Twisting the Pole (2 page)

She shook off the memory and focused on the smiling faces until the music ceased.

She curtsied to her partner and smiled. “Thank you, sir knight.”

He grinned. “It was an honour to escort you through the dance, Mistress. You are quite skilled.”

He offered her his hand, and they left the dancing area.

“You are one of the new knights?”

He nodded. “Sir Salk Arthwait.”

She smiled. “Artisan Cora Metzger.”

“Pleased to meet you, lady. Are you staying for the festivities?”

She shook her head. “No. I am not a member of the local barony. It is for them and their people only.”

He scowled. “We are allowed to invite guests.”

Cora smiled. “I have made other plans already. It was pleasant to meet you, Sir Arthwait.”

He nodded. “You as well, Lady Cora.”

She left him and kept herself from looking back. She really wanted to, but it wasn’t a good idea to start something when her trip home was just a few days away.

* * * *

Clever. So, that was how the reindeer had hidden. They obeyed the laws of Christmas magic and kept it honest. The ladies were using names that were composed of their actual designations as reindeer.

Salk shook his head as he watched her go, her skirts swaying slightly as she made her way through the crowd. She moved with the grace of someone who grew up in clothing similar to what she was wearing now. She didn’t check her feet or tug at the skirt.

So, Comet had come to rest at a holiday Ren Faire. He smiled and moved away from the dancers and into the shadows.

He darkened his skin and moved away from the festivities. His were not the only eyes following Cora Metzger.

Salk slipped through the shadows, watching the man who was following Cora.

The man who was stalking the reindeer was wearing standard street clothing.

They walked out of the fenced-in area and past security. Cora waved cheerfully, and the man acted casual as he passed the on-duty guards a few moments later.

Salk slipped past them without them noticing him. Cora walked toward the campers that were lined up, and her stalker followed.

Salk watched and moved closer to the man who appeared to be up to no good.

When the youth pulled a blade, Salk grabbed him and held him by the throat. With his voice low in the shadows, he whispered every evil deed that the youth had committed, how punishment was meted out in the karmic universe and what he would face when the wheel of life ceased spinning.

The youth’s face was streaked with tears when Salk let him go. He crawled away from Salk and got to his feet to run back toward the parking lot.

Cora disappeared into a tiny house on wheels, and Salk listened for the latch, nodding when it clicked into place. With Cora safe inside, he walked back to the party and the welcoming feast for the new arrivals.

* * * *

Cora settled into her loft for the night. Her money was safely tucked away, and she was nearly done with the eBook that she had purchased the night before. After learning that the hero and heroine lived happily ever after on a space station, she turned off the glowing screen and snuggled in for a good night’s sleep.

She had casting to do in the morning.

Cora sat at her workbench and worked on the medallions for the knight ceremony. The barony had gotten several new knights in for the holiday faire. Many of the regulars wanted their time with family or weren’t able to get out of their regular work duties. Apparently, day jobs were the bane of the faires.

Today was Friday. Tonight, there would be a huge ceremony for the knights who were pitching in, and the baron and baroness would acknowledge their efforts to the barony.

The casting had been the work of an hour. Now, she was polishing and scraping manually, using an agate burnisher to bring out the glittering details.

It took her hours of Viv answering questions about the work, but eventually, she was able to look up from the final finished medallion.

She threaded it onto a chain before settling it onto a small velvet pillow in a hand-carved wooden box.

Cora stood and stretched, flexing her fingers as well as twisting her back.

Viv finished with a customer and smiled. “Did you want to go for a walk?”

Cora nodded. “Sure. I will take the medallions and deliver them to the baron.”

Viv chuckled. “I was thinking more of you going to get some lunch.”

Cora winked. “I will do that on the way back.”

“Good. I could go for a meat pie and lemonade.”

“I will see what I can do.” Cora gathered the medallions in a leather bag, and she left her shop to walk through the bustling pathways where holiday shoppers wanted gifts with a twist.

She greeted the familiar faces as she passed and waved to a few that were too far to speak to.

Over a dozen courtiers occupied the pavilion that housed the baron and baroness. Cora joined the line and waited her turn.

She had to admit, she could see the appeal in playing dress-up and enjoying modern hygiene with the prettiest parts of the past. It was far more fun than staying indoors.

When she got to the front of the line, she was announced.

“Artisan and silversmith, Mistress Cora.”

Cora curtsied and inclined her head.

“What do you have for us, Mistress Cora?” The baroness, Lily Hogarth, smiled brightly.

“I have brought the commission that you ordered for the knights. They are completed and ready for when you wish to disperse them.”

Baroness Hogarth smiled. “Excellent. May I see them?”

Cora stepped forward, and the baroness and her ladies oohed and ahhed over the designs on the medallions.

“You have outdone yourself. These are amazing.”

Cora smiled and watched the ladies as they tucked the boxes back into the bag.

“I hope that the knights enjoy them. Thank you for your patronage.” She had already been paid, so her link to the silver craft was complete.

“We are delighted to have such a talented artisan in our barony.”

She nodded again. “I will return to my shop now. My poor assistant is keeping up with the public demand. Have a bright day.”

She bowed and backed away until she was swallowed in the crowd, and then, she turned her back and walked out of the pavilion and back into the throng.

Cora headed to the meat-pie vendor and got Viv her fix. Viv was easier to work with if she was kept fed and watered at regular intervals.

As soon as she got back to the shop she handed Viv the warm pie and the tankard of lemonade. “Here you go.”

“So, how much did they love them?” Viv tucked into her meal while perched on a high stool.

Cora brushed the crumbs from her lips that were testament to her own hasty meal. “There was a lot of squealing.”

She settled some stone moulds on the edge of the small forge to warm.

Viv mumbled, “I can imagine. When are they going to give them out?”

Cora shrugged. “There is the jousting this weekend. Probably there.”

“You don’t want to be there?”

“Not particularly. My part of it is done.”

Viv shook her head. “You are so odd. One would think that you would want the praise that comes with the artistry.”

Cora shrugged and started to melt some silver. “I like making things.”

Viv sighed and finished her meal, taking a break to drop off the lemonade tankard and flirt with the pie man or, possibly, his wife. Cora didn’t know which Viv preferred, but that was her business.

The slight scrape of someone touching her counter brought Cora around. She turned and smiled. “Yes?”

It was the knight from the previous night.

“Oh, hello, Sir Salk.”

“Mistress Cora, it is good to see you in the light of day.”

She walked up to the counter and leaned against it. Yes, she was showcasing her breasts, but in the laced-up bodice that the faire goers preferred, it was impossible not to show off her cleavage to anyone taller than she was.

He smiled. “It is very good to see you.”

She took in his loose laced-up shirt and the snug fit of his leggings. “You look downright casual this shining day.”

He grinned. “It is much better for the afternoon. When we do the fight demo, I will gear up.”

“And sweat through the fighting.”

He shrugged. “The price of employment.”

“I am sure that you enjoy it.”

Salk inclined his head. “I definitely do. That brings me to the reason that I am here.”

She inclined her head. “Do tell.”

“I am asking you to be my lady at the fights. I am asking for your favour and will win for your honour.”

Cora cocked her head. “If you lose, will I lose my honour?”

Salk drew himself up to his full height, and she felt a strange ripple of recognition. There was something familiar about the way he moved.

“I will not lose.”

She shook herself out of the déjà vu and smiled. “I will have to come up with a favour. Just a moment while I check my stock.”

She walked to the rear of the shop and opened a few drawers when she found what she was looking for.

She pulled the leather necklace with the small charm on it out of the box and brought it with her. “When do you need it?”

He glanced down at it. “Just before the fight. I will pledge myself to fight for you, and you can put it on me then.”

Cora nodded. “When is the fight?”

“At four.”

She sighed. “I will see you there.”

He lifted her hand to his lips, and he pressed a kiss to it. “I look forward to it.”

Her skin tingled, and she stared after him as he disappeared as quietly as he had arrived.

Viv returned and took one look at Cora before gasping, “What the hell happened to you?”

Cora blinked. “What?”

“You are smiling. It is a really wide smile. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Cora shrugged. “I think I just got a date... kinda.”

“Really? Tell all.” Viv came behind the counter and settled on her stool.

“I am going to the fights at four, and I get to be one of the ladies. It sounds a bit boring but fun at the same time.”

Viv grinned. “Who is your knight?”

“Sir Salk Arthwait.”

Viv gasped. “Oh, he is really hot.”

“He is rather pretty in a dark, broody kind of way.” Cora shrugged.

“Sure, we can go with that. Frankly, I wasn’t sure if you were into boys or girls. None of my business.” Viv grinned. “So, is that what you are wearing to the fights?”

Cora nodded. “It is. I am not changing into something fancy just to be seen.”

“At least change into the leather bodice with the silver trim. It doesn’t look like you were putting cigarettes out on it.”

Cora looked down and acknowledged the burn marks. “I will concede that point. How long do I have?”

Viv fished into her bodice and pulled out her cellphone. “You have two hours.”

“Good. Tell me when I am down to thirty minutes so I can change. I still have work to do.”

A few small beeps and Viv nodded. “Done. Alarm is set.”

“Excellent. Now, off to work.”

Cora spent the next ninety minutes melting, pouring and polishing, as she did every day, in full view of the public.

When Viv’s timer went off, she faked a coughing fit and went to the back of the shop to turn it off.

Cora seamlessly finished the transaction that she was in the middle of, and when Viv had recovered from her technological fit, she wrapped the earrings in soft suede and tied them with a leather tie before sending the purchaser on his way.

Cora went to the back of the shop and took out her fancy bodice, unlacing the stained and burned leather that she was wearing and replacing it with the black and silver.

She fluffed out her hair and stroked her hands down her dark skirts. Scowling, she poured some water into a basin, and she took the scrub brush to her hands. The black crescents under her nails were part of working with silver. Corrosion set in quickly when you were dealing with shavings.

The charm was safely tucked in her cleavage, and she ran her hands down her skirts one more time. “How do I look?”

Viv smirked. “Nervous as hell, but you look good.”

Cora scowled. “I shouldn’t be nervous.”

“You can be. It is fine, natural and rather endearing.”

Cora made another face, triple checked the favour and nodded to Viv. “I will see you when this is over.”

“You aren’t going to the firing squad. You will just get to sit there and look ladylike.”

Cora elevated her middle finger before she left their shop and followed the crowd to the four o’clock fight demonstration. It was times like this that Cora wished she had a grip on modern watches. It seemed like a much better alternative than having Viv constantly check her cleavage.

At the gathering, she settled in the bleachers with the onlookers. The chairs set out for the ladies were empty, so she guessed that the knights would have to come get them.

When the knights clanked out in their armour and colourful silks, the crowd cheered. Cora had to admit it was impressive, if nothing like the reality of the medieval times.

The baron and baroness greeted everyone and then called upon the knights to ask a lady for their favour.

The crowd shifted with excitement, and many of the ladies clutched ribbons that they had gotten in the favour shop. Apparently, the advertising said that the ribbons turned any man into their own personal knight.

Cora watched as Salk came toward her, but to her shock, another knight locked eyes with her and grinned. She had met him before, and Sir Tahnk was not a person she enjoyed socializing with.

Salk moved with surprising speed, and he grabbed Tahnk, spun him around and made it to Cora with a few long strides.

“Lady, may I carry your favour into battle?” His lips were twisted in a smile.

She reached into her cleavage and pulled out the silver medallion with the flying reindeer on it. “Sir knight, you may.”

She leaned forward and tied the leather around his neck. His lips were inches from hers, but she pulled back when it was firmly fastened.

He touched the medallion and tucked it against his neck. “From your breast to mine.”