Page 68 of Chivalry in the Meadow
“And you’re usually not big on crowds,” Lilly said.
“Does Finn work here all week or just on weekends?” Mia asked.
“These are weekend events,” Lilly said. “During the week they can stay here and practice or make repairs to things, but they can also leave if they want. I’ll be a lot of them have two jobs. I ought to ask Elias what he does mid-week, and you should ask Sir Cedric.”
“Yes,” Mia said. “Good idea.”
The torchlight caught the first glint of eyes. Small, sharp, reflecting an eerie gold.
Then the creatures stepped into view. Half a dozen of them, dog-sized, hunched, their limbs elongated, their rat shaped faces grotesque. Short fur bristled along their bodies, their long, bare tails curling behind them.
The nearest hissed, showing teeth far too sharp for comfort.
“Pretty… soft… warm,” it crooned in a voice that rasped like dry leaves.
Mia and Lilly left up and backed away, almost tripping over their chairs, their skirts catching on the uneven ground.
One of the rat creatures darted forward—fast, impossibly so—closing the gap.
A blade flashed in the torchlight.
The creature screeched and stumbled back, black blood spattering the dirt.
Sir Alaric stepped into the narrow lane between tents, his sword already wet. “Run,” he ordered, his voice low but deadly serious.
From the other side, Sir Cedric appeared, white surcoat snapping in the wind, a dagger in one hand and a short sword in the other. “They’re not after your coin, ladies. Move! Now!”
The rat shifters regrouped, three of them circling to flank.
One hissed, “Wizard… wants…” before an arrow buried itself in its throat.
From the man at the archery range, who shouted, “They are hunting you. Go!”
Mia glanced up, hearing something. There, on the ridgepole of the ale tent, the great horned owl stood, wings mantled, golden eyes burning.
Its voice slid into her mind like a whisper from the dark:Do not let them take you. Trust the shadow, not the light.
Sir Cedric caught her arm, pulling her toward the square. “Don’t listen to it,” he said sharply, but there was a flicker of something, was it fear? In his eyes.
Behind them, Sir Alaric’s blade sang as he met the first charging rat creature head-on.
They ran toward Finn’s tent, not knowing where else to go. As they started to pass the knights tenting area, Sir Elias called out, “Over here!”
They ran toward him, and he lifted a tent flap up. “Quick! I’ll guard you.”
They ran inside. He let the tent flap fall, and they heard him call to Gareth.
Holding onto each other, with wide eyes, they both trembled.
“Lilly, I’m scared!” Mia said.
“What were those things?” Lilly said. “Like something out of a scary movie!”
“I don’t know but I want to go home,” Mia said. “Where it’s safe.”
“But Mia, those things are out there,” Lilly said. “We can’t go out there.”
Mia nodded.
