Page 65 of Chivalry in the Meadow
“Drunk and wandered off?” someone offered weakly.
“Her bag was still in her tent,” Finn said. “Phone too.”
Mia’s fingers tightened on her mug. A strange chill ran down her spine.
A few of the knights stood nearby in hushed conversation, Sir Cedric among them, speaking low to Sir Gareth and Sir Thorne.
Sir Cedric looked up mid-sentence and caught Mia watching. He gave her a slight, knowing smile.
It didn’t reach his eyes.
***
“Let’s go and watch the jousting warmups,” Lilly said. “Sir Elias told me when they’ll be practicing.”
“That sounds like fun,” Mia said.
She and Lilly walked toward the practice field.
Lilly paused and put her hand on Mia’s arm before they walked near enough to attract attention. “Mia, wait. It looks like they are fighting for real. Maybe we shouldn’t go over there.”
Sir Cedric and Sir Alaric were squared off in a verbal spar.
Their horses pawed at the dirt as if sensing the tension.
Sir Alaric scowled, making his dark features even darker. “You always did think you deserved more. Even the girl, now?”
Sir Cedric’s smile sharpened, less charming and more deadly. “You’re just upset she doesn’t look at you like that.”
Mia watched from the sidelines, heart pounding. Were they talking about her? Fighting over her? “These aren’t rehearsed lines,” she murmured. “This isreal.”
Sir Alaric threw the first punch, and it hit hard.
Several knights rushed to pull them apart and it was only then that he saw her. He stood still, the darkness in his eyes softer when they lit on her.
Sir Cedric’s lip was bloodied, and he turned to look at her.
She could see that his pride was hurt as well. But she felt only a cold chill. Because when Sir Cedric met her gaze …his eyes shimmered again.
Just for a second. But that second was long enough.
There was something very off about Sir Cedric and she needed to keep her distance from whatever it was that he was or had. It felt dangerous.
“Lilly,” she whispered. “Let’s go.”
The went back quietly and then headed for the tavern.
Mia now wanted to be among people.
As they sat at the tavern after placing their order, Mia said, “Sir Cedric is dangerous. I don’t want to be alone with him.”
“What did he do?” Lilly squeezed her hand. “Are you okay?”
“He hasn’t done anything yet,” Mia said. “But I’m afraid of what he might do. There’s something wrong with him.”
“Okay,” Lilly said. “Twin time activated.”
Mia gave her a small smile, hearing the old code they’d used when they were teens which meant no one went anywhere without the other. It was how they kept each other safe from mean girls and boys with bad intentions.
