Chapter 175: Interlude: Arthur - She Slipped My Net

A twist came to Merlin’s nose. "She’s given me quite a few names to consider on Ireland’s side that might be important to contact, but...there’s something different about her. I’m not entirely sure that it is the same woman I’ve been in contact with. She’s calmer...more sure of herself in what should be a very damning position, and she somehow slipped my net."

Arthur released the bed railing so as not to imprint his fingers as his hands balled into fists. "You should have led with that..." he snarled. "We don’t have the terrorist that I told the US President we had under control?"

Merlin shook his head, a serious and cautious cadence coming over him. "I’m not negligent, Arthur. I placed her under some of my best seals to keep her locked down in our safe house, yet somehow, she slipped by everyone without so much as a whisper. It’s unnatural, and I am sure breaking free was outside her capabilities since I removed every hidden artifact she had on her person."

"Then you missed something," he shot back. "Is it possible the Scarlet Hand discovered her location and snatched her out from under your nose?"

"No," he firmly repeated, locking eyes with him. "Let me make this crystal clear... I do not think the terrified terrorist I knew was who I was talking to when I left her under guard. She told me my spells wouldn’t hold her and not to be afraid when she disappeared...that she would reach out when we gave her an opportunity."

Arthur tried to temper his emotions, exhaling so as not to appear agitated to the cameras. "You didn’t put weight on her warning and left her with one of your random knights?"

Rubbing between his eyes, Merlin let out an exhausted sigh. "I took every precaution. I wasted some of the most potent items I’ve been able to cultivate since this change happened, and none of it mattered. I don’t know who we are dealing with here, Arthur, but what I do know is that something interrupted that hare devil woman when she tried to kill Relica..."

He paused for emphasis. "That same devil hare that obliterated Galahad in a single blow, locked me out of my magic, and practically held me by the throat without batting an eye was overpowered by whatever possessed Relica; I’d gamble there’s a connection. Something isn’t right about this entire situation—we’re missing context—and it is somehow connected with Rachel, which means we need to hear her side. Fortunately, this entity told me she does want to meet with you."

"Noted," Arthur said, feeling prickles run across his forearms at the weight Merlin put behind Rachel’s power when confronting them. "I suppose I’ll leave myself available then if she’s so intent on meeting me. I’ll discover the truth myself."

He groaned, reflecting on his negotiations with the US leader. "I’ve already bargained for her to be of combined use for a joint US and UK operation in the coming conflict with whatever comes out of Ireland... I’ll somehow make it work.

"Do something about keeping her shackled when I perform a miracle and get her to return to the safe house. And don’t worry, I will learn more about Rachel in the coming weeks; she’s recovering after Miami and seemingly heavily injured, spiritually at that."

"I see..." A short pause came between them as they studied the recovering knight who should never have been in this compromising position. "So, you’re saying that Rachel’s power stems from Yomi, and she couldn’t handle it for an extended period? No, there’s too much to speculate without the full context. She’s an ally, though?"

Arthur nodded. "For now."

"Hmm. I have more studying to do. If you’ve negotiated a path for me to work with the military, I’ll contact General Dallas and see about obtaining a safe house that I can properly ward the terrorist in... I bet the US will have resources I can use to perform a better binding. As for your date, can you make yourself unavailable until late afternoon before going to a place where Relica—well, a place where whoever is possessing Relica can meet with you?"

Breathing out a long sigh, the topic brought his mind to his complex relationship with his wife. Many had told him to leave her, but it wasn’t so simple, and it wasn’t as if they hated one another. This change that had come over them brought up many past grievances they’d shared, but at the end of the day, they were adults who could put the matter to the side.

"My wife probably won’t enjoy it, but I’ll set a reservation for two at L’ardente. I’m sure this entity will have a way of finding me, and...this is not Relica, correct?"

Merlin’s mouth became a line, his pink eyes filled with caution. "Whoever it is, they’re powerful enough to contend with Rachel when she’s channeling Yomi.

"I’ll keep it in mind."

"By the way," the wizard muttered, "it’s come to my attention that the Seattle vampire has been killed; the US military’s report stated that a red-cloaked figure wielding an ax was responsible—they didn’t come out unscathed. Take care, Arthur."

Merlin’s magical illusion vanished in a shimmer of lights. In the silence, he spent several more minutes studying the damage done to Galahad. It suddenly made a whole lot of sense as to why his old best friend had raised his son up the way he had and given him the mythical figure’s name.

As of now, he’d call his old friend by the title he’d gained: Lancelot; there was power in names, and his wife agreed. He would be Arthur, and she, Guinevere; she actually quite enjoyed the image of being a queen, which amused him. She’d even ordered a crown.

It certainly seemed like both Relica and Merlin had been scheming with powerful knowledge for far longer than he’d expected. So many people in his life had been affected; it couldn’t be a coincidence, and he had to catch up.

Yet, the clincher was that the wizard had been working behind the scenes to build up Galahad into the shining champion he could be; the whole origin of Merlin’s awareness of The Oscillation was an uncomfortable one. Perhaps Lancelot would have more answers for him.

Throughout the last twenty-four hours, he’d sent out a message to all of his old friends inside the service. Before becoming a politician, he’d been the rising star in the British Military; it was time to get the platoon back together because their homeland was under threat, both internally and externally.

Looking down at the young man he counted as family, Arthur vowed to find a way to cure him; the answer had to be in their quests, and he’d find it.

Hold on, Galahad, we’ll get you back on your feet. I just...need to mend a few bridges. It will be challenging, but I’ll see it done.