Arthur Hood: the Heir of Robin and King

Chapter Eleven

Fast. No, faster than fast. Faster than the wind in a hurricane.

And as their surroundings turned from a blur to a whipping murk of dark and light, Arthur squeezed Miss Eustace tighter. It felt like Much was about to take off, to soar off into the universe.

Any other time Arthur would question how this was possible for a horse to be this fast, but his thoughts were only on one thing. His parents. He couldn't help but shed a tear, it instantly flinging from his face and dispersing into the turbulent throng.

A jostle and a turn sent Bitty, Dolores and the other gnomes squeaking madly from behind and sent Arthur's arms digging further into Miss Eustace. Next, the light around them shone brightly before dimming as if they were galloping past a town or city. And this ebbing and flowing continued until eventually everything faded except for the sparse streaks made from the stars above.

'We're almost there,' Miss Eustace yelled, although Arthur only heard a whisper.

Shortly after, it was as if they had mounted a see-saw. Up and down they went, Arthur sure they were traversing hill after hill. Then, the falling stopped and they just continued to rise until Much began to slow.

All around the nightly murk started to clump together, forming the sky, the horizon, peaks and valleys below, a few wind swept trees and the grass under Much's hooves.

As gallops turned to trots, Arthur loosened his grip on Miss Eustace, peered over her shoulder and saw a burning torch perched on a water's edge, a thick fog beyond.

The sight sent shivers down his spine and for a brief second he thought Miss Eustace was going to take Much into the wet abyss but they stopped at the torch.

'Where are we? What is this place?' Arthur asked, as Much dropped his head and began quenching his thirst.

'You'll see,' Miss Eustace replied.

The horse's lapping seemed to grow louder and louder until it felt like he was about to drink all the water in the world but soon Arthur realized it wasn't Much who was making the noise.

Through the fog, he saw bubbles frothing at the surface of the water, it shaping into a narrow strip that disappeared into the gloom.

Hearing Arthur's heart race and a quiver in his breathing, Miss Eustace said, 'Don't worry, this is normal. Trust me, we're more than safe.'

Just then, stones emerged from the gurgling, rising out like the back of a gigantic scaly reptile.

'A bridge,' gasped Arthur, stunned. And despite the reassurance, and as Miss Eustace led Much onto the crossing, he was beyond scared.

Clop after clop they traversed the stone span and the fog became so dense that Arthur could barely see Miss Eustace in front of him.

Suddenly, however, as if a giant had come along and just blew it all away, the fog cleared.

Again, Arthur peered over Miss Eustace's shoulder and saw something spectacular. Out from the water, a craggy rock loomed into the air, it morphing into a spiraling tower.

'Whoa.' Arthur breathed.

'Welcome,' said Miss Eustace, 'to the Isle of Avalon.'

Arthur gasped. He couldn't believe it. From all the books that he had read, he knew of this place very well. 'The resting place of King Arthur.'

'That's correct.'

'And now it is where the Merry Knights gather,' added Bitty.

'The Shadow can't find us here?' Arthur asked.