by LH Nicole
“No. How could I regret meeting you and learning the truth about Arthur and Camelot?”
Galahad smiled and turned her in his arms. Aliana laid her cheek against his chest and listened to his heart thumping. Galahad’s hand cupped her neck, his fingers trailing into her hair. She shivered as sparks raced down her spine.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of that.” She giggled, looking up at him.
“I hope not. I know I won’t.” Galahad leaned down and kissed her, coaxing her mouth open so his tongue could dance with hers.
“This is becoming a bad habit,” Lacy said from behind them, causing the pair to jump apart.
“We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” Dawn added, grinning wildly.
“Is there a point to your interference?” Aliana sniped.
“Yeah, everyone’s waiting on you two so we can have breakfast,” Dagg said, jumping from Lacy’s arms to Aliana’s shoulders.
Following Lacy and Dawn, they entered the kitchen and took their seats. They filled their plates, digging in before Dawn spoke up. “Lia, what time are you going to meet Joe about the book?”
“I was thinking we’d leave about ten. Uncle Joe will be there to let us into the office.”
“You didn’t tell him what you’re looking for, did you?” Lancelot asked, exchanging glances with Arthur, Merlin, and Wade. He was back to the cold, standoffish knight Aliana had always known him to be. She took this as a sign he wanted to pretend their argument the night before had never happened.
“What’s with the look, guys?” Lacy asked, chomping on a piece of bacon.
“We think it’s best that we don’t tell anyone outside our circle what’s going on,” Merlin answered. Wade frowned but didn’t comment.
“Well, duh!” Dawn quipped. “Lia’s not an idiot.”
“I’m not saying we tell Joe everything,” Aliana said. “He’d totally freak and tell Dawn’s mom and Lacy’s parents, who would then also freak. But we agreed telling Dawn was for her own protection, so we’ve got to tell Joe something so he’ll be more careful.”
Merlin folded his arms over his chest, sitting back in his chair. “You haven’t had much contact with him since your parents died so he’s probably distant enough from you to not be at risk. We think keeping the truth of what we’re doing is the best way to keep him safe.”
“You think?”
“Aliana,” Arthur said in his soothing tone. “In this case we believe it’s safer for him to remain at a distance from you. It’s necessary that you see him today to retrieve the book, but after that, you should limit your contact with him. The best thing we can do is fulfill the prophecy as quickly as possible so everyone can be safe. Right now we need to focus on getting that book so we can find Excalibur again.”
Aliana nodded but wasn’t satisfied. Arthur was right to an extent and it seemed like the only thing she could do now was hope Mordrid didn’t realize how important her godfather was to her.
“How did you claim Excalibur in Camelot?” Lacy asked, setting her plate aside. “We have so many different versions of the story.”
Finishing his eggs, Arthur answered, “It’s a long story but you three should know it.”
The guys already knew, thanks to the restored memories of their past lives, but this was one of several things there just hadn’t been time to talk about yet. The girls leaned in closer.
6
Aliana is unaware that Lacy and Wade told me how her parents died, how they were taken from her in an accident. I can understand her pain at losing her parents in such a tragic way; my own has never left me. I want to help her cope with the anguish she hides inside her beautifully stubborn soul. Holding it all in without trying to deal with it can be dangerous. I can tell how much Lacy and Dawn—and even Wade—worry for her because of it. They say she has never once spoken of that night to anyone. Maybe I can change that and help her find some measure of peace.
~Galahad
ARTHUR SAT BACK IN HIS CHAIR like a practiced storyteller. His golden brown gaze washed over his old and new friends. “Stories had always been told of an ancient sword forged by fire and earth, but no one had ever seen it. When I was six, my father, King Uther, heard word of the sword’s resting place and was told that a Nymph guarded it. Father thought if he had the sword, it would give him the right to rule all of Albion, not just Camelot.”
“Why would he think that?” Dawn interrupted.
“Druids,” Merlin said at Arthur’s nod. “They told that the warrior destined to claim the sword of fire and earth would become the greatest king Albion and the seven realms had ever known.”
“Yep, that would do it.” Lacy’s comment caused everyone to chuckle, even Merlin.
“My father believed he was the type of warrior to claim the sword, so he set out on a quest to the lake where we’d heard it rested.”
“The Lake of Avalon,” Aliana murmured.
“Yes. At that time the lake was on the border of our land and that of the Fisher King’s kingdom.”
“The Fisher King?” Dawn gasped. “You mean he was real? Cursed land and all?”
“Yes, he was, but that’s another story.” Arthur cleared his throat. “If there will be no more interruptions.” He raised his brow, staring down the three girls.
Dawn held her hands up in surrender.
“As I was saying, the lake was located on the border of Camelot and the Fisher King’s kingdom. Father gathered a squad of knights and marched to the lake. It took us days to reach it. When my father and I stood at the lake’s edge, the water rippled and wind howled through the trees, knocking both of us into the lake. A woman rose from beneath the water as the wind settled.” Arthur sighed, his eyes far away. “She was beautiful, like nothing I had ever seen. Her hair flowed like clear water, her pale blue eyes glittered with stars, and she glowed like she held the sun inside her.”
Several of the guys smiled wistfully, even Galahad. It amazed Aliana that they’d all been so clearly taken by the Nymph. She imagined a photo of the whole scene, and a spark of jealousy briefly flared inside her.
“She called herself Nimuah, guardian of Avalon and keeper of Excalibur. The king stood and told her why we’d come, explaining that he was the warrior of legend. She nodded but kept looking toward me.
“‘You are indeed a great warrior king, Uther Pendragon, but only one may claim Excalibur,’ she had said. Father approached her and swore a Pendragon was meant to have the sword. She held out her hands, and water spouted up from the lake toward her palms, bringing with it a long sword inlaid with precious gems and twisting gold. It was the richest sword any of us had ever seen. Father reached out to take it, but the sword rattled and quivered before it shot away, deep into the forest. It moved almost faster than any of us could see.
“‘You are not the one worthy of Excalibur. When that warrior’s time comes, Excalibur will be his to claim, if his heart is true,’ the keeper explained with her eyes focused on me. Before father could protest, she vanished, bursting into thousands of water droplets.”
Arthur paused and Dawn opened her mouth to say something, but Wade stopped her with a shake of his head.
“It was thirteen years later when we heard of the sword again. A pair of traders had come to Camelot telling a tale of a golden jeweled sword trapped in a large stone. My father knew it had to be Excalibur, but he was ill and unable to leave Camelot.” A mournful look stole over Arthur’s face.
Aliana placed her hand over his. He’d told her weeks ago that he’d never been close to his father, and she knew he regretted that.
The look faded and Arthur glanced over Aliana’s head toward Galahad. He removed his hand from hers. “Father ordered me to go with my knights to retrieve it. When our company arrived, villagers had gathered. Evidently news had spread of our quest. Even those from neighboring kingdoms had come. The stone was in the middle of a river at the base of the God’s Fall. The rushing current had already drowned two people who’d tried to cla
im Excalibur.”
“We tried to talk Arthur out of going in,” Merlin said. “He was already greatly loved by the people and highly respected as a warrior and strategist. We knew already that he’d be a greater king than Uther.”
“But,” Arthur said, cutting Merlin off, “as I told them then, I had my orders from my king. So the next morning I rose just before the dawn and entered the river. The force of it nearly dragged me under.” He shifted uncomfortably. “But as I got closer to Excalibur, the water relented. I climbed onto the slippery, flat boulder. When I gripped the hilt I felt a strange pulsing in the sword, almost like it was alive with a heartbeat of its own. I pulled and it slid from the stone. It was as easy as pulling a warm knife from butter. As soon as it was free, the thrashing waters settled and I easily made it back to shore.”
“Wow!” Lacy and Dawn gasped.
Aliana looked around the table at all the guys. They wore nostalgic looks of pride. “I take it all of you were there,” she said, taking Galahad’s hand in hers.
“Yes,” Wade answered. “We’d been knighted and were a very tight knit unit.”
“Queen Titania created that prophecy right?” Dawn asked, looking at Merlin. “Is it possible she’s the one who hid Excalibur since she’s the one who wrote the line ‘unearth and reclaim their lost relics’?”
Everyone was silent. Dawn’s theory made as much sense as anything else they’d come up with.
“Maybe,” Merlin reluctantly agreed. “We should get more answers after we retrieve Allen’s book.”
“Then let’s get going!” Lacy cheered.
“I don’t think all of us should go,” Arthur said as they all stood.
“What do you mean?” Owen asked.
“We don’t want to draw attention to our quest. If eleven of us show up, it could draw unneeded notice.”
“Are you worried that Morgana and Mordrid have a spy at the university?” Aliana asked, half joking.
“We don’t think it an impossibility,” Galahad said. Aliana’s mouth went slack, and she glanced open-mouthed between Arthur, Galahad, and Merlin.
“Morgana knew about you in London before you even set foot in Avalon’s forest,” Lancelot said. “She’d learned enough to know how to contact you and to go after your friend.”
A quick glance between Lancelot and Merlin worried Aliana. Was there more they were hiding from her? But she knew she wouldn’t get anything from those two. She’d try to find out more from Galahad and Arthur later. Now was about finding Excalibur.
“Arthur, Merlin, and myself will go with Aliana,” Galahad stated. Arthur nodded his approval.
Dawn looked at Aliana, determination shining in her green-brown eyes. She cleared her throat. “It would be a good idea for me to come along instead of Merlin.”
“And why is that?” Dagg asked from his spot on the center of the table.
“First, my mother works there so it makes sense that I’d be there. Second, one girl flanked by three burly guys would draw way too much attention, and last—” she looked pointedly at Merlin “—didn’t you work with Aliana’s dad over a decade ago? People would recognize you, and since I’m assuming you don’t look any different now than you did then, they’d get suspicious.”
“Then you and Wade should go in my place.” Merlin’s offer seemed to surprise everyone, including Arthur.
“Wow, I didn’t expect that to be so easy,” Dawn whispered to Aliana behind her hand.
“I want to check in with my contacts to see if they’ve had any news of the Grail’s location, like we discussed on the plane,” Merlin said.
“You know it’s not nice to keep things from the class, guys,” Lacy snapped, a frown on her face and her arms crossed over her chest.
“It’s been a busy few days, Lacy,” Arthur said in his soothing but no-nonsense tone. “There’s simply too much going on to speak of things that are uncertain. Besides, don’t tell me you, Aliana, and Dawn don’t have things you’re keeping from all of us.”
Lacy gulped and dropped her arms, her eyes going to Dawn and Aliana.
Busted, Aliana thought, knowing the other girls were having the same thought.
“I thought so,” Arthur said. “Now, the five of us need to be going.”
Without any further argument, they all split up to get ready. Galahad and Wade removed their silver cuffs to avoid looking out of place on campus. Aliana ran up to her room to grab her purse and sandals. Dagg and Dawn entered the room behind her.
“You don’t even need to say it.” Aliana held out her wrist. The Dragon’s scaly body shrank and his long wings curved back, forming into a cuff as he hardened into the bracelet form he always took when he accompanied Aliana in public.
“That is freaking fantastical!” Dawn squealed.
With the Dragon safely around Aliana’s wrist, the girls went to the foyer where Arthur, Galahad, Lacy, and Percy waited.
“Wade’s pulling Merlin’s SUV around,” Arthur said.
They stepped outside, and Arthur climbed into the front, leaving Galahad to sit in the back with Dawn and Aliana. As they pulled away, Wade told Arthur and Galahad about the private university Aliana’s dad had taught at.
With the guys distracted, Dawn leaned closer to Aliana, flicking a glance at Dagg’s still form. Aliana laid her hand over the Dragon. His power pulsed in her mind, brushing against her reinforced shields. They wouldn’t have long to talk privately.
“I’ll keep an eye out for Josh and run interference if we see him,” Dawn said.
Aliana nodded, her throat so tight it could have been sewn shut. Dagg’s power flared and she let go of him. The Dragon immediately reassumed his true form.
“Sorry,” Aliana said, hugging Dagg’s small, twisty body to her chest.
“We were just having a girly chat and got a bit carried away,” Dawn covered smoothly.
The rest of the thirty-minute car ride was filled with talk about Excalibur. Aliana reviewed what she’d seen in her dream: her papa and godfather had stood together in Allen’s university office, laughing over a book that a student had shown her father—a book bearing a faded Pendragon crest.
Wade pulled onto the grounds of Blades Gate University, passing the large, open lawn lined with spire-peaked, historic buildings. Aliana glanced out the windows, paranoid that Josh would come slithering out of a dark corner like the snake he was. Fortunately, her godfather’s building wasn’t too far from the parking lot so there’d be less chance of running into the weasel.
Wade led the way into the building. As they walked the beige halls, Aliana thought of the many times she and her mom had brought her papa lunch or surprised him with a visit. Those were happy memories, and she wanted to hold onto them.
“I think Wade and I are going to go say hi to my mom real quick,” Dawn said, wheeling around so quickly that Arthur, Galahad, and Aliana nearly slammed into her. Dawn’s eyes flicked over her shoulder, and Aliana knew immediately what she was trying to say. “She’s just down the other hallway here.”
Meaning Josh was in the other direction right ahead of them.
“That’s probably a good idea,” Aliana said, quickly pulling Galahad and Arthur into another hall. Her ears thudded with the sound of her heart racing. “If Dawn doesn’t go see her mom soon, she’s going to get curious and come to the house.” Aliana wasn’t exactly lying. Aunt Michelle was a nosy woman, but everyone loved her in spite of it. “I think there are several things we don’t want her to see there.”
“You’re right.” Arthur nodded, carefully studying Aliana and Dawn. “But don’t be gone long. We shouldn’t stay out in the open for too long.”
Nodding, Dawn grabbed Wade’s wrist and pulled him around the corner before he could protest.
Aliana turned and smiled unconvincingly at her two warriors. “Uncle Joe’s office is this way.” She nodded her head and led them down the hall to the last door. It read “Joe Riley, History Dept. Chair” in dull gold and black lettering.
; “I think the two of you should stay out here,” she said.
“No,” Galahad said.
“Not a good idea,” Arthur agreed.
“Uncle Joe is my godfather,” Aliana said evenly. She understood their caution, but she wanted a chance to spend at least a little time with him without them hovering. She needed a moment to feel normal again. “I already have to hide so much from him, and I don’t want to lie any more than I have to. I can’t exactly go in there and introduce you as Arthur and Galahad, can I?”
Both men stayed silent but wore unsatisfied frowns.
“Dagg will be with me. He’ll signal if he thinks anything’s wrong.” She held up her wrist, showing Dagg and his glowing purple eyes. The two men exchanged a glance before nodding their agreement. Turning, Aliana knocked on the door. She hadn’t seen her uncle since confronting him about her birth certificates.
“Come in,” he called out.
“I won’t be very long.” Aliana opened the door and stepped into the room, which still carried the distinct scent of old books. The sunlit office looked the same as it had two years ago, the last time she’d been here. Joe had been given her father’s position after his death and by rights, this office. The walls were lined with shelves of books and beautiful artifacts. The familiar curved wooden chairs sat by the large desk covered with books and stacks of papers. Her godfather had changed very little about the office, other than adding some new books and a few artifacts.
Joe Riley was a portly man with thinning blond hair, a trimmed beard, and grayish eyes that scrunched at the corners. “Aliana, my dear!” He pushed back from the desk, his arms held out as he came around to hug her.
“Hi, Uncle Joe!” His bear hugs were as warm and caring as they’d been all her life. Joe kissed her cheek and she blinked back tears. He was the last father figure she had left in this world. And now she was going to have to lie to him and keep a secret he’d have been overjoyed to know.
“So you found what you were looking for in London?”
“My birth mom is dead, and she was the only one who knew who my birth father was. But I met my cousin, Owen, and several of his friends.”