Page 29 of Quest for her Knights
“Okay. Just shout if you need anything,” I tell her before moving to the front of the carriage with Blaze.
“Everything okay?” he asks when he sees my face.
“I don’t know. She’s acting weird. Something’s wrong, but she wouldn’t tell me anything.”
“I’m sure whatever it is, she’ll either figure it out on her own or ask for help.” I consider his words, but I’m not so sure. She’s been getting quieter as each day passes. Her usual outgoing personality is nowhere in sight. Instead, she’s subdued and quiet. And this morning, she wouldn’t even look at us. I’m not sure what’s wrong or how to help her.
As we travel through the day, I stay alert for any threats, but luckily, we come across nothing. Ranger doesn’t give us a break for lunch until the early afternoon, finding nowhere suitable before then.
I’m anxious to check on Elora, so the second we stop, I jump down and practically run to the side of the carriage, pulling the door open as I lean in.
“Arrow?” she asks groggily as her head tilts in my direction.
Her hair falls to the side, and I get the first real look at her face today. Her eyes are red and distant as she looks at me. Large, dark spots mark the skin beneath them.
“Elora! What’s happened?” I ask, climbing in and kneeling in front of her, slowly stroking her hair away from her face.
“Mmm, fine. Don’t look,” she grumbles, trying to pull her hair back in front of her face. She sounds intoxicated. I glance around, but only see her water canteen. I grab it and open the top, but it doesn’t smell of anything.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” I ask, cradling her face in my hands.
“Nothing. Is it morning yet?” I frown at her; she’s not making any sense.
“Arrow, what’s going on?” Ranger asks with a bite of authority in his voice as he watches us from the door.
“I don’t know. Something’s wrong with her. She’s not making any sense, and look at her face.” I gently tilt her head so he can see her clearly.
“I’m goon… foon… fine. Leave me alone,” she mumbles, half-heartedly trying to bat my hands away. I watch Ranger’s eyes widen with worry.
“Fuck. Get her out here, carry her if you have to,” he instructs before turning to bark orders at the others. “Blaze, Draven, get the bedding down and make a spot for Elora to lie down, quickly.”
“What’s going on?” Blaze asks. I don’t hear anything else as my focus returns to Elora.
“Elora, can you walk?”
“Of course,” she says before sniffling.
“Sweetheart, fuck—why are you crying?” I ask, my chest constricting with pain as I see tears form in her eyes.
“I’m not crying, you’re crying,” she tells me, sounding frustrated.
I decide not to argue as I try to help her stand, but her legs shake before giving out as she plops back down on the bench seat.
“I’m going to have to carry you. Hold on to my neck.” I sweep her up in my arms and carefully climb out of the carriage, moving into the clearing where the other three are quickly laying out blankets for her. I gently lay her down and take a second to brush her hair back from her face so we can get a good look at her in the bright daylight as we all kneel around her.
“Shit, why does she look like that?” Draven asks, making me smack him on the shoulder.
“Ouch!”
“Draven, don’t say it like that,” I chastise him.
“Darling, what’s wrong?” Blaze asks, placing the back of his hand against her forehead. “Do you feel sick?”
“I’m fine,” she says, her eyes unfocused as they bounce around, like they’re unable to settle on anything.
“She doesn’t feel warm,” Blaze says, pulling his hand back as we all stare at her.
“Elora, tell us what’s going on,” I beg her.
