The Sword of Aradel (15 page)

“Oh, wonderful!” Mary Day exclaimed. “Those three hours will be the most precious of my life, and of Dr. Legrande's as well. Your era is such a fabulous one, and we've so many questions to ask …”

“But first the swords,” Brian told her. “I came with but one, and I can return with but two. Will you accept the weapon Albericus used? It is almost a duplicate of the one I fought him with.”

“But—but it is a treasure! It must be worth a fortune!”

“All the more reason it should be yours. You—you've been a friend. We'll never forget you!”

It seemed that only minutes had passed instead of hours before he was standing with Merra in the circle she had drawn on the floor, a drowsy Tancred on her shoulder. The true sword hung at his side; the other, won in his first combat, was thrust through his belt. As Merra began her curious chant with its many numbers, he glimpsed Mary Day and Dr. Legrande watching them, breathless and enthralled. Then he closed his eyes with the start of the rhyme:

“By my power, by my right,

Take us back through time tonight …”

He missed the rest, for again memory intruded—only now for a moment he was a stableboy again, and all this was a dream. Then the dream was shattered in the giddiness and the terrible feeling of whirling and flying apart, and abruptly he was back in the reality of the cavelike room adjoining the great oak. This time, miraculously, he and Merra were on their feet.

The first person he saw was Brother Benedict, who rushed upon him and enclosed him in a bear hug. “God be praised!” the burly monk said fervently. “You are both safe, and you have the sword!”

“He has something else,” came the voice of Nysa, as she shimmered into visibility. “He has the cross of Albericus in his belt!
Don't tell me
—”

“Yes!” said Merra. “The creature met his match.” She told of the fight, and Brother Benedict said, “Your army awaits you in the grove, my son. They already know who you are, and they are wild to have you lead them. Come, show them the sword and the cross!”

Merra touched his arm. “This is the hour of my birth, so I am sure that all will go well. But—but please promise me one thing.”

“What is that?”

“We cannot change our destiny. I know that soon you will be king, even as I know I will be your queen. But when Rondelaine is ours, will you please bring back the troubadours, and make all of Aradel a land of song and laughter?”

“Of course, Merra. I promise. For that is the way life should be.”

She smiled happily and caused the oaken portal to open for him. He drew a deep breath and went slowly outside, the trophy cross in one hand and the true sword in the other.

About the Author

Alexander Key (1904–1979) started out as an illustrator before he began writing science fiction novels for young readers. He has published many titles, including
Sprockets
:
A Little Robot, Mystery of the Sassafras Chair
, and
The Forgotten Door
, winner of the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. Key's novel
Escape to Witch Mountain
was adapted for film in 1975, 1995, and 2009.

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 1977 by Alexander Key

Cover design by Jesse Hayes

ISBN: 978-1-4976-5262-0

This edition published in 2014 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

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New York, NY 10014

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EBOOKS BY ALEXANDER KEY

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