• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

“Beware!” The words came from Gerard’s mouth without conscious thought. “Look out behind you!”

Part of Gerard wanted nothing more than to flee, to lash his horse into the fastest run it could manage, scooping Ailis up behind him, yelling for Newt, and having Ailis open a gateway back to Camelot—ideally directly into Merlin’s chambers.

Even as he was wishing that he could do all that, a cold, practical part of him was moving closer. He was still far enough away to avoid triggering an attack on himself, but near enough that he could see what was happening. He had to know, had to be able to make a full report…And if they catch me? Who will make a report then? The coward’s voice asked, trying to justify its fear. Let’s go, let’s get out of here!

Gerard forced that thought into oblivion, even as he felt the cold sweat dripping down his back and along the tops of his arms.

It’s all right to be frightened. The trick is not to let the fear rule you. A faint memory spoke, a lingering trace, perhaps, of the blood-spell Merlin had worked on them, giving them access to his wisdom and Arthur’s experience. Or maybe by now it was his own voice. Either way, the knowledge steadied him into doing what had to be done.

Sir Brand and Sir Daffyd had already dismounted, swords in their hands, when the spider-things appeared. Sir Ruden and Thomas were mounted, and their horses reared and shied away first, alerting them that something was wrong even as Gerard shouted his warning.

And then the creatures were swarming the four knights, covering them, their armor, swords, even daggers were useless. Brand disappeared under a wave of black, then Daffyd fell to the ground as though stunned. Thomas tried to spur his horse out of the way, but the things were moving up the horse’s legs now, and the horse shrieked, a huge, painful sound. It fell onto its side, lather poured from its mouth, and Thomas was likewise covered. Ruden sprang from the saddle and tried to run on foot. He looked up and saw Gerard, at least temporarily out of harm’s way.

“Run! Flee!” he shouted, and then he, too, was taken down by the creatures.

Poison, Gerard thought. They had to give off a poison, by bite or sting that stunned their victims. He had no idea what sort of creature could do that to a full-grown man or horse…other than something magical.

And that was perhaps the most foolish thought he’d ever had in his entire life. Of course it was something magical.

The tiny black things abandoned Brand, leaving behind a figure crisscrossed by shimmering white threads, like some kind of spiderweb spun of moonlight. But from the way Brand struggled uselessly against it, Gerard had to assume it was stronger than spider silk or moonshine. Thomas was next, then Ruden. The more they struggled, the more tightly they were bound. Ruden saw that and seemed to submit to his fate, allowing them to bind him.

“Lad!” Ruden called out to him, his voice weak behind the net but no less commanding. “Come, help us! Set us free!”

Against his better judgment, Gerard dismounted, patting the horse on its crest, soothing it as best he could. He studied a nearby tree cautiously, wondering if it, too, was enchanted in some way, then took the chance and tied his horse’s reins to a low-hanging branch. The slipknot was secure enough so that he wouldn’t have to worry about chasing after the foolish beast if it bolted, but not so firmly the beast couldn’t flee if the spiderlike things came after it.

Gerard really didn’t want to think about that. If the creatures went after his horse, it would mean that he had already been…consumed.

As he inched closer, ready with every step to flee back to safety, it looked as though the creatures were in no hurry to eat their captives or the horses, which had fallen motionless on the earth. Instead, the things were turning on their smaller brothers, binding and consuming them in messy gulps.

Better they eat each other. Fewer to fight, when it comes