With My Last Breath

by Courtney Cole

  ‚My lady, I’m so sorry,' she cried. ‚I didn’t want to do it. I really didn’t.'

  I picked her up and leaned my forehead into hers.

  ‚Raquel, do you feel that? Do you feel me? I am here with you and I am fine. You had an important job to do and you did it. I am very proud of you. And when this is over, you will be rewarded.'

  She looked up at me, her pink lip quivering. ‚Truly? You will truly be fine?'

  I nodded. ‚I promise. I will truly be fine.' And honestly, as I studied the group of chieftains surrounding me, seeing how their numbers extended well into the surrounding field, spilling over the crest of the hilltop, I believed it for the first time.

  ‚Everything will be fine,' I told her again as I straightened up and picked up the black box of souls. Glancing up, the red-headed chieftain caught my eye and he nodded.

  I sat the box down in the middle of the stone and climbed up next to it, stepping over my lifeless mortal body, treading through my own blood. Bending, I pulled the sword out of my chest, listening to the moist sound it made as it slid from my mortal wound.

  Somehow, it didn’t bother me. I wasn’t sure if it was bravery or numbness that fueled me now, but I was not afraid. Gripping the handle, I plunged it into the box, watching as it split in two and thousands of shrieks filled the sky around me as souls poured from the box.

  Courtney Cole 108

  With My Last Breath, Book Three

  One by one, I watched the displaced souls find their bodies. One by one, I watched the warriors surrounding me return to life, taking deep breaths as their mortal lungs once again filled with air.

  It was an amazing sight. Lucan, Hectate, Raquel and I stood quietly as the warriors crowded around us. And then I grew weak. My legs felt as though they would give out as my fingers turned cold and numb. I started to say something, to ask what was happening, when I was suddenly gasping for air on the stone altar.

  Staring around me in bewilderment, I realized that I had been thrust back into my mortal body. My wound had closed, although blood still surrounded me. Looking down, I found my green dress blood-stained and torn where the sword had entered my chest, but I was alive once more.

  ‚What… How…' I couldn’t form a cohesive sentence.

  The red-headed chieftain smiled down at me, reaching down to grasp my hand and helped me to stand.

  ‚Your first act as the Chosen One,' he explained, ‚Was to exhibit faith. You died so that others would live. You gave the ultimate sacrifice because you had faith and in doing so, you have proven yourself worthy.'

  He leaped to the stone, looking around at the warriors.

  ‚Take a knee!' he cried. Every one of the warriors dropped to one knee, bowing their heads in deference. ‚As many of you have given fealty to me, and have also taken fealty from others, so too will you offer your allegiance to the goddess Harmonia now.'

  Murmurings of assent filled the meadow.

  Cries of ‚We ride with you, Harmonia!' and ‚I vow my allegiance to you!' filled my ears and I stared around me in disbelief. Throughout time, in every life, I had assisted royalty and served them, as I fulfilled the plans of Fate. Now, as we stood on this precipice of saving all that we knew, I would command a legion. It seemed incredible.

  I stepped forward and held up a hand, quieting the crowd.

  ‚I am honored to ride with you,' I began and they erupted into cheers once more. I waited a moment for them to quiet and continued. ‚Together, we will save Camelot and everything that we know!'

  In the magnitude of the moment, I bowed my head and stood in the sun. The most important time of my life was still to come and there was nothing else to do but embrace it.

  Courtney Cole 109

  With My Last Breath, Book Three

  Chapter Eighteen

  ‚Harmonia?' a familiar voice called and I startled at the recognition in Lucan’s voice. He was pushing through the crowd to stand at the base of the stone, familiarity written all over him as he stared up at me.

  ‚Lucan?' I asked, too afraid to hope. But Cadmus’ soul had been in the box. When I released the souls, of course it had nowhere to go, but to where it belonged- in Lucan’s body. ‚Cadmus?' I asked uncertainly.

  Lucan leaped to stand next to me in one bound and pulled me into a fierce embrace, pushing my hair out of the way as he bent to kiss my lips. Cheers once again erupted, but I ignored them

  ‚I am here, my sweet,' he assured me as he clutched me close. ‚My body is still in the Spiritlands, but I am here with you now. I am so proud of you, although I want to throttle you at the same time for taking this chance.'

  I stared into his chocolate eyes, so beautiful and familiar to me.

  ‚This was not a chance,' I told him firmly. ‚Without you, I’m not alive at all.'

  He pulled me close once more and I rested for just a moment against his strength, breathing him in, happier than I would’ve thought possible. It didn’t matter that we were about to face a battle of epic proportions. We were going to do it together.

  Helping me down from the altar, he pulled Hecate into a hug, as well. ‚Thank you, witch,' he smiled. ‚For everything you’ve done.'

  ‚It isn’t over yet,' she reminded him, but her eyes were twinkling as she clasped his arm.

  He knelt at Raquel’s feet and I watched him study her small face. He took her hand and kissed it.

  ‚Thank you, young one, for your bravery,' he told her solemnly. ‚When this is over, we shall have a long conversation. There are many things that you should know.'

  Raquel nodded and he kept her hand in his as he turned to face me once more.

  ‚We have a battalion now,' he observed. ‚But no horses. Hecate?'

  ‚Taken care of,' she answered and as we watched, enough war horses to equip an entire battalion appeared in the open field next to us. They stamped their feet and tossed their heads, anxious to do battle. I shook my head. Was there nothing Hecate couldn’t do?

  ‚Mount up!' the chieftain yelled. ‚We ride!'

  The warriors charged for the field, each choosing a horse and within minutes, everyone was mounted and ready to travel. Lucan lifted Raquel onto the saddle of his horse and then swung around behind her.

  My own horse pranced next to his and I climbed stride her.

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  With My Last Breath, Book Three

  ‚Are you ready?' he grinned.

  ‚Ready,' I answered.

  We took off across the dead grasses of the Camelot plains. We still had a sword to find. The sheer number of our battalion caused our horses’ hooves to sound like thunder, booming across the land as our horses ran. Minutes once again turned into an hour and then two as we galloped across the browned fields.

  From time to time, I glanced over at Lucan and Raquel and found her leaning comfortably against him. It warmed my heart in ways I had never known. I had a family of my own. Even in the midst of this chaos and fear, it was enough to give me hope.

  The long ride extended longer and longer and finally, when I was growing very weary of riding, buildings rose from the horizon and I sighed in relief. Dying and coming back to life had taken my energy.

  ‚We’re almost there,' Hecate called from behind us.

  I spurred my horse faster, with Lucan and Hecate directly on my flanks. A few minutes later, we rode into a compound of buildings, surrounded by a stone fence. The gates were standing open, so we passed easily beneath.

  A large cobblestone house stood within the fence, with large barns behind it. This did not appear like the kind of home that the parents of a king would live in, but his foster parents had not been flashy. Merlin had brought baby Arthur here when he was just an infant, arranging for Sir Ector, a wealthy farmer, and his wife to raise Arthur as their own.

  And they had. Arthur had grown up thinking that they were his loving parents and he ran the hills with his brother, Kay. As the second son, he had been the lovable carefree spirit in the family. Kay, being the eldest,
was left to be responsible. But that all changed when his real father, King Uther, died and Merlin returned to claim Arthur.

  Until that day, Arthur had had no inkling that he was the son of a king. He left his foster parents and traveled to Camelot with Merlin and Kay. And he was meant to change history. But he was meant to change history with his compassion and grace, not by becoming heartless and cruel.

  I shook my head. I couldn’t focus on the travesty of it all right now. I needed to find the sword. The balance of the world hinged upon it.

  Riding through the short wrought-iron gates, I glanced around. The yard in front of the house was crunchy and dead. Withered flower beds lined the front of the house, although the home itself was immaculately kept. Clearly, Arthur was paying someone to care for it and the grounds. It was neat and clean, although it was stark and clearly empty. There was nothing for miles around us, no signs of life. It was completely desolate.

  ‚No one appears to be home,' Lucan observed as he drew up next to me.

  Courtney Cole 111

  With My Last Breath, Book Three

  ‚That’s good,' I smiled. ‚The inhabitants are dead, so I certainly prefer it that way.'

  He shot me an amused look, but stayed silent and urged his horse ahead, before dropping to the ground and looking around. Hecate sidled up next to me and we lifted Raquel down from her horse before tying the horses to a hitching post.

  My body was screaming, my arms aching, but there was no time to rest. For all we knew, Arthur had sent a party of knights to follow us. We just couldn’t take that chance. Leaving our army standing behind us, we moved toward the house.

  Walking softly up the front porch steps, I tested the door. It was locked. Quickly, I crushed the brass door handle in my hand. It fell to the ground in bits and pieces. The door opened easily now.

  Walking inside, I stopped in the foyer and spun in a slow circle. The house was as neat as a pin. With the land outside reduced to rubble, it seemed strange to find this house still in perfect condition. It made me believe that somewhere, deep down, Arthur retained some of his true characteristics. Why else would he care so much for his deceased parents’ home?

  The silence was chilling. Walking through a dining room, I observed a long table with crystal centerpieces and a long bench on each side. There was space for at least twelve. It seemed strange to find a place that I was sure once bustled with life and laughter, so empty now. Every footstep echoed loudly throughout the house as I made my way upstairs.

  It didn’t seem plausible that Arthur would have hidden the sword in the house where anyone could find it, but I had to look. It made no sense not to. So, I combed quickly through every room. And in every room, I turned up nothing but everyday household items. There was no sword here.

  As I entered the last room at the end of a narrow hall, I felt an even eerier stillness descend upon me and I stopped moving and glanced around.

  It was simply a bedroom. A large bedroom, one that might once have been airy and light, back when the sun still shone brightly. Now, however, it was dismal and cold.

  The heavy draperies were pulled tightly closed and the dark red velvet bedclothes sucked any semblance of light from the room.

  Sliding my fingers along a long armoire, I found that there was not a trace of dust.

  Someone was caring for this farm house. I picked up a silver hairbrush. It was polished to a gleam, no sign of tarnish. Yet no one lived here. It was so curious that Arthur would go to this trouble.

  I glanced into the heavy, ornate mirror that hung above the armoire. I looked tired.

  My face was pale and dark circles lined my green eyes. I lifted a hand and brushed my hair away from my face, tucking it behind my ear with a sigh. I was certainly not at my best.

  Courtney Cole 112

  With My Last Breath, Book Three

  And suddenly, I was not alone.

  In the mirror, Morgan appeared behind me, her face stark and white. Her dark eyes seemed sunken and severe and I spun around quickly. She wasn’t behind me. I slowly turned back around, facing her once more. She was in the mirror.

  ‚What is this?' I hissed, backing away from it. ‚What are you doing?'

  She smiled, not maliciously, but not a friendly grin, either. She was simply amused.

  Her dark gowns only emphasized her severe look, making her face seem even paler. It occurred to me that she didn’t look well, either. Exhaustion was apparent on her face.

  ‚Did I frighten you?' she asked. ‚That was not my intention. I cast a wide spell…

  so that the next time you looked into a mirror, I could find you. I did not mean to frighten you.'

  ‚Of course you did,' I snapped. ‚You know you did.'

  ‚Oh, Harmonia,' she sighed. ‚So many things have changed and you don’t even realize it.'

  ‚What?' I unconsciously lifted my hand to my throat. ‚You called me Harmonia.'

  ‚Of course I did,' she sniffed. ‚Isn’t that your name? What do you take me for?'

  ‚Morgan le Fey, sister of the king,' I answered uncertainly. Did she also know who she was? She answered my question with her next breath.

  ‚That is who I appear as, true,' she acknowledged. ‚But you and I both know the truth, don’t we? We are not mortals, you and I. Is Hecate with you?'

  ‚What is going on?' I asked uncertainly. ‚How do you know these things?'

  And further troubling, she was not herself. Eris was not being malicious. And that was unusual and frightening in itself.

  ‚Ahmose came to me,' she explained finally. ‚He showed me who I am and what the Fates did to me in the future. I am of a mind to work with you, for the time being.'

  ‚Work with me?' My eyebrow shot up. ‚Really?' I couldn’t keep the doubt from my voice and she smiled again.

  ‚Yes, really,' she confirmed and with that, she stepped from the mirror onto the armoire and then jumped lightly to stand next to me. I didn’t even flinch. ‚Apparently, you are the chosen one of some sort and if I have any hopes of surviving this intact, I will work with you, not against you.'

  ‚What do you propose?' I asked suspiciously. There was no way I was trusting this woman, even if Ahmose did. No way in hell.

  She narrowed her eyes. ‚First, I propose that we find the sword. You’re not having much luck on your own, are you? Let us find Hecate and together, we shall summon it.'

  I stared at her blankly as she gripped my elbow and led me toward the door. My feet stubbornly lagged behind because old habits died hard. I didn’t want to go anywhere with her, but I reluctantly accompanied her to the main floor where we found Courtney Cole 113

  With My Last Breath, Book Three

  Lucan and Hecate. Lucan was startled when I appeared with another person in the doorway, but Hecate only seemed expectant. There was not a trace of surprise on her face. I glared at her.

  ‚Let me guess,' I snapped. ‚You knew this already?'

  She nodded. ‚I did see it in my dreams last eve.'

  ‚It was a long ride here, with plenty of time for you to have shared that. A little forewarning would have been nice,' I replied.

  ‚I’ll try to remember that for next time,' she grinned. I rolled my eyes at her and turned to Morgan.

  ‚You’ll have to excuse my reluctance to trust you,' I said cautiously. ‚We’ve been at odds for a long time and you have wronged me again and again. I’m finding it difficult to believe you now.'

  ‚So, all the better to end that, correct?' she asked me with her eyebrows raised into her hairline. ‚There is no time like the present. In fact, if we do not, there may not be time left for anything at all. You know that I always act in my own best interest. Acting against the Fates is in my best interest. I know that now, thanks to Ahmose.'

  ‚Morgan,' Lucan said, ‚Isn’t the king wondering where you are?'

  ‚No,' she answered. ‚The king is still at the palace. Much has changed there. I’m here on my own volition…to help.'

  ‚Re
ally?' Lucan asked. ‚Isn’t that treasonous to your king… your brother?'

  Eris barely spared him a glance.

  ‚There is much you do not know, knight,' she said as she stepped forward. ‚And I do not have time to explain. Hecate, I will require your assistance. Together, perhaps we can see the sword. I have learned a few tricks as Morgan.'

  Hecate’s face was impassive as she stepped beside my ancient adversary.

  ‚Where do you want to do this?' she asked quietly.

  ‚The barn would be best, I think,' Morgan replied. She turned and began walking through the house, her back ramrod straight.

  ‚You can’t be serious,' I implored Hecate. ‚There’s no way that this can be real. I cannot trust that woman.'

  ‚You must,' Hecate insisted. ‚Ahmose has sent her to you. I know that you must trust him. He has willingly died to protect you. That should speak for something.'

  I considered that guiltily. Of course it did. He must know things