Stitches -Part 1, The good life

Blood spread all around Alder, spurting from newly opened wounds, forming puddles on the stone ground. Alder's sword moved in a blur, never stopping, always striking where he wished it to. One by one his opponents fell to the side, rivers of red life sliding out of them. Finally there stood only Alder and one other, a masked man, just like the others. Alders sword came up and steadied, pointing at the man. He could have offered mercy, he could have said something to inspire fear, instead he looked at his fallen comrades and killed once more.

Alder's eyes opened. The sound of laughter and music was all around him, lights of many colors danced across the walls. 'Why must I day dream like this?' he wondered to himself morosely. He was on the outside balcony, over looking the garden, with the ball in full swing behind him. He was alone, just like when he had first walked out there. 'Happily alone', he thought. But that wasn't true, the princess had chosen another to dance with her, in his stead. That's what had brought him into the cool darkness of the balcony. There had to be a reason for the change of mind, she had promised him the first dance, had said so in front of quite a few people. When she had informed him that they would not be dancing there had been nothing for him to say or do, but to smile and bow politely. When a princess makes up her mind, it is not the soundest of ideas to question her publicly. Still perhaps he could make some use of this evening, the Duke of Walvere's daughter had looked quite lovely, and also quite alone. He stepped back into the ballroom, this thought in mind, and descended the stairs that led to the balcony. The dresses and uniforms looked stunning, as did all the smiling faces, the band was in fine form that night, and it looked like the captain of the guard had even decided to come. Alder was finding it harder and harder to feel cross, and even felt a smile start to spread across his face.
It didn't take much to find the Duke's daughter, Alder was rather sure that her name was Edith, and Alder was thrilled to see that she was still without a dance partner. He approached her with a smile, and bowed, taking her hand and kissing it as he did.
"My Lady, I would like to have this dance, if that is alright," he began, then seeing her look of concern continued,"how rude of me I am the Seventh knight of his Majesties royal order, Sir Alder Fin."
Still she looked unhappy," You know the order Malcath, the forty great knights, defenders of the land." He smiled, hoping it might incline her to speak. It did.
"I am quite sorry good sir, but I have been spoken for, concerning the next dance," she smiled shyly, and walked away.
Confusion consumed Alder. The princess denying him made some sense, she was fickle, and could easily have changed her mind, plus she had power. But the daughter of a second tier Duke? It baffled the mind. The only time something  like this would make sense was if one of his superior knights were here, and none of them were. He was puzzling this when a stony hand descended on Alders shoulder. Alder suddenly realized that the music had stopped, so had the chattering and laughter. The people that had been all around him had suddenly given him a very wide berth. All of the eyes in the ballroom were on him. He turned, in what he hoped was a nonchalant manner. The man who had grabbed his shoulder was the captain of the guard, Ulfias Nuf, a mountain of a man. Behind him stood at least  a dozen of the guards. Alder knew them all by name.
"Sir Alder, Seventh knight, would you please come with me, and please don't try to resist, I would hate to restrain you.

                                     To Be Continued.......