Chapter 8
The Pint Grove Tavern
Cai
I didn’t know what to make of the truth. We all suspected she was hiding something. Just not the fact that she was the Princess of Everness. Though it did make sense of some things, like her refusal to tell us who she was. She had no way of knowing what we were going to do with that information. It did, however, bring up a lot more questions.
I hurried downstairs the next morning, just in time to see her walking out the tavern door. Without giving it too much thought, I grabbed a cloak and followed her outside. She stood with her arms crossed, indicating she was either cold or frustrated — perhaps both.
“Here.” I placed the cloak around her shoulders. She didn’t say thank you.
“Can we talk?”
She still didn’t say anything, but we started walking down the cobbled street, our guards following very closely behind.
“Perhaps I should start by apologising.” I rubbed the back of my neck.
“Perhaps?” she said.
“I should start by apologising.”
“For what? Kidnapping me, holding me hostage, tying me to a tree?”
Her tone was teasing, but that didn’t stop the guilt crawling under my skin. “Yes, all those things and more.”
She shrugged. “I can’t exactly blame you. I did attempt to severely injure you... twice.”
I looked at her again. Could this girl really be the princess promised to me? The girl who sat astride on a horse and stole a dagger from Jack? She wasn’t at all what I’d imagined, to say the least.
“I have a few questions, as you might imagine.”
“So do I,” she said.
“You first.”
“Why on earth are you travelling like a group of hunters or merchants? Where is your carriage, your royal clothes and your crown?” She looked up at me, pulling the cloak tighter over her shoulders.
“We’d heard stories of dangerous bandits in the forest. We thought it safer to travel unlike royalty.”
“You’re clever.” She seemed half impressed. “It was a wise choice. We were attacked by bandits that night — that much of my story was true — that’s how I came to stumble upon you. I barely managed to make it out alive.”
I looked back at her guards, walking some distance behind us. “It’s lucky your guards found you again.”
She stared at the ground and I could sense an awkward tension between us.
“So what do you propose we do now, Princess?”
“We’ll probably still go to Woodsbrook Manor. We are halfway, are we not? No use in going back now. I could even show you some of my favourite places in the kingdom if you’d like.”
“That would be very nice,” I admitted. “When are we to meet up with Prince Lance?” He had, after all, for some reason, insisted on taking care of many of the wedding plans and the marital arrangements. I wouldn’t exactly feel comfortable until my men and I could keep an eye on him.
“I’m not sure.” Eloisa bit her lip. “Soon, I should think.”
* * *
We left the tavern while dawn was approaching, given that we still had a long ride ahead of us for the day. Eloisa and I rode our horses side by side instead of travelling in her carriage. She appeared much more comfortable than she’d been before.
She wore a dark blue dress and it was the first time I’d seen her in anything royal-looking. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. The princess in a gown riding next to me could not be compared to the wild thing that had tried to fight me in her sleeping clothes.
“Are you ever going to tell me where exactly you’re taking me?” I loosened the reins on my horse.
“If I told you, then it wouldn’t be a surprise, now would it?”
It was different having her act friendly towards me in comparison to her hostile behaviour before. Not that I could exactly blame her... I did tie her to a tree. Still, I hadn’t expected her character would be so strong.
We veered off the forest road and followed a small hidden trail until a lake appeared behind a cluster of rocks. My mouth fell agape. The scenery was picturesque if nothing else and I slowly dismounted from my stallion. Trees ringed the lake, which was surrounded by long green grass.
“Are you coming?”
My head turned towards Eloisa and I followed her to the water’s edge.
“It’s beautiful here,” I remarked and she nodded in agreement.
“I think it’s one of my favourite places in the world, though I haven’t been here in a few years.”
“I used to have a secret hiding place as a child,” I reminisced. “You see, my great-grandfather rebuilt most of the castle and its gardens when he became king. Made it more modernised and secure against attacks and such. A small part of the garden had been cut off, surrounded by walls and overgrown ivy. It’s not as mystical as this, but it was a nice place to be when I needed to think.”
“And no one ever found out about it?”
“No, they didn’t. Though I haven’t been there in ages myself. I should think even I would have trouble finding it now.”
“Would you show it to me, if I ever come to Norrandale?” I frowned.
“What do you mean, if you come to Norrandale? Surely your brother has discussed with you the arrangements of our union?”
“Oh, right.” She looked away. “Lance hardly tells me anything. But I suppose it makes the most sense since you are to be king of Norrandale one day.”
We started walking along the water’s edge. “You will miss your kingdom?”
“Some of it I might miss. Some of it I won’t.” Her expression suggested there was a lot she wasn’t telling me, but I wasn’t exactly in the mood to pry. My gaze shifted to the necklace hanging around her neck, which fitted perfectly. When I’d sent her the gift, I was unsure if she would wear it, but the jewels suited her.
We stopped walking when one of her guards, Rhen, ran up to us. “Your Highness, we shall set up camp here tonight and continue our travels in the morning.”
“That sounds like a good idea, thank you.”
He nodded, but his eyes lingered for a moment too long, as if he were trying to tell her something else. Something I wasn’t supposed to see.
“So, when you’re not running about the woods and threatening people with their own weapons, what do you do in your free time?”
She chuckled. “I am sorry for that. Why don’t we just call it even?”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re not quite like any princess I’ve met before?” I asked jokingly.
“I’m going to take that as a compliment,” she responded.
“I never said it wasn’t.”
“To answer your previous question, I enjoy needlework and listening to piano music.”
“Really?” I asked in surprise.
“Not at all.”
I watched her laugh.
“I like being outside. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” It was nice to know we had at least one thing in common. It was a start.
“What about you?” She brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes. “What do you do when you’re not lurking about the woods in disguise?”
“I would hardly call it lurking.” I chuckled. “But like you, I prefer being outdoors. Horse-riding, hunting or even if it’s just to take a walk outside, breathe in the fresh air. We have the most beautiful beaches in Norrandale, with long stretches of white sand and crystal-clear waters.”
“It sounds wonderful. I can’t remember the last time I was on a beach.”
My forehead creased between my eyebrows. “I thought Woodsbrook Manor was in a coastal town?”
Her head swivelled in my direction. “It is.” She cleared her throat. “Of course it is. I go into town sometimes, but for whatever odd reason, I never seem to visit the beach.”
Right.
“How do you feel about shooting with a bow?” She quickly changed the subject.
“I haven’t had proper target practice in quite some time,” I admitted. “But I’m not opposed to it.”
“Then would you be up for a little competition some time?” Eloisa smiled.
“You like to shoot with a bow?”
She shrugged. “I must confess, I’m not very good. But perhaps you could teach me?” She tilted her head. “Only if you want to, of course.”
I couldn’t help the small grin that sneaked up on me. “I should be happy to oblige, Princess Eloisa.”
* * *
“I’m not sure what to think,” Jack said that evening while we were having dinner. The campfire was slowly starting to die out and most of our party were scattered around the camp. “Something’s not right about her.”
“Maybe she’s just cautious of us,” I suggested. “We did practically kidnap her, after all.”
“It’s not just that.” Jack shook his head. “Her whole story seems a little strange. She’s hiding something, I can tell.”
“Well, as the captain of my guard I suppose it would be your job to find out exactly what she’s hiding.” I smiled.
“Just making sure I have permission, my prince.” Jack smiled back. He was the best spy I knew and he loved the task dearly. Jack was an observer and he was very good at it.
“Jack’s right,” Alastor said. “Something here isn’t right.”
“I like her,” Conner commented as he bit into his chicken.
“Now, now.” Jack ruffled Conner’s hair and he tried to pull away. “She’s already spoken for, lad.” We laughed at Conner’s expense — the poor boy’s cheeks had gone red, though he tried to hide it.
I looked to where she was sitting with her lady-in-waiting. Eloisa didn’t seem quite as dangerous as her older brother, but one thing I could be certain of was that looks could be deceiving.