Like this.”
He raised the chestnut like a magician about to do a magic trick and popped it in his mouth. The woody edges chafed against his cheeks, but the nut slid open and a warm bubble of air floated out and pressed against his throat. He closed his eyes and someone else’s words and voice came out of him in a low, hushed tone.
“Dear Merlin, I’ve tried to send this message several times, but even Mistress Gremlaine’s squirrel can’t find you and hers is the best in Foxwood. I’m aware King Rhian, my once-student, has you in captivity as a traitor for supporting Tedros’ claim to the throne. And though I hate to admit it, Merlin, I believe Rhian’s actions justified. I didn’t know he was Arthur’s heir, but I was his Dean for years and I know his soul. You might think him Evil for all that has transpired, but that is because you and your ward, Tedros, believe you are on the side of Good. Yet Excalibur chose Rhian and Excalibur does not lie. It knows, as I do, that Rhian will make a great king. Just look at how he’s handled the behavior of his own brother. That alone proves the Goodness of Rhian’s soul.
As for Rhian’s files, I know you sent a snoop spell to my office to find them. My students’ files are secret, as you know, since you were the one who helped me brew the teas that kept their souls invisible from the School Master. (I still make them drink the tea, even with him dead; you can never be too careful.) But regardless of our friendship, you have no right to snoop in my office, which you well know, otherwise you wouldn’t have resorted to criminal means. The reason you didn’t find Rhian’s files, however, is because I keep them with his brother’s, which I’ve now moved to a secure location, untouchable by your magic.
I do wish you the best, Merlin, whatever your condition, but the sooner you align with the king and swear your loyalty to him, the sooner you will be on the side of Good. True Good.
Best wishes . . . Brunhilde.”
The nut went spongy in Hort’s mouth and dissolved down his throat, sweet and earthy.
He opened his eyes.
“His files aren’t here, then,” said Nicola, panicked. “She moved them. Somewhere we won’t find them.” She grabbed Hort’s wrist. “We have to leave before she comes back!”
“Wait,” said Hort, kneeling down to the files on the floor. He picked up the one labeled: KEI. “Just because Rhian’s files aren’t here, doesn’t mean we can’t find something in one of his friends’.”
He pulled open the leather folder as Nicola dropped next to him. Hort read the first page of notes.
Father: Footman for King Dutra
Mother: Kei is disturbed; cold, emotionless, no love towards sisters
Father thinks it’s a phase: says Kei loves Camelot & King Arthur; wants to be a Camelot guard
Agree on 1-year trial in Arbed House
Hort flipped to the next page.
Rhian & Kei: constant Camelot role-play (Kei believes R’s delusions that he’s king); Others, incl. RJ, bully Kei for believing R
Separate Kei & R?
Hort moved to the next page.
Kei: chosen for Ever Guard Trials
Then—
Kei & R no longer speaking
The rest of Kei’s file tracked his performance in the Trials, leading up to his selection by Camelot as a guard at the royal castle.
Hort bit his lip. So Rhian had known that he was Camelot’s king when he was at school. Only no one at school believed him, except Kei. So why had Kei and Rhian become estranged? Had Kei stopped believing Rhian? Only to later return to Rhian’s side? That would explain Rhian’s comment to his captain at the castle, when Kei failed to catch Agatha: “But if you’re going to be the weak link, especially after I took you back . . .”
Was that also why Dean Brunhilde believed Rhian’s soul was Good? Because she’d ignored his “delusions,” only to be proven wrong?
Maybe that’s why Rhian was sent to Arbed House in the first place. Because he insisted to his parents that he was King Arthur’s heir . . . Because they thought him delusional, like the Dean did . . . But then where was Japeth in all this?
“Hort,” Nicola said.
He turned and saw her holding a file labeled: ARIC.
The first page had more notes.
Found starving & alone in Woods (age: 8? 9?)
Raised by Mahut family (Aric attacked their daughter; murdered pets; burned down house)
Brought to Arbed House for