by Holly Law
“I did. You're good for him, Elara. You're definitely good for him. I think he will regret letting you go for the rest of his life. Stay out of trouble. I don't want to hear anything bad about you, understood?”
“I'll stay out of trouble,” Elara promised.
“May the road be dry and your journey swift.”
When they were out of the inn her brother asked her, “Why didn't you stay?”
“I have no interest in marrying a Corscan.”
“Who else do you think will marry you? You will never find a man as interested in you as that. You know that. Why did you have to turn him down?”
“You know why.”
“Dreams are dreams. You know who he is. You know he won't hurt you. I think he would take very good care of you. If even half the rumors about who he could be are true then…”
“I know who he is,” Elara said shortly, “and it doesn't change my response.”
“Who is he?” her brother asked curiously.
“He doesn't want it widely known—for his safety.”
“I suppose it doesn't matter. It's your life you're ruining.”
“Thank you for the vote of encouragement.”
Regret
The trip home was uneventful. Elara realized as they travelled that most of the men had expected her to stay. They talked about that mostly when they thought she was asleep. They all seemed to think she was being a burden on her brother and that is was inconsiderate of her to stay. Elara found she talked less and less to the other men the following day. If they noticed or cared she didn't know. She just knew she became increasingly miserable and aware of how poor her chances were of ever marrying. As Corden predicted, she did regret her choice. Yet she could not make herself turn around and go back to the town. She simply could not make herself admit to him how desperate she was.
When they arrived home, the look her mother gave her was unreadable. “I thought you went to beg that Corscan to take you back.” her mother noted as she gave her brother a hot loaf of bread from the oven. Elara wasn't given any.
“I have no interest in marrying Corden,” Elara replied. “I went to be an extra set of hands.”
“You should have stayed with him. You're of no use here and clearly the Corscan didn't know any better.”
“But…” Elara began.
“The Corscan gave her some nice presents,” Lairk told her mother. “Elara has been protective of those packages, but I know they must be something nice.”
“Well, open them up then and let me see,” her mother said, looking only mildly interested.
Elara obliged them and opened the packages. The finery looked all the more extreme on their old wooden table and poor surroundings. Her mother looked over it with a calculating look. Lairk looked impressed by what he saw.
“Lairk,” her mother began, not taking her eyes off the wonders on the table, “go get Isela for me.”
Elara was confused by the request for Lairk to get Lessie's mother. Lairk silently obliged and came back not only with Isela, but Lessie as well. Elara felt all the more inferior in their presence. Lessie was slightly taller than her and had sunny blond hair. Her skin was perfect and she was very beautiful. Lairk's admiring looks at her did not help things. No one besides Corden had ever looked at her like that.
“What beautiful things!” Lessie gasped, looking at the treasures on the table.
“I was thinking these might do for the Harvest Festival, Isela. What do you think?” her mother asked Lessie's mother. The woman was merely an old version of her daughter, but had very haughty features.
“Oh my, yes. What good timing, too. They'll look beautiful on Lessie don't you think, Lairk?”
Lairk looked a bit surprised by the question and Elara was shocked. “But they're mine!” Elara objected at once.
“Be silent,” her mother snapped at her.
“But…”
“You wearing them would serve no point,” her mother told her coldly. “Even pretty things like these could not make a homely girl like you appealing. Besides the boys decided Lessie was going to be the one to dress up this year.”
“She is not wearing my things!” Elara snapped angrily. The thought of Lessie wearing her fine clothes was sickening. She knew everyone preferred Lessie to her, but that was simply going too far.
“You will not argue with me, Elara.”
“No one would be looking at you anyway,” Lessie said with a smile Elara didn't like. “These are of no use to you.”
“I don't care. They're…” Elara continued to argue. Elara's mother slapped her.
“You will do as you're told.”
The week that followed was miserable for Elara. She was forced to help with the preparations for a festival she couldn't make herself be happy for. She was used for most of the grunt work as the other women made themselves pretty. Elara's mother saw no reason for Elara to even try, she never had. Elara had to endure watching the women fit her dress to Lessie who gave Elara gloating smiles. Lairk tried to reason with their mother privately, but to no avail. Her mother wouldn't change her mind, even for Lairk.
The only satisfaction Elara received was that Lairk no longer thought as highly of Lessie as he once did. He used to completely admire her and Elara had known he was one of Lessie's favorites. Elara overheard him ranting to other men his age in the village. Elara's reputation was unaffected by this, but Lessie's dropped sharply.
Elara was blamed for this and her mother's treatment of her worsened. Her jabs at Elara's faults were more frequent and more painful. Her mother thought it appropriate to feed her less for ruining Lessie's reputation needlessly. Lairk, of course, could do no wrong in her mother's eyes and received no blame. That irritated Lairk all the more. Elara was beyond miserable.
“Why don't you just go to him already?” Lairk asked her one day while their mother was out.
“It wouldn't make a difference.”
“Wouldn't make a difference? You're miserable here, Elara! And how mother treats you…”
“I'm not going, Lairk,” Elara snapped.
“I wish you would. This isn't a good place for you, Elara, and he would treat you well.”
“I'm tired of you bothering me about Corden. That's done and over with. Leave it be.”
“But it doesn't have to be. Go to him.”
“Leave me alone!” Elara snapped and left the house feeling very irritated.
The Harvest Festival arrived soon enough and Elara felt left out of all of it. All of it that was, except for the set up. Much of the set up was left to her as all the other girls got ready for dancing and merry making. When it came time for the festivities to begin Elara was not ready.
“You're not going to show up at the festival looking like the dirty mess you are and definitely not in that dress,” her mother told her with a disgusted glance at her.
“If you hadn't made me do everything, maybe I would have been ready and I would have had plenty of fine dresses if you hadn't given them to Lessie,” Elara said angrily and felt near tears.
Her mother moved to hit her and Elara bolted from the house. Elara half bumped into Lairk on the way out, but didn't care. She soon found herself outside of the village and at the small pond that she had told Corden about. The ducks were gone for the winter already, but it was still pretty and peaceful. She would not have to see her mother there or the festivities.
Elara curled up and cried.
Second Chances
Elara woke to something nudging her softly and a burst of warm air on her back. A moment later, she felt a hand on the back of her shoulder. Elara woke feeling confused. She looked up to see Corden, once more dressed in his armor, looking down at her. His expression looked very serious and maybe a little grim.
“What are you doing here?” Elara asked with a yawn.
“You asked me to come and say good-bye before I left for Corsca,” Corden reminded her.
“I didn't think you actually would,” Elara said, sitting up
and trying to blink away sleep. She still felt exhausted.
Corden sat down beside her. “So this is the spot you told me about?” he asked her.
“Yes, how did you find it?” Elara asked, still feeling confused by his presence.
“Your brother told me you were here. He thinks I would be doing you a favor if I simply took you, despite your objections.”
“That would be my brother.”
Corden reached out and turned her face. He still looked serious and his eyes settled on the bruise left from when her mother had hit her. “He told me how your mother treats you and how unhappy you are. It doesn't have to be that way, Elara. Life could be so much better for you. Come with me. No one will ever raise a hand to you again. You have my word.”
Elara turned her face away from them. “I want to stay here.”
“Why? Why do you want to be here when you are so miserable?”
“It's all I know.”
“I would show you more to know and I think you would love what I have to show you far more. There are peaceful places like this in Silcor. You would be happy. I would make it my business to make you so. If you wish your brother to come, that can be arranged for. I cannot ask you again, Elara. If I must head back to Silcor without you, I will and there will be no more chances for us. You will leave here either way. I have told you what is done with serfs. Would you not rather move into a palace with a loving husband than a new village with the same mother who shows you no love?”
Elara sighed and looked out at the pond for a long time. Corden said nothing and did the same. After several long minutes, Corden sighed and stood. “I suppose I have your answer then,” he said, sounding less than happy. He mounted Scratch without hesitation. Elara was a bit startled by the abruptness of it and found herself standing, too.
“Corden…” Elara began unsure of what to say. Corden looked down at her and his eyes were sad.
“I did not have long here, Elara. I probably shouldn't have come at all. If you are coming with me then come. If not, this is goodbye. Are you coming?” He extended a hand down to her.
Elara hesitated a moment and placed her hand in his. Corden smiled and at the same moment, they both became aware of hoof beats pounding down the path. Corden pulled her up and into the saddle behind him. He felt wary and Scratch snorted clearly feeling the same. One of Corden's pistols was in his hand. A moment later, a lady on a brown horse came into the clearing. It took Elara a moment to realize it was Lady Elisa.
“What are you doing here?” Corden demanded, putting the pistol back.
“I could ask you the same,” Lady Elisa replied arrogantly. “I was coming to warn Elara that Princess Viora is apparently aware of your deception and is headed towards your village at this moment. If Elara cannot be found the whole village is to be killed.” Elara gasped in dismay and tears came to her eyes.
“How far are they?” Corden demanded.
“I left perhaps ten minutes before they did. I have already warned the village and they are fleeing towards Velshire.”
“They're not going to make it there by a long shot and I suspect such a thing was anticipated. How many men?”
“When they left there were only ten plus the princess, but I don't know if she had more elsewhere.”
“If you had to hazard a guess?”
“I would say not. She was very angry and the princess is not known for thinking things through fully when she is angry.”
“Very true. Lady Elisa, wait here for two hours, unless you feel threatened. Then head to Velshire. Search out a soldier named Rushal and tell him who you are and what has happened. I may have arrived already, in that case the soldiers at the gate will be watching for you and will have you brought to me.”
“I have no intention of…” Lady Elisa began.
“Intention or not, by aiding Elara you have committed treason. If you return to your father's home and your actions are discovered you will be killed. I am offering you asylum. It is up to you whether or not you wish to take it.”
Corden did not wait for a response instead he turned Scratch and road off quickly. Elara was forced to hold on tightly. She felt very numb. She had caused the horrible situation. She wished she had never agreed to trick the princess. Corden had promised she would never know, but he had been very wrong.
“How could she have known?” Elara asked Corden.
“I don't know,” Corden said grimly, “but I intend to find out.”
They met up with the villagers soon enough. Corden's abrupt appearance caused cries of alarm. Elara saw mothers hug children to them tightly and the father's readied their farming equipment they brought for protection. Then their eyes noticed Elara and they looked quizzical, but no less ready. Lairk looked relieved to see her with Corden.
“You need to get off the road,” Corden told them. “Princess Viora's men will find you if you remain. You should scatter and find your own paths to the Velshire.”
“Why should we listen to the advice of a Corscan?” Davish demanded.
“Because I am trying to save your lives. I am by no means obligated to do so. I am risking my own life by being here. Do as I say if you wish to live.”
“You're the one who caused this problem to begin with, aren't you?” Davish accused. Elara wished Lessie's father would be quiet and listen.
“Princess Viora is the cause of your problem and no one else,” Corden retorted coldly. “Do not question me, serf. You have little time, follow my advice.”
“He makes sense,” Lairk said loud enough for everyone to hear.
“It would make more sense,” Davish countered “for him to turn the worthless, little liar on the horse with him over to the princess. That's all she wants. She…”
Corden drew one of his pistols and the sound of it being readied to fire made Davish pause. “You, serf, had best hold your tongue and do as your told. If any try to hurt Elara, they will answer to me. Now…” Corden broke off as the sound of horses galloping down the road became clear. Corden swore as he realized they were too late. His helmet was detached from his belt and placed securely on his head. The other pistol was drawn and Elara clung to Corden tightly not knowing how they were going to get out of the mess.
The soldiers arrived soon enough and Princess Viora rode in the middle of them. She looked demure on her horse and there was something almost gloating in her eyes. She gave Corden a dazzling smile when she saw him.
“What is the king of Corsca doing out here all by himself?” Princess Viora asked. “No guards, your majesty?”
“I have no need of guards,” Corden told her coolly. “Leave these villagers alone, and I may spare the lives of you and your men.”
Princess Viora laughed. “An amusing sentiment. You are outnumbered. You will turn yourself and the serf over to my men or these serfs will be killed.”
“You can have them, your highness,” Davish told her. “We want no part of this and would have turned Elara over to you.”
“Shut your mouth, Davish,” Lairk snapped. “We weren't going to turn my sister over to anyone.”
“Yes, we were,” Elara heard her mother say. Elara moaned softly into Corden's back. Her mother would have completely betrayed her.
“Easy,” Corden whispered. “This is not as hopeless as it looks.”
“You seem to have little support from this village. Surrender to me, and I will at least make sure there is some bargain made for your life,” Princess Viora said, her eyes dancing in delight. She was enjoying the situation way too much.
“Viora, I could kill every single one of your men and yourself included. Almost every single one, I could do from this distance. You are no match for Corscan weaponry.”
“You could kill two from the distance you are at. These guns of yours do not fire more than a single shot a piece.”
“Perhaps that is true of the standard weapons given to my officers. Mine are a bit more advanced, however.”
“You are bluffing.”
“
If you think that you are mistaken. Head home, Viora, before you kill all your men needlessly.”
Viora looked at them levelly for several long moments. “Kill them,” she ordered her soldiers. The words were no sooner out of her mouth than Corden fired. The noise was deafening and Elara hugged Corden all the tighter. Corden had not bluffed and more than two shots left those guns. Most of the soldiers were dead before they could make a move towards them. Not all were killed by the shots. Some were merely injured but the noise spooked their horses and many were thrown, Viora included. When the guns could fire no more Corden drew his sword and rode over to the soldiers. Those who tried to fight were quickly killed. Those who would have surrendered were shown no mercy. Elara hadn't imagined Corden being capable of ignoring soldiers begging for mercy, but he was completely capable. He paused only with Viora. He put the tip of his bloody sword to her throat as she tried to regain her feet. Her face had gone deathly pale as she looked up at Corden.
“I was not bluffing,” Corden told her. “Lairk,” he called calmly behind him to her brother. “I have need of you.” Lairk hesitantly came forward. He was looking at Corden as though he had never seen him before. After all the kindness Corden had shown them, they had both forgotten how cruel Corscan soldiers were known for being. All at once, every horrible story she had heard came back to her, every reason she had for refusing Corden.
“You will bind the princess,” Lairk instructed him. “I have rope in my bag.” Lairk fumbled in the bag briefly as he searched for the rope.
“Lairk, don't! She's our princess!” her mothered cried. “This is treason!” Elara flinched as she realized her mother was correct. If Lairk cooperated, he would be labeled a traitor. Lairk paused a moment and looked up at Corden uneasily.
“Promise me you won't hurt my sister,” Lairk said softly.
“You already know the answer to that, Lairk,” Corden replied. “Your sister is safe.”
Lairk bound the princess despite their mother's continuing objections. The princess glared at him as he followed Corden's orders. “When my father hears of this, it will be your head, serf,” Viora told him coldly.
