Believe (17 page)

He shrugged. “’Tis an odd quirk of my nature. I have but to hear a thing a single time and it lingers in the back of my memory always. ’Tis both a great annoyance and a great value.”

“I’ll bet. Can you do it with visual images too? Things you see, I mean?”

“Would that I could.” He shook his head in obvious regret. What sight couldn’t he remember?

“I was right, you’re a human tape recorder.” She eyed him suspiciously. “When I said you weren’t paying attention to my conversation today, I was right about that too, wasn’t I?”

For the first time since they’d stopped for the night, he grinned. “I would not admit such a thing even if it were true. I am no fool, my lady.”

“I didn’t think so.” She laughed. “I’ll let you off the hook on this one. Now, back to the puzzle of the day. Any ideas how this thing is supposed to work?”

“Within the words of the riddle are the challenges we must meet and best in our path to the Grail. Once we have succeeded, the Grail shall be within our reach.”

“You make it sound so simple.”

“’Twill not be easy.”

“No kidding. What I don’t get about all this, though,” she leaned forward, “if we don’t understand exactly what the challenges are, how do we find them?”

“We do not find them, they find us.”

“What?”

“’Tis an odd circumstance for you, my lady, and I know not how to explain.” His brow furrowed in thought. “’Tis no ordinary journey we have undertaken. A quest of this nature is ruled as much by forces we cannot see as by those we can.”

“Those we can’t see? Like what?”

He raised a casual shoulder as if the answer was obvious. Maybe in his world it was. “Forces of magic. Of the darkness of men. Of our own souls.”

“This sounds better and better all the time. Lions and tigers and bears are beginning to sound tame compared to this.” She studied him for a moment and hoped she was wrong. “Have you ever been on a quest like this before?”

“Not like this.” His voice was quiet. “No.”

“Just what I wanted to hear.” She sighed. “Even with this riddle, there isn’t much to go on. We’ve been
riding all day but how do you even know what direction to head? I mean, do we just take off and wait for things to happen to us?”

He raised a scornful brow. “’Twould be a foolish thing to do.”

“Then how—”

“The king advised—”

“In that little chat you boys had without me?”

“Aye.” A firm note colored the word. “Have I not begged your forgiveness already?”

“Fine.” She huffed. “I won’t say another word about it.”
Maybe
.

“The king and I agreed the best way to proceed was to travel toward Glastonbury.”

“Where Joseph of Arimathea allegedly hid the Grail?”

“Aye. From there, we will see what information can be gathered and what new direction that may take us.” He paused. “You should know, as well, the king gave me this.” He pulled a small jeweled dagger from a sheath at his waist. She hadn’t even noticed it.

“Very stylish but it doesn’t look very effective.”

“’Tis a token from the queen.” He replaced the knife. “As much or more for luck than protection.”

“We’ll need it.” She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around her legs. “Lots of it. You know, none of this sounds very clear-cut.”

“’Tis yet another challenge.”

“You guys are really fond of saying that.” She shook her head. “I’d better memorize that riddle myself. Just in case. Let me have it.”

Galahad recited the lines over and over until she was fairly sure she had it down.

She gazed into the flames. “We need to make sense of this—the peril, the infidel, the offering.”…
the peril, the infidel, the offering
…The words repeated themselves over and over and over in her head like a mantra. The flames danced in rhythm with the words…
the peril, the infidel, the offering
…Her lids drooped, her eyes closed. Had she ever been so tired?

“Tessa?” Galahad’s low voice sounded beside her. He must have joined her. She wanted to look but it was too much of an effort to open her eyes.

“Hmmmm…” She leaned toward his voice and found the solid warmth of his body beside her.

“Tessa?” Was that unease in his tone? Was he uncomfortable with her against him like this? She’d be willing to move. In a minute. As soon as she could open her eyes. She snuggled closer against him.

“You should lie down and try to sleep. ’Twill be another long day tomorrow.”

“Um-hum.” She was so tired. And he felt so wonderful. She was barely awake. He heaved a heavy sigh, his chest rising and falling beneath her head and his arm wrapped around her. Contentment flowed through her. This was so…right. Why?

Why not?

Sleep crept closer. All thoughts of perils and infidels and offerings faded, washed away by the solid heat and tender strength of the man who held her. At long last she surrendered to oblivion. His voice drifted through her dreams and warmed her soul as well with words not meant for her.

“Forgive me, my love. I did not know such a thing could happen twice in the same lifetime. Yet, once again, I am bewitched.”

“T
essa.”

Galahad’s voice echoed through her dreams. She shifted on the bed. He called her again and she reveled in the sound of her name on his lips.

“Tessa.” Still, his tone wasn’t at all like the caress of a lover. It was more in the attitude of an order or a command. And why was this bed so damned uncomfortable?

“Tessa!” His whisper rang hard and urgent against her ear, as irritating as a morning disc jockey on a radio alarm clock. Not a great way to wake up. Where was that snooze button?

Right. How could she have forgotten? Even asleep? Her eyes blinked open. There was no snooze button. No disc jockey. Worst of all—no bed. Just this damp, dark cave in the middle of nowhere.

She yawned and sat upright, pulling herself away from the warmth of his body. Nice. She’d apparently slept cuddled up next to him all night. Is that why he sounded so cranky? “Good morning to you, too, Sunshine.”

“Be still!” His voice rasped.

“Well, you don’t—”

“Shhhh!”

He didn’t look at her. His gaze focused on the entry to the cave. Slowly, he drew his arm from around her and got to his feet, keeping to a low crouch, his every move cautious and deliberate. He inched away from her and toward the meager assortment of saddlebags, provisions and miscellaneous items they’d brought with them, now resting on the other side of the still smoldering campfire.

“What in the hell are you doing?”

“Quiet!” His tone was hushed but intense. His gaze never shifted.

“What’s going on? What are you looking at?” she said in a fierce whisper.

He didn’t answer. Every line of his body was rigid with tension. A hard light glittered in his eyes and his jaw was set and unyielding. He looked every inch the experienced knight, the consummate warrior, ready to do battle. A shiver ran up her spine. Something was definitely wrong here.

She turned her gaze slowly to the mouth of the cave. Pale light lit the sky in advance of the first true rays of the sun. Smoke from the still smoldering fire floated lazily toward the ceiling of the cave. Another plume drifted by the entry. She glanced at Galahad. He reached their baggage and quietly drew his sword from its sheath. She still didn’t get it. The only things moving were the wisps of smoke from last night’s fires, here in the cave and outside. What did he see that she didn’t? What was going on? What—

She sucked in a sharp, hard breath.

They’d only built one fire.

Tessa scrambled to her feet, ignoring the screams of protest from every muscle in her body. “Galahad, what is it? Is there a forest fire or something? Is somebody else out there?”

“I am not yet certain.” His voice was soft but firm. “Get behind me, Tessa.”

“No problem. You’re the knight.” She scrambled around the remains of their campfire to his side and struggled to keep the panic from her voice. “Just for the fun of it, what do you think’s going on?”

He held his sword before him and stepped in front of her, with his free arm pushing her firmly behind him. The man would make one impressive windbreak but right now she wanted to see what was up.

“Stay back.” He stepped forward, toward the sunlight.

“I don’t think so.” She matched his movement step for step, grabbed a fistful of his tunic and held on. “You’re not going anywhere without me. And there’s no way I’m staying in this cave by myself.”

“Tessa,” he growled.

“Forget it, Big Guy. We’re in this together. Not that I don’t appreciate the thought but—”

“Quiet!”

“Okay.” They stood staring for an endless moment. “What are we looking for?”

“I fear…” He paused as if afraid to say the words out loud and her heart hammered in her chest. “I fear ’tis a dragon.”

“A dragon?” Something that sounded like a cross between a snort and a laugh broke from her. She let go of his tunic. “You’re kidding.”

He kept his gaze on the mouth of the cave. His tone was level. “I do not jest about such things.”

“But a dragon? I’m sure. I don’t believe it.” She pulled her brows together and eyed him. He really meant it. “There are no such things as dragons.”

“Are you so certain?” he murmured.

“Yeah, I’m pretty confident about that one. This is ridiculous. Have you ever seen a dragon?”

“Nay.”

“Has anyone you know ever seen a dragon?”

“Nay. But there is much in this world I have not seen for myself or have proof of that I know in truth exists.”

“Trust me on this one—dragons are not on the list.” She stepped toward the cave entrance. He grabbed her arm and jerked her back beside him. “Hey!”

“Where are you going?” He glared down at her.

“I’m going to check this out.” She shook off his hand. “Are you coming?”

“’Twill get us both killed.”

“I don’t think so.” She started off again and once more he yanked her back. She heaved an exasperated sigh. “What now?”

He clenched his teeth and pinned her with an angry gaze. “If indeed you are correct and ’tis not a dragon then ’tis something as yet unknown. Do you grant me that much?”

“Oh. I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Think of it then and stay behind me.”

She shook her head. “Nope.” Funny how her fear had vanished once she realized exactly what he was so worried about. “By your side but not behind you.”

“Very well,” he snapped. “We shall survive or perish together.”

She shrugged. “Works for me.”

He threw her a look that said without words what a pain he thought she was and started toward the front of the cave, each step measured and careful. They edged closer to the sunlight. The fear she’d thought was gone returned. He was right. Even if there were no dragons, there were lots of unpleasant people wandering around the Middle Ages. She groped for his free hand and found it. He wrapped his fingers around hers and squeezed and a tiny bit of confidence returned.

They inched toward the mouth of the cave. With every step she could see more of the surrounding countryside. Their overnight shelter was at the edge of a small clearing surrounded by forest.

“I see naught,” Galahad said quietly.

“Good.” Relief surged through her. “Me neither. Let’s check it out.” She started forward but he pulled her to his side.

“Take care, Tessa.”

Together they stepped over the boundary line between the shadows of the cave and the early morning light. A soft mist hung low to the ground casting a hint of magic over the setting. It was lovely and perfect. Almost too perfect. Tessa shivered. If there was the possibility of dragons, this would be the place for them.

“I don’t see anything.”

“Then perhaps,” he said softly, “you do not know where to look.”

He stared at a point slightly off to her right. Her gaze followed his. There was nothing out of the ordinary. She started to tell him just that but a slight movement caught the corner of her eye. Slowly an image took shape. Disbelief meshed with terror and she couldn’t have moved if she wanted to. Whether just emerging
from the fog and the trees or materializing out of thin air she wasn’t sure. The
how
didn’t matter. The
what
was overwhelming.

“By the bones of the saints.” Galahad crossed himself.

“Holy shit.” Tessa followed suit. She hadn’t been to church in years but if ever an occasion called for divine intervention, this was it.

It probably wouldn’t help.

The creature stood a good ten feet tall and looked suspiciously like a cross between a lizard and a bat. A very nasty lizard and a very big bat. Its skin was definitely reptilian, scaly in appearance, a greenish-gray color overall. It stood on well-muscled back legs, its white underbelly exposed, smaller front legs with clawlike hands or paws or whatever. All in all it bore a vague resemblance to a dinosaur. Except for the wings. Huge paper-thin appendages, they were folded close to the beast’s body. Tessa refused to consider just how big the wing span would be unfurled. And the head, much smaller proportionally than the head of the T-rex in
Jurassic Park
, looked a little like an alligator or some kind of bird of prey or…No. The only thing this looked like was exactly what was pictured in every fairy tale she’d ever read. Or every nightmare she’d ever had.

“’Tis indeed a dragon,” he said, awe in his voice.

“I admit it. I was wrong, you were right.” Her voice was barely more than a squeak. “My mistake. Sorry.”

“We will discuss your apology at another time.” He held his sword ready before him.

“What are you going to do?”

“Slay the beast.” His voice was grim and determined.

“Why?” She stared at the huge creature. Its eyes were slitted like a serpent’s and its head swayed back and forth slightly like a cobra watching a mouse. If the options here were fight or flight, flight had her vote. “Can’t we just go around it and get the hell out of here?”

As if in answer to her question, the dragon stretched forward its head, opened its mouth and belched. A roar echoed through the clearing and flames shot out toward them.

“I think not,” Galahad said.

“Another few feet and we’d be toast. Literally.” She edged behind Galahad.

He glanced at her over his shoulder. “Perhaps it was another lady who said, ‘by your side but not behind you’?”

“That memory of yours is not going to make you any friends.” She peeked around him. Was the dragon waiting for them to make the next move? She shuddered. “Besides, you have the sword.”

“And I know well its use.”

The dragon seemed to be sizing them up. Probably for breakfast. She swallowed the lump in her throat and willed her knees to stop shaking. How did she get into this?

Galahad stared at the dragon for a long moment, one combatant taking the measure of another. “Tessa, when his attention is fully upon me, I want you to move slowly and quietly to the horses and take your leave.”

“No way. I’m not about to abandon you to that thing.”

“’Tis not a question of abandonment.” He glanced at her quickly. Concern flickered in his eyes. “Should I defeat the beast, I shall find you. If not, you must continue the quest. You must find the Grail on your own.”

“No. It’s not my quest, it’s yours.”

“Swear it, Tessa. On your honor. ’Tis all I ask. Give me your word. Now!”

“I promise.” The words caught in her throat. How could she leave him? What if she never saw him again? What then? “I hate it but I promise I’ll continue your quest.”
If I have to leave you, which I won’t!

“In the movies, this would be the place where the hero pulls the heroine into his arms.” She sniffed and glanced at his upraised sword. “Okay, maybe just one arm, and kisses her long and hard before sending her off and sacrificing his own life to save hers.”

“I know naught of this ‘movie’ of which you speak,” he snapped. “God’s blood, woman, at this moment ’twould be nice to understand all you say! But know this: I would kiss you long and hard if I had a moment, yet ’twould not have the meaning you suggest. I have no intention of sacrificing my life for yours unless it is unavoidable.”

“You don’t need to be so snippy about it.” Indignation sounded in her tone. “Talk about spoiling the mood.”

The dragon lowered and raised its head in an odd rhythm, its viperlike eyes glittering with an almost hypnotic effect.

“Go, Tessa, now!”

“Not without you.”

“Tessa!”

The creature reared back and lunged forward,
flames spewing toward them. Something inside her snapped.

“And I’m not going to argue. Come on.” She grabbed his hand and ran toward the woods to the left of the beast, Galahad hard on her heels.

“Tessa!”

If they could make it a few more feet—

At once the dragon materialized directly in their path, its head low and on a level with theirs. Its eyes huge and yellow and split by black, slitted centers. Her heart lodged in her throat and she bit back a scream. Galahad yanked Tessa hard against him. As one they wheeled and ran toward the other side of the clearing.

Instantly the dragon appeared before them, pulled back his head and roared. Flames shot toward them. Panic gripped her. Galahad jerked her around. For a split second fire flashed, surrounding them, engulfing and deadly. They broke free, stumbling back to the cave entrance, exactly where they’d started.

She threw herself against Galahad and buried her face in his chest, panting for breath, struggling for control. He held her tight.

“Tessa! Are you harmed?”

“No.” The word was a terrified sob. She stared up at him. Worry and confusion creased his face. “Are you?”

“No.” He shook his head, bewilderment in his voice. “’Tis indeed a creature of magic. We should be little more than cinders.”

“I don’t get it. This doesn’t make sense. Dragons don’t exist.” Her mind outraced her fear. “They’ve never existed. Nobody’s ever found dragon bones or fossils. There’s no proof that they’re real. None. Zippo. Nada.”

“The proof lies before us.”

“No!” Her words tumbled out faster and faster. “There’s evidence of dinosaurs. There are a few species of overgrown lizards like the Komodo dragon, and lots of people believe in the Lock Ness monster but that’s it.”

“Must you question what is right before you? I fear I am a simple man. I see a brute with evil in its eyes and hellfire spewing from its jaws and I have no doubts as to its veracity.”

She shook her head. “Look at him, Galahad. Anything in the knight handbook about this? Have you ever seen anything like it?”

“Nay! And should we survive this encounter I would prefer never to see such a monstrosity again.”

She gripped his tunic. “There’s something wrong here.”

“There is a great deal wrong! How can I impress upon you the very real danger before us?” His gaze burned into hers. “’Tis not the time now to discuss the nature of reality and existence. When this challenge is met, then—”

“This is a challenge, isn’t it?” she said slowly. “A big one.”

“Aye, ’tis at least as great as the challenge of dealing with a female’s constant babbling and stubborn manner! ’Twas a foolish act, Tessa, to try to run from—”

“No, no.” She ignored his reprimand, pulled away from him and stared at the dragon. It stared back. “This is one of the challenges in the riddle, isn’t it?”