Rose of Deception

chapter no 5

Eloise

Eloise paced in her chamber thinking about her conversation with the Queen about the rose. No clue.

The queen must take an action. She sat on the dewan thinking when there was a knock on the door.

The door opened and Keres stood in the doorway.

“Prince Keres.”

“I… I don’t know if I should be here. I thought maybe you could be awake and we could go for a walk. If you are not sleepy."  His words hesitant.

“Sure. Let me grab my…” She walked while he stood at the step. Secretly strapping the dagger, she put on her cloak.

“Ah, here it is.” Closing the door behind them, they walked down the staircase and into the garden through the hallways.

“Did Cora leave?” She asked her hands tied behind her back.

“No, she’s in her room.”

“Congratulations.”

“For…”

“Your engagement, Prince Keres. I did not get a chance before so I thought it’s better late than never.” She said. “Why don’t you talk, you’re making me feel talkative. I accept I talk a lot most of the time but you have to speak too.”

“What should I say, I barely have someone to talk to so I don’t know what should be discussed.”

“What is it like to be a prince?”

“Nothing much, I mean I would have considered myself lucky if I had my parents beside me. It is lonely but work takes over the emptiness.”

“You want to go somewhere?”

“That depends.”

“Come on you’ll love it.”

“Ok.”

“We have to grab the horses first.”

“You mean go over to them.”

“Yeah.”

The stable boy was gone so they had to fasten the saddles, he bent to grab the horse collar from the bundled hay when the mare lifted his foot flying the dirt.

“It’s all over you, Keres.”

He stood up facing her.

“Prince Keres.” she corrected herself.

“It’s okay you can call me Keres.” his smile reached his eyes.

“Ok.” she put her hands on her waist. “Can you make it work?”

“Precisely.” He placed it around the mare’s mouth. “He’s good to go.” The prince stroked his mane.

“Ready, go.” They raced through the jungle crossing the blood valley.

“That is cheating, Eloise. You know the way.” He complained.

“Too bad for you.” She laughed returning to look ahead.

“You said it wasn’t far.”

“It isn’t. Just… we are here.” They stopped before the bloomed field of the moon flower.

“We just have to wait for the clouds to float away. I promise it will be amazing.”

“Right.” He dismounted.

She walked him to the center, seconds later the cloud withered away and the moon flowers blossomed to life. The light breeze moved them, it’s low pleasant sound filling the air.

“They’re beautiful.” He said in awe.

“They are said to be a gift from The Dragon Queen to Ambra. The tale says Ambra accused her husband of having an affair with The Dragon Queen, her best friend.

Ambra had the power to curse. She cursed the dragon queen so that she could no longer take her dragon form. Eventually her people fell into sleep and she disappeared.

Before disappearing, The Dragon Queen had removed the cure from the moon flowers. Its pollen contains the poison that can decay a human in the blink of an eye. Unaware, Ambra asked her maidens to make her the moon flower tea and her powers shrunk leaving her weak.

Some say she roamed the human territories for ages.

Ambra accused the dragon queen for her ill-fated child whom she re-birthed to change his destiny.”

“You don’t believe it, do you?”

“Some parts could be real, no doubt. People twist the tales per their liking.”

“You are telling me they are real.” Eloise hushed him. “There’s someone here.”

“But I can’t sense another presence.”

“You won’t.”

“What do you mean?” he raised the question.

“Where are the horses?” She panicked. They were after her. How did they find her when she merged into human so well? Her aura had to be lessen. She grabbed his hand and made ran.

“ me your legs can run back to the castle.”

“Haven’t tried before?” His breath already puffing.

“Then now is the time. Run for your life.”

“What, no. We won’t be able to run this far. Who’s chasing us?”

“I don’t know?” She lied. “Maybe wolves.”

“Why?”

“They must be hungry.”

“Well I guess it’s better to die than marry Cora.” He nearly shouted.

“Why would you say that, I thought you loved her?”

“Every friendship is not supposed to end in love, Eloise.”

“Oh wow.”

“I can’t run any longer.” Keres complained.

“We have to. Or they will chew us dead.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. Unless you knew they were going to come after us.” A smile stretched on her lips before she hit him hard at the nape and he fainted.

***

“What did you do to him?” Cora barked.

Levi had left after putting the prince to bed.

“I don’t feel like answering, Cora.” Eloise dashed out of the room.

“We have to know who they were?” She talked with her partner.

“If they were really who you think then we are in danger.”

“Did the snake queen have any orders about the finding of the rose?”

“She might be planning to send her forces in to the human territories.”

“Too bad for her she is making work easier for us. I’m pretty sure demons don’t have it. It must be here, somewhere. This is where Ambra was.” Eloise sat on the bed. “You should leave now. And don’t come incase it’s an emergency.”

He bade her goodnight before leaving.

In the morning a maid came to deliver the King’s message. The Prince had to start his training today, with her.

She pulled on her clothes. The tunic reached her knees, black bleachers and a sword shaped pin in her hair.

Standing before the mirror she sighed.

“ I will get it for you mother.” She reminded herself.