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“We won’t be left behind so easily, you know,” she said. “Next you’ll tell me you plan on leaving Hawl, too.”

I looked away guiltily.

“By the Three, Morgan,” Lancelet exploded. “Why bring any of us in that case?”

“Why bring you? I couldn’t have stopped you. And back then...” I stopped. “It didn’t seem real. Not until...”

“Not until Gawain.”

I nodded. “But now...”

It seemed the time had come. I told her what Amara had told me about Guinevere. About what the shielding was doing to her.

When I was through, Lancelet looked shaken.

“Now you understand,” I said softly. “I won’t let there be another Rychel. Not if I can help it. Not when Guinevere is so special to you, Lancelet. You both deserve some happiness. Not to die on some miserable mountain.”

“Not to die by my best friend’s side, saving our world, you mean?” The look Lancelet gave me made me flinch.

“I already know you’re self-sacrificing. You don’t need to prove that to me or to anyone. We already know only one person can destroy these things.” I gestured to Excalibur curved in its sheath at my side. “And it’s me. Me. Not you. Not Guinevere. Not Hawl. So while I appreciate the loyalty and the spirit, I won’t let you all be collateral damage just because you’re all too stubborn to see my point of view.”

Lancelet was still shaking her head, so I went for the kill.

“Besides, do you think Guinevere would really survive out here on her own?” I said brutally. “Alone? You think she’s capable of that?”

“She’d have Hawl,” Lancelet said. But she looked uncertain.

“Sure. A Bearkin. And they’re incredible. But two protectors will always be better than one. You know that.”

“Why not let Hawl join you at least? You know they’ll be devastated if you try to leave them,” Lancelet insisted.

“No. Draven and I will go alone. Just us. That’s it.” I bit my lip. “And I swear to you, Lancelet, I’d leave him, too, if I could manage it.”

She stared at me. “I really think you would.”

A bird called above us, and I lifted my eyes to see Tuva circling off in the distance.

“That damned bird. Half the time I forget she’s with us,” I complained, trying to change the subject.

Lancelet sniffed. “Try having her in your tent with you during... you know.”

I burst out laughing. “No! Really?”

Lancelet looked grumpy. “Really. Just once, but that was enough. It was raining outside. I guess she didn’t want to get wet.”

I laughed again. “You had a tryst with an owl.”

She punched me in the shoulder. “That is not how I would describe it, and if you ever say that again, I’ll...”

“You’ll what?” I was still snickering. “Make me eat moths?”

“Oh, I’ll do worse than that,” she threatened, stepping towards me.

I shrieked. “You’d have to catch me first.”

And then I was flying through the camp, pebbles under my feet.

I raced by Hawl who looked up in confusion from their cooking.