Page 10 of Quest for her Knights (The Lost Souls of Dyconia #5)

Chapter nine

Elora

S ince I know I have a few hours to kill before we arrive in Drysdale for the night, I decide to make the most of my time by hemming my dress. It’s so long, I can work on it without undressing, which makes it the perfect task to pass the time.

It’s obvious that women here only wear long dresses, so I don’t want to go completely scandalous with my signature mid-thigh length.

I compromise by making it reach the top of my knees.

It will still more than cover everything, but offer me easier movement, and the best part?

I won’t have to keep holding it up while walking, making it much more practical.

As the sun starts to set, I finish with time to spare.

I can’t wait to walk around in my new dress.

If I didn’t have to wear it while working on it, I’d alter the sleeves a bit as well.

Maybe next time I’m in here, I’ll grab a few of my other dresses so I can make some modifications to better suit me.

The trees disappear from view, and buildings quickly take their place.

I watch eagerly as the wooden structures pass by.

There are a few homes, but as we keep moving, they turn into shops.

I spot what I assume is a blacksmith, a bakery, a butcher, and an apothecary with spices and various bottles lining the window. It’s like being thrown back in time.

When we finally come to a stop, I see a sign that reads Drysdale Inn and Tavern . This must be where we’re spending the night. I grab the door and push it open, but as I move to step out, Ranger steps in front of me with a scowl on his face.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Princess, you can’t exit the carriage without one of us here.”

“Uhh… yeah, I can.”

He literally lets out a small growl before he speaks again. “I mean, you can’t. As in, I’m forbidding you to do it.”

“Um, ex-squeeze me?” My eyebrows raise in surprise. Is he really trying to tell me what I can and can’t do? Aren’t I the princess here?

“Princess, I have been tasked with taking charge of your safety. And it’s not safe for you to exit on your own. What if someone unsavory had been standing here and we weren’t here yet? You would have just stepped right out into their waiting arms. ”

“Come on, Ranger, I’m sure that’s not going to happen. Is it really that unsafe for me to exit the carriage on my own?”

“Yes.” His voice is echoed by Draven as he walks past us, only offering me a small glare before climbing up the back of the carriage for our luggage.

“Now, Princess, promise me you won’t exit the carriage on your own again.” Ranger crosses his arms over his chest, staring down at me with a determined scowl. Damn. He really has that hot dom personality going for him, and I am here. For. It.

“Yes, sir,” I tell him softly, still awkwardly perched half in the carriage. His eyes seem to spark when I call him sir, but I’m not sure if it’s surprise or heat I see there. He quickly schools his expression and offers a hand. I take it easily and let him help me down to the ground.

As soon as I stand up tall, he lets out a huge groan, then turns away from me, wiping a hand down his face.

“What’s wrong now?” I ask, throwing my arms out to the side.

“Uh, Elora? What did you do to your dress?” Arrow asks, looking slightly dazed as he walks up behind me.

“Oh! Do you like it? I figured it’s much more practical this way,” I tell him with a smile, turning my hips side to side, making the skirt softly twirl around my thighs.

“I love it. You look fucking amazing. ”

“Arrow!” Ranger snaps, making Arrow flinch as he looks up at him over my shoulder with wide eyes. “It’s Princess Elora, remember? And don’t use such crass language around her.”

I look back at Arrow and whisper, “I don’t mind, honest.”

“No, he’s right, Princess Elora. I was out of line.” His expression turns neutral, and he dips his head before moving to help Draven with the luggage.

I turn to Ranger with my hands on my hips. “Are you always such a grump?”

He glares at me for a moment, arms crossed over his chest, then lifts his eyes and watches his brother before turning back to me. His expression softens, and he drops his arms, taking a deep breath. “I never used to be. But there’s something about you that makes me act like that.”

“You need to loosen up. We’re going to be spending a lot of time together; there’s no need to be so formal all the time.”

“I’ll consider it, Princess, if you promise to listen to me and do as I say. Everything I’m doing is for your safety, and I take my job of protecting you very seriously.”

So he’s only acting this way because I’m a job? Why does that thought make my chest ache? I hoped he cared for me a little, but maybe I’m just projecting what I want to see.

I nod my head in agreement, and he leaves me under Blaze’s watch as he enters the inn to secure us rooms. By the time the guys have gotten all our luggage down, Ranger rejoins us and tells us we have three rooms on the second floor.

I try to help carry some of the luggage, but they refuse to let me lift anything.

So I grab my own bag from the carriage, wanting to keep my book and sewing supplies close at hand in case I need them.

When we enter the room Ranger says will be mine, I smile at the cuteness of it. It’s obviously much smaller and simpler than my room at the castle, but it looks just like something from medieval times.

“Arrow and I will be in the room on that side of you,” Ranger says, pointing to my left.

“And Blaze and Draven will be in that room.” He points to the other side.

“If you need to leave your room for any reason, knock on one of our doors and we’ll escort you to the washroom or wherever you need to go. ”

“You’re going to escort me to the bathroom down the hall?” We had passed what must be the shared bathroom when we got to the second floor. “What if I need to pee in the middle of the night?”

“No exceptions, Princess.”

“Fine, sir, whatever you say,” I reply with an eye roll.

Arrow and Blaze set my trunk against the wall as Draven checks the room for threats, even looking under the bed.

“Is it all clear of boogeymen, Draven?” I ask, trying to hold in my smile.

“Boogeymen?” he repeats with a frown.

“Yeah, you know, monsters under the bed?”

He just grunts at me and walks out of the room .

“Was it something I said?” I ask, looking to Arrow for an answer.

He shakes his head and laughs. “He’s fine. Why don’t we head downstairs for some dinner before we retire for the evening?”

“Yeah, I’m starving,” I say happily.

“Why didn’t you say something? We could have given you something sooner,” Blaze says with a frown as we start heading toward the lower level where the tavern is located.

“I’m not about to stick my head out of the carriage to yell that I’m hungry,” I tell him with a small laugh.

“Why not? You should,” Arrow says from my other side.

Walking between these two giant men sets my skin on fire. The stairs aren’t that wide, and our arms keep brushing as we descend. Of course, my clumsy body chooses that moment to forget how to walk, and my heel catches on a step, causing me to fly forward with a cry.

Four arms wrap around me, stopping me from falling any further. Slowly, Arrow and Blaze set me back on my feet.

“You okay, Princess?” Arrow asks, still holding me.

“Yeah, thanks for the save, you two,” I say, turning to both men. They pull their arms back and simultaneously each take one of my hands.

I bite my lip to stop myself from smiling.

I can’t help it, holding their hands feels like the most natural thing in the world and sends warm tingles through my body.

I know they’re only doing it to make sure I don’t fall, but a small part of me hopes they’re also doing it because they like to touch me as much as I like to touch them.

When we reach the ground floor, Ranger all but pushes them off of me, forcing me to walk on my own as he guides us into the tavern and finds us a large booth in the corner.

Blaze orders our food at the bar, and it doesn’t take long before we’re served a meal of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, carrots, and peas.

“Wow, this is really good,” I tell them after tasting everything. I take a drink of my water to wash it down as the men all eat in silence.

“So, what’s our plan for tomorrow?” I ask, trying to make conversation.

“It’s going to take us about five days to reach Carlington. That’s where you’ll meet the first set of lords, the Carmichaels.”

“Five days?” I ask in shock.

Ranger nods as I take another bite of food.

The thought of meeting other men gives me a weird mix of excitement and dread. “Have you met them before? Do you know what they’re like?” I ask, hoping they can alleviate some of my worry.

“There are four brothers,” Blaze tells me. “They’ve been to Silverthorn a few times. I don't know them personally, but I have met them. They’re quiet and mostly keep to themselves, but from my interactions, they seem kind. ”

I rub my chest where I feel a strange pain as I stare at my plate and ask, “And what will I be doing there, with them?”

“They’ll probably be organizing a formal dinner upon your arrival,” Ranger tells me. “So they can all meet you at once. After that, they might want to spend some one-on-one time with you, take you for a stroll around the garden or a walk through town, things like that.”

That sounded a bit like dating. “Is that considered courting?” I ask, finally looking up at Ranger.

He shakes his head. “No, it’s the precursor to courting. And you won’t ever be left with any of them alone, at least one of us will always be with you. You’re spending time with them to get to know each other, to see if you want to try courting.”

Knowing they’ll be with me eases some of my worry, but his answer brings up another question. “And let’s say I decide I want them to court me, then what? Do I still have to visit all the other lords?”

My eyes scan all four men. Blaze and Arrow start frowning at their plates, Draven continues eating, seemingly oblivious to our conversation, and Ranger seems to consider his answer before he replies.

“That’s up to you. If they ask to court you, you can accept or refuse. If you accept, then we would stay for a few weeks to allow them a chance to continue courting, and if all goes well, you would go back home and present them to your parents for approval. ”

“But haven’t they already approved of everyone we’re seeing on this tour?”

“Theoretically, yes, but it’s tradition for the kings and queen to approve once the intention to marry is there.”

I nod my head as I push the food around on my plate. I hadn’t even met the Carmichaels yet, and I already felt nervous about it.

“Elora, what are you worried about?” Blaze asks as he places his hand on mine, stopping me from playing with my food. I look at him and see the concern on his face. I twist my lips as I try to gather my thoughts.

“I guess I’m just nervous about the whole thing. I’ve been on plenty of dates before, but they never go well. I’m not exactly likable.”

Blaze’s head recoils, confusion written all over his face.

“Not likable? You’re kidding, right?” Arrow asks.

I turn to see he’s giving me the same look as Blaze. Ranger is frowning at me, and even Draven is watching me with curiosity on his face.

“Why else wouldn’t they be interested in me? Is it my looks? I didn’t think I was bad to look at,” I tell them honestly. I thought I was pretty, anyway. Not drop-dead gorgeous, but I’d been given enough compliments to think it’s true. Unless everyone’s been lying to me.

“Darli—Princess,” Blaze corrects himself before continuing, “if men have been turning you away, it’s definitely not your looks or your likability. Trust me, you have no problem in those departments.”

Heat creeps up my cheeks as he speaks, and I see the sincerity in his eyes. But there had to be a reason I was still single. I’ve never even had a boyfriend before. What was it the matchmaker had told me? I was too picky. Did that mean I had to lower my standards?

As my eyes dart around the four men surrounding me, I can't help but feel like they each call to me in a different way. If I could meet men just like them, I know I wouldn’t be lowering my standards at all; they’d be exceeding them.