“We’ll cover more ground if we all split up,” I said.
“You’re with me,” Philip said firmly, and grabbed my wrist, tugging me into the deepening shadows.
I flashed an apologetic look at my rescuer who gave us an amused smile before starting in the opposite direction. Arvin looked after me for a moment, but Philip glanced back and nodded significantly toward the man’s disappearing back. The horse nickered softly and trotted off after him.
We jogged, staying no more than two arms’ lengths apart as we peered around trees and behind bushes. But we could find no sign of the missing attackers.
As the darkness grew deeper, we had to give up, returning to the place of the attack. Arvin and the newcomer beat us back, just.
“Did you find anything?” I asked, knowing already from their silence that they had not.
“Not a sign of anything,” the man said.
Philip looked at him for a long moment and then turned to Arvin.
I did not let this man out of my sight. We discovered nothing.
Although Philip couldn’t understand him, he seemed to recognize the import of the horse’s tone. He growled quietly, under his breath.
My shoulders slumped. “I don’t understand how they could have escaped. They really were right there.” I frowned. “They disappeared the first time, too.”
“The first time?” asked the newcomer, pulling out a cloth and wiping down his blade.
“I was following them,” I explained. “And they disappeared. That’s why I wasn’t riding Arvin. I’d hopped down to try to see where they could have gone, and then they attacked.”
“Well this time they have not merely hidden themselves behind a bush, I’m afraid.” The stranger slid his sword into the scabbard at his waist.
I frowned again but didn’t dispute his words. They hadn’t been behind the bushes the first time either, and given their second disappearance, I didn’t think their first could be so easily explained. But neither did I want to start babbling of enchantments in front of Philip and a stranger.
“Thank you for coming to my rescue,” I said instead, addressing them both.
The newcomer gave me a charming smile. “As I said, you were doing remarkably well on your own. And your horse was a great deal more assistance than mine.”
Naturally, Arvin interjected.
“Your horse?” I followed the direction he pointed and saw a dainty mare calmly feeding among a distant copse of trees.
“She doesn’t exactly have combat experience.” He grimaced.
I glanced at Arvin, who was looking even more superior than usual. Some sort of explanation seemed to be required.
“He’s a royal mount, so he’s been well trained.” I hoped Arvin would forgive me for describing him as trained.
“He belongs to Princess Giselle,” Philip said.
“Princess Giselle?” The newcomer started and swept into a deep bow. “You’re Princess Giselle? I’ve heard much talk of you on my journey here. I just didn’t expect you to be…”
“So unimpressive?” I asked with a chuckle.
“Far from it!” he said quickly. “You are extremely impressive, I assure you. It is merely your wardrobe and location that took me by surprise.”
“That’s because this is Elle, the goose girl,” Philip said stiffly, using my nickname for the first time. “She came here with the princess from Eldon, and she exercises her horse for her. I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name.”
“Oh! I’m sorry. It’s Damon.” He winced. “I’m making a mess of the whole thing. Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Elle. And you…?” He turned to Philip.
“This is Philip,” I said. “He’s another one of the servants.” I looked at him. “Although I don’t know what he was doing all the way out here.” My attackers had disappeared in one of the most remote corners of the park, only a short walk from the wall.
“Looking for you,” he said. “Colin came back without you and said you were wandering around the park, so I set off to find you. And then I heard Arvin’s and your screams. I would have been here sooner, but I wasn’t riding a horse.”
“I didn’t mean to go so far,” I said. “But then I saw my attackers and seized the chance to follow them. I wasn’t alone,” I added, hearing the defensiveness in my voice, “I had Arvin with me.”
“That is at least something,” Philip said dryly.
As we talked, we’d all walked over to collect Damon’s mare. He made no move to mount up, however, looping her reins over one hand and walking on beside us.
“I’m glad I happened to be riding by and was able to be of some small assistance,” he said. “It has somewhat salvaged my pride.” He gave a small laugh. “I’m afraid I was letting my horse have her head and wander around the park while I tried to gather my courage.”
“Courage?” I asked. “Whatever for?”
For the first time I closely examined his clothes. The elegant cut and expensive material suggested he was either a wealthy merchant’s son, or else he had omitted a title when he introduced himself as Damon.
“I’ve never seen you at the palace before,” Philip said. “You mentioned something about traveling to Arcadie?”
“Yes, I’ve come to visit family.” He paused. “Well, in truth I’ve come to meet family, thus the need for courage. I would like to make a good impression, but I’ve arrived out of the blue, and I hope they won’t be too shocked.”
If his family lived at the palace, they weren’t likely to be merchants. Many of the nobles—especially the younger ones—chose to keep rooms here in the spring and summer.
“Well, everyone is in an uproar today, from what I hear,” I said. “So hopefully your arrival will be a pleasant diversion for them.”
“An uproar?” He glanced behind us. “You’re not talking about that attack?”
“No, nor the earlier one. One of the local nobles has been poisoned, apparently. But no one knows who did it.”
“Poisoned! It seems I picked an inauspicious moment for my visit.”
“Or a happy one,” I said. “Hopefully your arrival can bring some comfort to your relations.”
He looked a little doubtful but managed a smile.
“With those words of encouragement, I really should be going, or it will be much too late to present myself to them. I can see the palace up ahead, you’ll be safe from here?”
“Arvin and I will look after her,” Philip said, evenly.
“Of course.” Damon smiled again and gave us both a half-bow, despite the clear disparity in our status.
As soon as Damon swung into the saddle and rode away, Philip stopped walking. I slowed and stopped as well, turning back to him with an inquiring look.
“What were you thinking?” he asked, his earlier calm gone.
“I thought it was safe enough with the patrols about.” I bit my lip.
“And I’m sure it would have been if you hadn’t gone looking for trouble in the furthest reaches of the park.”
He is forgetting that I was with you, Arvin said. Those men would not have succeeded in carrying you away.