Sword of Light by KATHERINE ROBERTS Page A

“Merlin! What dragon? Do you mean the shadrake that attacked us at the Tor? What’s a spirit transfer? I haven’t got Excalibur yet. Where are you? How do we find the lake? We need you—”
    But there was another flash of light, and the druid vanished. Elphin had stopped playing, and the rest of her dreams were a confusion of black wings and swirling mist.
    A big hand shook her awake. “Damsel Rhianna?” Sir Bors said gruffly. “It’s dawn. We should get going now.”

    It began to rain again as they rejoined the Roman road, a fine drizzle that found its way into every gap of their clothing and hid their surroundings. Evenstar misted to avoid the worst of it, making Sir Agravaine, who rode at the back, blink and rub his eyes. Alba bent her head to her chest.
Water is getting in my ears
, the mare sulked.
I want to mist as well
.
    “Don’t you dare,” Rhianna muttered. “If you make me fall off here, I’ll leave you at the next village and then you won’t get your apples.”
    That stopped her mare complaining, but it didn’t stop the rain. While Cai chattered on about the great jousts they used to hold at Camelot before the Saxons came, Rhianna wrapped her cloak tightly around her and tried to recall the details of her dream. Look for the dragon… that could mean anything. There wasa dragon on her shield. What did he mean by a spirit transfer? And what on earth was a pathfinder? She shook her head. As if she didn’t have enough problems looking for Excalibur.
    When she told Elphin about it, he frowned. “You probably dreamed of Merlin because we were talking about him earlier.”
    “But you said those stones had power,” she reminded him. “What if it really was a message from Merlin? He might have come this way before us.”
    “Then he’ll be at Camelot, won’t he?” Elphin said. “And you can ask him yourself.”
    Cai shuddered. “I’m not surprised you had a nightmare about that dragon, Damsel Rhianna!” he said. “I did, too.”
    “See?” Elphin said, smiling at the squire. “That shadrake scared us all.”
    Rhianna sighed. Avalonians just didn’t understand dreams.
    Soon they turned on to a smooth stone track worn by wagon wheels, with many foot and hoof prints showing in the muddy parts. They crossed a bridge and passed a laden cart, whose driver cheered the knights on. Sir Bors pushed his horse into a canter, and Rhianna began to feel excited again. Her mother would be at Camelot, she remembered. Tonight they would sleep in dry beds and eat decent food. Cai’s chatter was infectious, and even Sir Agravaine was smiling and joking with the others by the time they crested the final hill.
    “Behold Royal Camelot, my lady!” Sir Bors said. But the words died on his lips, and he swore under his breath.
    Rhianna’s heart gave an uneasy thud.The white walls were just as Cai had described, gleaming through the drizzle like a mist horse’s coat, and damp banners flew from her towers. But her gates were firmly shut. They could see why. The ditches were dark with tents and makeshift shelters, while rough-looking men clad in soggy furs crawled up the lower terraces with siege catapults and ladders.
    “Saxons!” Sir Agravaine growled. “Camped outside our very walls with their greedy eyes on Arthur’s treasure, no doubt! How dare they?”
    “The king’s not here any more,” Sir Bedivere said. “Who’s to stop them?”
    Sir Bors scowled at the dripping camp. “Well, they can sit there in the rain as long as they like! They won’t get through Camelot’s gates in a hurry!”
    Sir Agravaine lowered his lance so it wouldnot be seen against the sky. He gave Rhianna a worried look. “With that lot down there,” he said grimly, “neither will we.”

5
Bloodbeards
    There one knight betrayed his lord,
    Young Mordred of the bloodbeard horde,
    In shadows of darkest Annwn bred,
    Raised by a witch among the dead.
    “S o what do we do now?” Sir Bedivere said in dismay, turning his agitated