Ruins of Camelot Read Online Free PDF Page A

a roll of her eyes.  "I've seen the way you two wrangle.  A lot less blade, a lot more lips.  Although it might be instructive for some of the people around here."
    Soon enough, Gabriella's name was called from the floor.  She stood up so quickly that a wave of dizziness rolled over her.  Darrick grabbed her hand, supporting her, and she recovered quickly.
    "Good luck, Princess," he said, smiling faintly.
    Goethe was already on the floor as Gabriella made her way down the worn stone steps.  The son of a disgraced army commander, Goethe had hair so short that it was barely a discolouration on his sweaty scalp.  His eyes were cold and grey as he surveyed her, fingering his weapon.  Gabriella's heart sunk as she saw the battle-axe in his hand.  Its haft was easily as tall as she was.  The iron head bore a hammer on one side and a curved blade on the other.  It looked as if it could hack clean through Gabriella's gleaming gold and steel armour.  She drew her own sword as she crossed the floor to meet him.  The metallic ring of the blade leaving its scabbard sounded pathetically small on the battle floor.
    There was no preamble from Barth this time.  He examined both weapons briefly, nodded to himself, and returned to his bench.
    "Begin!" he commanded.
    Goethe tucked his chin and crouched slightly, flexing his knuckles on the haft of his axe.  Gabriella raised her shield and sword, crossing them before her as she had been taught.
    Goethe struck first, lunging forwards with the haft of his axe, aiming for Gabriella's exposed left side.  She feinted right and angled her shield to deflect the blow.  The clank of wood on metal rang out over the theatre.  The gathered students cheered and booed variously.
    "Your father had my father tortured," Goethe said in a hoarse whisper.  His face was completely impassive, almost bored.
    "My father has good reason for whatever he does," Gabriella replied under her breath.  "Your father is protecting villains worse than himself."  She was already panting heavily, more out of nervousness than effort.  She darted forwards and raised her shield, meaning to deflect Goethe's axe and strike his thigh with the flat of her sword.  The blow that fell upon her shield felt more like a millstone however, and her sword swung short, striking the floor and spitting sparks.
    "Point and fault," Barth called.
    "Your whole family will pay the price when Merodach comes to power," Goethe growled.
    Gabriella was so shocked that she nearly lowered her sword.  "Your father never admitted…!"
    Goethe spun to strike, drawing his axe around in a sweeping arc, hammer first.  Gabriella saw it coming and reacted instinctively, dropping to a crouch and angling her shield over her.  The blunt nose of the axe rang off her shield and nearly drove her to the floor.  Angrily, she jabbed with her sword, but Goethe parried her blow easily with the haft of his axe.
    "Point and fault," Barth barked again.
    Gabriella's face felt hot with mingled embarrassment and rage.  She leapt to her feet and angled her sword before her.
    "Once my father hears that you've mentioned that name…"
    "I will deny it, and you will look a fool," Goethe rasped, his eyes boring into hers as he circled.  "After all, Merodach is just a bogeyman for frightening children, is he not?"
    Gabriella realised that no one else could hear her opponent's whispered words over the sound of their scuffling feet and the occasional cheers and jeers of the observers.  She tried to attack again, but Goethe sidestepped and pummeled her with his shield.
    "Soon, all of Camelot will know the truth about Merodach and his army," the bigger boy breathed.  He grinned, showing filthy, yellow teeth.  "You and your father will learn it first."
    Gabriella had heard enough.  She narrowed her eyes over her shield and spun around.  Goethe saw what she was doing and leant to meet her sword as it came around, but Gabriella's shield came up first, catching the boy