by K L Rymer
Myrddin is frozen behind me as he chatters his teeth. The novelty of flying wore off after an hour.
I’m over the fear now.
I’m the prophesied child to ride the Red Dragon after all. I got this.
Unfortunately, the poor wizard’s too numb to give us instructions, so Brynmawr heats up his scales to warm him up.
He’s like a giant radiator. I love him.
Myrddin gives us the coordinates, and soon we arrive in what looks like an abandoned theme park.
That’s exactly what it is. It looks like something from a dystopian novel, and there’s even graffiti on the walls saying, “The End is Nigh...”
What the fuck.
I half expect zombies to jump out at us now.
I stare aghast at a decrepit, old rollercoaster. Wild grasses and trees have grown around it.
“Where are we? This isn’t Camelot,” I say.
Myrddin chortles, spinning around to face me. The wind blows, wafting dead leaves his way. “Well, actually... it is. Welcome to Camelot, Bryn! A popular children’s amusement park from ages Naught to Twelve... Well, once upon a time... It shut down twenty years ago now I believe, and it hasn’t been opened since.”
Brynmawr throws himself back in laughter, and the ground quakes beneath his massive weight. “Oh, he got you good, Bryn the human...”
I stare at the famous wizard aghast, and the blood rises to my forehead. “You... you told me we were going to the real Camelot! Not some stupid amusement park!”
Myrddin shrugs unapologetically. “What can I say? I’m a joker after all.”
Brynmawr won’t stop howling behind me, and I whirl around. “I don’t know what you’re laughing at. He lied to you too! This is where he plans to hide you! In this stupid, old misery park!”
“Amusement park...” Myrddin corrects.
“Oh, be quiet!”
I just yelled at my headmaster, but who cares. He trolled me.
This is just messed up. He got my hopes up for nothing. We risked exposing Brynmawr for nothing.
“Oh, relax, Bryn. Looks are deceiving after all. Trust me, I know magic. And this place reeks of it...”
I look back at the professor. He gives a knowing smile.
“Magic?”
The wizard steps forth now, placing a fatherly hand on my shoulder. “This place only appears to be an amusement park. But it’s merely a gateway. As I said, I pick a new, secret location every fifty years. Even when this business was thriving, little did they know that they were literally a magical stone’s throw away from the real Camelot...”
I stare, agape. “So... we really are at Camelot...?”
The grin doesn’t leave Myrddin’s face. “Come along, Bryn. The gateway is about to open.”
Before I have time to respond, another breeze wafts through the empty amusement park, and then a magical whirlpool materializes ahead of us. Instead of graffiti and abandoned kiosks, I stare at a medieval market town, and now a whole new world opens up before me.
I don’t believe it.
It really is Camelot.
Chapter 25.
We enter that medieval market town, and I feel so out of place in my modern clothes.
It’s like I’ve gone to some ren-fair, but I didn’t get the memo about the attire.
Everyone is dressed in medieval clothing. Peasant children wear rags and women corsets. I even spot a few knights in shining armor, and I gape in awe.
Could they be Knights of the Round Table?
“No, Bryn,” Myrddin chuckles. “I hate to break it to you, but these people... they are merely refugees from the modern world. In fact, they’re human... Individuals who decided that they wanted to escape the pressures of 21st century society.”
My eyes bulge as I absorb his words, but then we pass several children and one has a smartphone.
WTF. It totally ruins the whole ren-fair look. Besides, I thought they were her to escape the pressures of modern-day. Wanting the latest smartphone is one of the pressures of 21st century living.
I’m relieved when Myrddin snatches it from his hand, wagging his finger.
The kid moans. His face is dirty yet he has a clean, white phone.
Priorities, hey...
In fact, the kid’s not the only one. A man that looks like a blacksmith ignites a cigarette next with a lighter, and Myrddin magically takes it away from him.
I’m... so confused.
“But... I thought humans didn’t know about the magical world. And besides, if they truly wanted to escape modern-day living, then why... why do some of them have smartphones of all things?”
Myrddin stops and I follow his gaze.
Oh, shit. We totally forgot about Brynmawr!
People scramble away as the dragon hovers over the threshold of the magical gateway, unsure of whether to enter. Some of the children look excited to see a real-life dragon; one snaps a picture on his smartphone.
Myrddin smiles pleasantly. “It’s all right, Brynmawr. You can step into the gateway. These people mean no harm.”
Brynmawr snarls at the boy who flashes his phone. “Are you sure? You said you were taking me somewhere away from prying human eyes, but these ones are taking pictures of me with one of those smartphone contraptions...”
The wizard waves his hand, and the smartphone reappears in his open palm. He puts it in his pocket then addresses the whole market.
“People of Camelot! When I decided to open the gateway for you, you swore that you would give up all your modern-day, personal effects and live simple lives. This is the second phone I have had to confiscate now.”
No one listens to him. They’re all too busy trying to get away from the big ass Red Dragon. Speaking of said dragon, he’s still indecisive.
I call out to him. “It’s fine, Brynmawr. Just trust Myrddin, and do as he says.”
Those glowing, yellow eyes taper once again, and now the dragon heaves a heavy breath, blowing thick tendrils of smoke. It wafts over the children, but they scream in delight.
“All right. If you say so...”
The dragon enters the gateway, and the market clears away in seconds.
“It’s a dragon!”
“Run!”
Brynmawr bares his teeth with a smile. “Well, a hello to you all too....”
At least the children adore him. One raggedy little girl clings to his massive tail, and Brynmawr lifts her off the ground.
“I love you dragon!” she cries, hanging on for dear life.
I suppress a snort.
The dragon flicks his tail, trying to get her off. He peers my way. “So, what do I do with this? Do I eat it?”
Myrddin drags the child off Brynmawr’s tail, and now he nudges her away. “Run along now...”
The little girl smiles adorably up at Brynmawr then skips towards the loving arms of her mother, and now they both run for the hills.
The wizard meets my baffled expression. Everything is just happening all too fast.
“Right, where were we? As I was saying... these are all human refugees who I gave a second chance. You will be surprised by how many humans do know of the magical world, Bryn. It’s more common than you think.”
I raise my brows. “Really? Is that so...”
I guess my mother was aware since I wouldn’t exist after all.
“Camelot needs inhabitants to keep its memory alive, but not just anyone can live here. These humans have all proven themselves worthy through a vigorous series of magical tests.”
“Are they free to go back to the normal world any time?”
“Yes. They’re not prisoners, Bryn. But they have sworn a magical oath that they will never expose Camelot to the rest of the world.”
I pull a face when we pass a butcher’s stall. There are rotten pig heads hanging off hooks. Flies and maggots squirm all over the meat.
“Seems like a pretty sweet deal, but if they revert back to the dark ages, does that mean they have to give up a clean lifestyle to
o? I paid attention in history class; I know that the dark ages were dirty as hell. And what about modern medicine? The last thing they want to do is die of the plague.”
Myrddin scratches his beard. “That I leave up to the individual. I may condemn smoking or technology, but there are some things I have to allow from time to time. I’m not that heartless.”
“Fair enough.”
We’re the only two left in the market. Everyone ran away the moment Brynmawr stepped through the gate, and now he can pass through the narrow, cobblestone streets with ease. Well, just barely.
I watch as the dragon stops, allowing a chicken to pass in front of him, and I snort.
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get away from the big ass red dragon...
I peer over the thatched-roof buildings. “So, where is it?”
“Where is what?” Myrddin replies.
I sigh. “The castle, of course.”
“Oh, you mean the museum... It’s just up on the hill, but we’re not going there today, Bryn. We need to find Brynmawr a home first, and I know the perfect place.”
I deflate. “Aw, no fair...”
“So long as it’s far from people, then I’m satisfied...” Brynmawr says. “One sneeze and these straw houses will go up in flames.”
The wizard gives the dragon a friendly smile. “It warms my heart how considerate you are of the people of Camelot, Brynmawr...”
The dragon rolls his eyes. “Don’t get too sentimental now, Boy Wizard. I could always get hungry. That little girl looked rather scrumptious before.”
My eyes widen. No, he wouldn’t really...
Myrddin laughs and leads the way down a side alley, and soon we reach the edge of town as we find a narrow, country path. Brynmawr takes to the skies.
“So, where are we heading?” I ask.
The wizard locks his eyes on a cottage further up the path. I follow his gaze.
“Who lives there?”
“Someone worthy. You’ll soon see, Bryn.”
I regard him curiously now and shrug, following him up the dirt road with Brynmawr flying behind.
Well, I’m soon about to find out.
...
The wooden gate creaks as Myrddin enters the yard then proceeds up a stone path. I shadow behind him, chewing my bottom lip as I try to think of who could possibly live here.
There’s a vegetable patch to our right and a scarecrow with the happiest face I have ever seen. Everything just looks so cozy and quaint.
Myrddin stops by the door. “Home Sweet Home” and “Welcome” are written across the faded paint. The wizard rings the bell by drawing the string, and now we wait.
“Meow.”
We turn to the sound, and the prettiest cat I have ever seen sits on the windowsill. It’s a tortoiseshell, which makes it female.
“Why, hello, Tilly. Beautiful weather we’re having today, don’t you agree?” Myrddin chirps, acknowledging the cat with a salute.
The cat jumps down from the sill and rubs her head against my legs, and I pick her up.
Even the cats are friendly in this place. What gives?
Brynmawr crash lands outside the cottage next, causing a mini earthquake, and the poor cat startles, scrambling out of my arms.
I whip my head around, offering the dragon a furious glare.
He raises an amused brow. “Sorry I scared away your little furry friend...”
Just as I’m about to protest, the cottage door opens, and I whirl back around. A shrill gasp leaves my lips when I set sights on a pair of familiar, elderly faces.
“G-Grandma... G-Grandpa?!”
They smile in unison and rush outside to throw their arms around me, and now all I can do is stare at the pristine sky.
What the hell are my mother’s parents doing here? I thought they were living in Florida!
“We missed you, Bryn,” Grandma cries, squeezing my cheeks.
“Look how big you’ve grown,” Grandpa ruffles my hair.
I stammer. “W-what are you both doing here?!”
“That’s a good question, Bryn,” Myrddin replies. “But let’s explain over a warm cup of tea, shall we. After you, Patricia.”
Myrddin allows the old lady to step through the door, and now I’m dragged inside that adorable country cottage, visiting my grandparents of all things.
I did not expect this.
Soon I’m seated at a kitchen table, and I’ve never felt so numb as someone pours me hot tea, but I get the gist of what is going on.
Apparently, after he broke up with my mom, Myrddin had stayed in touch with my grandparents, and the three of them are best friends—he sure kept this a secret the whole year that I’ve known him.
The both of them simply adore the famous wizard, wishing that their daughter had never broken up with him. Plus, they never approved of her obvious downgrade, Larry, either, and I have to agree there.
If you look up downgrade in the English dictionary, there you will find a picture of Larry—fat, bald, and with hideous pockmarks.
Mom was a bonny lass back in the day, so it’s no surprise she bagged herself the famous wizard. Still... there is so much I don’t know. My own mother kept me in the dark my whole life, and a part of me starts to wonder if she’d known about the prophecy.
“Jennifer never stopped loving you, Myrddin. We hope you know that,” Grandma says.
I stare at the headmaster as he turns a bright shade of pink. My mother’s name seems to have made him shy.
“Oh, Patricia... you’ve always been too kind...”
Myrddin sips his tea, but I don’t miss the smug smile creeping across his bearded face.
Ugh, does he still have the hots for my mom?
My Grandpa addresses Myrddin now. “So, what news do you have for us today, Myrddin?”
The wizard sighs and glances out the window, and we all turn to see Brynmawr’s massive, yellow eyes. Tilly the tortoiseshell cat sits beside him on the ledge, rubbing her furry face against his cheek.
The dragon and the cat must have made friends while we were all inside.
“Well, since you asked, Jeremy. You see that dragon there?”
Myrddin points at Brynmawr though it’s not like you can miss him. His giant, scaly face is blocking out the light.
Grandma smiles sweetly. “Why, yes. He’s a very handsome dragon, isn’t he?”
Brynmawr’s mouth curves into a toothy smile, and now he steams the window with his hot breath.
“Why, thank you kindly, old, generous human...”
I gaze down into my tea, totally freaked out. Why are my grandparents so blasé about a dragon?
Did they know about the prophecy too?
Grandma’s right. Brynmawr totally is a babe magnet though (Tilly the cat can’t get enough of him). I just need to pick the sheep bones out of his teeth first, then he will have hordes of fangirls lining up to get to him.
“Yes...” Myrddin replies, looking fervently at both of my grandparents now. “We need someone to look after him while we’re away. Do you think you’re both up to the task, Mr and Mrs Williams?”
The elderly couple take each other’s hands, and now they gaze upon the wizard with such pride. They don’t even see me, and I’m their granddaughter.
“It would be our honor, Myrddin,” Grandpa replies with tears in his eyes, and now he regards the wizard like he was the son he never had.
Oh, I have an uncle. My mother’s younger brother, Francis. I love him, but he’s a bit of a nerd who doesn’t get out much. He’s the ultimate gamer though and has taught me many things.
Myrddin beams. “Remember, he needs a lot of meat.”
“We will feed him plenty. Don’t you worry about a thing...” Grandma says.
The wizard raises his finger. “And make sure he keeps away from the town.”
Grandma waves him off. “You have nothing to fear. He will be in good hands.”
Myrddin produces another grin, and it wrinkles his eyes this time. “
Splendid. Well, I guess we’re done for today. Bryn, time to go.”
I peer up, surprised. Already?
The wizard notices my questioning gaze. “We will come back. Not to worry.”
A heavy sensation dips inside my chest, and I glance at my grandparents and then at Brynmawr.
Now I have to say goodbye to my dragon and my beloved grandparents. (Grandparents who I haven’t seen in four years by the way.)
Finally, I rise to my feet and join Myrddin by the door as he takes my arm. He will be teleporting back to the academy this time.
My eyes find Brynmawr’s at the window, and I offer him a sad, little wave.
The dragon narrows his big, catlike eyes. “Well, I guess I will see you soon, my rider...”
Chapter 26.
Several weeks pass and spring has already sprung. Birds sing in the trees and snowdrops are in full bloom. And let’s not forget those fluffy white lambs that skip around the fields—the ones Brynmawr hasn’t stuck his teeth into that is.
The students at the academy are already preparing for their second lot of exams this year, and the pressure to perform is on.
I’m already a pro with my sword so I have nothing to worry about, and now I can knock Shankfoot onto his ass.
The dwarf currently trains me outside my grandparent’s cottage. We are all present.
My entire house, the headmaster, and even Mr. Tanaka are enjoying the glorious sunshine of Camelot.
It’s always surprisingly warm and sunny in this famous medieval town. I have not yet encountered one drop of rain even though the grass is always lush.
The castle still eludes me. Myrddin is very particular about who goes up there, and even I’m not that worthy yet.
In time...
Everyone seems so happy. Apart from the few bad apples that ruin the whole ren-fair vibe by smuggling in phones and lighters, modern-day Camelot is a good place to live.
I’m so glad my grandparents decided to retire here in the end. Much fancier than Florida I’d say with all its mosquitos, and not to forget those dangerous alligators too.
Now they have an even bigger alligator on their hands.