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as the first butterfly landed on a perfect, green apple. Everyone sat on the edges of their seats as the insect walked around the orb and settled near the stem. Then magically, the color of the fruit started to change and a bright hue of red spread from the top of the fruit, covering everywhere green had been. Rhys turned and started off to the reception area as the court erupted in applause.
    There would be speeches and thanks and other niceties before they would retire to the tents for breakfast, but he was never one for pomp and ceremony. He found diplomacy excruciatingly boring. When he arrived at the tents, the men were bringing down the ale b arrels from a cart as Amarelle clucked incessantly at them to be careful. All the food was already unloaded and it looked delicious. There was fruit in abundance in spectacular arrangements as well as baskets filled with warm bread. Cutting boards had been laden with meats and cheeses and there were bowls of water with perfect little balls of butter floating in them. There was also wheat and oat porridge in large cauldrons. Amarelle sighed when she saw him. She came over and touched her forehead to his, smiling.
    “Ready?” she asked.
    “Ready!” he confirmed.
    Just then the court started filing in. He smoothed his jerkin and ascended the dais to stand behind Morgana’s throne. Caradoc escorted her to her seat which Rhys pulled out and pushed forward once she was seated. His cousins did the same for her sisters before taking their seats beside the ladies. Rhys stood back and took a deep breath. The first server entered the tent with a tray of silver finger bowls of scented warm water, followed by another man with a huge platter of fruit. Rhys took the tray of finger bowls and placed one in front of each person at the high table.
    Another server followed behind him removing the bowls as each person finished washing. Rhys took the platter of fruit and placed it in front of Morgana. She tentatively took a strawberry from it and put it on her plate. The court watched in silence as she took a bite. She smiled and clapped her hands. The entire party started clapping and then the tent was flooded with servers and the din of pleasant conversation, music and laughter.
    From the safety of the woods, the man in the dark brown cloak watched the entire celebration before he turned and walked further into the dense forest. In a tiny clearing, he untied his horse from the tree where he had secured the animal and mounted it.
    “Let us see how many more days Avalon shall stand in defiance of Arcadia,” he muttered as he rode north and boarded a strange ship which took him to a tiny town called Port Call.
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    Earth
     
    He took a deep breath and filled his lungs with the scent of the lush grass in the glen. The sound of falling water relaxed his mind and behind his closed eyelids, Rhys’ mind was at peace. He felt his balance returning to him since he had spent the evening talking with his valet. Naida seemed too unwilling to give him the answers to most of his questions, but Erasmus had offered him some enlightenment. He felt fortunate to have the man’s guidance.
    Rhys’ cousins had sought him out that morning and they had all had sparring lessons with Caradoc and Maximus in the stable courtyard. The grooms and squires had gathered to watch and occasionally cheer when a good strike was made. His uncle was beaming with pride at the three boys as they displayed their prowess. Rhys had shown remarkable improvement with the sword and he now had the balance and strength to wield a shield at the same time. Caradoc sparred with Maximus as the boys rested after their exercise and grasped arms with the man in the end, confirming his approval. He ordered the royal guardsman to continue tutoring Rhys as he had been found worthy to instruct the nephew of Caradoc Vreichvras. Maximus bowed low in gratitude at the shower of compliments.
    After returning from Exmoor, Rhys had