AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Who are these Pure Ones?” Arthur asked. “Are they magical creatures like the rest of you? Like Lancelot?”
“That’s a really long story,” Annie said. “The simple answer is that they are immortals with supernatural Gifts. You could call it magic, I suppose. Every Gift is unique.”
She patted around the steel box to no avail. She had no clue how to get the thing moving to take them to the right floor.
Suddenly, the elevator rose smoothly on its own, gaining speed as it went.
Arthur staggered back a bit against the wall, clearly unused to the rapid ascent.
When they finally stopped, the double doors opened automatically, and a half dozen guards met them at the entrance to the Shield.
Amongst them was Dalair, the Pure Ones’ Paladin and Queen Sophia’s Mate, as well as Adam, the leader of the Chevaliers, human warriors who knew about the immortals, that resided within the Shield.
“Annabelle Mae,” Dalair greeted cordially, “a pleasant surprise.”
Annie grimaced, then quickly covered it with a winning smile.
“Please call me Annie. Only my mom calls me by my full name, and only when I’ve done something worth chastising, even at this age.”
She and Dalair stepped forth at the same time and shook hands. Next, she clasped hands with Adam as well. He was one of the people she knew of but never really met.
“What brings you and your friends to the Shield?” Dalair inquired, his keen eyes taking in her group.
“They came for me!”
All of a sudden, a big blond man bounded forth like the giant human version of a golden retriever and plucked Arthur right off his feet, squeezing him into a back-breaking hug.
They all stood back and watched the two men practically pound each other into the ground with enthusiastic back slaps and jolting hugs.
“By the Pure Goddess, Arthur!” the man who must be Tristan exclaimed, still shaking Arthur by the shoulders as if he couldn’t believe he was real.
“I thought I’d never see you again! It’s been…fifteen hundred years! How is it possible that you’re here?”
Tristan looked to Wolfe next.
“You! Why do you look so familiar?”
Annie could see the exact moment when Tristan’s suppressed memories resurfaced, now that he was no longer bound by them.
“Wolfe! How could I have forgotten…”
Another round of back slapping and man-hugging went on, followed by more formal introductions, though Tristan’s boy-like exuberance made it anything but.
Annie smiled as she watched.
The Pure Ones were a subdued, stoic bunch as a rule. But Tristan broke the mold. He wore his joy and optimism for everyone to see. He was an extremely likable man.
Quickly thereafter, they were ushered into a large conference room to await the Pure Queen Sophia. She arrived shortly, accompanied by a few other Pure Ones Annie was familiar with—Aella, Cloud and Ayelet, Tristan’s Mate.
After everyone settled into their seats and all introductions were made, it was Arthur who tersely explained what led them here.
“We believe Lancelot has been taken to the Celestial Realm, ruled by a being called the Jade Emperor. It is vast and unknowable, without boundaries. If we have a chance of finding him, Excalibur might be the key.”
“I have it,” Tristan said immediately. “You can count on me, because I’m coming too. Not asking.”
Arthur nodded, as did Sophia, even though Tristan wasn’t asking.
“Cloud has informed me about this Jade Emperor over the years,” Sophia said, sharing a look with the Elite warrior.
