Kingdom Soul Read online

  Pleased, I scanned the bar for Lynn. She darted in from the kitchen, slinging ale across the table so quickly the other bartends stood back, so as not to get in the way. Of course, she’s fine, I breathed. She probably didn’t have time to bake, that’s all. Relieved, I turned back to the exit. It didn’t seem like I’d have much time to check in today, but I could always return tomorrow. For now, getting as far away from anyone who could recognize me was the top priority.

  “Hey, I know you,” a man said from behind me. My stomach tightened. I turned to see he was slightly familiar—a regular at the tavern. Handsome, with a sandy brown beard that was sprinkled with gray. He swayed before he stood and slunk towards me. His voice carried, drawing the attention of several soldiers. “I heard a rumor…” He swayed forward, the ale on his breath stinging my nose. “I heard that husband of yours likes the company of other men.” I turned back towards the door and started pushing my way to it. His wide arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me to his body. He lowered his mouth to my ear and slurred, “Let me show you what a real man can do.”

  I sighed. If I attacked him, I’d draw too much attention, and if I drew blood, I could be arrested and dragged to one of Arthur’s camps.

  I twisted his wrist and felt his knees buckle from the pain. I leaned in close to his ear. “If you ever touch me again, I’ll kill you.” I released his wrist and saw him rub it as I pushed the door open and headed back into the night.

  I walked home slower than usual and had to admit to myself that I was shaken. Not by the drunk idiot, of course, but by the rumor. It was happening again. Just when we’d finally settled in.

  After Besmium fell, I’d taken odd jobs and relied on the charity of some citizens who were still loyal to my father to get through the first winter. Morgana and I moved a lot in those days, as not to burden any one person too much. That’s when the notices went out that Arthur was taking prisoners and putting bounties on members of the council or any dethroned royalty. There wasn’t anyone I could trust, and the people who’d been helping me could be punished if it was ever discovered. I decided to take Morgana and head for a new town farther away from where Hiems or Cadere once stood.

  Minutes after we arrived, I saw Gabriel bloodied and on the ground as a group of thugs beat him. Their words as they struck him reflected that of tonight’s rumor; Fairy, priss, they’d said. Instinctively, I stepped in without a plan and an infant in my arms. What could I do? I could no longer use my name and former title to aid him. They’d probably drag me in for the bounty if I did. Instead, I introduced myself as Gabriel’s wife, and after some convincing, they let him go.

  To this day, I’ve wondered what exactly it was that thrust me into action, but if I had to guess, I’d say it was this light he had inside. This joy that couldn’t be extinguished. Even as they wounded him, he smiled. It’s the kind of light that people who live in darkness seek to destroy and, though I sought to protect him, he became the haven who rescued me.

  As we grew more familiar and decided on an arrangement where we would live the lie that brought us together, I never was able to ask him if any of it was true; it didn’t matter. From that day forward, he’d been a teammate and father figure to Morgana. I’d always assumed he might talk to me about it when he was ready, but he was eager to hide his past—and so was I. I realized through our unspoken understanding that we had already given up on a happy life, but together we could make a peaceful one. I thought it would go on like that forever, but after a year, the rumors about Gabriel started up again. We’d discussed it and decided to move to another town for our safety. We packed as much as we could and planned on leaving in the morning. That night, two seemingly unrelated tragedies occurred: Morgana’s bedroom caught fire, and we came face to face with the man tasked with my capture—Lancelot of Camelot.

  7

  Lancelot

  My nose prickled with the overwhelming scent of lavender. The unearthly fog swirled around me in a purple cyclone. I listened intently for footsteps, relying on the one sense she hadn’t hindered. A shadow moved through the fog, but I knew better than to attack the first time she showed herself—she’d gotten me with that one the week before. Impatient, I gripped the hilt of my sword.

  “Merlin,” I called into the darkness, “when am I going to be in a situation where I’m surrounded by violet mist?”

  I spun in time to block her kick from connecting with my face. I stumbled back, tripping over a stump that sprouted from nowhere, sending me crashing to the ground. The newly forming tree snaked its vines tightly around my wrists and locked me in place. The mist dispelled and Merlin stood over me, sword pointed at my throat. Her rich umber skin was beaded with sweat, her bold lips continually drawing my eyes against my will.

  “And this is why Arthur won’t knight you.”

  I seethed, ripping the vines out of the ground and tearing them from my wrist. “We can’t all be the king’s favorite. Besides, it was your stupid vision that got me assigned to this quest in the first place. If not for you, I would have made knight years ago.”

  She lowered her sword, pushing her mint-green braids over her shoulder to her back. “If you hadn’t let Charlotte get away two years ago, you’d be a knight.”

  I stood, rubbing my sore wrists. “You say that like you weren’t the reason she got away.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I told you there was a baby close by.”

  “I don’t care! Kill it.” I pushed past her, ignoring the disgusted glare she shot me. I marched towards the forest edge and headed for the inn.

  “So, I guess we’re done training for the day?” I heard her call.

  I huffed. How dare that insolent witch insult a future knight of Camelot.

  I rummaged through my trunk, pulled out a piece of parchment, and headed to my desk where my ink was kept. Knighthood wasn’t any closer than it had been years ago, and I was growing restless. I needed them to respect me—all of them.

  I took a deep breath, sighed out my frustration, and pulled the image of my beloved into my mind.

  Dear Gwen,

  Not a day goes by that I don’t miss your bright smile. I promised you that I’d complete this quest and be knighted, but neither of us could have predicted it would take so many moons to complete. But worry not, my love for you is as true as the day I bid you farewell when you cried in my arms. Once I’m knighted, I’ll have the means and the title to marry you at last and we can finally be together, and I promise on that day, I’ll never leave you again. I’ve not received any of your letters as of late, but with Merlin and my location changing so frequently, it’s not surprising they've not found their way to me yet. Even without them, I can feel your love.

  Also, please keep an eye on Arthur, will you? Make sure he doesn’t get himself in any real trouble. Apart from you, he’s the closest thing I have to family. And please congratulate him on his new alliance with Algony.

  With love,

  Lancelot

  I sat back, resting the quill in the ink pool. I read the note over. A knock on my door startled me. “Come in,” I yelled, my voice cracking. I quickly folded the letter. Merlin walked in, her dark brown skin still shining with sweat. Her green braids were loose and danced around her body, bucking off her lower back as she took a seat on my bed. “Look, I’m sorry about earlier. I shouldn’t have said that. I was just trying to motivate you.”

  I turned towards the window.

  She walked over, putting her hand on mine. She lowered her voice. “Of course Arthur will knight you. Don’t worry, we’re going to capture her. I’m here to help,” she said. I met her gaze, her facial features softening her eyes beaming with the light of a woman in love. I knew because that’s how Gwen looked at me.

  I pulled my hand away, and her gaze moved to the letter.

  She turned away. “Oh, is that for Gwen?” She faked a smile. “Bet she misses you.” Her smile was bright, but the light in her eyes was gone. Merlin was the only known magic wielder in Camelot, and
Arthur was obsessed with finding more for his army. Because of this, Arthur allotted her more freedoms than most, and I wondered how Charlotte still managed to evade. I grew ever more suspicious that Merlin was somehow hindering progress for her own purposes, and she’d noticed the tension.

  Even so, I had to admit Merlin was beautiful. Enough to draw the attention of everyone she passed and garner us a bit of a reputation. Soldiers in Arthur’s army were many and nameless—kingdomless even—but everyone knew Arthur’s knights, and it was nice to hear my name among them, even if it was only mentioned as Merlin’s partner.

  I’d been tied to her for so long. I remember how envious I’d once been of her abilities. It took almost two years to realize just how much of a burden they placed on her and how much in the way of family and companions she’d lost as a result. But even if my heart didn’t belong to someone, I couldn’t surrender it to Merlin. That’s what it would be, a surrender. I couldn’t bear the thought of a life where I followed her lead and trailed behind her. My growing indifference about her powers had brought us together. Our differing genders pushed us apart because, even with Merlin’s beauty and talent, there would never be any other woman for me but Gwenevere, and Merlin knew that. Still, every once in a while, I saw hope in her eyes, and most of the time I didn’t stop it. I needed her to help me find and capture Charlotte, and nothing was going to get in my way.

  8

  Minseo

  The carriage jostled as it moved along the stone-speckled path. The horses jerked the cabin with each step, and my lower back cramped from sitting for so long. I didn’t care, though; I was glad to be off the dreaded sea. I hadn’t recalled this journey taking so long when I traveled to Besmium with Young. I eyed Junho warily as he slept as soundly as a man in his own bed. I don’t think Young ever slept soundly after my father told him he would marry Charlotte. Beside Junho sat Hanbit, a quill and leatherbound book of parchment clasped between his slender fingers. While I was certain his intel would help us locate Charlotte, his character made me doubt if having him along was worth the torment. He had this odd habit of whistling when he was uncomfortable, as if a tune would drown out the ramblings in his head. We’d asked him to stop dozens of times, but every time he’d lose focus, he’d begin again. The man couldn’t help it. After the first few days, we learned to tune it out, but every now and then, my mind would tune into the high-pitched melody and disrupt my peace. Once given my father’s permission, Jay Hyun had also agreed to accompany us on our journey, but he marched along the other soldiers outside the cabin.

  My guilt lay just beneath my skin as I recalled my father’s expression when he asked me not to go to Camelot. I’d hurt him. In his eyes, I could see he was certain that I too would be killed on the unholy land that now belonged to Arthur, but I had no choice. The moment I found out Charlotte was alive, I’d made up my mind to go. No one, not even the King of Vires, could stop me.

  When my father was certain he couldn’t persuade me to stay, he made me promise I’d bring Charlotte and her child back to Vires where we could protect them. I tried to imagine a Vires with Charlotte in it but couldn’t. Apart from Junho, Hanbit, and Jay Hyun, my father sent ten Viran soldiers to accompany us on this quest. It was enough to make sure we were well protected without seeming like an act of war against Camelot. With a multitude of lengthy travel days under our feet, we were all a little irritable and in need of rest.

  The carriage bumped up onto a smoother surface, a more level road. I knew we must’ve been close to a big town. Finally.

  I pulled back the curtain and a white beam of light poured in, waking Junho. He scowled unpleasantly. I peered outside, pleased by the stone-built structures and angular rooftops which were a stark contrast to Vires. Even the people who roamed about seemed to be of every complexion and creed, no doubt an advantage of Arthur’s takeovers. The last time I was in Besmium, I spent my time in the king’s castles or as a prisoner of Arthur’s Drethen army in the woods. This was the first time I’d spent any real time in a city outside of Vires.

  We approached a wooden sign that read: Welcome to Galvon. I’d never heard of it. It wasn’t one of Camelot’s famous cities like Bullhorn, or Rowendale, but from the small window from which I observed, it was huge.

  The architecture was simplistic. In Vires, we considered the designs and spent many years constructing palaces and temples that would last. Structures our kingdom could be proud of, that travelers came to admire. There was nothing of that scale in Galvon, but the sheer quantity of structures built in such close proximity gave the city spirit that tempted me to leap from the carriage and explore. The farther in we went, the tighter the streets between the buildings were, and I wondered what might happen if we came to an impasse with another carriage.

  Our carriage stopped. “Excuse me, madam,” I heard a Jay Hyun say. “You’re blocking our path.”

  It was all the reason I needed. “I’m not missing this,” I said, pushing the door open and stepping out into the stale sunlight.

  “Forgive me,” a woman replied. “Are you from Vires?”

  I hurried past the horses to see her. There, in the center of the road, was the most unearthly figure I’d ever laid eyes on. She was tall, almost my height, with toned muscles and a powerful stance. Her cool black skin shone in the sun like she admitted light, and long, sea-foam green braids flowed from the top of her head and past her waist. Each tiny movement sent a wave of green locks dancing around her like the ocean’s constant clash against the shore. She wore armor, but based on the scarcity of it, I’d say it was for style and not protection, a trend that had reached Vires as well. She had many rings on her fingers beneath each joint, and more around her wrists and arms. As I drank her in, my gaze settled on her lovely top-heavy lips. My first instinct was to kneel. Who is she? A goddess perhaps? Jay Hyun hadn’t answered her, and I assumed he was struck with similar thoughts.

  I stepped forward, mustering my voice to sound strong. “Yes, I am Prince Minseo of Vires.”

  Her gaze shifted to me, making me feel small and weak. Her eyes lit up. “A prince of Vires,” she said, stepping forward. My guards drew their swords. She stopped, eyeing them suspiciously. “And what business do you have in Camelot, Minseo of Vires?”

  “Merely traveling to admire the great kingdom of Camelot.”

  She put a hand on her hips, weakening my nerve. “There are a lot of guards here for a mere vacation.”

  “Yes,” I said, trying to blink out her obvious beauty. “I lost my brother to this land.”

  She tilted her head, observing me, her dark eyes moving down my body and back up to my face.

  “May we pass?” I pushed.

  She didn’t move; my presence bothered her in some way. Would we have to fight her?

  “Merlin,” a man called. I squinted into the light to see a heavily armored man approaching. Even with armor, I could see he had powerful shoulders. As he neared, I saw the hazel-green eyes that were as clear as the evening. His square jaw made him look older from far away, but when he stood next to the goddess, I could see a touch of childhood still holding his features. He might have been striking, though not conspicuously handsome, if not for the woman beside him.

  At most, he was in his late teens, and it seemed they were traveling alone, which eased me a little. If this came to a fight, we could easily overcome them with our numbers.

  “What is this?” the boy asked, his gaze bouncing between Merlin and me.

  “I’m not sure,” she said. “My most recent vision was... undetermined.”

  He sighed. “Let’s go.” He turned and started walking in the direction from which he came. Merlin smiled, but a sparkle in her eyes alerted me to danger. She held out her hand, prompting my guards to raise their swords. She laughed mischievously. “It’s a gift for the prince. A little piece of home.” She opened her hand to reveal a small, pink cherry blossom.

  I froze. Did she want me to take it? I inched forward but felt someone take a hard grip of
my arm. I turned to see Junho. He shook his head. Merlin smirked and dropped the cherry blossom. It floated beautifully from her hand to the earth below. In an instant, the small blossom melted into a pink liquid, soaking into the ground. We watched it in awe as Merlin turned and followed her companion. One root at a time, in a matter of seconds, a cherry blossom tree sprouted from the ground. It thickened, quickly prompting the horses to inch back nervously. Bigger and bigger the giant trunk stretched, each branch weaving into the air and sprouting thousands of pink blossoms.

  Impossible. Yet there it was, happening before my eyes. There was no such thing as magic. Is this some kind of trick or did we just encounter a witch? Perhaps my original assessment of ‘goddess’ was more accurate than I thought. I’d just witnessed the divine.

  I stood beside Junho, frozen in silence as we tried to process what occurred. There, in front of us, stood a cherry blossom tree that rivaled the beauty of those in Vires, though moments before it was just a bud in Merlin’s hand.

  Even without trying to process the enormity of what she’d just done and what it meant for our world, I was looking at a new issue. She’d blocked the main road, and it might take several hours to cut it down and clear the mess away. We had the option, of course, to backtrack and go another way, but since she’d gone through the trouble to delay us, I wanted more than anything to continue.