Unease

Her breath hitched as her gaze snapped to the source of the sound. A blade—sharp and deadly—had been inches from her head. Now, it lay deflected in the dirt, spinning to a stop.

Standing between her and the trajectory of death was Edris. He hadn't been there a moment ago, but now he loomed like a shadow given human form, his dagger glinting as he lowered it, the blow he'd deflected leaving no mark on his calm expression.

"What a sneaky little bugger," he muttered, his voice low though there was a sharp edge to it. He was locked in the gaze of the man who had just made his attempt on Elara's life. "To attack a lady while her companions are off fighting a Centaur." He tsked and then moved forward with movements so quick, that Elara's eyes struggled to keep up.

His daggers flashed as he closed the distance to the figure—a knight from Lady Olivia's group. The knight's attack was swift, but Edris was quicker. His first dagger found the man's wrist, disarming him, while the second plunged into the gap between his armor plates. The knight let out a strangled gasp before crumpling to the ground.

"Just so you don't go running off on me," Edris murmured, plunging the blade into both of the knight's legs and eliciting a howl of pain from him. He looked up at her from his handy work, his eyes scanning her for injuries. "Are you well, Miss. Elara?"

"I'm fine," she managed, though her voice was shaky. "What just happened?"

The Centaur let out a final bellow before collapsing to the ground, its massive body shaking the earth beneath them as it succumbed to the final blow Caspian had dealt it. The three men all turned to the group, panting. The forest fell silent as they took in the chaos behind them.

"What is this?" Caspian's voice was like ice as he approached, his sword still drawn and drenched in the Centaur's blood. His gaze flicked to Edris, then to the knight's body.

"One of Lady Olivia's men," Edris said tersely, wiping his daggers on the fabric of his pant leg before sheathing them. "He tried to kill Miss Elara."

The weight of those words settled over the clearing like a suffocating fog.

Lady Olivia, pale and wide-eyed, dismounted her horse. "What are you saying? My knight… attacked her?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying," Edris replied sharply.

Lady Olivia's hands trembled as she clutched them to her chest. "I had no idea he would—this wasn't my doing, I swear it!"

Caspian's gaze bore into her, unrelenting and cold. "You expect me to believe that? Your history of schemes doesn't leave much room for trust, Lady Olivia."

"I didn't know!" she insisted, her voice rising in pitch. "He was loyal—he's served my family for years. I would never sanction an attack like this!"

Elara watched her closely, her heart still racing, but something in Lady Olivia's wide-eyed shock struck her as genuine. The woman might have been conniving and was constantly throwing honeyed insults Elara's way, but this… this looked like fear, not guilt.

Before anyone could speak further, the sound of approaching hoofbeats shattered the tension. The Queen's entourage emerged through the trees, their presence heralded by the gleam of polished armor and the flutter of royal banners.

Queen Lyanna rode at the forefront, her expression as serene as ever, though her eyes gleamed with sharp curiosity. "It seems we've come too late to assist," she said, her voice carrying easily over the clearing. "You've made quick work the Centaur. Though I would expect nothing less."

"Your Majesty," he said, inclining his head. "Your presence is appreciated. Unfortunately, the Centaur wasn't the only threat."

Lyanna's gaze flicked to the fallen knight, her brows lifting slightly. "Oh? And what transpired here?"

"One of Lady Olivia's knights attempted to assassinate Miss Elara," Caspian said bluntly.

The Queen's eyes flickered over to Elara, then to the fallen knight, then to Edris, and back again. "That is… concerning." She turned to Lady Olivia. "Lady Olivia, can you shed light on this matter?"

Lady Olivia dropped to her knees before the Queen, her hands trembling. "Your Majesty, I swear I knew nothing of this! Sir Alden was loyal—he's served my family for years. I would never plot something so vile as murder!"

Lyanna regarded her for a long moment, her expression inscrutable. "This is a grave accusation, Lady Olivia. One that demands thorough investigation."

"I welcome any investigation," Olivia said fervently, her voice trembling. "Please, Your Majesty, you must believe me. I would never jeopardize my grandmother's standing—or your trust—by engaging in such treachery."

The Queen's gaze lingered on Olivia for another beat before she turned back to Caspian. "I understand your concerns, Grand Duke. Rest assured, this incident will not go unexamined. A full inquiry will be conducted following the conclusion of Valtren's Bounty Hunt."

Caspian's jaw tightened, but he inclined his head. "As you say, Your Majesty."

Lyanna dismounted her horse with practiced grace, her steps light as she approached the group. Her gaze swept over Elara, lingering just long enough to send a chill down her spine.

"You seem unharmed, Miss Elara," Lyanna said. "A fortunate outcome, considering the circumstances."

"I owe it to Sir Edris," Elara replied, inclining her head toward the man in question, who was still hovering over the knight.

Lyanna's lips curved into a small smile. "Indeed. It seems you're well protected."

There was something in her tone—something faintly mocking—that set Elara's teeth on edge.

The Queen turned back to Caspian. "This incident is troubling, Grand Duke. Perhaps it's another sign that your presence is needed here in the capital for a longer duration. These are dangerous times, after all."

Elara stiffened. There it was again—the subtle suggestion that Caspian should remain in the capital. She'd done it multiple times already, and now she was delaying the investigation into the attempt on Elara's life until after the Hunt, meaning they'd have to stay until the investigation concluded.

Caspian's expression didn't waver. "I'll do what's necessary to protect Miss Elara, Your Majesty. But I've no intention of abandoning Chirondale for the capital."

Lyanna's smile didn't falter, though her eyes glinted with something predatory. "Of course. We'll discuss this further after the Hunt. For now, let's ensure the safety of all participants."

The Queen turned to her entourage, issuing quiet orders to her knights. Elara watched her closely, her mind racing. It hadn't escaped her notice that Lyanna had been hinting at keeping Caspian in the capital since she first saw him and now all of a sudden, an attempt on Elara's life was made using Lady Olivia's guard, and they'd have to stay in the capital just like she'd wanted. She would be surprised if this "investigation" ended with the revelation of the true culprit.

As the Queen's group moved to secure the area, Caspian made his way over to Edris and the wounded knight and said something that had Edris nodding in reply. And then he made his way over to her.

"Are you all right?"

She nodded, swallowing hard. "I'm fine. Just… trying to process everything."

He laid his hand against hers, a brief, grounding gesture. "We'll get to the bottom of this."

Elara nodded, her mind already turning over the implications of what had just happened. Lady Olivia's shock had seemed real, but that didn't mean she was innocent. And then there was the Queen—her subtle manipulations, her attempts to keep Caspian tethered to the capital.

Caspian squeezed Elara's hand one more time and that tiny squeeze seemed to imbed itself into her heart, as well, before he turned over to where Edris was standing.

"Is he conscious?"

Edris straightened from where he crouched over the wounded knight. "Barely. He won't be running anywhere anytime soon."

"Good," Caspian said coldly. His gaze flicked to Lady Olivia, who was still kneeling in the dirt, pale as a ghost. "We'll need to hear his story before the Queen's investigators arrive."

Lady Olivia flinched but said nothing, her wide eyes darting between the knight and the Queen, as though hoping Lyanna might somehow absolve her.

Lyanna's gaze lingered on the scene, her head tilting slightly. "Perhaps, Grand Duke, it would be prudent to continue this at the palace. Not only is dusk going to fall soon, but a full interrogation would be more suitable in a controlled environment, don't you think?"

Caspian's lips pressed into a thin line, but he nodded once. "I agree, Your Majesty. However, I'll handle the initial questioning myself. I would prefer not to tarry where Elara's life is concerned."

Lyanna's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Of course. Your caution is commendable."

Elara felt a fresh wave of unease wash over her. Lyanna was too quick to defer, too measured in her responses. She might have been Queen, but knowing how Lyanna handled things in the novels, the cooler she was, the more she was scheming. All her most famous plots happened when she was as calm as she was right now.

Before anyone could argue further, the Queen's knights stepped forward to lift the wounded man. His groan of pain broke the tension, and the group shifted into motion, horses maneuvering carefully through the dense forest as they prepared to leave the clearing.

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The ride back to the forest was saturated with tension. Even the usual hum of the forest had quieted to a heavy silence. Elara could feel the weight of every glance Lady Olivia sent her way, though the woman said nothing. Whether it was guilt, fear, or complete rage, Elara couldn't be sure.

Edris rode on one side, Chirovan on the other, with Chancellor Kyran bringing up the flank and Caspian at her front. She was completely protected from all four sides, and it served to make her feel better. The Queen's group flanked their party, the clattering of their armor the only true noise in the whole forest. Elara couldn't help but wonder if their armor was as incredibly uncomfortable as it looked.

When they arrived at the hunting grounds, the once bustling area had quieted significantly. The few remaining nobles, having heard the roars of the Centaur even from so far away, had withdrawn to the safety of their tents, leaving only the royal retinue, commoners who had come to watch their loved ones, and key participants lingering in the dimming light. Fires were being stoked, their flickering glow casting long shadows against the trees, and the scent of roasted game filled the air.

Elara dismounted carefully, her legs stiff from the ride and the shock of yet another near-death experience. She took a moment to steady herself, grateful that Edris had been riding close enough to catch her elbow if needed, though she quickly waved him off with a quiet thanks.

"I trust Your Majesty will not mind if i insist on no one speaking to the prisoner until I do?" Caspian asked.

Queen Lyanna's expression was one of complete peace. "Of course." She turned to the royal knights who were loitering around, awaiting orders. "Secure the prisoner. Ensure no one speaks to him until His Grace has done so after the end of Valtren's Bounty Hunt."

The muscle in Caspian's jaw twitched, but he said nothing. The knights saluted and moved quickly to gather the wounded knight and drag him toward a makeshift holding area—a reinforced carriage typically used for transporting captured game. As they worked, Elara couldn't shake the memory of the blade whistling through the air toward her. One second was all it would've taken for her to die. She hadn't considered the prospect of it fully—even after the assassination attempts on the way to the capital—but what would happen to her if she died here? Would she really die, or would it send her back to her world where she belonged? The thought of dying here, in a world that wasn't her own, made her chest tighten.