Children of Avalon

by Meredith Bond

  That left me forced to watch Scai and Aron again. I didn’t like him, I decided. Not one little bit. If Scai hadn’t turned to me for comfort last night when she’d learned that her guardian had died, Aron would probably already be sporting that bloody nose. As it was, I did not like seeing Scai so close to him.

  After watching them for another ten minutes or so, I loosened up on the reins a bit and moved forward to ride next to Aron. “What do you say we go for a bit of a gallop?”

  “I’d love to! This slow pace is killing me,” he confided.

  “I’ll stay back with Sir Dagonet and Bridget,” Scai offered.

  That was surprising. I was certain she would want to stay with Aron. I gave her a shrug and then clicked my tongue.

  The horse took off with what seemed to be a sigh of relief. It wasn’t as easy galloping down this road as it had been when we’d been heading south to Gloucester. Then it had been empty, now it was crowded with people all traveling to Holme just as we were. I had to weave in and out, around wagons and a good number of people on foot. A quick look behind me, though, showed Aron right on my heels.

  We rode for a good fifteen minutes going as fast as we could, until I was forced to pull up as we approached even more congestion. It just wouldn’t have been safe to ride so fast through so many people.

  Aron slowed to a walk just next to me, scowling at people ahead who had forced us to slow down. “I’ve never seen so many people.”

  I laughed at that. “Tallent’s a small town, I assume?”

  He gave an embarrassed smile and nodded. “Very small.”

  “So, I suppose you and Scai were close?” I said as pleasantly as I could.

  Aron looked over at me. Curiosity and wariness seeped from him. “We grew up together.”

  “And that’s all? You’re just friends?” I asked, certain that he could hear the skepticism in my voice.

  Aron took too long to answer. Clearly it wasn’t as simple as that.

  We were forced to slow down even more. I stood up in my stirrups to see what the hold–up was but hadn’t needed to. I could feel the pull of water nearby.

  “Looks like we’re being slowed by a narrow bridge across the river.” I pointed it out to Aron, who still hadn’t answered my question.

  “What do you say we stop, then, and wait for the others?” he suggested.

  I was more than happy to do so. Finally, here was my opportunity. We turned off the road, walking our horses down an incline toward the bank of the river.

  I’d barely dismounted, and Aron hadn’t even begun to do so, when I turned on him.

  “Just what the hell are you doing here, really?”

  He paused, staring at me, before slowly dismounting from his horse. “I told you, things were getting ugly for me in Tallent. Scai suggested that I join you.” He pulled the reins over his horse’s head and then led the animal to the riverbank to allow him a drink. My horse had already wandered over by himself.

  “She suggested that you join us.”

  “Yes.”

  I didn’t think. My fist flew out before a thought could even form in my mind. It would have connected straight with the center of his face if he hadn’t ducked.

  “Hey!” Aron said, taking a few quick steps back away from me, holding his hands up. “I’m not here to get in your way.”

  “Oh no? Then you and Scai always sit within inches of each other giggling your asses off? Sneak in a little kiss here and there when Father isn’t looking?” I asked, coming after him again.

  This time he blocked my first punch, but my second caught him squarely in the belly. He doubled over, but his own fighting reflexes kicked in, and he gave me a shove while swiping my legs out from underneath me. He would have been on top of me within a minute, but instead of falling flat, I tucked, rolled, and was on my feet again before he could react.

  My fists were clenched and I was ready to land another facer, when he shouted, “Stop! It’s not like that. I’m not after Scai. We’re friends.”

  I paused. My breath was coming fast, and I wanted nothing more than to hit him again, but he was looking seriously upset—and I didn’t think it was because he was scared that I would hit him again. “Nothing more?”

  “No. I swear. She’s like a sister to me.” I could hear the honesty in his voice. See it in his eyes. The emotions he was giving off were of concern. There was no anger. No deception. Not even a touch of jealousy.

  Hesitantly, I lowered my hands.

  “She told me you two had something going on,” he admitted. “Said Sir Dagonet insisted you be friends until Nimuë was defeated?”

  I nodded.

  “Yes, well she wasn’t happy about that, I can tell you. She’s really frustrated but said it had to be this way because of Bridget. It wasn’t fair for you two to be together because then Bridget would worry that you’d defend Scai first or something?”

  I took a step back. “Something like that. We have to work together, the three of us, or else we won’t be able to defeat Nimuë.”

  “She said that,” he said, nodding. “Honestly, there is nothing between me and Scai. We grew up together. That’s all.”

  I felt the fight wash out of me, but threw in a “Yes, well, don’t you forget it!” just for good measure.

  He laughed. “Believe me, I won’t. Just, um...” He paused and scratched his head. “Is Bridget... Well, is she...”

  “Is she what?” I asked, looking warily at him again.

  “I don’t know. Married or anything?” he asked, looking past me toward the river.

  “Bridget? Married?” Shock flashed through me, and then it was all I could do not to burst out laughing. “Who would want to marry her? Well, I mean, I suppose someday someone might, but...”

  “Hey, she’s a beautiful woman! Of course someone would want to marry her.” Now it was Aron who was showing some anger. He advanced on me.

  I raised my hands, but instead of coming at me, Aron suddenly flew away from me.

  “Dylan! How could you?” Scai flashed by me, running toward the river.

  “Bad form, don’t you know?” Sir Dagonet said, as he dismounted from his horse and came toward me.

  “What?” I said, looking toward the river where Scai was leaning out over the water, Aron’s hand held tightly on to her arm. Sir Dagonet moved past me to help pull Aron from the water. I hadn’t even heard them approach with all the noise from the road.

  “I didn’t do anything,” I protested.

  “It sure looked like you did,” Bridget said, coming to stand just next to me.

  “Good thing I can swim,” Aron said, slightly out of breath. “Wow, it felt as if the water just reached up and grabbed me.” He laughed.

  “That’s exactly what it looked like, too,” Scai said, scowling at me.

  “There!” Bridget yelped, and then took off running into the woods beside us.

  I didn’t wait to argue with Scai but ran after Bridget, pulling out my sword as I went. In a moment, I saw what she was after—a woman running through the woods. Her long dark hair was flying behind her, and then all of a sudden she just disappeared.

  Bridget and I stopped, looking all around, trying to figure out where she had gone.

  “What?” Bridget said, panting.

  I just shook my head. A second later, though, a strong breeze blew directly into my face and Scai was standing in front of me holding on to the arm of the woman. Morwen!

  “I caught her,” she crowed, giving us a smile.

  Morwen snatched her arm out of Scai’s grasp and was about to run again, but I grabbed her before she could make a move.

  “You’re the one behind these attacks,” I accused her. I gave her a little shake when she didn’t answer right away.

  “Of course!” Sir Dagonet said, coming up from behind us. “Priestesses learn to control all of the elements. Could only be her, don’t you know?”

  “You control all of them?” Aron asked, the only one not so shocked that h
e could voice what we were all thinking. “Who is she?”

  “The Lady Morwen. Granddaughter to Morgan Le Fey, and the one who tried to steal the chalice from Dylan,” Scai explained.

  “Tried to, but didn’t succeed?” Aron asked.

  I nodded. “That’s right. I realized what she was doing and didn’t give it to her.”

  “But Lady Nimuë fooled you and got it anyway, didn’t she?” Morwen said with a sneer.

  “And we will get it back,” Bridget countered.

  Morwen turned her head and glared down her nose at Bridget.

  “I’ll take her to Avalon. Lady Morgan will know what to do with her.” Scai said, taking Morwen’s other arm.

  “Are you sure you can handle her? She won’t get away?” I asked, concerned for both Scai’s safety, and that Morwen didn’t escape.

  “We’ll be traveling too fast for her to slip away from me. I’ll be back within the hour.” Scai, dragging Morwen along with her, took a running start, and then disappeared.

  “Wow. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.” Aron shook his head and turned back to where we had left the horses.

  I stayed where I was for a minute, looking at the place where Scai had been just a moment before. I’d never actually seen her take off like that before. It was pretty incredible.

  I turned back to Aron feeling that something had to be said. “Aron, I’m really sorry, but I didn’t—”

  “Hey, it’s all right. Even if you had, I would understand. Bridget’s a pretty incredible girl. I’d dunk a guy for just looking at her, too,” he said quietly enough for Bridget not to hear him.

  “Yes, well, you can have her,” I said, trying not to shudder at the thought of the poor fellow who married Bridget. I wondered when Aron would figure out exactly what he was getting himself into with her. But then, mentally, gave a shrug. It wasn’t my problem, and he could have her if he really wanted.

  As Aron and I returned to Bridget and Sir Dagonet, I caught a flash of Bridget’s face before she spun around and looked in the other direction. It was beet red, but why?

  I turned to look at Aron to ask him when I noticed that his clothing was soaking wet and clinging to every inch of his body. He was definitely a well–built fellow with huge muscles, and I could just about see the outline of every one.

  Which meant that Bridget could as well.

  “Er, might want to change into some dry clothes if you have any,” I politely suggested.

  Aron looked down at himself and pulled his tunic away from his body. “Yes, I think should,” he said, completely unaware of just what he was displaying to everyone.

  I wondered if the cause of Bridget’s embarrassment was more than the sight of Aron’s body. She had, after all, seen me without a shirt and in only soaking wet breeches and hadn’t seemed terribly embarrassed.

  When the truth hit me, though, I nearly laughed aloud. That’s why she’d been so quiet after Aron had shown up. She was being shy! She liked Aron. I could barely believe it. And if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it. But there it was, written all over her face and flaring from her mind.

  Aron couldn’t see it, of course. I wondered if I should say anything to him. I decided against it. It would be better to leave well enough alone—let the two of them figure this out.

  I gave Bridget a little wink to let her know what I knew and then turned away to take some food from my saddlebags.

  Chapter 15

  “Sir Dagonet, someone’s coming,” Bridget whispered loudly to the old knight as he was gathering together his bedroll and armor.

  “Eh?”

  I watched as he frowned in concentration at his things as they rose into the air and moved toward his horse where he would secure them to his saddle.

  I then turned to look in the same direction as Bridget. “Sir!” I called out in warning.

  “Sir Dagonet!” Bridget’s call followed on the tail on my own, but turned into a scream as the knights who had been approaching at a steady clip on horseback a moment ago, were now bearing down on us at a full gallop.

  Sir Dagonet turned just in time to get a broadsword whacked against the side of his head. The old man went down.

  I drew my sword ready to attack and defend the old knight, but before I could do anything, the three of us were surrounded by four knights, their swords drawn.

  I could see the indecision on Bridget’s face. She could easily start throwing fireballs at the knights or use some other magic to fight them off, but she knew that that would only get us into even more trouble.

  Out of the corner of my eye I saw Scai and Aron approach from the stream. No, I called out to Scai in my mind. Don’t come any closer, they’ll see you!

  But we have to help, Scai projected back.

  It’s better if you two stay hidden. If they’re going to take us prisoner, it’ll be easier if you aren’t as well.

  We’ll circle around and attack from behind.

  No, Scai! I called out mentally, but she didn’t respond.

  “Will you come peacefully, witch?” one of the knights asked, approaching Bridget.

  “She is no witch,” I said. “What is this that you go about attacking old men and helpless girls?” I stepped forward making clear my intent to defend Bridget.

  The knights all dismounted. Their number, not to mention their size and armor, making it equally clear that I wouldn’t stand a chance if I was stupid enough to try and fight them.

  “That”—the knight pointed at Sir Dagonet’s bedroll that was now lying on the ground next to him—“was moving by itself. Either the old man was moving it, or she was.”

  “I’d say it was the girl. I’ve never heard of an old man being a witch,” another knight said.

  As the others agreed, the first knight grabbed Bridget’s arms. I no longer cared about odds. I pulled Excalibur from my belt. The other three knights turned toward me, each one reaching for his weapon.

  “No! It was me,” Sir Dagonet said, slowly sitting up and putting a tentative hand to his bleeding head. “She’s innocent, don’t you know? I’m the one you want. Dylan, stand down, son.”

  Bridget’s wide eyes looked from Sir Dagonet to the man holding her, wondering if he would be convinced. Fear poured from her in waves so strong I had to strengthen my wall to block out the sensation.

  It would be easier if Sir Dagonet was taken as a witch rather than Bridget. He was stronger and would be able to fight for his release. “It’s true,” I said. “Let her go.”

  Silently, I called out to Scai, You and Aron need to grab Bridget and get out of here. I’ll take care of Sir Dagonet.

  No, Dylan! We...

  What are you going to do? What are you going to fight them with? If we use magic we’ll have to kill them and pray that no one else is nearby to see. Do you want to risk that?

  “You take Bridget, Dylan, and continue on your way,” Sir Dagonet ordered.

  “No, sir. I’m going to stay with you. Bridget, you mount up.”

  “Whose horses are they?” the first knight pointed to Dylan and Aron’s horses, as Bridget reached for her own.

  “Mine,” I began.

  “And mine,” Aron finished, coming out of the woods from the direction of the stream. Scai was with him looking very scared and unhappy. When she saw Sir Dagonet on the ground, she ran to him. Using the towel in her hand, she wiped away the blood that was trickling down the side of his face.

  “How could you hit an old man?” she scolded the knights.

  “He’s a witch,” the second knight said, grabbing her arm and pulling her away from Sir Dagonet.

  Scai didn’t say anything, she just jerked her arm out of the man’s grasp and then looked to me.

  I nodded to her even though we exchanged no thoughts. I understood what she was thinking. She needed reassurance that I would take care of the old knight. There was no way that I wouldn’t, not after all that Sir Dagonet had done for us. “Aron, you take the girls and
go on. I’ll handle things here.”

  Aron looked disturbed and was about to protest when Scai put a hand on his arm. “Let Dylan handle it.”

  The smile she gave me then did more for my confidence than anything anyone else could have said or done. I would get Sir Dagonet out of this, even if I had to kill every one of the knights surrounding us. I didn’t like that thought, not one bit, but I would do what I had to no matter what. It would be best if I got him out without harming anyone, but I couldn’t do anything with Bridget there spewing emotions like water from a fountain.

  An idea was forming in my head.

  As Scai, Bridget and Aron mounted, Sir Dagonet said softly, “Dylan, I want you to go with them.”

  “I know, sir. But I’m not going to leave you.”

  “Dylan...”

  I gave the old man a smile. “Don’t you worry, sir.” It was all I could say while the knights were watching us. I hoped it would be enough for Sir Dagonet to put his trust in me.

  The old knight was clearly unhappy, but he did give me a small nod.

  His trust in me propped up my confidence further as I prepared myself for what I had to do. No one with Sir Dagonet’s training had ever put his life into my hands as the old knight was doing now. I prayed I didn’t mess things up.

  As the others rode away, turning to look behind them every few minutes, I turned to the knights. “You don’t know who you’ve captured here.”

  “Old man, are you really a witch?” one of the other knights asked.

  “And a knight of the realm?” the first one said, with disgust laden in his voice.

  Sir Dagonet struggled to stand up in his heavy armor. I reached down and gave him a hand.

  “Proud knight, proud Vallen,” he said, nodding his head. “Don’t believe in all that hocus pocus witches use. Just potions and wishful thoughts, don’t you know? Anyone can do that, wot, wot?”

  “What?” one of the knights asked.

  “Exactly,” Sir Dagonet answered.

  I laughed, which just confirmed my original idea. Slowly, carefully, I lowered my emotional dam. After the past few days, I knew that I had a huge store of emotional energy to work with. I just hoped none of it leaked out before I could harness it.