A chanced encounter
Soon the man named Salel bought goods and the girl bought wine for me. The goods were nothing special but coarse clothes and pearls that were sold in the nearby village. Wait! Village.
My eyes glimmered at the thought, because mostly traders knew shortcuts since they travel a lot and have a lot of goods.
"Where have you bought all these things from?" I asked and the men looked at each other again.
"Is there any problem with the clothes, sir?" asked the eldest one again and I nodded.
"These clothes are very low, it looks like the seller has created you. I want to go and enquire further. Fraud is something we as a knight would not accept" i knew i was babbling nonsense, but my tone was righteous like a brave knight ready to help anyone.
"Oh, I will tell you.. In fact if you want I can take you to the seller. It is not that far, if we take a short cut we will reach there in an hour" said the girl with dreamy eyes before her family could even say anything i nodded.
"Then i have to trouble you, my lady" i jumped down from the horse and held her hand and then slowly helped her in climbing the horse.
"But.. how could she go alone with you?" asked the young man who was most probably her brother.
"Sales follow your sister on your horse." said the elder man with a strong voice looking at me.
He nodded and we all climbed on our horses. The girl blinked her eyes looking at me with hearts in her eyes, her look was so dreamy that i felt guilty for a moment.
"Haiyaa" hundred started galloping again faster than the wind.
"Knight, ride slowly. I am not able to catch up" we heard the voice of Salel coming from the distance.
"Sir, what is your name? My name is Anna." she said with a smile though her heart beat was too fast.
"Do not worry, my lady. I will keep you safe. My name is Noah. if you ever face any problem. You can come to me anytime.`` I said with a smirk.. See Noah, I am helping you in getting a girlfriend.
The girl flushed, her cheeks turned so rosy as she nodded shyly.
"Guide me to the village my lady. I will find the seller myself. I didn't want to worry about a beautiful lady like you in the night, your character might me questioned. And i can not let this happen with a beautiful and mesmerizing girl like you.'' I said as I touched her hand and she shivered. Now there was no doubt that she was captivated.
"I understand Sir Noah. just take the right form here and soon you will be able to see the boundaries of the village." she said in such a sweet voice that even Noah would have felt enamored.
Her rosy cheeks were so supple and her bright eyes were gleaming.
"So Anna, are you not afraid of being in the woods this late?" I asked to divert her mind, for the rest of the few minutes.
"I enjoy being in the wild. It is my only way to escape my boring life. I am tired of sitting all day at home. Where there were strict rules for girls. This is my only way to be free." I frowned hearing her words. Only nobles keep theory girls closed at home.
The children of commoners work equally either they were male or female so that they could earn more. Especially traders and farmers.
"Well, then what do you do all day there?" I asked , trying to sound casual but she turned silent. She must have realized that she had spoken more than necessary.
"Ummm, house chores, i cook" she said but it was clear that she was lying.
"oh, I am sure you cook delicious food. Even the omelet with simple onion and tomato chunks would look heavenly if it was cooked from your beautiful hands' ' hands that were the softest I have ever seen, even my hands could not compare to her.
And here she said she did house chores. She must be a higher noble or someone from a very rich family here. But then why were they acting to be simple travelers and traders?
"Ah, thank you." she said shyly and before i could ask her further she changed the topic, "there, take a right from this point."
Soon her brother caught up to us, surprising me. Then my eyes fell on his horse, it was no better than a hundred, but it was not looking even less too.
I stopped hundred and helped the girl in climbing down.
"I will travel the rest of the journey alone, my lady. And I will make sure to punish the seller wisely. You should go back with your brother, he is looking worried for you '' I told her and she nodded but then she glared at the man who bowed his head, shivering and my eyes narrowed.
Though he turned normal in a moment. It was a clear sign that he was afraid of the young girl.
"May I see your face, Sir Noah?" she asked me hesitantly and i shook my head.
"Let this suspense remain my lady. If we ever meet again by fate. I promise I will kiss your hands and show you my town.`` I sided with a smile and climbed my horse back.
"Then I promised that day would come soon, sir Noah," she replied as I started my horse again. I could see her waving for a while before she sighed and left with the man who was her servant, not brother.
But this had nothing to do with me for now. At Least i am in the village now. Now all i had to see is if i still have a chance to win or i am already last.