King Arthur and Her Knights: Enthroned #1, Enchanted #2, Embittered #3 by K.M. Shea Read Free Book Online Page B

because, as I have previously mentioned, they’re already in love with you. Now, the moment is here. Come, it’s your chance to pull the sword from the stone,” Merlin said, stepping into the cemetery.
    “But shouldn’t we—?” Britt trailed off and pointed over her shoulder where all the knights (excluding Sir Kay) were still arguing.
    “Nay. They’ll merely get in our way. Come along, Arthur,” Merlin said, pushing his way through the crowded cemetery.
    Britt reluctantly followed, lingering at Merlin’s elbow when he reached the sword in the stone, cutting in line. “Archbishop,” Merlin boomed. “Today marks the fourth trial, the fourth day men have come from near and far to pull the sword from the stone. For the three trials before this Arthur has been the only one to pull and sheathe the sword in the stone. Do we let him try again today?”
    The peasants who were swarming in the streets, barely able to see the trial taking place in the cemetery but waiting none the less, clamored over each other.
    “Yes, let Arthur try!”
    “Give him a chance!”
    “Arthur!”
    “Let Arthur pull the sword!”
    The Archbishop stood up—his chair had wisely been brought out of St. Paul’s Cathedral for the day—and held up his hands, quieting the commoners. “Please, Arthur, do try,” the Archbishop kindly said.
    Britt exhaled as Merlin edged aside, clearing her way to the sword. The feeling of power and magic still oozed off the sword, but it no longer impressed Britt as it once had. She had been forced to watch too many trials and act like a performing monkey to be intimidated anymore.
    Britt unceremoniously reached out and wrapped her hand around the sword’s hilt before pulling it. The familiar sound of the sword sliding free was thunderous in the sudden quiet of the cemetery. Britt swung the sword once and held it above her head.
    The people in the streets roared . They sounded angry, and their faces twisted as they shouted at the top of their lungs. Their words were indecipherable, and for a few moments Britt was afraid they would storm the cemetery to rip her to pieces. Then those near the front of the crowd were finally heard.
    “Hail, King Arthur!”
    “The true son of Uther Pendragon!”
    “Long live King Arthur!”
    “The rightful King of Britain!”
    Britt took a step back, her eyes wide as she stared at the crowd that stomped and roared for her.
    Knights and barons began to join the vocal display of loyalty, some more easily than others. Surprisingly, even a number of the kings began to kneel. King Leodegrance was among the first of men to bow, sweeping his long tunic to the side so he could kneel before Britt.
    King Lot and his buddies, however, glowered at Britt from the back of the cemetery.
    Britt smirked at him and flexed her shoulders.
    “What are you planning?” Merlin said—barely audible even though he spoke directly into her ear.
    “Not much. I think it’s high time I indulge myself a bit,” Britt said.
    “What? What are you—,” Merlin broke off and lurched backwards when Britt again heaved the sword into the air, holding it above her head.
    She completed a fancy twirl before stabbing the sword at the stone. It was a gutsy move, if the sword didn’t slide easily in Britt would very likely ruin the sword and break something in her hand. But the sword slid cleanly in. Britt released the hit with her right hand and placed her left hand beneath the guard. She pushed up, popping the sword out of the stone, and balanced it for a second before fixing her grip on the hilt and performing a forward and then backwards twirl.
    The little performance made the peasants cheer even louder—Britt could feel the ground beneath her feet hum—and Merlin turned white.
    “What?” Britt asked, observing with great pleasure as King Lot turned red with fury.
    “Good God, I never thought to ask if you could handle a sword,” Merlin uttered.
    “I can,” Britt assured him. Obviously he didn’t