AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s up for you to figure out.” Doc turned and began walking away. “I’ll be back in a few hours. See if you haven’t blown up or melted yet. C’mon, dog. Let’s go find something to eat.”
“Wait—hold on—you’re going to just leave me here?” She couldn’t believe it. “I don’t know what to do!”
“That’s the whole point, kid—you need to figure it out for yourself. Have fun! Try not to die!” He whistled. Eod jogged up beside him, tail wagging, eager to hunt whatever it was that Doc was going after.
Her shoulders slumped as she realized that…yeah. Doc had just fucked off. And left her there. Alone. Entirely alone.
To try to figure out how to tap into the island’s magic.
“God, I fucking hate this place sometimes.” She put her head in her hands and let out a long, ragged sigh. Throwing up her hands a moment later in frustration, she sat down on the grass with her back to the boulder.
“I guess I’d better get started. Doing…” She gestured to the forest, not knowing to whom she was talking. It probably didn’t matter. “Something.”
Nobody answered, which was probably a good thing. Shutting her eyes, she leaned her head back against the boulder. “Avalon? Are you there?”
Now she felt like a goddamn moron.
Silence.
“Hello?” she asked nobody.
Silence.
I am so seriously sick of taking shit from this goddamn island. Now it won’t even pick up the proverbial fucking phone.
“You are a fool.”
Mordred couldn’t help but hold back a smile at Galahad’s insult. “That is quite well established, thank you.”
“You are a madman and a fool.” Galahad shook his head. “Why would you do such a thing—to place your life in danger? Are you so grief-stricken from Gwendolyn’s departure that you no longer wish to keep living? If so, I would rather you not involve the rest of us in this scheme.”
Mordred sighed. “I do not wish to die, Galahad.”
“Then you are not properly explaining how this does not instantly accomplish that end.”
Mordred paced back and forth along the edge of his tent. He was used to sleeping in the leather and fabric structure almost more than he was accustomed to sleeping in a bed in his keep. He had spent most of his life in the fields of war, listening to the sounds of armies on the move, after all. “The demon is a coward and will keep himself hidden until I am vulnerable. Only then will he strike—when his victory is certain.”
“And you plan to make yourself vulnerable to draw him out. Yes, you’ve said this.” Galahad had to sit in the tent to keep from having to keep his head crooked at an uncomfortable angle. Mordred was tall, yes—but Galahad was sometimes problematically so. “You will put your head on the executioner’s block in hopes that the axe does not drop.”
“This is precisely why I am speaking to you, Galahad.” He rolled his eyes. “And why I wish to entrust the Gossamer Lady with the proverbial axe itself.”
“You do not think she will take the opportunity to rid the world of you?” The Knight in Gold arched his gray eyebrow. “Your death grants me my freedom. And therefore, our future together. Do you not think she would be tempted?”
“Tempted? Yes. Most certainly. And it is that logic in her choice that I am counting on Grinn to believe in.” Mordred kept pacing back and forth as his mind tried to process all the possible outcomes. It was possible that Zoe would use the opportunity to end his life. But he did not think it would come to pass. “Your love understands the danger that Grinn poses. She will see the wisdom in this ploy.”
“Perhaps. Perhaps she will not care for what will come.” Galahad shook his head, letting out a heavy breath. “But that is not like her, you are correct.”
“Grinn only believes in the shallow desires of those around him—that all of us are driven by the same base need for revenge that he is. Zoe is the only elemental I would entrust to see past her own selfish needs.” Mordred ran a hand over his hair. “Though it remains risky.”
“It is a clever ploy. But the odds are not good that it will end in your favor. There is a risk that you will lose it all.”
“Yes. I am aware. There are no other cards for me to play—nothing that Grinn desires deeply enough to venture out of his hole. He loves no one but himself and his hatred.” Mordred poured himself a mug of wine before taking a deep gulp of it. He did not like the idea any more than Galahad did. But there were meager few options in front of him.
“I will send for a messenger.” Galahad pushed up from the chair, the wooden legs creaking under his weight. “Shall we tell the others?”
“No. Leave the rest of the knights out of this. I do not need Percival’s sycophantic whining cluttering up my thoughts.”
Galahad huffed a single laugh. “So be it.” He turned to leave the tent before pausing. “For what it is worth, Mordred—I do not wish your death.”
