by Cori Chaffee
Courtney Cole 74
With My Last Breath, Book Three
‚Everyone, listen! Calmly walk back to your quarters. Calmly. We will have the matter well in hand soon.'
Since he had absolutely no idea what the alarm was being sounded for, his statement was pretty brazen. But everyone listened. They stopped running and quickly filed out of the hall, presumably to return to the safety of their chambers.
‚You too,' Lucan instructed in my ear, before brushing a quick kiss on my lips. ‚I’ll return soon. Stay safe in your chambers. Bar the door behind you.'
He crossed to where the other knights were congregating at the head table and waited for Arthur and Lancelot before they quickly exited to the outdoors.
‚Stay safe,' I murmured after them to the empty room.
Guinevere and I silently sat staring at each other. Even Merlin was gone, a fact that was slightly troubling. Usually in situations like these, he found his way to my side in an effort to keep me in check. But there was no trace of him now.
‚We should go,' Guinevere suggested. ‚You know that we can help them if need be.'
‚And you know that every time we do, we risk being discovered. We cannot,' I answered wearily.
‚Of course we can,' she insisted. ‚We are goddesses. We are not bound by mortal law or reason. We can do as we wish.'
‚Mother,' I gritted my teeth. ‚We cannot. We must leave this place as we found it.
No one can know what we truly are.'
‚And no one shall.'
And she was gone. I glanced around the room quickly, but just as I feared, she was nowhere to be found. A weight dropped in my belly. She was following them, I knew.
I sighed heavily. Why, oh why, did my mother have to sometimes be such a loose cannon? I pushed away from the table and willed myself into the courtyard. Within a couple of seconds, I reappeared by the stream.
I quickly hid behind the nearest tree, the violet shadows of night concealing me. I was thankful that my dress was mossy green. It blended easily into the darkness.
From across the way, torches burned brightly as the knights prepared to ride from the castle compound. Horses stomped and snorted, and the metallic clang of armor resounded throughout the compound as the knights made their preparations. The lookouts shouted down from high on the wall.
‚Twenty riders, Sir Kay!' one shouted to Arthur’s brother. ‚Make that twenty-five.
They are armed and armored.'
‚Arthur!' Kay roared from his mount. ‚Can you ride?'
‚He’ll be fine!' Lancelot answered. ‚He’ll stay by my side.'
I knew that if Arthur didn’t ride, it would be whispered about throughout the countryside and once again, I said a silent thank you to my father for saving his hide.
Courtney Cole 75
With My Last Breath, Book Three
The knights were finally readied and someone opened the gates for them to ride out. They filed out, their horses’ hooves pounding like thunder as they galloped through the wall. And at their tail-end, I found my mother, riding Flower and concealed by a dark cloak with a hood. I groaned.
I quickly visualized myself on Flower’s back in similar attire and I was immediately there, grasping Guinevere’s slender waist and whispering into her ear.
‚Mother, what are you doing?' I hissed. ‚This is unacceptable.'
She laughed quietly. ‚We do what we must, daughter. Would you have me leave your father unprotected, while he cares for Arthur? Someone needs to watch his flank.'
‚He has a fleet of skilled knights to do that,' I replied wryly. ‚He has no need for you.'
‚Bah!' she tossed her head. ‚Mortals. I should entrust his well-being to mortals?'
I didn’t bother to answer. I knew it was of no use. The only thing I could do now was hang on and hopefully reign her in when the time came.
The horses kicked up dust as the knights rode hard to intercept the intruders. I had no wish to be discovered, so I pulled my hood tighter around my face, shivering as I did. I had no idea who the strangers were or what they wanted, but if they were armed and armored, they meant us harm.
The moon shone high and brightly in the sky, adding light to the flickering torches that the squires were carrying for their knights. The atmosphere was charged and tense as we raced toward the unknown threat. I knew that I could interfere at any time, that I could use any number of my goddess strengths to intercede, but I also knew in my heart that I could not. This must unfold as it naturally would and I would have to allow it.
I only hoped my mother had that much sense.
As we drew near, the horses slowed to a trot and then to a walk as the knights separated into a battle formation. Since my mother and I were concealed by hoods, no one had noticed our presence as of yet. It was simply assumed that we were squires in the surrounding confusion.
Since we were in the back, we couldn’t see what was happening. But we heard grumblings of discord and then the battle bugle was sounded. My heart raced in my chest at an inhuman rate. Lucan was at the front with my father and Arthur. And though he was a skilled warrior, I couldn’t help but feel twinges of worry for him.
The metallic clash of swords echoed throughout the still night and I clutched my mother’s sides tightly as I tried to control myself. I desperately wanted to use immortal talents to fix this situation, to keep Lucan safe…but I could not. I gritted my teeth and waited.
And then my mother jumped from our horse. As she ran in a streak toward the front, her hood fell away and her long chestnut hair streamed behind her.
Courtney Cole 76
With My Last Breath, Book Three
The squires in the back froze before they came to their senses and tried to grab her.
They were too slow. She slipped like a lithe shadow in between the foot soldiers until she reached the front. In desperation, I followed closely on her heels, trying to reach her before Arthur or Lucan saw her.
But I was too late.
Just as Guinevere burst from the confines of the crowd of soldiers, Lucan and Arthur spotted her at the same time as one of the deadly marauders they were fighting.
The stranger appraised her with glittering eyes before he reared back and lunged with his long lance. Guinevere wasn’t even watching- she only had eyes for my father. She didn’t see the danger she was in.
Before I could reach my mother to yank her back, a young squire leaped in front of her, protecting her from the flash of the sharp blade. It glittered in the moonlight before it sank deeply into his thin chest, plunging through his back before he crumpled onto the dirt.
My mother gasped and whirled around as I dropped to my knees beside the squire.
Blood was gurgling from his pink, boyish lips and his breathing was raspy. Around me, the fighting continued, but I didn’t pay attention. I could only concentrate on this one boy.
His life, so very fragile, was slipping away. I could feel it, the vibrant cords of it were fraying, disappearing into the night in a very tangible way. And all I could do was to stop myself from grasping at them, from trying to pull him back to me.
‚Please, tell my mum that I love her,' he begged me and then he coughed, crimson blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. ‚Please.'
His face was as pale as his blonde hair, growing paler by the moment as he lost more and more blood from his wound. As it was, his blood was pooling around my knees. I could feel the wet warmth against my legs, soaking my heavy skirts. And my resolve broke. I knew I had to help him. He was so young… too young.
‚Tell her yourself,' I instructed him, placing my hands firmly on his wound.
‚Watch me, boy. You’re fine. Keep your eyes on my face.'
I pushed against his wound with my hands, all the while feeling my bloodstone throb against my ribcage under my dress. As I poked against the gaping, bloody hole in his body, I felt the crushed bones inside jab sharply against my fingers. He cringed and so did I.
I opened my
mind, allowing goddess energy to flow into the boy, into the jagged wound. I blocked out any thought other than channeling my energy into him. The strange portal opened, just as it had when I had saved Hasani in Alexandria and I held it open, waiting for this boy to heal enough to live.
I could feel stares beating down on me from all around, so I prayed that he would heal quickly. And thankfully, he did. His youth and purity helped him heal quicker Courtney Cole 77
With My Last Breath, Book Three
than an older man would and within a few minutes, I was able to pull away. His wound was still there, but it was no longer deadly.
As I sat back, I found my strength depleted and that I barely had the energy to stand. My shoulders slumped and my mother came quickly to my aid, pulling me to her side and letting me lean into her.
‚And you told me to behave,' she chided into my ear.
If I had the strength, I would have spit out a sharp retort, reminding her that we were only in this situation because of her. But I did not. From the corner of my eye, I saw the boy sit up to gain his bearings and then stand. He kept his hands pressed against his wound, but he was doing well. He would live.
His blood covered me in huge splotches and I allowed my eyes flutter closed. It no longer mattered to me who we were fighting. I didn’t have the strength to care. I didn’t even have the strength to be angry with myself for interfering. I sagged into Guinevere, attempting to stay upright.
And then suddenly Lucan was with me, scooping me into his strong arms. I nestled against his armored chest as he strode quickly with me toward safety, away from the fighting, away from the nervous and probing stares of the witnesses. Guinevere followed closely behind. I could hear her cloak as it dragged on the ground behind her.
When the noise from the battle had faded away, I opened my eyes. We were in a small clearing not too far away. It was quiet here and Lucan stared into my eyes.
‚Heleyne, what did you do?'
His face didn’t reflect the fear that I had just seen on some of the other faces, but he was cautious, anxious. They had all just seen me heal a young dying boy with my bare hands. I had no good answer for him.
What the hell had I done?
Courtney Cole 78
With My Last Breath, Book Three
Chapter Thirteen
‚Yes, Heleyne, what did you do?' Guinevere’s voice was severe and my mouth dropped open in surprise. She leaned over me, her eyebrows pulled together in consternation.
‚I told you to stay behind me and keep your eye out for Arthur, not to bound ahead and interfere with the fighting. Helping that young boy was commendable, Heleyne, but you could have gotten us both killed.'
I realized that she was trying to help by diverting Lucan’s anger towards herself instead of me. But it had been clear to all who had witnessed it, including Lucan, that she was the one who could have gotten killed. Her statement only seemed ridiculous.
Lucan stared at her in bemusement.
‚Your highness, with all due respect, Heleyne was behind you. Although to be honest, my question for her was concerned not with her logistical placement, but with her healing abilities.'
‚I don’t see why that matters,' Guinevere sniffed. ‚Heleyne disregarded my order.
We were only trying to find Arthur to give him this,' she explained, dangling a golden cross on a chain in front of Lucan’s face. I had no idea where she had conjured it from… but it was Arthur’s lucky crucifix. Everyone knew that he seldom went anywhere without it.
‚I needed to get this to Arthur,' she continued. ‚In his current state, he forgot it.
But you did a noble thing,' she nodded at me. ‚Helping that boy up after getting stabbed likely saved him from getting trampled.'
‚Helping that boy up?' Lucan raised his eyebrows. ‚That boy was at death’s door and then Heleyne knelt beside him and all of a sudden, he was fine. I wish to know how that was possible.'
‚I… um. I did nothing really,' I answered meekly. ‚I simply held my hands against his wound, slowing the flow of blood. I think it gave him a spare moment to gain his bearings and then he felt fine enough to stand. That is all, my love.'
I turned to Guinevere. ‚And I’m so sorry for my thoughtlessness, your highness.' I forced the words from my stubborn lips. ‚I did not mean to cause you worry or distress. I simply wished to help the little boy.'
Guinevere smoothed her face into a calm and loving expression. ‚Of course I forgive you, dear girl. I know you only meant the best for the young squire. Come now. Let us return to the castle and allow Sir Lucan to return to the battle. Think nothing more of it.' She handed the crucifix to Lucan. ‚Sir Lucan, if you could safely deliver this pendant to the king, I would be most grateful.'
Courtney Cole 79
With My Last Breath, Book Three
I could see the wavering in Lucan’s eyes as he purveyed the queen. He wanted to believe her, I could tell. Finally, he shook his head and took the necklace from Guinevere.
‚Of course,' he replied. ‚I’ll hand it to him myself, your highness.' She nodded.
Lucan set me gently down and stared into my eyes. ‚Can you walk?' he asked softly. I nodded.
‚I’m fine, Luc. Really. I think the sight of the blood and fighting just overwhelmed me and I felt faint. I’m fine now.'
‚Your good deed should not go unnoticed,' he observed, although he still sounded unsure. ‚I shall speak to Arthur about it.'
‚There is no need for that,' I replied quickly. ‚I only did what anyone else would do.'
Lucan smiled, his white teeth glinting in the moonlight. ‚So humble,' he replied.
‚Very well. I’ll walk you to your horses and send an escort back with you to the palace.'
We quickly made our way to Guinevere’s mount and Lucan lifted us both onto the horse, instructing four nearby soldiers to personally accompany us back to the palace.
With a quick kiss, he dropped the visor to his helmet and rushed back off into the fray.
I sighed. He had always been a warrior. He thrived in these situations.
Guinevere nudged Flower into a gallop and we made quick time back the winding road to the castle gates. Once there, my mother sent the soldiers back to assist the others and we entered the quiet, safe darkness of the palace fortress.
We slid to the ground and led Flower back to the stables, handing her reigns to a stern Reagan, before making our way back to our bedchambers. I accompanied Guinevere to hers first, helping her out of her gown and into a nightgown before I made my way back to my own chambers.
Too weary to face the long line of buttons on the back of my gown, I sighed and envisioned myself dressed in a cotton nightgown. Immediately, I was and my green velvet gown was hanging neatly in my armoire.
Crossing the room to the open windows, I leaned my forehead against the cool stone bricks as I gazed down the mountainside. I could see the torches that the soldiers carried flickering in the night even from here. Somehow, it gave me a sense of comfort, seeing them move and burn. Lucan was there with them and the fire marked where he traveled. Somehow, even though it was irrational, I felt as though if those torches were burning brightly, then Lucan was safe and well.
‚What have you done?'
I startled at the calm voice and turned.
Lachesis, the middle sister of the Fates, was sitting on my bed, silently observing me. I glanced at the moon outside. It was nowhere near midnight.
Courtney Cole 80
With My Last Breath, Book Three
I swallowed my annoyance at her habit of appearing in my bedchambers and crossed the room to stand in front of her, determined to act meek, as though I had no idea of the power that I actually wielded.
‚I’m sorry, Lachesis,' I murmured innocently. ‚I thought the time to meet you was midnight. Am I late?'
‚No,' she replied coolly. ‚But you have misbehaved. And I would like to know why.'
‚I don’t know what you mean,' I answered, lev
eling my gaze at her pale face.
In the moonlight, she appeared even paler than normal, her milky skin almost transparent. Her white-blonde hair flowed down her back, her lips plump and red. She could appear in any form that she wished, but this was her favorite. I found that I preferred it to the frightening hag that she truly was.
‚Yes, you do,' she contradicted. ‚You used your bloodstone to heal someone, a boy. Why?'
I tried to conceal my surprise. How in the world did she know that already?
‚It was an accident,' I answered quickly. ‚I have no idea what happened. One moment I was kneeling beside him, only to check on his wound, and the next moment, he was healed. I have no idea what happened.'
I prayed that I was convincing, that she would think that I had inadvertently and innocently tapped into goddess power without realizing it…and that I thought it was simply the power of the bloodstone.
She studied my face, probing my thoughts, trying to ascertain my sincerity. Finally, her gaze broke and I knew that I had passed this test. She believed me. I had successfully outsmarted one of the Fates… something that was unheard of. I breathed a small sigh of relief.
‚You should have been more careful,' she admonished me. ‚You know that your bloodstone is powerful. You could have accidentally revealed yourself to your daedal.'
I inwardly groaned. It was difficult to continue this charade, almost painful, but I did my best to look meek.
‚You’re right,' I acknowledged carefully. ‚I’ll certainly be more careful next time.'
Lachesis scowled in my direction.
‚There will not be a next time,' she snapped.
And with that, in a flash, she transformed into the stooped ancient hag that she was.
Her back was hunched grotesquely, her hair white and stringy. Her face, however, was the worst. It looked like cracked gray porcelain. A thousand tiny web-like wrinkles began at her forehead and radiated to her chin, making her look like a corpse. I gasped, more out of surprise than actual fear and she smiled, stepping toward me, with eyes so faded that they looked like clouds.
