The Lost Knight (Volume I)

Chapter 24: Wiltonshire Demon

Albína weaves her arm through mine and chatters away as soon as we leave the Queen's presence. I'm not listening to her, I'm reliving my encounter with the scary royal. The Queen knows I'm a fraud. What will they do to me when I fail?

I push those dark thoughts down and force myself back to the present where Albína is still talking and guiding me through a maze of hallways. I turn to ask Jonah what he thought of the meeting, but he's gone. Dathid's not here either. I rip my arm out of Albína's grasp and spin in a frantic circle.

She grabs my shoulder. I try jerking away, but she's surprisingly strong for such a tiny person. I call for Jonah while fighting to escape from Albína's superhero grip.

Just as I break away, I catch a glimpse of her ashen face. Her mouth is open and her eyes are huge. I follow her horrified gaze behind me and see Jonah's long shadow sliding along the wall. My relief at seeing him is dwarfed by the realization that I didn't break her grasp; she let go. I can't even defeat an old lady. How will I battle a powerful specter?

As Jonah moves across the floor, Albína steps behind me and gasps loudly when he materializes.

"Are you alright?" he asks as soon as he can speak.

"Yes." I already feel foolish for getting so upset. "I didn't see you. I didn't know we were separating. Where did you go?"

"I apologize. I was distracted by Dathid. I didn't think how our separation would affect you."

My instincts were right. Dathid's in danger. I wish they would tell me stuff so I wouldn't have to figure it out on my own. They should trust me more. If they would've explained that we were splitting up, I wouldn't feel so stupid and childish now.

"No, I'm sorry. I should've known better." I'm embarrassed about freaking out when it's obvious he's worried about Dathid.

"Albína is escorting you to your room."

"But what about Lenox?"

"Oh, Lenox!" Jonah throws his hands in the air. "I forgot about him."

Whatever is going on with Dathid, Jonah is obviously concerned and preoccupied with it. I'm getting worried, too.

"Have your stable master meet us on the roof," Jonah barks at Albína. Then he gently grabs me by the shoulders. "I have to go back for a moment, but I'll join you in a few minutes so we can retrieve Lenox. Are you good with that?"

"Yeah, I'm okay now. I just got worried when everyone disappeared. I can handle Lenox by myself if you need to be with Dathid."

"Very good," he says and leaves.

I stare after his departing shadow, willing the tears to stay put in my eyes. Usually he hugs me and makes sure that I'm really okay, but this time he just left. I lied when I said I thought I could handle things and now I'm stuck. I wish I knew what was going on.

Albína's waiting for me to do or say something. We gawk at each other for so long we both grow uncomfortable.

"What would you like to do, Miss?" she asks.

That's when it dawns on me that without Jonah, I'm the one who has to orchestrate Lenox's care. I have no idea how to take care of an animal, especially a giant pegasus.

"Well," I say, in order to say something. I should've made Jonah stay with me. I remember some of what he said and repeat that. "We need to speak to the stable master. Can you tell him to meet us on the roof?"

"Certainly, Miss," Albína chirps and then barks orders in her native language to the others around us. Everyone scurries off until it's just Albína and me in the hallway. I like being the boss. No one has ever listened to me before. I wonder what else I can get them to do.