The Plan

I paced up and down my room as Heather explained what it was Lord Skarde did. The fury coursing in my veins as she spoke was enough to make the blood inside of me boil. I never knew Lord Skarde was someone who was capable of all those despicable things Heather had mentioned. Sure, I knew the nobles were greedy with money even though they had more than enough but that didn't stop them. I just didn't think it would reach this extent.

"And you are sure of what you say?" I asked her once again.

Heather nodded her head as she stared at me nervously from where she sat, "Affirmative my lady, it's what he does." Heather nodded her head at me eagerly.

Fuck! I mentally cursed raking a hand through my hair in frustration. Those were very serious charges that were placed on Lord Skarde. Apart from taking heavy taxes, he was also faced with sexual assault and also when the people can't pay up, he takes them underground and force them to fight each other till there's only one that remain standing. That person ends up not paying tax and manages to evade it.

I clenched my fist as I thought about the whole thing again. To say that I was angry would be putting it lightly. I was livid with anger and literally livid with rage, but there was also something else beneath all those rage.

"So what are we doing?" Heather asked and I could detect a hint of excitement beneath her tone.

I stopped pacing and turned to look at Heather, "This is going to be very difficult Heather."

"Because of the guards guiding him?" Heather asked me with confusion.

I resumed my pacing as I stared at her, "Going after a lord is no easy fit." I said turning to look at Heather, "I've only gone after mere noble men, bandits, going after Lord is going to be a huge step. Especially one that is Reagan's uncle."

Heather frowned at me, her brows knitting together in confusion. "I do not understand what you are saying."

"I'm saying going after Lord Skarde is going to be a lot more difficult." I informed her, "I'm sorry but I can't go after him."

"Why?" Heather asked me, "Because you are scared?"

Shaking my head, I sat down on the chair facing Heather directly. "Listen to me Heather, I can't help. Going after Lord Skarde would draw far more attention to me than anyone else."

"But we don't need you, we need the black knight." Heather whispered still not seeing my point. "Isn't that what the black knight is about? Heeding the call of the voiceless? Only you have the power to challenge Lord Skarde, only you have the courage the rest of us don't possess."

"This isn't just courage Heather." I said my tone pleasing, begging her to understand, "This is about risk, if I do this it would bring risk to everything I've ever cared about, including that of my marriage. He being Lord Skarde made things even more difficult. Reagan might not be that close with his uncle, but that doesn't make him his uncle no less! If he finds out, this could ruin things_"

"For who exactly?" Heather asked cutting me off.

I was taken aback by her question. "You said this could ruin things, so for who? Your new found love with the lord of the house?"

Her words hit me and all I could do was just stand there and stare at Heather for a moment, clearly not expecting such forwardness. Silently, my lips open wide as I could. She crossed her arms and leaned in her seat, staring at me with her eyes full of defiance.

"You know it's not about that Heather." I said a little hurt she would think of me that way.

But Heather wasn't having any of it. "Oh its not?" She asked me with narrowed with eyes, "Because the way I see it, it looks as if you are more worried about how your marriage will be destroyed more than the lives of the people that are already being destroyed by Lord Skarde!"

"Damn it Heather, you are not listening to me!" I yelled at her unable to keep quiet anymore. "Going against Reagan's uncle, risk my identity being exposed! Do you even know how my reputation will be destroyed, the shame I'll_"

"Shame?" Heather asked as she stood up, "You are going to talk to me about shame? What about the shame of the girls whose innocence had been taken? The shame of those families that had been silenced?" Heather asked narrowing her eyes at me, "You know I thought the black knight would heed the call of anyone, apparently I was wrong!" Heather said one last time before she turned to leave.

Groaning, I went after her and grabbed her hand. "I'm sorry Heather," I apologized, knowing how deeply the matter hurt her.

I had given her the hope she wanted, the feeling that she could come and talk to me about anything. But here I was, turning her away her cries for help. Besides she was right, Lord Skarde sins were too great to be ignored which is why I decide to look into it.

"Alright hear me out," I said, "I will check Lord Skarde's lair, and see if your story checks out_" I said to which Heather beamed at but she shouldn't be happy just yet so I continued. "If your story checks out, I'll inform Reagan and make sure he does something about it."

"And if it doesn't?" Heather asked me.

Drawing in a deep breath, I knew I had no other choice. "Then I'll take matters into my own hand."

Heather stared at me with a small smile on her face, "You really mean that?"

I nodded my head at her. "Of course," I assured her, "Besides I think the guilt will probably eat me up alive if I fail to do that."

Heather smiled warmly at me and before I could comprehend what she was doing, she took rushed steps forward and immediately yank me into a hug. "Thank you my lady, thank you very much."

A lump formed in my throat as I hugged her back, then I pulled her way so I could stare at her. "But this stays between us, you can't tell anyone else or give any of the victims hope, not until we know what exactly we are dealing with!" I told her and Heather nodded her head at me.

"Of course my lady." She said unable to contain her excitement, "So what do we do first?"

"First, I'm going to infiltrate Lord Skarde's residence. Tonight!" I told her my voice filled with determination.