With My Last Breath (Page 16)

"Might for Right, not Might makes Right, yes?" I quoted his own creed back to him.

When he had formed the Roundtable, he decreed to live by a set of rules and one of them was to use his strength for the public, not to use it against them. It was a belief that he lived by.

"Yes," he sighed. "Might for Right."

I fell silent, considering his situation. If he admitted what had happened to the queen, if it passed from his lips to her ears, then he would be forced to punish Morgan.

There had to be some way to ease his pain, some way that didn’t add to it. I wracked my brain.

"What if…." I began, but trailed off.

"Yes?" he asked, his face so hopeful that I couldn’t resist it.

"What if I am the one who spoke to the queen on your behalf?" I suggested weakly.

To interfere in such a way was not bright. I knew it even as I spoke, but I couldn’t help it. He was shouldering so much pain already.

Courtney Cole 41

With My Last Breath, Book Three

"I could explain what has happened and tell her that you long to discuss it with her, but that you cannot. I am sure she will understand and forgive you, and your heart will be unburdened. Your marriage will be cleansed of lies."

"You would do that?" he asked, his voice wavering. "Truly?"

I nodded, swallowing hard. "Yes. Truly. If the queen understands and forgives you, then Morgan cannot extort her will from you. She will have no leverage."

He grinned broadly and leaned over to engulf me in a tight bear hug. I could scarcely breathe, my face smashed against his broad chest. He finally released me and I took a big breath, filling my lungs with much needed oxygen. He laughed and I had to smile in reaction. The king looked better already.

I wish I could say the same for myself. My birthmark, which had been bewitched to ache whenever I did something that the Fates did not approve of, was throbbing mercilessly. I tried to ignore it, gripping it tightly with my other hand.

"I’m glad to be of help," I murmured meekly.

"Of help?" King Arthur asked with raised eyebrows. "You’ve saved me. Make no mistake about that. You have saved me, Heleyne, and I am indebted to you."

"No," I shook my head. "You are not."

"We’ll agree to disagree then," he nodded, "Although… I’m the king so I am always right." He threw his head back and laughed, the carefree sound ringing through the chapel. "I owe you and if you should ever need me, I will assist you. I always repay my debts."

I was just murmuring a thank you when Merlin strolled in.

His black eyes cut me like a knife and I flinched. I could see in them that he knew what I had just done, how I had just agreed to interfere on the king’s behalf. To interfere in this now was to interfere with Fate, something I had never purposely done. His face was stark and severe as he entered the chapel.

"Your highness?" Merlin called down the aisle. "Your attention is required in the Knight’s Hall. Could you accompany me?"

Although he spoke to Arthur, his gaze was pinned on me, holding me tightly to the wooden pew. The king didn’t notice. Arthur couldn’t see the way my shoulders were restrained against my will. I felt my backbone grind into the hard seat and I gritted my teeth. Merlin was punishing me for my interference and I was sure that he would have more to say on the matter later.

"Of course, Merlin," Arthur answered, rising from the pew. "I’d be happy to. What is the issue?" Turning to me, he lifted my hand and kissed it with royal lips.

"Lady Heleyne, I thank you for your ear and for your kind words and assistance. I look forward to your company at dinner."

With that, he strode down the aisle to join Merlin and they discussed Merlin’s issue as they disappeared down the hall.

Courtney Cole 42

With My Last Breath, Book Three

I will speak to you later.

Merlin’s voice appeared in my mind just as clearly as if he was standing next to me and he released his hold on me. I stretched my shoulders as I shook my head, willing myself not to answer him in kind. As a mortal, I had never been able to return his silent messages to me. I couldn’t do it now as much as I might want to offer a sharp retort.

Instead, I gathered my heavy skirts and retreated from the chapel to find my mother.

She wasn’t going to be happy when she discovered that I had interfered. She didn’t want to see Arthur suffer either, but as she had already pointed out, interfering would cause changes and we had no idea what the consequences of that might be. I sighed.

I descended the stairs and walked quietly past the Hall of Knights. As I passed the cavernous room, I glanced inside. Merlin had his back to me as he stared out an open window. The cool breeze blew through and pushed my hair off of my forehead.

The knights were seated around the large roundtable. All of them leaned on the famed table wearing serious expressions.

"The Saxons have dispatched mercenaries?" Arthur demanded incredulously.

"How do we know that it wasn’t the Romans?"

"We do not," Merlin admitted from the window. "It could be either."

"What is important, your highness, is that we are being invaded by pervasive tactics. We have not faced this before," Lucan spoke from across the table. "These intruders are acting as marauders from our own country, seeking to instigate riots among our own by pillaging and murdering to undermine the king’s competence in protecting the people. It must stop."

There were murmurings of agreement and I watched Lucan for a moment from the doorway. He was intense and focused as he assessed the threat to his country. His sense of honor was outweighed by nothing else. He was created to be a warrior.

He glanced up and saw me watching and dipped his head in acknowledgement before he returned his attention to his peers. The simple act of his gaze meeting mine caused my heart to thrill. And with that, I remembered my purpose here, my sole purpose in life. I had to save him.

Walking on, my thoughts were consumed with Lucan as I made my way to Guinevere’s quarters. I was determined to save him and I lived for seeing him.

Whatever it took, I would find the sword. But first, I had to speak to Guinevere about Arthur.

Opening her door quietly, I was immediately assailed by the scent of roses.

Glancing around inside, I had to laugh. There were hundreds of them here. As usual, my mother had gone overboard. I inhaled the thick scent as I made my way to her massive, curtained bed.