Page 9 of Chivalry in the Meadow (Hope Runs Deep #2)

“I’ll try a bit of each.” Mia pulled off a piece of fish and popped it in her mouth.

Lilly munched on a fried wedge of potato, after dipping it in ketchup.

“The fish is good,” Mia said.

Lilly held out her bowl to offer more, and Mia tried a potato wedge without ketchup next.

“Did you discover anything while I was gone?” Lilly asked. “Sorry I took so long.”

“I was enjoying the fountain when Sir Cedric surprised me,” Mia said, blushing.

Lilly’s jaw dropped. “Really? The minute I step away.”

“Really.” Mia said, smiling.

“Well, what did he say?” Lilly’s eyes lit with excitement. “And how did he surprise you?”

“He came up behind me. Maybe he followed us,” Mia said.

“And what did he say?” Lilly asked again.

“He called me fair Lady of Flame.”

“I leave you for five seconds.” Lilly shook her head. “And a handsome knight finds you.”

Mia smiled. “It seems so.”

“Five seconds.” Lilly threw her hands up. “And he’s already nicknamed you”

Mia giggled.

“He said my hair was like coals before they spark, or a sunset that refuses to end.”

Lilly lifted the ends of Mia’s hair. “You do have glorious hair. He’s not wrong.”

Mia tipped her head, looking down at the wavy red tresses.

“I keep telling you that,” Lilly said. “Now maybe you’ll believe me.”

“He said something about our eyes meeting, and that the best things begin in mystery.”

“Your eyes did meet,” Lilly said with a nod. “I saw it.”

Mia smiled and ate another chip.

They began walking away from the public areas, strolling slow as they nibbled.

“Did you see any knights?” Mia asked.

“No,” Lilly said. “But I was told there’s a knight’s circle, where they hang out at night.”

“Where?” Mia asked.

“I don’t know,” Lilly said. “Did you see any other knights?”

“No,” Mia said. “But I think they’re all tall. Sir Cedric must be over six foot.”

“More?” Lilly asked, holding the paper bowl of food out.

“No thanks.” Mia shook her head. “I’m full.”

Lilly finished her food as they walked around seeing how evening at a Ren Faire looked.

They bought cups of hot apple cider before looking for the knight’s circle.

Night fell soft over the encampment, the air warm for spring and edged with the cool scent of cut grass and woodsmoke. Torches lined the paths between the tents, their flames wavering in the light breeze.

Then they saw it. The knight’s circle.

A great fire crackled in the center, sparks spiraling into the dark. Four of the knights were gathered around it. No armor now, only tunics with hose or pants, and the easy or wary postures of men stripped of the tournament’s ceremonial parade garb.

Mia and Lilly approached with their apple cider, the firelight painting everything near it with golden light, which lit upon their faces as they neared.

Sir Cedric spotted them first. “Ah, the fairest ladies of the lists,” he said, rising with a theatrical bow. His white and gold doublet glowed in the fire’s warmth as he gestured toward a pair of empty seats beside him. “You honor us with your presence.”

Before Mia could answer, Sir Alaric’s voice came from the shadows beyond the firelight. “Careful, Sir Cedric. A lady’s honor isn’t yours to bestow.” He stepped into the glow, away from the darkness he had blended in with.

His voice reached Mia before she saw him.

Something about his voice reached something inside of her on a very deep level.

She hadn’t heard him speak before now and was surprised at how hearing his voice affected her.

His eyes found Mia’s, holding her gaze until her pulse skipped.

He took a seat opposite them, thus making it five knights around the fire. Sir Thorne was the only one missing.

Lilly settled beside Sir Elias, who offered her a quiet smile, nothing like Sir Cedric’s showmanship. “Welcome, milady,” he said.

Sir Cedric made a big show of holding the chair for Mia as she sat.

What a handsome gentleman , she thought, as she looked up at him. “Thank you,” she said with a smile.

“You’re most welcome.” He smiled back at her, which made him even more handsome.

I doubt he could take a bad picture , Mia thought. He really could be on a book cover.

Lilly had turned to Sir Elias and was smiling at him. “We were just wondering where you keep your handsome horses?” she asked.

“There’s a barn,” he said. “You’d see it in the daylight. But not in the dark.”

Mia had been listening. Then she turned to Sir Cedric and asked, “Do you take care of your horses, or does someone else take care of them?”

“I have a squire for such things,” he said. “I give Aethon a good workout when we practice and then hand him off to my squire.”

“Some of us care for our own horses,” Sir Elias said to Lilly. “Even if we have a squire.”

“Aethon is your horse’s name?” Mia asked Sir Cedric.

“Yes,” He nodded. “My stallion is named after one of the four horses which the Greek God Apollo used to pull the sun across the sky. A strong and powerful steed.”

“He is well named,” Mia said before taking another sip of cider.

“Of course,” Sir Cedric said, clearly proud.

Mia could see why, as all the horses were amazing.

“I’ve never seen such big horses,” she said. “Aethon is white, is he hard to keep clean?”

Sir Cedric shrugged. “My squire handles that.” He took a drink from his large mug, which was also white. It seemed everything he had was white. Like an angel.

“Will I see your squire at the tournament tomorrow?” Mia asked, trying to think of something to say.

“Yes, of course,” he said. “He must hand me my lance, and anything else I need.”

“I didn’t see any squires in the parade,” Mia said.

“Squires do not ride publicly,” he said, his tone now arrogant. “Only knights ride in the parade,”

“Mia,” Lilly stood. “It’s time we turned in. Are you ready to go?”

“Yes.” Mia drank the last of her cider and stood.

Sir Cedric stood as well, and Mia realized all the knights had stood. These gentlemanly ways were something she wasn’t used to.

“Will you be attending the joust tomorrow?” Sir Cedric asked.

“Yes,” they both answered.

“Excellent,” he said. “I expect to be victorious again. No man can best me.” He leaned toward Mia. “Especially when I have such a lovely lady cheering me on.”

Mia blushed.

He reached for her hand, and taking it, bent to kiss the back.

She caught her breath.

His lips were warm upon her hand, and she suddenly felt warm all over.

As he raised again to stand, he whipped out a red rose from behind his back and presented it to her. “A beautiful rose for a beautiful lady.”

“Oh!” she let out her breath in a rush, “Thank you!”

“Quite welcome. Until tomorrow, my sweet,” he said and then sent her a dazzling smile.

My sweet, he called me his sweet. Oh, how romantic.

“Ladies, remember to bring your favors to the tourney,” Sir Elias said.

“Favors?” Mia asked, still dazzled by the romantic overture by Sir Cedric.

“I’ll explain it to you later,” Lilly said. She addressed the group. “Good night, all.”

Five of the knights bowed.

“Fare thee well, ladies,” Sir Elias said.

Lilly’s face lit and she waved. As they turned to walk back to Finn’s tent, she said, “I wonder where Sir Throne was? All the knights except him were there.”

“I haven’t seen him since the parade,” Mia said. In truth, she didn’t want to. Something about him scared her. She looked down at the red rose she was carrying.

“That was so romantic,” Lilly said. “Him giving you a rose.”

“It was,” Mia agreed. She was floating on such a high from the romantic gesture that she barely felt her feet touch the ground. They were at the tent before she knew it.

A lantern inside flickered.

Mia pushed up the flap of the tent for them to go in and stopped short.

They both froze.

What in the world? Mia’s eyes widened in shock at the sight.