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Elara's mind churned with tumultuous thoughts as she grappled with the implications of Beth's revelation. The king dead? It seemed unfathomable, yet the weight of Beth's words hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow of uncertainty over their already precarious situation.
"Who could have sent the army to destroy Ashcroft if not the king?" Elara mused aloud, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Could it be the queen?"
The mere thought sent a shiver down her spine, her stomach churning with unease at the realization of the danger they now faced. If the queen was indeed behind the attack on Ashcroft, then Lysander's life was in greater peril than ever before.
The image of Lysander's lean frame flashed before her mind's eye, his expression etched with determination as he fought to protect his people. Elara's heart clenched with fear at the thought of him facing off against the might of the queen's forces alone.
As they prepared to leave the tavern, Beth's insistence on joining them to Ravenshire caught Elara off guard. "But why?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Beth's expression was unreadable as she met Elara's gaze, her eyes dark and inscrutable. "I have a friend in Ravenshire," she explained cryptically.
"What about your friends here?" Amara asked curiously.
Beth's frown deepened at the question, her gaze drifting towards the door where her seemingly anywhere but here. "Maybe this is the right time for me to leave," she admitted, her tone tinged with resignation. "Besides, they always look down on me." She added, tried to act like it was nothing.
Elara's heart went out to Beth, as she he nodded understandingly, offering Beth a reassuring smile. "You're welcome to join us," she said warmly, her voice filled with sincerity. "We'll stick together through whatever lies ahead."
Beth's response was a brittle smile, betraying the uncertainty that lingered beneath her facade of bravado. As they continued their journey on foot, the weight of her companions' indifference pressed heavily upon her, a stark reminder of her solitude.
After walking for what felt like an eternity, Beth's frustration boiled over, her voice ringing out in the quiet streets with a mixture of disbelief and indignation. "This is ridiculous!" she exclaimed, her tone laced with bitterness as she recounted her friends' neglect.
With determination set in her jaw, Beth made a bold decision, her resolve strengthened by the injustice of her situation. "Since we're forced to walk due to our limited transportation," she declared, her voice dripping with defiance, "I'll go back and take what's rightfully mine—my friend's horse. It's about time they learned to appreciate my worth."
Elara's heart clenched with worry at Beth's audacious declaration, her mind racing with the potential consequences of such a reckless act. "But Beth, stealing from bandits?" she interjected, her voice tinged with concern. "Isn't that... dangerous?"
Amara's eyes as well widened in alarm, her hand reaching out to grip Beth's arm in a desperate plea for reason. "Beth," she implored, her voice trembling with anxiety. "Think about what you're doing. It's not worth the risk."
But Beth merely grinned in response, her expression twisted with a mixture of defiance and exhilaration. "I'm a bandit too, aren't I?" she retorted, her smirk filled with wicked amusement. "It's about time they learned not to underestimate me."
Elara and Amara exchanged worried glances, the gravity of Beth's words weighing heavily upon their hearts. The thought of confronting a group of bandits sent a chill down their spines, the danger palpable in the air as they braced themselves for the inevitable showdown.
Elara sighed heavily as she watched Beth disappear into the darkness, her heart heavy with worry and uncertainty. Despite the nervous fluttering in her stomach at the thought of facing off against bandits, she couldn't bring herself to leave the matter solely in Beth's hands. With a resigned nod to Amara, she knew they had no choice but to follow Beth to her friend's house.
The walk to Beth's friend's house, more of a barn in its imposing size and secluded location outside the town, was shrouded in a tense silence. Elara couldn't shake off the nervous energy that seemed to radiate from every corner of the barn, its shadowy interior only adding to the sense of unease.
As they approached, Beth immediately set to work on taming a dark, beautiful horse, her movements fluid and confident. Elara's gaze flitted between Beth and the horse, marveling at the scene unfolding before her, but a nagging sense of apprehension tugged at her heart.
Amara leaned in closer to Elara, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't like the feeling of this place," she murmured, her eyes darting nervously around the dimly lit interior of the barn.
Elara nodded in agreement, her stomach churning with uncertainty. "I don't think this is a good idea, Beth," she stated, her voice tinged with unease.
Just as Elara's words hung heavy in the air, a voice cut through the silence, sending a jolt of fear coursing through her veins. "Maybe you should listen to your new-found friends, Elizabeth," the voice said, its tone dripping with sarcasm.
Elara's heart skipped a beat at the sound of Beth's full name, her gaze snapping towards the source of the voice. Standing tall and imposing at the entrance to the stables was Marcus, his presence casting a long shadow over the room.
Beth's grin faltered slightly at Marcus's interruption, her eyes widening in surprise. "Marcus," she greeted cautiously, her tone laced with uncertainty. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Marcus's gaze bore into Elara with an intensity that made her squirm uncomfortably, his eyes dark and unreadable as he regarded her with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.
Marcus's scoff echoed through the air, his voice cutting through the tension like a sharp blade. "Where else would I be?" he retorted, his tone dripping with disdain. "This is my property, after all."
Beth visibly flinched at Marcus's words, her bravado faltering in the face of his authority. Despite her usual quick wit, she seemed to shrink under his piercing gaze, a flicker of fear dancing in her eyes.
Elara exchanged a worried glance with Amara, their silent communication speaking volumes as they both sensed the palpable tension in the air. Something about Marcus's demeanor set them on edge, his presence casting a shadow over the once bright atmosphere.
"Fine," Marcus continued, his voice heavy with resignation. "If you want to stay with us, I'll need to do a background check on both of you."
Beth's gloomy expression brightened immediately at the prospect, her excitement palpable as she eagerly awaited Marcus's response. "Really?" she asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.
Marcus nodded, his expression inscrutable as he turned on his heel, signaling for them to follow him. As they trailed behind him, Elara couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach. Despite Marcus's seemingly casual demeanor, she couldn't shake the sense that there was more to him than met the eye.
Beth skipped ahead to join Marcus, her enthusiasm undimmed by the tense exchange that had just taken place. "So, what's the plan?" she asked eagerly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Marcus regarded her with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, his lips quirking into a wry smile. "First, we'll need to get acquainted with our new guests," he replied, his tone cryptic. "Then we'll see where things go from there."
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As Marcus led Elara and Amara away from the prying eyes of the others, a knot of nervousness tightened in Elara's stomach. She struggled to keep her composure, her mind racing with a whirlwind of anxious thoughts.
Once they were out of earshot of the others, Marcus turned to face them, his expression serious. "Where do you come from?" he asked, his voice low and commanding.
Elara swallowed hard, her throat dry as she struggled to find the words to answer. "We're from Ashcroft," she replied, her voice trembling slightly. "We fled from the king's men."
Marcus's frown deepened at the mention of the king's men, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "What happened in Ashcroft?" he demanded, his tone sharp with urgency.
Elara exchanged a hesitant glance with Amara, silently urging her to speak. Taking a deep breath, Amara launched into the tale of their harrowing escape from Ashcroft, recounting the horrors they had witnessed at the hands of the king's soldiers.
As she spoke, Marcus listened intently, his expression darkening with each passing moment. When Amara had finished, a heavy silence settled over them, punctuated only by the soft rustle of the wind through the trees.
Marcus's jaw clenched with anger as he absorbed the gravity of their story, his eyes flashing with righteous indignation. His voice was low and somber as he spoke, his words weighted with the gravity of the truth. "That was the queen's doing," he said, his tone heavy with implication.
Elara's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the queen's involvement, her mind racing with questions and fears. "How do you know about the king's death?" she asked, her voice tinged with apprehension. Elara's voice quivered with a mixture of disbelief and unease as she continued her question to Marcus. "How come nobody knows about the news?" she asked, her words echoing the doubts that gnawed at her insides.
Marcus's expression darkened at the question, his jaw tightening with tension. "I have my sources," he replied cryptically.
"What are you planning to do now?" he asked, his eyes searching hers for answers. "Chaumont is no place for innocent girls like you."
Elara hesitated for a moment, the weight of their uncertain future pressing down on her shoulders. "We're going to the capital," she admitted, her voice steady despite the tremor of fear that coursed through her veins. "The Prince instructed us to seek refuge there."
"You know Lysander?" Marcus asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. Elara and Amara exchanged a startled glance, the implications of Marcus's question sinking in like a stone.
"Yes," Elara replied, her voice tinged with apprehension. She chose her words carefully, mindful of the delicate balance between truth and deception. "We... know of him."
Marcus's brow furrowed in thought as he considered their words, a flicker of understanding crossing his features. "And you believe the attack was aimed at finding the prince?" he mused, his tone thoughtful.
Elara nodded, her stomach churning with anxiety as she recounted the events that had led them to this moment. "Yes," she confirmed, her voice steady despite the turmoil that raged within her. words. "We believe the king's men were searching for him," she explained, her voice barely above a whisper. "And Ashcroft... Ashcroft was caught in the crossfire."
"I know he will be devastated," she continued, her voice tinged with sorrow. "He'll blame himself for what happened, even though it wasn't his fault."
As she spoke, Elara's thoughts drifted to the man she loved, his image burned into her mind like a haunting memory. She could still see the anguish in his eyes as they parted ways, the weight of their shared grief heavy upon his shoulders.
Marcus fell silent, his brows furrowed in thought as he pondered the weight of his decision, as he spoke, his voice calm but resolute. "Very well," he declared, his words sending a ripple of surprise through the group. "We will accompany you to Ravenshire."
Elara and Amara exchanged stunned glances, unable to believe their ears. The idea of traveling with a group of bandits was daunting, but Marcus's unexpected offer filled them with a sense of cautious optimism.
A small smile tugged at Marcus's lips, a rare sight that caught the girls off guard. "Lysander is an old friend," he explained, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "And I owe him a debt of gratitude. Perhaps this is my chance to repay that debt."
Elara's heart swelled with gratitude at Marcus's words, a rush of relief washing over her like a gentle tide. Despite his cold exterior, Marcus's willingness to help them spoke volumes about his character, filling her with a newfound sense of hope for the journey ahead.
"Thank you," she murmured, her voice filled with sincerity. "We're grateful for your assistance."
Marcus nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze unwavering as he met Elara's eyes with a silent understanding. With his support, they would face whatever challenges awaited them on the road to Ravenshire, united in their quest for justice and redemption.