The Selected

Chapter 4: Elimination

They told us that we should be arriving at the castle today. I had managed to get Harriet out of the carriage the second time we set up camp. She hit it off with Norman, it turns out they were both from the village of Zoad. The third time we set up camp Harriet was the first one out of the carriage and three other girls had joined us from the other carriages. I felt closer to the men with each day, they have been kinder to me than most of the girls here, I think I've made some good friends.

I nudged Harriet as the carriage came to a halt for a water break for the horses. She looked at me curiously.

"Want to walk the rest of the way? I want to see the castle," I said. Harriet nodded excitedly liking the idea. I knocked on the carriage door to warn anyone standing behind it before I opened it. Norman suddenly popped into sight.

"Lady Liana, how may I assist you?" he asked before looking behind me and spotting Harriet. He shot her a charming smile making her blush. What a tease he was.

"I was wondering if Harriet and I would be able to walk the rest of the way?" I asked hopefully.

Norman looked unsure as he thought it through. "I don't know if--"

"Please," Harriet stretched the word all while batting her long lashes at him. "It would be much appreciated."

That is great! Use your feminine charm!

"I-- uh--" Norman rubbed the back of his neck looking flustered. "Alright, but as far as the captain knows, you two snuck out."

I looked at Harriet to see if she was okay with the thought and she shrugged in response. Splendid! "I can work with that. Thanks Norm!"

Norman rolled his eyes at the nickname I've given him the last time we set up camp. He held out his hand to help down which I took with no second thought. God knows where my clumsiness will take me. I hopped down and waited for Harriet. With a blush, she timidly took Norman's hand. She looked at the height of the carriage nervously like I did the first time.

"It's okay Harriet, I got you. As a knight, it is my duty to help a damsel in distress," Norman gave her a comforting smile that only made her blush some more. That's Norman for you, flirt by nature.

"Fine, I trust you. Only because you are from Zoad," she said earning a wider smile from him. Norman put his hands around her waist and helped her down where they stood toe to toe a bit longer than necessary. Harriet was peering up at him through her lashes with her hands on his chest while Norman was staring down at her with twinkling eyes and his hands still on her waist. Well, well, well. I think there's been a spark between the two. Maybe I should just slip away.

I might as well be useful and help feed the horses. I went to the river we had stopped beside looking for the man in charge. Dorian was standing beside Niya petting her as she drank some water. His head snapped up as my steps neared him.

His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at me worriedly. "Is something wrong?"

Whoa, an expression! He seemed worried. Oh my! Dorian was worried for me? Stop it Liana! You're making it into a bigger deal than it is. He's in charge of everyone's well being, it's his job to be worried.

"No, no! Nothing is wrong. I just snuck away, I wanted to see the castle properly," I admitted. He's probably going to send me back. Abort! Abort!

Dorian stood there for a few moments before nodding his head. "Okay."

Yes!

A wide smile took over my face.

Stop smiling so wide! It is scary!