Page 47 of Once Upon a Crown
Elara, how could you do this?
“Anything I can do to help?” Anesta crossed her arms shyly.
“If anyone asks, tell them the Queen is currently indisposed. I’ll have someone stand at the doors and make sure that no one enters.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Anesta gave a small curtsy before leaving the room.
“I’ll need to find out exactly where she was heading,” Rhen said, looking back to me.
“Well, I think we both know who we need to talk to about that.”
* * *
We found Lance in the library, sitting in front of a chessboard.
“You have some explaining to do.” I pointed at his face as Rhen and I walked into the room.
“Whoa, hey fellas.” Lance put up his hands slightly defensively. “I’m already outnumbered, there’s no need to crowd me.”
“This is serious, Your Highness,” Rhen responded. “We need your help with something.”
“Well, of course.” Lance dropped his hands and folded them together. “What can I help with?”
“Elara is missing.” I cut to the chase. “And I think you know where she went.”
He didn’t respond at first and moved one of the chess pieces. Then he looked back to us and finally said, “I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Something inside me snapped. I stormed over and tipped the chessboard off the table before grabbing Lance by his collar.
“Your Majesty!” Rhen called out but made no attempt to stop me.
“If you don’t tell me where she is, I will not hesitate to beat you beyond recognition. I’ve been thinking about it for a while actually.”
Lance didn’t show any concern about my threat. He only looked at me with a blank expression.
“She made me promise,” he said while I still gripped his collar. “Are you going to make me break a promise to her?”
Part of me had hoped that while Lance had put the idea in Elara’s head, she had done the rest on her own. The fact that she had actually consulted him on this plan only hurt me more.
“This is her life we are talking about,” I said, with no intention of lowering my voice. “She could die out there and you know it!”
“You have so little faith in her,” he said softly, wickedly. “No wonder she didn’t want to tell you.”
I was about to strike him when Rhen was smart enough to step in and pull us apart. “Maybe I should continue with the questions,” he suggested diplomatically.
“Fine,” I spat out, not wanting to hear another word that came from Lance’s mouth anyway.
* * *
I spent the morning walking up and down the palace grounds, trying not to think about all the things that could have gone wrong for Elara, while Rhen arranged our travel. I knew Rhen would give his life for Elara, so I had to trust that he would do his job. I didn’t feel like having breakfast, but the air grew too cold to stay outside. I ventured back into the palace and found Gwen sitting in a drawing room. She had her injured leg stretched out in front of her and another book in her hand.
“Still reading.” Her expression turned into a smile as I walked into the room and fell into one of the chairs. Heat radiated from the fireplace on the far wall. I watched the flames dance back and forth, my mind on an endless wander.
“Did you manage to speak to Her Majesty?”
Right, no one had told Gwen, yet.
