The leader, suddenly cluing into the impending danger, spun around to meet his adversary but it was much too late. Skewered like a shish-ka-bob through his chest at the pointy end of a long lance, eyes bulging with intense pain, he looked up at his opponent dressed in a suit of armor. As the dying robber toppled onto the dry dirt road, his blood seeping through his grimy hands tightly grasping the lance, the knight threw his long-chained mace at the highwayman on the top of the coach where it wrapped instantly around his neck, the spiked ball bashing out whatever brains he had. The highwayman holding the horse’s reins caught only a glimpse of the knight as he slid his sword out of its scabbard and swung it with all his might, sending the robber’s head flying through the air and then bouncing down the road, tendrils of blood spurting everywhere. Pulling hard on the black stallion’s reins, his gallant steed came to an instant halt; a huge billow of dust swirling around the two women. The last of the four highwaymen was still inside the coach; his musket drawn and aimed at the women, he coldly said, “Looks like we got what you call a stalemate.”
“I think not,” replied the knight; a knife as sharp and slim as a stiletto seeming to appear out of nowhere, such was its speed, went zinging through the air striking the surprised highwayman right between the eyes, its point slicing its way through skull and brain; killing him instantly.
The women gasped at the sight of so much blood and gore; the older one close to feinting. The younger and much prettier woman looked up at the knight. Breathing quite heavily with excitement and in a state of shock; she smiled somewhat coquettishly and said, “I thank thee for coming to our rescue sir knight. I fear what those dastardly men would have done to us had thou not shown up. My father will be very pleased indeed when he learns of thy bravery and I’m sure he’ll reward thee grandly if thou would accompany us to his estate.”
In a melodious voice, deep and resonate, pleasing not only to maidens in distress, the knight replied, “I thank thee for thy kind words but I have no need of money. ‘Tis reward enough that I aided such a beautiful woman” and bowing slightly continued, “Two beautiful women.”
Blushing a brilliant red, demurely gazing up at the knight sitting astride his big black horse; the young lady thought, he doesn’t appear to be rich; his armor is badly rusted, deeply dented, severely scratched and has a huge hole near his heart. He must have been on King Richard’s crusade and had to have been in many battles to have his armor in such a poor state. “If thy will not accept any monetary reward sir knight; would thee at least accompany us on the remainder of our journey? I’m sure even a knight such as thy self would enjoy a feast and some merriment.”
“I must take thy leave sweet maiden though my heart would enjoy such a kind offer. I have a fair distance to travel; a jousting tournament awaits me before I’m able to rest.”
Imagining the knight, because of his pleasant manly voice and his undaunted courage was most likely very handsome as well, trying to peer through his helmet's visor, the young woman said, “Then, if thy won’t accept any money, feast and merriment, if I may speak boldly but not wantonly in any manner, would thy please except a humble kiss upon thy cheek as a reward?”
The knight visibly flinched in the saddle from such bold words and replied, “I thank thee for thy kindest offer but being a gentleman, I must sadly decline.”
“Then you must be married sir knight or at least have a sweet lass waiting for thee?” the young woman probed.
“Neither,” the knight replied.
Untying one of the long purple and gold ribbons she had braided in her black shiny hair she said,” Well, since thy are not married and don’t seem to have a woman in thy life and won’t take any kind of a reward, would thy at least let me tie my ribbon to thy helmet to show my gratitude – no knight should go into battle without a maiden’s respect and adoration.”
The young woman was about to hand the ribbon to the knight but the desire to look upon his face, fearing that he would ride off without her ever knowing what he looked like, she said, “Please take off thy helmet and let me tie it on for thee.”
The knight sat quietly in the saddle for a moment or two. Then, leaning down he said, “Thou may tie the ribbon on but I’ve taken an oath that no man, or in this case, no maiden as well, should ever see my face.”
Squinting into the visor, trying desperately to see the man inside who had most likely saved her from being raped and killed, she began tying the long purple and gold ribbon to his helmet.
When the ribbon was secured the knight said, “By thy leave, I must go now.”
After receiving his spiked ball and chain and sharp knife from the coachman, then yanking his bloody lance out of the highwayman’s dead body, the knight spurred his black charger onward and as he rode away, the young maiden cried out, “At least tell me thy name sir knight!”
Before disappearing in a cloud of dust he yelled back, “I am called the Tarnished Knight!”
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