and a long sword on each of their waists. Ruth leaned over and spoke to them, his voice loud and resonant.

“Who is the Lord from Libadon?”

“It is I, Rob Midahas,” said a man on a ginger horse. Max carefully examined him. He was a man in his mid-thirties, sturdy and strong, with light titian hair. The man looked up to the top of the wall in turn, squinting his eyes to get a better view of the young man asking for him.

“Are you the lord of Anatol?”

“I am merely an employee here at Anatol. The Lady here is my lord’s deputy,” Ruth said as he pointed at Max standing next to him. Feeling the man’s glance land on her, Max unconsciously drew back. At the sight of this, the man smiled with a sneer.

“Very nice to meet you. As you’ve heard, my name is Midahas, the ruler of Kaisa, located on the west of Libadon. I have heard impressive words about the dragon slayer in my hometown and have made a long journey to meet him, so I request you to open your gates and allow me with warmth.”

Max took a glimpse at Ruth. His arms were crossed, observing the situation. He didn’t look like he was about to help her. She then cleared her throat and opened her heavy lips and raised her voice.

“I-I heard y-you do not p-possess any s-sort of i-i-identification. I-it is our g-guideline to n-not a-allow, anyone u-unidentified.”

“I lost my identification plate during my journey. If you allow me in, I will immediately bring myself to the parish of Anatol and prove my identity.”

“A-Anatol d-d-does not allow u-unidentified i-individuals through t-the g-gates. T-this is an o-order by t-the lord, t-thus c-cannot be d-disobeyed. P-please go to a p-parish in a d-different t-t-territory to get y-your i-identification plate and v-visit us a-again.”

At her stuttering, yet determined speech, the man grimaced and replied in an irritated tone.

“I can’t understand a word you’re saying. Is there anyone else I can talk to that knows how to speak?”

With the insult thrown straight at her face, Max turned pale as a sheet.

“She is the Lady of the Anatol. I advise you to treat her with respect,” Ruth interrupted to defend her.

“I’m just saying I can’t understand her!”

Max hid her embarrassment and cried back.

“I-I m-made myself c-clear that I-I cannot o-open the gates. Come b-back with an i-identity p-plate!”

“We have travelled over and through the den of demons. Are you insisting on my exhausted men to return back to the dangerous road?”

The man was now speaking in a threatening tone. Max shrunk at his coercive attitude and could only say nothing through her shaky lips. Sensing his victory, the man shouted louder towards the top of the wall.

“Does the Lady of Anatol not have any mercy!”

“I-I…”

“If you say so, the next time I return, you will face hundreds of knights from Libadon! I cannot accept this kind of rudeness!”

“Y-you don’t h-have any i-identity… I-I don’t h-have a c-choice…”

“I told you I can give it to you once I get to your parish!”

His voice became more louder and more intimidating with every word. At his triumphant behaviour she was unable to refute, Max felt completely defeated. She was engulfed in fear – one that was so familiar and that reminded her of her past horrors, as sweat started to trickle down her forehead.