A Chosen Love - Book 1 The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter Thirty-five

    The people of the city of Frencberg had enjoyed the drama and pageantry of the Tournament and it had helped the recovery of all from the confusion and emotion caused when Dagan poisoned the water.

    King Leopold blamed the devilish Dagan for his father's untimely death and now Lady Elissa was missing and no one knew what had happened to her.

    But no one imagined Dagan to be connected with Elissa's disappearance, not even Leopold.

    A breathless messenger had arrived at the great field, reporting to King Leopold that Lady Elissa had ridden the black horse out the back gates of Kings Castle. She had left over thirty minutes ago and had not returned.

    "Is she at the field, Your Majesty?"

    "No, but where do you think she went?"

    "I'm sorry, but I have no idea, Your Majesty."

    "Was she escorted?"

    "Yes, Sire. Seven or eight soldiers rode with her. But Sire, eye-witnesses, those who saw her ride out, but from a distance, said she rode on the black horse, a soldier riding tandem."

    "What a strange thing to do!" Leopold declared. "Tell Sir Louis and Sir Dorai about it and report back as to what they wish us to do about it. Better still —have them both present themselves to me, now. And have someone fetch a full report from Lady Pamela as to when she last saw Lady Elissa."

    Dorai and Louis believed she had simply run away.

    "I wouldn't put anything past her, Your Majesty," Dorai growled, "not after today! She's much more unpredictable than I've ever known her to be, Sire."

    Louis, laughing, took no notice of these words; he knew the proud Dorai was devastated because Elissa had thwarted the brother's plans for her. Growing a little pensive at the thought of his betrothed, his chosen love, leaving the castle, he hoped his plans to marry her would not be ruined.

    "It's her thing, this running off," Louis said glibly. "I hope she won't do this once we're wed." He still felt an unreal sense of euphoria from the announcement of Elissa's choice, as winner of the tournament.

    Louis' enthusiasm was dampened by Leopold's indecision. The king believed Elissa had a sense of responsibility one moment and then turned against her the next.

    This unprecedented state of affairs would be more joyful, Louis thought, to believe my love has just run away to her aunt's at Samdene! Time will prove this to be true. Louis would have turned back to his celebrating if the king hadn't ordered otherwise after he received the report from the lady-in-waiting.

    "I am canceling the celebrations until Lady Elissa is found! I don't like it! She ordered her lady, Pamela, to prepare the bath. I find it most difficult to believe she's been so untrustworthy as to run away! No word was given, no note written. It's most uncharacteristic, I believe. I want men to ride to Samdene immediately. They must change horses and ride back with news tonight."

    He turned on his cousin, declaring, "If she's so scatterbrained as to have run away, Louis, you should forget about the marriage. She must have made the decision at the tournament to make her get-a-way unnoticed. I say she's a devious, unpredictable woman."

    The queen was devastated by the news of Elissa's disappearance. She recalled their dialogue, at breakfast —just that morning and declared, "Either the girl is an incredible actress, or I, the queen, have no discernment whatsoever as to character. Elissa's submission for instance and her warmth toward me. Yes, I love Elissa, almost as much as I love Estelle but they are as different as milk and lemons. Elissa is too transparent and honest, and Estelle, well, she doesn't spill her heart's thoughts and has self-control. Yes, she will make a good queen."