“So, go!” she snapped. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to . . . Look, I can crash here, stay with Pa for the night. You can pick me up on your way in the morning.”
“Tessy,” Pa said, getting to his feet a little stiffly, then firmly but gently taking the book from her hands and putting it in the pile. “C’mon girl, you have to get some sleep.”
“But . . .” she looked around the room with bleary eyes, “this is the first time I’ve really felt her . . . since she died. It smells like her, her herbs are still hanging from the drying rack, her journal is open. Everything is the same. It’s like she’s here, like she’ll come in that door at any moment. . . .”
“And tell you to go to bed? Because that’s what she would say. You can come back at any time.”
“Don’t you need us?” she asked as Pa enveloped her in his arms. “You looked so sad . . .”
“Every day and you need your rest. Come back soon, and not just to look through your Nan’s journals.”
“Of course! I’m sorry. . . .”
“No need. Come on downstairs. My bed is calling me, too.” When we got to the front door, Pa took the keys from me and tossed them to Tess. “Just got to talk to your sister for a moment. Won’t be a tic.” When she’d gone, he turned to me, brown eyes turning serious, “Your sister, she wants to go through that portal doesn’t she?”
“Of course, she does, it’s been her life mission since childhood.”
“Be careful. Your Nan never said anything bad came through that portal, except for some snippy customers, but. . . .”
“I know, we had to talk her down in the shop. I’ll keep an eye on her, I always do.”
“My responsible girl. C’mon, give your granddad a hug goodbye.” His arms went around me and I felt the familiar heavy warmth that took me back to being a small child. I hugged him hard, feeling the faint tremor in his arms, realising that he couldn’t crack my ribs anymore. We needed to come by more, and not just for the books. He let me go and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and then I was heading out in the cold to get back into the car.
7
The next morning I woke up with a start. Excalibur! I’d lent Tess my DVD last night before dropping her home, but considering how late it was, she might not have seen it. I looked around my bedroom and saw I was alone. I listened and heard nothing other than the faint hum of traffic and birds chirping outside my window. I got up and wrapped my robe tightly, just in case.
I ended up being correct. I enjoyed a company-free shower and breakfast so leisurely that Tess rung me to find out where I was.
“Did you pass out before watching the movie?” I asked.
“What? No, I didn’t watch the whole thing. It’s over two bloody hours, but I did get at least half an hour in. Plenty of Merlin in it, though can I say, really hoping he doesn’t turn up with the metallic skullcap thing. Actually, you should know whether he has or not. Isn’t he there?”
“Nope, no one this morning, hence why I’m late. It was lovely to wake up alone in my own apartment. Look, I’m just pulling on my jacket now, I’ll see you in a few, OK?”
I locked up and ran down the stairs towards the foyer and then stopped mid-flight. There, looking quite bemused, was a young man with tousled blond hair, a massive black, Night Watch-style cloak and some kind of leather armour on. Great, I thought. “Let me guess,” I said, looking at the very large sword at his side, “‘winter is coming’?”
“I’m sorry?” the man just looked even more confused. “Madam, I’m not sure if you can help me, but my name is Arthur–”
“Pendragon.”
A surprised smile splashed across his face, “Why yes, I wasn’t aware my reputation preceded me. My apologies for accosting you in this . . . building, but I am not sure where I am. The signs are not familiar to me and the conveyances you have to travel in are incredibly fast. Some sounded their horns when I tried to wave one down, but they did not stop.”
“It’s alright, Your Majesty. Come with me, I’ll take you in my . . . conveyance to somewhere where you can get help.”
“My thanks to you, my lady.”
“That’s not Merlin,” Tess said when we picked her up outside her place. Her eyes were wide as she slipped into the back seat. “That’s–” she hissed when she looked into the back of the car.
“My sword, Excalibur, given to me by the–” Arthur said.
“Lady in the Lake,” Tess said.
I snuck a look at Arthur who looked almost affronted. “Forgive me for mentioning this, but are you ladies some form of sorcerers? We have just met and yet, you know so much about my existence.”
“Not sorcerers, we’ve just heard stories about you, Your Majesty.”
We pulled up to the shop, running late, but I assumed either Jez would have opened up, or there would be no customers waiting for us, so why worry? It was as I parked the car I saw Gabe and his many big muscly friends, standing in front of several trucks, looking pissed. “Oh shit . . .”