“Lady Constantine, the Black Knight has struck again!”

Constantine motioned for the panicked young guard to lower her voice.

“I’m sorry, Lady Constantine. I know the Princess still slumbers, but the Black Knight has struck again.” she repeated in a whisper. “This time he stole one of our kingdom’s prized magic books! They haven’t yet said which one. What if he plans to use it against the King? What if the Princess’s life is in danger?”

Constantine reassuringly placed her hand on the Suri’s shoulder. “We are here to make certain the Princess is safe. If this character plans to harm our Princess, the Black Knight will have to deal with us.”

Suri smiled. “You mean you. Please don’t be angry at my words, Lady Constantine, but you far outrank the men of this land with your swordsmanship. If the Black Knight were to ever cross blades with you, he’d surely die.”

There was such hope and admiration in her eyes, Constantine could only smile and shake her head.

“You are not such a bad fighter yourself. Perhaps you will take my place when I am too old to keep the Princess safe.”

The young guard’s eyes grew large and she blushed a deep shade of red. “N-no, I don’t think…” Constantine tried to keep her laugh to a quiet hum; the Princess was still sleeping after all.

They had passed the city’s limits and the driver kept looking in his rear view mirror to make sure his passenger was still all right. She seemed a bit frantic when she got into the taxi, but not unwell. He just shrugged it off as her being exhausted and kept going.

“His name is Sir Ermingild,” said the King. “He is an exemplary Templar Knight from the homelands, and just months ago returned from a three-year quest.”

When Constantine nodded to Ermingild, the King continued.

“I want you to see to it that he is brought up to speed on matters of the Black Knight and the palace’s security procedure.”

Constantine’s hand twitched. “Majesty, surely there are more suitable candidates to accommodate Sir Ermingild’s purpose here, such as—”

“Are you forgetting your place?” The King’s voice became stern.

“No, my King, but my sole purpose in existence is to protect the Princess. If I am not at her side, how can—”

“Princess Perdita rarely leaves the castle grounds these days. She is safe here.”

“Highness, I implore you, if the Black Knight can come and go as he pleases, these grounds are no longer safe.”

“Do not forget who I am!” The King’s voice boomed, echoing through the room.

Constantine locked her jaw. She knew Sir Ermingild was being passed onto her because the King had no intention in utilizing his skills in helping with the Black Knight. Ermingild would be a ball and chain to her during the next few precious weeks. Weeks that she needed to be by Perdita’s side.

“Hey, you still with me back there?” The driver shouted to Nadia. She jolted awake, slightly perplexed. Then she remembered that she was headed to Perdita.

“Yes”, she managed to clearly say. “I just need more rest.”

“I hear you are quite the swordswoman,” Ermingild prodded with a stoic face.

“And I hear that you are quite skilled yourself. Perhaps one day, our swords will cross.”

For the first time in three days Ermingild looked slightly uncomfortable. “I do not think that will be possible.”

Constantine cocked an eyebrow, “You doubt my skills?”

“Ah, no. I had no intention of implying that.”

“Then, it is because I’m a woman.”

“Well, that is a factor, but…”

She lightly laughed. “Trust me, if I were to ever raise my sword against you, you would defend yourself. I fight with purpose.”

In the interest of changing the subject, and learning more about the King’s children, Ermingild looked around to make sure they were alone.

“Lady Constantine, I know that I am not welcome here, but I also understand what is going on in this place. Through our investigation, we know that one of the princes or princesses is working with the Black Knight to steal specific magical items of your kingdom.”

Constantine backed away slightly and also looked around to see if anyone was within hearing distance.

“Are you mad, coming to me with this? Do you have proof?”

“I have, but I am not at liberty to speak.”

“And why do you tell me this?”

“Because you can help by giving me information. Like who of the King’s children might do this?”

“You are mad!” Constantine looked around again. “Even… even if I entertained such a thought, I only know Princess Perdita. There are different Royal Guards assigned to the other sons and daughters. I am just one of five captains.”

“Yes, but you have ears; you know everything that relates to Princess Perdita. Are there any plots on her life? Any signs, no matter how small, that might help?”

Constantine breathed heavily. “I… I will need time to think about these things you have just laid before me. I would not go around telling others of your wild accusations if I were you. You know the King does not want you here. If he heard your words he would have you killed.”

After crossing the state line, the driver finally decided to drop Nadia off at the first place he could find: a small town motel. She was highly feverish and spent two nights there. The cab driver had used some of the money she had given him to pay for her first three nights. It was the only way they would let her stay.

“Constance, where are your thoughts?”

Constantine blinked and lowered her eyes in shame. “Forgive me Princess, I…”she trailed off.

“No need to explain. Be transparent. What you were thinking?”

Constantine shifted her position. “I was thinking of when we first met.”

Perdita looked back towards the sky. She sat comfortably nestled in her bay window. “I remember that day. I was quite young, but I remember. I was frightened, you know.”

“Princess?”

“I was only seven, and I was supposed to choose the person who would be my guard for the rest of my life. I had been told what to look for, but once I stood in front of eight stone-like teenagers, my mind went blank.”

Constantine opened her mouth to ask a question, but decided it wasn’t her place to inquire.

“Still held back by proprieties, Constance? I know you want to ask me, so speak.”

They had been together for ten years; it was common for Perdita to know what was on Constantine’s mind, and vice versa.

“Why did you choose me? Out of the eight, why me?”

“You were all on your knees so I could look down on you. I was told to look in every one of your eyes, like I was supposed to see something in them. What if I were to tell you that I felt sorry for you?”

Constantine searched the ground like it had an answer. It didn’t.

“Well, that would be a lie.” Princess Perdita shifted to face Constantine. “I think you chose me. I remember looking into your eyes and knowing that you saw in me. The others, they saw through me, but you saw me. I was very intimidated by you, your intensity. When I told that to my father, he took it as a sign to make you the Captain of my Royal Guard.”

Constantine had one more question, but still remained silent.

Perdita looked back at the sky. “And no, I do not regret that decision.”

She tried not to show it, but Constantine’s eyes beamed with joy.

Nadia woke up violently in the middle of the night, throwing off blankets in a heat-intense frenzy. Then her body would go ice cold and she’d have to pull them back onto her as intensely as she had tossed them off. Memories of a distant past resurfaced, consuming everything in their wake.

“I will not marry him!” Princess Perdita raged in her room. “This is the last straw. I cannot do this anymore!”

Constantine rushed all the servants out and locked the doors.

“Please, Princess, your voice.”

Perdita collapsed to the ground. “We knew this day would eventually come…”

“Yes, but I thought I might be able to choose. I am nothing but a pawn in this life. I will never rule, and I care no more. He gave that right to Edmund. We have to do it soon.”

Constantine knelt to her side. “But—”

“NO!” Perdita hushed herself. “No. I will not let my happiness be thrown away like waste. We have already planned for this…I have everything I need, I have a place to do it at. All I need is time to perform the ritual and then, I just need him to come for me. Now that I am to marry, my father won’t let me traipse around like before; he will keep me on castle grounds.” Perdita took Constantine’s hands in her own. “I need him to come for me soon, and then I will have a new life.”

Constantine knew what Perdita was asking, and she nodded her head in agreement. Over the years her duty extended beyond protecting Perdita; Constantine grew to love her and wanted nothing more than to see her live a happy and fulfilling life.

When the fever passed, Nadia awoke on the floor. Not sure of how she got in the motel room, she picked herself up and fell onto the bed. She was drenched in sweat, but things were clearer than before. She called the front desk in order to fill her in on the details of her arrival, and then arranged for some clothes to be brought to her room. It was an unusual request, but money solved the issue.

After a shower and a quick meal, the management helped her find new means of transportation. She still had a ways to go before she reached her destination. Transport came in the way of a bus, where she took a seat in the rear and went back into her thoughts.

“Lady Constantine, I heard the good news. Princess Perdita is to marry Prince Oswald. I hear he is an honorable man.” Ermingild smiled, assuming all was good news.

Constantine tried to return his with her own smile, but apparently it was less than convincing.

“What is the matter? Is this not a day to celebrate such a union?”

Constantine knew she should remain silent, but there were too many questions and doubts in her mind to be prudent.

“Is it ever a day to celebrate when a woman is forced to marry a man she does not love for the sake of political matters?” She knocked her hand against her thigh. “Forgive me, I… I am not myself today.”

“Something is wrong. Tell me.”

He was keen. Constantine could not unsay the things she had, but there was a comfort in Ermingild’s friendship. They had only known each other for a short while, but he was a comrade, equal in skills and honor.

“I am not supposed to feel this way, but,” she looked around to see no one, “I feel like Princess Perdita’s close friend, like a sister… or oddly enough like a mother. I care for her too much in ways that I should not. I cannot bear to see her unhappy, even though it is not my place to. I cannot bear to think that she will be unhappy for the rest of her life. Is that… do you understand what that is like?”

Ermingild reached for her hand, but hesitated before he took it. He pulled it to his face and very solemnly nodded. “I completely understand the war of your heart.”

The bus stopped; it was the end of the line. Nadia couldn’t believe she had slept through the entire trip. It wouldn’t be long now, just a few more miles.

Nadia knocked anxiously on the front door and said, “Perdita, it’s me, Constantine! Please open the door!”

She paced back and forth on the front porch.

“Perd, Mara! I need to see you! Please open the door.”

Nadia held her head again and slumped to the ground.

“There’s no one home.”

Nadia looked up to see Chaise walking towards her.

“You… how did—?”

“Do you really think it was hard for me to guess where you’d gone? I’ve known Mara for a few years now too. I’ve known she was Perdita since the first time I saw her.”

Nadia scowled at him, but was too weak to ward him off.

“Let me help you up,” he said as he came to her side, but she was already drifting back into unconsciousness.

“Princess, what is your most secret wish?”

The Princess had just turned seventeen and Constantine thought she was far too young to look so hopeless. They were at a forgotten place that had become Perdita’s favorite hideaway to think. Only she and Constantine knew of it.

“My most secret wish?”

Perdita began to cry. Neither of them expected that response.

“I wish someone, anyone would take me away from this place. From everyone I know. And I could start a new life. I wish some Black Knight would kidnap me and take me to a land no one could ever retrieve me from…”

Nadia awoke in the back of Chaise’s car. He was wiping her brow and she pushed his hand away.

“I know where she is. We have to go now.”

“You are unwell.”

“I am fine. I’ve remembered my life as Captain of the Royal Guard, and of how…” she trailed off and shot him a glance. “Please, if you don’t trust me behind the wheel, then you drive. You should remember the place.”

He nodded and they were soon off.

The trip was mostly spent in silence. Nadia held her head, pretending she was having a migraine so she wouldn’t have to speak to Chaise. She didn’t know what to say to him.

“Sir Ermingild!!” Suri came running to him. “The Black Knight has kidnapped Princess Perdita!”

“What? Now?”

“An hour ago, but just now a peasant brought us the news. Someone saw him riding with Princess Perdita towards the hills.”

“Where is Lady Constantine?”

The young guard shook her head and started to cry. “They say the Black Knight has claimed her life.”

Ermingild clenched both his hands into tight fists. “Tell me, Suri, what is beyond the hills?”

Suri shook her head. “I-I’ve never been allowed past the stone pillars. It’s a place that the Princess never wanted anyone to go.”

“Get my horse ready; I will ride to meet his sword.”

“You know,” Chaise began as Nadia uncomfortably shifted, “I thought I was going to avenge your death.”

She brought her hand down so she could look at him.

“They thought me dead?”

He nodded.

“Well, they were partially right.” She smirked, thinking back to their encounter. “Never before had I faced such a passionate opponent. I was truly taken aback by the fervency in your skills. I knew you meant me dead when our blades met.”

Ermingild rode past the pillars, it was a cold dark place that quickly became too much for his horse to handle. He dismounted and tied his steed. Only then did he notice another horse in the distance. He was silent, hoping to hear anything that might give away their position. Fire was blazing inside him, but he forced himself to be still and patient.

Finally, he heard a most faint ‘clink’. As quietly as possible, he took to that direction. He climbed, weaved in and out of shallow caves, and backtracked a few times. It was hard to navigate, but luck was with him that night and he came upon a clearing.

It was a ruined temple, broken and lost to the world. Princess Perdita was standing in the middle of a freshly drawn circle looking to the sky. And the Black Knight was ready to cross swords with Ermingild.

Perdita shot a glance to the Black Knight. “I need more time”, she pleaded.

The Knight nodded and stood in Ermingild’s way. No matter. Ermingild had originally come to stop the magic plot, whatever it was, but now came to end the man who had killed his secret love.