Blood of Kings by Billy Wong

Author:Billy Wong [Wong, Billy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-01-04T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Arthur seethed as he watched the adulterous knight leave, shoulders slumped while he exited the great hall. Lancelot had been his friend, his brother, for all these years, and even he had proven untrustworthy. And his Percival, the shining star of Camelot, had been killed by the madwoman who called herself his daughter. It was all too much. It made him want to kill somebody. Arthur fixed his eyes upon the young knight who walked into his court, silent for all the knights and ladies present. His fingers tightened around Excalibur's hilt. This man had accompanied Mildred in her murderous deed.

"Why have you come?" Arthur asked, his voice ice. "Here to submit yourself to my blade's judgment?"

If he had planned some elegant speech to honey Arthur's ears, it did not survive the onset of fear. "My liege," Galahad said shakily, "I've come to beg forgiveness. Please hear me out. I had no part in Percival's death, and was only there in support of my friend. And she did not mean any harm either—it was only tragic misfortune which claimed Percival's life."

"Boy, why should I believe you? I would bet my kingdom that you encouraged Mildred in her battle. You cheered your friend on, didn't you? And you are Nimue's son. Your mother has been missing for nearly two months now, and I have begun to suspect she is in cahoots with the fey who plot my doom. What proof do I have that you are not as much a traitor as she?"

Merlin, who had grown paler since Galahad's entrance, said in a quick, tense voice, "Nimue is no traitor. She is as a daughter to me, and would never betray our kingdom."

Arthur scowled. Maybe so, but he was not inclined to put too much trust in anyone right now. He saw Galahad look strangely at Merlin, and realized the knight knew something he didn't. "What are you hiding from me?"

"What do you mean?"

"Your mother. You know what she's up to, don't you?"

"No, I know nothing of her secrets"—an obvious lie, especially considering he had just admitted knowing she had secrets—"but I am hiding something from you. I've brought you a gift to prove my loyalty to the realm—something many knights have searched for over the years, but none found. The Holy Grail."

Arthur did not care much for the Grail right now—it would not restore Percival's life, nor Guinevere's fidelity—but nonetheless felt momentary amazement when Galahad pulled the golden chalice from his pouch and set it on the Round Table. It really was here. But he shouldn't have found it so easily. Arthur began to walk around the Table. "Sit down, then. So, you must have taken an arduous quest to find this holy relic, yes?"

Galahad lowered himself with incredulous eyes into the one seat no one had taken through the decades of Camelot's existence. Did he think himself about to join the ranks of Arthur's elite, or did he not even notice where he sat in his fright?

Drawing Excalibur, Arthur continued.

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