Page 60 of Chivalry in the Meadow
She stumbled back to the party, across twigs and a rock which hurt her feet in the fancy slippers, disturbed by what had happened.
Sir Alaric stood speaking with Sir Elias near the fire pit, their heads bent together as they spoke and nodded.
She stood catching her breath, wondering whether to approach them.
And where is Lilly?
She’d been dancing with Sir Elias the last time Mia had a glimpse of her.
But Sir Alaric had noticed her immediately and was already walking over to her. “Lady Lilly, you are pale. What is wrong?”
Her wide eyes looked at him. “I think Sir Cedric… I, I think he’s not what he seems.”
Sir Alaric glanced back at Sir Elias, who’d now followed him over.
They exchanged a look.
“Step over here with me and we shall speak of this,” Sir Alaric said.
He moved her to a less crowded area, so their conversation could be more private, and Sir Elias joined them.
“Old magic,” Sir Alaric said. “It doesn’t work on everyone. Those with the Sight can see past the glamour.”
“I don’t have the Sight,” Mia said. “That was my grandmother. I’m just… seeing shimmering in the air.”
“You saw through him,” Sir Alaric said gently. “That means you do.”
Sir Elias nodded. “We’ve suspected for days. He’s using something.”
“This place,” she said. “I see shimmers, but that’s all. I don’t really see anything like people or animals, just the air shimmering with something. With colors. But tonight, Sir Cedric had a shimmer. As if he was there and then suddenly not there and then there again. I had to come back here, away from him.”
Sir Alaric nodded.
“Stay with Sir Alaric,” Sir Elias told her. “I’m going to go get Lady Lilly.”
“Where did she go?” Mia wrinkled her forehead, now worried about her friend.
“Just to the porta potties and there was a line, so I didn’t leave her alone,” Sir Alias said. “She insisted I come back and watch for you. She’ll be relieved to see you.”
“I needed to step away for some quiet,” Mia said.
“Alone in the dark isn’t a good idea here,” Sir Alaric said.
Once Sir Elias stepped away, Mia looked around at the costumes and masks.
Sir Alaric turned to watch the crowd with her.
“I think he followed me there,” she said.
“Very likely,” Sir Alaric said.
“I kissed him,” Mia blurted out. “He seemed real, and then, he didn’t. It no longer felt like kissing him.”
Sir Alaric didn’t look at her but continued watching the crowd. “I know.” He said it softly with no jealousy, as if he already forgave her for kissing his rival.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” she said.
He turned to look at her, his dark eyes now soft with a look of kindness as if he understood, and he was listening.
