Then they saw it. The knight’s circle.
A great fire crackled in the center, sparks spiraling into the dark. Four of the knights were gathered around it. No armor now, only tunics with hose or pants, and the easy or wary postures of men stripped of the tournament’s ceremonial parade garb.
Mia and Lilly approached with their apple cider, the firelight painting everything near it with golden light, which lit upon their faces as they neared.
Sir Cedric spotted them first. “Ah, the fairest ladies of the lists,” he said, rising with a theatrical bow. His white and gold doublet glowed in the fire’s warmth as he gestured toward a pair of empty seats beside him. “You honor us with your presence.”
Before Mia could answer, Sir Alaric’s voice came from the shadows beyond the firelight. “Careful, Sir Cedric. A lady’s honor isn’t yours to bestow.” He stepped into the glow, away from the darkness he had blended in with.
His voice reached Mia before she saw him.
Something about his voice reached something inside of her on a very deep level.
She hadn’t heard him speak before now and was surprised at how hearing his voice affected her.
His eyes found Mia’s, holding her gaze until her pulse skipped.
He took a seat opposite them, thus making it five knights around the fire. Sir Thorne was the only one missing.
Lilly settled beside Sir Elias, who offered her a quiet smile, nothing like Sir Cedric’s showmanship. “Welcome, milady,” he said.
Sir Cedric made a big show of holding the chair for Mia as she sat.
What a handsome gentleman, she thought, as she looked up at him. “Thank you,” she said with a smile.
“You’re most welcome.” He smiled back at her, which made him even more handsome.
I doubt he could take a bad picture, Mia thought.He really could be on a book cover.
Lilly had turned to Sir Elias and was smiling at him. “We were just wondering where you keep your handsome horses?” she asked.
“There’s a barn,” he said. “You’d see it in the daylight. But not in the dark.”
Mia had been listening. Then she turned to Sir Cedric and asked, “Do you take care of your horses, or does someone else take care of them?”
“I have a squire for such things,” he said. “I give Aethon a good workout when we practice and then hand him off to my squire.”
“Some of us care for our own horses,” Sir Elias said to Lilly. “Even if we have a squire.”
“Aethon is your horse’s name?” Mia asked Sir Cedric.
“Yes,” He nodded. “My stallion is named after one of the four horses which the Greek God Apollo used to pull the sun across the sky. A strong and powerful steed.”
“He is well named,” Mia said before taking another sip of cider.
“Of course,” Sir Cedric said, clearly proud.
Mia could see why, as all the horses were amazing.
“I’ve never seen such big horses,” she said. “Aethon is white, is he hard to keep clean?”
Sir Cedric shrugged. “My squire handles that.” He took a drink from his large mug, which was also white. It seemed everything he had was white. Like an angel.
“Will I see your squire at the tournament tomorrow?” Mia asked, trying to think of something to say.
“Yes, of course,” he said. “He must hand me my lance, and anything else I need.”
“I didn’t see any squires in the parade,” Mia said.
