She’s not alone

Kelly had almost managed to relax when the guard returned.

“After which, sir, Lord Rosenburg wants to meet with you for-“ Mary, the guard from before, rounded to corner of the open area Cherry and Tami had brought Kelly to dance. “Ah, here she is. Just like you asked.”

Kelly turned to the approaching figures and felt his heart nearly jump out of his chest. The man with her had dark flowing robes patterned with stars and staff adorned with a crystal ball on top. His hair was dark as was the long, twisty mustache on his lip.

The wizard concocting the very plot, Lazaro!

“I had heard we had a visitor, one unexpected.” Lazaro raised an eyebrow. “You’re telling me it was this girl?”

Kelly felt like a rabbit looking directly up into the talons of a hawk. What could he do? If Lazaro didn’t believe the story, how could he fight back? Just look at him!

“Yes, sir.” Mary nodded. “A new dancer.”

Lazaro’s eyes narrowed. “I wasn’t aware that we were expecting a new girl.”

Cherry crossed her arms. “Maybe that’s because you don’t need to know about every little thing we do. Us girls need our privacy. She’s had a bad enough time getting here, don’t be mean!”

Lazaro raised a hand to his chin. “Is that so…?”

Kelly shivered, his voice caught in his throat. He couldn’t defend himself at all!

Tami stepped forward, poking Lazaro’s chest. “Her carriage crashed at the river and she had to walk the rest of the way in some yucky ugly clothes. You can gawk at her later when we’re all dancing, got it?”

Lazaro looked down at where Tami poked him, but, surprisingly, his face looked a bit flustered.

“Alright, alright.” Lazaro cleared his throat, overly dramatically placing his hand over his chin and grinning. “I was simply worried that a ner-do-well had broken into our fair castle. It is actually a relief to find things are as they should be.”

Lazaro lifted his eye to Kelly, studying him from head to toe with that grin growing. “Especially if there is a pretty little blonde flower in your ranks. I’m looking forward to seeing those hips in motion.”

Kelly went stiff. Did the-did he? Was the wizard flirting with him?

Cherry rolled her eyes, but she giggled. “I’m sure. She’s too cute for you, Laz! Now, leave so we can practice.”

Mary nodded, gesturing at the wizard to follow. As she lead him away, Lazaro turned back to blow a kiss to Kelly.

He got a chill, imagination a bit too vividly having it land on his cheek.

Tami sighed, but her mood still seemed cheerful. “Sorry about him. Wizard Lazaro takes his duties seriously…but has a major weak spot for girls.”

“Oh. Okay.” Kelly was too stunned to say much more.

He was a knight(in training). Why was he dressed as a girl and his enemy blowing him kisses? How things ended up this way, he couldn’t even fathom.

But he still had a mission. If he was going to get a chance to expose Lazaro’s scheme to Lord Rosenburg, he needed to become a convincing dancer girl.