Sword of the Rightful King by Jane Yolen Read Free Book Online Page B

friend, when you insist on talking to trees. That’s a Druids trick, not a Christian’s. And once a Druid, always a Druid, as Kay says.”
    â€œYour stepbrother, Kay, is a fool. And once a fool, always a fool,” muttered Merlinnus. “Even if he
can
read the
Book of the Law
.”
    Arthur stood and put his arm over the mage’s shoulder, speaking quietly but with passion into the mage’s right ear. Merlinnus blessed him silently for such compassion. His left ear was growing quite deaf.
    â€œKay is sometimes a fool, indeed. No one knows that better than I. But even fools have eyes and ears. And—alas—tongues that wag at both ends. Do not dismiss Kay too readily, Merlinnus. He could do us both great wrong if he feels his honor slighted. He can do us much good if he believes himself valued. With the outermost tribes already spoiling for a fight, we need to be happy in our own household at least.”
    â€œYour Latin may be awful, but you read people the way I read dreams,” Merlinnus said.
    â€œNever so well, old man. But I thank you for the compliment.” Arthur straightened up and looked at the mage, considering. “Now go away, Merlinnus, and do not trouble me again with this sword and stone dream. I have more important business.
Real
business; not business of the imagination.”
    â€œPah!” Merlinnus spit out his reply. “Imagination is the only real business of a king.”
    Arthur threw his head back and roared with laughter. “So you say until I show some. And then you will tell me, ‘Listening is the only real business...’ or ‘Compassion is the only real business...’ or something else you have just thought up.”
    Merlinnus tried to think of a withering and indignant reply but could not, for this time Arthur had caught him out. They walked down the steps from the throne together.
    â€œOh, and tell the guard at the door to send in the next petitioner,” Arthur said. “
And
my counselors.” He turned back, climbing heavily up the two stairs as if he were himself the old man, though he was scarce twenty-two years old. Sitting down on the throne, he added almost as an afterthought, “Have them send in Kay, too.”
    â€œOnce I was all the counselor you needed,” said Merlinnus before slipping out through the door and, as usual, having the last word.

8
May Queen
    K AY PUSHED PAST the guards and into the throne room.

    â€œThat old humbug is up to something again!” he shouted. Kay was always too loud. The brachet stood up and, stiff-legged, made her way to the door, where a guard let her out.
    Kay was still speaking. “Isn’t he? Isn’t he?” He came right up to the steps of the throne but stopped there, his respect for majesty overcoming his eagerness to learn what Merlinnus had been saying.
    Arthur sighed. A real sigh this time, not a cover for a yawn. His stepbrother often affected him that way. He loved Kay and was exasperated with him in equal measure. “Merlinnus had a dream, that is all.” He was careful not to mention anything about spies.
    Kay mulled that over for a moment, his hand toying with the silver brooch on his tunic before asking, “A dream about the assassins? We need to think about them, Arthur. We need to plan.”
    Arthur shook his head. “Not the assassins.”
    â€œA new dream or an old one?” Kay asked.
    â€œOne he says he dreamed three times in a row,” said Arthur.
    â€œThen its true.
Its true
. You know its true. Or will become true soon enough. Anything dreamed three times in a row is...” His voice echoed loudly in the room.
    â€œ... is not necessarily true,” Arthur said.
    â€œBut everyone knows—” Kay abruptly stopped talking. He knew what Arthur’s response would be. The same thing that Merlinnus had tried to drum into both of their heads when they were boys.
    â€œNot necessarily true in every