Free Children of the Knight by Michael J. Bowler Page B

out of reach under the police car as the rookie’s hand gushed copious torrents of blood.
    As Mel raised his own firearm, Arthur unsheathed Excalibur and swung it down hard so that the flat of the blade struck Mel with an audible crunch on the forearm, sending his gun clattering out of reach. Mel gripped his injured arm and grimaced with pain.
    “Shit, I think you broke my arm!”
    Arthur sheathed Excalibur and fixed his potent brown eyes upon the two injured officers of the law. “Let this be a warning to all who doth abuse justice—corruption hath a new enemy, and his name be Arthur Pendragon.”
    The far distant sound of approaching sirens cut through the night, and Mark leapt forward to Arthur’s side. “There’s more coming, Arthur. We gotta bounce, now!”
    Arthur grabbed Llamrei’s reins. “Godspeed, lads. We’re away!” He spurred the horse into a fast trot down a side street as the boys hurriedly ran after him. The two officers watched them escape with a mixture of anger and wonder.
    “What the hell was all that?” Mel asked his partner, but the rookie just shrugged and fought to staunch his bleeding hand.
    The pedestrians with their cell phones ceased filming and jumped into the air with glee, high-fiving one another.
     

     
    A LLthe children slept soundly within the dank underbelly of the city. Chris lay curled in a ball, wrapped tightly in his blanket in a quiet corner. The only one awake was Lance. He paced nervously back and forth like a caged tiger, flipping his skateboard from hand to hand. Drawn to the commotion of voices, his gaze spun quickly in that direction. Excited, animated voices heading toward him from one of the tunnels. He also heard the echoing clop, clop of Llamrei. Relief flooded his heart and soul. At last!
    He stood still, facing the tunnel from which emanated the voices and chatter. Then Arthur appeared, sitting astride Llamrei and looking rock solid and secure. Lance let out the breath he’d been holding. He’d let his imagination run away again, had considered all manner of accidents that could have befallen his—
    No! Don’t think like that. He’s not.
    He’s my king , that’s all . Lance finished his thought before the distraction of the new boys caught his attention.
    “Uh, what happened out there, Arthur?” He eyed the tight clothes of Mark and Jack and the other newbies, and a chill ran through his body. “Everything all right?” he asked, trying for strength and confidence but knowing he sounded weak and surprised.
    Some of the sleeping boys in the nearest tunnel awoke from the commotion and gaped sleepily at the newcomers.
    Mark lurched forward and blurted, “It was great, man! Arthur took out these two cops with that big-ass sword a his!”
    He waved his skinny arms in imitation of Arthur’s movements, momentarily distracting Lance at the sight of the needle tracks.
    Lance pulled his attention back to Arthur. “You killed ’em?”
    Arthur shook his head and dismounted, deftly removing his chest plate and handing it to one of the boys who’d set out with him, then gazed at Lance with surprise. “Nay, Lance, thou dost know better.”
    Lance looked away, feeling small and stupid. He did know better. Arthur’d never kill anyone, not less he really had to.
    Now Jack stepped up beside Mark and gushed, “The cop shot ’im, and the bullet bounced off, just like a fuckin’ superhero! It was awesome, wasn’t it, Mark?” He threw his muscular arm around Mark and hugged him, and the shaggy blond nodded. Lance’s eyes went wide with horror, and a chill traveled up his back into his throat. Jack turned back to Arthur. “How much does that sword weigh, anyways?”
    Arthur placed one gauntleted hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Enough, Jack. Thou shalt all have time to learn of our ways. Lavern, attend please.”
    The small wiry black boy, bleary eyed from sleep, quickly shook himself awake and stepped forward to stand before Arthur. He’d decided living with