Page 69 of Chivalry in the Meadow
They finally sat on a cot, close together, listening and watching. Every so often Sir Elías would poke his head in the tent look around, nod and then pull his head back out. The two knights were covering both side of the tent, nothing was going to sneak past them.
The tent’s heavy canvas muffled the clamor outside, but not completely.
Shouts and the occasional metallic ring of steel still filtered through; reminders of how close danger had come.
Mia and Lilly sat side by side on the cot, skirts gathered in their laps, hearts still pounding. They didn’t speak any more, they only sat and listened. As if listening would keep them safer or let them know what was coming.
Exhaustion finally had Lilly resting on the cot and then she fell asleep.
I don’t know how she does that, Mia thought as she looked at her.There’s no way I’m going to be able to sleep.
But Lilly could sleep through the most stressful situations. It was as if that was her built in response to stress. Mia always knew when Lilly was upset because she would sleep and sleep and not want to do anything.
Hours later the other knights were back, and all were at Sir Elías’s tent either inside or outside guarding it. Lilly was awake now and watching silently from where she lay. She didn’t sit up.
Sir Cedric paced near the entrance flap, his white surcoat streaked with dirt and something darker. His hair was damp at the temples, his jaw tight.
“You should never have been alone,” he said, his gaze fixed on Mia, his words were meant for her alone. “It’s too dangerous now.”
Sir Alaric, leaning against the tent pole with his arms crossed, gave a sharp snort. “And whose fault is that? You knew they were getting bolder. You should have had a watch on them from the start.”
“They’re notyourresponsibility,” Sir Cedric shot back.
Sir Alaric’s dark eyes narrowed. “I made them mine when I saw the wizard’s creatures closing in.”
She stood up from the cot, the wordwizardlodging in Mia’s chest like a splinter.
“So, youdoknow what they are,” she said quietly. “What is a rateem?”
Both knights froze.
Lilly’s voice was sharper. “And you know who this wizard is.”
Sir Cedric’s gaze flicked to Sir Alaric, sending a silent warning to him. “Names won’t help you,” he said. “Staying alive will.”
Sir Alaric pushed away from the tent pole. “You don’t get to decide what they know.”
He turned to Mia. “The rateem creatures you saw serve someone who wants something from this festival. Something valuable enough to risk open hunting. You saw how they moved. They weren’t after anyone else.”
Sir Cedric stepped between them, his hand brushing Mia’s arm. Not quite possessive but claiming space. “Don’t listen to him. His shadowy half-truths will only get you killed.”
The flap opened and Sir Elias entered, his blue-and-silver tunic dusty, his expression tight. He stepped over to Lilly and knelt, his voice pitched low. “They’ve scattered for now, but this won’t be the last attempt. I’ll see to it you have guards tonight.”
From outside came the distant call of an owl. Low, resonant, unmistakable.
Mia’s skin prickled.
Sir Alaric’s head tilted toward the sound.
Finn, ducked into the tent. “I’ve packed up your stuff and brought it,” he said.
“Thanks, Finn,” Lilly said.
He placed each of their bags in front of them and stood in front of Mia. “Those things tore a lot of stuff up.” He shook his head then looked at Mia. “Sorry about your book. I don’t know why they did that. And your clothes are in bad shape.”
She unzipped her bag and lifted out her paperback which was in shreds. She held it up by her fingers. “Do they shred stuff to make nests? Because they didn’t take it with them.”
Lilly was sorting through her bag. “Only a few of my things got shredded,” she said.
