Page 46 of The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly

“This is my brother,” I hiss through gritted teeth. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Len yelling orders. A line of Pages carrying heraldic banners runs onto the field. They surround Chris, me, and the medics, blocking us from the crowd’s view.

The medics gently lift Chris onto a stretcher. I step back. Jett’s right behind me. For a moment, I lean into his chest. Grateful for his presence and his solidness. We follow the medics out of the arena.

Len’s voice comes over the loudspeaker once we clear the doors: “Just a little spill, folks. Let the show go on!”

Let the show go on?

As I climb into the back of the ambulance with Chris, I’m seriously tempted to run back into the Castle and murder Len. So much for his protective paternal feelings.

21

PENNY, LAYLA, ALEX, MAGS, AND AUSTIN ARRIVE AT ST. Thomas Hospital as soon as their shifts end. Jett followed the ambulance here, and now he sits in one of the waiting room chairs. His left leg bounces and he keeps looking between his phone and me, like he’s unsure how to best help. A few of the other Squires and Wenches cluster at one end of the waiting room, pouring coffee and getting stuff from the vending machines. Len sent a sympathetic text but said he can’t make it over until later. Chris’s ex, Princess Jessica, wipes tears from her eyes and gives me a small wave. I shoot her a poisonous look. Everyone’s still in their Castle uniforms, and a middle-aged couple keeps glancing at us curiously.

As we all gather, I’m reminded of the fact that sick people in the Middle Ages flocked to saints’ shrines, like St. Thomas Becket’s in the Canterbury Cathedral. Although we’re in a hospital named after that saint, I’m incredibly grateful we’re not living in the age of medieval medicine, with its focus on the humors, examining urine for answers to everything, and its barber surgeons who—

“Kit,” says Layla, planting herself in the middle of the track I’ve been pacing through the waiting room and pulling me into a hug. I sink into her, letting all the anxiety and fear for Chris that’s been building up in me lighten for just a moment.

“Any word yet?” Worry makes deep lines in her face. “Is he okay?”

My voice is shaky when I reply. “He’s still in surgery. The doctor said he broke at least two ribs, fractured his arm, and needs stitches on his head.”

“Where’s your mom?” Penny asks, sizing up the waiting room. She adds her arms to Layla’s, holding me up. I take a deep breath.

“She hasn’t returned my calls yet, so her phone must be off. I could call the diner—”

“Or I could go pick her up,” Jett replies, standing up quickly. He sounds relieved to be doing something to help. “I have to get home soon to relieve the sitter, but I can drop your mom off first.”

I nod, wiping my leaking eyes on the Castle napkin I find in my pocket. “Tell her it’s urgent.”

I’m hoping it’s not urgent, and that Chris will be back to his old self any moment now, but my mom should be here.

“Be back soon,” says Jett, giving me a small, sad smile as he leaves.

I follow Layla to a row of chairs and sink down next to her. Alex, Penny, and Mags sit beside us.

“You hanging in there, Girl Knight?” Alex asks. “Anything we can do to help?”

They hand me a cup of coffee, which I accept with a grateful smile.

“You’re doing enough by being here, thank you all.”

“He’s going to be okay,” says Penny. She squeezes my knee. “He’s a tough old thing. Did he ever tell you about that time we tried snowboarding in Colorado?”

She then launches into a hilarious story about her, Chris, and some other friends failing miserably at snowboarding during the spring break trip they took a few years ago. I’ve heard it before, but I hang on her every word. Loving the picture of Chris she paints and deeply appreciating the distraction.

After the story is over, Penny gets up. “I’m going to go change clothes and find a sandwich or something, but text me if you get any more news.”

Alex and Mags go with her, promising to bring us back provisions.

Layla raises her eyebrows once we’re alone again. “So did something happen between you and Jett? Something you’ve not told me about? Because it’s super weird between the two of you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. He’s just worried for Chris.”

“Are you sure there’s no secret date plans?” She pokes me lightly and I have to smile. In the midst of all this stress, this is exactly the lightness I need.

“Well, we were going to go for pancakes before all this, so that’s pretty exciting.”