"It's got us this far, princess." Puck put an arm around her.

She nods, going silent again.

Inside the cabin, silence filled the room

She sits near the piano, waiting for Ash.

"If you are so worried about him," Grimalkin said into the quiet, "why not ask him to be your knight?"

She frowns, looking over at Grim
"What do you mean?"

His eyes cracked open, slitted and gold, watching Claire in amusement. "Your knight," he said again, slower this time. "You do understand the word, do you not?"

She rolls her eyes, "Yes, Grim."

"Oh, good. Then it should be easy for you to understand the significance."

Grimalkin sat up and yawned, curling his tail around his legs. "It is an old tradition," he began. "Even among the fey. A lady asks a warrior to become her knight, her chosen protector, for as long as they both draw breath. Only those with royal blood can enact this ritual, and the choosing of a champion is something only the lady can do. But it is the ultimate show of faith between the lady and the knight, for she trusts him above all others to keep her safe, knowing that he would lay down his life for her. The knight still obeys his queen and court, to the best of his ability, but his first and only duty is to his lady." He yawned again and stuck one hind leg into the air, examining his toes. "A charming tradition, to be sure. The courts love such dramatic tragedies."

She chuckles, "Do you think he would do it?"