The Dragon King Read Free Page B

Pendragon the Second. And I’m here to—”
    In a startling burst the musket went off, blowing a cloud into the air. Numinae let his spell fly, but Artie stayed cool. He yanked Excalibur across his body and deflected the ball flying from the pistol at hundreds of feet per second. As the gray slug careened away harmlessly, Numinae’s spell exploded in a flurry of leaves and sticks and knocked the man onto the ground.
    Artie held up a hand. “Wait!” He lowered Excalibur and approached the man. “Are you all right?”
    “I-I . . .”
    “You weren’t expecting me, were you, Bran?”
    “How is it that you know my name?”
    Artie knew because of Excalibur, but he didn’t see the need to reveal this. “I know because I’m king.”
    Bran blinked. “I am sorry. It has been so long. I did not intend to fire. I am merely a decrepit guardian who has not been ’proximate to another living person for as long as I can recall. . . .”
    Artie bent to help Bran get upright.
    “It’s okay, Bran,” Artie said. “We’re a little shocked ourselves.”
    “How came you here?”
    “That’s a long story,” Kay said.
    “Who is the lady?”
    Kay blushed. “Kay Kingfisher. I’m the, uh, king’s sister.”
    “Ah! A countess!”
    She blushed some more. “Not exactly . . .”
    Artie patted Bran on a shoulder. “There’re more here too.”
    “Yes. I can hear them. And who might they be?”
    One by one Artie introduced everyone, mentioning each of the Seven Swords when appropriate. Thumb was last.
    “Thumb, did you say? Tom Thumb?” Bran asked excitedly.
    Tom scrambled back onto the little dune. “That’s right, Sir Bran. Do you remember me?”
    “Of course I do! All of the castle knights called you friend. ’Cept Lady Guinivere as I recall. She was not accepting of so little and amusing a person as yourself.”
    “That’s right, Sir Bran.” Tom chuckled, lost in old memories.
    “So there is a castle here?” Erik asked.
    “Assuredly, Sir Erik, bearer of Gram. It is just yon, beyond the dunes, attendant—though it has been surrendering to gravity and the elements for many a century. A blind, legless caretaker is not always an adequate caretaker, if you follow.”
    “We don’t care, Bran,” Artie said. “Are there beds? Is there water?”
    “Yes. The inside of the castle remains in pristine condition, that much I have managed. And the larders are full of medicines and potions and food and—”
    “Food?” several asked at once, and at the same time they all realized how hungry they were.
    Bran smiled. “Yes, food. Fruit, butter, bread—”
    “Mac and cheese?” Erik asked.
    “Um . . .” Bran hesitated.
    “Popsicles?” Kay wondered.
    “I’m not sure I—”
    “French fries?” Qwon asked, who, along with Shallot, was probably the hungriest of all of them.
    “I do not know of these things, but I can guarantee you will be sated,” Bran answered.
    This was great news, and the group immediately went nuts over the idea of eating. Artie moved to the front of the pack and wrapped an arm over Bran’s shoulders. “Lead the way, buddy,” he said, and they filed out.
    As they left the beach, the sand gave way to an earthy loam covered in grass and wildflowers. The sun began to break through the mist, revealing a rolling, treeless countryside. The party walked uphill for nearly a mile following a winding gravel path. Aside from this, there was no sign of any people.
    As they walked, Artie told Bran how they’d fought Morgaine and arrived at Avalon. Kay told of retrieving Kusanagi, and Erik of pulling Gram from the tree, and Sami of being tricked by the trio of kids who’d infiltrated his camp and changed the course of his life. Thumb gloomily recounted Merlin’s betrayal. Qwon, unable to forget for even a second all the grub Bran had promised, pined out loud for a cheeseburger and pickles and a Coke.
    “Again, m’lady, I haven’t the slightest idea what you speak of,” Bran said