A Magic Happenstance

Chapter 1

"Just keep walking. Do not talk to the giant larpers," was not something Sutton ever imagined having to tell herself. And yet, there she was.

The city sidewalks were pooling with water as the rain continued to batter down for the second straight day. Sutton had wandered out purely for her doberman, Sprinkles', sake. She could only be cooped up for so long before Sutton started feeling pangs of guilt. So she'd leashed her dog up and grabbed her biggest umbrella and trekked out to the nearby dog park to let Sprinkles romp around and completely soak herself until Sutton's fingers became numb.

Her boots were squishing with every step and her nose was burning with cold. All she wanted to do was get back to her small apartment and make herself a warm cup of coffee after toweling off Sprinkles.

And yet.

Two towering men stood on the corner of the block dressed in what looked like a cross between medieval garb and something a Disney royal might wear. They were handsome, if not wet to the bone, with striking features and bright eyes. The darker haired man, dressed something like a knight, was even was carrying a sword and one of his arms was entirely covered in an odd chainmail. Sutton tightened her hold on Sprinkles' leash and continued onward, still debating with herself. The men appeared lost, if she could garner a guess, and were staring wide-eyed at the buildings and streets around them. The few people out and about in the weather were giving them an understandably wide berth. Sutton would have too, if she didn't have Sprinkles with her. But Sprinkles had almost taken a chunk out of a dude's leg once when he'd gotten too aggressively close, so she felt confident enough to stay on her current path.

She passed them and they didn't make any attempt to speak with her. At most they shot her brief appraising gazes before glancing uneasily around them once more. Sutton paused, tugging on Sprinkles' leash, and sighed. She straightened her spine and turned back around, taking the few steps back to approach them.

"Hey, are you lost?"

Their gazes shot down to her and Sutton peered up at them from under her umbrella. They both blinked at her a couple times before the one dressed like a knight let out a relieved sigh.

"Finally," he said. "Someone with a modicum of decorum."

The other man, a dirty blond, placed his hand on the knight's shoulder and smiled at her.

"We are, miss. Could you tell us where we are?"

Sutton lifted a brow. Huh. These guys were committed to their characters. She decided to humor them.

"Near Pike's Place," she said. The blond squinted and the knight scowled.

"What land is that," the knight asked. Sutton rolled her eyes.

"Seattle," she said flatly.

Once again she saw no flicker of recognition on their faces. She wondered just how much they'd had to drink or if this was purely some intense, artistic dedication to their craft. Instead of calling them out on their oddity, she waved her hand in a gesture to move things along.

"Where are you trying to get to? Maybe I can give you simple directions."

The blond perked up.

"We are trying to return to Andolasia," he said. "How far are we by horse, do you know?"

Sutton sighed internally and Sprinkles tugged on her leash as she attempted to move closer to sniff the blond stranger. Sutton pulled her back.

"Andel-what? Come on, guys, I need a real place. I can't help you if you don't help me."