Crest of the Strongest Knight

Chapter 88 - Ambush

Viviane gripped the hem of Medrauta's sleeve tightly.

"Why are we going so slow? What if they're already captured by the time we get there...?" Worry creased Viviane's brow severely. They'd been on the road for around an hour, but they'd barely made any progress.

"Relax, Viviane," Medrauta chided. "It's dark, and we've only got a lantern to light the way. Plus, I think the horses are a little spooked too."

"Spooked?" Viviane asked, her hand unconsciously drifting to the bow that sat next to her. "What do you mean? Is there something out there?"

"Probably just wolves. If I can hear them, I'd imagine the horses can too. Did you know, Viviane? Surprisingly, horses have pretty sensitive ears."

"I see..."

Despite Medrauta's best efforts to prevent her lady from overthinking too much, it didn't seem like Viviane was going to relax anytime soon.

...She wasn't this bad when we first left. Medrauta bit her lip, her eyes searching the interior of the carriage as if she were trying to find something that would hopefully alleviate Viviane's concerns. When they rushed down to the coachman's room and woke him up, he certainly wasn't happy, but after Viviane's passionate speech that brooked no arguments, the three of them set off immediately.

That said, the sole lantern that hung from the carriage's front provided precious little light for either the coachman or the horses for that matter. While Viviane and Medrauta both boasted enhanced vision, the same could not be said for those who actually bore the responsibility of transporting them.

As a result, their journey moved at a snail's pace, and the intermittent howls of wild animals coming from the darkened forests bordering the road certainly didn't help the horses along. Viviane had already been quite worried at the start of their journey, and though Medrauta's presence helped ease her anxiety slightly, she simply couldn't get Sakura and Riku's situation off her mind.

Her friend and mentor, Sakura was someone who had quickly become precious to Viviane, and since the foreign lady had been there for her during one of the lowest points in her life, Viviane felt obligated to ensure Sakura's safety above all else.

Just as Medrauta stifled a sigh and prepared to grasp Viviane's hand, the carriage jerked forward violently. The horses whinnied loudly, and Medrauta could hear their panicked panting even from inside the carriage.

"What the hell's going on out there!?" Medrauta shouted as she opened the carriage's door just wide enough to stick her head out. Even now, she was focused on protecting Viviane, leaning over the noblewoman and shielding Viviane with her body.

"I-I don't know!" The coachman shouted, his voice betraying his panic. "T-The horses just stopped for no reason and they won't go no matter how much I urge them to!"

Shit... That means something's out here. Medrauta withdrew into the carriage briefly, motioning for Viviane to remain silent before stepping out of the vehicle. Her enhanced vision as a knight allowed her to see clearly in the dark, and though the lantern's light could be considered useless for most, it gave Medrauta's natural gifts a considerable boost.

The silver-haired knight scanned their surroundings carefully, her sword drawn and at the ready. The moonlight streaming through the sparse canopy of foliage above settled in a dappled pattern on the gleaming steel of her blade, shifting and shimmering as Medrauta circled the area.

Her grip tightened around the hilt of her sword. The bushes shifted and tree branches stirred in the wind. Though she saw nothing, Medrauta could feel something was amiss. Worse yet, she smelled a foul and rancid rust-like stench in the air. Something that she was quite familiar with, unfortunately.