Chapter 10
The atmosphere from within the ruins was calm and serene. From far below the ancient castle, the gentle sound of the waves crashing on the rocks echoed across the countryside. Wild flowers and untamed grasses covered the grounds, and vines climbed aimlessly about the crumbling, stone walls. A slight breeze gusted out of the north, keeping the early-morning air cool.
A snapping whoosh broke the serenity of the old castle’s garden. Emrys, Trystan, and Marc emerged from a smoky cloud.
Emrys stood steady, allowing Marc and Trystan to collect their bearings.
“Steady, now. You are both protected here.” Emrys paced about, thinking to himself.
Awed by their sudden and new surroundings, Marc released Trystan but stayed close to him, letting his hand rest on the small of his back. He glanced around and studied the area in which they now stood, trying to identify their location. Nearby, the turbulent ocean crashed against what was likely a rocky shore and cliffs. Crumbling walls of stone surrounded them, but nothing unique about this particular castle stood out. Marc had no idea where they were, but that wasn’t important. All that mattered right now was that Trystan was safe.
The press of Marc’s hand to his back grounded Trystan as he regarded the ancient fortress. Something about this place felt familiar, as if a part of him. Or his past.
Trystan closed his eyes, focusing on what he could not see. The roar of the ocean. The salty air. The scent of wildflowers. All of it soothed the thoughts and emotions swirling in his mind.
He was the lost heir, born to Arthur and Guinevere, but how? They died more than a thousand years ago. But Emrys—or Myrddin rather—was still alive. Perchance by some spell, the same applied to Trystan. Did Noah know? And Marc—how did this involve him?
After everything that had just happened, at least Marc was still here, but Trystan worried that could all change. They’d been given bits of the truth. Now, they needed the whole of it. They needed to fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle.
In some ways, Trystan didn’t want to know. He agonized over what the truth would bring. How much would his life change? Would he now rule the kingdom? Could he restore Camelot and the magic taken from this world as the stories he’d read suggested? What dangers truly lurked in the darkness? Who was Morgaine really, and why hadn’t she been in any of the books he’d read? Would Marc be accepting and remain a part of his life, or would Trystan lose him?
Emrys continued pacing, allowing Trystan time to gather is thoughts. He knew this day would come when he’d need to know the truth. Emrys had hoped he would have had more control over the circumstances. Mentally, he kicked himself. He should have known better. He should have told him everything when he had the chance, but he hadn’t, convinced it was the right thing because it had been for Trystan’s protection.
He expected that one day Morgaine would reappear and attempt to take the throne just as the prophecy had foretold, and so she had, with Grønn Riddari helping her. Now that Trystan had obtained Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake, it was time to tell him, and Marc, the entire story, from the beginning.
Emrys needed to give Trystan answers as much as he needed to hear them. Time was not on their side, but Emrys cared too much about Trystan. Emrys had hurt him. The boy he’d looked after for so many years, who’d grown into a young man—confident and strong, like his father, spirited and intelligent, like his mother. A man who’d wound his way into his dreams and heart centuries ago, long before he was ever born. A man who would not be his for centuries yet to come.
***
Trystan stared out across the ocean. The waves rolled serenely under the morning sun. It had been only a few minutes since they’d arrived—no, appeared—within the ruins. Emrys had already revealed some secrets, and Trystan had put more of the pieces together on his own, but after the attack at the lake, he wondered how little he really knew. Now it was time to connect it all, and Emrys, or Myrddin, or whomever he was, had the answers.
Trystan turned around. Marc sat on a large stone that had fallen from the once high castle wall. He walked over and sat down next to him. Taking his hand, he squeezed it. Marc squeezed back, then put his arm around Trystan and pulled him close.
“All right, Emrys,” Trystan said. “I trust you now to tell us what you know. Though I doubt anything you say now will cause me any more disbelief, given recent events.”
Emrys took a deep breath. “First, I must apologize, Trystan, for my deception, as it was for your own protection.” Emrys sat down facing them. “I have much to tell you about your past and who you are. Everything you know is about to change. For both of you.
“You are Trystan Arthes, the one true king of Loegria, the only child of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, and rightful heir to the throne of Camelot. My given name is Myrddin and, while I am what you might refer to as a sorcerer, I was also your father’s most trusted advisor and closest friend. Then there is Morgaine, Arthur’s half-sister.
“I am a guardian. I come from a realm beyond Earth known as Artiryn. I am one of the few known as a pure blood. Most guardians are born half-human. When they reach a certain age, they must choose a path—guardian or human. If they choose guardian, they must prove themselves worthy, either by trials or real-world events. Should they become a guardian, they become bound by the laws of Artiryn and are no longer permitted to live on Earth.”
“But you’ve been living here on Earth?” Trystan said, his brows pinched together.
“As an elder and member of the High Council, I was given special permission to live between both worlds.” Emrys paused a moment, then continued. “When you become a guardian, you also become immortal. Make no mistake, a guardian can still be killed, they just don’t age or succumb to illness like humans.”
“So you are immortal?” Trystan asked.
“Yes.”
“You don’t age?”
“No.”
“How old are you?”
“My age is not important.”
“You said you’re a pure blood. Does that mean you’ve always been immortal?”
