Elara felt someone roughly grab her arm.
"Why are you wondering around?"
"I....I," she felt tears well in her eyes. All of her words suddenly got stuck in her throat. She wasn't sure why exactly. Perhaps it was the shock of seeing that man's face. A face she thought she would never have to see again.
"Elara? What's wrong?" Gabel looked at her with a panicked expression.
Still not able to find the words, she pointed towards the man who was still standing on the box holding the scroll.
She watched as he eyed the man for a moment.
The man also noticed Gabel's presence and called out to him.
"Ah Sir Knight! Perhaps you will be the one to bring this rogue criminal to the king!"
Gabel swiftly walked towards the man.
"Let me see that."
He took the scroll from the man's hands and held it in front of his face.
"This Criminal, was seen here recently?"
The man nodded and straightened his robes.
"Indeed. He was seen stealing from one of the merchants carts the day before yesterday."
Gabel stood still, examining the scroll.
An unpleasant look grew over his face.
Abruptly he handed the scroll to the man and walked back over to Elara.
The second he reached her he wrapped an arm around her waist and started walking her back towards the tree where he had been waiting for her previously.
"Gabel, what did it say?"
His face looked emotionless as he quickly pulled her along.
"Gabel, please talk to me!"
Suddenly he stopped and turned to face her.
"It was a signed note from the king. Weston apparently escaped from the Loverne dungeons before he was to be executed. He probably had help. One of his sworn knights I bet. The Earl likely tried to cover this up."
He paused and looked into the crowd for a moment before turning back to her.
"Come, we must find Rovar and Livakion."
Tightly gripping her waist he started to pull her again back towards the performer's stage.
Elara felt several tears roll down her cheeks.
How could simply just seeing that man's face again make her feel like she was losing Cassian.
All his threats came back to life, sending a paralyzing anxiety through her.
"Sir Gabel? What's wrong?" Ulyseon stepped forward seeing Gabel drag Elara behind him.
"Rovar, I want you and Livakion to take Elara back to the Palace. Go tell Ricaydo to meet me here in the city square."
"I think we should be informed as to what is going on. Is there danger of some kind?"
Gabel let go of Elara's arm and placed one hand on either of the knights shoulders.
"There is a criminal lose here in the city. Not just any criminal, the old Loverne Commander Philip Weston. You may have heard that he raped my wife and threatened my sons life. He was to be hung some time ago for his crimes. However he escaped. I am going to find him."
"What makes you think he is still here? Should we not stay together?"
Gabel patted his comrades shoulder and shook his head.
"He's still here. There is so many travelers here for the celebrations, it is the perfect place to be. Though he was already spotted once, I am sure he is still hiding here somewhere. And once he hears that I am looking for him, he will unveil himself."
"What do you plan to do then?" Garrow asked with a stern expression.
Gabel dropped his hands off their shoulders and looked over to Elara.
"I will kill him. Then deliver his body to the king."
"Hang on. This is something we must talk to the commander about," Garrow firmly spoke.
"I agree, you are a knight Lachzion, not a murderer. Not to mention he will likely be unarmed."
Gabel sighed and furrowed his brow.
"You forget this man is a criminal. He has already received his death sentence. The only difference is that it will be at my hands instead of at the end of a rope which is how it should have been. Also the Commander will be with the king all day for the blessing from his Holiness. I will report to the commander. It is on me brothers. I must do this, so please just do as I say and take my wife back to the palace. Tell Ricaydo to meet me here."
Ulyseon looked over at Garrow for a moment then sighed.
"I hope nothing bad comes from this Sir Gabel, for your sake."
The knights began to move swiftly through the bustling street. Elara winced from how tightly Gabel was gripping her arm.
"Gabel let go, your hurting me."
He glanced over his shoulder at her then loosed his grip some.
When they reached the stables Ulyseon and Garrow hastily mounted their steeds in unison.
Gabel pulled Elara over to Garrow's horse. Grabbing her waist he was about to hoist her up when she began to fight against him.
"No Gabel! Do not do this!"
He roughly grabbed her wrists and pinned them together.
"Stop. This is something I must do, you know this. Do as I say and return to the palace. I will come for you then."
Elara was so angry she yanked her hand out of his grip and slapped him hard across his face.
Immediately regretting her action she wound her arms around his neck and began to cry.
"Don't leave me!" She cried into his robe while desperately clinging onto him.
After a moment she felt one of his arms wrap around her.
"I am not leaving you. I love you. Let me do this."
He patted her back soothingly then continued.
"Now do as I say and go."
Gabel didn't wait for her response. He quickly pulled her away from his body and wrapped his hands around her waist to hoist her up to Garrow.
***
Gabel's heart hurt for Elara. He knew she was likely going through the trauma all over again. It only fueled his desire to find Weston.
He glanced up at his wife's tear stained eyes, then nodded his head to Garrow.
The young knights burst out of the stable and began to ride back towards the Palace.
Gabel stepped out of the stable and watched his wife look back at him as she was carried away.
When she was completely out of sight he drew his hood and walked out into the middle of the crowd.
