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Molly finally noticed something that she should have seen earlier. As Gwen bent down to smile maniacally at her, her long sleeve fell back to reveal an odd looking tattoo on the inside of her wrist. Groggily, she dragged her gaze to Gwen’s chest. Gwen always had some form of cross nestled between her breasts. Gwen thought that it protected her against the pagan magic that permeated Tintagel. But this Gwen wore nothing around her neck. Swallowing thickly, and feeling as if she were going to throw up all over the place, Molly’s muddled brain finally comprehended something that she should have noticed straightaway. If the woman standing before her wasn’t a shape shifter, and she wasn’t her Lady Gwen, then what or who was she?

“You’re not my Lady Gwen. I had thought you were possessed or that you were a shifter but this…” she stammered, though the pains in her head nearly made her groan aloud. “But if you’re not Lady Gwen, then who the hell are you?” She stared at the carbon copy of Gwen and struggled to wrap her head around it.

“I’m her evil twin, Lady Gwynne. “ The look-alike Gwen supplied, just as Molly fell into a troubled darkness.

* * * *

Molly awoke with a pulsing pain at the back of her head. By the feeling of things, she was in the back of a horse drawn cart, and every muscle in her body cried out in agony. The cart moved at an incredibly fast pace, no doubt speeding them away from Tintagel. She tried to open her eyes but found that the pain pounding in her head was too great. Sunlight seared her eyeballs, and she gasped, quickly shutting her eyes. Her stomach churned, and she felt as if she were going to throw up at any moment.

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Her hands and feet were securely bound. She tried to fight the bonds, but only managed to cut her wrists in the unsuccessful attempt. Every time the cart hit a rut or groove in the rugged trail, her teeth smashed together and the pulsing pain in her head became worse. Now, she knew why she liked the 21st century so much. They had all of the modern conveniences that made life so simple.

She concentrated intently, and tried to summon her magic, but whatever form of poison had been injected into her was still effectively suppressing her powers. She wanted to know how Gwen’s twin sister had smuggled her out of Tintagel. How had the madwoman managed to whisk her past her father’s Knights, and Lady Knights, without anyone trying to stop her? It was a conundrum that she didn’t even want to consider under the circumstances. She had never been this helpless before in her life.

She bit down on her lip to suppress the moan about to rip out of her, when she heard the muffled voices from the driver’s seat of the cart.

“We will never get away with this,” the one man said in a strange language. If she had not been magically enchanted to understand different languages in the future, he would have just been speaking gibberish. It was a damn good thing she was here on the second time around—

Merlin had fought against enchanting them to understand foreign languages, he had insisted that they learn a new language the old-fashioned way.

“Cease your constant prattling, and keep those filthy beasts moving. We must reach Dragon’s Fire Cliff by dusk. We are expected. If we keep my master waiting, you will not like what he will have in store for you. “

Molly was exhausted, and she wanted nothing more than to just let herself drift back to sleep, but she couldn’t. She had to dredge up an inkling of strength from somewhere and save herself. Why was it that when she truly needed someone to assist her, that someone never seemed to show up? It was a niggling quandary that never seemed to be answered. She was sick of being alone.

They suddenly hit a particularly jarring rut in the road and Molly went rolling to the other side of the cart where she slammed into something rock solid, and warm. Avalbane. She nearly said the word aloud, and her heart was beating so rapidly that she found it difficult to breathe.

Gwynne had successfully eluded everyone at Tintagel, by pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes. She knew for a fact that Gwen had no real talent for white magic so that could mean only one thing. Her twin would not have the talent for it either. The only way she could be using any sort of magic would be if she was dabbling in the dark arts, and was no doubt aligned with Lord Cardan. If as Gwynne admitted, she and Gwen were identical twins, how could one have a pure-as-driven-snow heart while the other one had a heart as black as coal?

Dread sliced through Molly’s being, as cold worked its way through her blood. She tried to sit up, but found that she was too sluggish to even wink. She was in a bad way. She closed her eyes, and prayed for help. For some reason, the only face that kept popping into her head was Collin’s. She could see him plain as day with his heart-stopping smile, windblown raven waves, and those eyes that said so much with just one magical sparkle.

Dear Lord, she needed to get a grip.

Avalbane hadn’t awakened yet, because she was emitting no sound whatsoever. That meant that she wouldn’t have any help getting away from their captors.

‘Wake up my friend, you must wake up!’ At her telepathic urging, Avalbane twitched.

Her heart soared. If Avalbane woke up, then maybe her job would become a bit easier.

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She strained her ears, and shook her head. She’d thought she’d heard the faint thundering of hoof beats in the distance, but that would be wishful thinking. Then again, one had to hold on to hope. She’d been alone for far too long. She hadn’t truly relied on someone for a very long time. True, she had been Adria’s fighting partner, but in those days, it had always been she that had ridden to the rescue. When Adria required it, and that wasn’t very often, she’d been the knight in shining armor.

She gasped loudly, but an ethereal mournful wail was heard on the wind right at the same moment, which concealed the noise she had made. So far, someone seemed to be working on her side.

“What the hell was that?” the man demanded, as Gwynne let out a prolonged snort.

“Nothing, you stinking coward. It ‘twas naught but the sound of the trees whispering in the wind. You need to keep your eyes on the road ahead. We must keep up a steady pace! Even now, my deception might have been detected. I do not look forward to having that pretender king, Arthur, after me. “

“Trees do not make that noise. These lands must be haunted. The legends must be true,”

the man said. He belched and followed it up with a long prolonged fart. Then, he let out a bellow of pain. “Keep your fists to yourself, woman,” he said. “I know these lands are haunted…

we will be terrorized by vengeful spirits!” he whined. The cart swerved, and righted itself before any damage could be done. Now all she had to do was ask Gwynne to go back and pick up her lost stomach. Whoa. Nausea tore at her insides.

“How can you be so certain? You are naught but a daft, not to mention crude, peasant.

Do not tire me with your womanly wailing,” Gwynne retorted snidely, just as a whizzing noise sliced through the air. Molly knew what that noise was, and a smile tore across her features, as the arrow hit its intended mark.

“Holy—” The driver’s voice broke off, and a gurgling noise filled the air. Molly tried to undo her ropes for about the millionth time. She squinted her eyes shut and grunted.

With all of her might, she tried to draw on her magic. Then, lowering her voice so that it would not be heard she muttered a magical incantation that would loosen her knots. Nothing.

She was truly cut off from using her magic.

Seconds later, the driver fell from the cart, and his body thudded against the ground as their speed increased. Gwynne had obviously taken a hold of the reigns. Dratted woman.

Granted, she didn’t know for certain if the man or woman that had fired the arrow was friend or foe, but anyone would be better than being taken to Lord Cardan.

She was bounced around again when the cart went hurtling over a giant groove. She slammed against the wooden plank side of the cart and actually heard one of her ribs crack.

Searing pain rushed through her body. She bit tightly on her lip to keep herself from crying out.

Blood dripped down her mouth and plopped onto the straw lining the bottom of the cart.

Wonderful, if Gwynne kept it up they’d be dead before they reached any destination.

Mustering her courage, she cracked her eyes open. Her inner voice screamed in agony, while outwardly, she grimaced slightly, and then with great difficulty she actually managed to sit up, only to be thrown to the other side of the cart again. Oh, man, at this rate, she’d have every single bone in her body broken into a million bits. Her broken rib was crying out for attention.

Her breath became labored. Whatever the poison was that had been injected into her bloodstream had begun to wreak hell on her body.

“Halt,” she heard a strong familiar male voice call out. Then a horrid smell filled her nostrils, followed by a loud crackling noise.

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Dark magic. Bile rose in her mouth. She swallowed quickly. Pain continued to ricochet through her body. Never in her long life had she ever been hurt this much within such a short amount of time. She had become the dreaded proverbial damsel in distress.

“Methinks Lady Gwynne has done the disappearing act,” she muttered. She lost her breath when they hit another large rut in the road. Her teeth banged together. Now she was in for it. No driver…and no Gwynne. Well, whoever had ridden to her rescue had made a severe miscalculation. Her life had taken a turn for the worse. The horses picked up speed as the cart careened out of control.

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“This isn’t good, not good at all,” Molly muttered, thumping against the side of the cart.

“Ouch. “ She grunted. Avalbane let out a pained growl, and then nudged her with the side of her head.

“Avalbane,” she breathed, staring anxiously at the Irish Wolfhound. “Can you use your magic, Avalbane? Please try, dear friend. “ She fluttered her eyelids closed when another wave of pain coursed through her.

The Wolfhound’s eyes glittered with sympathy and then the ropes tying her paws disappeared. “I love you, Avalbane. When we get out of this fix I’m going to make sure that you get the biggest steak imaginable. “ A coughing jag hit her and then she spit out a mouthful of blood. “Oh, that can’t be good. “ Avalbane barked. “I know, my friend, I’m so sorry. “

Avalbane’s eyes lowered to her bonds. Within minutes, the same electrical spark entered the familiar’s eyes.

Avalbane stared at her with her wide doleful brown eyes, and then Molly was freed from her bonds. “You’re simply the best. You will definitely win the familiar of the year award!” She reached for Avalbane and scratched her behind her ears. Avalbane let out a happy bark, and then her eyes glimmered with worry when Molly wheezed. “I’m fine, Avalbane. Though, I wouldn’t say no to a nice hot cup of Elvin Healing Potion right now. I literally hurt all over. “

Molly surprised herself by letting out a sound resembling a whimper. The pain had finally gotten to her head. Avalbane followed her as she scrambled toward the driver’s bench.

Two riders emerged from the surrounding forest, each approaching her at a mad gallop. One of them was most certainly Collin, but she couldn’t recognize the other man, though he radiated a bright light that made her want to close her eyes again.

“Avalbane, save yourself; I have to get these horses detached before the cart goes plunging over the cliff. Move it, you mangy wolfhound,” she grunted, wincing against the harshness of her tone. Avalbane hesitated slightly. Her eyes began to spark. “Don’t even think about it, Avalbane. You know you don’t have the strength for such an intricate usage of magic.

You go, while you still can. I can’t be a very good new witch if I don’t have my familiar, now can I?”

Avalbane cocked her head to the side. Hesitation gleamed in her eyes. She felt Avalbane’s anxious thoughts touch her mind.

“I’ll be fine, really. “ Avalbane barked, and then gave her an affectionate nudge. With one giant leap Avalbane was safely off the cart, and she was alone. She was trying desperately to detach the cart from the horses’ harness, but for some reason her fingers wouldn’t obey her mind.

“Need some assistance?” a soft voice said from behind her. She knew that voice, even though the person speaking wasn’t supposed to meet her for another four hundred years.

Rolling her eyes heavenward, she mouthed the words, “Not again. “ The timeline had taken yet another turn. However, this turn was definitely not for the worse.

“Yes, I do, thank you,” she muttered, chancing a brief glance at him. He raised his hand and in a flash the horses were free, but they were still hurtling toward the cliff at an impossible LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 78

speed. “Now what?” She fell against his chest and pain exploded behind her eyes. She was short of breath and she felt almost as if she were having an asthmatic attack.

“Take my hand. “ He extended his hand to her, and she felt a thrill race through her body. She stared up into his deep blue eyes and sighed at the magic that twinkled within them.

“Your mother sends her love, Molly. “ He winked, grasped her hand tightly, and in a streak of light they were gone.

They reappeared in front of a very frustrated Collin.

“Are you all right, Molly?” Collin asked, his voice ripe with emotion. His maddened visage melted, and in its place was an expression filled with tenderness and worry. Since she was so weakened, she could barely do anything to keep Collin from gathering her into his arms.