“You know it won’t stop with just the Britons and the Saxons,” replied Una. “Acrasia, the other Sins, they want the world, not just a part of it. They won’t be satisfied until all humanity is either dead or enslaved.”
He hung his head, and Una could see the truth in his eyes. He knew, he just didn’t want to admit it, even to himself.
“I could have defeated the Saxons, you know,” he said after a pause. “I was so close to gaining alliances with most of the noble houses. If it wasn’t for that boy…”
“That boy is still out there, and perhaps he will help the Britons.”
“If he planned to do so, then where is he?” Pellinore raised his hands palms up. “If he truly is king, then he neglects his duties.”
“Perhaps he’s worried about being assassinated,” said Una dryly.
Pellinore sneered, “I’m not proud of that, but it did me no good in any case. After that day most seemed to think that I had failed. The Kingdom of Orkney was the first to go. That isolated island filth, King Lot, said that I had erred, that he wouldn’t follow someone who couldn’t keep order in a simple tournament. The others followed his lead.”
“And what if Arthur were to return? What if others followed him? Would you do so?”
He stayed silent for a long while. “My chance at being the next King of the Britons is over. If another were to rise to that position I would support him. But I do not believe some boy will ever be qualified just because he has a fancy sword.”
Una sighed but let the matter drop. Instead, she took to watching the waves as they drew closer to the Holy Island. They were close enough that she could make out some of the houses and boats along the docks.
“So,” said Pellinore after a while. “You have magic after all.”
She nodded, slowly.
“Then I was right. You are a witch,” he adjusted his seating. “Now this is the second time you’ve used that magic to interfere in my life. May it be the last.”
Una stopped a scowl from forming on her face. “In both cases I saved your life.”
“Yes, well,” he stared off into the distance. “Perhaps this time I didn’t want my life to be saved.”
Una didn’t have an answer to that, so she said no more. They remained silent until they reached the docks. All the men, emptied out of the ship with rapid succession. Cries of joy echoed from further in as families were reunited once again.
Una watched it all unfold from her place on the ship. Eventually Pellinore rose to his feet and proceeded off the boat. Una hoped she would never see the man again. He carried an unpleasantness that she would never like or understand. But at least now she no longer desired to kill him. She wasn’t even sure which was the greater punishment, killing him or letting him live. She could only hope that he learned from his mistakes and tried to rectify them after today. But she had her doubts.
Guyon came and sat next to her, holding the still-bound Acrasia by his side. “I’m glad you didn’t kill him.” he said, staring off at Pellinore as he joined the others at the docks, where he was greeted warmly as the King of Anglesey.
“I hope I made the right choice,” she replied, furtively.
“Death is rarely the right choice,” he replied. “Unless there is simply no other option.”
Una turned to glance at Acrasia. Her face was pale and she didn’t look like she was paying much attention to either Guyon or Una. Instead, she was shivering in the chill wind. If only she knew how close Una had come to killing her as well.
But she had found the other option. This way she kept Acrasia alive, but removed her from the playing board. Powerless, there would be little the woman could do to stop them. And with her knowledge, Acrasia had become their most valuable asset.
As if sensing her thoughts, Acrasia met her eyes and snarled. “You will never get any information out of me. I am loyal to my master. I will not break.”
“So you have a master, do you?” said Guyon with a raised eyebrow. Acrasia paled, and she immediately closed her mouth.
Una gave a wry smile. She already suspected that the Deadly Sins were not the only threat. More was meant to come through the breaches, whether it was a great horde of demon-like creatures or someone specific of great power. She’d felt it almost happen when she’d closed the breach at Castle Silene. But Acrasia had just confirmed that there was at least one person superior to her and the Sins.
But it was likely that Acrasia wouldn’t talk, not willingly. Perhaps Gloriana could get something out of her, but otherwise they would have to trick Acrasia into giving away more information. Which meant that it was unlikely Una would discover the identity of her father any time soon.
She sighed, the questions burning inside of her. But drawing on breathing techniques she’d seen Guyon use before, she attempted to calm her concerns. She had to be patient. Answers would come eventually, even if they did not come now.
It was mildly astonishing that she wasn’t more impatient right then. These were questions that had haunted her since she’d learned of her mysterious heritage. Not long ago she would have killed for such knowledge. She had nearly done just that. But it seemed Guyon’s example of temperance had more of an effect than she realized.
“So what happens now?” she asked Guyon.
“Well, I imagine we’ll stay here for a few days to help everyone recover and return to their homes.”
Una smiled. “Don’t tell me that’s the only reason why you want to stay.”
He grinned back at her. “Perhaps not.”
“Medina’s a lucky girl,” said Una, and she meant it.
Guyon smiled, but after a pause that smile waned slightly. “Though if I understood you correctly before, I will have to leave her eventually.”
Una nodded slowly. “It could be different for you though. You haven’t formally aligned yourself with Gloriana yet.”
“Haven’t I?”
Una pressed her lips together and shook her head slowly to indicate she did not know for sure.
“Tell me this,” he went on. “Knowing what you do of the Deadly Sins and the Otherworld, would you settle down, try to get away from it all and forget any of this happened?”
Una considered that. What if she could just live a happy and normal life, maybe with George. What she wouldn’t give for that right now. Simple was exactly what she needed after everything that had happened to her. She’d grown up a nobleman’s daughter, but she longed for the open fields and the feeling of accomplishment after a hard day’s work.
But what of the Sins. What of their master, whoever he was?
In the end, she shook her head. “We cannot avoid the darkness. It would find us eventually.”
“Then I suppose you have your answer. I will cherish these days with Medina. But I must go to the Faerie Queen and present myself as one of her champions. Until this fight is finished and we can all rest.”
“I pray that day may come.”
“It will,” Guyon put a hand on her shoulder. “I do not doubt it. Just as I never doubted you.”
“Never?” Una raised an eyebrow.
“Well,” he grinned. “You understand my meaning.”
Una laughed, the first time she had done so in weeks. “Come,” she stood. “Let’s go ashore.”
Guyon rose and brought Acrasia with him. The woman resisted his pull at first, but ultimately could do little to stop him. “What are you going to do with me?” she asked.
“Your fate is not ours to decide,” said Guyon, sternly. “We will take you to the Faerie Queen and she will determine your answer.”
Una watched him drag Acrasia onto the pier and away towards the village. She followed shortly behind them. Medina soon appeared, her concerned face melting to relief as she caught sight of Guyon.
Yes, they would visit the Faerie Queen. They would find her, deliver Acrasia, and then Una would demand answers of her own. She suspected that the Faerie Queen knew a lot more about Una’s role in all of this than she had let on. Un
a intended to find out what.
But for now, they would rest. They would return Acrasia’s victims to their homes, and Guyon would have his time with Medina. But soon they would leave, and their travels would begin anew, bringing with them new dangers.
This time, Una would not be so defenseless.
The End of the second book of The Faerie Queen.
Author’s Note
I must say, adapting Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene has been one of the most enjoyable acts of my (admittedly short) author career, so far. Knight Purged is the perfect example of why.
Knight Purged adapts the second portion of Spenser’s epic poem and involves one of my favorite characters: Guyon, the knight of temperance. Much of his character remains as seen in the poem, as I didn’t need to change much to make him a great character. But bringing his character into the modern age by really examining the virtue of temperance was a great joy. After all, temperance in everything can actually lead to its opposite, especially if you try to force temperance in others. Then it’s no longer temperate. Bringing Guyon from a rather stiff example of this quality, to a truly balanced individual was one of my favorite parts of writing this book.
But let’s not forget Una. Her arc in this book was really epic! I got chills as I was writing certain parts, like when she kills Pyrochles and his brother. There were moments where she almost seemed to be writing herself.
Now, as you might know, Una was not in this portion of the original Faerie Queene. That is the biggest creative liberty I’m taking with this series, making her the single main character for every book in the series, rather than just the first, as is the case with the epic poem. I hope the purists will forgive me this change, as it was kind of necessary to give readers a character to bond with, instead of having to introduce a brand new set of characters with each and every volume.
Thankfully, it wasn’t actually that difficult to insert her into the story. You see, in the original poem there are an awful lot of characters, many of which serve only small and random purposes. As I needed to cut back on the number of characters in this series (to keep it manageable) I decided to give many of these roles to Una. The role of the Palmer was completely wiped away and given to her. Many of Arthur’s deeds were also handed off to her (Arthur is the original killer of Pyrochles).
These creative liberties will still continue in future books, especially as we dig into plot threads that are entirely my own (such as Una’s parentage). But I’ve done my best to stay as true to the source material as possible. If and when I make a change, it is usually for a good reason, and often I simply take one role from one character and give it to another. Either that, or I simply cut various side missions out of the story. We could potentially go on to think of those side missions as having still happened, but were glossed over for the sake of a tight plot.
I hope you will join me in the next installment of this series, Knight Spellbound, which will bring us into contact with the first female knight of the series, the great Britomart. I can’t wait to see you then!
Additionally, if you enjoyed this book, please consider giving it a review on Amazon. Your help in spreading the word about these characters is invaluable. Thank you so much for reading through these first two books in the series, and I look forward to sharing the rest with you.
An epic tale, retold for the ages…
Arthur is just an insignificant boy with a life of comfortable mediocrity ahead of him, or that’s what he thought.
While at a tournament in Londinium, Arthur encounters a girl with a strange request and tales of castles and dragons.
Together, their adventures lead him to an old courtyard containing a peculiar sword embedded in a stone…
Arthur doesn’t know it, but his entire life is about to turn upside down.
A King Revealed is the prequel short story to the Faerie Queen series, as well as the Arthurian Legends Universe overall. You simply cannot miss this critical installment in the life of King Arthur.
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About the Author
Jason Hamilton is an unapologetic nerd of all things science fiction and fantasy. He is the creative director of the Arthurian Legends Universe, and the editor-in-chief of ArthurLegends.com, as well as the other of other works of fiction.
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www.jasonleehamilton.com
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Also by Jason Hamilton
Roots of Creation
A New Light (short story)
Out of Shadow
Growing Ripples
Through Fire
Into Storm
To World’s Above
As Winter Spawns
Seeds of Hope
In Creation’s Heart
Knight Purged Page 26