Page 86 of The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly

“Welcome to the Round Table,” says Jett. “Take a seat. We’ll start soon.”

“Start what?” I ask.

“You’ll see,” he says. He takes his laptop out of his bag along with some wires and cameras and other technical-looking things.

I sit down in the closest seat and Chris plops in a chair across the table from me, typing something on his phone.

“Seriously, Chris. What’s going on?” I ask. “And I swear if you answer with a Gandalf quote, we’re not related anymore.”

Before he can say anything, Layla and Alex walk into the room. I give them a little wave. Layla smiles at me—which warms my heart to its lonely, feeling-abandoned-by-my-friends core. Alex just quirks an eyebrow, taking in the room, the screen, Jett fiddling with the tech stuff, Chris, and me.

“What’s going on here?” asks Alex, their voice suspicious. “I got a text from Jett that there was something important happening and I had to be here early.”

“It is important,” Jett calls out. “Have a seat at the Round Table. You’ll see when the others get here.”

“Round Table?” Alex grumbles and rolls their eyes.

“What’s going on?” Layla asks, sliding into the seat next to me.

“I have no idea,” I say. “They basically kidnapped me to get me here.”

“I’m sorry not to have texted you back,” says Layla. “I just needed some time to think. And then Maura and I went out last night.” She giggles as she says it, and I smile at her.

“I missed you. And I’m sorry. Like really, really sorry.”

“I missed you too,” she says. “And I’ve got LOTS to tell you all about what happened with Maura.”

Across the table, Alex rolls their eyes. “You two have been mad at each other for like a day.”

“Two days,” I correct them. “A very long two days. Are you still mad too?”

In answer, Alex crosses their arms and looks away.

Okay, then.

A moment later, Mags, Lizzy, and Penny walk into the room, talking together. Mags looks like a punk rock mermaid with her hair striped dark blue, purple, teal, and green.

“What’s up?” Penny asks, holding up her phone. “Chris has been blowing up my phone all day.”

“Everyone, sit, please,” says Jett. “Take a seat at the Round Table, where all are equal, and give me ten minutes of your time.”

Mags makes an irritated noise, but she sits next to Alex. She doesn’t look at me, though Lizzy gives me a small smile.

Jett continues: “Not long ago, I started making what might be the greatest documentary of my career. It started with a video of Kit fighting as the Red Knight, recorded on my phone during what I thought was an ordinary shift at the Castle. But as I worked with you all, it became about so much more than Kit, or her quest for knighthood, or all your hard work in training. It’s almost done, and what’s emerged is a portrait of friendship and fierceness that go beyond these walls. I’ve gathered you here to show you what magic you make together. And hopefully to convince you all to fight tonight, so I can finish the film and Kit can finish her plan. And we can all change things here.”

Sweet, wonderful, thoughtful, miraculous Jett. I smile at him, resisting every urge to jump up and kiss my thanks. He winks at me, sending my heart ping-ponging in my chest.

“I’ve got to be on the floor in fifteen minutes,” says Penny, irritably.

“And I’ve got to be taking guest pictures by then for the first show,” adds Alex.

“Give me eight minutes,” says Jett. “You won’t regret it.”

“Fine,” says Alex. “You have eight minutes.”

Jett walks back to the projector, squeezing my shoulder as he passes. Layla pokes me in the ribs once he’s past, raising an eyebrow.

“Later,” I whisper. She grins.