Fatal Fairies (Renaissance Faire Mystery Book 8)

by Joyce Lavene

  “Yes. I was working in the kitchen and dropped one of the big trays that are used to serve food at the King’s Feast. Chase stopped to help me clean it up. I knew then that I wanted him to be more than just a friend. He said later that he knew too. Too bad this is only Wednesday. Maybe we could recreate that moment at the King’s Feast on Sunday.”

  “What a wonderful idea!”

  “No.” I changed my mind. “Bad idea. This has to be over before then. I don’t want to live this way until Sunday.”

  She sighed and stopped bouncing. “All right. We’ll see what we can do.”

  I stopped bouncing, too, and got off the bed.

  “You look very nice in that gown. It is a perfect color for you,” she observed. “But what about your hair? Maybe you should do something different with it, something exciting.”

  We went into the bathroom and looked in the big mirror. Starshine stood on the pink marble counter and peered at my reflection.

  “What about blond hair?”

  My short brown hair was suddenly luxurious blond tresses.

  “I look like Rapunzel. I don’t have the coloring to be blond.

  “All right. What about black as the raven’s wing?”

  The long blond hair was suddenly black and shiny.

  “Too much like Isabelle,” I complained. “I think Chase likes my hair the way it is.”

  “But anything can be improved on, my dear.”

  My hair went back to being short and brown, but now there was a lovely crown of violets on it.

  “I like that. Thanks.”

  “What else could we alter that would appeal to your young knight?”

  I suddenly felt much heavier and looked down to see that I had become very well endowed—almost to the point of being Dolly Parton.

  “I don’t think so. How do women even walk with those things?”

  She laughed at me. “Men adore them.”

  “Not Chase.” I considered how he’d reacted when I’d worn a corset once before. “Okay. He’s not immune. But I’m not going to dinner with him tonight wearing these. What would he think when I didn’t have them this afternoon?”

  “It’s my experience that most men don’t think when they see those.” She giggled. “But it is your choice.”

  “Then no thanks. I think he likes the way I look right now. He was getting an eyeful when I got out of the tub.”

  “That’s true.”

  The extra-large accessories were gone. I smoothed my dress down, glad they weren’t really mine.

  “I guess you’ll do just as you are.” She smiled and flitted around me. “You look lovely. I hope you touch his heart.”

  “Then all we have to do is find out who killed Apple Blossom.” I sighed and sat on the sofa in the sitting room. “Do you have any tricks up your sleeve for that?”

  “I wish I did, but the killer is unclear to me. Poor Apple Blossom. She was such a dear. I can’t imagine who might want to hurt her.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out.”

  I stayed in the sitting room and watched a terrible movie on TV. I thought nervously of what I could say or do to make him fall for me. I was glad that I didn’t have to put so much thought and effort into wooing Chase in the first place, or we might never have been together.

  It was finally time for dinner. A knock on the door heralded a kitchen wench who led me to a covered terrace that overlooked the Village. Chase was there in his best blue velvet doublet that was embroidered with silver. He took my hand and seated me at the small table sheltered from the rain yet still outside in the warm summer evening.

  “As I said before, you look amazing in that dress.”

  “As do you, Sir Knight, in blue velvet.”

  “I hope you like my choices for dinner.”

  “I’m sure I will.” Absolute truth since I would’ve enjoyed wood shavings if I was eating with him.

  A young harpist played quietly in the corner as Chase dismissed the kitchen wench and served the meal himself. The sun was setting behind the rain clouds that still lingered off the coast, creating a hazy pink glow in the sky. It was a perfect romantic evening. And it made me wonder why he’d gone through so much trouble to impress me.

  Was he already on my wavelength? My heart beat double time.

  My conversation had to be subtle and seductive. Maybe I’d get a chance to casually touch his hand. But neither one of those options were meant to be.

  The door to the terrace burst open. The harpist screamed. A man in red and black armor stood in the doorway with his sword at the ready—the mystery knight—and maybe Apple Blossom’s killer.

  “Chase Manhattan.” A thick, dark voice threatened. “Prepare to meet your doom.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chase jumped to his feet as the red knight pushed over the table that held our dinner.

  I was a little slower getting out of the way and ended up with wine on my beautiful dress. If Chase didn’t smack him, I was going to.

  The intruder put his arm around my waist and brought me up against his armor.

  “What? No. This isn’t happening,” I told him. “Get out of here. Leave us alone.”

  He pushed back his helm—it was Canyon. “Jessie? Don’t you recognize me? I’ve come to fight for you, my lady. I’m not letting this two-bit knight take you away. You’re mine.”

  I heard giggling. My fairy godmother thought this was somehow funny. I didn’t think it was funny at all. Of all the things I wanted, Canyon deciding to battle Chase for me wasn’t it.

  “Let me go.” I pushed away from him, noticing as I did that there were scratches and dents in his armor. I’d never seen Canyon wear armor, at least not that I could remember. But this is a different place. Anything is possible.

  I thought about Apple Blossom. Canyon was a tall, strong man too. He could have been the one who killed her.

  “Come on, Chase.” Canyon goaded him. “Let’s do this so I can take my lady back to the Dungeon.”

  “Sorry,” Chase said. “But I don’t think any woman would be impressed that you live in the Dungeon.”

  He was wrong about that, but I didn’t say so. How could he know? He wasn’t the Bailiff.

  “This area isn’t big enough for us to fight.” Canyon continued on his course to self-destruction. “I’m afraid I might kick your scrawny butt right off the terrace.”

  That was it for Chase. He smiled and gestured toward the open hall behind them. “I’m right behind you.”

  By this time what few members of the castle staff that hadn’t heard the ruckus on the terrace had been alerted by the young harpist who’d run out. They were gathered in the big hall that separated the royal chambers from those that were inhabited by visitors. Isabelle was there in a very sheer pink gown. Gus Fletcher was there too. He’d be on Chase’s side.

  “Here now!” Sir Reginald demanded to know what was going on. “What are you two knaves fighting about?”

  “I want my lady back,” Canyon bellowed, waving his broad sword around. “I challenge Chase Manhattan to a duel right here, right now.”

  “You’ve got it.” Chase took his sword out of the scabbard at his waist. “Have at it, Bailiff.”

  “Chase!” Isabelle tried to get his attention. “You aren’t really fighting for Jessie, are you?”

  “Stay out of the way,” he barked at her, caught up in the moment.

  She walked off in a huff but not too far. No doubt she wanted to watch what was going to happen too.

  “We do not fight in the castle, young men,” Sir Reginald said. “Make an appointment with the king and queen if you want to duel.”

  But Olivia and Harold were in the crowded hall too.

  “That’s quite all right, Sir Reginald,” Harry said. “Only reruns on TV tonight. The queen and I were bored. Have at it!”

  Sir Reginald was almost beyond words. “Your Majesty? You would condone dueling in the castle hall as if it were some low tavern?”

  �
��Quiet, Reginald,” Livy said. “Let the two men work this out. I love a duel of passions.”

  The crowd backed further away from Chase and Canyon, but everyone stayed to watch. Sir Reginald stayed too, but with a sour expression on his sallow face.

  “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 w
ill 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.