En

You pointed to a knight from the crowd of those deemed worthy. Heeding your words, he raised his head, his eyes changing for only a moment, as if in surprise, but then, once again donning his mask of indifference, he rose to you, knelt, kissed the ground at your feet, following all the rituals, and you rewarded him with the order of personal knight and crossed him with your sword. What is your name, knight? you said indifferently. I have no name, madam... In that case, you will be called Anne. And you placed your hand on his head, thus signifying his new position. He, in turn, swore to protect you with his life. The formalities were completed, and after the ceremony you rode quietly in the carriage in an excruciatingly awkward silence. He, with his stony expression, stared into nothingness and, probably, always waited for the moment when he would be needed.