Believe (5 page)

Merlin quirked a brow. “Indeed. And I see you two are getting acquainted.”

Tessa nodded toward Galahad. “He thought I was a boy.”

The big man’s face reddened. “’Twas an honest mistake. The lady’s hair is tied like many a youth’s and her garb is most unbecoming for a female.”

“Excuse me? I wouldn’t call it unbecoming.” She stretched her arms out wide and glanced down at her clothes. “I think this outfit looks pretty good.”

Merlin sniffed. “Hardly.”

“Oh, like you’re some kind of fashion plate?” Tessa leveled him a pointed glare.

Merlin glanced at his robe. “I see nothing wrong with my attire.”

“Come on, Merlin.” Tessa’s gaze traveled from the tip of the sorcerer’s pointed hat to his toes and back to meet his eyes. “Let’s face it, pal. Deep blue silk? Stars and planets? Pretty stereotyped I’d say. You looked better in herringbone.”

“I do so enjoy herringbone,” Merlin murmured. “And Armani…”

“In fact”—Tessa went in for the kill, knowing full well this had nothing to do with clothes—“I’d say what you’re wearing has no real style. I’ve seen better fashions for the well dressed wizard in children’s books. Bottom line here is that what you have on is…well…trite.”

“Trite?” Merlin sputtered with indignation. “Trite?”

“What was your comment about repeated words,” Tessa said under her breath to Galahad.

“’Tis a sure sign of a mind befuddled.” Uneasiness colored Galahad’s voice and he laid a hand gently on her arm. “My lady, Tessa, I would beware your words
with the wizard. He has been known to smite those who incite his rage.”

“Thanks, but his rage isn’t the only thing incited.” The panic and fear she’d set aside returned in a wave of fury. She glared at Merlin and struggled to hold back angry, frustrated tears. “I want to go home. Now. Send me back or wake me up or whatever. I refuse to play your little game.”

Merlin smiled. “But you do agree the playmate I’ve chosen is one you do not find unattractive.”

“I admit it. Galahad here is a hunk.”

“A hunk?” A pleased smile quirked Galahad’s lips. The man might not know the exact meaning of the word but he obviously got the drift. “The lady Tessa bethinks me a hunk?”

Tessa groaned. “That’s great, Merlin. Just what he needs. Another boost to his ego.”

Merlin’s voice was soft. “Nonetheless, you are here for him.”

“He doesn’t want me!” Tessa glanced at Galahad who lifted a brow as if to say he certainly did. “Not like that! I know you’re interested in
that
. All men are interested in that.”

“Galahad.” Merlin chuckled. “You devil you. And you’ve scarce met the lady. I must say I am impressed.”

“She is a fair flower, my lord Wizard. Indeed, she has quite pleasing,” the knight leaned toward the magician in a confidential manner, “boobs.”

Merlin choked back a strangled laugh. “What have you been teaching him?”

“I don’t believe this.” Tessa buried her face in her hands. “I’m standing here in the Middle Ages with
a wizard and a knight and all they can talk about is my chest!” She uncovered her eyes and glared. “This has to be a dream, because real life is not this weird.”

Merlin scoffed. “Of course it is.”

She squared her shoulders. “Fine. Dream or coma or real life, count me out. I’m not going on a quest with him or anybody else.”

“Quest?” Galahad said.

Merlin shrugged. “You have no choice.”

“I most certainly do.” Tessa lifted her chin. “If you won’t send me home I can choose to live happily ever after right here in,” she shuddered, “Camelot.”

“What quest?” Galahad stared at Merlin.

Merlin’s bushy brows arched upward. “You won’t be very happy.”

“No, but I will have the satisfaction of throwing a monkey wrench into your plans.”

“Tell me of this quest.” Galahad directed his words at Tessa.

“Hah. If you think the Middle Ages are bad perhaps you’d prefer to live out your life in the dawn of time.” A nasty light twinkled in the sorcerer’s eye. “The only human being amidst the dinosaurs?”

“Perhaps I would!”

Galahad’s brows drew together in confusion. “Dinosaurs?”

“You wouldn’t last two minutes,” Merlin said smugly.

“Maybe not.” Tessa spit the words. “But they’d be a damned satisfying two minutes.”

“Really? I’d scarcely call it satisfying. I’d call it,” Merlin cast her a wicked smile, “lunch.”

“I’d rather be lunch for a dinosaur than a pawn for you in some real-life game of
Dungeons and Dragons!
” Tessa’s voice rose with anger.

Merlin’s volume matched her own. “You don’t have a choice!”

“Enough!” Galahad’s voice blared through the chapel, bouncing off the stone walls and vibrating deep inside her. “Cease this infernal quibbling at once!”

Tessa addressed her words to Galahad and glared at Merlin. “Chill, Big Guy. Keep out of this.”

Merlin stared back. “It’s none of your concern, Galahad.”

“None of my concern?” Disbelief underlaid what Tessa could only call a bellow. “’Tis of great concern to me. My name has been bandied about without care as to my presence. You speak of a quest I know naught of. ’Tis most perplexing and annoying to be discussed by a wizard and a mere woman with no knowledge of the issue at hand.” Galahad was a huge, barely controlled mass of righteous indignation. Wow. He really was impressive. Especially angry.

“Mere woman?” Tessa shook her head and directed her words at Merlin. “Am I going to have to put up with that? Can’t you turn him into a toad or something?”

“I prefer not to at this juncture.” Merlin shrugged. “However, I would not rule it out in the future.”

“He doesn’t know about the quest, does he?”

“What quest!” Galahad roared.

Merlin ignored him. “Not as of yet. The idea has always hovered in the back of his mind but the time was not right. And until His Majesty returns—”

“His Majesty? You mean Arthur?” Unexpected excitement flashed through her.

“Indeed. The king’s return is expected within a few days.” Merlin cast Galahad a benign smile. “All will be explained then, my boy.”

“I would you explain now, my lord Wizard,” Galahad growled.

“Trust me on this one, pal.” Tessa tried to put her arm around his shoulders but he was way too tall for her. Instead, she rested her hand on his arm. “You don’t want to know.”

“Why, Tessa St. James, you surprise me.” Merlin clucked his tongue. “Galahad will be delighted by the news. It’s what he’s always wanted. His destiny.”

“Yeah.” She heaved a heavy sigh. “But he never expected me to be a part of it.”

“So, it’s agreed then.” Merlin’s words were for her alone. “You will accompany him.”

“I guess. I don’t know why I keep fighting it.”

Merlin’s gaze bored into hers. “You have a stubborn spirit, my dear. You have a strength you do not suspect. And there is a capacity within you for greatness. It is why you were chosen.”

“Swell.” She smiled weakly. “So it wasn’t just because I don’t believe?”

Merlin laughed softly. “That is but the icing on the cake. There are countless numbers who share your disbelief. But you are special.”

“Thanks.” She glanced at Galahad. “So what’s in the works for us until the king gets home?”

“Galahad, Lady Tessa is a visitor to Camelot from a land very far from our own—”

“Takes years to get there,” she muttered.

“—I should be grateful if you were to serve as her escort. Show her the castle and the kingdom.”

Galahad swept a low bow. “I would be delighted, my lord. I should like very much to know more of the fair Tessa.”

“I’ll bet,” she said under her breath. “It could be worse, I guess. I could be dead.”

“That’s looking on the bright side, Tessa. You are in for a remarkable adventure, you know.” Merlin’s black eyes glowed. “One you will never forget.”

“I doubt if I’ve ever had a real adventure.” Anticipation trickled through her. Was she actually looking forward to this?

“Of course you are, my dear.” Merlin grinned. “And you well should be.”

“Okay.” She threw up her hands in surrender. “What do we do first?”

“First, I should like you to become familiar with the times and the land you now find yourself in. Acclimate yourself, as it were. Galahad will help.”

“’Twould be my pleasure and honor.” Galahad smiled and Tessa stifled a groan at the look in his eye. Middle Ages or twenty-first century, obviously men were all alike. She had no doubt this one had a very definite quest in mind that had nothing to do with the Grail and everything to do with adventure of a far different nature. She’d have to watch him.

“So what’s first on the tour?” She smiled up at him. His eyes really were remarkable. A woman of any era could drown in their blue depths and count herself lucky for the demise. Still, Tessa had a job to do.

“I…” Distinct discomfort crossed Galahad’s face. He cleared his throat and tossed Merlin a helpless look. “My lord, I think…that ’twould be best…”

“Her clothes?” Merlin nodded knowingly.

“Damn. I forgot about that. I suppose when in Rome…” She cocked her head at Merlin. “I assume you can do something here?”

“Certainly, my dear.” The wizard straightened the cuff of his gown. “If you are willing to trust my, what was that word, oh yes, ‘trite’ sense of fashion.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so nasty. I was just lashing out. Today hasn’t turned out the way I thought it would when I woke up this morning.”

“Think nothing of it, my dear.” A gracious note underlaid his words. “I quite understand. Now, is there a particular color you prefer?”

“I think the fair Tessa would be beyond compare in gold,” Galahad said with a quiet intensity. “’Twould match the flecks in her eyes, deep and velvet as a doe’s.”

“And I thought they were just brown.” She gazed at him and realized she wouldn’t just have to watch him. She’d have to watch herself. She jerked her gaze to Merlin. “Actually, all those mustard yellows are really bad on me. They make my skin look sallow and sick. I’d prefer something dark, a jewel tone, green, red, blue, something like that.”

“Very well.” Merlin’s figure grew faint. “Galahad, I shall leave our guest in your capable hands.” Only his black eyes lingered. A queasy sensation settled in her stomach. She’d never get used to this. “My dear, I shall see you later.” At once, even his eyes were gone.

“Hey,” she said to absolutely no one. “What about my clothes?”

“My lady.” Galahad nodded. “I believe that has been resolved.”

Tessa glanced down and sighed heavily. Merlin
had indeed changed her twenty-first-century attire to something more appropriate for a medieval king’s court. A gown hugged her breasts then flowed to the floor in a wide sweep of soft fabric. Embroidered flowers and birds danced around the bodice in colorful abandon. Here and there threads of gold caught the light and winked and glittered. It was in many respects a magnificent gown.

Except, of course, that it was a truly horrible shade of mustard yellow.

“O
kay, Big Guy.” Lady Tessa sighed. “What’s next?”

Galahad studied her silently. Only a fool would think her a lad now. Her hair was freed from its bonds and glowed golden in the shafts of sunshine and light reflected like stars in the dark of her eyes. The gown produced by the wizard’s hand molded to the curves of her hips and the swell of her breasts like the soft leather of a fine glove. By the heavens, she was a woman to warm the bed of any man.

Her eyes narrowed. “What are you looking at?”

If any man could get past the stubborn thrust of her chin and the defiant gleam in her eye. Still, ’twas said the true thrill of the tigress was in the taming. “The gown becomes you, my lady.”

“It’s really a bit much.” She raised her arm and glanced down at the dress. Abruptly, her eyes widened. “Why that son of a bi—wizard. He took my und—”

Galahad drew his brows together. “Is something amiss?”

“Something is definitely missing, all right. I know this is probably historically accurate and all that but I’m not used to going without any—”

“Without what, my lady?”

A charming blush spread up her cheeks. ’Twas the same when she’d spoken of her
boobs
. Galahad bit back a smile.

“Never mind.” Her voice was curt.

“But if I can lend my assistance—”

“No.” She shook her head. “Thanks anyway.”

Pity. ’Twould be an interesting game to discover what article the damsel did without that distressed her so.

“I’ll deal with Merlin when I see him.”

“As you wish.”

She eyed him curiously. “This doesn’t throw you at all, does it?”

“Throw me?”

“Bother you? Upset you? A strange woman pops up out of nowhere, with clothes you’ve never seen before, using words you’ve never heard and you just take it all in stride. How come?”

“Your speech is indeed odd, my lady.” He shrugged. “As is your manner. Still, when one is used to the ways of wizards, one accepts, nay expects, the unusual.”

“Well, I’ll never accept it. We don’t have wizards where I come from.”

“No wizards? But then you must have sorcerers of some kind?”

She shook her head.

“Magicians?”

“Nope. No wizards, no sorcerers and the only magicians I know of get TV specials or play Vegas if they’re good, kids’ parties if they’re not.”

TV specials? Vegas?
The unfamiliar terms danced in his head. He was not an idiot—nay, he prided himself on his intelligence, yet with every word, this
woman muddled his mind. Perhaps he was right to begin with. Perhaps she was addle brained. He chose his words with care. “How can this be?”

She raised her shoulders in a casual gesture of dismissal. “We don’t need them.”

“Surely in your land ordinary mortals are not bestowed with the gift of magic?”

“Of course not. We don’t believe in magic. A card trick or two but no magic.” A superior smile quirked her lips.

“I cannot accept such a thing. ’Tis impossible. How can such a land survive without wizards to help slay your dragons or defend your people?” He narrowed his eyes. “From where do you hail?”

“The U.S., United States. Nebraska, originally.”

“I have not heard of such a place,” he said slowly.

“That’s a surprise.” She laughed. ’Twas a lovely sound. Not the sound of a woman mad. Still…“It’s pretty far from here. Head north, hang a left at the ocean and aim toward the setting sun. Eventually, you’ll hit it.”

“’Tis nothing past the horizon but the end of the world.”

“I know I’m going to kick myself for asking this one, but ‘the end of the world’? Are you kidding?”

“Kidding?”

“Joking? Jesting?” She sighed. “If I’m going to have to explain every little word to you, we’ll never get anywhere.”

“I am not a fool, Lady Tessa.” He considered her for a long moment. If indeed she was unused to magic, had her encounter with Merlin left her confused? Would this bewilderment then pass? He certainly hoped so.
The thought was preferable to the idea that the wizard had left him to care for a creature as demented as she was lovely. He resolved to be kinder and gentler to the lady.

“’Tis a fact, my lady.” He spoke with the care he would show a small child. “Beyond the horizon, the world ends. The oceans themselves empty over a great waterfall guarded by the dragons and serpents of the seas.”

“Oh, come on, get real.”

“No one has ever returned from such a voyage,” he said carefully.

“I hate the Middle Ages.” She groaned and pulled a deep breath. “Get ready for a shock, pal.” She glanced from side to side as if to ensure their privacy. “There is no waterfall. No dragons. No serpents. The earth does not end. The world is round. Like a big ball.”

He stared for a long moment than burst into laughter. “Now I know you jest.”

“It’s no joke. Seriously, the world is a ball, a globe spinning through space, circling the sun. That’s it. Period.”

“By all that is holy, woman, mad or not, you are an entertaining female.” He grinned down at her, crossing his arms over his chest. “So tell me this, fair Tessa, if it is as you say, a spinning ball, why do we not fall off?”

She sighed once more. “It’s something called gravity. We’re spinning so fast it keeps us on the ball. Er, on the earth.”

“Ah hah!” He shook his finger at her. “Now I have you. If we are indeed spinning on this great ball of yours why am I not dizzy?”

“Well, that’s because—”

“I must confess, my lady, I have experienced a time or two where the swift turn of a current or the whirl of a sprightly dance after too much mead has made my head reel. Why does it not spin now?”

“I don’t know,” she snapped. “We’re going too fast to feel it I guess. Beats me!”

“Have you proof of this spinning ball?” He cast her a pitying look.

“No. Not really.” She clenched her jaw. “I teach Greek lit, not physics.”

“Then you have no proof?”

Lady Tessa folded her arms over her chest in a mimicry of his own stance. “I know what I know.”

He raised a brow. “’Tis not an acceptable argument. I know what I know as well. I know the world is flat like a platter. I further know the seas of the world pour over the edge. And I know the waters are watched by monstrous creatures. That is the truth of it.”

“Oh?” She smirked. “And where’s your proof, pal?”

He scoffed. “No one has ever returned from the ends of the earth.”

“Then you have no proof either.”

“My dear lady,” he leaned toward her, “that
is
my proof.”

“Hah! That doesn’t prove anything.”

He grinned with the satisfaction of knowing he had bested a surprisingly astute opponent. No, Lady Tessa was not insane, nor was she an idiot. And there was indeed the tiniest possibility the people of her land believed this spinning ball nonsense. If so, what other amusing tales might she tell?

“I give up.” She shrugged in resignation. “Have it your own way. The world is flat.”

“Period.”

“Period. When in Rome…” she said under her breath.

He laughed. What a pleasant diversion she would be. With luck she was a widow. Her age would dictate thus. Surely one as comely as she was not still a virgin. He’d had his fill of virgins. They wanted wedlock and he would not trod that path again. But he could well enjoy the company of this lady until the king’s return. Then he would lay his boon before Arthur and ask, nay demand, the king’s permission to fulfill his destiny. He was nearly eight and twenty and it was past time.

“So, are you going to show me around this place or what?”

He held out his arm. “’Twould be my pleasure, Lady Tessa.”

“Would you cut out the ‘Lady Tessa’ stuff?”

“Cut out?”

“Just call me Tessa. Okay?”

“As you wish.” He grinned. “Okay.”

She groaned. “It just doesn’t sound the same coming from a man in tights. Wait a minute.” She turned and snatched up a book from the floor. “Now I’m ready.” She linked her free arm through his.

“What is the purpose of that?” He nodded at the book. It was small and odd in appearance, and she held it close against her as one would grasp a talisman or a charm imbued with great magic or power.

“I don’t know for sure but I’m not letting it out of my sight.” She clutched it tighter. “It might be my ticket home, or at least my passport.”

He smiled to himself. He was not at all certain exactly what she meant but her actions spoke for themselves. Regardless of her words, the lady lied.

She did indeed believe in magic.

“I knew it. It stinks.” Tessa blinked against the bright sunlight and wrinkled her nose.

“I smell nothing amiss. ’Tis a good, healthy scent.” Galahad drew in a deep breath. “The smell of nature, of existence itself. Man and beasts at one with the world.”

“Call it what you want but it’s horse manure and bodies that don’t know the meaning of the word
bath
. It reeks.” Tessa scanned the area. She and Galahad stepped from the cool stone confines of the castle into a courtyard. The area was huge, surrounded by a tall wall constructed of the same type of stone used for the building behind them. Some kind of granite probably. Square towers joined each wall to the next. “You have one thing right though, there’s definitely a lot of life here.”

Activity pulsed around her. The busy scene bore a vague resemblance to all the old movies she’d ever seen that had anything to do with knights or the Middle Ages. Except the director of this flick apparently operated under the principle of quantity instead of quality. The place was lined with sheds, or maybe stalls. Carts loaded with hay or barrels lumbered through open spaces. Mounted riders armed with lethal-looking swords and dogs yapping at their horses’ heels maneuvered through knots of chatting women. Chickens and geese, obviously far smarter than they looked, wandered freely, avoiding the oblivious hooves
of oxen or the wheels of their wagons. Noise of every type imaginable filled the air. Metal clanged against metal. Goats bleated and roosters crowed. The high-pitched tone of an argument sounded here, the laughter of a child there.

“I have one hell of an imagination.” Tessa shook her head. “Talk about sensory overload.”

Galahad heaved a long-suffering sigh. “’Tis not the first thing you’ve said today, my lady, that muddles my mind.”

“Sorry. Sensory overload is…well…all this.” Tessa waved at the scene. “There’s so much going on here. It’s overwhelming.”

“’Tis life, Tessa.” Galahad raised a brow. “Is it so different from your own land?”

“Different is an understatement. There’s no way you could understand just how different.”

“Perhaps.” He shrugged as if he didn’t really care one way or the other and started off through the courtyard. Here and there he’d stop to point out an item he thought of interest, the perfect medieval tour guide. From the chapel he’d taken her down a corridor to a wide, winding stone staircase and outside, muttering something about starting from the beginning. The Big Guy probably wasn’t used to anything as menial as showing around a visitor and a woman at that. Tessa suppressed a grin. Even in her own comatose mind she managed to create a man who looked like her wildest dreams but acted like every macho hero in every movie she’d ever really loved. And she, of course, was the heroine who took him down a peg or two.

Tessa refused to give up the ever dimmer hope of accidents, hospitalization and coma. It was easier
to accept that she might be fighting for her life in a hospital than all this. Oh sure, everything seemed real enough, from the hard-packed earth beneath her feet to Sir Hunk at her side and the smells and the sounds that blurred around her. But no one, not fate, not Fred Astaire, would really do this to her. She was a decent person. She’d never really hurt anybody. Oh, she was a little bitchy at times but she did not deserve this. No one deserved the Middle Ages.

Galahad stopped and Tessa nearly stumbled into him. He narrowed his eyes and observed a group of young men, boys really, armed with wooden swords and small shields fighting each other in what was apparently some kind of lesson.

“What is this? Knight school?” She stifled a giggle at the double meaning.

“’Tis important work.” He studied the activity, his brow furrowed. “Honing the skills necessary to do the king’s bidding takes a great deal of practice. This hour of the day is reserved for those still learning their craft. Excellent, Bartholomew,” he called.

A blond youth who couldn’t have been much older than thirteen threw a quick grin over his shoulder and turned back to the mock battle he was engaged in with youthful enthusiasm.

“Bartholomew is my squire. He’s a good lad. ’Tis like a son to me.” He stopped, his expression darkened.

“You don’t have any children?”
What about a wife?

“No.” The single word was clipped and sharp. Galahad turned and strode off. Apparently this was not a subject for discussion. She scrambled after him. Was a wife a forbidden topic as well?

“So, um, this is Camelot, huh?”

“No.”

“But I thought—”

“Come.”

He strode toward the wall and the nearest tower; she struggled to match her shorter stride to his. Galahad pushed open a heavy wooden door and stepped inside. A spiral stone staircase stretched upward. He took the stairs two at a time.

“Hey, wait up.” She panted up the stairs. Damn. If she’d used her Nordic Track more for exercise and less for hanging her laundry she wouldn’t be in this shape. She reached the top and stepped through the open doorway. “So, what are we doing here anyway?”

“You wished to see Camelot.” On the side of the five-foot-wide walkway he stood on, the wall facing the castle reached to about his waist. The outer wall was a few inches taller than Galahad with gaps at regular intervals stretching nearly a third of the way down.
Crenelated.
The word popped into her head. If she remembered right, it was what made a basic fortified mansion a true castle. “See for yourself.”

She stepped forward and gazed through a gap to the scene beyond the walls and gasped.

“Wow.” The setting laid out before her took her breath away “It’s gorgeous.” The castle stood a bit higher than the surrounding lands and the ground rolled away beyond the walls a short distance to a fairly good sized village. On the other side of the castle, a meadow stretched to a forest with only a single small tree to break the expanse. Gentle hills and valleys lay beyond the town. Sheep dotted the pastures. The grass was so green it might have been painted, like
faded AstroTurf revitalized for a new football season. The sky was the color of a pale sapphire. A few lazy clouds drifted across the blue expanse as if to punctuate nature’s perfection. “Spring,” she said under her breath.