Brace For the Wolves
Page 64
Guineve strode forward to the lake’s edge, and as she did so the mist ahead of her solidified into a white wooden boat decorated with a swan’s head at the front and wings at the side.
That was new, I thought but didn’t say, boarding the boat with the woman. And as we glided out, certain Arthurian legends sprang into my mind.
“Oh,” I said with a chuckle.
She turned her head to give me a corner smile, but since she wasn’t ready to share her revelation, I wasn’t ready to ask my question.
We glided out into the massive lake, and as we did so, the water rippled ahead of us. Slowly, the lake in front peeled back to reveal an island, one which I had sworn had not existed when I had run out here during the battle with the Spawn to catch Guineve.
“How…” I couldn’t help asking.
“I do not know,” Guineve replied. “But this is where I was born. Walk with me please, Lord Wes.”
The boat landed on the island, and as the beautiful woman strode off of it I followed her. It was not a large place, but it was covered in small trees that worked as path markers and arches. I followed her to a stone statue of a woman shaped much like Guineve, kneeling with her palms facing upward, as if she was holding something.
“Hello, half-mother,” Guineve said as she smiled at the statue, leaning forward to kiss it on its white stone forehead. To my surprise, the statue glowed in response. “Thank you for giving of yourself so that my Little Star could make me. I have come back because I miss you so, and because I have found a way to keep my promise.”
The statue’s forehead glowed again.
“Yes, he is handsome,” the raven-haired woman answered with a smile. “I’m glad you thought so, too. And he is kind. And he is good. And he does his best to be wise. And he holds a piece of the promise our race was once sworn to guard. If you will permit me, dear half-mother, I will give your burden to him. He will bear it well.” The statue glowed again. “Thank you, dear half-mother,” Guineve answered, placing her own palms on top of that of the statue.
The Lady of the Lake, I realized. This is where the legend came from.
Then the statue glowed so bright I was forced to turn my head.
When the glow vanished, Guineve turned to face me, and called out my name.
As I turned and looked at the mist-clad woman, I saw what was now in her hands. A long, black scabbard with silver trim to it, with dimensions that suggested they would match my mysterious sword handle.
Breaker, I made the second connection. Breaks iron and steel.
According to some legends, that was the meaning of the name Excalibur.
And Guineve was now holding its sheath.
“Yes, Wes. I have the start of a legend to explain,” the woman said. “I suspect you have heard many versions of it. But now, dear Wes, you must live a new telling of it yourself, if we are to survive our foes. If I give this to you, it will be accepting the final link of a fate that will bind you. Are you sure you want to go down this road?” She looked at me intently. “Are you sure you want this to be your story? Your Saga?”
I looked at her, and stepped forward.
“Guineve, I don't fully know what you're offering me,” I said calmly. “I’m guessing that it’s Excalibur’s scabbard. But I know for a fact that I already lost my chance to turn back. Whatever my story is, there's only one direction for me to go. Forward.”
I placed my hand on the scabbard she held in front of me. Something stirred as I did so, in me, and in the scabbard… Something stirred outside as well. Far away, the massive structure of the shelter trembled.
Nascent Lord has acquired another item of power, Avalon said in my mind. Right to rule has increased to a new threshold. Avalon's surface is conforming to the change.
It was probably big news, but there was one thing I needed to take care of before I looked into it. I reached for the accumulated weight inside of me, created by my fear, my new power, my new responsibilities. I grabbed hold of it all, and felt it try to drag me down further. This is as far as you go, something inside me said.
No it is not, the rest of my soul answered.
I will protect. I will prevail.
I will be king.
I will be king.
As the new knowledge, power, and yes, the new trauma, tried to push my heart down further, like it had been trying to all along, I tightened my grip on it, heaved...
And pushed.
End of Book 2
Copyright © 2018 by Nathan A. Thompson
Afterword:
Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed my book and I really appreciate you reading up to this point. This is my second published work, so I would love for you to leave feedback on a review on Amazon, especially if you liked it. Reviews are the lifeblood of indie authors like me, and in my case I would like to know if my work is good enough to deserve a third book. Please let me know what you think!
You can also join my facebook page for more information on dates for my work and also meet other people who read my stories. It will be my primary method of communication, so that no one gets lots of email spam. Barring that, you can also follow me on Amazon by clicking the button here. I can also be contacted at the email address nathan.thompson.writer.email@gmail.com
Thanks to all the people that helped me polish my book: Dantas Neto, Ezben Gerardo, Adam Shook, Regina Benton, and Max Madlaw. I greatly appreciate both your feedback and time spent reading my drafts. Special thanks also to my editor, Celestian Rince, who has worked figurative and probably literal magic on this story. Finally, thank you Antti Hakosaari for your phenomenal cover art.
LitRPG is a growing genre in fantasy, mixing elements like video or tabletop gaming into literary form. To learn more about LitRPG, talk to authors including myself, and just have an awesome time, you can join the LitRPG facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRPGGroup/
Gamelit is also a growing genre in fantasy, mixing elements like video or tabletop gaming into literary form, albeit with slightly less mechanics than what Litrpg has. To learn more about Gamelit, talk to authors including myself, and just have an awesome time, you can join the Gamelit facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRPGsociety/
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.