I was on some sort of path that ran between other tents. They all seemed to be made of the same golden brown or green material, and almost every one had tiny dirt chimneys rising from their roofs releasing tendrils of smoke. It was cold, and I was so happy I'd taken the cloak because the top itself wouldn't have done much good.

It was a bit cloudy, though rays of sunlight peeked through, creating dapples of light and shade across the area. Green grass took up what the obvious footpaths did not, making them look almost like dirt sidewalks. Across from me was another tent. There was a stool outside of it, and on the stool was a small ball. An almost delirious excitement mingled with my anxiety, and I inhaled deeply.

"This is real. This is real," I gasped and covered my mouth, trying not to giggle. I had two choices to make. "Right or left?" I asked myself. A pair of shouts from the right alerted me to jumping back, and two small children ran past me squealing with laughter. Each was clutching what looked, and as they vanished, smelled like fresh bread. My stomach decided for me.

"Right it is." Drawing my courage, I headed right, passed three more tents, and found myself in a clearing.

Off to the far end was a line of trees, but the space between them and the tents was crowded. Women and men alike bustled along the clearing as if it were a thoroughfare. Everyone was busy, like the woman who led a team of oxen and the man that scooped a child onto his hip. A group of armored soldiers strolled between the people and the trees. 

Some of the tents opened up to the area, and their occupants had set up stalls. To my immediate left was a merchant who sold wooden dolls. To my right was a well surrounded by people, and beyond that was a meadow where children played. The chatter, animal noises, and clang of armor made my heart skip.

As terrifying as it was to be in a whole new realm, everything around me fueled my fantasy obsession. My growling stomach urged me into the crowd. Something was off to me, but my mind hadn’t quite recovered from its excitement enough to identify it. I moved with the slower flow of pedestrians, eyeing various stalls and ignoring the desire to purchase an enchanted crystal horse or the gold-plated hand mirror. One stall boasted delicious-looking bread, but the woman running it looked overwhelmed by the gaggle of people.

Another stall advertised hand-painted oracle cards. Beside that was a table of hand-dipped candles of various colors. My stomach demanded attention the further I traveled, and I had yet to spot a kitchen tent. When I reached the end of the path I'd been on, I sighed. There had been no kitchen tent at all.

I fiddled with my sleeves, wondering if I could find one of the tents if I turned into the rows. The sun was high in the sky, though still partially hidden, and the rays reflected off something nearby. Turning, I saw a soldier approach another and appeared to be doing a shift change.

"Just walk over and ask for an escort," I said to myself. Belenus' note had told me the brooch I was wearing gave me that authority.

Why bother the men? Stop being stupid. You should just go back and eat the fruit in the tent. My inner voice snorted at me.

"Do you need help, my Lady?" a voice asked. I jumped in surprise.

My eyes flicked up to find that one of the armored soldiers had approached me, his helmet under his arm.

"I didn't mean to startle you," he said. He was a bit shorter up close than he'd first appeared when I spotted him doing the shift change, right around my ex-husband's height; five-ten. His golden-brown eyes were soft with concern when they glanced over my face.

"I'm just a bit skittish. Sorry," I said, and my ears burned. He reached up, pushing back the fine, mesh cowl to reveal his platinum blonde ponytail. Slightly pointed ears displayed the truth of his nature. He wasn't a half-elf, but he definitely wasn't a full human. "I think I'm also a bit lost," I admitted and tried not to shrink away from his inquiring gaze.

"Are you Lady Kemp?" He asked, lips pulling up in a smile. I nodded and looked away to fiddle with my leather bodice's strings. "I am Tadgh, of House Silverthorn." He executed a short but polite bow. I wondered how he could do so with his armor. Only, as his smile widened, I realized what I had thought was bulky plates were actually quite flexible and almost scale-like in design. "Captain Steren left the Eastern Guard word that you may be up and about soon. I imagine you're in search of a kitchen tent, are you not?" His golden eyes seemed to dance as he spoke.

"How'd you know?" I asked. It was impossible not to smile back.

"If I'd been unconscious for four days after battling two shadewolves, tending to someone's wounds, and riding full speed through a moonless forest, I'd be starved," he said with a chuckle. "As it is, the dining tent is on the way to my tent. Come, I'll escort you, Lady Kemp." Then he proffered an elbow, and I took it without hesitation. His easy demeanor had effectively silenced my inner debate.

"Please, call me Grace. Have I really been out for four days?" I asked, and I had begun to wonder if Belenus and Faolán had abandoned me at camp. I bit back a sigh, not wanting my escort to realize I really didn't belong there.

"I'm not sure if you were unconscious the entire time," Tadgh said, leading me toward the tents. "I saw Lord Faolán pull you off of Sir Cadeyrn and carry you into the tent nearly four mornings ago." He guided me around some children playing with dolls. "You seemed like you were barely aware." My cheeks burned in embarrassment. "Oh, don't look so embarrassed. You saved Lord Belenus. The bards will have a name for you soon, mark my words."

"I don't know whether to feel flattered or run away," I said, and I had to look away from him again.

You just shot the damn things. It's not like you fought them with a sword, my mind sneered at me.

"I think risking yourself to save someone is never something to be ashamed of," he said. The wind ruffled the dresses of the women talking at a tent ahead of us, and my stomach growled at the heavy scent of smoked meat. "It's just ahead." We passed the women and an intersection revealing a new path became visible.

"Thank you," I said, speeding up in eagerness to get something in my stomach. "I'm assuming this is where you and I part ways." I turned to face him when we reached the junction and pulled my arm away. He caught my fingers as they left his forearm. He looked thoughtful and bowed slowly.

"I'm afraid so," Tadgh said. I offered him a slight curtsy of my own, not wanting to keep him from his free time. Then he asked, "Before I leave you, Lady Grace, may I speak my mind?" I nodded in confusion.

"Your eyes are far too kind to be shadowed by negative thoughts," he said and smiled sweetly at me. "Your bravery and compassion for the life of a stranger in the night only makes you even more astounding. It's no wonder everyone was talking." My mind clumsily caught on to the idea that he was flirting with me when he raised my knuckles to his lips to kiss them gently. "So, do not be embarrassed by the praises of your achievements." 

"I'll do my best," I said and struggled to find some way to reject any further advances. Though his kind manners and book-cover smile were more than enough to make me feel a grin growing, I was still unsure of my ability to judge a man's intent behind a flirt. I threw on my friendliest smile, shrugged slightly, and tried to appear uninterested.

"You were a wonderful escort. I'll make sure Belenus knows you were so helpful." I made sure to put the right inflection of admiration for the prince in my voice. It was a shot in the dark because Belenus could be married for all I knew. It seemed to work, though, because Tadgh inclined his head.

"You could, or you could always leave a good word with my Captain, Steren," Tadgh countered. "If you find yourself in need of an escort, any of the knights can direct you to my tent." His smile never faded as he backed away. I barely had time to blink at his open invitation before he was gone. 

I turned back to the path. At the end of it was a large green tent, one that could easily fit a few hundred people comfortably. The walls were rolled up in some places and down in others. I stepped inside, trying not to stare as I went.

Placed in intervals were more of the dirt ovens. Only they were larger, with healthy fires inside. Tables surrounded them, extending out like rays of the sun. I spied the area where food was being served and headed toward it. I noted what everyone else had been eating, and there seemed to be a variety of meats and vegetables. My stomach refused to allow my nose to differentiate scents. It just wanted food.  I found what looked like a serving area and fell in line behind a teenage boy wearing a dagger on his hip and holding the hand of a girl about seven. I exhaled in relief as he requested chicken, venison, vegetable soup, and honey bread. 

"May I have some honey bread, chicken, and vegetable soup please?" I asked the man standing behind the wooden table. His eyes flashed to my brooch.

"Of course, m'lady," he said and turned. 

Behind him, the meat was being stored in more of the hearth-looking things, only this one stretched the length of the table, was made of darker dirt, and had wooden doors at various intervals. Between the doors were open holes, which housed kettles full of soup.

He opened a door to reveal stone shelves with stacks of cooked chicken pieces. Underneath the shelves was a smoldering fire, obviously designed to keep the food hot without cooking it further. A flap behind the long line of hearths opened, and another two men came in carrying baskets of chicken. They came around to the far end and began stocking another oven.

"Here you are," he said, and he held out a massive wooden tray.

"Thank you," I said, returning his smile. I carried my tray into the crowd and tried to find an empty place to sit.

I'd made it around a column, and I realized that one of the tables was for drinks. About seven older teen girls were filling waterskins or tankards for people standing around. They looked busy, so I continued trying to find a seat and promised myself I'd get some water when I was done eating.  I located a seat near a hearth and settled in. I'd almost taken my first bite of bread when a boy of about ten appeared at my elbow.

"Would you like water, beer, or wine, Miss?" He asked, and he had three tankards on a tray. 

"Water," I said, offering him a grateful smile. He set a tankard down, and then he was gone. I lifted the cup, sniffing the contents cautiously. It looked and smelled like bottled water. I sipped it cautiously, finding it flavorless. Exhaling in relief, I returned to my food.

I wish I could tell you that the food was exoctic or amazing, but it tasted just like generic food. What eating did provide me with, however, was a moment to observe everyone around me. I won't lie, looking back, I am surprised I hadn't lost it completely.

It may have been the fact that I'd already had a minor panic attack at my parents and then completely lost it a second time when I arrived at the camp. I'd never felt my brain run at such a delayed speed in my life, and it was while I was eating that I understood what my brain had been trying to make sense of in the thoroughfare that wasn't quite right.

I'd read enough about medieval and renaissance eras to know that there should be unpleasant smells with this many people gathered together. There wasn't, and I wondered if that had been over dramatized in history books.

With my food gone, I gathered my dishes and carried them over to a table everyone else was stacking their trays on. Then, I stepped out of the tent. My anxiety swiftly rose because I had no idea which way to go.

This is what you get, hissed my inner voice. I gritted my teeth, determined to find my way back, when a familiar voice made me turn.