Knight Hunted (The Return of the Queen Book 1)

by L. A. Grant

  Merlin turned to her, his eyes betraying none of his thoughts. Arlena stood straighter under his scrutiny, no longer hugging her coat against her, but matching his gaze, studying him as he studied her. The air grew electric as they both gauged each other in silence.

  Finally, after a long, tense moment, Merlin spoke, his voice soft and filled with…wonder? I wasn’t sure.

  “So you have,” he said. “Well,” he continued, his entire demeanor changing, “let’s go, no use standing here like a three-hoofed unicorn!”

  He waved for us to follow, and we started to do so, until he turned around and looked at us as though we were certifiably insane.

  “Not you,” he said, then pointed to Arlena. “Just her. Why would I want to talk to the four of you?”

  He mumbled in annoyance and turned back to the forest. Arlena glanced back our way, a quick question in her eyes. Then she crossed eyes with Percy and turned to follow Merlin without another word, her head held high, her stance resolute.

  Wane squawked in the tree above.

  “Couldn’t agree more, buddy,” Hayden said. “Couldn’t agree more.”

  41

  Arlena

  Following the old man proved difficult – not so much because he went quickly, but rather because he blended in. He crossed the branches of weeping willows without making them shift. No blade of grass moved beneath his feet. No scent, even though he looked nasty enough that he should reek. No small ripple in the air to tell of his passage.

  In the deep shadows of the forest, alone with the man, it was not the most comforting thought. Like he was a mere shadow in this world. Here, but also not quite here.

  “Where are we going?” I asked, wishing the others were with me.

  “To where we need to be, for now,” he answered, his voice rich and strong. At least that part of him seemed normal.

  I wasn’t even sure I could find the others now if I wanted to. I was a city girl. Give me a bus map and some road signage, and I could find my way. Here? Green layered on more green, with some spatterings of purple and yellow.

  Merlin paused to open a door, and I started. I hadn’t even spotted the hut. The guys hadn’t been kidding when they’d said he valued his privacy and could be hard to find.

  The lack of dust and dirt in the pristine interior surprised me. A small blue bird sung gently from the round window at the back, above a sink. A small wooden table bookended by two chairs dominated the space. Yellow flowers in a cerulean blue vase stood on the table, livening up the hut. There was no sign of a bed or any comfortable furniture, but I doubted he had any use for them.

  “Sit, sit,” he insisted as he grabbed a tray holding a tea pot and two mugs. He poured himself a cup and then one for me, then sat down on the chair opposite to me. He started drinking, looking pleased.

  And saying absolutely nothing.

  “Um, thank you,” I said, debating if I should drink the tea at all. But he seemed fine, and it smelled quite lovely. I took a hesitant sip. It was the perfect temperature, and tasted of ripe berries.

  “This is lovely,” I said, and smiled.

  “Your favorite!” he said in reply.

  I looked down at the tea, enjoying its warm scent.

  “I don’t remember,” I admitted.

  “You might, and you might not,” he said, and shrugged. “What matters is that you enjoy it.”

  He kept drinking peacefully, beard seemingly less unkept than it had in the woods. His eyes were gray and piercing, an intelligence there that he seemed to enjoy hiding. Probably to get people to underestimate the crazy old man in the woods.

  I had to check myself to make sure I didn’t fall prey to the same trap.

  “Why am I back?” I asked. “You’re the one who has the answers, I was told.”

  “By whom?” he asked, raising one bushy eyebrow.

  “By the knights,” I said.

  “Ah,” he answered. “What do you think of your knights?”

  I blushed, even though I wasn’t sure what exactly he meant. “They’ve been good to me,” I answered truthfully.

  “Good,” he beamed. “I bound them to you, to ensure they’d keep you safe.”

  “To me?” I looked at him, stunned. “But, they went looking for their king.”

  “They did,” he said, pouring us both more tea. “Listen, you might not remember anything, but you’ll probably remember pieces of your life,” he said, his speech more hurried. “You need to get to Avalon before sundown. This much I know.”

  “What do I need to know about Avalon?” I asked, his urgency feeding mine.

  “There are powers at play,” he said, “and many trying to claim them,” he paused, then muttered, “fools.” He shook his head and pushed on. “Your return means some will try to control you. Don’t let them. Find your own way. You’ll do what needs to be done. You always have.”

  “Have I?” those weren’t the stories I’d heard of Gwenhwyfar.

  “Power can be taken, but a queen’s power is given,” he said softly. “Who gives a queen her power?”

  “The crown?” I asked, really not sure.

  “The people,” he said, not seeming to judge my answer. “And the people of Avalon, and Camelot, select their king through the powers of Excalibur. Only the king can wield Excalibur, and it lies in state at the abbey of Avalon.”

  “So they can’t claim power, because only the king can wield the sword. Sounds pretty pointless.” I shrugged.

  He smiled, placing a hand on mine. A comforting gesture that brought tears to my eyes, even though I didn’t understand why. I met his eyes for the first time since meeting him: “I know you,” I whispered.

  “You do,” he answered, and patted my hand. “And you know yourself. Trust your instincts. If you need me, I will always try to be there.” The blue bird on the windowsill sang three quick notes and Merlin nodded to it.

  “I’ve lived for over a thousand years, and still there’s just never enough time.” He stood, and I followed suit. “Come. Let’s get you back to your knights. Remember: just because we do not understand why certain things happen, it does not mean they were not meant to happen.”

  I had no idea what he meant, but nodded as he turned and headed back out of the hut. I was left with little choice but to follow him, for fear of losing him, and myself, in the dense forest of Avalon.

  Only when I heard Wane greet us up above did I realize that he’d never actually answered any of my questions.

  42

  Percy

  Shadows spread beneath the tall trees, a slight breeze playing in the leaves, the sunlight dancing on the forest floor. I stood away from any tree, arms crossed, keeping a sharp eye around me. Wane stayed in falcon form, keeping an eye out from above. He’d lost Arlena a while back, no trace of her red head to be seen through the thick foliage.

  I’d have been surprised to hear otherwise. It made sense that Merlin was reticent to reveal where he’d conjured his hut. The wizard was old and hadn’t died and reincarnated as we’d done. He was from magic as old as Avalon, and could be just as dangerous.

  Most thought him insane. Senile, at best. A withered old man who still liked to speak of gods and magic swords.

  I didn’t believe it. I’d seen his cunning and sharp eye. I’d seen his tears for Arthur, too, as he’d stood beneath an old oak, watching us leave Camelot for the final battle. We all knew we marched to our deaths.

  But we’d all gone, because we believed. In justice for our land. In the once and future king.

  And Arthur hadn’t returned.

  Lance paced nearby, a close eye on every shadow, as wary of attack as I was. Mordred and Bors hadn’t reappeared, leaving us with little choice but to assume they’d attack us the first chance they’d get. If they found us.

  They would, no doubt, knowing precisely where we were headed. I hoped that this side trip to see Merlin first would throw them off our scent. Once in Avalon, there were enough old magics to keep us safe, if we stayed w
ithin the safe zones. There were enough that we could make it work, and keep Arlena safe, until those two were found and brought to justice.

  Hayden stood to my left, eyes toward the forest as well. We all expected an attack, but none came. Vigilance took effort and focus, and we could only maintain it for so long. Thankfully, we wouldn’t have to wait long. The sun was setting, and I doubted Merlin would keep her past sundown.

  The forests of Avalon lurked with old magic, and not all of it loved humans.

  Wane screeched, indicating that company was coming, but that it presented no danger. Merlin suddenly appeared beside Lance. He jumped, just a little bit. I allowed myself a slight smile.

  Arlena stepped up beside me, and my heart skipped a beat. She seemed at home here, standing tall, red hair defiant of the green surrounding her, blue eyes tinged with the green.

  Merlin clapped his hands, and we all focused on him.

  “Well done,” he said. “Now, off to Avalon. You have just enough time to make it before darkness falls.”

  Hayden and Lance stood by Arlena and the three began walking toward Avalon, lost over the hill to the East, about an hour’s walk. I lingered and nodded up to Wane.

  “Follow them, I’ll be right along.”

  The falcon hesitated for a split second before his great wings spread out and he flew into the sunset, keeping an eye on what little the forest revealed to him. I turned back to Merlin, half expecting the wizard to be gone by now. But he stood leaning on his staff, eyes steady as they sized me up.

  “There will be a test for you soon, Percival,” he said, his voice soft. A shiver ran down my spine. I’d been tested before. To give up my life, bleeding out slowly while bringing Arthur and Excalibur back to Avalon.

  “Your king will need you,” he said, his voice almost lost in the rustling leaves. He held up his hand and they stood still, the very breeze obeying his command. “And you must obey your oath. The oath that gave you your wolf powers. You must be strong, Percival.”

  He said the last few words as though with some regret. I stood taller. “I’ve laid down my life for my king before,” I said. “If he returns, I shall gladly do so again.”

  The words felt more hollow than they had the last time I’d spoken them.

  Arlena. I wanted to stay with her. To protect her. But my loyalties had to be clear, and they couldn’t be with her. My heart broke a little at the thought, but I hardened it. I was a knight of the Round Table. That was my life’s calling. It’s why I’d given up my last life, and why I’d taken up this new one.

  “I won’t fail,” I said. Merlin studied me a bit longer, the air as still as he was. Then he nodded, and the wind picked up, knocking down a branch. I looked to my left where it fell, and when I looked back, Merlin was gone.

  43

  Arlena

  “You can ask all you want, Percy, he didn’t say anything,” my voice came out shriller than I’d have liked, but he was starting to annoy me.

  “You didn’t ask him why you came back?” he said again, sounding just as exasperated as the first three times he’d asked.

  “Leave her alone, Percy,” Lance said from just ahead where he walked. “Merlin has ways of twisting conversations. You know that as well as I do.”

  “Stay out of this,” Percy warned. Lance looked back at me and rolled his eyes, then held a branch aside so I could pass. He let it go and hit Percy in the face. I couldn’t help but giggle.

  Percy did not seem amused, his hands forming into fists, silver eyes blazing as he took a step toward Lance. For his part, Lance looked glad that Percy had finally let go of his inhibitions.

  “Look,” I said gently, stepping between them. “I’m sorry. Maybe someone will know at Avalon. Merlin didn’t seem too concerned. He did know me, for what it’s worth.”

  Percy focused back on me with some effort. “But he didn’t say why you came back.”

  “He didn’t, but I’m here,” I said, my voice growing in strength. “That’ll have to do for now.”

  “We should get moving,” Hayden said, looking to the west. “The sun is setting fast and Avalon is still a few minutes away.”

  Percy stared at me and I looked back. He sighed. “I’m sorry. You’re right. The high priestess of Avalon, the Lady Elaine, will probably know.”

  “Then it’s settled,” I said, and turned to follow Hayden. The forest grew thicker with shadows, and I could hear whispers all around us, drifting in and out of the breeze, over the leaves, cracking with the bark.

  We moved more quickly, Hayden leading the way, Lance and Percy just a step behind me. I felt safe surrounded by them, Wane keeping a watchful eye up above. I could understand why he shifted the most of all. For the chance to have wings and fly.

  Eyes looked at me to my left and I gasped at a moving shadow. “Just keep moving,” Percy said. “It has no power in the daylight.” I nodded and kept walking, the shadows lengthening as night drew in.

  “We’re almost there,” Hayden said, and we stepped out of the forest. Wane dropped down in front of us and shifted back, Hayden handing him his clothes. He slipped them on, grinning at me.

  “Avalon is just around the bend,” he said, and I looked up to see the spiral tower, silver and gold in the fading light, almost right on top of us. I gasped at its beauty, my stomach flip-flopping as we crossed a small hill and I saw Avalon for the first time.

  The tall spire was joined by two more in the front, flanking a great silver gate that stood open. It seemed built of thick, shimmering glass, like the mist itself had been trapped inside. A castle of glass.

  Windows lined its edge, the glass perfectly rounded, silver and gold accents trapping the light of the sun, as though warding the growing darkness.

  “It’s safe inside,” Percy said. “Only humans can step within those walls.”

  I swallowed hard and nodded, my fingers feeling numb. “That’s not what I’m afraid of,” I whispered.

  “Nobody will hurt you,” Lance said, taking my hand and warming it in his. “I promise you that.”

  “As do I,” Wane said. Hayden echoed his words.

  I looked to Percy. He’d been so skittish around me lately that I feared losing him. The very thought broke my heart. “I need all of you,” I whispered so softly I feared he might not hear.

  His eyes softened. “We are knights of the Round Table,” he said, “and we will uphold our duty.”

  The impersonal oath didn’t exactly make me feel better, but at least he was still here. That counted for a lot.

  “Come, your majesty,” Hayden said.

  “We don’t know why I’m back,” I told him, but started walking forward regardless.

  “We’re about to find out,” he said, his gentle confidence making me feel much better. He stepped back to keep watch behind me, Lance to my right. Wane took the left, and Percy led us in.

  We crossed the gate, a strange sensation tingling over me as we entered the castle, like we’d crossed ancient magic. I gasped at the beauty inside. We stood in a courtyard, but above us a ceiling of thin silver wires created a roof of light and stars. Mosaic tiles created our path, lush pink and yellow flowers lining the walls and the walkways which led to doors and stairs.

  And we were expected. Women of all ages wearing long white robes stood atop the walls of Avalon, looking down at me. Guards dressed in silver and light blue stood at attention at every entrance. Before us, a small structure stood in the heart of the castle, leading back toward the central spire, which was much broader up close. This castle could easily hide hundreds.

  Before the central tower, stairs led to a smaller structure, its stone rougher, as though magic hadn’t forged it. Stained glass lined its upper edge. A sword motif glittered in that glass.

  Excalibur. The sword of the king.

  The structure must be the abbey Percy had mentioned. Three women stood before it, also wearing long flowing robes, each more breathtaking than the last. Their skin tones were all different, but their ha
ir was all white and silver, though their features betrayed no passage of time. The lack of wrinkles would shame cream manufacturers back home.

  Home.

  I felt it in my blood. This was more home than any other place I’d ever lived. But would they accept me? They all stared at me with disappointment. A few openly sneered.

  Percy gave the high priestess a slight bow and stepped aside. I swallowed hard and took a step forward. I had no clue what the appropriate greeting was for a high priestess, but I bowed my head a bit to show respect.

  If I was a queen, should I be bowing before her? I had no clue. I should have asked more questions or something. I already missed it just being me and the knights.

  “You come before us, the witches of Avalon,” the priestess said. She didn’t raise her voice, but it still rang clearly across the courtyard. She stopped, and waited for my answer.

  “I do,” I said simply. The less I said, the better. The witches were obviously in charge here.

  “We expected a king to be brought back to us.”

  “So I’m told,” I said, a bit of bitterness slipping into my voice.

  “Percival,” she said, ignoring me and turning to Percy. He stepped forward, gave me a I don’t know what’s going on either look, and focused back on her. She continued. “We have sheltered the knights of the Round Table and the sword Excalibur for a long time, now, as was our duty. But we are not bound to shelter everyone you bring to us.”

  My lips grew numb, a protest forming on my lips but refusing to escape my throat. Would they just toss me out, to be devoured by the dark shadows of the surrounding woods?

  “You four may stay, but she must go. The fewer who know our secrets, the better,” she turned to leave.

  “She’s the beacon,” Wane stepped forward, looking immediately uncomfortable at the eyes turning to look at him.

  Hayden stepped up, to take the spotlight away from him. “Regardless of who she is, she needs to be here.”