Tristan walked up to me and picked up my slipper from the floor. He didn’t hand it to me, which is when I realized I was still clutching the ladle tightly in front of me.

He tucked the slipper into his pocket and pulled out his sword. Raising one finger in question he asked,

“Who exactly am I supposed to protect you from? The man or the goat?”

“The goat. The man is actually the innkeeper’s dog.” 372/431

Tristan turned to face the crowd, his sword raised.

“And why am I protecting you from a goat?”

“He’s actually Simon, the wizard’s apprentice, and he wants to switch places with me so I’ll be a goat.”

“I see.” I knew he didn’t, but he didn’t press the point.

“Is there anything else you’d like to tell me about?” A crack of light went off midway across the ballroom, as though lightning had struck the floor. The crowd cleared from the spot; the bright color of dresses and tunics moving to the edges of the room like a retreating rainbow.

Scuppers had the goat pinned to the ground. His mouth angled to get a hold on the goat’s neck while it kicked and bleated. The wizard strode toward the two, arms raised, as though this would increase the volume of his voice. “Off, you foul beast! Begone! That’s my goat and none shall touch it!”

Scuppers backed away from the goat, still on all fours, and let out a throaty growl of protest. The wizard bent down, picked up Simon, and flung the goat over his shoulder.

Then the wizard turned and headed toward the door, yelling, “This is the treatment I get from King Roderick’s court? You take my animal and make sport of it for your pleasure? I shan’t stay where a wizard isn’t treated with respect. I shan’t!”

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The goat bellowed as he walked by me, his bulgy-eyed gaze never leaving my face. Then the door shut behind them and the two were gone. I dropped the ladle and it clanked onto the table. Deep tremors rumbled around inside of me and I was afraid my legs would give way.

Tristan looked up at me, concerned. He held his free hand out to me, and I stepped down and flung my arms around him. I was just so glad that— instead of disappearing like Prince Edmond had—Tristan was still here.

I pressed my cheek to his chest. “There’s actually a lot I need to tell you about.”

I knew he would probably push me away, what with his future fiancée milling somewhere in the crowd, but he didn’t. He just wound his arms around me and let out a sigh.

From the middle of the room the king called out,

“What is all this? Guests on the table, goats running around—and what is that man doing on the floor? Who invited him to my ball?”

I looked and saw Scuppers squatting on the floor, trying to scratch his ear with his foot. I nearly pretended that I didn’t know who he was, but really, after he’d saved me from Simon he deserved better than that. I stepped away from Tristan. “He’s my coachman, your highness. He’s harmless really.” 374/431

King Roderick’s gaze swung over to me and when he spoke his voice rolled around me the way a river tumbles stones in its current. “I shall decide that for myself. Who are you, Madame?”

But before I spoke a single word, a page burst through the door. “Your highness, the Black Knight is outside the castle. He wishes to fight Sir Tristan.”

Chapter 25

The exodus outside was immediate. The crowd let out a cheer as Tristan turned and headed for the door. He only gave me a backward glance and motioned for Hunter. “This is it.”

I took two steps after Tristan and realized he still had my other slipper. I called after him, but with everyone else cheering and calling his name, he didn’t hear me. I wobbled a few steps, then bent down, took off my remaining slipper, and put it in my pocket. I walked through the castle barefoot, knowing it would ruin my stockings.

Jane came up beside me. She looked over one shoulder and then the other. “So a wicked queen is trying to kill me and an enchanted goat is after you?”

“Yeah.”

“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.