Page 71 of Chivalry in the Meadow
“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 andclosed her eyes. Her body started to relax as she got warm and soon, she was asleep.
Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
“Breakfast is served,” Alaric called as he carried in their food.
Lilly and Mia both woke up. Lilly sat up immediately and Mia rubbed her eyes.
Sir Elias had taken his place inside the tent watching over the women and he stood. Pulling a trunk over between the cots he said, “This will do I think.”
He told Lilly, “I’ll escort you to the porta potty and back, once you’re ready.”
“Yes,” Lilly stuck her shoes on quickly. “More than ready.”
Sir Elias laughed. “Thought you might be.” He opened the tent flap for her. “Did you sleep well?”
