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shook her head, recalling the simple plans she’d once made for her future. One thing she had learned since—life could be far too surprising to follow even the simplest of plans. But she hoped that, lurking darkness aside, she could at least hold on to her immediate plans for happiness.
    With a last caress of the golden wood, she wrapped the staff in its tattered blanket and slid it back under the bed. It clunked against the lunch box, and she felt an odd jolt of power tingle up her arm. She frowned. Could the staff be invested with power already? It certainly couldn’t be the lunch box. Could it? No. That was just a pretty gewgaw to carry someone’s sandwiches.
    Heather stood up and brushed the dust from her trousers, trying not to feel uneasy. She always felt uneasy around magic she didn’t understand. Then she laughed at herself. Since she didn’t understand
most
magic, she’d just better get used to it. And there wasn’t a lot of magic Earl
didn’t
understand. That thought banished her momentary unease, and smiling again, she hurried downstairs.

W EDDING
    I n a garden of the Manor, an old twisted oak spread branches over a stone bench. It was one of Duke Basil’s favorite spots. Now he sat there with Arthur. Hand resting on his potbelly, the Duke shook his white-fringed head.
    “Like I’ve said before, Arthur, I was skeptical at first of your claim to be
the
King Arthur, but your actions since then have assured me that, authentic or not, you are the man to unite Britain and end the fighting between all our petty little kingdoms and dukedoms.”
    Arthur laughed. “I appreciate your confidence, Basil, even if not your belief.”
    “Oh, I believe as much as I need, but I do somewhat draw the line at your teenage wizard. If you needed someone to play that part, couldn’t you have chosen someone more…wizardly-looking? Older at least?”
    When Arthur started to respond, Basil waved him off. “I know, I know. You’re claiming he really is this old guy who took care of you when you were a child thousands of years ago. Whatever story you want to put out is fine with me. But the boy has practically accused King Douglas of still having dealings with the enemy. That suggestion based on this kid’s vague suspicions and the order that all the Norfolk party be followed have not gone over well. A couple of Douglas’s men caught some of my guards going through their personal things. I had to intervene and apologize or Douglas and his people might have walked out.”
    “Thank you for your diplomacy, Basil. That was well done. Did the guards find anything incriminating, by the way?”
    “Nothing, though what that boy wizard wanted them to look for is beyond me. Ah, and speaking of the devil, I hope not literally, here comes the young man now.”
    Merlin was just entering the garden holding several rolls of parchment, orders for Arthur to sign. Arthur waved him over to the bench. “Merlin, Basil and I were just discussing your concern about Douglas and the Norfolk contingent. Is there something specific that’s bothering you about them?”
    Merlin frowned. “No. There is something amiss with them, but I can’t pin down what. It could be just an echo of their earlier alliance, or it could be something more immediate but very well shielded. There are so many people in the city now and so many low-level, maybe even unaware, magic workers that it’s difficult to sort out influences.”
    Basil gave a derisive grunt, and Arthur said hastily, “I’m afraid the Duke here is slightly skeptical of your wizardly powers. He was, after all, not with us at London or at the battle along the Wall or at other opportunities to see them demonstrated.”
    Merlin sighed at the not-unfamiliar situation. He nodded at Basil. “I am sorry, Your Grace, if my current appearance does not live up to my reputation. If it will set your mind at ease, I will be happy to perform some sort of demonstration.”
    Basil blushed and said, “No,