The Du Lac Legacy (Sons of Camelot Book 2) Read online

  The Du Lac Legacy

  Also available through Mirador Publishing:

  The Prophecy

  Vampire

  The Knights of Camelot Series:

  Lancelot and the Wolf

  Lancelot and the Sword

  Lancelot and the Grail

  The Knights Of Camelot Volume One, Two and Three

  Lancelot and the Wolf and Other Stories

  Lancelot’s Challenge

  Lancelot’s Burden

  Lancelot’s Curse

  Betrayal Of Lancelot

  Passion Of Lancelot

  Revenge Of Lancelot

  Sons of Camelot Series:

  The Pendragon Legacy

  The Du Lac Legacy

  Albion’s Legacy

  Rock and Roll Mysteries

  Chords for the Dead

  SONS OF CAMELOT

  THE DU LAC LEGACY

  BY

  SARAH LUDDINGTON

  www.theknightsofcamelot.com

  www.romanticadventure.net

  First Published in Great Britain 2014 by Mirador Publishing

  Copyright © 2014 by Sarah Luddington

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without permission of the publishers or author. Excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  First edition: 2014

  Any reference to real names and places are purely fictional and are constructs of the author. Any offence the references produce is unintentional and in no way reflects the reality of any locations or people involved.

  A copy of this work is available through the British Library.

  ISBN: 978-1-910530-27-6

  Mirador Publishing

  Mirador

  Wearne Lane

  Langport

  Somerset

  TA10 9HB

  Because facing the coal face every day is hard but unless you do it, you’ll never find the diamond.

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Have you completely lost your mind?” Galahad yelled at me.

  We stood on the deck of the Echo and I protected Torvec by standing in front of him. Night held sway and the humidity of the sun-tortured day began to ease. The harbour lights were bright in the distance and Captain Raven had ordered torches to be lit onboard the ship while the argument grew more heated by the moment.

  I’d found Torvec in a tavern singing for his supper and hoping we’d make landfall in the large sea port on the edge of the mightiest desert in Albion. He’d managed to use some twist of his love for me to free himself from The Lady, who still hunted us. I hoped to use his knowledge of her to help us defeat her, but I had to convince Galahad not to kill him before he had a chance to redeem himself.

  “Galahad, please, if you calm down and listen, you will see the sense of my words. We need help. We were attacked by enemies we didn’t even know we had and we were badly hurt because of it –” understatement of my lifetime, “– we need someone who understands and can help. Torvec can help.”

  Galahad, his beautiful face badly scarred from a single swipe by a jealous shifter, turned away from me. “I can’t listen to this. After everything he did –”

  “He left so he wouldn’t to be a danger to us. Because he knew things were changing for you.” I didn’t want to say it aloud, in front of the others, that Torvec thought Galahad loved me the way I loved him and wasn’t willing to stand in the way. Besides I didn’t think it would help.

  “He’s a traitor!”

  “He’s been a slave his whole life.”

  Morgan and Nim stood, not taking sides and just watching. Lance and Raven were also quiet, unwilling to come between us, the ruling men of Albion.

  A soft hand on my arm drew my attention from Galahad. “I can leave,” Torvec said quietly.

  I stared into his deep blue, almost violet eyes, the irises elongated because of the light from the torches, and knew I wouldn’t let him go. I wanted to keep him safe as much as I needed Galahad. “You aren’t leaving, Torvec. I suggest we all have something to eat and we sleep on the problem, then we’ll discuss it again in the morning.”

  “And who will you be spending the night with, King of Camelot?” Galahad snapped.

  The urge to retaliate almost overwhelmed me. I stepped toward him with my fists clenched but Torvec moved to intercede.

  He placed a hand on my wrist. “Nothing changes, Prince of Albion. Loholt Pendragon had made that clear to me. I am simply here to help.”

  Galahad cursed so foully he even made Morgan flinch. I watched him storm off and I sighed heavily. Raven placed a hand on my shoulder. “It could be worse, the Prince could have killed your pet.”

  “I am not his pet,” Torvec bristled.

  Raven grinned. “No, I’m quite sure you aren’t.” The captain of the Echo sauntered off, giving orders to bed the ship down for the night.

  I looked at Lance Fitzwilliam, my oldest friend. “And what do you have to say?”

  Lance shrugged. “Sire, I am forever your loyal servant.”

  I snorted. “Of course you are, and?”

  Lance stepped close, too close for my current state of mind. I backed off a step. He frowned and his hazel eyes assessed me. “I think if this Torvec takes away some of the burdens you are carrying then we keep him with us, but if he endangers you, I will not hesitate to kill him.” Something more lurked behind the words but he refrained from speaking his thoughts, fortunately. He’d never guess the truth; he’d never guess I was capable of shaming the Pendragon name so profoundly.

  I glanced at Torvec who looked away, probably able to read everything in my voice, expression and whatever part of me he tapped into. I rubbed my face. “I’ve had enough for one day, I’m going to bed.”

  I heard a small sound of pain from Torvec but he resolutely turned his back and moved away from me. I walked toward the steps that would take me down toward the room I shared with Galahad and I wondered what he’d throw at me for bringing Torvec on board.

  “Captain,” the rough voice of the first mate, Arden, bellowed, “trouble.”

  I turned back toward the main deck and headed for the rail. Raven left the forecastle and joined us. I saw Torvec further down the rail and we watched three long dories approaching with lanterns shining against the water and glinting off the steel of spears.

  “Ho, the Echo, I wish to speak with the captain.” The man’s voice was heavily accented and I couldn’t see his face in the darkness.

  “I am the captain of the Echo,” Raven announced. “What do you want?”

  “We are here to board the Echo; we believe you are harbouring fugitives. Please, make it easy on yourselves and stand down.” We finally began to see the weapons. The torch light glinted off a great deal of steel and iron.

  Raven whispered something to Arden, who stepped back from the rail and began gathering up the sailors. Raven looked at me. “Find them, warn them and protect them.”

  “Aye, Captain,” I said. Torvec looked at me. “Stay with Raven.” He nodded and stepped closer to the captain.

  I ran to the galley steps and slid down using the rails rather than walking. “Lance, Galahad, Kerwin – arm yourselves,” I called out. Heads began to appear, Morgan and Nim among them. I stood in the centre of the sleeping area of the ship and explained, “We are about to be boarded. I think The Lady is using the locals to take us out or down, or something.” The panic began to grow. If we were arrested anything could happen to us. If ever I feared a terrible fate for Nim and Morgan I feared it now, the pain of such misery powerful enemies can inflict had been well and truly burned into me. I’d not allow them to be taken a
live.

  My hands were shaking until I touched the hilt of my beloved sword. This time I was not defenceless.

  “Holt?” Torvec’s voice came from the deck. “Are you alright?”

  Galahad walked toward me like a dark storm. “He’s fine, minstrel.” He sounded so like his father in that moment I had check twice the Black Wolf didn’t stand by my side.

  We heard the slap of feet above us on the deck and the creak of the rigging. Raven wasn’t going to be waiting for men to board his ship, he was preparing for a fight. I ran up the stairs and Torvec moved back. The captain was asking for the evidence necessary for the custom soldiers to board a ship flying the flag of Camelot, Albion’s second city. The delaying tactic didn’t seem to be working very well. En masse we armed soldiers walked toward Captain Raven as a wall of strength to back him up.

  The wolves held the left flank, Valla’s shorn head now covered in a black scarf and her sister, Nest, dressed for war. The woman bristled with more weapons than anyone else I’d ever met. Kerwin stood between them, a dark sentinel. Lance, Galahad and I held the centre line, while Arden and two others were the right flank. If the guards of the harbour tried to board their people would die.

  I glanced up at the mast and rigging. After the terrible storm, during which Galahad and I had been washed over-board, the men of the Echo had managed to strip the worst of the damage from the tangle of wood and rope, but we were not sea worthy by a long way. How we’d make a run for it, then continue to limp down the coast to find a safe harbour, I had no idea. Raven’s men were prepared to try though and I for one wasn’t going to allow Galahad to be arrested.

  “Listen, mate, this is sovereign territory belonging to the King of Camelot and unless you have an arrest warrant I’m not letting you on board my ship, so you can go back to the people who sent you here and you can tell them from me, they aren’t having the Echo or her passengers,” Raven shouted. “And if you try to bring that sorry bunch of toy soldiers aboard I’ll let me friends here carve holes out of your livers!”

  “I don’t think you understand, the Royal House of Pendragon has been made illegal. We are to arrest anyone under that name and return them to The City to face justice for being trespassers on crown lands held by The City’s new leadership and for kidnapping the children of the du Lac Royal House.”

  “What the fuck?” Galahad whispered next to me.

  “Anyone,” the arresting officer continued, “caught aiding the fugitives will be dealt with by summary execution, unless they show sense and hand them over.”

  I glanced up at the ruined mast and the rigging. Raven wouldn’t be able to outrun the dory with the Echo in her current state. If the men started to board there would be bloodshed and I’d seen the vast catapults on either side of the harbour entrance; if one of their loads hit we’d be sunk.

  I glanced at Galahad. “I trust you to get me out of this,” I said quietly.

  He appeared startled for a moment before the meaning of my words sunk in. “Holt, no, don’t please. You’ve sacrificed enough.”

  “Whatever she has planned by this move we have to buy a little time. The Echo needs to be fixed before we can leave,” I whispered, placing a hand on his sword arm.

  “I’ll come with you,” he hissed.

  A movement from behind us made me turn. Torvec stood with a cutlass at his hip. “No, because it is you she wants. I’ll keep him safe. I promise I will sacrifice myself before I allow any harm to come to him.”

  Galahad stared at Torvec and they seemed to share a silent moment of complete understanding. I saw both men nod once, leaving me free to step toward the rail and Captain Raven.

  “I am the only true son of the Pendragon line aboard this ship. You want to arrest anyone, it’s me,” I said.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Raven turned and stared at me in horror. “You need time to fix the ship. Just get me out the moment the Echo is ready,” I said to him, while I unbuckled my sword belt. I handed him the blade. My hand shook.

  Lance stepped up beside me. “He’s lying, I am the King of Camelot,” he shouted down to the boat.

  I grabbed his arm. “What are you doing? I need you to protect the girls, protect my sister, Nim.”

  “But, Sire –”

  “It’s an order, Fitzwilliam. I need to know they are safe.” I looked up into his hazel eyes and saw the honour of a Knight of Camelot vying with the commonsense of a man who knew the reality of a situation.

  I glanced at Galahad and his dark eyes were brimming with fear. “I cannot allow you to sacrifice yourself again,” he whispered. “Let me go.”

  “So she can have you back?” I asked and managed what I hoped would be a rakish grin. “Not now I have you, Galahad du Lac.” I stepped toward the gunwale, Torvec moving with me. “You sure?” I asked him.

  His hand covered mine on the rail. “You are all I have, you’ll never be alone if you don’t want to be.” He blinked slowly and the truth of his words was easy to read in his strange eyes. I realised he looked tired, weak, more a dirty dishrag than a handsome minstrel.

  I nodded my thanks, glanced once at the girls, Morgan standing with her arm around Nim’s shoulders, and climbed down the rope ladder. When I reached the boat I stood easily. “You promise to leave everyone else alone on this ship now you have me?” I asked.

  “The warrant is just for you, Loholt Pendragon, there is no reason for me to deal with the others on board unless I am given different orders,” the man said. His dark face shone in the heat of the desert night, his fear making him sweat as much as the conditions by the look in his eyes. I believed him, he didn’t want his men fighting a ship full of armed men from the sea unless he had to, his honour would see the warrant fulfilled but not his men sacrificed.

  He drew out of pair of iron cuffs on a chain. “If you will allow me, sir.”

  “My word isn’t enough?” I said. I felt my back stiffen and my fists clench.

  “Um, no, I’ve been informed you are a dangerous fugitive, and your white haired friend here is charged with murder in The City,” he said and looked with nervousness at Torvec.

  “I will allow you to place the cuffs on me if it makes you comfortable, but you will not touch my Lord,” Torvec said.

  I placed a hand on his arm. “It’s fine, Torvec. The good Captain here has his duties.” I held my wrists out. I could do this; I could do this to save the Echo. To save Galahad.

  The iron felt cold as the arresting officer closed the cuffs over my wrists and locked them. They were heavy, and rough. I could smell the iron. Torvec submitted to the same treatment and we sat down in the long boat surrounded by men.

  “Thank you, sir,” the captain said.

  “This isn’t your fault, Captain?” I asked.

  “Surek, sir.”

  “Sire,” Torvec snapped.

  I touched his arm briefly, the iron chain clanging with a dull chime. “It’s fine,” I said. If I remained calm and gentle with those around me I wouldn’t begin to scream.

  “Thank you for your curtsey toward us and your patience with my ship mates, Captain Surek.”

  “You are welcome, Lord Pendragon,” he said and he bowed slightly on his wooden bench.

  I’d won a small victory by being pleasant. These men were not interested in the politics of The City and whatever Galahad’s foster mother was doing seemed to be upsetting the locals. She’d obviously taken charge for the moment and used her position to issue orders. I doubted the Senate appreciated her efforts but they weren’t strong enough to stop someone with her power, only Morgana with Lancelot and Arthur had managed to keep her under control and they’d been forced to sacrifice Galahad in the process.

  The men who rowed the longboat back to the jetty were collared and chained with manacles similar to mine, they were slaves. Although Lancelot had managed to destroy the slave trade in and around The City, not everyone in Albion was as lucky. The desert peoples, including the Salamander, continued to practice the barbaric
trade.

  I watched the slaves work, their skins much darker than the guards onboard, and their eyes carefully blank.

  When we reached the shore, Torvec and I were helped out of the boat and the men formed up around us, most of whom were shorter than me. We were then marched with efficiency through the streets of the port. It didn’t seem to matter what time day or night, life teemed in the bazaars and alleyways, trade vibrant and noisy. The smells were incredible, an assault on my senses, and Torvec sneezed more than once. The colours, lit by the hundreds of braziers, lamps and torches were vital and alive with shining threads of precious metal or gems stitched into the geometric patterns favoured on every piece of cloth and ceramic. Morgana always valued gifts given to her from far flung places in her empire and her favourites were those from the southern desert lands.

  If I hadn’t been marching with an armed escort I’d have stopped and found trinkets for the girls and silks for new dresses.

  We left the busy streets and crossed a large cobbled courtyard, marching toward a huge fortified building. The windows were erring on the side of non-existent and the dour presentation didn’t welcome causal glances, never mind visitors. Tall walls of dark granite ended with pointed castellations, rather than the flat ones we favoured in Camelot. I could see their advantages if someone tried to storm the fortification. The gate we marched toward didn’t appear to move often, a vast structure of wood and iron with no decoration around the arch or on the fabric of the door itself. Two guards stood before a smaller entrance to the left and when they saw us they knocked on the gate. It was opened from the inside, on the outside nothing existed to help someone break in.

  I began to realise the impossibility of Galahad and Raven finding a way to help us escape. The fear of incarceration in such an impregnable place wore holes in my resolve to be calm. The guards walked us through the gate and into a dark space lit by one smoky torch. I felt that cobbles were still under my feet but the tunnel didn’t last long before we were once more in a courtyard, this one much smaller. High walls enclosed the space but there were windows here at least. Heavily barred and I guessed too high to look out of if the ones on the ground were anything to go by, but at least some daylight would filter into the prison cells. In Camelot we had the castle dungeons and a small prison but my father preferred setting miscreants to work or hanging them for the very serious crimes. We didn’t keep people locked up for years. I maintained the same principles, anything else was cruel in my view.