The Seven Swords Read Online Free PDF Page A

must come to the Otherworld this time as well and go to the Great Library of Sylvan. I need you to do some research for us.”
    â€œOkay . . . ,” Kynder said cautiously, taking the pebble.
    Merlin cleared his throat and said ominously, “The children cannot know what I am about to tell you. Promise you won’t tell them.”
    Kynder’s grip on the little stone tightened. “Okay, I promise,” he said hollowly, almost like the wizard was casting a spell on him.
    â€œMorgaine, Lordess of Fenland, made Artie. I know it sounds crazy. But King Arthur needed to return so he could get Excalibur and free me. And I needed to be freed so that Morgaine could try to kill me. She never could have reached me in the invisible tower. It was my prison, but it was also my refuge. Her plan went awry—she never intended for Artie to be stolen from her—but the end result is the same. I stand here before you a free wizard.”
    â€œWhoa,” Kynder said, his hairs rising along his neck.
    â€œI know. Now, this is what I need your help with. According to the Lady of the Lake, it’s not just Morgaine who wants to kill me. Excalibur does too. I need you to find out why the sword wants me dead.”
    Kynder pursed his lips. “Okay,” he said, feeling a little dazed. “But what should we tell Arthur?”
    â€œWe’ll tell Artie that you’re being sent to the Library to try to discover the identity of the person who wields the Peace Sword.”
    â€œGot it,” Kynder said, clutching the pebble with purpose. Already he could feel the Otherworld’s power pulsing through it.
    This time, when his kids went to the Otherworld, Kynder Kingfisher would be going too.

4 - IN WHICH QWON HAS THE DISTINCT PLEASURE OF MEETING SHALLOT LE FEY
    Once again Dred carried Qwon up and down many stairs, and in and around many turns. The effect was disorienting; she had about zero idea of where she was being taken.
    Eventually he stepped outside and walked the length of a long portico. Birds chittered and trilled. The air was still.
    They stopped at the end of the portico, and Dred dropped Qwon onto the damp flagstone. He knelt and uncorked a small bottle and held it to her lips. She drank eagerly, knowing it would allow her to move. But before she could drink it all, Dred pulled the vial away. She could hold her head up, but couldn’t move the rest of her body yet.
    â€œYou can talk, if you like,” Dred said matter-of-factly. His voice had a nasal quality it lacked before, like he was really, really stuffed up.
    Qwon started to ask, “I can?” but all that came out was a weak “Ike?” Her body, still mostly paralyzed, wasn’t quite ready to speak.
    Talking was not what she wanted to do, though. What she wanted to do was scream. She wanted to snatch the sword from Dred’s belt and show him a thing or two about how to use it. She wanted to see her kidnapper’s face, but he was still wearing that stupid helmet. So annoying.
    Dred studied this girl. He’d never seen one like her before. Her hair was thick and black and straight and cut like a boy’s. Her dark, unwavering eyes were slightly slanted. Her face was flat and broad, and her cheeks were high and round.
    He thought she was pretty, but he wasn’t about to say so.
    â€œWho’re you? Where’s’iss place?” Qwon’s mouth was starting to feel better, and she was regaining the ability to form clear words.
    â€œYou heard. I’m Mordred. And you know where you are. Castel Deorc Wæters.”
    Qwon shook her head, never allowing her gaze to shift from the narrow slit in Dred’s faceplate.
    For the first time, the oddness of the helmet registered with her. Its general shape was unremarkable, like an upside-down, handleless pot with a crease rising from the forehead. A section was cut out for Dred’s face, but this was covered with the faceplate,