Noble Blood

Chapter IV - Loyalty

"Alyss, I think we're lost!" Evie exclaimed, exasperated as the princess kept turning into other alleyways, trying to regain the Main Street.

The streets of the city were almost entirely deserted in this part of town, as all the inhabitants had gathered to see the Royal family go.

"I don't think we're lost," Alyss replied, "We are simply on a small detour."

"It's almost night. I really don't want to stay here alone. Has nobody noticed our absence?" The lady questioned, beginning to wonder why no guards would search for the royal princess.

"Knowing Dietrich and Lilianna, they wouldn't care. I'm sure Clare and Katherine are worried, though they can't do very much if they're stuck to my sister." Alyss sighed. Her siblings were too self absorbed to see past the tip of their noses, and they wouldn't be any help.

Suddenly, a knight on a horse came from around the corner and stopped his steed in the last moment, as the young ladies let out a scared scream.

"I beg your pardon, kind ladies! All of my apologies! Are you hurt?" The young man jumped off of his horse, and lent a hand to Alyss immediately. His voice held a foreign accent, but she could not tell where from.

The princess brushed the dust off her skirts, as the stranger helped Evie rise in turn. The man removed his helm, revealing his dirty blonde hair and brown eyes, before making a deep bow.

"You startled us, Sir, but we are not wounded." Alyss stated, standing straight to appear taller in front of his towering frame.

She was very wary of strangers, as she knew she was in a vulnerable position. She had chosen to mislead the guards to be alone with Evie, but now that she was lost she had to be suspicious of everyone.

"I am very sorry, Lady..?" Bowing once more as the man said this, he looked up at the royal.

"Princess, actually" Evie corrected for her friend, "Alyss." She continued, "And I am Lady Evie, Sir." She finished with a small curtsy.

"Oh, Your Highness, my deepest apologies." The knight apologised once more hearing it was a royal he could have killed, bowing again. "May I perhaps escort you to your destination?"

"That would be very kind of you," Alyss replied, seeing the stranger seemed not to have bad intentions. "We are searching for the Main Street to regain our carriages, but have lost our way."

Just then, a young boy arrived on a horse as well, but at a much slower pace. "Sir, I thought I had lost you, you were riding so fast!" He addressed the knight, dismounting his steed as well.

"My squire Your Highness," the tall man explained, "he was accompanying me in the city." The squire bowed and looked to his master for orders.

"We are to escort the lost ladies back to their carriages, on the Main Street." The knight asserted with a smile, it would be favourable to help the princess, as he risked being punished after she fell to the ground because of his horse.

"Which way do we walk?" Evie asked with a shy smile back to him.

"It's on the other side of the city, I'm afraid walking would not be very efficient." He looked up at the darkening sky with a worried look, before looking back at the princesses.

"Princess, if you allow me to take you on my horse, my squire will take your lady." The man looked to her for permission and she nodded, thanking him.

Both pairs mounted and were soon galloping through the streets and alleyways, and reached the Main Street within a few minutes.

Upon sighting their arrival on the horses, Lilianna collected her skirts and rushed towards them.