by Julie Leung
Calib surveyed the new recruits, taking pride in seeing all the different animals represented: mice, hares, weasels, owls, crows, otters, and more.
They had gathered to train in the knightly qualities first established by the mice of Camelot: bravery, strength, and wisdom. Though Camelot was no longer a physical place, Calib knew that its name would never be forgotten as long as these virtues held true for the woodland realm and beyond. Under Commander Calib’s steady paw, they would become defenders of Camelot, all of them.
Owen—Ginny and Admiral Barnaby’s son—was up before Gala. He missed his swing at the last moment and got splattered in the face with a hawthorn berry.
“Not bad!” Owen said, wiping off some of the pulp from his fur and sticking it into his mouth. “They’re extra ripe this year.”
Gala scrunched up her snout, just like Cecily did when she wasn’t impressed. Even though she shared the Christopher coloring, right down to the white patch on her ear, she was a Von Mandrake through and through.
Ginny came up behind them, pushing a cart with a large trencher of savory turnip soup and a salad of carrot peels. Since taking over for Madame von Mandrake in her retirement, she went by Madame Ginger instead.
“Care for some lunch, Commander?” she asked.
“I’m fine, thank you.” Calib shook his head. He kept his eye on Gala, who now approached the Hurler with a steely determination. “Any word from Lady Cecily yet?”
“She and Macie have just arrived. I’ve set them up with a late breakfast in Leftie’s old cave.”
“What news from Lady Guinevere and Lady Britta?”
“The visit went well, I think. The peace reigns steady. To hear Cecily speak of it, the Saxons have become as much a part of Britain as the Britons are. And Lord Mordred has been very helpful in achieving that peace, opening up the mountain passes for trade and convincing Theodora the hawk to ally with the owls.”
Calib nodded. Indeed, that was the way the world always worked. When people opened their hearts to those they once feared, the fear tended to vanish.
“I’m ready!” Gala cried out.
Thomas Steepaw poked his head out from behind the Hurler.
“Is that Gala Christopher I hear? Are you sure you’ve gotten enough practice?” the weasel teased.
“Aye, Sir Thomas!”
The weasel had become one of their best weapons trainers. He’d taken to squire training soon after he’d joined them. Now, Sir Thomas went behind the Hurler and let loose a berry that barreled toward Gala faster than a blink.
Calib watched his daughter’s arms tense and her eyes focus. She hacked the berry in half, cleanly, with barely a grunt.
Applause rang out from the other first-years.
“Brava.” Calib clapped alongside the others.
“Just like her parents, that one,” Ginny mused.
Gala’s smile lit up her whole face. She began to chant, “Together in paw and tail! Lest divided we fall and fail!”
The rest of the first-years joined in a resounding chorus. Calib’s heart swelled to their steady rhythm.
The Darkling Woods have much to say, if one knows how to listen.
And if you listen carefully, the drumbeat of Camelot marches on in the heartbeats of all creatures.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
At the closing of this tale, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to the following Two-Leggers:
To my editors, Kamilla Benko and Andrew Eliopulos—my story wizards for three books running. Paw over my heart, I bow down.
To the wunderkinds of Glasstown Entertainment: Lexa Hillyer, Lauren Oliver, Alexa Wejko, Adam Silvera, Stephen Barbara, and Emily Berge. I await these book warriors in Wordhalla.
To the flawless team at HarperCollins Children’s: Rosemary Brosnan and Bria Ragin in editorial; Alexandra Rakaczki in managing editorial; Megan Barlog in marketing; Olivia Russo in publicity; Andrea Pappenheimer and her team in sales; Erin Fitzsimmons and Cat San Juan in design; and Lindsey Carr, the illustrator of the series. To make books is to build worlds, and what they do is nothing short of pure magic.
To my agent, Wendi Gu, esteemed queen of encouragement and brilliant insights.
Thank you to the patient staffs at Swallow Cafe and Vineapple Cafe in Brooklyn for hosting me during long stretches of writing this book. Your coffee-enhanced sanctuaries helped keep me sane and focused when the world seemed the exact opposite.
And finally, to my husband, Kyle, without whom I would have perished from a diet of microwavables by now.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo credit Kyle Campbell
JULIE LEUNG was raised in the sleepy suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, though it may be more accurate to say she grew up in Oz and came of age in Middle-earth. She works in book publishing as a digital marketer. In her free time she enjoys furtively sniffing books at used bookstores and winning at obscure board games. Her favorite mode of transportation is the library. You can visit her online at www.jleungbooks.com.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
BOOKS BY JULIE LEUNG
Mice of the Round Table: A Tail of Camelot
Mice of the Round Table: Voyage to Avalon
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COPYRIGHT
MICE OF THE ROUND TABLE #3: MERLIN’S LAST QUEST. Text copyright © 2018 by Glasstown Entertainment, LLC. Illustrations copyright © 2018 by Lindsey Carr. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Cover art © 2018 by LINDSEY CARR
Title lettering by DAVID COULSON
Cover design by CATHERINE SAN JUAN
* * *
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018945993
Digital Edition OCTOBER 2018 ISBN: 978-0-06-240406-0
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-240405-3
* * *
1819202122CG/LSCH10987654321
FIRST EDITION
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