Fatal Fairies (Renaissance Faire Mystery Book 8) (13 page)

“That’s it,” Canyon said. “Let’s do this.”

“And to the victor goes the Lady Jessie’s heart.” King Harold toasted me with his large beer stein. “
Huzzah!
”

The two men started fighting, their blades clashing and echoing in the hall.

No way was I going home with Canyon even if he won the battle—which seemed doubtful to me. I wasn’t chattel and couldn’t be won with a duel. I was staying with Chase unless someone pried me away from him.

They fought up and down the hall, across the colorful rugs and in front of good copies of historic works of art. Chase lost his footing on the tile once but regained it before Canyon could finish him. Canyon dropped his sword, but Chase stepped back and allowed him to regain it.

“The two are well-matched,” a visitor said from behind me. “I’ll wager on the one in red armor.”

A female voice disagreed. “My money is on the other man. He’s gorgeous.”

I didn’t look behind me, hoping the duel would be over soon. I watched Canyon. He was good on his feet, and his reach was almost as long as Chase’s. But it was easy to see that Chase had more experience with a sword.

The dents and scratches on the armor that Canyon wore bothered me. I didn’t like the idea that someone I’d chosen to hire for the Village could have murdered Apple Blossom. Maybe this wasn’t the same place, but it could also mean that the fairy murdered in my Village had also been killed by him.

Of course a few dents and scratches didn’t mean Canyon was the killer either. It was a costly indulgence for men who had full armor. Most of them took good care of it, but knowing the condition of his apartment in the Dungeon, I would have said he wasn’t careful with anything. Chase’s place, when he’d lived alone, had never looked that way.

Canyon threw his helm to the side. He was sweating in the full armor that also impeded his movements. In comparison, Chase was fast to recover from the thrust and parry of the swords.

The event ended when Canyon lost his balance and fell, face first on the floor. The weight of his armor kept him from being able to flip over and get at Chase. Chase kicked Canyon’s sword out of the way and declared his victory with his boot in the middle of the other man’s back.

Members of the court, visitors, and staff politely applauded. There were a few
Huzzahs!
followed by a couple of fist bumps. Then everyone began to drift away, back to doing whatever they’d been doing.

To my surprise, Sir Reginald remained with his thin lips pursed and his proud head held high. I understood why a moment later when Gus pushed open the big door to the inner sanctum of the castle—with Detective Almond and two officers behind him.

“The Bailiff?” Detective Almond’s voice echoed in the big hall.

“Yes, Detective,” Sir Reginald said. “This is the man you’re looking for.”

Canyon was confused. “Is it illegal now for a man to try to win back his girlfriend? Shouldn’t there be some kind of Village justice for that instead of calling the police? I don’t even know this place anymore.”

He stared at me like a wounded animal, and I felt guilty. I stepped forward and asked what was going on.

“We’re detaining the Bailiff,” Detective Almond said. “This place is so weird. I guess you don’t even remember what that means.”

“I think she meant why are you taking him in,” Chase clarified.

“Simple. We’re questioning Mr. Britt for the murder of Apple Blossom the fairy.” Detective Almond rolled his eyes. “Only here would I have to say that.”

The two officers took Canyon’s armor and sword for evidence. They led him toward the castle gate.

He screamed my name. “I love you, Jessie. I know I’ve never said it before, but it’s true. You have to wait for me. I’ll be out of prison in twenty years or so. We can be together then.”

The guilt weighed on me even more. I wanted to yell back that he didn’t even know me. He couldn’t be in love with me. And I wasn’t supposed to be with him. It was stupid for him to think that he loved me.

“Are you okay?” Chase asked me.

“I’m fine.” I wrapped my arms across my chest. “I don’t know what he’s talking about. We’ve never talked about being in love or having a relationship.”

“A man says desperate things when he knows his time has come.” Sir Reginald rendered his cryptic opinion of the situation before he turned his back and started to his chamber.

“You brought them here,” I accused him. “Why did you call the police?”

 “The good detective asked me to keep an eye out for red and black armor that had been ill-used,” he called back. “I’d say the Bailiff’s armor qualified, wouldn’t you?”

“Do you really think he killed the fairy?” Chase asked him.

“I neither know nor care,” he responded in a flat voice. “Good night to you, sir.”

“He gets me.” Chase steamed when we were alone. “I’m not a fan of Canyon’s either, but Sir Reginald has his regal head up his butt!”

“Detective Almond didn’t arrest him just because Sir Reginald called,” I reminded him. “It wasn’t just the armor either. Canyon fits the description, like you did.”

“I saw the marks on his armor,” he admitted. “Maybe he had something to do with the murder. I don’t know.”

“Talk about a mood dampener.” I laughed trying to break the tension. “I’m sorry your beautiful dinner was spoiled.”

“Yeah. Me too.” He nodded toward me. “Your pretty dress too.”

We needed to be diverted from what happened. “I guess we’ll have to raid the kitchen.”

“Can you do that?”

“You’ve never raided the kitchen, and you live in the castle?” I took his hand. “Trust me. Everyone who lives here raids the kitchen at one time or another. Let’s go.”

It wasn’t the romantic dinner I’d been hoping for, but at least we were together—with five other people raiding the huge commercial kitchen.

One of the queen’s ladies-in-waiting was chomping on a pork chop held delicately in a cloth napkin. She was speaking with a squire I didn’t recognize.

“I knew it as soon as I saw that armor,” she said. “I read the newspaper. It said the fairy kicked at a big man wearing armor. That’s why it was so beaten up.”

“He didn’t even think about cleaning it and taking out the dings before the challenge. It looked a great deal like the suit of armor I threw away for my master yesterday.” The squire shook his head. “He would never have worn it for a duel. The oaf probably found it in the trash.”

Chase and I grabbed some snacks from one of the refrigerators. There were several Cornish hens and some apples. He put a whole small hen on his plate. I took an apple and some cheese.

We sat outside the kitchen in the dimly lit hall. A throng of people who’d been there for the duel must have suddenly realized that they were hungry. Everyone was talking about the duel and Canyon’s arrest between gulps of soda and ale, not to mention mouthfuls of elaborate dessert leftovers and pizza slices.

A few of the knights congratulated Chase on his win.

“But with the Bailiff gone,” one man said. “Who will take care of the Village? The police only come out for the big stuff.”

“They’ll find somebody.” His friend punched him in the arm. “Let us away forsooth with worry by quaffing large swigs of ale!”

They laughed and disappeared into the crowded kitchen.

“That’s a good question,” I said when I had the opportunity. “The Bailiff takes care of so many things that happen every day. They’re going to need someone right away.”

Chase shrugged, not getting the hint. “I imagine Roger will take over again. Canyon hasn’t been Bailiff that long. Roger will be happy to do it. He didn’t want to give it up in the first place.”

I knew that was true. I’d kind of hoped Chase would step up before anyone had a chance to talk to Roger. I decided to be blunter. “Why don’t you do it?”

 “What?” He stared at me like I was crazy. “I don’t want to be Bailiff. That’s a 24/7 job, Jessie. I don’t want that kind of responsibility. We talked about this before.”

Sighing, I finished my apple and cheese. Chase got us each a glass of wine. We talked comfortably, as old friends do, about what was happening in the Village—minus the murder. I wasn’t ready for the evening to be over when we stood to take our plates back into the kitchen.

Two more hungry castle residents came toward us. I wasn’t even sure how it happened. One minute I was standing there holding my plate. The next my plate was on the floor. I was beginning to be aware of how magic felt. Starshine had arranged this because of what I’d told her had happened in the other Village.

“Allow me.” Chase was already getting the plate off the floor.

I understood—she was trying to recreate the moment we’d both thought we’d fallen in love. But it didn’t have the same feeling this time. It was forced and disjointed. Maybe it was because I was already in love with Chase. Maybe it was because Chase had refused to be the next Bailiff. He’d already been the Bailiff when that magic moment had occurred before.

Whatever it was, I waited awkwardly until he handed me my plate. We went into the kitchen and dropped off the plates and cups. It was as though we’d become uncomfortable with each other instead of falling in love.

“I’ll walk you back to your room,” he offered. “I wish things had gone differently tonight.”

“Yeah. Who knew you were going to have to duel for your supper?” I laughed, trying to get past this weird place we were in. “Do you think the armor Canyon was wearing belonged to someone that had thrown it away?”

“It’s possible. Usually squires know their knight’s armor better than the knights themselves.”

We’d reached his room that he was letting me have for the night. I didn’t have any other tricks up my sleeve. I couldn’t think how else to engage his interest. I felt lost and alone.

“Would you like to come in for a nightcap from your minibar?”

He smiled at me. “Thanks anyway. I think I should go have a talk with Isabelle. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Chase left. I closed the door to his suite behind me. It seemed as though I’d struck out on both counts. He didn’t want to be Bailiff, and he was going to make up with Isabelle. I just needed to go to sleep and hope things would be better tomorrow.

“You probably just need a nice glass of warm, mulled wine,” Starshine suggested. “That will fix you right up for a good night in that beautiful bed.”

“Maybe. I know want to call the kitchen for it at this time of night. I always hated when guests did that when I worked here.”

“Perhaps you should make that a wish.”

“Okay.” It seemed stupid, but what the heck? “I wish for some warm, mulled wine.”

The words were barely out of my mouth when there was a knock at the door. She giggled as I went to answer it. Magic was definitely in the air.

It was Chase, holding of all things, two mugs of mulled wine.

“I was thinking about it.” He smiled. “I’d rather have a drink and talk to you than see Isabelle tonight. Is that invitation still open?”

Chapter Fourteen

Dazed, I blinked.

But I wasn’t at the door welcoming the love of my life into his rooms.

Instead, I was in his big, beautiful bed. And Chase was sleeping, naked, beside me.

I jumped up, caught my foot in one of the blankets, and fell on the floor. I was naked too! I tried to make a graceful exit and tripped over my pretty dress from last night.

Oh my gosh!

It was either magic or the worst mulled wine ever. I couldn’t remember a thing since seeing Chase with the mugs of wine at the door. I knew it was morning because Carolina sunshine was spilling through the mullioned windows.

“What did you do?” I whispered to my fairy godmother. “You can’t just magic these things. A dress, sure. Or a situation, maybe. But not this one. He’s going to feel trapped and angry. He’ll think I’m as devious and underhanded as Isabelle. This will never work.”

“Good morning, Jessie.” Chase was smiling as he stared down at me. “What are you doing down there? Come back to bed.”

Wait. What?

Maybe it had worked. Maybe it was okay. After all, I loved him in this life and the other one. Maybe he loved me too. I knew Chase never had random flings with women in the Village. I always thought it was because he knew people trusted him as Bailiff. But maybe it was more— an intrinsic part of his personality.

“Good morning.” I smiled as tentatively as a new bride on her wedding night. “I-uh-forgot the bed was so high. That first step was a doozy.”

I pushed myself to laugh and snorted. That sobered me. I reached for my wrinkled gown, pulling it up against my bare body.

“It’s not even eight,” he said. “We have plenty of time. Shall we order breakfast in bed?”

After wanting this so badly, it was suddenly moving too fast for me. I ran into the bathroom and closed the door like the hounds of hell were after me.

Now what?

“What are you doing, dear?” Starshine appeared, wrinkles between her tiny brows as she stared at me. “You’re going to undo all the good you’ve done. Get back in there and woo that man.”

“I think the wooing is over.” I paced the warm tile floor. “I didn’t know this would happen. Not like this anyway. What was in that wine?”

She giggled. “Just a sprinkling of pixie dust.”

“I thought that made you fly?”

“Pixie dust can help you do whatever is in your heart, Jessie. If it wouldn’t have been in Chase’s heart to stay with you last night, it wouldn’t have happened.”

He knocked on the door. “That’s a big bathtub. There’s room for two.”

Starshine smiled. “I assume you can handle it from here. It’s not your first rodeo with this show pony.” And she vanished.

“Jessie? Are you okay?” he asked.

She was right, my addled brain told me. This was Chase. My husband, and hopefully someday, the father of my children. I knew him. He knew me. This was absolutely right.

I opened the bathroom door and assumed the pose, leaning against the doorframe with my hand on my hip—the provocative pose he’d missed yesterday.

“I’m fine. Just making sure the water is hot.”

* * *