Legendary

by LH Nicole

  “You mean you want us hidden away while you men go off to battle,” Lacy snapped.

  “Lacy,” Percy said, drawing the blonde to his side. “We’re trying to protect both of you.”

  Lacy smiled sadly at the knight she was falling for. “Then you and Wade better come back in one whole piece or I’ll kick your asses! That goes for all of you.” She tried to glare at all the guys.

  The guys chuckled, but Aliana couldn’t even crack a smile. One by one they walked out the door, all offering smiles and reassurance that they would be back. Aliana, Arthur, and Galahad were the only ones left inside after Lacy and Dagg joined the others. Galahad wrapped his arm around Aliana’s waist, tucking her against his side.

  “Were either of you going to wake me before you left?” she whispered, holding back tears of frustration and worry.

  “Yes,” Arthur assured her. “But we wanted to be prepared first.”

  “So you could take off quickly if I tried to follow.” She was livid, but she couldn’t bring herself to separate from Galahad.

  “We are sorry, Aliana,” Galahad said, rubbing his hand over her waist.

  Arthur bowed his head to Aliana and left.

  “Galahad, please tell me where you’re going!” she begged. They had just gotten together. She couldn’t lose him so soon.

  “Far enough away that you will be safe.” His fingers traced the skin bared by her short tank top. But even the sparks that came with his touch couldn’t calm her.

  “Please be careful. I have a bad feeling about this,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around his waist, not caring that the hilts of his daggers pressed into her sides.

  Galahad tipped her face up to meet his, taking her mouth in a warm, deep kiss full of promise and love. Pulling back, he stroked his fingers across her cheek before claiming one last, intense kiss. Aliana clung tightly to him, her fingers gripping the thick leather he wore over his chainmail.

  Galahad broke the kiss and rested his cheek against hers. “I will see that everyone comes back safely. Please promise me you will stay here. I cannot focus if I’m worried your friend will talk you into doing something foolish.”

  Aliana flushed. Wade must have ratted them out.

  “I thought so.” Galahad sighed, kissing her forehead.

  “I’ll stay safe,” Aliana assured him. She would be safe with her magic and Dagg watching her back.

  “They’re waiting,” Lacy said, her face somber as she poked her head inside. Dagg was on her shoulder.

  Aliana and Galahad walked outside. He kissed her hand and then followed Merlin and the other Knights of the Round Table into the thick trees, toward battle. Here was another dream come to life before her, but Aliana couldn’t feel any of the happiness or excitement that she had in Avalon. Maybe she would when they came back safe.

  She and Lacy stood in the driveway, not willing to go inside until the guys were gone from their sight. A quick flash of yellow streaked into the woods.

  “Is that—?” Aliana whispered to Lacy, not wanting to alert Dagg just yet.

  “Yep. Flora’s leaving us a trail,” Lacy whispered before Dagg wrapped himself around Aliana’s shoulders.

  Wondering when Lacy had roped Flora into all this, Aliana took Lacy’s hand, pulling her inside the house and toward Merlin’s armory.

  “And what do you two think you’re doing?” Dagg asked.

  “About that.” Aliana picked up a curved bow—thanks to all her training, she was now a better shot than most of the knights. “You didn’t really think we were just going to sit back and let this happen, did you?”

  Dagg landed on the quiver she was about to pick up, glaring at her with disapproval. “I heard you make a promise to Galahad.”

  “I chose my words carefully. I promised him I’d be safe.” She picked up the Dragon and set him aside. “And I will be—with you there to watch our backs.” Dagg continued to argue, but both girls brushed his worries aside. “Like it or not, those guys are going to need me. I just know it!”

  “That doesn’t mean you should make the situation worse by doing the opposite of what they want you to do.”

  Lacy rolled her eyes. “If it were up to them, we wouldn’t ever be allowed to leave the house.”

  “I could stop you with magic,” Dagg threatened.

  “But you won’t,” Aliana said softly, calling his bluff.

  Slinging the bow across her back, she caught the staff Lacy tossed her way. Her friend buckled a sword around her waist. Unlike Aliana, Lacy had no problem handling a blade. Like Wade, Lacy had been in martial arts training since she was a young kid and knew how to handle a lot of weapons, including swords. Her brother hadn’t been joking when he’d told the guys she fought dirty—he’d taught her almost every dirty defensive trick there was.

  The trio whirled around as the heavy door blasted open with a bang. Flora plopped onto a table, hand on her chest. “They…used the portal…by the stream.” She gasped, fighting to catch her breath.

  “Now you’ve involved the Pixie?” Dagg growled, exasperated.

  “Would you have followed them for us?” Lacy asked, shooting the Dragon a dirty look.

  Aliana opened a cabinet filled with thick leathers designed for fighting. She had been surprised a week earlier when she’d discovered the battle suits made for women. When she’d asked Merlin about them, he’d simply said that was a tale for another day.

  Suited up and with weapons secured, Aliana and Lacy left the protected house, following the golden-hued glow that Flora had left for them.

  “This is not a wise plan!” Dagg insisted again, following the pair into the woods.

  Drawing on her magic, Aliana reached out, connecting with the earth. Merlin’s forest was lush and teeming with life. She felt the energy of the animals and the steady rush of power as the earth pushed toward her.

  “Don’t take in too much at once,” Dagg reminded her, apparently deciding it was no use to argue anymore. “Your body can’t handle the stress yet.”

  Aliana didn’t need the reminder; she remembered what had happened in Avalon and against Morgana. She wouldn’t be of any use if she couldn’t control the magic, so she closed off her connection.

  “Lady Aliana.” She looked around for the familiar, silky voice. J’alel stepped out from behind a large tree, his friendly face a welcome sight.

  “J’alel!” She walked toward him. “What are you doing here?”

  “I heard the king was planning an attack. I came to offer my aid.”

  She returned his warm smile.

  “They’ve already left. We were following them.”

  “They do not know you are joining them?” His questioning gaze wandered from Aliana to Lacy and then Dagg.

  “Don’t tell us we shouldn’t go,” Aliana implored the Elf.

  Lacy coughed loudly. “Manners, Aliana.”

  As soon as Aliana turned from J’alel, black and gray magic shot past her, sending Lacy and Dagg sailing back.

  “What?” Aliana wheeled around to face J’alel, but the Elf was gone.

  In his place stood a tall, long-limbed man with raven black hair curling around his chin and neck. His thin, cruel mouth turned up in a smirk as she recognized him from her dream.

  “Mordrid.” She nocked an arrow, ready to fight.

  Mordrid raised a hand, and his black-gray magic wrapped around her like snakes, binding her arms and feet. Her bow fell from her hands, the quiver on her back following. Aliana dropped to her knees, struggling against the magic. The harder she fought her bonds, the tighter they gripped, causing pain to tear through her.

  Dagg roared, flying from behind her to attack the black wizard. He dodged blasts of the black magic, hissing streams of Dragon fire. An arrow flew through the air, hurtling toward the wizard, but he deflected it with a flick of his wrist, throwing Lacy violently against a tree.

  “Lacy!” Aliana cried as her friend hit the ground. The snapping sound of breaking bones was unmistakable.
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  Black magic curled around Dagg like a demon cloud charged with electricity. The Dragon roared in pain.

  “Leave them alone!” Aliana begged, trying to call on her magic, but the racing of her heart and the searing pain wouldn’t let her concentrate.

  The dark wizard’s eerie, black eyes leered at her as he ran a finger across her cheek. Cold, evil magic flowed over her skin, much like the creepy power she’d felt in her dream weeks ago. “I knew you’d recognize me.” His penetrating, nasally voice sounded pleased, as if he’d won some great victory because she remembered him.

  “How were you in my dream?” she demanded, trying again to push against the bonds holding her, but they only tightened.

  “You should have tried harder to stop them,” he taunted. “Your knights are walking right into our trap, just like you and your friends.”

  Dagg roared again.

  “Why are you doing this?” She struggled to take a full breath. She needed to calm down and focus her magic enough to fight back.

  Mordrid sneered. “I must finish what I started over a millennium ago. Arthur and your friends have much pain coming to them.” With a twist of his wrist, Aliana’s bonds lifted her to her feet and then pulled her higher so that she hovered a few inches off the ground. Fear flooded her as she realized that she was completely at Mordrid’s mercy.

  He drew her close, much closer than she ever wanted to be to him. His eyes weren’t black like she had thought. They were a dirty brown flecked with black. His hot breath fanned over her face as he whispered in her ear, “Everyone is waiting on us, my queen.”

  Fighting back the bile burning her throat, Aliana watched his magic lift Lacy’s unconscious body off the ground, pulling her friend and Dagg along behind them. Aliana pushed her magic out again. The bonds loosened for an instant before snapping back, tighter than before. She could already feel the bruises forming, but she couldn’t give up.

  Mordrid smiled as she bit back her cries of pain. “Nice try, but your magic is nothing compared to mine…yet.”

  “Yet?” Aliana wheezed, trying to push past the pain and terror. Her friends needed her to hold it together.

  “Yes, after I kill your knights I plan to train you and turn your magic to the dark. You’ll be the jewel in my crown when I rule the realms.”

  Aliana fought back her tremor as his unblinking, lustful eyes raked her from head to toe. I’m going to be sick, she thought as his magic crackled around her, pulling all of them away. More pain layered on top of the agony already racking her body. Just when she thought she’d pass out, the crushing pressure disappeared. She heard the sounds of a fight raging close by and forced her eyes open. Battle cries filled the air. The clanging of metal rang loudly in the distance as sword clashed against sword.

  “How did you know we planned to attack? Or that Lacy and I would be alone?” she demanded, hoping to buy herself some time to gather what little of her magic she could.

  “You seem like an intelligent girl. You tell me.” Mordrid smirked.

  Aliana thought back, and then remembered the night she had fallen asleep on the roof. “The TreTale.”

  “Very good. Merlin’s powers are not what they used to be. My little spy easily penetrated the defenses around his home.” He laughed again, moving them toward the battle.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Merlin is the strongest Druid ever!” Aliana may not have always liked the guy, but facts were facts.

  Mordrid chuckled. “Merlin has you all fooled. I know you have your doubts about him, and Lancelot for that matter. I warned you to be cautious of their treachery.”

  “You’re trying to turn me against my friends! It won’t work.” But he was right about one thing—Lancelot and Merlin did have secrets.

  “You can deny it all you want, but your mind tells you I am correct.” He smirked. “Let’s say that by some miracle you stop me, and what do you think will happen after? The only reason they want you is to gain their freedom from their pact. They will leave you and not look back. They don’t really care for you, not like I do.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about!” But did she? Would they all leave her when this was over? No, Galahad had proved himself to her last night, and the warriors had all become her family. They wouldn’t just leave her!

  “Time to watch your heroes die, my dear Aliana.”

  Her head snapped up. “As soon as they see us, they will stop you and Morgana. And when I get free, I’ll be by their side helping!”

  Mordrid spun around, gripping her chin, roughly forcing her to meet his unrelenting gaze. “They won’t know I have you until I want them to. You think all of those fools are so noble, that they’ve told you the truth about everything? You have no idea what you’ve been thrown into. But you will when you are by my side.” Yanking her forward, he crushed his lips against hers.

  Disgusted by him and his dark magic as it tried to consume her, Aliana fought back, wrenching her mouth from his hard, cruel lips. “Never!” she hissed. “I don’t help monsters.”

  “Maybe I’m not the monster you think I am,” he growled softly.

  Battle sounds exploded when Mordrid pulled his prisoners into an enclosed valley. Carnage was all around them. Shattered pieces of black armor littered the field that was also flecked with the blood of her knights.

  Morgana and Merlin were close, fighting furiously with his golden magic pitted against her cold blue.

  “You’ll die at my hands, lover,” Morgana hissed.

  “I already ended you once, Morgana. I will do it again.” Merlin grunted, blocking a stream of her acid-like magic.

  “You betrayed me! Left me for dead. You should have finished the deed,” she spat back. “Rest assured, I won’t make the same mistake.”

  Merlin’s eyes flashed a brilliant gold. Rearing back, he threw a spell so strong it nearly blinded Aliana before she looked away.

  With one powerful stroke from his fiery sword, Arthur decapitated two of the almost two dozen demon knights. Turning, he took down another as it snuck up from behind. Wade, Percy, and Leo fought on, their backs to each other, surrounded by enemies. They attacked hard, maiming black knights with nearly every stroke. Lancelot and Owen tried to fight off eight of the spirits, but they were losing quickly. Galahad came roaring from behind, his super speed keeping him a blur until he stopped long enough to chop off helmets and body parts. In seconds, a dozen more black knights fell in rotting pieces to the ground.

  The enemy’s numbers dwindled and the knights fell back, joining Arthur as the battle swung in their favor. Pulling out one of his daggers, Galahad launched it like a boomerang, cutting down two more black knights. Finally, the odds were even as Merlin joined the knights to form a magnificent battle line. Fearsome power rolled off them. It was no wonder Titania had said they were undefeatable side by side.

  Aliana smirked, wanting to gloat at Mordrid, but the wizard just watched, waiting.

  Tortured moans and cries of outrage filled the gray sky as ghostly streaks of gray surrounded the knights. The empty armor rose from the ground, consuming the spirits and restoring Mordrid’s evil army.

  “No!” Aliana cried, struggling to break free.

  Merlin’s head snapped to the side, to face her, and his eyes widened in disbelief and anger. Mordrid must have removed whatever power he had used to shield her, Lacy, and Dagg from view. The others chanced a glance away from the enemy line, outraged when they saw her.

  Percy and Wade looked horrified when they saw Lacy’s unconscious body.

  “Aliana!” Galahad roared. Using his new speed, he moved around the black knights, but Morgana threw up a solid wall of magic, blasting him back as he crashed into the icy magic.

  “I see this one thinks he has a claim on you, love. He’ll be the first I kill,” Mordrid promised, stroking a finger down her cheek.

  23

  My queen is absent again this evening. She must be deep into one of her schemes. Perhaps it is time
I took a closer look at Titania’s actions as of late. She has not been this secretive since I allowed her return from the exile she earned by helping that mortal king and his men.

  ~Oberon, King of Avalon

  “DON’T TOUCH HER!” Arthur ordered, his face set in harsh lines, fury evident in the rigid set of his body.

  Aliana’s anger swirled and her magic jumped. She couldn’t let Mordrid use her against the knights! She turned her head away from the evil sorcerer, glancing at her captured friends. Dagg growled and hissed, fighting to free himself from the black cloud that ensnared him. Flashes of his purple magic broke through.

  “You see the prize I have won. Does it eat at you knowing that I have what’s most important to you?” Mordrid’s cold voice rang with a long-festering hatred.

  Camelot’s knights eyed the black knights, holding their weapons ready to destroy the reincarnated army. The power flowing through the small valley choked the air, promising death and pain.

  “Let them go unharmed,” Galahad challenged, his voice grave and vehement, “and we’ll make your deaths quick.”

  “You’re daft!” Morgana guffawed. “You can’t win! Kill these black knights and more will come.”

  Their power isn’t at full strength. Merlin’s voice rang in Aliana’s mind. Her eyes moved from Galahad to the Druid, and Merlin gave a slight nod.

  I can’t get free of his magic. Mordrid knows every time I try to break free, she whispered through the link.

  Draw on the elements. Diffuse his magic like you do with your shield, Merlin instructed. We’ll distract him.

  Without warning, Merlin threw up his arms, calling down endless bolts of lightning, all directed at Morgana, Mordrid, and the black knights. Aliana’s knights charged. Their fierce battle cries and the clanging of their swords were nearly deafening. Merlin succeeded in drawing Mordrid into the fight. He and Morgana battled the onslaught of crackling gold magic.

  Taking a breath, Aliana shut out the aching pain.