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anything about staying in your room that long. Just till we’re out of the way, that’s all. A few days, maybe.”
    “A few
days
? But who’ll exercise Alba? She has to go out, and nobody but me can ride her.”
    “The Avalonian boy will take her out with his horse.” Sir Bors frowned at her. “Now be sensible, huh? I’m sure you don’t want everybody gossiping about how Rhianna Pendragon had to be locked in the dungeon like a naughty squire to keep her out of mischief.”
    Rhianna stared at the big knight in disbelief.
    “I’ll order it, Rhianna,” he warned. “Unlessyou give me your promise now, on your father’s sword, that you’ll not ride north after us. Well…? I’m waiting.”
    She glared at him, too furious at how he’d tricked her to remain meek. “I’m the Pendragon! You should do what
I
say.”
    “No, Rhianna, you know that’s not how it works here. Your father, King Arthur, was one voice among many. He made the Round Table so he’d never misuse his power, and we’ve voted on this. You and that fool Bedivere are the only ones who seem to think it a good idea that we take you into Mordred’s bloodthirsty hills and hand you over to him to do with as he likes. He’s already killed your father and got our queen in chains. Even the Romans couldn’t handle those wild northern tribes. They built that Wall for a good reason, and you’re goin’nowhere near it, even if I have to lock you in the dungeon for the entire summer for your own safety. So do you promise, or do I ask these men to escort you down there now?”
    Rhianna felt dizzy at the very thought. She glared at the sentries. One of them gave an embarrassed cough. But they stepped forward, ready to take hold of her arms if need be. Sir Bors held out the bundled Excalibur, its jewel poking out of the end.
    She closed her eyes. It wasn’t too late. She could snatch Excalibur back, call on the other ninety-nine knights to help her… but this was clearly a test, and she had more chance of getting out of her room than getting out of a locked dungeon.
    She took a deep breath, placed her hand on the jewel and looked Sir Bors in the eye.

    “I promise not to
ride
north after you,” she said through gritted teeth.
    She’d walk the whole way, if she had to.
    Sir Bors’ eyes narrowed. “A Pendragon never breaks a promise. You know that, don’t you?”
    “And I won’t break mine!” Rhianna said, thinking of her cousin breaking his knightly oath to kill her father. “But if Mordred hurts my mother…”
    “Good girl.” Sir Bors gave her one of his unexpected, gruff hugs. “That little traitor Mordred won’t harm a hair of the queen’s head while I still live and breathe, I promise you that.”
    This did not make Rhianna feel much better. She hated to think of the big knight lying dead in the wild northlands, because of her.

    When the knights rode out the next morning, pennants flying from their lances, Rhianna could only watch in frustration from her tower window. Cai trotted proudly in the middle of the troop on his pony, carrying the cloak-wrapped sword strapped to his saddle. The sun had not yet risen, and they soon disappeared over the bridge and into the mist.
    She glared at the door. The two sentries still stood outside. She had heard them all night, shifting their feet. One of them had an annoying cough. She wondered when they would sleep. Not soon enough.
    She was leaning out of the window to see if Elphin was taking the mist horses out yet, when Arianrhod came in with her breakfast.
    “My lady!” Arianrhod dropped the tray onthe bed and hurried across the room to grab her sleeve.
    “Oh, stop it,” Rhianna said. “I wasn’t going to jump, silly. They’ve gone now, anyway. I just hope they don’t get any blood on Excalibur so I can’t take it back to Avalon for my father.” A lump came to her throat.
    The other girl hugged her. “Oh, Rhia… I know you wanted to go as well, but the knights are right. It would have