: He’s A Noble...

Dimitri had only left to get a few things done before he came to saddle and prepare his valkmare, Nychta.

What he wasn't prepared for was a small and beaming child petting his valkmare.

He stopped in his tracks and looked at her.

Nychta was his valkmare solely because it was like a wild beast when anyone else tried to touch it much less ride it.

So when he saw Kayda happily stroking its face and petting its fur, he was surprised.

He was even more shocked when he watched her go into the stall with it and start petting it all over.

Nychta was arrogant and prideful. It wouldn't even let him touch its tale but when it came to Kayda, it just sat there patently as she ran her tiny little hands along its scaly tale, even letting her brush the tuft of hair at the tip of its tale.

Dimitri just stood there, wondering if he should just ignore her and walk in and start saddling Nychta.

Kayda sat there for a second more before she finally smoothed out the tuft of hair. It was now long and silky without a single knot.

Standing up, she took a step back to look at the valkmare and her eyes glowed.

"Beautiful." The words escaped her mouth without a thought.

Nychta stood there, head raised, its black claws supporting strong and toned forelegs that held up its dark body. It's tale that was just groomed, swayed side to side, the tuft of hair flowing gently as it was now without a knot.

As if understanding the word that she had just muttered, the valkmare took a step forward.

It's entire body loomed over her. Bowing down its head, it slightly opened its large jaws. All of a sudden, a snake like tongue slithered out and started licking her face.

Kayda strongly resisted the urge to giggle. It tickled the side of her face that was soon a little wet due to slobber.

When it was done, she reached out her hand and stroked the side of its face. "Your welcome," she whispered and smiled.

"Nychta."

The cold voice immediately doused Kayda in icy water. Every emotion on her face turned stone cold and she no longer showed an ounce of happiness.

It was as if she were two different people.

Hearing its name, Nychta turned away from Kayda and made its way to Dimitri.

Dimitri was standing there with a saddle and bridle in his hands.

He entered the stall, not bothering to look at Kayda and started to saddle Nychta.

Kayda was put on alert but Dimitri was calm and cool, not even bothered with Kayda's presence.

After a few more seconds, Kayda decided just to leave.

"There's no reason to hide it, so why try?"

Kayda froze. Tremors ran through her body.

Turning around, she looked at Dimitri's back that was facing her.

A knot got stuck in her throat.

Rule number three, do not get attached.

The rules she followed everyday, that kept her alive and sane.

If she were to start breaking them now, there would be no point in any of her efforts to follow through.

She would detest herself even more if she did that.

Without saying anything, she turned away and left to find a place where she wouldn't have prying eyes testing her patience.

An hour later, they left.

It was a long Journey that took them two days, even by riding the valkmares. It was even more exhausting for Kayda as she strained herself everyday to control her turmoil, because there wasn't a forth valkmare for her to ride. Causing her to share one along the whole trip.

By the third morning, Kayda finally saw their destination.

It was a very remote mansion miles away from any civilization.

It's elegance and pristine condition caused one to gape at its overwhelming grandeur.

And to Kayda, it was especially overwhelming.

Surrounded by miles of forest claimed by a fence no doubt at the edge, buildings in the distance, and a main mansion of three stories and overflowing nobleness, all Kayda wanted to do is slam her head against the smooth stone pavement and bury herself in the well maintained shrubbery and flowers highlighting the front of the mansion in regret.

She not only got herself involved with people with suspicious origins and dangerous bearings, but also extravagantly rich nobles.

So the color of her face paled and her hands became clammy. She so wished there was a way for her to run away.

Because she knew she had screwed up bad.

Clouse, Gerrin, and Dimitri rode up to the entrance of the house where a small line of servants where immaculately lined up and facing forward in their direction.

When Dimitri halted Nychta in front of them, they all bowed in unison and with booming voices, welcomed them.

"Welcome home our lord."

Their voices were all in unison and held such zest and respect that it vibrated in everyone's chests.

Dimitri didn't voice out a single word as he elegantly dismounted Nychta followed by Clouse and Gerrin.

And only then did he nod.

The servants didn't seem the least bit offended by his lack of response. Their facial expressions only varied from a brimming smile to a warm glimmer in the eye for all the servants.

The man at the head of the line came forward.

His face was weathered and his hair snow white. With a neatly trimmed mustache and immaculately ironed suit, he came forward with two servant boys and personally bowed to Dimitri.

"We will put away Nychta and the rest my lord. It must have been a long journey and you all need rest."

His voice was that of a grandfather but it did little to diminish the pride and noble tone of voice he used when respectfully speaking to all of them.

This man was not ordinary as he didn't give the air of humbleness in front of his lord and neither did he show the arrogance that follows with the possession of power.

You could tell he was experienced.

With a wave of a gloved hand, the butler signaled the two stable boys who immediately went to work and grabbed the reins of all three valkmare and headed off into another direction.

Dimitri nodded and showed a very rare trace of warmth as he looked at the grandfatherly old butler.

"Thank you Stevens." But even then, his monotone voice was still as wintery as the night.

While walking forward, he waved his hand.

"You are all dismissed."

And like an orchestrated script, everyone left in unison with one last bow and went immediately back to work leaving only the five of them.

It wasn't until everyone had taken a few steps forward that they realized something was amiss.

Turning his head, Dimitri looked to Kayda to see her standing still without moving a single muscle.

With her back ramrod straight, her hands clenched at her side, her eyes gazed forward.

There seemed to be a glow to them as she seemed ready to kill at the drop of a hat. She wasn't seeking a fight and going on the offensive like when she had released her dense bloodlust on Clouse, but stood there in a stance clearly stating she would defend herself and run to the hills at any given second she sensed even a leaf being suspicious.

With her head raised and her feet bracing the ground, she growled.

"What do you want?"

Everyone looked at her and she wasn't at all bothered by the eyes that bored into her every possible intention and move as if trying to read a book.

And as her words fell upon their ears, Dimitri narrowed his eyes.

"What are you talking about kid?"

Gerrin was the first to break the tense silence but neither replied.

Kayda's eyes continued to firmly gaze strate ahead into Dimitri's sight.

With a growl, "We made a deal. Now, what do you want?"

The silence continued to thicken as neither Kayda nor Dimitri broke their gaze. One stubbornly fighting to get answers and the other mysteriously gouging the others intent.