Chapter 1

"IF YOU GET ANY CLOSER, I will kill you,” the woman roared, hiding her son behind her. Her hand squeezed the dull knife as she tried to control her shaking.

“Do you know who you are talking to?” The knight took another step closer. “You are under arrest for stealing. You better surrender or you will just make your situation worse.” 

“Do not come any closer,” she screamed again, she waved her knife around. She looked at the second knight who reached for his sword. He looked impatient. 

She had hoped that she and her son would make it to the river before the knights caught up to them, but her injury made her too slow. She pushed little Geoffrey behind her and prayed that he would not see any blood, but she had no time to dwell on the thought. 

The knight charged at her and swung his sword. She dodged and planted her knife in the side of his left thigh, then twisted it. He cried in agony and fell to his knees. The woman then picked up his sword and turned to the first knight. He seemed too shocked to even move.

“You bitch.” He finally came to his senses and unsheathed his sword.

She could take him, especially with the sword. She did not have to kill him, just an injury that would prevent him from following them. She put her hand on her side and winced at the pain.

‘I must make it.’ 

The woman took a step toward the man, ready to attack. But her hand halted midair when she heard horses coming their direction. More knights appeared, led by a noble. Seven in total.

‘Damn it.’

She could not win against them all. Compared to these knights, the other two looked like puppies. 

“Your Grace.” The first knight kneeled.

“What is going on here?” The duke looked at the man on the ground and then at the woman holding the sword. 

“Your Grace, this woman is accused of stealing but she is not surrendering. She was trying to escape.”

“Did she do this?” He pointed at the man still kneeling on the ground.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The duke studied the woman. She looked straight back at him, her gray eyes wild and fiery. She was about five foot six, and very slim. ‘How can a woman this small injure one of my men?’ 

“I think you are outnumbered, my lady. Should you not give up already?” The duke unmounted his black horse and took a few steps closer to the woman. She stared at him for a moment, she could barely stand anymore.

“I did not steal anything, my lord.” She lowered her sword.

“Then why were you running?”

“Because I was being chased.” She felt her consciousness slipping. “I surrender, but please promise me—” She swallowed hard, and the sword slipped through her fingers. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping to get a grip. When she opened them though, the whole world was spinning around her. She lost balance and fell, but the duke caught her before she hit the ground.

“Mama,” Geoffrey called, frightened.

“Please, do not harm my son,” the woman whispered before she fainted.

The duke noticed her bloody dress and found a deep knife wound. He was amazed. Half of his new recruits would not have been able to walk with such injury, let alone fight. In a swift move, he picked up the woman. “Victor,” he called.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Take care of the boy, bring him to the castle. I am going first.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” Victor bowed.

The duke rode his fast horse with the woman in his arms. He could not explain why, but she had piqued his curiosity. They arrived at the castle in no time.

“Jasper, call for the doctor.” The duke took fast steps, carrying the wounded stranger in his arms. 

“Right away, Your Grace.” 

When the doctor arrived, he checked her injury and healed it right away. He was then escorted to the duke’s office.

“Your Grace, you have saved that woman’s life. She would not have lasted much longer,” he reported.

“Is she fine now?”

“Yes, Your Grace. I have healed her wound, she just needs to rest. As you know, magic takes a toll on people who cannot use it, so she will probably need a few days to regain her consciousness.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

“I will take my leave then, Your Grace.” The doctor bowed and left the office. 

The duke leaned back in his chair, pensive. ‘I have a feeling something might come out of this unexpected encounter.’ He did not linger long on the thought because he was interrupted by a knock. Victor opened the door and walked in while pulling the little boy from earlier.

“Pardon me, Your Grace. I brought the boy.”

“Ah yes, come in boy.” Geoffrey walked frigidly toward the duke’s desk. “How is the injured recruit?” he asked his commander.

“He is being healed by the doctor as we speak, my lord.”

“I think there needs to be more training for the new recruits, seeing that two of them failed to arrest an injured woman.” The knight kneeled with shame.

“My apologies, my lord, I will personally train the new recruits and make sure no such incident happens again.” 

“Good. You can leave now.” His voice was cold.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The duke’s eyes traveled back to the small boy. He had his mother’s gray eyes but unlike her brown hair, his was golden blond. “You can sit, boy.” Little Geoffrey looked at the chair, hesitating for a moment, then he climbed up and sat. 

“Are you going to kill me?” the boy asked innocently. His question startled the duke. 

“Am I that scary looking?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Yes,” Geoffrey answered with a whisper. 

The duke stared at him for a moment before he burst into laughter. “You are quite honest,” he said between laughs. “But a boy your age should not even speak of killing,” he added.

“It is because I remembered what those men said to mama earlier.”

“The knights?” The duke frowned.

“No, the men from the market.”

He was a bit confused. ‘The men from the market? The ones who accused his mother of stealing from them?’

“Can you tell me what happened?” 

Geoffrey hesitated for a second. “I want to see mama, is she alright?” 

The duke noticed the tears forming in the boy’s eyes. He must have been scared, seeing his mother collapse and then being taken by strangers. “Your mother is fine. She just needs to sleep for a bit. I will take you to her after we are done talking. Alright?”

“Alright.”

“Then, would you tell me what happened with the men in the market?”

“They were so scary, they told mama to give them her money, but mama said no. Then, they hurt her—” he paused, “they said they would kill us—but mama hit two of them and then we ran to the forest. The knights followed us, and they tried to hurt mama too. She did her best to defend me—” he paused again, “and then you came.” 

The duke eyed the boy for a moment. “What is your name?”

“Geoffrey Croix, what is your name?” 

He smiled. “Daniel Van Konigl.” 

“Nice to meet you, Mister Van Konigl.” Geoffrey jumped off the chair and bowed to the duke. 

Daniel’s smile widened. “Nice to meet you too, Mister Croix.” He bowed his head slightly to the boy. “Now, how about I take you to see your mother?”

“Yes.” He beamed. 

The boy took fast steps behind the duke, but he struggled to keep pace with him. “Mister Van Konigl,” he called after a few stumbles. Daniel halted and looked back at the boy. “Could you please walk a little slower? I tried to match your speed, but your legs are way longer than mine,” he said with a frown. “Mama always walks slowly and holds my hand so that I don’t get lost.” 

Daniel chuckled. “I have a better idea.” He picked him up.

“Yay! I am as tall as Mister Van Konigl,” Geoffrey rejoiced.

As the duke walked the hallways, he noticed the surprise on every servant he passed. ‘I guess the cold-hearted duke carrying a child in his arms is not a fitting image.’ 

They finally reached the room and Daniel put Geoffrey down to run to his mother. He stood by the bed and held her hand. 

“Mama, I am sorry I couldn’t protect you,” he said as he leaned down and put his forehead on his mother’s hand. “I want to grow up fast to be strong.” He kissed her hand. 

The boy’s words struck something in Daniel. He remembered saying similar words as he cried over his parents’ lifeless bodies. He took a few steps away from the boy to take a deep breath. “So, what is your mother’s name?” He asked, trying to bury the pain that came with the memories.

“Her name is mama, obviously,” Geoffrey answered, looking at Daniel peculiarly. 

He smiled. “Yes, that is what you call her, but what do other people call her?” 

Geoffrey stared at him for a moment as if debating whether to tell him or not. “Magnolia,” he finally uttered.

“Magnolia,” Daniel repeated.