TONIGHT THERE’S ONLY ONE SHOW AT THE CASTLE.
Normally we have two every day, but Len combined them into one evening show so the Corporate folks would have time to look around and so we could really fill the seats.
Not that we’d have any problem doing that based on how crowded the lobby is.
“Good thing you invited half of Chicago to this show,” whispers Jett as we thread our way through the growing crowd.
I grin at him. I’ve been flouting rules for weeks now. Maybe I can convince him that our Unbreakable Rules are really worth breaking. “Let’s talk after the show, okay? About that video and—”
A hand grabs my arm, pulling me away from Jett. “Hi, Kit!” says Isabel, the production assistant from Good Morning, Chicago! She stands with an older woman and an adorable little girl, who wears a knight’s tunic and has her long dark hair braided into a crown around her head.
“I’m so glad you made it!” I say. “Who’d you bring to the show tonight?”
“This is my mother, and this is my niece, Sofia,” says Isabel, smiling as she points to them. “Thanks for putting those tickets aside for us.”
Sofia brandishes a light-up sword. “When are you going to ride? Where are the horses? Can I be a knight when I grow up?”
“Soon. The horses are in the back, getting ready for the show. And you can most definitely be a knight when you grow up. Keep your eyes on the arena. We’ve got a big surprise planned tonight.”
Layla, Alex, and Mags wave to her, and Sofia’s eyes widen.
“If you have time,” says Isabel, “maybe we can grab a quick interview after the show? Bettina wanted a follow-up, so we’ll be filming tonight.”
“You got permission to film?” I ask skeptically.
Isabel points toward a cameraman standing at the edge of the Great Hall, filming the crowd. “Your boss seemed quite keen, in fact. He said you’ll be riding out with the male Knights as part of a special exhibition.”
“He’s got part of it right. But we’ve got a bit more planned. See you after the show!”
“Go, Girl Knight!” shouts Sofia.
I wave to her, and Jett and I keep walking. We stroll right past Len, who’s too busy kissing up to the Corporate folks—two women and a young guy, all of them in nice suits and carrying clipboards—to notice us.
“We’re really into changing our image here,” says one of the women.
“I couldn’t agree more,” says Len, chuckling. “Time to take this place out of the Middle Ages and move it into the twenty-first century. I have a special surprise planned for you tonight. Our very own Girl Knight is going to ride out with the other Knights for the first part of the show.”
The two women exchange a wary look. I roll my eyes with them. They’re certainly going to get more of a show than that.
Chris, walking with the help of Penny’s arm, leads us away from the crowd and to the Knights’ locker room.
“Are we supposed to go in there?” asks Lizzy doubtfully. “I don’t think they’re going to just welcome us.”
“Think again,” says Chris.
Penny pushes the door open and we follow her into what looks a lot like a normal locker room, except for the colorful heraldic banners that divide the room into each knight’s section. The last time I was in here, when I first fought as the Red Knight, I was in too much of a hurry to pay attention to details. Now, I take it all in. Costumes hang from racks, and there’s an entire wall of weapons. Of course, there’s also a lingering smell that’s a combo of BO and horses, and the showers look suspiciously like those in the high school gym locker room.
“Welcome!” says Austin. He stands with the Yellow, Black-and-White, and Blue Knights. “We’re here to help you get suited up and settled on the horses. If you have any last-minute questions, let us know.”
“I have a question,” calls out Alex. “How are you all so cool with this? Won’t we be taking shifts away from you if we get hired as Knights?”
Austin shrugs. “Some of us have been wanting to move on to different jobs—I actually have a degree in finance, and I want to work downtown.”
“And there’s more than enough work to go around,” adds Chris. “It’s exhausting doing two shows a night. I’d love to cut down to just one.”
“Same,” says the Yellow Knight. He’s a white guy in his midthirties who’s been fighting as a Knight since before Chris started. “I’m getting too old for two shows a night.”
“Plus, it’s just the right thing to do,” adds the Blue Knight. “All of us feel that way. Except for Dalton. But he quit this afternoon, so that’s kind of a win.”
The other Knights laugh, and we laugh with them. It’s like we’re one big happy knightly family.
I look around the room. There’s someone standing in the Green Knight’s area, getting dressed. His faux chain mail hood is pulled up over his head, but when he lowers it, his red panda mullet hair is visible to all. I groan.
“Is Eric riding out tonight?” I ask Chris.
“As the Green Knight. He’s the only one who wouldn’t give up his spot.”
“Of course,” says Layla, rolling her eyes. “It’s okay though. I can’t wait to pulverize him out there. Do you know the kinds of photos he was texting me before I blocked his number?”
I scowl. “I’m very comfortable with all of us going through the routines we practiced. And also making it our personal mission to defeat Eric Taylor.”
“Hear! Hear!” Mags and Alex say together. Eric shoots us a death glare and continues getting ready.
There’s a loud trumpet of fanfare, telling us it’s ten minutes until showtime. We all hurry to get dressed.
“Showtime.” I put my helmet on. “Let’s go storm the Castle.”