I Could Use a Knight

Next morning, Lorenzo and Cedric walked to the apothecary with a quickened pace.

Edgar followed meekly behind. Yet, when they arrived, there was no Agnes. Her basket was on the counter. Alaric came down the stairs, scratching his belly.

”She left the supplies and left. Said she won’t be coming back for a few days, but you should have all you require. She just left. You might be able to catch her if you hurry...”

He hadn’t finished speaking when Lorenzo turned on his heel.

Cedric caught his sleeve.

Then, shook his head.

Lorenzo lowered his gaze.

Alaric seemed puzzled.

”Did something happen?” he asked.

But none of the plague doctors said a word.

”We will just take our supplies today. Thank you,” Cedric said in a quiet voice.

✨✨✨

Agnes didn’t pick flowers on her way back to the convent.

She didn’t soak her tiny feet in the nearby river.

She did, however, fling a large rock towards the black stag browsing among the shrubs. And missed.

She remained uncharacteristically quiet during the day, even when the other sisters delivered that night’s supper. They sensed something was the matter with the little sister. Even looked at one another, but she seemed so vexed, they decided to let her be.

Nighttime came, and The Raven’s Tavern filled up with diners that kept Agnes busy.

Still, despite all her comings and goings, her eyes would suddenly linger upon one particular table. The best table in the house sat empty.

They didn’t come tonight.

Good, she thought with a furrowed brow, then went on her busy way.

Yet, her mood soured even more as the evening went on.

She grew noticeably impatient with every passing order and with every meandering menu decision. She rolled her eyes at any disagreement regarding who would pay the tab for the table, and she shot looks of contempt whenever her name was called for yet another serving of ale.

“Another cup? Just get a jug and be bloody done with it, Walter!”

The offended plague doctor covered his beak with his hand.

”I’m sorry…”

The other doctors noticed and even became fearful of vexing her.

The night continued on, with Agnes moving behind the counter to slam plates and cups. She tried to catch her breath. Once again, she gazed at the empty table, and her wrath became even more pronounced.

She now felt her eyes well up and a pout drew itself across her mouth, but she wiped her tears away with her oversized habit sleeve before they fell.

It was then that the tavern door blasted open with the tinkle of a bell, and a howl of night wind entered.

Standing on her crate behind the counter, Agnes looked to see who had arrived.

The Knight Templar stood now, looking around, until his gaze finally found Agnes.

”Little one…” he said. “Thank God you’re safe.”

Agnes looked at him without saying anything as a hush had come over the room, for this was the first time any of them had heard the mysterious knight speak.

”Forgive that I didn’t enquire sooner,” he said. “I was ordered… I was sent… elsewhere.”

Agnes got down from the crate behind the counter. All the diners watched as she walked to face the knight standing in the doorway, her gaze fixed on him.

”Are you well?” he asked her then.

Agnes simply nodded with eyes open wide and a little bewildered.

”Good,” he said then. “I prayed you would be.”

”You…” she began. “You prayed? For me?”

“Yes,” Ignatius said, with a nod.

”I…I…”

Her eyes suddenly welled up with tears. She began to sniffle in place, struggling to hold back. So, she merely hiccuped, fighting desperately to contain herself.

”Uh…” the Knight seemed perplexed. “What is the matter?”

But Agnes took one final step forward to the knight and embraced him at waist level, without a word. She hid her face in his armor and sniffled and exhaled into it with trembling breath, so that only the littlest whimpers escaped her.

All the plague doctor diners watched. Their cups of ale and bowls of pottage, now untouched. Their conversations, silent.

For a moment, the knight seemed uncomfortable, as though he didn’t know what to do. He patted her head awkwardly at first, but then stopped.

She continued to sniffle.

Eventually, Ignatius knelt down slowly in front of the crying child.

Once her hiding place was removed, Agnes hid her face in the crook of her left elbow to avoid facing him or the rest of the room while she continued to sniffle.

”Dry your tears now,” he said, handing her a handkerchief.

She took it, and covered her entire face instead.

He then reached out and used it to gently wipe her tears, then held it to her nose so she blew into it.

“Thank you,” she sniffed. “For rescuing me yesterday.”

“I think that makes me your knight,” Ignatius said softly. “So it is my duty.”

Her little face lit up even through the tears.

”What?” she asked through sniffles.

Ignatius bowed.

”You mean it?” She asked.

The knight nodded.

”If you will have me,” he said then, touching the tip of her nose.

“Aw,” one of the plague doctors gushed, albeit quietly and then immediately felt embarrassed about it.

”I-I could use a knight,” she said then, rubbing her eyes.

”Then, let it be done in due order,” he said and then unsheathed his sword.

Agnes’s eyes grew twice their size upon seeing it shine. She wiped her eyes again before he handed it to her. Her eyes grew larger still.

”Here, in front of this honorable court,” he said then.

One of the Plague doctors brought a crate and lifted her up by the shoulders so she stood taller than him.

“Now, state your royal name,” Ignatius instructed in a whisper.

“I, Lady Agnes of… Agnesburg…” Agnes began.

”…-ia,” Ignatius finished.

”Agnesburg-ia…” Agnes continued, trying not to laugh. ”…knight thee. In the name of Saint Edward the Confessor. Be brave, loyal and bold.”

Agnes laid the sword first upon one shoulder, then crossed it to the other.

”Arise, Sir Ignatius.”

The rest of the plague doctors erupted into cheers and toasts before approaching the pair to congratulate them. Surrounded by kind wishes and more cheering, Sir Ignatius lifted little Agnes onto his shoulders above the crowd. Screams and applause followed as drums, a fiddle and even bagpipes began to play.

”Yeees!” Agnes shouted, both arms raised. “And so, with your sword drawn and a new fire in your heart, dear knight… we will vanquish… our ENEMIES!”

Her maniacal laughter was drowned out by the music and the enthusiastic screams.