Page 39 of Renaissance Bear

Princess Cecilia, Alis thought, couldn't run or fight in this dress. Or breathe, but that was the perfume, not the dress itself. Well, she wasn't supposed to, anyway. Run or fight, that was. Still, the fact she couldn't annoyed her. Her own dresses were much less cumbersome.

Stop that, she told herself. It would be fine, for one day. It might even be kind of fun.

And it was. The kids were even more enthralled with a 'princess' than they were with Alis's usual lady of the court. She had more fun than she expected taking pictures and discussing the weather, the shopping, and the pretend politics of the courts with both the other members of her court and the general public.

And when Jon came by to say hello, his jaw actually dropped before he swept a low, gallant bow and pretended to be afraid to rise above himself and kiss her hand. He looked rather wonderful himself, with his hair loose but wavy now from its braids, his high-waisted pantaloons and blousy shirt, and the lute he was carrying around strung across his back. Alis, in her best high-falutin' princess voice, said, "Oh, do play for me, minstrel," and Jon bowed again before slinging his lute to the front and striking up a love song.

Queen Tamira drifted by, eyes sparkling even as she looked down her nose at the 'poor' minstrel. "My daughter, you must not lower yourself to consort with the peasants, no matter how sweet their songs might be."

Alis couldn't resist crying, "But Mama, I love him," to the absolute delight of the growing crowd. "My heart could belong to no other!"

"You know you are betrothed to the Silver Knight," Tamira said in severe tones. "Come away, my daughter. Tarry not with these lowlifes."

Several people in the crowd called out protests, and Jon, obviously sensing an opportunity, changed his song to one flattering the wisdom, beauty, and above all, kindness of the queen. Tamira simpered and dimpled, drawn in by his charm, and the crowd applauded as she visibly softened to him. Alis was just about ready to suggest throwing over the whole storyline she wassupposedto do in favor of the princess running away with the minstrel when a cool, icy voice cut through the music.

"What foul stench is this? A wastrel, tormenting the ears and eyes of my beloved betrothed? Begone, filthy swain, lest I teach you a lesson with my blade." The Silver Knight sauntered up, a titter of appreciation running through the crowd as it parted for him.

If she didn't already know he was a wretched cheat, even Alis would think the man was worth tittering over. He was a fine example of slender masculine beauty, dressed in silver, of course, the fabric very thin and fine and layered, with swooping elfin shoulders and a high collar that made the most of his slender height. Unlike at the lists, his long hair was now loose and very straight, held out of his face by a silver crown. At his side he wore a peace-knotted sword, which meant he couldn't draw it, but he still put his hand on the hilt as he sneered down at Jon.

Jon dropped his gaze and Alis could see the irritation in his smile, for all that he knew this was a performance and that as an interloper and a peasant, he had a specific part to play. After a moment, he looked up with an expression that was difficult to call a smile at all. "I would hardly recommend you offer that lesson, my lord, as it was my own brother who broke your nose some two seasons past, and he is but a stripling compared to me."

Alis thought,Uh-oh,as anger flashed over Lord Argent's face. Tamira, at Alis's side, caught her breath, then caught Alis's wrist in warning. Alis thought,dammit, and clapped her hands together, trying to sound light and trilling as she called, "Good my Lord Argent, how splendid to see you. Come, enjoy this minstrel's music with us a while, before the tavern calls him back to his duties."

Argent smiled the smile that made her want to punch him in the teeth and came to her side, slipping his arm through hers. Alis swore her skin actually tried to crawl off her body and runaway, even though they were both in long sleeves and not really touching at all. He smelled slightly flat and tangy, not like sweat, but like he was actually made of the silver he was named for. It was surprisingly unpleasant.

Alis cast a slightly desperate look at Jon, who gave another tight smile, rose, and sang an absolutely magnificent song about a lady fair, a wicked knight, and true love found with a poor man. Tamira, at Alis's other side, had to cough twice in order to hide her laughter, and Argent stood beside her positively seething. "What a foolish song," he said when it ended. "Everyone knows that a wise woman chooses security and wealth over love."

"Perhaps in the Silver Court, my lord," Alis said acidly, "but we mortals here in the Red Court enjoy our fierce passions, brief as they may be."

"And yet we are betrothed," Argent said, ice in his tone again. "Perhaps that brief, fierce passion will be mine after all. Your majesty." He bowed to the Red Queen, lifted Alis's hand to kiss the back of it, and walked away, deliberately knocking his shoulder into Jon's.

A cheer went up from the crowd, who were completely delighted with the performance. Jon's jaw locked, however, and Alis saw him barely restrain himself from going after Argent. Then he exhaled, shot Alis herself a wry look, and, in the moment that Tamira looked away, blew her a kiss. The crowd yelped with delight again as relief, laughter, and joy swept through Alis. Somehow she'd been afraid that having to play this stupid part would mess things up between herself and Jon, but he clearly understood how to lean into the whole situation.

Ugh, why did it have to be Argent, though? Alis let Tamira lead her back into the Red Court's tent, where the queen grinned hugely at her. "Did you set that up? That was perfect."

"No! It did play well, though, didn't it," Alis admitted reluctantly.

"Beautifully. If you end up playing Cecilia again tomorrow, we should do this again. The crowd was eating it up with a spoon."

"They were." Alis didn't think the Silver Knight had been, though. She glanced out toward the commoners, then back at Tamira. "Shelly and he don't have a thing going on, do they? In real life, I mean?"

"God, no, I don't think so. Why?"

"I don't know. Argent's just convincingly, one might say creepily, possessive. Is he like that in real life?"

"I don't really know," the queen said with a shrug. "A lot of the Silver Court are from out of town and I don't know the actors very well. I assume he's just good at his job."

"Yeah, I guess. I'll still be happy when Shelly's back."

Tamira gave her a knowing grin. "I bet that minstrel will be too."

Alis smiled and nodded, and as soon as she could, escaped being a princess and went to find Jon.

Chapter 18

Jon spent half the afternoon scolding himself for having gotten so in-your-face with Lord Argent, and his bear spent the same amount of time going,But we could have swatted him! We could have knocked him right into the trees! We could have eaten his face!until Jon finally gave up yelling at himself so he could laugh at the bear.

I know, buddy. It's just that for one, this is a performance, and for two, I'm pretty sure Alis can take care of a creep like that on her own.

---