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took Kynder’s hand and gave it a squeeze. She was glad he was coming with them this time, even if they did have to leave him at the Library. Kynder squeezed back. He was glad too.
    Artie knelt and looked at his knights. Bedevere had donned his black suit of plate armor, minus the right arm. Lance sported his usual mix of commando and Robin Hood gear plus a thick down vest, his compound bow—decorated with American flags and screaming eagles—slung over his shoulder. Kynder was dressed like he was about to do some gardening, but since he was going to stay at the Library, that was just fine. Thumb was dressed casually in his little linen suit. Kay had on blue jeans and sneakers and a leather-and-ring-mail jerkin under a sweatshirt. Like Artie, she also wore one of the titanium-laced undershirts Merlin had given them over the summer. Artie was dressed almost exactly like his sister, plus he had his trusty buckler strapped to his left arm.
    Artie closed his eyes. He held out the pommel and said quietly but forcefully, “ Lunae lumen. ” A moongate swung open and engulfed them, leaving the game room in Shadyside, Pennsylvania, completely empty.
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    After dropping Kynder and Merlin at the Library, the rest of the group moved on to the court-in-exile. Lance had spent so much time with Merlin and Thumb at the Invisible Tower back in Cincinnati that he took the wonders of the Otherworld in stride, dropping right into military grunt mode, ready for anything.
    But Erik, who they woke with a packet of smelling salts, was another story.
    All the weirdness left the newest knight in a state of shock.
    First, there was Bercilak. As the Green Knight ambled up to the party with his arms held out for a hug, Erik’s jaw dropped to the floor.
    â€œMy good knights! How I’ve missed you!” Bercilak said.
    â€œBercy!” Kay said, running to him. She embraced Bercilak and slapped him hard on the back, sending a loud sound reverberating through his bodiless suit of armor.
    â€œMy lord! Sir Kay! Bedevere! I’ve taken fine care of your feline. And Mr. Thumb! How is the old gnome? And we’ve added an archer, I see!” Lance gave Bercilak a deep nod. “And who’s this? Another new knight, sire?”
    Artie walked over to Erik, who was sitting down, and whispered, “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.”
    â€œTo what?” Erik gasped. “The no-head thing?”
    â€œYeah,” Artie confirmed. “And that he’s a little, well, weird.”
    â€œYou can say that again,” Erik said.
    Bercilak approached Erik and said, “Hallo! I am the Green Knight, the Empty Knight, Bercilak the Hollow! It is my esteemed pleasure to meet you, Sir . . .”
    Erik stared up at this walking, talking suit of green armor and said, “Uh, Erik?”
    â€œUh-Erik! Fabulous! Tell me, are you related to Uh-Enmo? Or maybe Uh-Elring?”
    â€œUh, no?” Erik said.
    â€œUh-No? I’ve not met him.”
    â€œNo, Bercy,” Artie explained. “He’s not related to any of those people. This is Erik. He’s from our side, and this is his first time here, so go easy on him, all right?”
    Bercilak took Erik’s hand and shook it. “Of course! Sorry for the confusion, Erik the New.”
    Erik looked at the empty space where Bercilak’s eyes would have been and said, “No problem, I guess.”
    â€œGood!” Bercilak dropped Erik’s hand and spun around. “Now—where is Wilt Chamberlain? The dragon is out by the stable and wants to parley with him.”
    â€œDr-dragon?” Erik stammered.
    Lance said quietly, “Yeah, pretty cool, right? I can’t wait to meet one either.”
    Cool was not what Erik was thinking, since he had no desire to meet a dragon. None.
    Artie answered Bercilak, “Merlin—Wilt Chamberlain—is at the Library. He’s with Kynder.”
    Bercilak tilted in a