Instinctively, he stepped closer to Irene and shielded her from where the loud banging noise was coming from. His gloved hand gripped his sword, and his eyebrows were lowered in concern.
Henry held his left hand backward as if telling her to stay behind him, but Irene reached out and gently pushed his arm back down.
She was disappointed that the courage she had been mustering up was for nothing. At least she was more confident with a sword than she was with her words.
"You don't have to protect me," she insisted, readying her own sword.
It was clear Henry was used to noble ladies who couldn't do anything for himself.
"My doing this isn't to doubt your abilities," Henry muttered. "You're one of my knights. You are my responsibility."
Irene wanted to object but from the northern edge of Idona, a masculine voice cried out "Monsters!" and Henry knew it was time to ready his knights.
