“Great party.”
“We’ll leave as soon as Tristan is done.” Jane slowed her pace and kept searching the crowd.
“You should have told me about all of this before tonight.”
“I didn’t know I was still Cinderella or Snow White, let alone both of them, but we have more important things 376/431
to worry about right now. Tristan has to face the Black Knight.”
We made it through the front door of the castle, then followed what was left of the crowd across the grounds.
The bonfire I’d seen earlier still glowed but it had been deserted by the peasants for better entertainment.
We passed through the castle gates. Torches cast their light over the crowd and shone on the form of the Black Knight. He sat atop his horse like a dark statue, with peasants and nobles alike making a large circle around the two combatants.
Tristan stood with his back to me, and after another moment my eyes found Hunter standing just at the edge of the crowd as well. King Roderick stood closest to the castle gate, as though he wanted to make sure his path was clear in case he needed to run from the knight. The castle guards surrounded the king, each one with his sword drawn. I didn’t see the royal children at all and wondered if they didn’t dare venture out when the Black Knight was around.
I felt a twinge of worry for the knight. He probably didn’t know he wasn’t invincible anymore, that he was in danger here. I wished I’d told him.
I’d missed the first part of Tristan’s and the Black Knight’s speech because I’d been slow coming out, and I 377/431
stood on my tiptoes trying to see over the heads in front of me.
“You didn’t accept my challenge of a joust,” the Black Knight said, and his voice was as cold as the night air. “I see no reason why I should accept your challenge of a spear throw.”
“Then we are at a draw,” Tristan said. “I have promised Lady Savannah that I would not fight you with the sword or the lance. Chivalry prevents me from breaking my oath to her.”
The Black Knight lifted his head. I couldn’t tell where he was looking—it could have been at anyone in the crowd, but I felt like he was staring at me.
“Lady Savannah made you promise such?” he asked, and muffled though his voice was, I heard an edge creep into it. “You think highly of the lady?”
“I do,” Tristan said.
I backed several steps away, letting those behind me fill my spot. I wanted to shrink from the Black Knight’s gaze; I wanted to disappear into the veil of the night.
I hadn’t really made Tristan promise not to fight with the sword or lance and if the Black Knight asked me I wouldn’t be able to lie. What would happen then?
The Black Knight’s voice cut through the night toward me. “And she thinks just as highly of you?”
“Yes.”
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“A knight is lucky to have the affection of such a noble lady.”
“Yes,” Tristan said. “Do we have a contest or not?” The Black Knight’s helmet still looked out in my direction. I took two more steps backward, my heart pounding. I shouldn’t have come outside. I shouldn’t have let him see me.
Slowly, the knight said, “I think we can come to agreement about a contest—a contest of chivalry—and the same consequences would apply.” Tristan nodded. “Speak, and I will tell you whether I agree or not.”
The Black Knight leaned down toward Tristan and lowered his voice. I was too far away to hear what was said, and yet in the murmur of words I was sure I heard my name spoken.
Me? They were going to involve me in their fight? I clenched the sides of my dress, simultaneously wanting to flee and refusing to move.
Tristan yelled, “I accept!” and the crowd cheered and clapped.
Tristan turned in a circle, searching the faces around him. “Where is Lady Savannah?” he called.
At once everyone looked around them. The Black Knight raised a hand and pointed in my direction. One 379/431
by one people stepped out of the way, opening up a path for Tristan to find me.
“I didn’t hear what they said,” I called out, trying to find Jane’s face among all the rest. “What is the contest?”
No one answered me, although several people laughed. Everyone stared at me.
Tristan ran toward me, but there was no concern in his expression, only happiness, triumph. Was the contest already over? Had he won?
I looked over at the Black Knight, but he wasn’t moving, only calmly sitting on his horse, watching.
Once Tristan reached me he took hold of my arms and smiled at me breathlessly. I hadn’t seen him so happy since before we’d come to the Middle Ages. “Kiss me,” he said.
“What?” I tried to take a step back from him but he held onto me tightly.
“Just kiss me. Do it now.”
But I couldn’t. I would switch enchantments with him and be stuck in the Middle Ages forever. I shook my head.
Frustration filled his face. “Savannah, this is no time to be shy. The contest depends on it.”
“What?” I asked again.
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His grip tightened on my arms. “The Black Knight and I are having a contest to see who you will willingly kiss first. You have to kiss me or I’ll lose.” I could feel the crowd pressing around us, watching, waiting, and yet I stood there unable to move or speak.
His eyes didn’t leave mine and I couldn’t break his gaze. I watched disappointment seep into his eyes with every second that passed. “Savannah,” he said, and it was half question, half reprimand.
I whispered, “I’m sorry, I can’t. I—” Tristan dropped his hold on my arms. “You can’t?” and it wasn’t a whisper.
From on top of his horse the Black Knight laughed. All heads turned in his direction. All heads but mine. I looked at the ground and took shuddering breaths.
“She can’t,” the Black Knight called, “because she has already kissed me. On our first meeting, in fact; she begged me to kiss her. Ask her—I’ve given her truth potion and she cannot lie in my presence lest her tongue burn out of her mouth.”
I didn’t say anything, just felt my cheeks burning with shame. I wanted to explain but couldn’t. I couldn’t let an entire crowd know I’d taken a switching potion.
Tristan turned to me, his eyes blazing with anger.
“You kissed him? You asked him to kiss you?” 381/431
I raised my gaze to his and at once felt scorched by his expression. “It isn’t what you think.”
“What I think?” he asked. “You told me you needed more time after Hunter. You said you were through with fairy-tale romances. What I think is that you’re a liar.
Now did you kiss him or not?”
It hurt to do it, but I nodded.
Even after his speech, Tristan still took a step away from me as though I’d struck him. The crowd at once murmured, pressing toward us and throwing words of scorn in my direction.
“Hussy!”
“The way of such a woman is wickedness!”
“The downfall of he who held her dear!” I stepped toward Tristan, my hands out. My voice came out in broken spurts. “I’m sorry, but we’ll think of another way to defeat him.”
He shook his head. “Don’t you understand?”
“Tristan—”
I didn’t finish; the Black Knight spoke again. “And thus falls your most promising knight.” He held his sword out to the crowd and yelled, “All of you will like-wise fall if Prince Edmond does not accept my challenge soon. I tire of waiting. I give him a fortnight and no longer. Then I will return and you shall feel the wrath of the Black Knight.” He nudged his horse forward, and the 382/431
crowd parted before him. He called over his shoulder to King Roderick. “I leave it to the king to see that the consequences of Sir Tristan’s challenge are fulfilled. If his head isn’t posted outside the castle wall by tomorrow at nightfall I will consider it an act of war.”
“What?” I yelled and then screamed, “No!” I knew the Black Knight heard me. For a moment his head swung in my direction and he paused as he looked at me. I stepped toward him, half stumbling. “No!” I cried. “Have mercy!” But he spurred his horse on and rode toward the forest.