Dance with the Devil

The black horse emerged from the arena gates, and Elenore couldn't take her eyes off it. Around her, gasps rippled through the crowd as people leaned forward in their seats, hands pointing, voices rising in confused murmurs.

Beside her, Adrian stared as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Impossible," the Duke murmured.

The horse was smaller than the destriers the other knights rode. It was leaner, with longer legs and a narrower frame.

The trumpet sounded, ending everyone's daze.

Only then did Elenore tear her gaze from the horse to see its rider. He wore no house colors, bore no emblem on his shield. Unlike his opponent, who had already pointed his lance toward Elenore in dedication, the stranger sat motionless, lance resting against his shoulder.

The two riders charged.

The black horse was faster. It closed the distance in heartbeats, but at the last moment, the rider pulled to the side. The opponent's lance cut through empty air.

They reset. On the second pass, the stranger guided his mount even wider, avoiding engagement entirely.

The herald raised his hand. "The bout is forfeit! The challenger refused the charge!"

The opponent raised his lance in victory, turning his horse toward the grandstand.

But Elenore's attention remained on the black horse.

Elenore's pulse quickened. That horse—she needed it.

She tugged Adrian's sleeve, and he understood immediately. With a nod, he rose and slipped away as the next match was announced.

The tournament continued through the afternoon. More competitors entered, more lances shattered, more victors emerged. But Elenore's thoughts kept drifting to the black horse that had vanished through those gates.

"The next round," the announcer called, "Sir Lucifer Valeris!"

Elenore's focus snapped back to the arena.

Lucifer rode out, his armor gleaming in the sunlight, his shield bearing the Caballarius colors. He lifted his visor and pointed his lance directly at her before lowering it for the charge.

The collision was brutal. His opponent's lance exploded against Lucifer's armor, but Lucifer's strike drove true. The other knight crashed to the sand and didn't rise.

Match after match, Lucifer dominated. Each victory ended the same way—stopping before the grandstand, lance pointed at Elenore.

The Duke's jaw grew tighter with each display.

Only one competitor remained to face Lucifer.

The final charge was swift. Lucifer's lance shattered on impact, and his opponent fell hard. The crowd roared.

The herald brought forward a ceremonial plate bearing a rose crafted entirely of gold, its petals catching the fading light.

"The victor of the tournament—Sir Lucifer Valeris!"

Lucifer took the golden rose and held it high. The applause swelled as he rode toward the grandstand.

He stopped directly before Elenore and extended his hand, the rose held between his fingers.

Elenore froze while Aurelia leaned close and whispered, "Take the rose."

Elenore stood and reached forward.

Lucifer pulled it back.

The Duke shot to his feet. "What is the meaning of this?"

Lucifer ignored the duke and stared at Elenore. "I would like to request a dance, Lady Elenore."

"I must decline."

Lucifer pulled the rose against his chest. Without another word, he turned his horse and rode from the arena.

He took the golden rose with him.

The Duke stood rigid, fury radiating from him, but there was nothing he could do.

Elenore paid it little mind. Her thoughts weren’t on the rose or Lucifer’s strange display—they were on the black horse.

The crowd started dispersing, but Adrian had not returned.

Back in her room, Elenore paced back and forth, waiting for Adrian.

A knock came at the door. She opened it immediately.

Adrian entered with a grin. "I have news."

"Did you find it?" Elenore asked before he could say more.

Adrian's grin widened. "The horse will be here tomorrow evening."

"Just like that?"

"At first, the man insisted it wasn't for sale." Adrian pulled off his gloves. "But when I mentioned that Duke Caballarius would pay handsomely, he reconsidered."

Elenore couldn't stop the smile spreading across her face.

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Now, what should I ask in return?"

"What do you mean?"

"I just completed the impossible for you." He crossed his arms. "Surely that deserves a reward."

"Alright. Name it."

"Embroider the family emblem for me. The full crest."

"Done. Now get out of my room."

Adrian laughed. "I'll hold you to that."

***

The final day of the festival came. Elenore had requested permission from the Duke to visit the markets. Her first time without a disguise. The Duke had insisted she take Aurelia and an entire escort of soldiers, but it still felt like freedom.

The streets of Bornia were alive with color and movement. Merchants displayed their finest goods, street performers juggled and danced, the smell of fresh bread and roasted meat filled the air.

Aurelia led them from shop to shop, pointing out the best jewelers, the finest fabric merchants, the craftsmen who made the most exquisite pieces.

Elenore tried on necklaces, examined bolts of silk, sampled honey cakes from a baker who insisted she try his newest recipe. For a few hours, she forgot everything that had happened in the past few days.

Around noon, they stopped at a tailor's shop. Inside, Aurelia and Elenore browsed through hanging garments.

One of the soldiers approached. "Lady Elenore, someone gave this to you." He held out a folded piece of paper.

Elenore took it and moved to the window, breaking the plain wax seal.

~~~

Elenore Caballarius, daughter of the North, the Northern Angel.

How grateful I am to have witnessed you—to have stood in the same air you breathe.

You are unlike anything, untouchable and pristine, as though carved from the northern star. When my eyes first fell upon you, my heart stopped. I couldn't breathe. The world around me faded.

I have deep respect for the Duke. He has done well to protect you, to keep you safe from this world. I would do the same, and with far greater purpose.

But you must understand—this world is cruel and fickle. I alone see your true value, and I alone can shield you from everything that seeks to harm you.

I have prepared a gift for you. Come to the market center at noon. You will understand everything then.

Yours only,

Lucifer

~~~

Her skin crawled as she folded it.

"Elenore?" Aurelia appeared at her side. "What is it?"

Elenore folded the letter carefully and put it away.

"Let's go to the market center," Elenore said.

"But why so suddenly?" Aurelia asked.

"We'll see when we get there." Elenore exited the shop.

Aurelia exchanged a worried glance with Seraphina but followed.

As they approached the market center, a crowd had formed.

Her soldiers cleared a path, allowing her to reach the front.

Four tall wooden poles stood in the center of the square. Atop each pole, a woman had been bound with rope, hands tied behind their backs. They struggled against their bonds, screaming for help.

Elenore couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Lucifer was pacing back and forth in front of the poles. As soon as he noticed her, he stopped and a smile appeared on his face.

He raised his arms.

"People of Bornia!" His voice carried across the square. "Look what I have discovered in your city!"

"Do you see these women?" He gestured grandly at the poles. "Do you see them?"

The bound women screamed. "Help us! Please! We didn't do anything!"

"These women," Lucifer continued, ignoring their cries, "are witches."

Gasps erupted around her.

"No!" one of the women shrieked. "We're not witches! We were just begging! We're innocent!"

"Innocent?" Lucifer's laugh rang out. "They disguised themselves as beggars to do the devil's work. This is how witches operate. They hide among us."

Lucifer turned slowly, his gaze sweeping across the people gathered before settling on Elenore. "They might be right in front of our eyes. Hidden." His voice dropped as he stared at her. "Beautiful."

Lucifer looked away, addressing everyone once more. "But they are witches!" He shouted the last word. "And there is only one way they can atone for their sins!"

He gestured to his soldiers. "Fire."

Elenore had read of witch burnings. But witnessing it—the poles, the women, the screams—was different. Her stomach churned at the scene.

Lucifer's men poured oil at the bases of the poles and carried torches lit on fire.

Aurelia gripped Elenore's arm. "We need to leave."

But Elenore could not bear to see this gruesome scene unfold.

"Wait!" Her voice rang out.

Lucifer turned slowly. "Ah, Lady Elenore. Do you have something to say?"

"Stop this," she commanded her soldiers. "Do not let them proceed."

The soldiers looked at each other uncertainly. One stepped forward, but Lucifer's men moved to block them, their hands on their weapons.

"Do you have any proof that these women are guilty?"

Lucifer's eyes locked onto hers. "Lady Elenore, you don't suppose I am lying?"

She felt a chill down her spine as she looked at him smiling.

"I only wish to know if there has been a trial."

Lucifer turned back to address them again, his voice rose.

"Should we wait to punish these witches?

Wait so they may vanish in the night?

Work more destruction upon your families?"

People began to shout. "No! Punish them! We can't wait!"

They started throwing rocks—whatever they had in their hands. The objects struck the bound women, who screamed and tried to shield themselves.

"We are not witches!"

"No!" The women's pleas grew desperate. "Please! We didn't do anything!"

The first torch touched the oil.

"Stop this!" Elenore commanded her soldiers. "Stop them now!"

Her soldiers moved forward, but Lucifer's men—twice their number—closed ranks around the poles. People pressed in, blocking the way.

Flames erupted, climbing the wooden pole. The woman bound at the top shrieked as smoke began to rise around her.

Elenore had never heard anything like it.

The woman twisted and turned, trying desperately to escape. Her cries were deafening, drowning out everything else.

Lucifer's men waited. They waited until the first woman's cries died, until the only sound was the crackling of fire.

Then they lit the second pole.

The second woman began screaming. "I have a child! Please don't kill me! What about my child?"

Elenore's hands were shaking. Her eyes were getting blurry. She looked around—for her father, for Adrian, for anyone with the authority to stop this.

But her father wasn't here. Adrian wasn't here. Only Aurelia, who stood beside her, clenching her arm.

Lucifer turned away from the flames and looked at her.

He slowly walked toward her.

When Lucifer reached her, he knelt, pulling the golden rose from inside his coat.

Behind him, the flames engulfed the second woman, her screams even louder than the first.

In front of her, Lucifer held the golden rose out toward her, smiling.

"May I have this dance, Lady Elenore?"