Fatal Fairies (Renaissance Faire Mystery Book 8) by Joyce Lavene, Jim Lavene Page A

continued to narrate what was happening. “It appears the squire has been injured. I do hope the joust will continue.”
    To make matters worse, our coastal weather kicked in, and it started raining again. I couldn’t get up on my own. I wasn’t seriously hurt, but I was dazed. I couldn’t figure out what was going on.
    Starshine was laughing and doing some kind of happy dance as the rain drenched her. Her tiny face was turned toward the sky.
    “What are you so happy about?” I asked her. “Did you do that on purpose? You could’ve killed me.”
    “Just wait for it,” she sang out gleefully. “You’re going to love the results.”
    “She’s talking out of her head,” Chase said to the medic who was always on standby during jousts. “But we can’t leave her here in the rain. I’ll take her to my dressing room. Alert the ambulance when it gets here.”
    “Of course, Sir Knight,” the young man replied.
    “Take it easy, Jessie.” Chase lifted me in his arms and started walking toward his dressing room. “You’ll be fine.”
    “I’m fine now,” I told him. “No head injury. No broken bones. No ambulance. Isn’t that Village policy for employees?”
    “You’re not fine, unless you were saying that I did this to you on purpose.” He scrutinized my face. “You were talking out of your head.”
    “Well you said you wanted to get rid of me.” I grinned. “But I know you didn’t mean this way. I was talking to the Mystery Knight. Who was he anyway?”
    “I don’t know.” He pushed open the door to his dressing room. “But he’s sloppy, throwing something like that without any kind of warning.”
    “I’ve seen it dozens of times. I think people forget this isn’t a real competition.”
    He put me down on the lumpy, broken sofa and stood back to stare at me. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re going to have a black and blue mark on your forehead. That rubber is hard when it hits you with no protection.”
    I sat up a little too quickly and was immediately dizzy. “Really. I’m fine. It hurts but nothing life threatening.”
    There was a quick knock at the door before the medic opened it. “The Main Gate says it’s too hard to get the ambulance through the crowd. They suggest we bring her down there if we really think it’s necessary.”
    “It’s not.” I wobbled to my feet, but was able to stand without help. “Tell them to send it back. Thanks.”
    He glanced at Chase, who nodded after a moment. The medic disappeared to alert the Main Gate and the ambulance.
    “All right. If you think you’re not hurt,” he said to me. “Let’s at least find you somewhere comfortable to lie down.”
    It was extremely odd that Tony came rushing in at that moment. He had a crazy expression on his face as though he’d been slapped in the head with a rubber battle axe instead of me.
    “Jessie? Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine. Were you watching the joust?” Tony usually doesn’t hang out at the Field of Honor. Too much like work for him.
    “No.” He put his hand to his forehead. “The last thing I remember, I was talking to a pretty girl in a yellow gown by the Lady Fountain. Next thing I knew, I was here. At least that’s what it feels like. I think I need to lie down.”
    “Not here,” I discouraged. Maybe my fairy godmother had set this up so Chase and I would have some quiet time together. I wasn’t going to mess that up after she had the axe hit me.
    “Well I can’t go to my place,” he blurted. “There was a flood this morning—broken water pipe. I’m not sure where either of us is going to sleep tonight. Have you completely split with the Bailiff? Maybe we could both sleep there.”
    “No!” Chase said abruptly. “I’m taking Jessie to the castle. You can sleep here tonight, Tony, if you like.”
    “Thanks.” Tony stared at me with a question in his eyes. “Are you and Jessie—?”
    “We’re not.” I wished he’d shut up. “Don’t worry about me. Why don’t