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Tanael's eyes fell on my hand, and he frowned. Had he sensed my urge? When his eyes settled on me again, they were colder than before. It was so all-consuming that I couldn't suppress my little gasp.
"No. We've never met before," my companion assured me reservedly and put distance between us again with a quick movement to the right. "But I have a message for your brother, King Arthur."
He quickly looked around. I knew, however, that we were alone, as I had woven a spell around this part of the forest as soon as we had reached the first trees. The foliage would not let anyone in or our words out.
My counterpart's lips glowed appreciatively. How could he sense my powers? Was he a mage, too? One of Merlin's scholars?
"Never equate me with Merlin," Tanael growled, confusing me even more. Something I couldn't let on. My power was great, but a certain loftiness, as I had learned early on, could visibly increase it. And since I didn't know who or what he represented, I had to be careful.
"The message?" My words came just as coolly as his had before. "What can I tell my brother?" I quickly turned to my horse and ran my slightly trembling hands over Andalius' soft nostrils. I had to distract myself; the attraction to this mysterious man was becoming too strong.
"Tell your brother the Holy Grail is in Jerusalem."
Startled, I turned to him. How did he know about the Grail and the commission Arthur and I had received from the Oracle of Avalon?
Slowly, my fingers slipped into the secret pocket of my dress and clutched the cold handle of the dagger, which was soaked in a poison that could kill more than only human beings.
"I'm very sorry, sir, but unfortunately, I don't know what you're talking about." I pretended to be as innocent as the girls in the small villages I had visited when I was young before I was ordained a priestess. With a tilted head and a deer-in-the-headlights look, a strand of hair twisted around my circling finger, I looked him straight in the eye.
"You can save yourself the spectacle, Priestess of Avalon," the stranger said snidely, avoiding my gaze. "And leave the dagger in your dress. I'm not here to put you in danger. Quite the opposite."
Suddenly, he held out his hand to me, on the open surface of which, in the next moment, a chain with an amulet appeared. A crescent moon with three bars ending in circles. The glow of magical powers surrounded it. Powers stronger and older than anything I had ever encountered before. I couldn't take my eyes off this beautiful piece of jewelry. It was exquisitely crafted. Where could it come from? Here in Britain, such delicate work was not even to be found in the jewelry boxes of the royal family.
"This is to protect you and my message," Tanael explained as he held it out to me. "Put it on, and you will be invisible to non-human beings. Only those with strong powers, like me, can see you. But there are only a few of them, and we just have to hope they don't cross your path."
I slowly reached out for the necklace, wanting so much to touch it and feel its shine on my skin, but I pulled back at the last moment.
Was it fear of its inherent power? Or did reason prevail, reminding me of my priestess code not to possess worldly riches? But was this amulet even from this world?
Sighing impatiently, Tanael Baldur took a few steps towards me and unexpectedly stood behind me. Gently and with pointed fingers, he pushed my hair out of my neck. Before I could react, the amulet was already lying on the bare skin of my décolleté. It glowed warmly and radiated a gentle throbbing I felt in every fiber of my being. Its power intertwined with mine, and an inner glow rose to my surface, scratching untamed at the veil that surrounded me. Hiding my magic. It was only when I allowed this unknown power to take hold and opened myself up to it that it enveloped me like a protective blanket.
At the exact moment, Tanael closed the chain, and his fingers brushed my neck, leaving a trace of memory that tied my thoughts back to him.
Unconsciously, I closed my eyes and felt his warm body leaning against my back, his sweet breath kissing my cheek. Our hearts beat in unison, and my soul answered my most pressing question: You know him.
"Take care of yourself, Haye." These words floated over to me gently and lovingly.
I opened my eyes again in anticipation and turned towards him, but no one was behind me. Tanael Baldur and his horse had disappeared. Alone, I looked around the small forest, trembling and torn inside. A tear rolled down my cheek, and my soul writhed in pain.
I woke up from my sleep with a soft cry. Bathed in sweat, as wet as if I had also been standing in the English rain of the fifth century. My breathing was intermittent, my body ached, and my eyes darted around the darkened room so restlessly that I didn't realize where I was.
Seeking help, I grabbed the amulet that had just been placed on me in my dream. I was relieved to see that it was still there. Warm and reassuring, it lay in my closed fist. The confusion subsided, and I had to close my eyes to collect myself.
What had happened? Why did my body and my heart hurt?
Aspasia's face appeared in my mind's eye. Then, the museum ship, the many captive women, and our escape to the pier, where we were already expected. My pulse quickened. The fight and then ... then Jack attacking me and ...
No! I wasn't allowed to think any further, but by then, it was already too late, and my memories couldn't be stopped. Alex! Alex!
It was my fault. It was only because of me that he was dead, because of me that we had failed, that we had lost everything!
Alex! Hot tears filled my face, which seemed to glow like the fire burning inside me. The fire of despair.
Cold hands cupped my chin. "Shh, Myrina, everything is fine," Aza whispered lovingly, pulling me into her arms. In this sense of security, I gave in to the unrestrained sobs that threatened to consume my body.
She gently rocked me back and forth until my senses fled back into the darkness of the dream world.
"She's been in this state for a week now. Do something about it, Aza!" a dark voice growled in the mists of my sleep. "I can't reach her. She closes herself off from me completely. We'll lose her if you don't find a way to bring her back from her darkness."
