Endeavor by KM Shea

Author:KM Shea [Shea, KM]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Romance
Amazon: B018GUWH0G
Goodreads: 27918113
Published: 2015-11-23T00:00:00+00:00

It wasn’t until the following day that Britt and Mordred reached the fabled abbey. Considering it was in the middle of the forest, Britt had been expecting a small, square hovel. Instead, the abbey was a beautiful, stone structure, complete with archways, a bell tower, and airy corridors.

Mordred motioned to the bell tower. “This is it. Griflet mentioned the carving of the Virgin Mary.”

“A hermit lives here?” Britt asked, sliding off her horse. “Sheesh, if this is what the building is like, no wonder Griflet wanted the shield.”

“Who is Sheesh?” Mordred asked.

“No one. It’s an expression of surprise where I come from.”

Mordred tied his mount and the pack horse to a hitching post. “Bonmaison has such a colloquialism? How interesting.”

“Er, right. Shall we find the shield?” Britt asked, picking a leaf from Roen’s mane.

“Yes, this way. I suspect we will find the shield—and the hermit—in the abbey sanctuary.” Mordred led the way into the abbey.

They passed through the entrance—Britt gawked like a child—and made their way into the sanctuary, their footsteps shattering the reverent quiet of the place.

The sanctuary was similar to the cathedral Merlin had built in Camelot. Windows lit the room and the vaulted ceiling, and wooden pews filled the floor, leading the way straight up to a stone altar.

After seeing the splendid abbey, Britt had high hopes. These high hopes were dashed when she set eyes on the shield propped against the altar. “I’m pretty sure an assistant blacksmith at Camelot can make a better shield,” she murmured to Mordred.

The shield was too big to use with the sword or lance, and while the red cross on the white background was striking, it was all too clear that it was cheaply made, for some of the paint had been scratched off—most likely from previous skirmishes with the White Knight (a.k.a. King Pellinore).

“Perhaps it is supposed to be symbolic rather than useful,” Mordred suggested.

“You’re being generous. I like my red dragon shield Merlin has bolted to the walls of Camelot much more,” Britt said. “But it doesn’t matter. We’re only here to grab the shield so we can summon Pellinore.”

“You are so certain it is your ally?” Mordred asked as Britt approached the altar.

“Oh, yes. Believe me, if there is any kind of knight attacking people with or for shields, it’s Pellinore,” Britt snorted. She picked up the shield and whirled around, her muscles tensed.

“I think we have to take the shield from the abbey before the white knight will attack,” Mordred said after several moments of silence.

Britt awkwardly laughed. “Ah, yes. I think you’re right—Griflet said something about that, too. Let’s go, then.” She hefted the shield and started down the aisle, pushing the doors open when she reached the entrance. She was so intent, she almost walked straight into a tall, sturdy man.

“Careful, there,” the man said, reaching out to steady her. Instead of wearing brown robes—like the stereotypical hermit—he wore a bright blue tunic, and his hair and beard were trimmed and combed. “Why, if it isn’t—”

“Arthur!” Britt was quick to say when she realized she knew him.

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