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

Chapter Thirty-eight

    The afternoon was turning to evening when Sir Louis rode into the manor grounds.

    He joined his company with that of Sir Thorbert's and Sir Viktor's. Two bodies had been retrieved from the thicket near the waterfall. One soldier was still unaccounted for, the man, Colin. Dagan had not been captured yet. His trail was being successfully followed and the third arrow had been retrieved. They all believed Dagan had met up with men and horses.

    Louis would be calling into the manor house briefly to speak with Elissa before rejoining the search for the murderer.

    Within ten minutes, he arrived there...

    Elissa waited for him at the front of the manor, expecting him to ride in there, but after riding across the back moat ramp with his escort, he discarded his horse near the scullery, and strode in the back way, followed only by Ruskin.

    Felix, who had seen his arrival from a wall tower, rushed to tell Elissa that he would almost be inside the manor by now.

    She barely made it up the steps and into the front reception area before Louis stalked in.

    "Our new king, Leopold, commanded that Dagan be captured alive!" Louis said grimly as he threw his gauntlets on a chair. Ruskin took hold of his helmet before he threw that down.

    Taking the flask offered by David, Louis drank thirstily without looking at his betrothed.

    "Alive? Why does Leopold want Dagan alive?" Elissa asked, feeling horrified at the thought of him being set free one day.

    "If you tell me, we'll both know the answer."     With a gesture to Ruskin the page drew a roll of papers from within his riding jacket.

    Without looking at her, Louis said, "Here are your betrothal papers, Lady Elissa. They're yours! You may do whatever you wish with them." 

    "What do you mean?" Elissa couldn't believe Louis' attitude. Where has his look of love gone? Where are his kind words?

    "You're free!" Louis said, frowning at her while continuing, "Well, isn't this what you want?" When she did not answer, he spoke louder, "I'm releasing you, Lady Elissa. You're free! You can go to Samdene, or back to Kings Castle for the coronation; whatever you wish, wherever you want to go —do it. I'll have Felix arrange an escort for you."

    He stared into her eyes until she closed them. Folding his arms, he waited.

    "Whatever I wish?" Elissa opened her eyes and smiled at him.

    His frown deepened.

    Closing her eyes to blot out the pain she perceived both on his face and in his eyes, she prayed she could be able understand his pain. The silence continued.

    Opening her eyes, she saw many questions in his and not so much pain now.

    "You don't know what you want, do you?" he asked, his voice softer as he raised one thick eyebrow, holding it there before joining it with the other.

     Perceiving he behaved like a actor playing a pre-planned part, she said playfully, "I do know what I want, Sir Louis, but perhaps it's more of a wish, or a prayer, that I might be able to stay here, live here, in this manor, forever. But what is your wish, Sir Louis?" She watched as he snatched up his gauntlets.

    "I wish you would trouble me no longer, Lady Elissa! Just leave before I return. Sir Thorbert and Ruskin will escort you wherever you wish to go. I want you gone from my life."