Twisting the Pole Read online

  Viv chuckled. “I was thinking more of you going to get some lunch.”

  Cora winked. “I will do that on the way back.”

  “Good. I could go for a meat pie and lemonade.”

  “I will see what I can do.” Cora gathered the medallions in a leather bag, and she left her shop to walk through the bustling pathways where holiday shoppers wanted gifts with a twist.

  She greeted the familiar faces as she passed and waved to a few that were too far to speak to.

  Over a dozen courtiers occupied the pavilion that housed the baron and baroness. Cora joined the line and waited her turn.

  She had to admit, she could see the appeal in playing dress-up and enjoying modern hygiene with the prettiest parts of the past. It was far more fun than staying indoors.

  When she got to the front of the line, she was announced.

  “Artisan and silversmith, Mistress Cora.”

  Cora curtsied and inclined her head.

  “What do you have for us, Mistress Cora?” The baroness, Lily Hogarth, smiled brightly.

  “I have brought the commission that you ordered for the knights. They are completed and ready for when you wish to disperse them.”

  Baroness Hogarth smiled. “Excellent. May I see them?”

  Cora stepped forward, and the baroness and her ladies oohed and ahhed over the designs on the medallions.

  “You have outdone yourself. These are amazing.”

  Cora smiled and watched the ladies as they tucked the boxes back into the bag.

  “I hope that the knights enjoy them. Thank you for your patronage.” She had already been paid, so her link to the silver craft was complete.

  “We are delighted to have such a talented artisan in our barony.”

  She nodded again. “I will return to my shop now. My poor assistant is keeping up with the public demand. Have a bright day.”

  She bowed and backed away until she was swallowed in the crowd, and then, she turned her back and walked out of the pavilion and back into the throng.

  Cora headed to the meat-pie vendor and got Viv her fix. Viv was easier to work with if she was kept fed and watered at regular intervals.

  As soon as she got back to the shop she handed Viv the warm pie and the tankard of lemonade. “Here you go.”

  “So, how much did they love them?” Viv tucked into her meal while perched on a high stool.

  Cora brushed the crumbs from her lips that were testament to her own hasty meal. “There was a lot of squealing.”

  She settled some stone moulds on the edge of the small forge to warm.

  Viv mumbled, “I can imagine. When are they going to give them out?”

  Cora shrugged. “There is the jousting this weekend. Probably there.”

  “You don’t want to be there?”

  “Not particularly. My part of it is done.”

  Viv shook her head. “You are so odd. One would think that you would want the praise that comes with the artistry.”

  Cora shrugged and started to melt some silver. “I like making things.”

  Viv sighed and finished her meal, taking a break to drop off the lemonade tankard and flirt with the pie man or, possibly, his wife. Cora didn’t know which Viv preferred, but that was her business.

  The slight scrape of someone touching her counter brought Cora around. She turned and smiled. “Yes?”

  It was the knight from the previous night.

  “Oh, hello, Sir Salk.”

  “Mistress Cora, it is good to see you in the light of day.”

  She walked up to the counter and leaned against it. Yes, she was showcasing her breasts, but in the laced-up bodice that the faire goers preferred, it was impossible not to show off her cleavage to anyone taller than she was.

  He smiled. “It is very good to see you.”

  She took in his loose laced-up shirt and the snug fit of his leggings. “You look downright casual this shining day.”

  He grinned. “It is much better for the afternoon. When we do the fight demo, I will gear up.”

  “And sweat through the fighting.”

  He shrugged. “The price of employment.”

  “I am sure that you enjoy it.”

  Salk inclined his head. “I definitely do. That brings me to the reason that I am here.”

  She inclined her head. “Do tell.”

  “I am asking you to be my lady at the fights. I am asking for your favour and will win for your honour.”

  Cora cocked her head. “If you lose, will I lose my honour?”

  Salk drew himself up to his full height, and she felt a strange ripple of recognition. There was something familiar about the way he moved.

  “I will not lose.”

  She shook herself out of the déjà vu and smiled. “I will have to come up with a favour. Just a moment while I check my stock.”

  She walked to the rear of the shop and opened a few drawers when she found what she was looking for.

  She pulled the leather necklace with the small charm on it out of the box and brought it with her. “When do you need it?”

  He glanced down at it. “Just before the fight. I will pledge myself to fight for you, and you can put it on me then.”

  Cora nodded. “When is the fight?”

  “At four.”

  She sighed. “I will see you there.”

  He lifted her hand to his lips, and he pressed a kiss to it. “I look forward to it.”

  Her skin tingled, and she stared after him as he disappeared as quietly as he had arrived.

  Viv returned and took one look at Cora before gasping, “What the hell happened to you?”

  Cora blinked. “What?”

  “You are smiling. It is a really wide smile. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

  Cora shrugged. “I think I just got a date... kinda.”

  “Really? Tell all.” Viv came behind the counter and settled on her stool.

  “I am going to the fights at four, and I get to be one of the ladies. It sounds a bit boring but fun at the same time.”

  Viv grinned. “Who is your knight?”

  “Sir Salk Arthwait.”

  Viv gasped. “Oh, he is really hot.”

  “He is rather pretty in a dark, broody kind of way.” Cora shrugged.

  “Sure, we can go with that. Frankly, I wasn’t sure if you were into boys or girls. None of my business.” Viv grinned. “So, is that what you are wearing to the fights?”

  Cora nodded. “It is. I am not changing into something fancy just to be seen.”

  “At least change into the leather bodice with the silver trim. It doesn’t look like you were putting cigarettes out on it.”

  Cora looked down and acknowledged the burn marks. “I will concede that point. How long do I have?”

  Viv fished into her bodice and pulled out her cellphone. “You have two hours.”

  “Good. Tell me when I am down to thirty minutes so I can change. I still have work to do.”

  A few small beeps and Viv nodded. “Done. Alarm is set.”

  “Excellent. Now, off to work.”

  Cora spent the next ninety minutes melting, pouring and polishing, as she did every day, in full view of the public.

  When Viv’s timer went off, she faked a coughing fit and went to the back of the shop to turn it off.

  Cora seamlessly finished the transaction that she was in the middle of, and when Viv had recovered from her technological fit, she wrapped the earrings in soft suede and tied them with a leather tie before sending the purchaser on his way.

  Cora went to the back of the shop and took out her fancy bodice, unlacing the stained and burned leather that she was wearing and replacing it with the black and silver.

  She fluffed out her hair and stroked her hands down her dark skirts. Scowling, she poured some water into a basin, and she took the scrub brush to her hands. The black crescents under her nails were part of working w
ith silver. Corrosion set in quickly when you were dealing with shavings.

  The charm was safely tucked in her cleavage, and she ran her hands down her skirts one more time. “How do I look?”

  Viv smirked. “Nervous as hell, but you look good.”

  Cora scowled. “I shouldn’t be nervous.”

  “You can be. It is fine, natural and rather endearing.”

  Cora made another face, triple checked the favour and nodded to Viv. “I will see you when this is over.”

  “You aren’t going to the firing squad. You will just get to sit there and look ladylike.”

  Cora elevated her middle finger before she left their shop and followed the crowd to the four o’clock fight demonstration. It was times like this that Cora wished she had a grip on modern watches. It seemed like a much better alternative than having Viv constantly check her cleavage.

  At the gathering, she settled in the bleachers with the onlookers. The chairs set out for the ladies were empty, so she guessed that the knights would have to come get them.

  When the knights clanked out in their armour and colourful silks, the crowd cheered. Cora had to admit it was impressive, if nothing like the reality of the medieval times.

  The baron and baroness greeted everyone and then called upon the knights to ask a lady for their favour.

  The crowd shifted with excitement, and many of the ladies clutched ribbons that they had gotten in the favour shop. Apparently, the advertising said that the ribbons turned any man into their own personal knight.

  Cora watched as Salk came toward her, but to her shock, another knight locked eyes with her and grinned. She had met him before, and Sir Tahnk was not a person she enjoyed socializing with.

  Salk moved with surprising speed, and he grabbed Tahnk, spun him around and made it to Cora with a few long strides.

  “Lady, may I carry your favour into battle?” His lips were twisted in a smile.

  She reached into her cleavage and pulled out the silver medallion with the flying reindeer on it. “Sir knight, you may.”

  She leaned forward and tied the leather around his neck. His lips were inches from hers, but she pulled back when it was firmly fastened.

  He touched the medallion and tucked it against his neck. “From your breast to mine.”

  He took her hand and led her to the chairs, seating her in the one that had his coat of arms on it.

  A page brought the ten women and two men goblets of lemonade. The knights bowed to the baron and baroness, they bowed to their ladies and paired off as directed for the first fights.

  The first few minutes were about the dance of the battles. At some unspoken signal, the fight turned serious.

  Salk’s opponent went flying. He skidded across the dusty ground and ended up leaning against a support post. Salk raised his helmet and confirmed that he was out.

  His lady sighed in disappointment.

  Cora sat and sipped at her lemonade as Salk waited at the side for his next round.

  She spent the next hour watching fight after fight with Salk always coming out ahead.

  Finally, it was down to Salk and Tahnk.

  Both men were tired, but they faced off with their swords, and the clash was tremendous. They weren’t playing for the crowds; they had some issues to work out.

  The metal-on-metal sound was incredible. Cora clenched her fists together and leaned her body forward as she watched Salk take down the leering idiot who had been following her around since the first day she had turned up at the faire.

  When Tahnk was finally disarmed, the crowd was up on their feet and cheering. Sir Salk came up to her, and he knelt in front of her again. “I have upheld your honour, Mistress.”

  She stood and offered him her hand. “You have done me proud, Sir Salk.”

  He kissed her knuckles, and he got to his feet. The smell of male and sweat mixed with metal was coming from him in waves, but in the heat of the afternoon, it seemed completely right and proper.

  The baron called him forward, and he took her hand in his gauntleted one, walking her toward the dais.

  “Sir Arthwait, you have defeated our greatest knights, and for that, we offer an invitation to the solstice ball for your lady.”

  Cora blinked. “That’s tomorrow.”

  The baron grinned. “It is indeed. I look forward to seeing your skills in the dance, Artisan Metzger.”

  She curtsied and looked at Salk with suspicious eyes. “Did you know about this?”

  He grinned. “Yes, but this was the only way I could figure out to get you to the party.”

  One of the ladies of the court came and gave her a ribbon that would act as her ticket to the party the next night.

  Cora turned to Salk, “Now, what am I to give you for acting so ably as my champion?”

  He opened his mouth, but she pulled him down to her and kissed him quickly, to the hoots of some of the bystanders.

  He seemed shocked when she let him go, but she smiled, curtsied and left the fight grounds without looking back.

  Her grin faded as she entered the kiosks and vendor stalls. She needed a dress.

  When she outlined what was going on, to the amusement Viv, she saw the gleam in her assistant’s eyes. She was in good hands.

  Viv left her for a few minutes, sprinted through the stalls and came back with a handful of business cards. “Go to each one of these places. I have told them what you need, and they just need to take measurements.”

  Two hours later, the components of a spectacular outfit had been accumulated and each vendor had offered her a steep discount. It was now a community event.

  Cora was able to concentrate on her work for the rest of the day until it was time to close shop for the evening.

  Down the lanes, she could hear the music starting up, and Viv was hopping up and down in her leather slippers as she waited for official dismissal.

  “Go, Viv. I will be fine.”

  Cora folded the wooden cover over the front of the shop, locked up with hasps and padlocks from the inside and headed out the back. Viv was long gone when Cora was heading down the lane toward the music.

  Music had always drawn her. Even as a child, she had delighted in any song, rhythm or steady gust of wind that she could colour in her mind with the idea of music.

  She walked up to the back of the crowd and watched the dancers.

  The patterns of the dance were amazing to see. The visitors had been taught the steps and faltered a little, but eventually, they were laughing, stepping and hopping with the rest of the crowd.

  Cora smiled and clapped to the beat with the rest of the watchers.

  Salk was in the midst of the dancers. The young woman who was partnering him looked like she was either going to pass out or hump his leg.

  Cora watched for another two dances, and then, she faded back and headed for her tiny house.

  She passed through security and headed for the camping lot. Her tiny house was parked in one of the spots and hooked up to electricity and water. It amused her every time she walked up to it. The snowflake magic had given her a tiny, portable castle.

  She walked up her steps and slipped inside her home on wheels.

  Cora kept the lights on as she worked on designs inspired by the music and dance. She might never have a chance to make the jewellery, but she was happy to have it down where she could see it.

  A knock at the door pulled her out of creativity and into the real world.

  She moved the small shield that covered the face port and blinked in surprise. “Salk. What are you doing here?”

  He lifted a basket. “I have been told that you often skip dinner. I am prepared to keep your strength up so that you don’t miss the party tomorrow.”

  Cora smiled. “Come in.”

  She opened the door, and he entered the small space.

  Salk looked around. “Interesting. There is every comfort of home.”

  “Which is fo
rtunate, because it is my home.” She took the basket from him and folded a table down from the wall. When it locked in place, she set her burden down and gestured for him to unpack his offering.

  He opened the basket, and she grinned as hamburgers and fries emerged. At the faire, the food he had with him was contraband.

  “I won’t ask how you got that, just like you will forget that you saw this.” She turned to her small kitchen and knelt, pulling the small hatch in the floor open to retrieve two imported beers.

  As she set them down on the table, they frosted over.

  He grinned. “Cooler in the floor?”

  “Something like that.” She gestured for him to take a seat, and she scooted her stool over to the table. “Thank you for the food.”

  “You are welcome. Thank you for the medallion. I was only expecting a ribbon.” He grinned and fished the medal out of his shirt.

  The flying reindeer was one of her favourite designs. She hadn’t wanted to sell it, but she wanted someone to have it. The impulse to give it to him had been intense.

  “It looks good on you.” She bit into the burger and stifled a moan. Cora tried to keep herself calm as she ate, but she was fighting the urge to stuff it all in her face at once.

  Halfway through the meal, she cocked her head. “So, why did you provide me with this luxurious feast?”

  He grinned. “I like you. You were not what I was expecting, and I am pleasantly surprised.”

  She chuckled. The rumour mill at the faires was notorious. It was a community that stretched from sea to sea and across the oceans. Now with the internet, the rumours and gossip could streak along as soon as someone got out of the public eye so they could text.

  Some faires were stricter on the rules of modern conveniences than others, but using a cell phone while in garb was universally frowned upon.

  Salk gestured to the tiny house. “So, how long do you live in here?”

  She shrugged. “Anytime I am away from home.”

  “Where is home?”

  “Up north.” She kept it nice and vague. “You?”

  “The same. I just came here because I was requested to, but I am very glad I did.” He wiped his lips with his napkin, balled it up and tossed it into the basket.

  She tried to change the subject, because his gaze was suddenly intense. “How did you know I like burgers?”