Page 62 of Kings and Monsters

Daesyn, Arthur, and twenty warriors were following behind him, their feet making no sound as they crept through the dark autumn wood. They had camped on the Unseelie borders during the afternoon, waiting for nightfall before crossing into the queen's lands. The moon glowed silver above them, lighting their way as they moved like shadows.

"How much further?" Arthur whispered to him.

"According to Fintan's instructions, the gully shouldn't be far now," Daesyn replied. "He's promised to be waiting for us."

"Let's hope he's not waiting with an army," Arthur said.

Merlin sparked up a cigarette. "The queen will feel Bleddyn's power and Rosa's sword, and that will keep her plenty distracted and away from us." He didn't like that he didn't have Rosa with him, preferring her to be on a stealth mission as opposed to a possible open battle, but it couldn't be any other way. Rosa had the Seelie sword of kingship, and only it could break the wardsthat kept Gwyn out. The Lord of the Hunt only trusted Rosa to do the task, his fascination with her an additional problem.

A future worry, not one for tonight, Merlin told himself. He had to focus; their lives and Nimue's depended on it. The closer he got to the Court, the twitchier and more impatient he became. His magic was rising with every step. He wouldn't be able to stop it once it started. Not until he had Nimue by his side.

"Deep breaths, Merlin, or you will give the game away," Arthur warned, knowing the signs of Merlin about to lose his control.

"Just stay behind me once it starts," he warned.

"I got your back, don't worry. I'll bring you back if you go too deep," Arthur promised, drawing Excalibur. As he did, Merlin could feel the flash of his and Bleddyn's magic held within the blade, a sure sign his magic was at levels it hadn't been for centuries. The sword hummed with other power too—those who had blessed it over the centuries and the kind of magic that came with fame. His smile widened, which only made Arthur's frown deepen.

"Whatever you say, moral compass," Merlin teased.

"I will protect you too," Daesyn added quickly. "Rosa told me that if anything happened to you, she would come after me. I fear her more than you."

"Ha! She has you fooled, cousin."

"She has Gwyn's loyalty. I have plenty to fear from her like everyone else," Daesyn pointed out.

Less than thirty minutes later, there was a flash of light, signaling to them. Down a small gully, they found a Seelie knight standing beside the gates of a small tunnel. He had long hair, the color of honey, and pale blue eyes. He looked like he had stepped out of a pretty fairytale in his golden armor.

"You must be Merlin," he said, holding up his hands to show that there were no weapons in them.

"How can you tell?" Merlin scoffed.

"Nimue has spoken of you often," the knight's eyes flickered over him, "and I can feel the magic you are struggling to control."

"Well, you had best get out of the way, Fintan, unless you want me and my unstable magic to go through you." Merlin didn't like that this glorious specimen of a Seelie had been anywhere near Nimue.

"I'm Daesyn," his cousin intervened. "We thank you for your help in the past months, Fintan."

"You are the Ash Knight," Fintan said, his eyes going round with interest. "I've heard rumors of you for centuries."

"Yes, yes, we are allveryimpressive. Can we get moving please?" Merlin interrupted. "Oh, and you might want to change that pretty armor of yours, knight. We wouldn't want to get confused as to whose side you are on."

"I'm on the side of the common Seelie who have been oppressed by the queen just as much as your own people," Fintan said, his eyes narrowing.

"Merlin is right," Daesyn stepped forward. "Let me." He touched the edge of Fintan's armor, turning it from gold to black.

"Thank you, Ash Knight." Fintan ducked his head. "Now, let me show you to your people."

"After you," Merlin said, gesturing towards the tunnel. He hated small spaces, and his temper rose a little bit higher.

"Most people don't know this tunnel exists. I think it was used for water before the queen excavated deeper into the burrow," Fintan whispered in front of them. They went in one at a time, Merlin having to hunch over uncomfortably, following the torch in Fintan's hand. He wanted to be in a prime position to kill the pretty knight should he decide to lead them into a trap.

Be nice. He's been looking after Nimue, remember?a voice said inside the back of his head. Since when did his common sense start sounding like Rosa? It wasn't an encouraging sign.

"How much longer of this?" Merlin asked irritably, ten minutes later.

"Not far now, though I should warn you about the smell," Fintan replied.

"What smell?" Arthur said from behind Merlin. "Please tell me we don't have to climb out through a sewer. I did that once, and I swore never to do it again."

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