Chapter 49
Amara and the black knight walked through the streets of Moonveil, a thick silence hanging between them. The lack of conversation weighed heavily on the black knight, who couldn't shake the awkwardness of the situation. *I should say something,* he thought, determined to break the ice. Just as he was about to open his mouth, Amara spoke up.
"Do you happen to know of any decent restaurants around here?" she inquired. The unexpected question caught the black knight off guard, but he quickly composed himself and responded.
"Sure, there's a place called The Bonfire just about a five-minute walk in that direction," he said, pointing across the street.
"Great," Amara responded nonchalantly. "We're going there, I'm famished." She confidently made her way to the crosswalk to traverse the busy street.
As she moved ahead, the black knight was left both bemused and bewildered. *What am I supposed to make of this?* he pondered, clearly thrown off guard by the unexpected shift in their situation.
The black knight's curiosity burned inside him, and he couldn't hold back his questions any longer. As they strolled through the Moonveil streets, he gathered his courage and asked, "So, who do you work for?"
Amara's immediate reply was a cold warning, "I would have to kill you after sharing that information. Are you ready for that consequence?"
The black knight, aghast, quickly shook his head and decided to change the subject. "Alright then, um, "How... old... are... you?"
Amara, quite bluntly, responded, "I thought it was considered rude to inquire about a woman's age." However, she surprised him by offering, "I'm 24 years old."
The black knight was taken aback by her openness. He decided to reciprocate, thinking it was the fair thing to do. "I'm 29," he said, hoping to maintain a sense of camaraderie.
Amara remained cold and bluntly stated, "I didn't inquire."
The black knight, feeling somewhat dejected, mumbled, "Okay."
They remained quiet after that exchange and just walked until they arrived in front of The Bonfire, distinguished by a sign displaying a
The man, seemingly oblivious to any potential nuances, remarked with a friendly smile, "You two make a fine-looking couple. How may I assist you today?"
The black knight braced himself, fearing any consequences of that comment, but Amara remained poised. She calmly responded, "Guide us to an available table, please."
With a courteous bow, the restaurant staff member replied, "Of course, ma'am. Right this way." He guided them to a window-side table before promising, "I'll fetch the menu for both of you." After this, he left the two of them at their table, where they settled in.
As they waited for the menu, the black knight used the opportunity to survey the restaurant's interior. The establishment exuded a warm and inviting atmosphere, adorned with rich wooden furnishings. From the tables and chairs to the hardwood floors, the dominance of wood brought a comforting ambience to the place. Above, the ceiling was adorned with intricate depictions of the night sky, complete with meticulously detailed stars.
For the black knight, who typically paid little attention to such details, this act of observation was a diversion. It helped him to avoid direct eye contact with Amara, who was restlessly tapping the table while they awaited the menu.
"You're beginning to annoy me with that attitude. Just spit out your question already." Amara's cold gaze remained fixed on him as she awaited his question.
The black knight, after clearing his throat, asked, "Okay, then. Why did you make me follow you? I thought you didn't like me."
Without wasting a second, Amara responded bluntly, "I don't. But despite what I said earlier, you did defend me from Xain. So, for now, I can tolerate your presence until I gather the information I need."
The black knight sighed and probed further, "Figured. But why do I get the feeling that you have a personal vendetta against that kid?"
Before Amara could reply, the waiter returned, menus in hand. "Here you go. Please feel free to order whatever suits your fancy," he said, awaiting their meal selections.
Amara examined the menu options before making her choice. "I'll go with the fish salad, and a glass of wine," she decided. The waiter noted down her order and then turned to the black knight, who said, "I guess I'll try the herb goat meat? Is that even spelled correctly? And just water, please." The waiter took note of his request and collected the menus. "Your orders will be ready shortly," he assured them before heading off.
With the waiter out of earshot, Amara addressed the black knight's question. I do have a personal vendetta against him because if it weren't for his existence, I wouldn't be stuck in this town. I'd be at my mistress's mansion, finally enjoying some much-needed relaxation for the first time in months.." she explained, her frustration evident.
The black knight shrugged, then inquired further, "Well, that answers that. But what information do you want from me?" Amara's tone turned serious and quiet as she clarified, "I want to know more about that vampire," referring to Eirisse. "I thought you didn't care about her," the black knight pointed out. Amara responded, "You're right, I don't care about her. But I do care about the artifact she possesses, as it could cause problems for my superiors."
The black knight, scratched his helmet as he contemplated Amara's request. "I'm not sure how much I can share about her," he began. "I came here for Lennix, not her. In fact, I only discovered he had a sister today."
Amara nodded, her expression contemplative. "Tell me whatever you know about her brother. Any information about the situation will be useful."
The black knight agreed with a resigned sigh. "Alright, this might take a while, but we'll start from the beginning."