“I, Gwalchmai, son of Lot of Orcade, do now swear to follow the lord Arthur, emperor of the Britains, dragon of the island; to fight at his will against all his enemies, to hold with him and obey him at all times and places. My sword is his sword until death. This I swear in the name of Father, Son, and Spirit, and if I fail of my oath may the earth open and swallow me, the sky break and fall on me, the sea rise and drown me. So be it.”
Arthur reached out his hand for the sword, and I suddenly remembered.
“My lord,” I began, “the sword cannot…”
He ignored me and caught the hilt from my hand, lifting the weapon. The lightning did not spring from it against him as it had against Cei. Instead the radiance lit it, growing greater and whiter until it seemed that Arthur held a star. And he said, “And I, Arthur, emperor of the Britains, do now swear to support Gwalchmai son of Lot, in arms and in goods, faithfully in honor, in all times and places until death. This I swear in the name of Father, Son, and Spirit, and if I fail of my oath, may the earth open and swallow me, the sky break and fall on me, the sea rise and drown me. And I swear to use this sword, of Light, in Light, to work Light upon this realm, so help me God.”
The radiance faded from the sword as he returned it to me. I stood, sheathing it.
“Witnessed?” asked my lord Arthur.
“Witnessed,” said Cei, Bedwyr, and Agravain. And then Agravain stepped forward with a wide grin, shouting in Irish, “And now it is truly done, and you have won! Och, my brother, I swear the oath of my people I am glad!”
The rest of the Family was not far behind.
About the Author
Gillian Bradshaw was born in Falls Church, Virginia, and graduated from the University of Michigan, where she won the Hopwood Award for Hawk of May. She is the author of twenty-five other novels.
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