Winchester beyond my window was still swathed in deep gray fog as I blinked away my dream, pushed Althea’s book out of the way, and opened my door.

Bear moved impatiently in the corridor. “Good morning, Seneschal-elect.”

“What are you doing here?” I whispered, squinting against the lamplight. “It’s not even seven o’clock.”

“And it already looks like a carnival outside.” He leaned in, as if to put a hand on my shoulder, then thought better of it; but his face was almost pleading. “Trust me, Selah. You don’t want to miss it all because you were asleep.”

I met his eyes, bright blue and giddy as a child’s.

I didn’t know what to make of this. Of him, like this.

How could I say no?

“Give me a few minutes.”

Bear’s smile was a lit candlewick: tentative, and then glowing. “I’ll wait.”

Tired though I was, Winchester was alive, dawning pink and orange and luminous. The cool air and the brisk clop-clop-clop of hooves against cobblestones swept away my sleepy haze and set my pulse surging. And down the high street, teeming with vendors and tournament-goers leading horses and drawing carts and bustling in and out of stores and homes and inns, Bear kept near me, hand just above my back.

He didn’t touch me. But I felt him, close, close at my side.

The village green was a crowded party beneath the glowing morning sky. All around us went up calls from men and women hawking wares and taking bets on who would win the joust that morning and the melee later that afternoon. Bunting strung across stalls snapped in a breeze scented with flowers and tea and roast meat and pastries. As we talked, I did my best to take it all in: the busy stalls and the empty dais beneath King Constantine’s green-and-gold coat of arms and the horses, everywhere horses, stamping and snorting and gleaming in the early light. “So,” I prompted. “Are you going to compete?”

Bear toed a rock with his shoe, pouting. “I’m not allowed.”

“Why not?”

“Because.” Bear tipped his head at me. “I’m supposed to be looking after you.” His mouth was still sullen, but his eyes were teasing.

I opened my mouth and then shut it, suddenly self-conscious. “I’m so sorry. I don’t mean to be a—”

“It’s not your fault.” Bear shook his head. “Besides, I expect I’ll enjoy the day regardless.”

I couldn’t admit how his smile threw me off-balance. But this time, I didn’t look away.

When it was time for the joust, we took our seats on the dais, next to the prince and the king. At a word from His Majesty, it began.