Page 25 of Chivalry in the Meadow (Hope Runs Deep #2)

Mia and Lilly sat side by side on the cot, skirts gathered in their laps, hearts still pounding. They didn’t speak any more, they only sat and listened. As if listening would keep them safer or let them know what was coming.

Exhaustion finally had Lilly resting on the cot and then she fell asleep.

I don’t know how she does that , Mia thought as she looked at her. There’s no way I’m going to be able to sleep.

But Lilly could sleep through the most stressful situations. It was as if that was her built in response to stress. Mia always knew when Lilly was upset because she would sleep and sleep and not want to do anything.

Hours later the other knights were back, and all were at Sir Elías’s tent either inside or outside guarding it. Lilly was awake now and watching silently from where she lay. She didn’t sit up.

Sir Cedric paced near the entrance flap, his white surcoat streaked with dirt and something darker. His hair was damp at the temples, his jaw tight.

“You should never have been alone,” he said, his gaze fixed on Mia, his words were meant for her alone. “It’s too dangerous now.”

Sir Alaric, leaning against the tent pole with his arms crossed, gave a sharp snort. “And whose fault is that? You knew they were getting bolder. You should have had a watch on them from the start.”

“They’re not your responsibility,” Sir Cedric shot back.

Sir Alaric’s dark eyes narrowed. “I made them mine when I saw the wizard’s creatures closing in.”

She stood up from the cot, the word wizard lodging in Mia’s chest like a splinter.

“So, you do know what they are,” she said quietly. “What is a rateem?”

Both knights froze.

Lilly’s voice was sharper. “And you know who this wizard is.”

Sir Cedric’s gaze flicked to Sir Alaric, sending a silent warning to him. “Names won’t help you,” he said. “Staying alive will.”

Sir Alaric pushed away from the tent pole. “You don’t get to decide what they know.”

He turned to Mia. “The rateem creatures you saw serve someone who wants something from this festival. Something valuable enough to risk open hunting. You saw how they moved. They weren’t after anyone else.”

Sir Cedric stepped between them, his hand brushing Mia’s arm. Not quite possessive but claiming space. “Don’t listen to him. His shadowy half-truths will only get you killed.”

The flap opened and Sir Elias entered, his blue-and-silver tunic dusty, his expression tight. He stepped over to Lilly and knelt, his voice pitched low. “They’ve scattered for now, but this won’t be the last attempt. I’ll see to it you have guards tonight.”

From outside came the distant call of an owl. Low, resonant, unmistakable.

Mia’s skin prickled.

Sir Alaric’s head tilted toward the sound.

Finn, ducked into the tent. “I’ve packed up your stuff and brought it,” he said.

“Thanks, Finn,” Lilly said.

He placed each of their bags in front of them and stood in front of Mia. “Those things tore a lot of stuff up.” He shook his head then looked at Mia. “Sorry about your book. I don’t know why they did that. And your clothes are in bad shape.”

She unzipped her bag and lifted out her paperback which was in shreds. She held it up by her fingers. “Do they shred stuff to make nests? Because they didn’t take it with them.”

Lilly was sorting through her bag. “Only a few of my things got shredded,” she said.

Sir Thorne stepped into the tent.

Mia glanced at him and scowled. Now he shows up. He’s never around. Lot of help he is.

She dumped her bag on the bed and picked up piece after piece of underwear, socks, t-shirt and pajamas.

“Looks like they shredded all of mine.” She shook her head.

“Geesh, I sound like I’m telling a very bad version of Goldilocks.

Look mom they took all of mine.” She sat shaking her head and looking at her things.

“There’s nothing left worth taking home but the bag.

I’m surprised they didn’t shred that too. ”

“Not enough of your scent on it,” Sir Thorne said.

“What?” she looked at him.

“They hunt by scent,” he said with a wry smile.

Is he trying to make me afraid?

She watched him without speaking, then turned away to look at Lilly, while the knights grumbled amongst themselves. None of them were getting any sleep, except Lilly, and everyone was tired.

I’m not going to let him scare me. I’m tired of being afraid. I have Lilly here with me, and all these knights protecting us. I’m going to be okay, and when the sun is up tomorrow, and those things are back in their dark places if not dead, Lilly and I are going home.

“Looks like I’m stuck in a princess dress,” Mia said. “But I’m supposed to turn this in.”

“I’ll let you borrow my hoodie, and erm, unmentionables,” Lilly said. “Anything you want to borrow.”

“But you didn’t even bring a change of clothes,” Mia said.

“I’ll wear what I wore here, and you can wear my pajama bottoms and my hoodie,” Lilly said. “It will be okay Mia.”

“Our cook is going to get up early and fix you breakfast,” Sir Alaric said. “I’ll bring it to the tent, and you can eat here before you get on the road.”

“Thank you, Sir Alaric,” Mia said.

“Yes, thank you,” Lilly said and then she laid back down. “I’m going to try to get some sleep, so I won’t be sleepy driving us home.”

“Okay, yeah, there’s nothing to stay up for,” Mia said. “Sleep.”

Lilly gave her a thumbs up and then closed her eyes.

The other knights filed out of the tent and Sir Alaric was the last to go.

“Wait,” Mia said. “Can you stay and talk to me?”

“Yes,” he said, then he sat on the ground and folded his legs.

He had to be tired.

“So many strange things have happened this weekend for which I have no answers,” she said. “Can you help me to understand what’s been going on?’

He closed his eyes and nodded. Then opened them again to look at her.

“Ask away,” he said. “And please, just call me Alaric. The Sir is just for out there in the Ren Faire.” He waved his hand. “Not between you and me.”

She smiled. “Thank you, Alaric.” She glanced down and then up again. “Is there a you and me?”

His eyes searched hers. “Do you want there to be?”

“I think I would like that,” she said. “If you do.”

“I know I would like that. You’ve just been through so much.” His eyes searched hers again, assessing. “How are you doing now?”

“I was afraid before,” she said. “But not right now. You stopped them and we are protected. So, I guess I’m doing okay, considering.”

“You’re doing great,” he said. “Considering.”

“From when I first got here things have been strange. First, I dreamed of an owl, and one showed up and looked and me. Then I kept dreaming of the owl, and the real-life owl, it started talking to me.” She frowned. “I probably sound crazy.”

“Not crazy at all,” he said. “I have seen that owl. It watches you. It follows you. I’m not surprised at all that is talks to you.”

“But the crazy thing is,” she whispered. “I can understand what it says.”

“You’re not crazy, Mia,” he said. “I have seen things that no one can understand. And this place, these fields and these trees draw strange men and creatures here.”

“I get these feelings, and what my grandmother used to call the knowing. When it happens, I just know something, just she used to. I can’t explain it to you.”

“You don’t have to,” he said. “It’s one of the psychic senses, and in olden times was called the second sight. You might see something or hear something or know something and then it happens. It’s said to be passed down through bloodlines.”

“Well, my nana must have given it to me then, because mother never had a fraction of it. I had to pretend I didn’t so she wouldn’t flip out and tell me I was crazy or lying.” Mia shook her head. “So, I just shut up about it most of the time. But it’s gotten stronger here.”

“A lot of things have gotten stronger here,” he said.

“Madame Merlina left yesterday before it got dark and said she wasn’t coming back.

And we lost our costume mistress as well.

She told the owners that her sciatica was acting up and she needed to be on bed rest. Hinted at retiring and not coming back. ”

“Do you think they read their cards, and the readings told them to go?”

“I think both women are wise in many ways, and something told them,” he said.

“Well, I wish something had told me. Having those things chase me was terrifying. I may never sleep again without nightmares.” She yawned. “Even though I am exhausted.”

“You need to sleep,” he said. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Before you go to sleep, can I have your phone number?” He pulled his cell phone out of his pants pocket.

“Sure,” she said and rattled her number off to him.

He put it into his phone and said, “I’m going to call it, and then you’ll have my number. Any problem, any problem at all, anything that spooks you, you call me.”

“Okay,” she said. “Thank you.”

They’d brought another cot into the tent for her to sleep on as Lilly was on Sir Elias’s cot.

He pointed to it. “Why don’t you get comfortable.

I’ll stay in here with you and keep watch.

You have a knight outside patrolling, and he gets relieved in an hour with the next one.

We will keep watch while you two sleep.”

She got up went over and got settled, but then after staring at the tent roof, turned to him and said, “Could you come over and hold me?”

“Yes,” he said. Then he started to get up. “But it’s going to be close, both of us on that little cot. They aren’t really made for two.”

“I don’t mind close,” she said. “In fact, I’d like that very much.”

“You know Mia, anything you want or need, all you have to do is ask.”

“That’s really nice of you,” she said, as he settled in next to her and wrapped his arms around her enfolding him with his strength and his warmth. “This is really nice.” She smiled and closed her eyes. Her body started to relax as she got warm and soon, she was asleep.