Page 27 of Quest for her Knights (The Lost Souls of Dyconia #5)

Chapter twenty-one

Elora

I stare out the window, trying to calm my mind. It’s as if I have a hundred thoughts in my head, and my brain doesn’t even know which one to focus on.

On one hand, this is the final part of the journey to Elderwood. In a few hours, I’ll be meeting another group of lords, potential husbands. It’s such a strange concept, I can’t even wrap my head around it.

Having to make a decision so quickly feels like an unfair request from my pseudo-parents.

Although I have to admit, I felt an immediate connection with my knights when I met each of them. Is that why it’s so hard to consider any of these lords? I’m hoping for the same level of instinctual interest, from my gut... and my heart ?

I glance out the window, trying to catch a glimpse of any of the knights, but I can’t see them from here. So I sit back on my bench, readjusting my long dress. Ranger suggested I switch to a longer one to meet the lords of Elderwood.

He’s been acting more normal the past few days, at least, normal for Ranger. He’s back to commanding me to “stay there” and “don’t do that,” but at least he’s talking to me now and not avoiding me like he was after my... punishment.

My cheeks heat just remembering that. If it hadn’t ended so awkwardly, I might almost consider stepping out of line again just to make him discipline me.

Would I find a man like him in Elderwood? Someone with Arrow’s golden retriever energy? Blaze’s cinnamon roll charm? Draven’s bad boy attitude?

I shake my head and pick at a loose thread on the front of my dress. I need to stop comparing everyone to them. It’s not fair to anyone involved.

A large part of me is irritated at the Kings and Queen for forcing me to choose between all these lords when I know I’d be more than happy with my knights. Not that they’d want me in return, but a girl can dream.

I really do want to try and make things work with the lords I meet. I know it would make things easier for everyone involved. It’s not like I could be with the knights, even if they wanted to be with me .

So far, we’re zero for two with the lords. The first ones were clearly already taken. The second? Just... ew, no. So it wasn’t me, right? It was them. Why couldn’t I just meet some lords who are available and actually interested in me?

“You ready to go, Princess?” Ranger asks as he appears at the open carriage door. I hadn’t even realized we’d stopped, too lost in my own thoughts to notice.

I nod, and he offers his hand to help me climb out.

When I get to my feet, he studies my face for a moment before asking quietly, “Is something wrong?”

I glance at the large manor behind him and swallow uneasily. “I’m nervous,” I admit.

“About meeting them?” he asks, more a statement than a question, but I nod anyway.

“Look, Princess. You have nothing to worry about. You’re beautiful, inside and out, and they should be the ones who are nervous. If they want to win your affections, they’ll have to be on their best behavior. Not the other way around.”

I think that might be the nicest thing he’s ever said to me.

He called me beautiful.

Speechless, I just nod and he steps aside gesturing for me to move towards the front steps.

Now that he’s moved out of the way, I can see three men, who, based on their clothing, must be the Elderwood lords .

Ranger moves with me, at my side, and when we are about five feet away, we stop in front of them as Ranger announces, “May I introduce Princess Elora, of the North.”

The lord in the middle steps forward and reaches for my hand.

He gives me a small bow as he speaks. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Princess Elora.

I am Lord Rowan Elderwood, at your service.

” He presses a soft kiss to the back of my hand, then lifts his head and winks at me, taking a step back.

I have to admit, he is rather handsome with his tousled brown hair and warm brown eyes. Before I can take any more of him in, the man to his left steps forward, repeating his brother's gesture as he introduces himself. “Lord Edwin, your highness. It’s a pleasure.”

The last man introduces himself as Jeramiah, and once he’s also kissed my hand, Rowan gestures towards their home. “Would you like to come into the parlor for a refreshment?”

“That would be lovely, thank you.”

Lovely? This princess thing must be rubbing off on me, I’m not sure I’ve ever used that word before. I think I hear Arrow softly snort somewhere behind me, but I choose to ignore it as I follow Ranger into their home.

He told me he must always go first to make sure it’s safe, and I don’t have a problem with that. It’s nice to have a buffer between me and the men I’ve just met.

We’re led into a parlor, similar to the few others I’ve seen in this world. It’s like a library mixed with a sitting room .

Once Ranger has done a sweep of the room, he nods his head to me, letting me know it’s safe.

“She’ll be safe in here with us,” Edwin says in Ranger’s direction. “Ivar can show you where her rooms are and where you’ll be staying.” He motions towards an older man who’s standing in the doorway and looks like a house manager or butler or something along those lines.

Ranger nods towards the other knights. “Blaze and Draven, you can go with him. Arrow and I will stay here to guard the princess.”

“I assure you it’s not necessary. She’s very safe everywhere on our property,” Edwin says with a frown. It makes me a little nervous. I don’t know them, and don’t want to be left alone.

I look at Ranger in worry, but he makes no move to leave as he stands up straight and shakes his head. “Regardless, where the Princess goes, we go.”

Edwin rolls his eyes as he says, “Fine, fine, just stay out of our way.” I frown at him, a little taken aback by his attitude.

He steps closer to me and offers his hand to lead me over to the couch as he whispers.

“Sorry, princess, I didn’t mean to offend anyone; it’s just hard to get to know one another with someone standing over our shoulders. ”

He guides me to sit in the middle of the couch as he takes a seat beside me.

I guess I can understand where he’s coming from, especially as the knights are all strangers to him.

It’s probably hard to be yourself around strangers, as much for them as it is for me.

Deciding to not hold it against him I offer him a small smile.

“That’s okay, I’m sure you’ll forget they are there soon enough.” Jeremiah passes me a glass of amber liquid before coming to sit on my other side. “Thank you,” I tell him, then immediately turn and hold out the glass to Ranger, who’s already right behind me.

He takes the glass and from the look on his face, I know he’s pleased I remembered to let him inspect anything I eat or drink here for poison.

When he told me about it originally, I thought he was crazy, but since there has been an attempt on my life, I don’t exactly hate the idea anymore.

There’s also something enticing about knowing his mouth has touched my glass.

He sniffs it, then takes a tiny sip.

“What are you doing?” Rowan asks in slight outrage.

“It’s safe,” Ranger says, holding my eye contact and ignoring Rowan completely. He passes back the drink then returns to his post by the door.

“You think we’d try to poison you?” he asks, his hurt eyes turning to me.

“No, but it’s better safe than sorry.”

He presses his lips together as if he wishes to say more, but stays silent as he pulls a chair closer, sitting directly in front of me.

Being surrounded so close by all three of them is slightly intimidating but I try to remember what Ranger said.

To be myself, and remember they are the ones that need to make a good impression.

“So… what do you three do for fun around here?” I ask, scanning their faces. That question seems to bring a smile to their lips.

“I love to go for horseback rides through the forest,” Jeremiah tells me. “Do you like to ride?”

“I do,” I say with a nod. I leave out the fact that I don’t know how to ride on my own yet, so I’d rather ride tandem… with one of my knights.

I blush, just thinking about riding with Arrow or Blaze, and Jeramiah places his hand on my knee, over the skirt of my dress, and gives it a small squeeze. It sends a strange feeling through me and I can’t decide if it’s discomfort or intrigue.

Ranger told me that touching them like this was inappropriate. But it’s not me who initiated it. Should I push his hand away? That seems really rude, and I can’t bring myself to do it. I want to make a good impression.

Deciding to do nothing, I turn my head to my left and ask, “Edwin? What about you? What do you do for fun?”

“I like to tend to our gardens. Did you know we have an orchard with over fifty different types of fruit trees? You could have a different fruit every day for over a month and never grow bored of them. We even have a rare type of apple not seen anywhere else in Dyconia. ”

“Wow, that’s… fascinating,” I tell him, unable to think of a more suitable word that wouldn’t offend him. I mean… It's fruit… Whoop-de-do.

“Rowan, what do you do for fun?” I ask the last brother.

“Fun? I suppose I find joy in making others feel safe.” I nod slowly. That’s very… gallant of him, I suppose. I’m just not sure how true it is.

“What about yourself, Princess Elora? What is it you enjoy doing?” Edwin asks.

“Well…” I rack my brain as I try to think about what I can actually tell him that doesn’t give away that I’m from another world and not really a princess. What would princesses do for fun?

Go for long walks through the garden?

Boring.

Knitting?

No, thank you.

Listen to lords talk about apples?

I almost snort in amusement at that one.

I think about my love of fashion and decide that’s something I can share with them.

“I enjoy sewing.”

Rowan arches his brows, his eyes dipping to my body. “Did you make that dress? It’s lovely.”