My Dark Knight

Chapter 49

**

Tristan watched the man with eyes that of a crow. This man seemed to be the leader. Once he had him, it mattered little whether he had anyone else or not. Now, the question was, he didn't seem the type to love or be loyal to his men, why was he not only calling them back, but also waiting on them himself. Something did not bode well.

Tristan watched him from atop the tree, patiently waiting as a cat would for its prey. He would strike when the odds would be in his favor, not a moment before.

When the moment arose, Tristan took out his arrow and aimed.

Jack hadn't seen the arrow coming. It pierced his collarbone, lodging itself firmly in place. Jack screamed in pain, too cowardly to remove the arrow himself.

"Where are you going? You must help me!" Jack bellowed at the last of the men who left him.

He would make sure they all died! Leaving him at the hands of their enemies.

"I doubt your men would be much help to you now. They have all left. You are at my mercy." Tristan's voice rang loud and clear throughout the forest.

"Show yerself, ye coward." Jack called, looking around him. He couldn't see laird Knight. And perhaps that was better. He was already paralyzed with fear, if laird Knight were to show himself...

"A coward is one who hides behind his people. I am merely taunting you." Tristan's voice echoed around the empty forest. The men had left, leaving destruction in their wake, the animals hidden away from the danger. No one would be able to save him now. Tristan wiped the sweat and blood from his brow before jumping down. As he did so, his men surrounded Jack.

"Be cooperative, and I shall think of sparing you, if not..." Tristan shrugged his shoulders leaving the choice up to him.

"Ye think ye have me, have ye?" Jack questioned, fear clouding his judgement. He would not die at the hands of Knight. He wouldn't.

"I will be asking the questions." Tristan said coldly.

He walked towards Jack at his leisure. One of the greatest weapons of all time was fear. And Tristan yielded that weapon all too well.

"Your name."

Jack stared at Tristan with hatred. Refusing to answer, refusing to be bested. He had something they required, knowledge. He would not give it up easily.

Tristan smiled. A smile which should have sent shivers of warning down Jack's spine. For that smile held not an announce of warmth, but rather, a man so cold, he was incapable of conscious thought. Removing anything and everything which dared to cross it's path, uncaring of the consequences.

Tristan stared at the arrow which had placed itself in Jack's collarbone. Before anyone could blink, the arrow was out and back in again. Jack howled in pain, falling to his knees. Tristan watched him without emotion.

After letting his suffer for a moment longer, Tristan bend down until he was eye level with Jack's gasping, crippled form, Tristan whispered without remorse.

"Next time I will not be so kind. Your name."

Jack gasped in pain, tears and sweat coated his cheeks. He had learned his lesson.

"Jack."

"Very good. Who sent you?"

"Fredrick and his mistress."

"Fredrick as in the Scottish thief?" Lord Rivers questioned coming up behind Tristan. Hatred and loathing covered his features. It couldn't be possible. If it was.....