Heir to the Ice Queen (Book 1)

Ch. 17

     The door to the knights cell opened, and I entered first, with Elis trailing close behind me. But two steps into the room I heard a mans grunt and without a chance to move, I was greeted by a wooden bowl with warm liquid smacking my face. I froze and wiped the chunks off with my already dirty dress, which still had dirt and dry blood from the travels to this castle. 

     "I really hope that was soup, knight," I growled with clenched teeth.

     I herd Elis muffle his laughter as he closed the door behind him. The cell was dark until the torch Elis held lighted it slightly but it did warm the room even more. I took the torch from Elis's calloused fingers close to the rusted bars and saw the knights eyes widen with fear as he saw my dirty face.

     He dropped to the ground immediately, "Forgive me Princess, I didn't know it was you. I was only-"

     "Enough," I said, "Rise. Get off the ground and look at me."

     "Yes Princess Evie," He stood tall and strong when he looked at me, but then he caught sight of the man next to me and his face crumpled with disgust.

     "Princess, what are you doing with this fake king?"

     Pretty sure Elis wasn't laughing now, but I was. A wicked smile formed on my lips.

     "There is a lot you are not informed about knight, but I will get to that issue later. Right now I need you to talk. They say threats, bribes, and torture didn't work on you, which Knight, know that I am very proud of you for that," I reached out and placed my left hand onto his shoulder as a warm gesture and a he let a small smile slip with the compliment,"but I am telling you now, that you will answer any questions this man needs."

     "Princess? What has he done to you?" he whispered so only I could here.

     "Did I ask you to question me knight?" the hand I rested on my shoulder moved to tighten around his throat.

     "No Princess, but he is the summer ruler. How are you still alive?" he voice going lower and lower.

     "I am alive no thanks to you, and your ignorant actions out there in the summer villages. What were you thinking attacking a village girl!" I raised my voice and tightened me grip on him.

     "You attacked one of my own!" Elis roared, and with that all the flame in in my grip grew higher. I held my arm up to silence him, telling him that I would deal with it. Amazingly he quieted his anger, the flames going back to their original shape. 

     "You attacked my riding crew," I continued," and you planned to just whisk me away when I was paralyzed as if I was a damsel in distress. You are the most idiot knight my mother has ever had, and I have seen plenty."

     I let go of him and he backed away just slightly so he was out of my reach from the bars. But I looked at his face, and I knew that he was scared and confused at my anger.

     "Knight, tell me why my mother sent you here," I said in a much calmer voice.

     He kept looking at Elis with a strained face that told me he didn't wan't to say anything in front of him. 

      "Don't mind him, it is only us in this cell. Now, answer me."

     "She wanted me to find you and bring you home," he cleared his throat.

     "Yes, that's what you told me when we ran into each other, but you see knight, I have run into some new information that doesn't quiet add up to your story. So I am going to ask you one last time knight, why did my mother send you, her most loyal knight she never lets leave her side, to get me?"