Page 15 of Kings and Monsters

"Arthur saved me," Rosa replied and caught his eye. "Thank you for coming after me."

"Well, I couldn't let the lady that woke me die in a moor, could I?" Arthur said with a gentle smile.

"How very gallant of you," Merlin said sarcastically.

"He was glowing, and so was Excalibur." Rosa didn't think she'd forget that sight as long as she lived.

"Looks like those blessings are still holding firm after all this time. The dead shrink away," Arthur said with a bashful shrug.

"Nice to know you're still good for something, Pendragon. It was enough for tonight in any case. Looks like I'll be pegging you to the campsite every night to keep you from wandering off, Rhosyn. I'll be hearing that shrieking in my nightmares forever. It had me running, that's for sure," Merlin complained.

"You are not the only one who heard it," Eirianwen said, getting to her feet, bow drawn.

Rosa scrambled for her pack and grabbedGaeaf Storom.She had enough of being a damsel for one evening.

Shadows were moving around them, flashes of bright steel gleamed in the moonlight. Her ears couldn't hear anything, eventhe lightest of footsteps, but her magic could feel the hum of someone's power. Many someone's power.

"Don't make any sudden movements," Eirianwen whispered, dropping down beside them, with bow lowered. She called out to the shadows in the Unseelie language.

Figures moved from out of the trees and rubble, and Rosa stepped closer to Bleddyn. All eyes were on him like he was a ghost or a god made flesh. His power hummed, and the Unseelie lowered their weapons.

"I am Bleddyn Seren Du, and I've returned," he announced. As one, the Unseelie lowered to their knees.

"Holy crap," Rosa whispered.

Merlin sheathed his sword. "Better get used to it, princess."

Rosa had only just finished packing up her gear when four black horses crashed through the forest and moved to wait by the crumbling walls. The Unseelie began to speak slowly to Bleddyn, their eyes nervously taking in the rest of them.

"They haven't seen faerie mounts for a long time. The ones that the queen didn't capture fled far from her reach," Eirianwen said to Rosa as they approached the horses.

"Why are they back now?" Rosa asked. Their fur was iridescent black, with a sheen of purple and blue like a raven's wing. They were so tall, she was sure she could've walked underneath them without stooping.

"They have answered the Seren Du's call. Like the rest of us, we have felt something shift. These scouts were probably out looking for us when they heard the wailing on the moors," Eirianwen said. She looked over where Merlin and Bleddyn were talking together. "This land and everything walking on it belongs to him, whether he likes it or not."

"God, what a burden," Rosa whispered.

"He was born to carry it." Eirianwen's gaze softened. "Thatis the Bleddyn I remember. There's nothing like him in all the worlds."

"And I used to use his business documents as coloring paper," Rosa murmured.

Eirianwen's lips broke into a smile. "He always did love children."

"Oh, you're a fine beastie, aren't you, girl?" Arthur's clucking made Rosa turn. He was coaxing one of the fae horses toward him.

"Be careful. They aren't known to be affectionate," Eirianwen warned.

"What rot," Arthur replied. "You just need someone to appreciate how beautiful you are. Gorgeous girl, I bet you could run faster than starlight on those long legs." The great horse sniffed his outstretched hands with a muzzle almost the size of his head. "There now. No need to be afraid. I'm just one of your many admirers. You are finer than the midnight sky."

Rosa had been around enough horses to know when they were preening, and Arthur's words had their desired effect. She wanted to talk to him, to say more than thank you for finding her on the moors, but had no idea where to start. The mare nudged him again, and Arthur stood on tiptoes to scratch between her ears and under her thick mane. He yelped in surprise when it picked him by the back of his coat and tossed him up onto her back.

"Oh, who's a good lass?" he laughed and righted himself, giving her wide neck a cuddle.

"You're lucky it didn't bite your ass off," Merlin said. "These Unseelie are keen to escort us back right now before the dawn gets here. You ready to go, Rhosyn?"

"Always, cousin. How's Bleddyn?" She nodded to where Bleddyn spoke softly to another of the horses.

"This group has been hunting a band of Seelie slavers that passed through here in the last few days. After seeing the bodies today, he's ready to call fire down from the heavens to smite the Autumn Queen."

---