The guard came forward to bow to the stranger before her.
Rain fixed her bewildered eyes on them and her limp steps paused.
Your Highness? She sure wasn't that.
The guard stood erect by the side and informed mildly, "The carriage is ready."
As she watched this scene unfold, she shuddered, wishing desperately that she could turn back time.
.
The escort. The stranger.
She needed no soothsayer to tell_ this was the prince of Eragon and he'd come to retrieve his escaped gift.
Grotesque. Beastly. Senescent. He was far from what the rumors said. He fitted non of the descriptions.
She'd been gullible.
The prince of Eragon was flawless in appearance.
Perhaps the rumors could be right about his temperament, or his dark tales and curse…
Rain's leg moved in embarrassment and she buried her shocked eyes to the ground and curtsied timidly. "Your- Your Highness." Her voice was sharp and she couldn't bring her lips to apologize, else she earned his mockery.
Afraid, she held the curtsy for too long and couldn't bear to lift her head.
The next moment, the man boots appeared beneath her face. She knew those demeaning silver gaze were on her; intense and frigid.
"Lift your head."
His order resounded above her head and when she didn't do as she had been told, he brought a hand to pinch her jaw and turn it towards him.
Rain tensed at the feel of his cold fingers. She quickly glossed over his displeased countenance and heard him sigh.
If this prince didn't seem so domineering , she might have mistaken that he felt helpless at this moment.
He looked into her face and spoke softly, "Worse vermin than I exist beyond these walls, princess . Since you've been gifted to me, certainly, I can't share you with an ogre."
Though his stance appeared indifferent, he sounded fervent and there were hints of rebuke in his eyes. He turned to the guard.
"Take the princess back to the carriage, Lucas.
We'll lodge at the manor for tonight."
*
The thick smell of dust hung heavily on air. Cobwebs as dense as silk threads drew curtains over the room's nooks and crannies. A dim light burnt through the dirty glove of an old lamp, hovering a shadows across the moldy walls.
Rain stood at the room's threshold, hesitant to step inside. She suddenly sneezed, then a grating cough followed.
When she heard footsteps coming from the passage, she hurried into the room and immediately shut the rickety door behind.
The dust caught her breath and the webs tickled her face. She sneezed and wheezed harder.
The manor in Buch didn't have a firm interior as the exterior. It's compartments were miserable. It was undeniable that the manor had been abandoned for long and to lodge within its rooms was nightmarish.
Rain's ears listened for the steps drawing close to the door and her eyes trailed the shadow of feet at the door frame. She waited nervously for a knock and started when it came.
The door knob creaked and she grew tense. It was confusing to decide where to lay her eyes when the door flung open.
Black boots entered leisurely and then a brawny figure followed after.
Amidst the dim space, eyes like silver lightning met her weary face and implored her blue gaze.
Rain held her breath and receded discreetly, but her small movements didn't miss his notice. She sensed his gaze turn disdainful and a knot tightened in her stomach.
"Your High…"
"Feel at home," He interrupted, brows cocked at the timeworn ceilings and hand offering a piece of brown clothing.
"It's all thanks to you anyway."