Typed up for Dessa on Inkies, as I promised her an excerpt. But I thought I’d share it here as well. :)

“There are no knights. Chilvalry is dead. It was lost with the old order.”

Thaddeus leaned forward with a strange glint in his eye. “And what if I were to tell you that the old order was not lost?”

Miriam turned to stare at him. He watched her, a small smile forming on his lips. If his words had some meaning other than the obvious, it was one she couldn’t comprehend. But he couldn’t be serious …

“But it is,” she insisted, unsure of how to react. “It is all but forgotten.”

“Ah! But there’s where you’re wrong. It has been forgotten, so that it’s all but lost.” He chuckled quietly to himself and began filling his pipe.

Miriam was thoroughly agitated. She had a feeling he was greatly amused at her expense, and she didn’t like it. But worse was that hard as she tried, she couldn’t sense a hidden meaning to his words, let alone find what it was. It was as if he meant them as they were.

Somehow it made her feel defensive; and she spoke with more anger than intended.

“Of course they’re not forgotten! Who doesn’t remember them, and tell tales of them in the secrecy of their homes in the dark? But there hasn’t been a knight since they were outlawed by the king’s father.”

Already she’d said more than she’d intended. But he sat back, and drew on his pipe, and smiled. He was laughing at her.

“I shouldn’t have to tell you this!” she exclaimed, jumping from her seat in anger. “You where there when it all happened. The knights are gone, Thaddeus, no matter what anyone says or wants. I wish it wasn’t so, with all my heart; but it is.”

“And yet you obey _____ the moment he tacks a rag of parchment to the side of the square.”

Miriam stood perfectly still, stunned into silence. A single hot tear ran down her cheek.

“You think I’m lying,” she whispered, trying not to choke on her words. “That what I say about ____, about what I want, isn’t true. That I may even betray you to the Guards. Is that what you meant?” She blinked hard and quickly wiped the corners of her eyes. Her anger drained away, robbing her of her strength. “You could have said so. It would have been better than the lies about knighthood … it would have hurt less.”

She turned to him, but couldn’t clearly see his face through her own tears. “I have no knight to help me. And if I haven’t even you … then there’s no one. But you’re wrong; and maybe you’ll believe me after this is over.”

Miriam turned and half-stumbled to the door, fumbling blindly for the latch; but she was stopped by a hand on her arm. She faced Thaddeus, who was peering intently at her face.

“I’m sorry, Miriam. I don’t think you’re lying – I trust you.”

She stared back at him. He was no longer laughing. “But why …”

“The question is,” he continued as if she hadn’t spoken: “Do you really trust me?”

She hesitated, unable to sort through her own thoughts. Was that all it had been then? A test?

“Yes.”

“Very well then.” The old man reached for the oversized cloak that hung on a hook near the door. “We must waste no time. You should have come to me sooner, but that cannot be helped now.”

As he spoke he hurried about the small room, gathering a few things into a bag which he hug beneath his arm, throwing his cloak about his shoulders, and grabbing a thick staff that leaned in a dusty corner beyond the lamplight. Miriam watched him in silence, puzzling slightly ober the last item. She began to reach for her own cloak; but then something was thrust into her arms.

“It is a warm night; but wear this. Yours won’t do.”

It was a soft cloak, much thicker than her own, that could have passed for a man’s or a woman’s. It was a bit large for her, but she wrapped herslef in it as Thaddeus laid his hand on the latch.

“There is only one way to save you from this,” he said suddenly. “Only one path to take that doesn’t end in hopelessness – but it leads into more danger than you’re in now.” He turned to look at her. “Do you still want my help?”

Miriam felt a thrill run down her spine as she met his eyes. His words and actions alike were a mystery to her; but she sensed adventure close at hand, as if the days of the old stories were alive. To step out the door was to step into their world. She could believe almost anything – what lay ahead she couldn’t imagine.

“Yes.”

Thaddeus smiled and turned the latch. The two stepped outside into the night, leaving the lamp burning behind them.