Free Avalon Rising by Kathryn Rose

the Lake and Merlin stare at one another with such authority in their stances, with power in their voices, but Merlin is a thief of magic once again, and perhaps by default, he’s a liar as well. But to me? When I was a child, it was Merlin, and Merlin alone, who found amusement in the aeroship I forged from pieces of his hookah. It was Merlin who saw in me the potential to be a student of his, and then an apprentice. Even when he stole magic to conceal Marcus and me from Morgan, even when he stole more to get us out of the woods all together, he wouldn’t lie. Not my teacher, no matter how much of a scoundrel he is, no matter what Azur said about alchemy being the darkest path to magic. He wouldn’t lie. Not to me.
    But now he growls at the Lady of the Lake, like she’s no better a foe than Morgan was. “We both know it has to be Vivienne. Don’t deny it; don’t you dare deny it again after what happened last time.” His transparent fingers tighten around her wrist, holding her still as he flickers between spirit and corporal form.
    Last time? I don’t understand why a demigoddess and a sorcerer would ever fight about me.
    She narrows her eyes on his ghostly features. “That is not for certain, thief .” Her lip curls on the insult. “The most direct route is the safest for the bearer of Avalon’s coordinates; to gallop to each corner of the known world might mean those coordinates are lost to another. We know this. No matter how long it takes for the rogues to be defeated, no matter what might happen in the meantime, Vivienne cannot leave Camelot, and I stretched fate enough by allowing her to be the one to construct the aeroship. She must wait until the rogues have been put into their place, the Black Knight, slain. The Fisher King it not a necessary cog in this plan.”
    I won’t let them talk about me like I’m not standing here, three feet away. “But people I love are missing, and I have the means to find them. You must understand how important it is that I go! I cannot risk wasting time going after a thief of magic who—”
    “You want to find your beloved and your brother,” Merlin interrupts, “and after that, you want to help Jerusalem defeat the Spanish rogues. To do so, you’ll need the Grail. If you need the Grail, you’ll first need the Fisher King.”
    I feel my resolve falter as his words fly at me. “That’ll take time, and the longer I’m outside of Camelot—”
    “Yes, it will take time, and it’ll be quite dangerous.” Merlin rolls his head on his neck. His eyes flash gold and white and then return to the blue ones I knew. The fiery anger he bore abandons him for curiosity. “The Lady of the Lake knows what sort of evils lie outside of this castle, Vivienne. As do I. Are you ready to see the harshness of the world, a girl such as yourself?” If he weren’t an emotionless thief of magic, I’d have wondered if he were actually a bit worried.
    But I’ve had people worrying about me long enough. “I’m not a child.”
    With a toss of the Lady of the Lake’s wrist, he storms toward me, and when he’s no more than a foot away, the coolness of his spirit surrounds me in a way that’s awesome and frightening. “But you are a child. You’re a girl who found my work interesting, curious, and now you seek something greater. I told you what the Grail’s powers contained. Tell the truth, girl. Are you ready to see what sort of magic you’ll be up against?”
    My eyes well at his harsh tone, but I lift my chin high. I know this is a test. Gawain said those on the Grail quest would be tested. Why should I be any different? “Yes.”
    Merlin cocks an eyebrow, and a smile skirts to the side of his face. “So be it.”
    The Lady of the Lake’s face darkens with fury. “She cannot leave, wizard, or all will be for naught! If you send her away, you’ll have my wrath to face! I will find her!”
    Merlin seizes my cloak and pulls me close so he can whisper in my ear. “Get to the