Frowsy

(adj FROW-see)

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"My Lady, I must ask you to remain in the carriage."

"It's hot in the carriage, Eril." I complained. "How long until we are moving again?"

He shook his head, his slicked hair not moving an inch. I often wondered if the greasy, slicked hair came standard with guard training. "It shouldn't take too long. We sent the carriage driver to the nearest town. He should be back presently."

I slumped back into the cushioned seat. Even with the carriage windows open, the sweltering air was only marginally cooler. I snapped open a fan and waved it back and forth in front of my face. This whole trip had been an exercise in futility. What good was visiting suitors if they ignored you the entire time? Two weeks at his family’s estate. Two weeks of boredom and loneliness. And he claimed to be connected to the Lost Knights? As if. At least I could cross him off my list. My ever-shrinking list.

"Stop. Identify yourself." Eril's voice drew my attention outside again. He stood beside the carriage, hand on the grip of his sword, facing another man on the road. The other man raised his hands in a placating gesture.

"Just a traveler, good sir." His voice was much younger than I expected. From here all I could see was mud and ratty clothes, more like an old, crusty beggar than the strong, confident voice I heard.

Eril continued. "Why are you not travelling on the main roads?"

The man shrugged. "I like the less-travelled paths. Nice and quiet. I'm more surprised you would take this path with a carriage. These roads aren't exactly smooth, paved streets. It'll be dark soon, too. Best to get your charge to safety."

I studied the man. He stood at ease, save for the raised hands, and while it did appear he was carrying a sword, it was securely sheathed at his hip. Any other details were hard to make out beneath the layers I assumed he used to keep warm. He did not look like one with somewhere to call home.

"Be on your way. Our business is none of yours."

The man shrugged. "As you please."

I watched him begin to walk past and we locked eyes for a moment. He gave me a polite smile and nod. His eyes were bright and had a slight spark to them, despite the creases that spoke of exhaustion.

I bet he had a tale or two to tell.

"Wait." I said, opening the door and freezing my guards and the man alike. "It's dangerous for you, too. Why don't you stay by our campfire tonight? Safety in numbers and all that."

"My lady, we won't be here into nightfall." Eril said.

"Won't we?" I waved my hands at the darkening sky. "The nearest town is half a day away. If help arrives, it won't be until late. We might as well settle in."

"Be that as it may, my lady, we don't know anything about this man. He could rob us blind after we fall asleep, or he may be a scout for a local bandit crew."

The man chuckled softly. "While I am neither of those things, I don't need the safety of your fire. The offer is kind, my lady, but I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

Stepping out of the carriage, I tossed him a disarming smile. "Don't get me wrong, stranger. The offer is more selfish than charitable. I'm bored, and my guards rarely offer fulfilling conversations." I saw Eril frown.

"I doubt I'll be much better." He protested but turned toward me. "But who am I to deny a noblewoman better entertainment."

"Wonderful."

It didn't take long for my men to start a fire and set up a spot for me to sit in relative comfort. It was still dirty, but at least the air was beginning to cool with the setting sun.

When I had fully settled in, I turned once again to the stranger, sitting across from me at the fire with both guards eyeing him. Even at this distance, I couldn't quite make out his features. Dirt darkened his cheeks and dusted his long hair and beard. He seemed to be in shape, but I couldn’t quite tell through his multiple layers.

"So," I began. "what is your name, stranger?"

"Ah, you may call me Jay, my lady."

"Well, Jay, I am Isabella Marie Anderson. You may address me as Lady Isabella."

He nodded, a slightly bemused look on his face.

I set my hands in my lap. "Tell me about yourself."

"I'm afraid there's not much to tell." He shifted, pulling one of his cloaks a little tighter, even though I was sweating. "I'm a traveler. Nothing more, nothing less."

I pouted, propping my elbows on my knees and laying my chin on my knuckles. "That's not very interesting, Jay. There must be something you can tell me. Some daring adventure you've been on or some heist you orchestrated."

A smirk revealed a dimple beneath the dirt on his face. "Again, not a thief. Also not much of a storyteller, I'm afraid. I may not be the best company to entertain you, Lady Isabella."

I tossed him a glare and he let out a hearty laugh. It was warm, as if he hadn’t had a good conversation in a long time. Maybe he hadn’t.

"Alright, fine." He said. "How about this: I once met a man in a tavern that claimed to have eaten Clown’s Grin every day for a year."

"Isn't that poisonous?" I asked.

"Very. I called him out on it and he said he would prove it."

"Did he?"

He nodded. "Yes, but the plant he pulled out wasn't the actual flower. He'd painted a similar looking flower and was ready to eat it to prove his false claims. Trouble was, he didn't seem to realize what that dummy plant was."

"Are you saying he took a different poisonous plant to pretend to eat another?"

"It wasn't poisonous, but it certainly isn't something you should eat, either. It's notorious for creating... unusual hallucinations."

"So what happened?"

"I tried to warn him, but he wouldn't listen. Last I saw him he was frolicking through the town square wearing a pair of trousers like a bonnet."

A giggle slipped out. "That's ridiculous."

We paused for a moment, feeling the soft breeze. A thought occurred to me.

“Jay, do you know any tales of the Lost Knights?”

He took a long draw from his water skin, a thoughtful look on his face. “They’re a legend, aren’t they? Supposedly they saved the world from some hidden threat, right?”

“An order of knights with loyalties only to the protection of humanity. Many believe they are responsible for the end of the shadow plague.”

Shifting on the log, he cocked his head. “You almost sound like you admire them.”

“And why not?” I countered, gesturing broadly as I continued. “They dedicate their lives to upholding truth and justice and fight evil. What’s not to admire?”

Another bemused look. “I do believe they are a myth, my lady.”

I sighed, turning my gaze to the brightening stars above. “Now you sound like Eril.”

Jay chuckled and I could feel Eril’s scowl behind me.

“Why bring them up?” Jay asked, moving the conversation along.

“I just came from a visit to a suitor. One who claimed to be connected to the Lost Knights.” I folded my arms with a frown. “He was barely a gentleman, let alone a righteous knight.”

I froze and glanced over at him, sheepishness bringing heat to my cheeks.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that to you.” He was surprisingly easy to talk to. Was it because he was a complete stranger, someone who clearly wasn’t the same social status? Or was it something else?

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.” He turned to the fire, seeming to drift off into his thoughts.

A yawn snuck up on me and I almost didn't manage to cover it politely.

Eril leaned down. "My Lady, why don't you get some rest in the carriage? We'll keep watch."

"Very well." I stood and dusted off my skirts. "Goodnight, Jay."

"Goodnight, Lady Isabella."

Yelling outside made me sit straight up in the carriage. With my heart pounding, I looked through the windows to see my two guards fighting nearly a dozen men. One bandit approached the carriage and Eril managed to catch up to him and kill him before he reached me.

"Stay in the carriage, My Lady." He huffed, returning to the fray. I watched, trying to control my breathing, as they continued to fight, getting more and more visibly tired.

A click came from behind me and I turned just in time to see a man lunge in and grab my wrist. I let out a scream as he dragged me outside and around the carriage.

"What have we here?" he growled in my ear. "A pretty little prize."

"My lady!"

"Don't worry, we'll take good ca-urk!"

The man jerked behind me and suddenly he was gone.

"Are you alright, Lady Isabella?"

I opened my eyes to see Jay beside me, the bandit dead at his feet. He gave me a small smile.

"Stay right there. Everything will be alright."

He stepped around me and joined the fight. With the grace of a stream, he dodged attacks and killed attackers. The sword that had so unassumingly hung at his hip was now a dangerous gleam in the night, catching the moon as it ended bandit after bandit. It didn't take long for the fight to end and, unlike my guards, Jay wasn't even out of breath. Eril ran up to me.

"My Lady! Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"

Still shaking, I shook my head. "No, I'm not hurt."

He turned to Jay where he was sheathing his sword. The moment the blade was away, he shifted back from powerful hero to dirt-covered traveler.

"Even though I sent you away, I'm glad you returned. What brought you back our way?"

Jay crouched to examine one of the bandits. "I came across your carriage driver. I'm sorry to report they were killed before they ever reached the town."

Eril swore. "I see." He turned back to me. "My Lady, we need to walk to town. I should have had us do it sooner. These woods are simply too dangerous."

All I could do was nod, the shaking in my body becoming so intense I could only focus on standing. He led me to the side of the carriage and sat me down while they gathered what they could carry. Jay appeared before me.

"Are you cold?" he asked.

Only after he asked did I realize that I was hugging myself, my nails nearly digging into my arms.

"I... I guess I am."

He reached into the carriage and pulled out the blanket I'd been laying on.

"Here. The shock will wear off eventually, and you're going to feel it."

I clutched at the blanket and shivered. "Who are you, really?"

Another soft smile. "No one of consequence, my lady."

"Alright, let's go." Eril said, helping me to my feet.

We began the long walk to town, the three of them around me. They kept talking to me, urging me to keep going, keep walking. Finally, I got fed up with their directions.

“Enough! I’m not some porcelain doll!” Unfortunately, my body disagreed, and a shiver ran through me, forcing me to crouch down into a ball, the blanket all that muffled my sobs.

A warm hand rubbed my back.

"It's alright. Let it out." Jay's voice was soft.

I shook my head, hiccupping as I retorted. "I'm a noblewoman. I'm never supposed to have an outburst like this. I should never cry in front of others."

A thoughtful hmm. "That's silly. To cry is to be human. You've been through an ordeal. It's okay to let out those emotions."

It took a while for me to use up my tears. When I did, I stood, once more resolute, if not considerably more tired, and we began walking again. By the time we made it to town, the sun was up and I was nearly falling asleep on my feet.

“You should be safe now.” Jay said as we waited for Eril to secure a room and hire someone to retrieve the carriage.

“Are you leaving?” I asked. The thought of it tightened a knot of fear in me. “I don’t suppose I could convince you to travel with us the rest of the way? Then I could offer you a reward for your assistance.”

And feel safer in the meantime.

He shook his head. “I don’t need a reward, my lady. And I’m afraid I’m not for hire.” He said, anticipating my next offer. “The road from here is safe enough.”

I pouted. He let out another warm laugh, revealing that dimple once again.

Eril returned. “My lady, we have a room set up for you. Come tomorrow we’ll be able to return to our journey.”

“Thank you, Eril.” I turned my attention back to Jay. “And thank you, once again. Travel safely.”

He gave me a small bow. “Goodbye, Lady Isabella.”

Eril and I watched him disappear into the crowd.

“Who do you think he really was?” I asked without looking away from the bustling street.

“I’m not sure, my lady. A mercenary, a disillusioned guard.” I felt him turn and shifted to meet his gaze. “Perhaps he was one of your mythical Knights.”

I fought the urge to stick out my tongue like a child. “Perhaps he was.”

“Now then, you best get some rest. There’s hot food and a relatively soft bed waiting for you inside.”

Hot food! I let him lead me away, sparing only one last glance into the crowd. I couldn’t help but wonder if I would ever meet him again.

Something told me that I would.