"Are we doing more training tonight?"
"Sorry, kid, I've got papers to grade," Morgan replied. "I probably won't be free for the next few days, so go ahead and focus on your schoolwork. Combat practice is only half of what it takes to become a Master, after all."
No matter how many times he thought about it, Arthur still found it amusing that his gung-ho cousin was a professor at one of the States' magical military academies.
"You're a professor?" he had said incredulously. "But… forgive me for saying… you don't exactly seem like an academic."
Morgan had grinned sheepishly while rubbing the back of her head.
"Yeah, yeah, but some of us have to work, you know? I'm a Master-level magician who's also part of Britannia's royal family… there's not a lot of options for me, and teaching pays the bills."
Arthur and Morgan were walking through a large shopping mall in Boston, having expanded Arthur's wardrobe—every week seemed to reveal something else he'd forgotten to bring—and now looking for somewhere to eat.
The pair settled on a decently-priced steakhouse, specifically because the high-backed booths would preserve a semblance of privacy.
As they were waiting for their order to arrive, Morgan looked out into the mall and frowned.
"What's wrong, cuz?"
"I don't know," she said hesitantly. "I get the feeling we're being watched."
Arthur's eyes narrowed and his mind instantly became alert.
"The same people who tried to assassinate my father?"
"No, it can't be them."
Morgan's assuredness made Arthur curious.
"Why not?"
"You can tell from the footage of the attack that they use magic sparingly as a tool, but whoever's watching us has been using stealth magic to avoid detection. They're a magician, first and foremost."
"Invisibility?"
"Possibly. Or maybe perception redirection. Hard to say."
Morgan slid out of the booth and stood, stretching her arms with a deliberate attitude of relaxation.
"I'm going to stretch my legs a bit," she said. "I'll be right back, wait here."
Her meaning was clear to Arthur, who only nodded in response.
He watched as she sauntered over to the door, checked her watch, and then put her phone to her ear. He couldn't make out the conversation, but from her gestures and facial expressions it was clear that she was totally absorbed in the phone call.
At least, that was the image she was trying to convey.
I wonder where she learned to do that, thought Arthur.
He turned his attention away from his cousin, knowing he wouldn't be doing her any favors by watching her attempt at counterintelligence. If anything, it would only call attention to her, and whoever was watching them would vanish into the night.
A headline on his phone grabbed his interest; apparently, a nuclear disaster had been averted by a Master magician from one of the Blessed Houses. The government claimed the danger had been minimal, but the public was nevertheless pleased to have the crisis averted.
I wonder just how much of that is true. I've seen a lot of propaganda these last few weeks.
I only really noticed when it concerned me, and when I knew the truth… but that makes me ask what else might they be lying about?
I wonder if the King has other bastard children?
Arthur shuddered at the thought.
I need a drink.
He began absentmindedly flipping through the steakhouse's menu, looking for something to take the edge off while he waited for Morgan to return.
Wait a minute.
The waiter took our menus when we ordered…
So where'd this come from?
He had never paid much attention to inserts in menus, as the specials they advertised were rarely worth the price in his opinion, but now something about the rectangular slip of paper caught his eye.
Arthur was decently sure the menu didn't have an insert when they ordered.
He took the half-sheet out of the menu and looked it over. It was completely blank on one side, while the other had listings that one would expect to find on any such menu insert. In addition to the various seafood specials and signature drinks, a large QR code drew Arthur's gaze to the bottom of the insert.
It can't hurt to scan it, right?
The code did not take him to a virtual menu, as one would expect, but rather to a page on the Kingdom of Britannia's official website. The page had no text, only a single map reference and a timestamp: 9:30 PM.
That's not far from here.
Morgan said she's busy tonight; I could easily stop by on my way back to the dorm.
It's the Britannian government site—of anyone who would be trying to meet with me covertly, they would be the least suspicious.
Arthur placed the insert back in the menu and laid it at the edge of the table while continuing to look at the address on his phone.
I'm no spy. I don't know what I'm doing.
If someone wanted to assassinate me, or kidnap me, or do anything else… there would be much easier ways than this.
I'll see what they want, at least.
When Morgan returned without having found any success identifying the watcher, the menu—and the secret it contained—were gone.
***
When Arthur arrived at the specified location, all he found was a single bench positioned directly beneath a streetlamp. It apparently functioned as a rudimentary bus stop. There was only forest and farmland for miles around it, and so the young heir chose to sit and wait for his host.
He didn't have to wait long.
"Thank you for coming, Mr. Trevena," said the woman, appearing on the bench beside him. Arthur jumped in surprise, but the woman didn't stop, and as he listened Arthur thought the voice sounded familiar. "I have nothing against my aunt, but she is an American, and the reason for my visit is vital to the Kingdom of Britannia. We can't take a chance with outsiders, no matter who they may be."
"Your aunt?" asked Arthur, catching his breath. His mind was racing: "…I assume you mean Morgan Lafayette?"
"Indeed," his visitor replied. "We haven't been officially introduced yet, but I am technically your niece—don't worry, I've given my grandfather an earful on his promiscuity. My name is Vivianne Loche. It's good to see you again, Arthur."
Arthur's eyes widened.
"You were on the beach in the Maldives," he said, finally recognizing her voice.
"That's right," she replied. "I wanted to say something at the time, but you didn't know yet and I didn't want to be the one to tell you. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I'm relieved to know I had someone looking out for me." He narrowed his eyes. "So—why are you here? What's up with all the spycraft? Do you not trust Morgan?"
Vivianne looked at the starry sky for a brief moment.
"Trust is a dangerous thing in my profession," she replied. "Frankly, no, I don't trust her. Even though she's my aunt, she was born and raised American: I can't trust her when it comes to matters of national security."
"National security?"
Vivianne sighed, looking back to the stars for guidance.
"Arthur, how much do you know about the power of the King?"
"In what way? His magical power or his political power?" he returned, which earned a smile from his niece.
"You're sharp," she said. "That's good. I suppose you already know, then, that the King is mostly a figurehead meant to project Britannia's power to the world. He does, of course, rule the country—he's a true monarch. But the King cannot be satisfied with physical or military or magical strength: he also has to appear strong."
Arthur nodded in comprehension.
"That's why he wants me to—" he began, before he remembered his oath of secrecy and decided to change his sentence mid-thought. "That's why he wants me to be the Crown Prince, to ensure that Britannia won't suffer from a power vacuum."
"More or less, yeah. Now, do you know what the main symbol of the King's power is?"
Arthur considered the question.
Magic? The King has historically always been an Ultimate magician.
The military? Though, the militaries of the States and the Empire both dwarf our own…
The Blessed Houses? No, the Blackstones are too much of an issue.
Oh.
There's only one answer.
"Excalibur," he stated.
"Correct."
Arthur couldn't wait to ask:
"Are you here to give Excalibur to me?"
Vivianne chuckled.
"If you prove worthy, yes," she said.
Arthur looked around suspiciously. The bench was rather well-lit, as was the area around it, and there was no sign of a sword or anything even barely resembling a sword.
"I do have it with me, Mr. Trevena," said Vivianne, before adding: "At least, I have quick access to it whenever I need it."
Arthur narrowed his eyes, but Vivianne just laughed.
"How about I first tell you about Excalibur, and then we'll see if you can use it?"
"Isn't it just a magic sword?"
"It can be many things," she said. "A sword is one of them, yes. But used correctly, it can also be a weapon of mass destruction, or an impervious shield against magic."
Vivianne extended her arm and pulled back her long, dark sleeve, revealing a vambrace along her wrist. It was clearly a magical tool, though it looked nothing like a sword; it was thin and contoured, barely noticeable underneath Vivianne's sleeve, but covered every inch in some of the most complex runes Arthur had ever seen.
"This is the main control unit for Excalibur," Vivianne explained. "I'm sure you've heard of the gravitational magic which prevents anyone other than a member of the Royal Family from picking up the blade, yes?"
Arthur nodded, examining the vambrace with enthusiasm.
"Well, that same gravitational magic is currently holding Excalibur in geosynchronous orbit with the Earth."
Arthur looked up, his shocked gaze met by Vivianne's own tempered excitement.
"You mean—Excalibur is floating above us right now?"
Vivianne nodded with a cocky grin, and as if to demonstrate, held out her hand and snapped her fingers.
After a couple seconds, the sword dropped from the sky directly between the pair, firmly embedding itself in the ground with precision and intent. Arthur jumped backwards in surprise, falling on to the bench and grasping at it for stability as he examined the relic before him.
Excalibur, for all its mythic glory, could hardly be considered anything other than 'plain' were it not for the intricate runes carved deep into the blade. It was a simple knight's longsword from the Middle Ages, though the materials of its construction were no doubt modern. The crossguard was the only ornate element and was carved with the crest of House Pendragon and a Latin phrase, likely some sort of motto or creed.
That looks like tungsten… it's probably very heavy, too heavy to use as a regular sword.
But what if the gravity magic changes that?
"Go ahead," said Vivianne. "Draw the sword."
Arthur gulped.
He reached out, gingerly wrapping one hand around the hilt before his other hand found the courage to join. An electric shock travelled through his fingertips and spread throughout his body—it was as if the sword was aware of him, and measuring his value as a potential master.
That electric tingle never ceased, though Arthur's boldness waxed full.
He focused all his strength on drawing the blade.
Vivianne smiled at the sight before her.
Arthur, good luck. You've got what it takes to see this through.
Become the Once and Future King the people are waiting for.