Relics of Camelot

by L. H. Nicole

  Galahad smiled. “We were on our way to join them when we found you.”

  “Are you guys doing more training?”

  “Of a sort,” Gawain said, leading the group down the winding stairs.

  Owaine explained, “In honor of Camelot’s anniversary, we are hosting one of the biggest tournaments the kingdom has ever seen. We all plan on taking part in the games.”

  “Oh, sounds like fun.” And it really did. Maybe she could bond with Morgana a little more, if the girl was really with the others in the training yard.

  Aliana stepped out into the training arena. The sky was overcast, a few darker clouds and the heavy scent of water in the air hinting that it might start raining later. Merlin, Arthur, and Percival were all in the fenced off arena.

  Arthur was carrying on an intense conversation with Merlin while the giant knight oversaw the servants setting up several targets, all at different distances. Aliana worried about what had Arthur so tense. Morgana and Delphina caught her eye before she could think on it any more.

  The two girls came to her side as the guys went to Arthur’s.

  Aliana didn’t miss the hot way Galahad’s eyes traveled over her before he went to his king. She repressed a shiver. She didn’t have time for his attention.

  “I’m glad to see you, Aliana. We were worried when you didn’t join us for dinner last night.” Morgana linked her arm through Aliana’s.

  Delphina walked beside the two girls as they made their way to the fence. “Are you going to join us and watch the knights practice, my lady?”

  “It’s Aliana, Delphina. And I’d like that. It should be entertaining.” Aliana saw the servant, Raven, enter with his arms loaded down with quivers of arrows and a few bows. Two more bows were strung over one shoulder, another two gripped in his smaller fingers. There was also a long strip of leather hanging off his other shoulder with more than a dozen sheathed daggers. “What are the guys practicing today?”

  “A little of everything,” Delphina said, resting her arms on the long wood. “Knife throwing, sword play, hand to hand combat and archery.” Her sea green eyes went to Arthur. “At least that’s what Arthur told me this morning.”

  Aliana tried to not let that last comment sting too much. Morgana released her arm and mimicked Delphina. “This will be a most entertaining afternoon, Aliana.”

  Aliana nodded but watched the boy approach Percival.

  Several of the bows shifted in his arms and the boy stumbled awkwardly, trying not to drop anything. Percival saw the boy and chuckled, but helped him by taking the bows from the boy’s hands. Raven set his load of weapons down on the table next to them for Percival to inspect. Several of the guys joined them, but Merlin, Arthur and Galahad all came over to the girls.

  Merlin placed a long kiss on Morgana’s cheek and the blond girl flushed, her hand going to Merlin’s shoulder. Winking at his love, the Druid turned to Aliana. “Good morning. I hope you are feeling better today.”

  “I am thanks.”

  “Did you meet with the woman in the market yesterday?”

  “Yeah. I think I may have found what I need to get one step closer to figuring out why I’m here.”

  The Druid nodded, pleased.

  “Sophvira was hoping to spend some time with you later today, Aliana,” Galahad informed her. “She and Guinevere went into the market to pick up some things, but should be back soon.”

  Aliana couldn’t help but tease the knight. “Under armed escort, I’m sure.”

  “Quite the contrary, none at all.”

  Aliana’s brows shot up, and then a smile bloomed. “I’m glad.” She noticed Arthur watching them warily. “So what are you guys practicing first?”

  “We are starting with Archery,” the king explained. “I, Leyon, and Galahad are the best marksmen in Camelot.”

  Aliana bit her cheek to keep from agreeing. She did know how good they were. He and Galahad had helped trained her after all, back in London, before their first battle with Mordrid and Morgana.

  She stayed beside the others and watched in fascination as the guys all started to train in earnest. Arthur, Merlin, Leyon, and Owaine all took up bows and arrows while Galahad, Percival, and Gawain sparred in hand to hand combat.

  The longer the three went on, the fiercer they became. Despite the gray sky, it was getting more and more humid. One by one they all started to shed layers of clothing, the heavy vests going first, then their tunics later.

  Aliana’s eyes adored Galahad’s toned chest, the way his muscles flexed as he fought. Even now she still found it hard to believe a warrior could move with such grace and precision while wielding a heavy sword. Arthur and Merlin soon joined the fray, both also casting their tunics aside.

  How she longed for her camera to capture the show of male hotness she was witnessing. She imagined how Dawn and Lacy would be drooling by now, a thought which only made her miss her best friends more.

  Aliana looked down at her hand where her ruby gauntlet was still hidden by her magical veil. She still hadn’t looked at the book. She needed to stop letting herself get distracted and focus on her reasons for being here: Titania’s mystery task and finding a way to the Grail.

  Aliana’s mind made up, she excused herself from the other girls. “I should head back in. There’s something I need to do.”

  “My lady?” Delphina sounded worried.

  “Delphina, I need to focus on my quest for the Fae Queen. Please try to keep the others from distracting me for a while.”

  The apricot-headed Fae nodded once.

  Vira pouted. “Do you have to?”

  “Yes. But I will see you at dinner.”

  The girl looked satisfied. “After dinner we have a surprise for you.”

  Aliana quirked a brow, looking from her to Guinevere. The redhead shrugged, but her amused look told her she knew what the secret was.

  “Then dinner better get here and done soon!” They all laughed as Aliana turned to leave.

  Lancelot came barreling out of the castle, the red cape he wore flapping behind him. “Arthur!”

  Everyone stopped to focus on the harried knight. “What’s happened, Lancelot?” Arthur’s demand was harsh.

  “Villagers just came to the castle saying that their village had been attacked by some magical beast.” He stopped to suck in a fresh breath. “They said it’s the second one to be attacked in as many days.”

  Fury arched on Arthurs face. “Why didn’t we hear about his before now?”

  “They all only just arrived. The first village was on the borders of our lands and the Fisher King’s.”

  Aliana’s gut twisted. A whisper in the back of her mind said this was somehow tied to her quest here in Camelot.

  “Send out a scouting party, immediately. Raven,” Arthur called the boy to their side.

  The boy scrambled over in a flash. “Yes, sire?”

  “Have our horses saddled and a small battalion ready by first light. Pack enough provisions for three days.” Arthur looked back at his men. “We will not allow this creature to destroy our people.”

  The guys all nodded, serious and heavy determination hardening their faces.

  “Merlin, I need to go with you.”

  The Druid’s pale eyes snapped to hers. “No, it’s too dangerous, and if we get into a fight you might accidently expose yourself.”

  “I won’t! This might be somehow tied to my quest. How do I convince Arthur to let me come?”

  His mouth thinned, and Aliana feared he was going to tell her no. Not that it would matter if he did. She’d just sneak out and go on her own. The more she thought about the creature, the more she was sure she needed to find it.

  “You can’t convince the king. But maybe I can get him to agree. Give me until dinner.”

  Grateful, Aliana accepted the concession, her fingers brushing over her hidden power gem. That gave her until dinner to search the mystery book for more clues. Maybe she would even get lucky and find something to help them
against the beast attacking Camelot.

  Aliana’s head dropped against the blanket of her bed, where she was stretched out on her stomach, as she groaned. Her eyes were aching from reading the magical book for the last three hours. And the book was definitely magic. She had confirmed that as soon as she had tried to open it. Because it wouldn’t open at all.

  Dagg had been the one to figure out that she needed to use the energy element’s magic to open it. Her momentary excitement had quelled when she realized the book was a history of the seven realms. Merlin and Dagg had already told her so much about the different places, and if she had any questions, surely her guardian or even the queen or Merlin here, could tell her what she needed.

  “This book came to you for a reason!” Dagg had chided. “There must be something here you need to find out on your own.”

  So far she had skimmed through the parts about the Mortal realm, Avalon and the Isle of the Blessed. There had been plenty of information there she didn’t know, but none of it stood out to her as important.

  Aliana massaged her eyelids with cramped fingers. “My eyes feel like they’re bleeding, Dagg!”

  “We still have time until dinner, Aliana. We need to keep reading until then.”

  She moaned reluctantly. “Fine.” She flipped the page and saw a drawing of what she could only compare to a haunted-looking Gothic church. There were two towering, square parapets, and a large window in the center that appeared to be made of spiraling glass and metal. A wickedly dark labyrinth seemed to spider out from the eerie castle. Below it was a description written in a language she didn’t know. It was made up of clipped wavy lines and curves that maybe could be compared to Mandarin.

  She looked to her Dragon. “Do you know what this says?”

  Her small friend studied the writing from his perch on her shoulder. He had spent the last few hours curled up on her back, like a cat.

  “It’s the language of the Underworld.”

  The grimness in his voice piqued her interest. Of all the realms, she knew the least about this one. “But what does it say?”

  “Galkamish.”

  “Bless you. Wait…what?”

  10

  I felt horrible for Lacy when we first approached the tree to enter the Isle of the Blessed. The lass had gone paler than the Banshees that had nearly killed her brother. I had been about to say something to her when she pulled herself together and opened the gate. We ended up much close to Notien than we had last time. I allowed myself a brief moment to think of Freya, the sweet Fae we had met last time. It was more than fortunate that Aliana’s Pegasus, Belle, and several others, came upon us when they did. Flying with them will get us to the Fae Queen in no time, and maybe some answers too.

  ~Leo

  “GALKAMISH. IT’S THE CASTLE of the Underlord. It’s surrounded by the endless labyrinth.” Dagg’s amethyst eyes started to glow as the page turned on its own. The words on that page were also written in the creepy scrawl but when Dagg’s eyes shimmered again they wavered and were suddenly in English. He’d had to do the same trick for the pages on Avalon, which had been written in the king’s language.

  Aliana started to skim the pages when a heavy knock had her scrambling to her knees and Dagg falling from his perch. The Dragon zoomed behind the changing screen as she opened the door.

  “Arthur?” Aliana stepped back, opening the door for him to enter.

  “Good evening, Aliana.” His normal calm and friendly voice was gone. In its place was a heavy and slightly upset tone.

  Her heart sputtered as she closed the door. “What’s happened? Another attack?”

  He shook his head, his golden brown eyes looking around her room and landing on her bed. Or rather the book on her bed.

  “A little light reading before dinner.” Her attempt at lightening his mood didn’t work.

  “I’ve just come from a very long discussion with Merlin.”

  Aliana gulped. This wasn’t going very well. She wasn’t used to Arthur being so angry with her.

  “He seems to be under the impression that you need to accompany us tomorrow when we set out to fight the creature attacking my people.”

  Aliana twisted her fingers together behind her back. He wasn’t going to allow her to go. And worse, she could only imagine how angry he would be when she would follow them.

  “When I asked him to justify this suggestion he couldn’t give me a more suitable answer other than ‘she has to go.’” He took a step closer and she pressed against the wooden door. “Why is my Druid, my friend, telling me that I have to bring a woman, no matter how well she can defend herself, into a battle party?”

  Aliana opened her dry mouth but nothing came out. His hot gaze was stealing her voice as he crowded closer. She cleared her throat. “Arthur…”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Arthur, I can’t give you a better answer than I have to go.” She took a calming breath. “One way or another.”

  His mouth pulled down in a frown, his eyes narrowing with anger. This was such a different Arthur than the flirting one who had run his fingers through her hair, just this morning. It almost seemed like he had another personality coming through. Could this be the influence of his Dragon blood?

  “I am the King of Camelot. You are here because you are a friend to Merlin. Now I have you and him telling me what I must do.”

  “We’re not—”

  He silenced her with a finger to her lip. “You have shown us you are a very capable woman, but I don’t allow the females I care for go into dangerous situations.”

  Aliana’s eyes widened at his impassioned admission.

  “The fact I care for you surprises you?” The leashed frustration from moments ago eased a little as he dropped his finger.

  “No. Yes. Um…” Aliana mentally smacked herself. This was Arthur; he cared about everyone in his life. And he was in love with Delphina. Her lungs squeezed. He hadn’t meant that the way she wished it did.

  “I’ll ask again, why do you believe you must go with us tomorrow?”

  Aliana pressed back into the door. “I have encountered several different kinds of magical creatures over the years. I may know what the one attacking your people is and how to stop it.”

  She felt Dagg’s approval through their shared link. Arthur eased back a little.

  “You continually surprise me, Lady Aliana. You are the only woman I have ever known who can do all the things you do. Part of me says you are too good to be true, or that you are hiding a very big secret that makes you so special and unique.”

  Aliana silently held her breath.

  “My instincts about people are rarely wrong.”

  “All you need to know is that I can be of help to you and your kingdom.” She hoped he’d see her sincerity. “If you’ll let me.”

  He eased back a little more. “I will think on it. I shall give you my decision soon.”

  Realizing there was nothing else she could do, Aliana suggested they head down to the great hall for dinner.

  “You’ll have to stay up here for dinner. I’ll be fine. I am going to read more of the book.”

  They couldn’t risk Dagg revealing himself when Arthur was around. Clearly he was suspicious enough already.

  They left her room and were outside the great hall in minutes. Everyone was already there when they entered. More than a few curious pairs of eyes seemed to wonder why they were coming down together, Delphina’s chief among them.

  Everyone took the seats they had two nights ago, except this time Igraine’s seat was between Arthur and her.

  Worry and anxiety twisted Aliana’s insides together so much she could barely enjoy the roasted vegetables and fried meats that were placed in front of her. The guys were talking strategy, surmising what they would do depending on the kind of beast they would be facing.

  Lancelot revealed more of the villagers’ details about the creature. “It was a monster with a red body, like a lion’s, but it had a barbed tail, the w
ings of an eagle and a face that, according to the people, was almost human.”

  “It sounds like a Manticore,” Aliana said when no one else spoke. “But they don’t normally have wings. Griffins do.” She thought about Belle. “Or Pegasuses.” Everyone’s eyes were on her and her discomfort ratcheted up.

  Galahad’s eyes darkened. “How do you know this?”

  Aliana glanced to Arthur quickly. He just studied her, his hands pressed together as his elbows rested on the round table.

  “I’ve heard stories about them all my life. The legend originates from the Persians. Manticore means ‘man eater.’”

  “They are also creatures that are rumored to be inhabitants of the Underworld.” Merlin’s words had her attention shifting back to her book. Maybe there was something about Manticores in there!

  “Lord Merlin is right.” Igraine’s quiet voice carried around the room. “Manticores are also creatures born from magic. No ordinary weapon will be able to slay it.”

  Aliana stayed silent for the rest of dinner. She had no more to offer right now, but she was determined to read every word about the Underworld in her book. She had to prove to Arthur that he should bring her.

  They all got up to leave when Vira came to Aliana’s side. “I still have that surprise for you.”

  Aliana hesitated. “I really don’t have time tonight, Vira.”

  “It will only take a moment!” she pleaded.

  “It might be a nice mood lifter,” the redhead said.

  She sighed and gave in.

  They made their way to Vira’s room. It was slightly bigger than Aliana’s and decorated with pale-colored fabrics. Candles were in every corner, all lit, incense giving the room a very calm herbal scent.

  A wrapped bundle sat in the middle of her small table. “Open it!” Vira said when Aliana looked at it.

  Aliana picked up the cloth-covered thing. “It’s heavy.”

  Vira watched excited as Aliana pulled apart the bow, the covering falling away.