Black Moon Draw(43)

“Sure,” I reply and sit. Had to be stone. I wince, my butt too sore for me to sit in one spot long.

He pours then pinches and sprinkles something into it from a low, ceramic bowl.

“What is that?” I ask.

“Herbs to enhance the drink.” He puts some in his as well, so I assume they’re not going to kill me.

I pick up the goblet. Before it reaches my lips, I can smell vanilla and maybe cinnamon. Their faint, familiar scents reassure me, and I take a drink. The wine is dry and tart.

“How is he treating you?” the Red Knight begins, sipping his wine.

“Good. Battle is rough.”

“He has shown a certain level of restraint I find intriguing.”

Restraint? Really?

“He has not decided to keep you. Not the witch he expected?”

I lower my goblet, uneasiness stirring. There’s a political aspect to this meeting I didn’t expect. I’m not about to give the Red Knight information that might embarrass or hinder the operations of the Shadow Knight. I’m quiet, thinking of a response that won’t shut the door on anything the Red Knight might be able to tell me, but will also derail this line of discussion.

“He has not performed the traditional ritual between a Knight and his battle-witch. You have failed him somehow?”

Don’t. React. I’m gritting my teeth. I hate, hate the sense of feeling like I’m not good enough.

“It has the others talking as well.”

“What ritual?” Dread flutters through me even as I ask the question.

The Red Knight’s face is hard to read in the starlight. I wonder if he chose this place on purpose because it would be more difficult for me to read his expressions.

“Wait,” I say quickly, aware he’s drawn me into something I’m not here to discuss. “I don’t want to know. I wanted to talk to you about a couple other things.”

“Very well. But first, how do my sisters fare?”

“Great, I think. I haven’t seen them much.”

“My eldest sister is not yet bonded?”

I hold up my hands. “Totally not my place to say.”

“This is concerning.” He gazes off into the distance.

“Maybe they’re not ready. Better they take their time then bond in haste, isn’t it?”

“Ready?” he repeats, eyebrows shooting up. “’Tis duty, witch, not a choice. Their alliance will secure a more lasting peace than either kingdom is accustomed to.”

“Sorry. I have no idea how this works,” I reply. “It’s a shame they can’t choose who they wish to bond with.” I’m more disappointed than warranted, my thoughts on how incredible it would be to be the woman the Shadow Knight’s world revolved around.

“My elder sister thinks as you do,” he admits. “There was a time when she was betrothed to the son of the Desert Knight of Brown Sun Lake. It took some . . . convincing to break off their betrothal and promise her to the Shadow Knight instead. The two Knights are mortal enemies and I fear I made their brittle relationship worse.”

I could listen to him talk forever. He’s got a beautiful, cultured, upper class British accent. “Was your sister upset about it?”

“They both were. ‘Tis why the younger left with her, to escape their manipulative brother.”

“Maybe you should let her choose who she wants to be with,” I say again.

“’Tis not our way,” he says and straightens. “Now, you had questions. I’m listening.”

Thoughts on the two princesses following the Shadow Knight’s army, I can’t help feeling bad for both of them this time, even the Disney Princess. “You weren’t surprised I was from some other world,” I start. “Why not?”

“You aren’t the first to come here. There are records at my palace that document the appearance of men and women from places that do not exist.”

“Seriously? Where are they?” I ask anxiously. “I need to find them!”

“You are the first in this era. The others are long dead.”

Disappointed, I absently sip my wine and then stretch forward to pour a second cup. It’s strong enough that I already feel like I’m starting to buzz. Or maybe, I need food to soak it up. I haven’t eaten since this morning.

I copy his movement and pinch at the herbs to drop into my goblet. I gaze into it for a bit too long, fascinated by the reflection of the stars.

“If you know this much, do you have any idea about the way back?” I ask.

“There is no way back.”

“You see, I just can’t believe that,” I say with some impatience. “If I got here, I can get back.”

“If you could get back, I could find who sent you here and stop this nonsense.”

“That’s just . . .” insane. It almost makes sense that I’m here, but I can’t fathom the idea of a book character seeking out its author. Maybe because he’s not real. I draw a deep breath and try to figure out where to start to unravel this mess.

“You have no memory of who sent you here or how?” the Red Knight asks.

“None. I mean, nothing but what I told you. I don’t know LF and can’t really remember how I got here.” I nibble my lower lip, realizing for the first time I really don’t know what happened. The last thing I recall was watching the ending of Labyrinth where the heroine realized the power had been in her hands all along, not the bad guy’s. I sort of blacked out towards the last part of that scene, only to wake up in Black Moon Draw. “Do you think I’m missing something?”