Page 24 of Enamored
At a nearby shout, I pulled my hand free from Elinor’s and scooted out from the hiding place, scanning the sky as well as the surrounding hills for any sign of the dangerous draco.
Before I could reach into the cleft and assist her, she was crawling out. “The draco has departed?”
“’Twould appear so.” I offered her a hand in climbing to her feet, but once she was standing, I put a proper distance between us.
“We have never before had a draco so close to the city.” She surveyed the land. Her hair was loose, and soot and dirt stained her gown, but she stood with her chin level and shoulders braced, as though she would face whatever came her way with bravery and dignity.
“Dracos don’t typically leave the safety of their hunting grounds, unless they’ve been provoked.”
“Or unless they fear for the safety of their young.”
I couldn’t forget Elinor had copious amounts of knowledge and was more intelligent than many of my fellow Sagacite friends. “’Tis also possible this draco was under the command of the Ice Men.”
The mountainous group was known for capturing and training dracos. Was it possible they were working with King Canute and sent the draco to snag Elinor?
At another shout, our attention turned to several Knights of Brethren riding our direction. They’d apparently rounded up the horses—or at least their mounts—and deemed the conditions safe enough to be out in the open.
As they neared, I could see that the lead rider was Ansgar.
“Your Highness.” Ansgar reined in his warhorse and bowed his head to Elinor. “Are you unharmed?”
“Yes, thanks to Maxim’s sharp mind and quick thinking. He hid me amongst the rocks during the danger.” She glanced to the cleft to indicate the place.
The other two knights halted beside Ansgar, and all of them took in the obscure spot before their attention swung back to me. They hadn’t paid an unimportant man like me heed earlier in the day other than to note my presence with the queen. But now they assessed me with keen interest.
“’Twas a much safer place to hide than the forest, do you not agree?” Elinor spoke to Ansgar, her tone and her expression filled with admiration for the knight.
I narrowed my gaze upon the man. Did Elinor prefer Ansgar? Was this the secret affection keeping her from giving her heart to one of the noblemen?
Ansgar nodded politely at the princess. “I agree, Your Highness. The rock ledge was more protective. We owe a debt to Maxim for keeping you out of harm’s way.” At his words, he shifted his attention to me and bowed his head.
I sensed nothing pretentious in this man. Everything about him radiated genuine humility and kindness. Even so, a strange surge of jealousy pricked me, and tension crept into my shoulders and back.
Ansgar slanted another look at me, but I avoided his gaze, unwilling to let anyone see how Elinor was affecting me. Besides, what was I thinking? The jealousy was ridiculous. I didn’t need to remind myself that nothing could come of such an attraction to Ansgar. Just like nothing could come of her attraction to me.
“The king has tasked us”—Sir Ansgar motioned to his riding companions—“with finding and returning you to the royal residence in Vordinberg with all haste.”
“Then the king and queen are unharmed?” With her forehead creased in worry, Elinor gazed at the smoke curling into the sky in the direction of the resting area.
“Yes, they’re shaken but well protected.”
“I am relieved to hear it.”
Ansgar dismounted and held out a hand to the princess. “I shall guard you myself on the ride back, Your Highness.”
Elinor allowed Ansgar to aid her ascent into the saddle. As he mounted behind her, a hard knot formed in the pit of my stomach regardless of my attempt not to care that another man was touching her. Thankfully, Ansgar didn’t place his hands upon her and instead held both reins.
With a final nod at me, Ansgar prodded his horse with his heel. His nod held his thanks and a transparency I hadn’t expected. It contained an assurance he was doing his job to guard the princess and nothing more.
Though my envy still needled me, I couldn’t begrudge this knight my respect. I could see why the king had chosen him. He was indeed a worthy leader.
My pulse came to a halt.
Worthy?
Worthy to become king?
The cool autumn breeze wrapped around me and sent a chill to my bones.
