by Martha Wells
It looked like a big sailing ship, like one of the galleons in the pirate movies, with the high stern and forecastle. But it didn't have sails, and the rigging suspended the hull from three giant hot air balloons. It drew closer, looming over the palace roof, with that roaring noise that hot air balloons made when the air was heated or released. The prow was carved with the figure of a woman, but instead of a mermaid or something else nautical, she was a winged fairy carrying a spear. People, all Sidhe as far as Manny could see, elves and spriggans and brownies, worked on deck, pulling ropes and adjusting things. Manny stared hard, trying to memorize every detail, wishing more than ever that this world had cameras.
"He's certainly arriving with enough pomp and importance," Gaudulfus muttered into his beard. He was leaning on a cane. "I hope it's worth our time. They've put lunch off for this, you know."
Smiling, Etienne said, "He is one of the world's greatest wizards, Gaudulfus."
Gaudulfus snorted, then winced and rubbed his chest. "And his greatest achievement is in creating troublesome situations in which Chevaliers must risk themselves at great personal cost."
"Are you still on about that?" Etienne looked amused. "It's been years, Gaudulfus, let it go."
"What happened?" Adriana asked before Manny could.
"We had to pull his fat out of the fire," Gaudulfus said. "Literally."
"It was a fire-breathing wyrm," Etienne told her.
"A particularly large and vicious fire-breathing wyrm," Gaudulfus corrected.
"Gaudulfus' beard took some damage," Etienne continued. "It was distressing for him. I know, because he's expressed his distress at length."
Manny bit his lip, trying not to laugh. "So that's the only reason you don't like him?"
"There were other dubious exploits, lad." Gaudulfus sighed. "We were all young and naive, then. But in any case, the fellow just puts me ill at ease. You'll see."
Manny couldn't imagine anyone not liking Merlin. He was one of Manny's favorite characters in movies and books. But maybe the real thing is different.
The skyship slowed to a stop over the open middle of the garden court, hanging at about the level of the second story of the palace. When the crew dropped heavy ropes down to the men waiting below, Manny realized it wasn't going to land all the way. The ropes were tied off to heavy stone weights that Manny had thought were garden ornaments.
A group of servants appeared from down the colonnade, pushing a tall wooden structure on wheels—a scaffold with a set of steps attached. They pushed it right up to the skyship. A door opened in the railing and a set of steps dropped out. Spriggan skysailors climbed down to secure the hull to the scaffold, then the passengers began to disembark.
Manny was looking for the guy in the robes and the pointy wizard hat, though he should have known by now that in this place, things were never what you expected. Most of the men climbing down the stairs from the ship were elves or brownies, dressed in richly-colored doublets with formal lace collars, and wearing jeweled swords and with feathers in their hats. He didn't see anybody who looked like a wizard. Maybe Merlin is too old to climb down from the ship, Manny wondered. Maybe they would have to go aboard to see him.
A young boy climbed lightly down the steps. Manny wouldn't have noticed him except that he appeared to be a human. He looked about the same age as Manny and was dressed in a doublet and breeches of emerald green, and he wore a tall crowned hat decorated with peacock feathers. His high boots were of soft brown suede. With an infectious grin, the boy adjusted his white ruff collar, then went to join his Albion companions who had stopped to speak to the Aquitanian group.
So who's that, Merlin's assistant? Manny shifted impatiently. Then Captain Corvus motioned to Etienne, who nodded to Manny and Adriana. With Gaudulfus they joined the other group. Manny's stomach fluttered nervously. If these people didn't help him, he didn't know what he was going to do.
As they approached, Corvus said, "Etienne, Gaudulfus. You remember Lord Merlin."
Etienne bowed to the young boy. "It has been a long time, my lord."
Gaudulfus gave the boy a nod. "Not long enough."
That's Merlin? Whoa. Manny's jaw dropped.
From Merlin's grin, he was clearly undisturbed by Gaudulfus' comment. "Well met again, gentlemen." He inspected the dwarf's beard, taking the braided end and rubbing it between his fingers. "Hmm, still singed. Even after all this time? Most unusual."
Gaudulfus pulled his beard away, eyeing Merlin narrowly. "As it so happens, that is from a different wyrm, my lord."
"You do tend to attract the creatures, don't you?" Merlin chuckled and adjusted his lace cuffs.
Etienne gave Gaudulfus an exasperated glance, and said, "This is Adriana, who was also instrumental in foiling Mab's plot."
Manny was still too flabbergasted to react to Adriana's graceful curtsey. Corvus said, "And this is the boy, called Manny Boreaux, a human transported into the body of a street urchin called Remy. At first his story was unbelievable, but events seem to have proven otherwise."
"Yes," Merlin said thoughtfully. He walked right up to Manny and looked straight into his eyes. "Most curious."
Manny stopped doubting this was Merlin. This boy's gaze had power, and age, and a kind of stillness. He was clearly much older than his face and body appeared, hundreds of years older. Manny felt cold, and a little scared; this wasn't a human, it was a very powerful creature. He wasn't creepy or horrifying, not like Morrigan had been. But he wasn't comfortable to be around, either. He knew exactly what Gaudulfus meant now.
Then Merlin absently straightened his ruff collar again, still looking thoughtfully at Manny. "Yes, I see. There's certainly two of you in there." His grin returned.
"You believe me," Manny said in a rush of relief. Adriana nudged him, and he added belatedly, "Sir. Sir, can you help me get home?"
Merlin said, "It may be possible. But I will need you to tell me everything, every detail you recall, from how you found yourself in this Remy's body to when you wielded Amechanteur and slew the terrible Lord Grim."
Manny glanced away. "Oh, you heard about that."
The peal of delighted laughter startled Manny. Merlin said, "Of course I heard! What a glorious day it was for the world when that fell goblin's spirit was dispatched into the underworld by your stroke. Bloody Bones is no more! And that is reason for celebration." Merlin gave him a little bow. Manny could feel himself blushing and wished he could stop. "I understand that His Majesty will be hosting a banquet this eve in our honor. I would be delighted if you would consent to be seated next to me."
Manny nodded, though he wanted to go to a formal banquet only slightly more than he wanted to fight Lothair again. But if it was the price of getting home, he'd do it.
"Excellent! There is much for us to discuss. And as the good Gaudulfus could tell you, every subject becomes far more interesting when discussed over a fine meal." Merlin winked at the scowling dwarf. "Am I right?"
"In this particular case," Gaudulfus grumbled, "I can find no fault in your thinking, my lord."
Chapter Thirty-One
"The coin is the key," Merlin told Manny.
After the banquet, they had retired to a small salon on the second floor of the palace, with Etienne, Adriana, and Gaudulfus. The big windows were open to a view of the garden court, letting in a cool night breeze. Manny said, "The coin was definitely magical. Whatever happened, it made it happen, if that makes sense." Talking about it in such detail, answering Merlin's questions, had made Manny remember a lot more. "The sound it made was kind of like when Amechanteur... did that thing to Grim." It was strange that the two sounds should be so similar. Had the coin and Amechanteur been made by the same kind of magic?
Merlin sat back in his chair, tapping the armrest thoughtfully.
"Well? We await your wisdom," Gaudulfus prompted.
"It's Oberon," Merlin said.
"Oberon?" Manny tried to remember the Shakespeare plays his English class had covered. "He used t
o be the king of Albion, right? You guys sure mention him a lot."
Merlin gave him an odd look—pretty much everybody gave him an odd look—but said, "Oberon was not only a great king, he was also a powerful sorcerer, perhaps the most powerful in all the world. Until he was murdered by his daughter Mab. She sought to take his power but did not succeed. We were never certain what prevented her, but Mab's failure allowed her sister, our beloved Queen Gloriana, time to rally her forces and defeat Mab."
"And send her into exile here," Adriana added wryly.
"Unfortunately we had no idea where she was." Merlin lifted a slender hand in concession. "Certainly not that she was hiding in the sewers of Lutetia disguising herself as a thief called Morrigan." He smiled as if the mental image of Mab skulking in the filth pleased him.
Manny could see Mab/Morrigan murdering her father. He didn't think it would be a stretch for her at all.
"What does this have to do with Manny?" Etienne asked.
"Or Remy, for that matter?" Adriana added.
"I'm not sure." Merlin leaned forward. "Except there is a trace of magic about the boy, a trace that I recognize as Oberon's work."
Etienne and Gaudulfus exchanged a look, startled.
"Lady of light," Adriana muttered. She turned to Manny. "That would explain why Morrigan was suddenly so interested in you, the things she said to you. She must have seen it as well."
"Morrigan seemed to be really interested in where I was from," Manny explained. "She knew my real name."
"I'm not surprised," replied Merlin. "Your world is known to her as it is to me. As it was to Oberon."
"Really?" Manny blinked at the wizard. The others had turned to study him as well.
"You claim there are stories of Sidhe in your world, correct?" Merlin asked. "Stories of Oberon and myself, as well?"
Manny nodded. "People have been writing about you guys for a long time. You make cool characters in comics and books."
"By 'cool' the lad means 'exceptional'," said Gaudulfus.
Merlin smiled, "Yes, I gathered. Well, it so happens our two worlds, Avalon and Terra, are sisters and were once connected. But a terrible conflict forced Oberon to sever that connection, separating the two worlds forever."
"Really? That certainly explains a lot," Manny said.
"Terra? I'm not familiar with this tale," said Etienne.
"This took place thousands of years before you were born, good Etienne," said Merlin. "There are few who remember it. I was but a child when it happened. As was Mab."
"She was there?" Manny gasped.
"Aye, lad," replied Merlin, "she was indeed. She knows of your world, and until recently believed it lost and beyond her grasp."
Manny mulled that over in his head. "So how did Oberon bring me here if our worlds are not connected anymore? Not to mention that he's kind of dead."
"You said the book you stumbled on, and the coin inside it," Merlin told him, "appeared to be artifacts of our world. I believe they were created by Oberon, to store and hide fragments of his power, so that Mab would be unable to take it for her own."
Gaudulfus grunted. "I've never heard of such a thing."
Merlin lifted a brow. "I believe there's a great deal you haven't heard of, Gaudulfus, but that doesn't mean it's not worth knowing."
"So the coin and the book, they're like batteries with magic stored in them, and if Morrigan found them she'd be able to use the magic?" Manny said. "And the coin bringing me here was just an accident?"
"Not quite. Clearly some connection between the worlds remains. Oberon must have wanted it that way. You must have some sort of affinity to our world. Perhaps with the boy Remy." Merlin was watching his expression carefully, as if he was reading Manny's thoughts. "Do you?"
Manny wasn't certain the connection was with Remy. They didn't seem to have a lot in common except that they had both been friends with Adriana. He thought he knew what the connection must be, and Merlin had said he needed to know everything. He said slowly, "It might be because Etienne used to look just like my father. And Adriana used to look like my mother."
"I did?" Adriana stared, surprised. "Truly, Manny?"
"Yeah, you used to look exactly like her."
Adriana sat back in her chair, watching him with a puzzled expression.
"You say 'used to' look," said Merlin. "They don't anymore?"
Manny shook his head. "No, they look different now."
"When did they change?" asked Merlin.
"I think Adriana changed gradually while we were trying to escape from Morrigan, and Etienne changed right after the fight with Grim," Manny admitted. Etienne and Adriana were staring at him, like they weren't sure what he meant or how to react. Even Gaudulfus seemed bemused.
Then Adriana asked softly, "What happened to your parents, Manny?"
Manny let out a breath, bracing himself. "In my world, they...died. Six months ago. In a really bad accident." He had said it earlier to Etienne and Gaudulfus, and this time wasn't any easier. But it hadn't been nearly as hard to get the words out.
Adriana nodded understanding. "I'm so sorry, Manny."
Merlin's face was pensive. He slowly shook his head. "Oberon is clever indeed," he said.
Manny was starting to find Merlin just as annoying as Gaudulfus did. Trying to keep his voice even, he said, "What do you mean?"
"It all makes sense now," answered Merlin. "Oberon hid his artifacts in your world to keep them from Mab. He must have known she was plotting against him and didn't want to leave our world at Mab's mercy. The coin chose you as its champion, Manny. But it could not bring you here physically. That is why it transferred your soul into the body of Remy, knowing you'd have no greater protector than the brave Adriana."
Manny glanced at Adriana. She was looking at Merlin with a brow lifted suspiciously, as if she thought he was kidding her. Manny was glad he wasn't the only one who Merlin had that effect on.
"And it glamoured her to appear like your beloved mother," continued Merlin, "so that you would feel at ease and trust her. It also knew you'd need the services of a hero, a legendary swordsman, especially one who possessed another of Oberon's artifacts, a weapon capable of defeating Mab's terrible minions." Merlin waved a hand at Etienne. "And there is no greater swordsman than the mighty Etienne."
Gaudulfus nudged Etienne's arm. "Did I not say you were the finest swordsman in all the land? Even Oberon knew it."
Etienne frowned. "Gaudulfus, be still."
Manny turned to Etienne. "And so Oberon's magic made him look like my dad."
"Precisely so," said Merlin. "Oberon's artifacts became the keys to Mab's undoing. They called to each other, like seeking like for the purpose of protecting themselves, and us, from her." He chuckled. "Oberon set a trap and Mab fell into it."
"But it didn't work," Manny had to point out. "She got away."
"Did she?" Merlin's smile was mischievous. "I believe the full extent of Oberon's trap has not yet been revealed."
"But now she knows it's still possible to travel from one world to another," said Manny. He turned to Etienne and Gaudulfus. "What if she finds a way to cross over like I did?" He looked at Merlin. "Everyone I know could be in danger. There are things in my world that are just as bad as her magic. Maybe even worse." The thought of Morrigan using her sorcery to control armies of dragons and armored tanks and goblins armed with machine guns made Manny's skin crawl.
Merlin's brow was furrowed in thought. "I believe she may require Oberon's formidable magic to accomplish that feat. That would explain her interest in the coin and the book. But you are correct, lad. This is a cause for concern and a situation that shall require further study."
Merlin stood and walked over to Manny. "But first things first. Is this what you truly wish, lad? To return home?"
Manny cast a quick glance at Adriana, Etienne and Gaudulfus, then turned back to Merlin and nodded. "Yes, sir. This isn't my real body. I was only borrowing it for a little while. I don't really belong her
e, and my family is waiting for me back home." He sighed. "Assuming you can send me back home."
Merlin studied Manny with intense concentration, long enough to make Manny shift uneasily. "I said such a feat would require some of Oberon's most potent magic. Fortunately for you, I know exactly where to find some."
****
Manny shivered a little. They were standing in the nave of the Basilica, darkness turning the soaring arches and stained glass into a big cavern lit only by candlelight. It was late at night and cold and clammy inside the big stone building. And Manny didn't think this cathedral had the same purpose as the ones in his world; it felt strange and alien and full of Sidhe magic. Glowing eyes watched them from the upper parts of the building, and Manny could hear the occasional rustle of a leathery wing. Everyone had said the gargoyles were harmless, but he wasn't sure he believed them.
Merlin had used chalk to draw a circle on the paving stones around Manny with runes or sigils or whatever strange magical characters were called. Etienne, Adriana, and Gaudulfus watched from the shadows, and Manny was glad to have them there. Since the king had said Merlin could have anything he needed, there hadn't been any problem getting permission to use the Basilica, and the guards were all posted outside.
Adriana must have noticed Manny's unease, because she called out, "It's all right, Manny, we're right here."
"Hush," Merlin said, before Manny could answer. He stepped back, looking around the circle one last time. "Now, Etienne. The sword."
Etienne came forward, careful not to step on the drawings. He gave Manny a reassuring look and held out Amechanteur's hilt.
Manny took the sword, and Etienne stepped back. For a moment it was just a heavy blade, then the hilt felt warm under his hand. Manny stared at it, half-hypnotized by the light gleaming inside the crystal.
As if from a long distance, he heard Merlin's voice, "Think about your home. Think about how much you want to return."
Home. Manny visualized his room, with his computer, his books, the photos of his mom and dad, the house with Licha and Beto at the kitchen table, watching TV late on Saturday night, the school, the playing fields in the morning with wet grass, the way the library smelled of books and air conditioning.