Ruby Morgan Box Set: Books 6-10

by LJ Rivers

  “How?” Galahad’s voice trembled.

  “Ruby brought us back. We were trapped in what little remains of the Realm of Shadows.”

  Gawain embraced Galahad next. As they broke apart, all three knights standing next to each other, I was struck by something that had not occurred to me before.

  “Wait,” I said. “You all look roughly the same age.”

  “My son aged a little more quickly than I.” Lancelot ruffled Galahad’s hair, which was an odd-looking gesture between two men who seemed so close in age.

  “Please, explain.”

  The three knights turned their heads this way and that.

  “Not here, not out in the open,” Galahad whispered. “I’ll take you back to the cottage and explain there.”

  I opened the door and went inside. Completely blindsided, I staggered back as Charlie threw her arms around me in a crushing hug.

  “Where the fudge have you been? We were getting wor—” She released me and backtracked into the room, her eyes bulging behind her glasses, and her finger pointing at the men behind me.

  “Lancelot, Gawain,” I snickered. “You remember Charlie. And Brendan.” I wiggled my fingers at my boyfriend, whose jaw might as well have been attached to the floor.

  He demonstratively palmed his chin and lifted it back up. “Not all good memories, to be honest.”

  I had almost forgotten how Brendan had fought the knights to protect me, nearly giving his life in the process. Water under the bridge now, I hoped.

  The three wolves said nothing, though their ears pricked up and their bodies looked ready to pounce.

  Meanwhile, Pullhelli came to life in the rocking chair and pointed his staff at the newcomers. “I seem to recall you left these two in the Realm of Shadows.” His eyebrows merged with his hairline. “You went deep this time.”

  I smiled.

  “Good to see you again, old friend.” Lancelot inclined his head at the Sorcerer.

  “And you. I am saddened that it is not under different circumstances, though you could not have arrived at a more pertinent time.”

  “I’ll get everyone up to speed later,” I said, “but first, I need to hear from them.” I turned to the three knights and gestured towards a bench dressed in sheepskin. “Please, sit.”

  Lancelot sat in the middle with the others on each side of him.

  “Explain.” I grabbed a chair and sat opposite them.

  Lancelot looked at Pullhelli. “She wants to know why my son and I look the same age.”

  Pullhelli chuckled. “I see. Our queen wasn’t born yesterday.” He rocked back and forth in his chair. “I suppose she’s not truly been born yet at all, yet here she is.”

  “There are too many ears in this room,” Gawain said.

  Charlie swung a chair up next to mine, her eyes brimming with curiosity. “We won’t tell.”

  “What of him?” Gawain frowned, gesturing behind me. “Rowan of Nidra.”

  My brother squirmed where he sat by the Chonkle board in the corner.

  “Long story.” I smiled. “But he has earned my trust. Same as everyone in this room.”

  Two out of three knights sat tight-lipped, clearly not convinced.

  “You have history with this Sorcerer.” Pullhelli rocked forward and placed his elbows on his knees. “There is much for us to discuss. For now, I give you my word and, as one of the few, I grant you permission to speak freely.”

  Frowning, I cast him a quizzical look. He simply smiled, and I turned my attention back to the knights. “Please.”

  Gawain leaned against the wall. “This is the best-guarded secret in Gwyn Fanon, and I must stress that it is not to leave the confines of this room.”

  “As queen, however, it is your right to know,” Lancelot interjected.

  Next to him, Galahad was twisting his fingers, eyes downcast, and it was the only thing that made him look like someone in the presence of his elders.

  “We were the first Don Hekals to come to live in this world, and so no one here questioned our longevity. No one knew we were supposed to age more quickly than Magicals. That being said, we, the knights, certainly knew, and Arthur was the first to ask Queen Morgana about it. It has been a universal truth that Fae have longer life spans than anyone else in this realm. No one questions it because it’s the way it has always been.”

  Pullhelli tapped his staff on the floor. “It’s mostly contributed to the Fae’s inherent healing power, and I must admit, those of us in the know have played our part in reinforcing this belief.”

  Lancelot tilted his chin. “Indeed. After our arrival in this world, we stayed a while in Mynydd Dewin, but us knights have spent most of our time on Avalonian soil. Most of us, anyway. My son always had an adventurous spirit, and would often travel to other parts of the realm.”

  Galahad raised his head. “I spent a lot of time with the creatures of the desert in Ygrenya, though my heart always led me back to Pixilon. Unfortunately, it took years before either of us realised we were ageing differently. Even knowing the truth, I accepted the position as Reeve of Pixilen.”

  My head thrummed, and I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I’m not sure I follow.”

  “I think I do,” Charlie said. “When we were in Vivana, I read something in one of Lorekeeper Trevin’s many scrolls. There was a passage that mentioned the Enchantium core, referring to it as the heart of magic. While all Magicals have some amount of Enchantium in their veins, the core is magic in its purest form, an everlasting source of energy.”

  “I’m still not sure what that has to do with—” I straightened. “Oh.”

  “Right?” She gave me a light shove, prompting all three knights to frown at her. “Oh, don’t get your gauntlets in a twist. Anyway, my guess is that Auberon figured this out, which is why he’s so obsessed with the core.”

  “And why Morgana shut him down the moment he tried to bargain for peace with it,” I mumbled, still not sure I had completely grasped this new information. “I just assumed that had to do with Nimue, but it was more than that, wasn’t it?”

  “Correct me if I’m wrong.” Charlie cleared her throat. “My only conclusion is that the closer one is to the core, the longer your life expectancy becomes, which is why Avalonians, mostly consisting of Fae, tend to live longer than anyone else in this world.”

  Galahad exhaled heavily. “My travels took me far from Avalen, often years at a time, while my father and the other knights spent much more time in Avalon. Their ageing slowed, while mine did not. At least not as much.”

  As blown away as I was, there were other matters to attend to. “Thank you for telling me. Us. This will never leave this room. That is an order.” I added that last part mostly for the knights’ benefit, because I already knew I could trust everyone in this room. “Now, we have a war to fight. Taryn left for Pelles two days ago and we are to meet him there. Will you come?”

  Lancelot and Gawain stood as one, one hand clasped on the pommel of their swords. “Our mission has not changed, Your Majesty. We will protect Avalon from the usurper in any way possible.”

  Lancelot was the first of the two to kneel. He unsheathed his sword and held it gingerly in front of him, the hilt in one palm, the flat of the sharp blade in the other. “Until my last drop of blood. Until my last gasp of air. Until my last gaze upon fair Avalon.”

  After everything we had been through together. After me killing Percival and leaving them in the void, they still pledged to me.

  “You honour me beyond words,” I said.

  Gawain repeated the pledge next, and I had to fight back the tears at their undying devotion and loyalty. How could I not have seen them for what they were until now?

  There was a knock at the door. “Your Majesty.” My current guard poked his head inside. “I think you’ll want to come and see this.”

  The urgency in his voice had me cross the threshold in a heartbeat. I hurried outside with everyone else at my heels.

  “What is it, soldie
r?” The street ahead was quiet, and there didn’t appear to be any immediate threats.

  “You’re looking in the wrong direction.” He sounded amused.

  A gust of wind made me look up, and my lips parted when I saw them. A throng of winged creatures soared through the sky, making my heart jolt with joy. Their squawks filled the air as the griffins neared. There had to be close to a hundred of them. At the front, a large griffin spearheaded the convocation. He was as magnificent as ever.

  “Hondo!”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  I curled my fingers around Hondo’s soft fur as the surges of wind blew past. To have the griffins return was a blessing, one that strengthened my army. Not only that, but flying on Hondo again was like reuniting with an old friend. There were ninety-one griffins in total, and I had chosen a number of my soldiers and friends to ride them instead of boarding the ships, which had sailed from Bay Tawel soon after the winged creatures arrived. While Jen loved flying, Jack and Erica had been less inclined, though they had obediently followed their Alpha. I was the last one to leave Awarnach, along with a number of soldiers at my tail, and though I knew what was coming, I was more determined than ever to see this through.

  Below, ships dotted the sea; some had anchored outside Port of Pelles, among them The Mirthin—one of several ships flying the maroon and turquoise colours—while others were still sailing in. A throng of griffins already nested on the shore, ready to welcome the rest of their brethren flying behind me.

  Taryn had assured me that I had nothing to worry about, and that they would have taken Pelles upon my arrival. Still, with my father’s metaphorical claws sunk into every nook and cranny of Avalon, who knew what we would face? As we swooped towards the village, a smile spread across my face.

  Above the rooftops, a midnight blue banner with a golden M swayed in the wind. Morgana’s banner. My banner. Commander Taryn had delivered on his promise and secured Pelles.

  My head throbbed, and my vision blurred. I blinked rapidly until I realised there was no use, and instead opened my eyes wide. The banners had disappeared, and I was staring through a thicket of brown stalks studded with thorns. I was resting in a bed of wilted petals. Beyond the withered rose bush, two figures strolled on a path. The hairs on my back bristled at the sight of them.

  “You’ll be staying here, My King?” Gemma asked.

  Where was I?

  “Do you question me, Commander?” Auberon rested a hand on the statue of Morgana, and I almost let out a hiss. This was the royal garden in Morgana’s castle.

  Gemma bowed her head. “No, of course not.”

  “There is no need for us to join the battle. My forces outnumber Ruby’s puny army at least five to one, and her soldiers will be crushed long before they reach the walls of Avalen.” He patted the statue, peering into the lifeless eyes of Morgana’s marble face. “If she wants me, she’ll have to go through all of them.”

  “As you wish.” Gemma slanted her head, gesturing at the statue. “Perhaps it’s time we replaced this atrocity?”

  He grimaced and clinked his cane against the marble. “Now isn’t the time. Once the battle is won, no one will question my right to rule ever again. Only then can we start building monuments.”

  I backed up slowly, silently, and slipped inside the castle.

  My head spun, and the images faded until I was back in my body once more. I sent a silent thank you to Kit and hoped he would continue to stay safe. Shaking my head, I let out a heavy breath and looked up.

  In the far distance, a dim glow of emerald hues shone through the cloudy sky, and although I could barely see it, just knowing how close I was to Avalen only strengthened my resolve. He wouldn’t meet me on the battlefield after all. Instead, he would wait in my castle, expecting me to fail. It was only about half a day’s march across the plains to Avalen. Should I march my army across the plains, or wait for them to come at me? Auberon was the real target, and one way or the other I knew I had to face him. I wanted to avoid moving too many forces into the city, however, sparing as many civilian lives as possible, which meant I needed another way in. I had no doubt that my father was already planning his attack. Meanwhile, I would plan mine.

  I’m coming for you, Father.

  He had to be stopped, I knew that, but I didn’t want him to die. How was I supposed to achieve this monumental task? Morgana was able to imprison him in the Realm of Shadows, but even that could not hold him, so how would I manage to keep him out? There was no way he would simply step down willingly and, apart from my friends, my people would expect me to execute him. The Nadredd’s poison might be my best bet. At least it would subdue his powers for a while. On the other hand, it might be dangerous for me as well. I had travelled through the shadows with a mydredd snake before, but I wasn’t sure I could use the shadows the way Pullhelli had taught me while carrying a mydredd or a Nadredd sting with me. Probably not. The shadows were a part of me now, just like any of the other powers that flowed in my veins. I couldn’t risk it, and my new skill was my best bet to get close enough to my father to defeat him. No matter how I was going to do that.

  Hondo squawked and touched down at the edge of the large village by the shore. The rest of the griffins and their riders followed, all settling among their kin on the sand. I hugged Hondo’s neck, then swung my leg over his back and slid off him.

  “My Queen.” Taryn marched towards me. “The village is secured.”

  “So I gathered, my friend. Thank you.” I looked around at the griffins, unsure if they were all here. “Did everyone make it?”

  “Your council and friends are already in the village.”

  “Good.” I smiled.

  “We have about thirty dead Sorcerers and have suffered only one casualty ourselves.”

  My heart sank. One was more than none. And though I knew whoever it was wouldn’t be the last, it was the beginning of a bloody battle that would cost us many more lives before this was all over.

  “Who?”

  “An eagle Changeling named Matteoz.”

  I put a hand on Taryn’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. May the Lady keep his essence safe.”

  He nodded, gave a few orders to the soldiers, then gestured for me to follow him onto the dirt road that led into Pelles.

  Soldiers and commoners flooded the village. The aroma of roasted meat and herbs crawled up my nostrils, and the clank of steel against steel sounded in the early evening. We passed a forge where soldiers were streaming in, only to come back out with swords, axes, curved blades, and even arrows.

  “We have weapons for everyone?” I asked Taryn.

  “It should be enough, though some will have to settle for only one. Besides, we had some help.” He gave me a half-hearted smile and gestured at a door. “This way, My Queen.”

  We stepped into a tavern aptly named The Smithy. People cluttered the area. Three men were singing in gravelly voices in a corner, and a few couples danced to their grating tune. I smiled at the memories it stirred in me. They could have easily passed for a gang of football supporters back on Earth, and the song weirdly reminded me of Dad and my favourite, “You’ll never walk alone”. He might be dead, but he was always with me, and I carried him in my heart in everything I did.

  If only you could see me now, Dad.

  The familiar smoke from whatever leaves the guests were smoking clouded the air, and the clinking of cups and loud voices gave the tavern a carefree kind of atmosphere, which seemed to contrast what was about to transpire. Perhaps they were celebrating the fact that we had driven Auberon’s soldiers out of the village, even if it might only last a short while. Some turned their heads my way, and their mouths clicked shut. While I no longer had red hair, they seemed to recognise me. It might have had something to do with the way Taryn was shielding me, though. One by one, their eyes fell on us, and the sounds gradually faded. The singing trio was the last to quiet down.

  The barkeep swept a hand over the counter and swiped a few coins into his palm,
then began cleaning a cup, all the while peering my way.

  “Ruby of Morgana, Blood of Merlin, Queen of Avalon and the Southern Isles, Protector of Talani, Awarnach, and Ygrenya, Defender of the Realm,” Taryn bellowed.

  As one, the crowd fell to their knees. My throat clogged up as I fought the tears and tried to keep my cool. So far, the incessant bowing and scraping had felt unnatural and strange. Now, however, it was as if Morgana was with me, and I imagined her hands on my shoulders. These were my people, and I was their queen. It was my duty and my honour to serve them.

  “Please rise,” I said. “I want to talk to as many of you as I can, but in the meantime, you would make me happy if you continue as you were because the Lady knows we might not get to do this again for a while.”

  Slowly, and reluctantly, people resumed what they had been doing when Taryn and I had walked in.

  “Ru!” Erica waved me over to a table in the corner.

  I moved through the crowd, stopping about every step to greet a villager as I passed. Taryn did his best to part the sea in front of us, but I wasn’t too worried. These were friends and allies, so I took their hands and thanked everyone I could for their support. After I had said my hellos to about a third of the room, I finally dumped down on the seat next to Erica. As always, Jack was by her side.

  “Hey,” I said in an exhale. Behind me, Taryn turned to the crowd, still standing.

  “You’re looking as dashing as always.” Erica flashed me a smile, her raven-black hair cascading over her shoulder, briefly making me miss my red locks. “Whatever those air currents did to your hair on the flight here, I like it.”

  Somehow, she always knew how to put a smile on my face. “And you.”

  Coming from the bar, Jen pushed through the crowd with a tray full of cups held high above her head. “Watch it,” she growled at a man who almost knocked into her. The cups rattled on the tray but stayed put. She set it down and found a seat by the table.

  “Well done,” Erica said. “You’ve got some skills, Alpha. I should know. I can’t tell you how many trays I’ve dropped bartending.”