Chapter 3
The next few days was solitary confinement to the carriage. We stopped a few times along the way so that the horses could rest but we never spent any more time than was necessary. We could not be sure that Char would not follow us so we hoped to be away before he could reach us.
The respectable old squire whose carriage we now rode in was a bachelor. He was surprisingly kind to us though he must have begun to suspect that we were petty thieves to be running away. And yet still, he condoned it all with good nature. Mandy thought he was caring and sweet; I thought he had a crush on Mandy.
The first time I had mentioned it to Mandy; she blushed furiously, her withered skin becoming deep rouge. "Nonsense!" she tutted. "Sir Elkin is a fine man with a kind heart is all. Ella, don't go looking more into things," she scolded. I sat up ready to obey my command and sighed but not before I hid my smile.
"Yes, Mandy."
She smirked. "There's a good lass." I was tempted to stick out my tongue at her but I decided against it and struggled to contain my urge.
The horses were grazing near by with Sir Elkin fetching some water from a stream. We were closer to Ayortha now, he had said. It would take only about three hours before we finally reached the kingdom.
"You know, my lady," said Sir Elkin to Mandy as he gathered the horses to prepare to remount once again. "You have not told me your names yet." He looked at us patiently, clearly wondering how we could have forgotten such a thing.
"Oh rude of us!" Mandy said in fake horror. We had been trying to avoid that question in the fear that it would lead Char right to us.
"We apologize, Sir Elkin," I said, bowing deeply. Mandy and I had rehearsed this scene, perfecting it so that he would not begin to suspect anything. "I am Annabelle and this is my aunt, Margaret. I am a servant and kitchen assistant and Aunt Margaret's a wonderful cook. We are actually searching for new employment."
"Yes," Mandy chimed in, "things in Kyrria became difficult for us after our master ran into some heavy debts with the elves." She looked slightly abashed, playing her role simple and sweet. Mandy was a much better actress than me.
"I really am sorry we did not introduce ourselves sooner, Sir Elkin. We must have been so distracted if to forget such an important thing," I apologized, batting my eyes in faux embarrassment.
"Oh, no, no, no, my dear, do not worry," Sir Elkin comforted soothingly. "It is no problem. We will be in Ayortha soon and then you two can find employment and your lives will be well again." He smiled optimistically at Mandy who practically beamed. I struggled not to let my jaw fall. Mandy. Beaming. You. Have. To. Be. Kidding.
She deserves it, I thought after a moment. I looked at the two beaming adults. At least one of us gets the happily ever after.
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