Heart of Time (Knight Traveler) Read Online Free
Author: Regan Black
singular goal.
Morale was high, bolstered by the hearty meal. Arthur asked if any of them suffered any ill effects of yesterday’s experiences. Gawain mentioned a troubling dream in the night, though he couldn’t articulate any details. The others had no complaints. It gave Arthur hope to have them all holding strong.
With impeccable timing, the Lady joined them as they finished. “Good morning, men. Are you ready to proceed? Merlin has asked me to perform a special rite, if you’ll follow me.”
“Any need for a balm to ease the task?” Kay asked.
The Lady shot him a saucy wink. “I’ve taken suitable precautions, Sir Kay. You needn’t fear I’ll be injured,” she said, purposely misunderstanding his concern.
The knight guffawed and near the water his bear snorted, apparently humored if such a reaction was possible.
“Do bring your companions,” she said, guiding them away from the clearing. “And Excalibur, too,” she said to Arthur. “They are essential to you, and as such, they are essential to achieving our goal.”
On an island anchored by magic, having three knights with such devoted, mystical companions strolling through an orchard in the morning seemed almost normal. She led them to what might have been a hilltop fire pit on a campaign, except the center was fresh and too clean. No remnants of charred wood, no soot stains on the soft gray stones set into thick, deep green grass.
The Lady instructed the men to stand with their beasts at the compass points of the circle, with Arthur and Excalibur at the north. She walked one full circuit around them, then stepped over the stones and entered the circle. At the center, she revealed a small flask and poured a clear liquid over the central stone. Runes appeared, though Arthur couldn’t decipher them from his position. Most likely making sense of the markings would be impossible up close. They were treading into magics beyond his comprehension.
She raised her hands to the sky, her face tipped up and the circlet on her head gleaming in the morning light. She spoke foreign words that made Arthur’s heart quake in his chest, then brought her hands to her sides with a snap. Light seemed to flow from her fingers, over her deep blue robes, striking the runes exposed by the water.
“We are here,” she began, turning as she spoke to include each man, “to ensure you seven are kept safe, here while you learn, and when you return to the world. There is power, deeply rooted in each of you, all from different sources. Your closest companions are merely a subtle outward sign of that great power. Know that your secrets are yours alone to tell when and where you wish. We will keep your secrets protected and sheltered here. Avalon is a partner, with a vested interest in the success of your quest.”
Yes, everyone had an agenda, something Arthur had learned early in life. Kay murmured something that likely reflected Arthur’s thoughts and the Lady laughed lightly.
“The spell I cast upon you today is to bind man and beast through this life and the next lives you may be asked to give for the cause. Rest easy, my champions, no harm shall come to the creatures you depend on or the creatures that depend upon you.”
Silence answered her.
“Bors,” the Lady smiled at the knight, “step forward with your hawk.”
Bors came forward her obediently.
The runes at her feet glowed brightly in a strange sequence while she crooned softly to the man and even softer to the bird on his arm.
Her voice soothed Arthur as effectively as a lullaby. He struggled to keep his eyes open, to focus on what was happening at the center of the circle for he didn’t want to miss anything.
Light danced on the morning air, darting in flashes from the Lady and winding around Bors and his hawk. The world itself seemed to sigh when she finished and both the knight and companion carried a gentle, inward glow as they resumed their station on the compass.
She repeated the process with
Morale was high, bolstered by the hearty meal. Arthur asked if any of them suffered any ill effects of yesterday’s experiences. Gawain mentioned a troubling dream in the night, though he couldn’t articulate any details. The others had no complaints. It gave Arthur hope to have them all holding strong.
With impeccable timing, the Lady joined them as they finished. “Good morning, men. Are you ready to proceed? Merlin has asked me to perform a special rite, if you’ll follow me.”
“Any need for a balm to ease the task?” Kay asked.
The Lady shot him a saucy wink. “I’ve taken suitable precautions, Sir Kay. You needn’t fear I’ll be injured,” she said, purposely misunderstanding his concern.
The knight guffawed and near the water his bear snorted, apparently humored if such a reaction was possible.
“Do bring your companions,” she said, guiding them away from the clearing. “And Excalibur, too,” she said to Arthur. “They are essential to you, and as such, they are essential to achieving our goal.”
On an island anchored by magic, having three knights with such devoted, mystical companions strolling through an orchard in the morning seemed almost normal. She led them to what might have been a hilltop fire pit on a campaign, except the center was fresh and too clean. No remnants of charred wood, no soot stains on the soft gray stones set into thick, deep green grass.
The Lady instructed the men to stand with their beasts at the compass points of the circle, with Arthur and Excalibur at the north. She walked one full circuit around them, then stepped over the stones and entered the circle. At the center, she revealed a small flask and poured a clear liquid over the central stone. Runes appeared, though Arthur couldn’t decipher them from his position. Most likely making sense of the markings would be impossible up close. They were treading into magics beyond his comprehension.
She raised her hands to the sky, her face tipped up and the circlet on her head gleaming in the morning light. She spoke foreign words that made Arthur’s heart quake in his chest, then brought her hands to her sides with a snap. Light seemed to flow from her fingers, over her deep blue robes, striking the runes exposed by the water.
“We are here,” she began, turning as she spoke to include each man, “to ensure you seven are kept safe, here while you learn, and when you return to the world. There is power, deeply rooted in each of you, all from different sources. Your closest companions are merely a subtle outward sign of that great power. Know that your secrets are yours alone to tell when and where you wish. We will keep your secrets protected and sheltered here. Avalon is a partner, with a vested interest in the success of your quest.”
Yes, everyone had an agenda, something Arthur had learned early in life. Kay murmured something that likely reflected Arthur’s thoughts and the Lady laughed lightly.
“The spell I cast upon you today is to bind man and beast through this life and the next lives you may be asked to give for the cause. Rest easy, my champions, no harm shall come to the creatures you depend on or the creatures that depend upon you.”
Silence answered her.
“Bors,” the Lady smiled at the knight, “step forward with your hawk.”
Bors came forward her obediently.
The runes at her feet glowed brightly in a strange sequence while she crooned softly to the man and even softer to the bird on his arm.
Her voice soothed Arthur as effectively as a lullaby. He struggled to keep his eyes open, to focus on what was happening at the center of the circle for he didn’t want to miss anything.
Light danced on the morning air, darting in flashes from the Lady and winding around Bors and his hawk. The world itself seemed to sigh when she finished and both the knight and companion carried a gentle, inward glow as they resumed their station on the compass.
She repeated the process with
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