“Stop calling me strange,” I said. “You’re the one weighed down with chainmail.”
“Captain!” another guy called from the edge of the field as he hopped over the small fence and approached. He wore armor as well, sword sheathed at his side, but as he reached us, his floppy brown hair and big eyes took away any of that intimidation factor. Cinnamon roll would suit him better. “Is he injured?”
“Only from where his head bumped my shoulder.” Maddox rose from his crouched position. “Otherwise, he is unharmed. Though, I question his mind.”
“My mind is fine,” I mumbled.
I would say this was a very vivid dream, but the ache in my head was too real for that. Which only left two other possibilities: I had memory loss and didn’t remember joining the group of nerds on their LARPing adventure, or I had been kidnapped.
But who’d want to kidnap a twenty-three-year-old bookworm whose only social skills involved taking people’s coffee orders?
Maddox’s gaze lowered to mine. I’d never had someone stare at me so intensely before. “Tell me why you’re here, Muffin Lord.”
I burst out laughing. “Dude. You can’t say something like that with such a straight face. You’re going to make me piss myself.”
“What kingdom are you from?”
What would it take to break this guy’s composure? If he was a paid actor for the event, he should get a raise.
“All joking aside, I really don’t know who you are or how I got here. Last thing I remember is being nice and warm in my bed. Then, I woke up here to your bright and smiling face.”
Said “bright and smiling face” continued to glare at me.
“Perhaps he’s a spy?” Sir Cinnamon Roll suggested. “Or a bandit. Our scouts reported a gang of them passing through a village to the east two days ago.”
Maddox’s expression turned lethal. “Is that it, then? You’re one of the bandits?”
In their little game, the bandits were clearly the bad guys. “I’ve never stolen a thing in my life. I’m not really the plundering type.”
“Take him to the castle,” Maddox said. “I’ll question him when I return at midday.”
“Yes, sir.” The other man bowed his head before grabbing me by the arm and lifting me from the grass. With an arched brow, he gently squeezed my bicep. “If heisa bandit, he’s not very strong, at least. Very thin.”
“Hey, that was a low blow. It’s not my fault I eat all the time and never gain weight.” I yanked from his hold and lost my balance.
Maddox caught me against his—very strong and muscled—chest. “Thin and clumsy-footed as well.” He passed me back over to the other cosplayer. “Bind him if you must. Just ensure he doesn’t escape.”
“Escape to where?” I asked. “I don’t even know where I am.”
The knight captain merely stared at me. “You may gag him too.”
“Rude.”
“Also, have Briar examine him.”
“Who’s Briar?” I asked.
Maddox turned away without another word and walked across the field to where a black horse waited. He swung up into the saddle and guided the stallion toward the road. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t checking out his, uh, smooth handling skills.
My stomach growled. The only thing capable of deterring my gaze from the eye candy in armor was my empty belly. “Got any food around here? I’m starving.”
“I’ll fetch your morning meal once we arrive at the castle. But only if you cooperate.” Sir Cinnamon Roll led me over to a brown horse. “Hop on.”
“Um.” I stared at the stirrup. “I’ve never ridden a horse before.” Read a ton of books where characters rode horses? Sure. But not in real life.
“I’ll help you. Grab here.” He placed my hand on the saddle before taking hold of my waist. “Place your foot in the stirrup and pull yourself up.”
The first attempt was an epic fail. I stepped into the stirrup, my muscles shook, and I fell backward into him. If there was ever a time when I realized I was out of shape, that was it. “They make it look so easy in the movies.”
