Page 7 of Quest for her Knights
Standing at the bottom of the stairs, I listen to the quiet dungeon, where Princess Elora is the only occupant. It’s rare to have anyone down here, and the fact that the Princess of the North is the one locked up is entirely shocking.
I still can’t believe she had Princess Freya’s entire family killed and hired assassins to try and finish the job on Freya herself. I’ve known this girl her whole life. Elora was a beautiful little terror. She never hesitated to talk down to any of us knights or manipulate people to get what she wanted. I have no idea how such kind rulers, Queen Althea and the Kings, could raise someone so vile.
Even her brothers, the princes, were kind-hearted and never spoke down to anyone. So the fact that Princess Elora turned out to be so… evil was utterly unexpected.
Speaking of the unexpected, finding out Freya was from another world… it would’ve been unbelievable if I hadn’t witnessed the change in her myself. But the princes are happy for the first time in a long time, and I’m pleased for them. I’ve grown close to them over the years, and aside from Draven and Arrow, they’re my closest friends. I’m glad to see them finally settle down with a good woman.
But what will become of Elora? If this were anyone else, they’d be executed for treason. But she’s the princess, the daughter of the Queen and kings. Surely they won’t kill her? I’m just glad I’m not the one making the decision.
Elora was screaming up a storm when we brought her down here a few days ago, and she only quietened down a couple hours ago. Arrow and Draven are off duty tonight, attending the princes’ wedding to Freya, leaving me here alone to guard her.
“Hello?” I hear her soft voice call out. “Is anyone there?”
I frown in confusion. She sounds completely different, her voice soft and musical. I listen intently, and after a minute she calls out again, a little louder this time.
“Hello? Can anyone hear me?”
The concern in her voice makes me hesitate only a moment before walking toward her cell at the end of the stone-covered hall. I can see her tiny hands gripping the bars, and when I come into view, both our eyes widen in surprise. I freeze in my tracks.
“Wow, who are you?” she asks in shock.
Who am I?
I’ve known her almost her whole life. But what I’m more concerned about right now is her appearance.
When I placed her in this cell, she was wearing a long pale blue dress. Now, she stands in the shortest pale pink dress I’ve ever seen. Her legs are completely bare, and she wears no shoes. The top of her dress skims the tops of her breasts, drawing my gaze to the exposed skin.
Her hair looks more beautiful than I’ve ever seen it. She’s always kept it shoulder-length and, more often than not, done up in some elaborate updo. But right now, her long copper waves fall around her shoulders, reaching down to her waist.
“Elora… what… what are you wearing?” I ask, unable to keep the question from my lips.
“What? Oh, this?” She seems startled by the direction of my question, but looks down at herself and swings her hips a little so the skirt of her dress does a small twirl, before looking back at me with a massive grin on her face. “I made it. Do you like it?” She stares at me, waiting for an answer like she really wants to know what I think.
“It looks gorgeous on you,” I admit. My eyes widen in shock at saying such a thing to the princess, and I take a quick step backward, needing to get away from her.
She quickly grasps the bars again. “Wait, don’t leave! What’s your name?” she asks with a tilt of her head, watching me expectantly.
“Blaze.”
“No way! That’s such a cool name… Blaze.” The way my name rolls off her tongue sends a pulse of desire through me that I have no right to feel around the princess.
“I need to go get the princes.”
“Princes? Are we in a castle?” she asks, sounding excited.
I stare at her in confusion for a moment before it clicks. Different hair, different clothes, clearly a different personality. Has she switched places with someone, like Freya had? What are the chances? Deciding I’d better let the princes know before I speak with her further, I answer, “Yes. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Wait here.”
“Very funny!” she shouts as I jog down the hall and upstairs. How the hell was I going to explain this to the princes? They need to see this for themselves.
The door bangs open, and the music in the great hall stops. I stand there, heart pounding, as I scan the room.
“Blaze?” Prince Arlo’s voice cuts through the silence as he strides toward me. “What’s wrong? Is it Elora?”
“Uh, yeah,” I stammer, feeling a little shaky. I hate being the bearer of bad news, especially during a celebration like this. “It’s about Elora.”
“Is she okay? Did she escape?” King Lewis asks, his voice tight with concern. The kings, queen, princes, Princess Freya, Arrow, and Draven all surround me, trying to keep our conversation from being heard by the rest of the guests.
“She’s okay. She’s still in the dungeon.” I rub the back of my neck, feeling every pair of eyes on me. “It’s just... I think the princes and Princess Freya should come down and talk to her.”
