The Other Merlin by Robyn Schneider

Author:Robyn Schneider [Schneider, Robyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780593351048
Google: gQoTEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2021-09-20T23:00:00+00:00

* * *

The arrow was going to kill her.

One moment Guinevere had been watching the jocular guards challenge each other to hit a difficult target, and the next, it was as though she had left her body, and was watching the moment unfold from far above.

Then the golden-haired archer shot another arrow, knocking the first harmlessly aside. And it was over.

Time snapped back into place, and through the deafening beat of her heart, she became gradually aware of Lady Elaine’s loud hysterics.

“Princess!” the golden-haired archer called, hurrying over. “Are you all right?”

She nodded, the horrible moment replaying in her mind. She was trembling. She didn’t know how to stop trembling.

“Guinevere,” he said, taking her gently by the shoulders. “Say something.”

His hands felt soft and strong wrapped around her, and they seemed to quiet the thunder in her chest.

There was something comforting about him, and even familiar. He was uncommonly broad and handsome, with honeyed blond curls and the brightest blue eyes she’d ever seen. He stared down at her in concern, thick muscled arms bulging from beneath his mail. She definitely would have remembered seeing him around the castle.

But then she took in the rough cloth of his uniform. He was no knight or squire, only a common guard. She could smell the sweat on him, mixed with freshly oiled leather. And his hands were on his shoulders.

“What are you doing?” she protested, twisting out of his grip.

“Helping,” he said, “with the shock. And before that, with saving you from a stray arrow.”

“That arrow was a menace!” Lady Elaine put in. “I’m going to speak to my father and have the guard who shot it turned out into the streets before supper.”

“It wasn’t his fault,” the blond man protested. “One of the castle falcons attacked.”

Elaine sniffed and folded her arms across her chest.

“Come on, Guinny,” said the guard. “Surely you saw it.”

Just who did he think he was, addressing her like that? “I beg your pardon,” she said haughtily. “Do I know you?”

“Sure you do.” He grinned amicably. “It’s me—Lancelot.”

“Lance?” she said, surprised.

The lad she remembered had been Sir Ector’s son, a favored companion of the young prince. She’d had the best time with him that summer, chasing frogs out on the gardens, and stealing sweets from the kitchen, and annoying Arthur to put down his books and join in their mischief, which had rarely happened.

They had explored the game forest one weekend, venturing in so deeply to the royal hunting grounds that they’d come across an old church with an ancient tomb beneath, and had made up spells with tree branches as wands to try to wake the dead.

Guin could see it easily now, the shadow of the young boy he’d been. It was there in the mischievous smile that tugged at his lips, and the rebellious glint to his eyes. He’d grown so handsome and tall! If only scrawny, bookish Arthur had done the same.

She was so happy to see Lance that she threw her arms around him, sweat be damned.

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