by J. M. Briggs
“Wait!” Nicki shouted as she moved away from Bran and towards Morgana.
The professor stopped and turned back so she was facing the group. She stood above them on the slope with a raised chin. “Arthur believes that he killed Alex,” Morgana observed in a calm voice even as her green eyes glinted with anticipation. “He and Scáthbás won’t be able to move against the old Iron Gates without the sword just yet and won’t be plotting how to destroy you right now. We have a brief window before the lack of news of a murder in Ravenslake alerts them that you’re alive.” Morgana paused and frowned. “And unless Aiden’s condition improves then his parents are going to be having to make some hard decisions soon. You don’t have much time so do what you need to do quickly.”
Morgana gave them a smile before she turned away and started walking up the hill. Alex stared after her torn between laughing and asking more questions. It was clear that Morgana wasn’t going to do this with them and the very idea sent both fear and exhilaration through her.
“Wales,” Alex whispered to herself.
“Uh, are we really considering this?” Bran asked Alex with wide eyes. “Go on a quest for the proto Holy Grail with nothing more than Wales as a starting point?”
Alex laughed at the phrasing even as she wished that Aiden could have heard the little joke. He’d have found it funny. “Yeah,” Alex managed to say with a nod. “I think we are.” She brushed some blonde hair behind her ear. “And I say we ban King Arthur and the Quest for the Holy Grail jokes right now.”
“Yeah… no,” Bran replied with a hesitant smile. “If I’ve got to deal with disturbing dreams and visions to make this insanity work then I get to make Monty Python jokes.”
“Fair enough.” Alex agreed softly before she looked over at Jenny and Lance. “You don’t have to come. This isn’t your problem.”
It was Jenny who answered the statement first to Alex’s surprise. Her former roommate straightened up to her full barely over five-foot height and gave Alex a stern look. “You’re not the only one with something to prove Alex,” Jenny informed her with flashing dark eyes. “Arthur didn’t stab me, but he used me for years and made me believe-” Jenny cut herself off as her expression faltered. “Besides, I’m the one with Daddy’s credit card unless you mages have some other way to get to Wales.”
“I’m in,” Lance said simply as he ignored a look from Jenny. “I may not be a mage and I may not have a lot of experience yet, but I know something about geology and traversing difficult areas which you may need.”
“Nicki?” Bran asked as he turned to look at the silent redhead who was staring at Alex. “Are you coming or do you want to stay with Aiden?”
“Morgana and Merlin will look after him and Ravenslake,” Nicki replied still not taking her eyes off Alex. “We have to try. Aiden deserves that from us.”
“Yeah,” Alex heard herself agree. She took a step towards the others so they formed a circle. “Look Nicki, Bran, I’m sorry about Aiden. You’re closer to him than I am and I can’t imagine how hard it is for you to have him hurt like this.”
“Alex, don’t,” Nicki ordered, crossing her arms over her chest.
“No,” Alex said as she looked out over the lake as a strange blend of anticipation, determination and fear rose in her chest. “I’m not worth Cyrridven and Aiden’s sacrifice, not yet, but I’m going to be. That’s a promise.”
