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“Oh, I’m just here to say good-bye,” the older knight said, looking at me with a sad fondness. “I won’t burden you with my presence, Morgan. Never fear.”
I felt my throat constricting. “Never. You could never be a burden. I would have been honored...”
He smiled. “It’s all right, Morgan. Quests are best left for the young.”
“I’ll stay as well,” Dame Halyna said. The stout-hearted blonde woman met my eyes. “I’ll stay, and I’ll pray. For your success, Morgan.”
“Thank you,” I said softly. “We can use all the prayers we can get.”
Especially as I wouldn’t be making any of them.
“Nothing’s changed on my part,” Galahad promised, looking at Draven and me. “I’ll remain here in Tintagel, liaising with King Mark. I’ll give him an explanation of where you’ve gone.” He smiled ruefully. “At least a partial one.”
I nodded. I knew I could trust him.
“I’ll work with my father and Dame Halyna as well as Odessa,” Galahad continued. “We’ll bolster Tintagel’s forces, if they’ll allow it. And as we discussed, I’ll keep in touch with Crescent in Camelot.”
Draven nodded and clapped him on the shoulder.
“We’ll miss you,” I said softly. It would be strange not to be able to communicate with any of them. Not to have anyone following our journey. Even in such a short time amongst the fae, I had become spoiled by such marvels as stitching and portal arches. But as Guinevere had said, we would make do.
I turned to Hawl, Lancelet, Guinevere, and Gawain. “No one can follow us once we leave. No one can try to find us. We’ll be completely out of touch. In the dark. Do you truly understand? Gawain, you’ll be away from Taina and Crescent and...” I lamely trailed off.
“I might not ever see them again,” Gawain finished. “Is that what you’re trying to say? I understand. I’m coming. And I have no plans of dying along the way. Or on the way back.” He quirked a smile that I had to meet. Gawain’s smiles tended to do that. They were contagious.
“Guinevere,” I said, trying again. “You’re already weak from helping me this evening.”
“But I’ll get stronger,” the High Priestess said calmly. “The more I do it.”
“The more you do what?”
“The more I shield you from your dreams, Morgan.”
Lancelet shot me an annoyed look. “I don’t think you quite appreciate what Guinevere is giving up, Morgan. What she’s offering.”
“I do,” I insisted. “She’s offering to leave the Temple of the Three. For an extended period of time. But she’s our High Priestess. The people need you, Guinevere.”
“Not for an extended period of time,” Guinevere corrected gently. “Forever.”
I stared. “Forever? You can’t be serious.”
“I serve the Three. My service goes beyond the temple walls.”
“We just lost Merlin,” I exploded. “You’re already the youngest High Priestess I’ve ever heard of. Perhaps this is your inexperience speaking. You were just appointed successor, Guinevere. You can’t leave now.”
“I can. I must.” She paused. “I’ve already appointed a successor of my own.”
I threw up my hands. “Let me guess. Kasie. She wasn’t even trained for the role.”
“Neither was I,” Guinevere reminded me. “She’ll be fine. She’s exactly what the land needs.”
“A healing touch,” I grumbled. “Very literal of you.”
“I am no longer High Priestess,” Guinevere went on. “I am handmaiden to the goddesses. I go where they lead me. My path is with you.”
“And the owl?” I asked, pointing to Tuva. “Does she fly back to Kasie?”
“No,” Guinevere answered. “Merlin left me a choice. Tuva made one as well. She comes with us.”
