The knights filed out one by one to start preparations for their travel.
Gabel followed behind Hebaron and Garrow, to the stables.
They prepared their steeds and packed the all the previsions needed that was supplied by the king.
The Loverne knights followed in tern, saddling their steeds and helping to pack supplies.
While tying a small bag to his steed, Gabel caught glimps of Elara walking her steed out of the stables.
Her beautiful raven hair that was braided over her shoulder stood out against her emerald green tunic.
How can someone be so ravishing?
Feeling the urge to speak with her before they set out on the new raid, Gabel grabbed his horses reins and began to walk over to her.
"I did not hear you wake this morning. I hope you slept well."
Elara slowly met his gaze, "I slept good. Thank you. I did not wish to wake you and I needed to bathe so I left."
Taking a step closer, Gabel reached out and patted her horses neck.
A faint smirk appeared on his lips, "You could have bathed in my room. That would have been a nice sight to wake up to."
Elara's hands froze from fiddling with her saddle. A strange expression fell over her face.
Why did she seem so uncomfortable?
They had lain together and now she was fully aware of how he felt about her, but still she acted like they were strangers.
When he saw her lower her head, Gabel removed his hand from her horses neck and gently grabbed her arm.
"Have I done something wrong? Please forgive me if I have."
"No."
She quickly freed herself from his grasp and went back to fiddling with her saddle.
Why was she behaving as if there was nothing between them?
Seconds later she turned to him with a red flush across her cheeks, "I just wish to focus on the raid, that is all. You have done nothing wrong, I swear."
Without waiting for his reply, Elara swiftly mounted her steer and rode over towards where the Loverne knights were gathered.
"What just happend?" Gabel scratched the back of his head in confusion.
Did she not enjoy their time together?
"Lachzion, mount your steed! We are to depart." Ursuline's stern voice called out from several feet away.
Quickly he mounted his steed and rode over to his comrades.
The new raid party gathered together to watch as the knights not selected from each order left for home.
Not even a minute later Ursuline commanded that the March towards the Dristan border begin.
Though it was going to be a taxing trip, Hebaron and Ursuline had predicted a shorter journey since they had just cleared the forests of all the lingering monsters.
As hard as Gabel tried to not think of Elara's strange behavior, he could not drive it from his mind. To add to his worries, he noted for the entire days ride she kept her hood drawn and positioned her steed as close to her comrades as she possibly could.
Though she said he had done nothing, Gabel thought surly he had offended her in some way. That or perhaps she had gotten her fill of him and no longer desired his company.
Once again he felt sick over trying to win her favor.
After several hours of travel the commanders called out for a break. During this break Philip Weston announced that they would be spending the night in a village that was only a few hours away.
Gabel knew this village well. The Remdragons knights often stayed there when going back and forth from the capital to Anatol. He also knew that there was only one inn at the village.
He was determined to get Elara to share his room, if not that, then at least have a proper conversation with her.
Just an hour before sunset, they had arrived to the small village inn.
Though it was early, The knights hurriedly ate a simple meal then turned in for the night.
Gabel had planned on hanging around till he could seize a moment to steal Elara away.
Unfortunately for him, that moment never came.
Elara seemed to eat her meal with extreme haste , then rushed to her room before he could get the chance to even speak with her.
"Ten hells," Gabel grumbled to himself as he closed to door to his room.
Not once during dinner did she even glance his way.
Did her body not burn for him the way his did for her?
Needing to find an escape, he sat himself down in front of the small fireplace in his room and started sharpening his arrows.
At Dawn the next morning they set out once more. The ride was uneventful, only having run into one small werewolf pack.
Just like yesterday Elara kept her distance from Gabel. He only felt her gaze once when he had shot one of the werewolves down.
Though it felt impossible, he tried to keep himself from glancing her way.
In hopes to cover as much ground as possible, they rode clear through the day, only stopping once around noon, for a short break.
Just an hour before sunset The commanders finally ordered the ride to stop.
They quickly set up camp in a cleared spot in the forest.
Gabel immediately recognized it as one of the spots they had camped at during the previous raid. Since there were fewer knights this time, they only set up one camp, instead of two.
The knights from both orders gathered around the fire, sipping wine and sharpening their weapons.
"Let me tell a tale of a time I crossed paths with a White troll!" One of the older Loverne knights stood and began to tell a tale about a dangerous quest he was once sent on.
Gabel flinched when he saw Elara get up from her spot by the fire.
His eyes followed her as she walked away from the camp over towards the small wooden makeshift stable, that was built for the horses during the first raid.
***
Elara stepped inside the shed and walked over to her steed. She patted him on the nose and gave him some oats.
"Eat up boy, tomorrows ride will be just as bad as todays I'm afraid."
Grabbing some more oats, Elara walked over to Gabel's horse and held her hand out. Gabel's steed leaned his head down and began to eat the oats from her hand.
"Our little secret," she spoke out while gently stroking the steeds coat.
When the oats were gone, Elara quickly checked on the other horses, then walked to the doorway.
Just as her foot was about to hit the ground, a hand grabbed her arm and began pulling her behind the shed.
"Hey! What are you..."
"How long are you going to keep torturing me this way?"
Elara glanced up at Gabel's burning face.
Subconsciously she tried to pry her arm away from his grasp.
Gabel let go of her arm but stepped forward backing her up against the back of the shed.
"So my Lady, you've bedded me and now you want nothing to do with me?"
When she looked back up into his eyes, she nothing but lust.
