Prince Kelton continued South, despite the semi-conscious thought to ride East coming back to him several times. He needed to follow up on what he knew if he hoped to find the Dragonwoman, and possibly Lady Iredys. His thoughts wandered to the many times he had searched the villages, towns, and cities since Lady Iredys’ disappearance, and the many times he had hoped that the gossip going around would change in a way that let him know that Lady Iredys was alive, but no matter how many times he had made this circuit, only the gossip of her tragic disappearance reached his ears.
They were nearing the next city and, so far, none of his other knights had caught up with them. Prince Kelton stopped at the top of the hill. The roads diverged here. He could head down to the city of Hagreer or turn off to the East to head toward Pride Town. He lifted his eyes as if to look just past Hagreer and the tiny village of Hope to Guasha Forest, which created a natural border between Greywolf Kingdom and Abundare Kingdom. There were times that he had thought about looking around Abundare’s lands for Lady Iredys, but since no one had tried to claim or resettle in the land, since King Voracity was killed during his people’s uprising, he wasn’t sure if there was a point. However, since that is where he had wanted to go in order to be reunited with the Dragonwoman he married, he needed to start there. Make sure she wasn’t there before heading East.
Prince Kelton’s thoughts returned to the city before him when his horse shifted beneath him. He clicked his tongue and shifted the reins slightly before his horse started down the hill toward Hagreer. Sir Hamnet and Sir Droyn followed close behind. They could hear the noise coming from the bustling city long before they reached the gates. They entered and slowly weaved their way through the throngs of people making their way to and fro. He stopped at the Great Hawk Inn. It wasn’t the nicest of places to stay in, but the gossip tended to be spot on, and that was exactly what he was here to listen to.
He paid the stable boy to care for their horses while they were inside. Unless the gossip gave him something helpful, he wasn’t planning on staying—despite his fatigue encouraging him to do just that. He stepped inside with Sir Droyn and Sir Hamnet guarding his back. The innkeeper waved them over to the bar.
“What can I get you, My Prince?” he asked.
“Food for myself and my knights and your latest gossip.”
“You know I don’t put much stock in all the rumors.”
“I know. I would like to hear them all the same.”
“Sure thing. I’ll be just a minute.”
Prince Kelton nodded then sat at the bar. Sir Droyn and Sir Hamnet sat on either side of him.
“How long before the others catch up, you think, Hamnet?” Sir Droyn asked.
Sir Hamnet snorted. “They can go back to the castle for all I care. Getting drunk while escorting their Prince around the kingdom. If they haven’t caught up by tomorrow, they may as well forget it.”
“Though, if all of them return to the castle,” Prince Kelton started softly, “it just might further incite the Queen to send her army after us.”
The knights beside him nodded.
“Here you are,” the innkeeper said, stepping out of the kitchen with a large tray. He set three bowls of stew and three plates with bread down on the bar. “Anything in particular you would like to drink?”
“No, thank you, my good man,” Prince Kelton replied.
His eyes shifted to Sir Hamnet and Sir Droyn.
“Ale,” they replied at the same time.
He filled three glasses with ale and set them down. Then he settled onto a stool across from them and rested his burly arms on the bar. “Where would you like me to start?”
“Just the latest is fine,” Prince Kelton replied, tearing a chuck of bread off and dropping it into the stew.
The innkeeper sighed. “In which case, there isn’t much to tell you. A few more people have gone missing since your last visit, and Old Greg has been complaining about an incoming storm.”
Prince Kelton nodded. “Thank you,” he said.
“You’re welcome,” the innkeeper replied before he left them to check on his other customers.
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The three of them had almost finished their meal when the door opened and rapid footsteps approached their location. Sir Droyn and Sir Hamnet stood before he heard a woman say.
“My Prince, I am here,” she said.
Prince Kelton turned enough to see who addressed him.
The woman looked almost exactly as Lady Iredys did before her disappearance, but her dress was coarse and plain, and her face was a little smudged. His eyes dropped down to her neck, noting that she didn’t wear a necklace, before he turned away.
“Do you not recognize me, My Prince?” she asked. “It’s me. Lady Iredys.”
“Lie,” Prince Kelton said without turning back.
“It is not a lie!” she replied, sounding upset. “I didn’t remember who I was until recently. Soon after your last visit to Hagreer, I think, but I wasn’t….”
Prince Kelton held up his hand to get her to stop. “Were your words true, you would still be wearing your necklace.”
“I had to sell it in order to survive. I….”
Prince Kelton turned to face her, his eyes narrowing. “The real Lady Iredys would never have given up that necklace. Also, there is not a single merchant in this kingdom who would have dared accept that necklace. If you were truly who you said you were, I would have had news long ago! Now,” he continued before she could interrupt him, “you can remove yourself from my presence or I will have you forcibly removed.”
Her lips trembled and her eyes moistened before she straightened her back and left.
Shaking his head, Prince Kelton turned back to face the bar so he could try and rein in his emotions and finish the stew in front of him. Sir Hamnet and Sir Droyn remained alert, sitting sideways to keep an eye on the door as they cleaned up what was left in their bowls.
“Can I interest you in a couple rooms, Prince Kelton?” the innkeeper asked.
Prince Kelton tried to rub the tiredness out of his face to no avail. He had also pushed the horses for longer since they had left very early that morning.
“As much as I wish I could say no, a couple rooms would be nice,” he replied, paying for their meal and rooms and a little extra for the information.
The man nodded then led the three of them upstairs.
Prince Kelton drifted in and out of a restless sleep until boisterous voices came up from downstairs. It seemed like the rest of his knights had caught up to him. From the increasing volume of overlapping voices, he was sure that not a single one had returned to the castle. Prince Kelton tried not to feel disappointed knowing it wouldn’t continue to just be him and Sirs Hamnet and Droyn, but it was difficult since he knew that at least three of them agreed with Queen Leona and tried to get him to stop his relentless search for Lady Iredys.
Sighing, he rolled to his other side and tried to rest some more, but after several more hours of tossing and turning, and not being able to settle into even the shallowest levels of sleep, he got up. He descended the stairs and entered the stables to saddle his own horse. He was just stepping out of the stable when he heard.
“Prince Kelton, please, I….”
The woman from the morning before tried approaching him again, but before she could get less than five feet from him, Sir Hamnet stepped in front of her.
His voice was soft, but Prince Kelton clearly heard him say, “If you value your reputation you will end this charade now. The consequences of trying to follow us will be severe.”
The woman took several steps back from Sir Hamnet before running away.
“Are you okay to wait for us to saddle our horses, also, Prince Kelton?” Sir Droyn asked.
He nodded then climbed into his saddle while Sir Hamnet and Sir Droyn saddled their horses. Once the two of them were out of the stables, the three of them kicked their horses and headed for Hope Village.
All was quiet when Prince Kelton, Sir Hamnet, and Sir Droyn entered Hope Village—almost eerily so. The lamps still burned along the main road, but many of the houses and shops were still dark. Only the lone inn still had lights on inside. A woman pushed back the curtains on the window as they approached. She turned away for just a moment before stepping outside. She was wiping her hands on her apron.
“Your Highness,” she said, eyes widening. “I… I did not expect….”
“It’s alright,” Prince Kelton replied. ““Do you have any rooms available?”
“Yes. Yes, I do. If you don’t mind waiting a moment, I can have something ready for you to eat as well.”
“We’ve eaten. Thanks, though.”
“S… sure. … Henry!” she yelled toward the barn.
A young man stepped out of the barn. “Apologies, Mother, Your Highness,” he said, dipping into a low bow. “I can care for your horses now.”
Prince Kelton nodded. He and his knights dismounted. Henry took the reins then led the horses inside.
“Let me show you to your rooms,” the woman said, as she led them inside.
Sir Droyn followed first, followed by Prince Kelton then Sir Hamnet. They took the stairs to the rooms near the back of the small inn. She stoked the fire in the three men’s rooms and pulled out several more blankets, then left to attend to something downstairs in the kitchen.
“I hope you can get some sleep tonight, Prince Kelton,” Sir Hamnet said. “It’s a long ride to Salgon Town.”
“I intend to search Abundare for the Dragonwoman first,” Prince Kelton said quietly.
Sir Hamnet and Sir Droyn exchanged wary glances.
“May I ask what for, Prince Kelton?” Sir Hamnet asked.
“Answers,” he replied simply. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” his knights replied together.