Short Stories

Half Man Full Knight [Part 3/3]

The next morning, the daughter of the cabin’s owner has come to wake Roy up for breakfast as he has requested the night before.

The loud pounding on the wooden door wakes Roy up. He sneezes once and it is then that he realizes he is sleeping on the cold hard floor, topless. He lifts himself up and stares at Durnkley sleeping at the center of his double-sized bed and snoring.

Darn him… He ruffles his messy blonde hair. He dared to kick me off my bed.

Before he takes his revenge, he walks over to the door and opens it. “Yes, I’m awake now. Thank you.”

Before he closes the door, he realizes the young brunette’s cheeks are flushing bright pink while staring at his topless body.

Then, Durnkley chooses to sleep talk at this time. “Oh, baby. It certainly feels good!”

The young woman looks inside the room and her eyes widen when she sees Durnkley, also topless, on the bed.

“P-Pardon me,” she says and quickly walks away.

"No, wait," Roy starts explaining, "that's not what you're..."

The young woman has disappeared down the corridor before Roy can finish his sentence.

"Thinking..." Roy finishes, staring across the empty corridor.

What… just... happened? Roy asks inside his mind. He turns his head at Durnkley and then to himself. He shivers and quickly shakes the thought away.

Breakfast has never been such unpleasant as this before for Roy with all those gazes, murmurs and whisperings from the strangers in the cabin; though Durnkley seems not to notice any of it and continues to eat his pottage which Roy believes is yesterday’s leftover.

“We’re leaving,” Roy tells Durnkley when he fails to find his appetite.

Durnkly narrows his brow at his untouched pottage and then at him. “You haven’t even touched your food. Are you on a diet? But you’re a man.”

Roy rolls his eyes.

“Did you just roll your eyes at me?” Durnkley asks aloud, spitting pottage out from his mouth.

“Let’s go!” Roy demands, rising up from his wooden stool and ignoring the laughter around the room. He then leaves the cabin without waiting for Durnkley.

Durnkley finishes his food hurryingly and then chases after Roy.

"Roy!" Durnkley shouts as he tries to keep up with Roy's pace with his short legs. "Wait for me!"

When they finally reach the town’s main entrance, Roy turns around to face Durnkley only to find him about twenty feet away, bending over and panting.

“We will part here. Take good care of yourself, Durnkley,” Roy shouts to him.

“Wait!” Durnkley shouts back. He takes a moment to catch his breath first before continuing. “I’m coming with you!”

Roy waits patiently as Durnkley comes to him. When he is finally near enough, he asks him with a raising eyebrow. “Why?”

“Listening to your yesterday’s advice.” His eyes gleaming as he speaks. “I’m coming along with you and become your knight. I will protect you,” he says, confidently.

“No.” Roy refuses him with a stern look on his face.

“Why not?” he asks and Roy can tell he is displeased.

“It’s too dangerous out there. It’s safer for you to stay in town,” he explains and realizes how stupid it sounds but it rings the truth.

Durnkley glares at him and crosses his arms. “You just don’t want me to tag along, don’t you?”

“What?” Roy has not expected this from him. "No."

“Just tell me that I’ll be a hinder in your journey,” Durnkley says and turns around with his back facing Roy.

Roy sighs. He knows it is useless to argue with him. He puts his fingers at his mouth and whistles. Moment later, his horse come to him and he climbs up. “Good bye, Durnkley.”

And at that point, Durnkley thinks that is it. Roy, his only friend is leaving him behind and he will be all alone again. He turns around with his head droop. He does not want to see him leave and he will not cry though tears are welling up in his eyes. Then he hears the horse gallops away, and he bites his lower lip until blood comes out.

For some time, he stands there, unmoving. Where will he go? He has not even a slightest idea on what to do. Then, something licks the back of his head. He turns around and his eyes widen and mouth agapes when he sees Roy and his white horse are there.

Roy studies his face for a second and quickly looks away with guilt in his eyes. “Let me tell you this first, it is going to be a dangerous journey with our lives in the line but if you really do want to come along then-”

“Stop talking nonsense and just help pull me up onto your horse,” Durnkley tells him, raising up both his hands at him.

Roy smiles and do what he says. "Has anyone told you you are one bossy little man?"

"Every single time. Now, let's move!" Durnkley flaps the horse lash and their journey to Verlon Forest starts.