章 10: 10. Sir Galahad
The carriage stopped suddenly, Mauve was tossed forward at the sudden break. She looked through the window and could see that the sky was tinted a little orange at the approaching sunrise.
They had stopped in front of an inn. The first thing Mauve noticed as she got out of the carriage was the stares. There weren't a lot of people in front of the inn but it was almost dawn which meant most of the people in the town were awake and preparing to go about their businesses.
Mauve walked out with her head high even though there had been no one to help her off the carriage but she was used to it by now. Vae was beside her as they both followed Danag into the inn.
Damon and the other vampire remained by the carriages. She had confirmed that her escorts on this journey were three vampires. The other two avoided her, she was not sure if it was because she was human or otherwise.
The first thing she noticed when Danag threw the door open was that the tavern was empty. A few seats were turned upside down but mostly the tables were empty and clean. She did not get a chance to study the space as Danag immediately headed for the counter.
"Can I help you?" An annoyed voice thundered in the room even before they got to the counter.
Mauve immediately assumed he was the owner. He was robust and bald, of average height and he had a constant sneer on his lips. Mauve could also smell something but she was not sure where it was coming from.
"We would like some rooms and food," Danag said stopping in front of the counter, he tossed a gold coin and it bounced around with a ring before coming to a stop.
The robust man stopped what he was doing and eyed the coin then he glared at Danag. "We don't serve vampires here," as soon as the words were out of his mouth, he spat.
Mauve immediately turned her gaze to Danag, afraid he would smash the bald head of the innkeeper like a little egg but Danag did not have any emotion on his face. Mauve wasn't sure if that was more worrisome.
"We will be out of your hair by sundown."
"Didn't you hear me? We don't serve vampires here!" The man's voice had gone a notch higher.
"We are the princess's entourage. To deny us residence, isn't your human King worth something to you?" Danag's voice was deeper now, Mauve did not need anyone to tell her he was pissed.
"Princess?" The innkeeper scoffed. "None of my business."
Mauve felt herself go very cold. She wondered how the people of Greenham had taken it when they found out she had been married off to the vampire King. she was certain none of them had known of her existence before then. Mauve closed her eyes, her temporary title did not mean anything.
"We are only staying for the day. As soon as the sun sets, you will never see us again."
Mauve was utterly surprised Danag had this much control over his anger. He had looked like the kind of vampire who would blow off at the slightest provocation but even though she could see the veins in his arms, he was not ripping the innkeeper's head off.
"It does not matter if you are staying for an hour. In my opinion, you have stayed long enough and if she was really the princess…" the innkeeper said, nodding his head towards Mauve. "The Lord's house is a stone's throw from here, wouldn't it be better for her highness..." a loud snort, "to stay there?"
Mauve immediately reddened as they turned to look at her. Mauve turned to the maid for help but Vae wouldn't look at her. Going to the Lord's house was out of the question, she did not know what town this was but none of the Aristocrats wanted anything to do with her, so to show up at their doorstep was unthinkable. She would be treated worse than the innkeeper was treating Danag.
"Enough of this bullshit!" a loud voice followed by a slam. Mauve and Vae jumped simultaneously at the unexpected interruption. Danag did not even blink.
The voice came from the corner of the room, the day was still dark so Mauve had not noticed his presence. She glanced at the innkeeper and his face was rigid with fear.
"Sir G-Galahad," the innkeeper blurted out. "I did not see you there."
The man approached them and with the way the innkeeper had addressed him Mauve knew he was a knight. "Would you like me to tell the Lord all that you have spoken here?"
"No, no, Sir Galahad. They are vampires, vampires are not allowed here."
"Are you saying you do not know the princess's wedding was two nights ago? Are you disputing the treaty and to top it all in front of the princess who is a symbol of this?"
The knight was standing directly beside them and he had his gaze on the princess as he spoke. Mauve brought her head down. She could not look him in the eye, there was also the fact that he looked familiar.
"No, nothing of that sort Sir Galahad. But there is no way to know for sure that she is the princess."
"Does it matter? The fact that they are this deep in the kingdom means they must have come from the palace. Are you saying the King's guests are not worthy to stay in…" Sir Galahad paused and gave the surroundings a nasty glare, "Your meager inn."
"Of course not, Sir Galahad. I will give them the best rooms for free…"
"We don't need your generosity," Danag said with a growl, completely ignoring the knight. He stared at the coin and the innkeeper laughed awkwardly before accepting it.
"Of course, of course, this way please."
Mauve curtsied, and Vae went lower than her. "Thank you." She muttered her gratitude. The knight merely shrugged in response.
She was grateful to him and she wanted him to know this. She could not think of how they would have fared without his help. Looking for another inn was out of the question and they would likely face the same situation, and the sun was rising.
She was exceedingly embarrassed and ashamed. The King had not bothered to put on a temporary show that she was his daughter, it came as no surprise the people would treat her as a mere peasant.
With no attendants and only a simple maid, even she wouldn't believe this was the princess. She couldn't wait for this journey to be over, if they had to do this again she wouldn't be able to bear it.
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