Sword of Light by KATHERINE ROBERTS Page A

wrong end of the poker.
    “Don’t swear at me,” his mother snapped. “I’m doing my best to help you. Now, you must try again.”
    “Why?” Mordred didn’t see why he had to endure more pain just to spy on his own men. “Can’t you send your shadrake again?”
    “Forget the dragon!” snapped the witch. “The creature appears to have a mind of its own. If Merlin’s tried the spirit transfer with a shadrake, he’s crazier than I thought – but we don’t need it any more. Use the power of your fist. Your man has no idea of the importance of the girl he captured. You must tell him before it is too late.”
    Mordred saw the sense in this. When the pain had eased, he sent his shadow back. It was easier this time. The captive knight had gone. Dawn showed at the door of thehut. The bloodbeards were sitting up, rubbing their eyes and yawning.
    Mordred concentrated hard and made his gauntleted fist crawl across the floor to seize the captain’s ankle. The man lifted a foot to kick the thing away, then froze as he saw Mordred’s shadowy form in the doorway.
    “M-master?” he whispered, rubbing his eyes again.
    “Yes, it’s me,” Mordred snapped. “What are you up to? Where’s the girl gone?”
    “I… I’m not sure, Master. I had the strangest dream.” The bloodbeard frowned at the empty frame and the cut ropes.
    He groaned, as if only just noticing his prisoner had gone.
    “That was no dream, you fool!” The effort of holding the man’s ankle with his severedfist made Mordred even more impatient than usual. “She’s escaped, hasn’t she? Along with that knight you were questioning. Get after her! That ‘village girl’ you so stupidly left with the Saxon chief is King Arthur’s daughter. I want her caught and brought to me at once. I hope you persuaded the knight to tell you what they did with my uncle’s sword, because if my cousin gets hold of Excalibur before I do, your life won’t be worth living. Go!”
    Mordred tried to snatch up the poker to reinforce his message, but his control wavered. The hut vanished, leaving him panting and dizzy on his bed of rock.
    “Good,” his mother said from the mirror. “Unfortunately, I don’t think you’re strong enough yet to do that very often. But your men should be suitably motivated now.Don’t worry, my son. We have other tricks to play. Our troublesome damsel won’t get much further.”

7
Battlefield
    Ghosts and fears Rhianna did tame
    To reach the lake with Nimue’s name.
    Her nerve was tested many times more
    As she quested for that magic shore.
    T hough Rhianna wanted to gallop as fast and far from the Saxon camp as possible, she knew Cai would only fall off if they did. They trotted as fast as they dared, keeping the bay horse between them, while the boy cast nervous glances at the sky and muttered aboutMordred’s spies flying in the dark. The night was very still and fog wrapped them in a damp blanket. To begin with, Rhianna couldn’t think why it seemed so quiet. Then she realised Elphin had slipped his harp back into its bag, concentrating instead on making Evenstar mist across their prints to confuse their trail.
    She started to worry about Sir Bors, who had not stirred since they’d rescued him from the Saxon camp. At first she hadn’t really wanted the big knight to wake up, in case he stopped them going to the lake to look for the sword. But the further they went, the more unnatural his sleep seemed. What if they ran into another band of Mordred’s men out here in the dark? Her wrist still felt cold where the dark gauntlet had gripped it. She didn’t know if she could fight.
    “Can’t you heal him with your magic?” she whispered to her friend, glancing at the unconscious knight.
    Elphin shook his head. “Sorry, Rhia.” His reins lay loose on his horse’s neck, and she noticed spots of blood in Evenstar’s mane.
    “Your hands!” she said in concern.
    He curled his blistered fingers in embarrassment. “It’s the