“Don’t be, this’ll be lots of fun for us, not everyday one goes exploring.”
Arthur’s eyes watched the knight carefully, he wasn’t going to stand if he laid a hand on Summer. She hadn’t done anything to deserve what was happening to her.
“I do challenge you.” He spoke confidently, turning his sword toward the knight.
“When you are defeated, I will take your shield and hang it with others who have fallen to me. I will take your lady and hold her in my castle.” The dark knight’s voice was strange, emotionless and cool and with an odd echo from the helm.
With caution, the knight turned back and lifted Summer from her horse, setting her on her feet a little distance away from the road. “You will abide the outcome.” He collected the reins of both horses and tethered them to a tree nearby, before, finally, drawing his sword and turning to face Arthur.
“And when you are defeated, you will leave everyone that comes across here alone, you will also grant safe passage across the bridge for me and the lady.” Arthur spoke confidently, but with calm, still wanting to know just who this mystery knight is.
He watched him treat Summer with care, concerned and confused, not knowing why he was being so kind to her. Perhaps the knight still had a sense of honour and was going to treat the lady with the respect she deserved. He kept his sword up, getting into a defense stance for when the knight attacks.
Summer clasped her hands together, watching with held breath. She knew Arthur had won many tournaments; he was a skilled knight, but there was nothing to know about this stranger knight. His grip was strong, that was all she knew. And the way he spoke — she wondered if there were many folk in his castle; how long had he been plundering this bridge?
The dark knight’s shield was as black and blank as his armor. He lifted his sword in a kind of salute to Arthur, then brought it down in a mighty stroke.