End Game Read online

  I nodded and headed to the orange brick road. My knights followed.

  We found Nimue sitting on a lounge chair sipping lemonade by a swimming pool complete with fountain and dolphins. The dolphins were serenading a smiling Nimue.

  Lounge chairs for me and my knights appeared alongside Nimue. She pointed to the chair next to her. “Come, Gwen, sit,” she told me. I did as I was told.

  Nimue pointed to the other chairs. “All of you, please sit also.”

  My knights did as told.

  The dolphins swam up to us with drinking glasses and pitchers of lemonade and ice tea.

  “Drink?” Nimue said.

  “I’ll take a lemonade,” I told the dolphin offering to serve me. One dolphin spun the glass in the air and flipped it forward with its back fin. Caught it and then poured the lemonade.

  “It’s fresh squeezed,” Nimue said proudly.

  “It’s so good!” Paulie said.

  “Yeah,” Gail agreed.

  “I love dolphins,” Mika said.

  “Can I have both lemonade and ice tea?” Lance asked.

  “Me too!” Sebastian said.

  “Of course,” Nimue said. “I want you all to be happy.” She snickered. “Before I turn you all into shoe insoles.”

  “Wait, what?” I said.

  Nimue laughed and waved at me. “Chill Gwen. That most likely won't happen. Since you got past the sword's swords and my cute little Moba, I am assuming your quest is worthy of my time.”

  “It is,” I assured her.

  “Okay then, tell me.”

  “The sword has been calling to me. I met it on the astral plane and it had me battle a dragon,” I said.

  Nimue nodded. “Yes, it is a sword, it lives to fight. That is why so many want it and crave it. It gives them power.”

  “That’s the thing, Morgana of all people says she doesn’t want the sword. That she is keeping it to prevent others from taking its power.”

  Nimue sat back in her chair, she put her arms behind her head. She sniffed herself. “Phew still fresh. That would have been so embarrassing if you all passed out, again.” She looked at me. “Morgana is playing the role of gatekeeper, huh. Interesting. A being of Morgana’s power might rival me in power, if she grabbed the sword.”

  “Would the sword let her take it?” Gail asked.

  Nimue nodded. “The sword is not a creation of pure good like the cup of knowledge. It’s a sword, it seeks power. It likes destruction. There was a time when it served a purpose. The world was violent and filled with warlords and other bad characters. They would only listen to power. But I believe that time has passed. The sword has served its purpose.”

  “Then why don’t you take the sword and get rid of it?” Paulie asked.

  Nimue frowned. “I'm afraid to touch the sword again. My power has grown so much over the centuries. I used to be able to keep it in check. But now...my power when combined with the sword. Wow. I might just turn you all to dirt and live in a nice quiet world and see what grows. I don't want that. Therefore, I can't touch the sword."

  “But you can control it with magic?” I asked.

  “I can isolate it and make sure it never bothers anybody again. That’s part of the reason why I am here on this island. This island can be used to trap the sword.” Nimue said. She pointed at me and said, “You just need to bring it to me.”

  “Oh, that’s all I have to do,” I said sarcastically.

  Nimue pulled back in her chair. “I like your attitude.” She waved a finger at me. “But don’t do it again.”

  “Right,” I said sinking into my chair.

  “Look, Gwen, I'm not perfect. If I touched the sword I might still be able to control it...but I might not. Therefore, the best thing is for you to grab it, fight off its influence and then bring it to me asap.”

  "None of that will be easy," I said.

  "Nope. Most stuff worth doing isn't easy. Doing the hard stuff is what makes us...us," Gwen said.

  “Pretty easy to say from a woman who can snap her fingers and do anything!” Sebastian noted.

  Nimue snapped her fingers. Sebastian turned into a giant potato.

  “The finger snap is for show, it takes great concentration and knowledge. I see the strings that hold the universe together and I can rearrange them. It is not easy at all.” She blew on her fingernails. “I just make it look easy.”

  “So that's my plan then...to take a hold of Excalibur and bring it to you?” I asked, just to clarify.

  Nimue nodded. “Yes.”

  “And if I fail?” I asked.

  “My guess is that Kristi will try to claim the sword, and that would be BAD!” Nimue said. “She pretty much rocks with power now. She and the sword would be a dangerous situation for the world. If not the universe. If not all the universes…”

  “Is Kristi really that bad?” Mika asked.

  POOF! Mika turned into a giant tomato.

  “Yes, yes she is,” Nimue said. Crossing her arms she asked. “Any more questions?”

  Lance raised his hand.

  “Yes, dear boy?” Nimue asked.

  “Do you trust that Morgana really and truly doesn’t wish to grab the sword?” he asked.

  “Now that is a good question!” Nimue said.

  “Thanks,” Lance answered breathing a sigh of relief.

  Nimue looked up at the sky. She twiddled her fingers. “I'd like to think it is true. It will make your lives much easier if you don't have to go through both Morgana and Kristi to bring me the sword. Don’t underestimate Morgana as she is quite powerful. I have a hard time reading her. She is a fickle one.” She smiled. “But let's all hope for the best.” She took a sip of her lemonade. “Now, any other questions before I get back to my meditating?”

  “Ah, once I get the sword how do you suggest I get it back to you?” I asked. “I’m thinking the faster I do it, the better. And well Juan’s boat isn’t all that fast.”

  “Just click your heels together three times and say, I’m not in Kansas anymore…” Nimue said.

  “I do not believe that quote is being used correctly?” Lance said.

  POOF! Lance transformed into a giant banana.

  “Ha, now he’s even more appealing,” Nimue laughed.

  Paulie, Gail and I all laughed along with her.

  “Good one,” Paulie giggled.

  “Funny!” Gail said, though from the look on her face she didn’t really get it.

  Nimue seemed to enjoy the fact that everyone liked her fruity tricks.

  However, I was over the games and wanted some straight answers, “Can you answer my question now, please?”

  “Gwen, I told you. Kick your heels together and say, I’m not in Kansas anymore. It will transport you and the sword back here to me.”

  “What about my knights?” I asked.

  “Sure if they want to come, the more the merrier.”

  “Thank you for your time,” I told Nimue.

  “Hey, I live to serve.”

  Standing up slowly I said, “We’ll be returning to the boat now.”

  Nimue waved her hand at us. Gail, Paulie, Lance, Mika, Sebastian and I appeared back on Juan’s boat and in their original condition...no more fruit and veges!

  Juan looked us all over. “You all seem to have all your parts. I assume it went well.”

  “As well as can be expected,” I told him. “She wants us to bring the sword to her and she will dispose of it.”

  “Do you think you can trust her?” Juan asked.

  “I don't think we have a lot of choices. I honestly don't think we can do this without her.”

  Juan nodded, grinned and played with his mustache. “You are wise. Sometimes no matter who we are we must rely on others.” He winked. “Of course, it’s always nice to have a plan B.”

  “I guess my plan B would be to take the sword and use it to defeat Nimue."

  “Nice to know you have considered that.” He fired up the boat. “Now let's get your peop
le back. I bet you homework to do.”

  My thoughts: Well now I had a clear course of action. I would take the sword from the museum and then return it to the island where Nimue would remove the sword from this realm. Yes, it was a very vague course of action. The type of plan that was a lot easier to say than to do, but at least it was a plan. Now I had to figure out the best way to steal the sword from the museum. At least with Morgana helping I should have a chance.

  Of course, I had to deal with my own thoughts about my limitations. Was I up to this challenge? I had to be. Could I control the sword? I had to.

  Chapter 9: Dream State

  That night I got home and had a nice quiet dinner with my parents. I filled them in on the situation and my plans. It’s always easier to figure out my future when I have my parents and food. Dinner tonight was one of my favorites, pasta with vegies and salad.

  Dad swirled some pasta around his fork. “You had a busy day. But it sounds like this weekend will be even busier.”

  “The sword goes on display on Saturday and Sunday.” My brain was swirling, it was so close!

  “When does it arrive in town? How’s it getting here?” Mom asked.

  “I don’t know. Why?”

  “It makes sense it would be easier to switch out the sword when it’s on the way here then when it’s on display,” Dad said.

  “That’s a great point!” Parents can be helpful. I pulled out my phone. “This sounds like a job for Bart.”

  GWEN>Hey, Bart. I need a fav.

  BART>Let me guess it has something to do with a sword

  GWEN>I need the sword’s travel schedule

  BART>Ah so we nab in route

  BART>I like it

  BART>Makes sense!

  BART>Give Brett and I an hour or 2.

  GWEN>Great.

  “Okay I’ll have the schedule soon, your idea for a fake Excalibur is a good one. Not sure how I will get one though.”

  “Well the good news is that very few people have actually seen the sword,” Mom cleverly pointed out.

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  Dad stood up. “I have something that may be able to help. I’ve been working on it in the basement. Lance has been helping with feedback.”

  “Ah, okay,” I said. Turning to mom, “Did you know about this?”

  “How could I not? He’s been working on it for a while now. He figured out a long time ago you might need to swipe the sword.”

  Dad came back into the kitchen carrying a sword. A sword with a sparkling blade and a jeweled helm. “Morgana has been very careful to not allow any photos of the real Excalibur so I had to create it from Lance's memory.”

  I jumped up from the chair. I looked at the sword. “It’s pretty darn close. It won’t fool Morgana or Kristi or Nimue, but it should fool pretty much anybody else.” I touched the sword. It had a nice weight to it. “How’d you make this?”

  “Three-D printer,” Dad smiled.

  “A very expensive one,” Mom added.

  “A very nice one!” he added.

  “Well it was well worth it,” I said looking at the sword with my eyes wide open.

  I walked up to dad and hugged him. “Thanks, dad.”

  “Hey, your mom and I will do whatever we can to help.”

  “Agreed,” Mom smiled.

  “I can’t tell you guys how much I love you both,” I had a tear in my eye.

  “We love you too kiddo,” Dad’s voice was full of emotion.

  I hugged them both again. It's weird maybe Morgana was trying to help me by sending me to this time, turning me into a kid but letting me keep my memory. I could really appreciate what it was like to have a mom and dad who cared about me...who wanted me to have my own life and to succeed on my own terms. I thought back to the days when I was with my original parents.

  I sat on my bed saddened. “But mother and father I do not wish to leave! I like our land, our people. My home.”

  “What you like does not really matter,” father scolded. “The young King Arthur is single. You are not ugly. He can bring wealth to our family and therefore our people.”

  “Yes,” my mother agreed.

  “But what if I don’t love him?” I asked.

  Dad snickered, “Do you think I love your mother?”

  “I would hope so,” I said.

  “Silly child, ours is a marriage of convenience. I wanted her father’s lands. Her father wanted my protection.”

  “Tis true,” Mom said. “Though over the years, I have grown fond of your father.”

  “And I have accepted your mother as an acceptable wife,” Father said. He pointed at me. “Now you marrying Arthur will give us more power. Truthfully, I never thought much of the boy, but has that sword. That sword can make a difference. That sword can turn a sham of a boy into a man of power. I am so happy you will be with the man who commands the sword.”

  “Does the man really command the sword?” I asked. “It appears that the sword may command the man.”

  “You think too much for a woman,” my mother scolded.

  I came back to the present and hugged my parents even harder. They say blood is thicker than water. But the bond between a child and the adults that raise them can be thicker than blood. I felt so much closer to these two than I ever did towards my real parents. I shared no blood with Maude and Claude but I shared more than that: common goals and ideals. They wanted me to be the person I wanted to be. They didn’t care about what I could get them. Or what I could do for them. They truly loved me for me. I so loved them for that.

  Funny though, how even back in those days, I still had my reservations about the sword.

  Mom and Dad both looked at me. “Ah, I see you’re remembering another memory from the past,” Mom said.

  Yes, these two knew me so well.

  I grinned and nodded. “Yes, I now recall that even in the past I had my concerns over Excalibur. I’m sure my parents back then didn’t care or thought I was crazy.”

  Dad looked into my eyes, “Honey we know you’re not crazy.”

  “Well maybe crazy like a fox,” Mom smiled.

  “This has been great guys. But I really have to go upstairs and get some homework done. Even the teachers who know who I am...still expect me to do homework," I groaned.

  I found Merlin asleep on my bed. “Yo cat, wake up!” I shouted. “It’s not like you to miss dinner.”

  “Would you believe I was so worried about your quest to see Nimue that I couldn’t eat?”

  “Nope, not for a second.”

  “Smart girl. I knew you could handle it. I had a HUGE lunch. Your mom and dad grilled chicken. I love chicken.” Merlin finally noticed the sword in my hand. “I see your dad has finally given that to you.”

  “Yes, isn’t it cool?”

  Merlin nodded. “It won’t fool Morgana of course. But if Morgana is truly on your side then that won’t matter.”

  “Do you trust, Morgana?” I asked.

  “She turned me into a cat,” Merlin replied sarcastically.

  “So that would be a no?”

  Merlin spat a furball out. He looked at it. “Yuck,” he said. “And yes that's a no, but not a firm no.”

  “Excuse me?” I asked.

  Merlin yawn and stretched. “Normally, I don't trust her. But when it comes to Excalibur and keeping it away from her mom or other forces, I can see how she could want things to remain the way they are.”

  “Do you really think she’d help me to steal Excalibur from her?”

  “I don’t believe she would have at first. I believe she nabbed it to try to control it but she learned she couldn’t and then she wanted to safely dispose of it,” Merlin told me.

  “You believe she wants me to take it?”

  Merlin nodded. “I do. As long as you keep it safe and get rid of it.”

  “That is my plan,” I assured him.

  “Good, then we have a chance.”

  I decided to jump into my homework. It seemed to be some
thing I had more control over than well the rest of my world. I had a history test coming up and I wanted to be prepared. History was one of my favorite subjects. I guess it was at least partly because I was a part of history. This marking period, we were studying World War One. As a past and possible future leader, I knew the importance of studying past wars. While all wars are particularly dumb and a waste of lives and resources I thought World War One seemed to be one of the most stupid wars of all time. Leaders kept throwing their people into the battle without thought for the consequences. The more I read, the sadder I became. In those days, the technology wasn't there to actually report on how terrible the battles were. Therefore, the leaders led the people on. If I ever do become a leader in this world...I pledge that I will lead with the truth. I know the importance of information.

  Glancing at the clock, I saw it was only eight o'clock, yet I felt super tired. I let my head rest on my desk for a few moments. I figured I’d just take a brief 20-minute nap. My head touched down the on the desk. My eyes closed and I drifted off.

  I found myself floating. Hovering in front of me...I saw a sword.

  “Hello, Gwen,” the sword said.

  “Hello,” I replied cautiously.

  “I see you’ve been studying up on me,” the sword suggested. “You were shielded from me while you were with Nimue. What did you talk to her about?”

  “You,” I told it.

  “Yes, I am aware. I would like more details, Gwen.”

  I thought about lying but instead said, “I wanted to know if she thought I could destroy you.”

  The sword laughed. “Why would you want to destroy me? I can help you bring peace to the world. I am the answer to all your dreams and fears. With me, none will be able to stand up to you. You will not die….”

  “I’m not sure I can control you,” I told the sword.

  The sword bent up and down, which I took to be it nodding. “You are wise to wonder that. I come with great power. The type of power that can change a lesser person or even a strong person with a strong ego.” After a slight delay, “But Gwen you can handle me.”