“Yes.”
“Is this what you really look like?”
Emrys smiled. “Not quite.” He stood and removed his overcoat, then closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment, just as he had the previous day when he’d transformed into the old man in his dream.
A blue aura surrounded Emrys. The few wrinkles in his skin smoothed. His brown hair darkened to almost black and the sporadic gray hairs disappeared. Sculpted muscles appeared across his once lean, frame, his clothes tightening a little around them. He looked about twenty-five years old with a body that could compare to Marc any day.
The blue aura faded, and Emrys opened his eyes. Those emerald irises stared at him.
“Why disguise yourself?” Marc asked, breaking the trance.
Emrys blinked. “When I’m here on Earth, I have to appear human. I have to look as though I age like everyone else, especially to those who know me.” Emrys waited to see if there were more questions. When met with silence, he resumed telling his story.
“The laws of Artiryn define us as protectors of Earth, but only from non-terrestrial threats. We are not permitted to intervene in battles or decisions solely between men or creatures of Earth. Most guardians have no special abilities other than their immortality. Their duty is to watch over the earth, report unusual occurrences or potential outside threats, and fight to defend the earth when called upon.
“A few, however, are born with a special ability. Even fewer are born with multiple abilities. My main ability is magic. I am one of the few that know and guard the knowledge of our ancient magic. I am the only one who can combine the natural elemental magic from the earth with the guardian magic. The result being an extremely powerful combination and a knowledge I’ve never trusted with anyone.” His voice dropped to a solemn whisper. “Save for one.”
“Morgaine?” Trystan asked.
“Yes.” Emrys sighed. “I’ll come back to her later.”
“You said your main ability is magic. Do you have others?” Trystan asked.
Emrys gave him a tentative smile. “You don’t miss anything, do you?”
Trystan pressed his lips into a pursed grin.
“I sometimes have visions of the potential future. I cannot always tell if what I envision will happen or not, nor can I see how to change it.” His expression hardened. “Fortunately, it’s a rare ability. One that I would not wish on anyone.”
“Why? Wouldn’t most people want to be able to see the future?” Marc asked.
“Imagine seeing something terrible that you cannot control. You have no way of knowing if it will happen or how to avoid it. Sometimes, in trying to avoid it, you can actually cause ittohappen.” He paused a moment. “I only share my visions when it’s absolutely necessary.”
“Where do I fit into all of this?” Trystan inquired.
“Your father Arthur was a half-guardian. He had no special abilities. When it came time for him to choose, he had proven himself worthy of Artiryn, but he still chose to be human. He sacrificed immortality for love. Most do. Love is the strongest bond a guardian can have.”
As he spoke, he shifted his glance between Marc and Trystan, pushing down the pain in his heart.
“Most of the stories written about Arthur say that he was king before marrying Guinevere, but that was a manipulation of the truth. Guinevere was the daughter of a king, but Arthur was unknown at the time. He and Guinevere fell in love, and she ran away to be with him.
“At first, he wanted only a simple life with his new wife, but when the leader of his clan was killed, Arthur instinctively took over and led his clan to victory in the battle. From then on, he won battle after battle as he sought to protect his clan, and men flocked to his leadership. For he was not a bloodthirsty or power hungry leader like so many other of his time, but compassionate and strong, defending his people and preserving life. It was the guardian in him. Over time, he developed a strong kingdom with loyal followers, united most of the clans and called it the Kingdom of Loegria.
“The stories you’ve heard about Arthur marrying Guinevere after becoming king were fabricated in order to create an alliance with her father and avoid a dishonorable reputation. The round table was a gift from her father to show his commitment to their agreement and recognition of their marriage.”
“The one in Caerwynt?” Trystan asked.
“The very same.” Emrys shifted his gaze between Marc and Trystan. “Guinevere complimented Arthur well. She was kind and gentle, but also very intelligent. What most people don’t know is that she was highly skilled in battle strategy and deadly accurate with a bow. Arthur and Guinevere were a formidable team, much as I suspect you and Marc will be as well.” Emrys gave Trystan a knowing smile.
“When Arthur became king, I came to be his advisor and helped him create and build the city of Camelot, infused with the old magic of the guardians and the precious natural elements of the earth, as a stronghold and capital for his new kingdom.”
“But I thought you couldn’t meddle in human affairs?” Marc asked.
“The High Council looked the other way. Because Arthur was a former guardian, they allowed me to provide advice and influence his decisions, as long as I didn’t use my powers. Camelot was the exception.”
Emrys stopped for a moment. The sun had disappeared behind thick clouds and the air had cooled significantly. Trystan shivered and Marc huddled against him, their clothes still damp from their lake encounter. Emrys waved his hand. In front of them, a small fire appeared.
“Thank you,” Trystan said.
