"We must stop doing this." My voice was a ragged huff, eyes bloodshot with exhaustion and the vestiges of a panic attack.
Princess Knight Arthuriana fared no better—silver plate blued with dragonfire and golden locks coated with ash—yet her attitude remained frighteningly upbeat, "You can't say that! We're so close to finding the sword, Merlin! This was but an unfortunate detour."
"I'm not talking about getting the sword," I snapped, rubbing my face. "I'm talking about you trying to kill me!"
When I took on the responsibility of mentoring Princess Arthuriana I did so with the loftiest ideals; what a fool I'd been. We sat adjacent to each side of the slain dragon's enormous dome, its tongue lolling from a slackened maw. Arthuriana and I had slain the beast at the mouth of its den, and while the hoard within was surely a reward in its own right, Excalibur still eluded us.
"Cheer up! You must admit, my dear Merlin," my little companion shakily rose, wiping the black blood of the drake from her sword along the scorched frill of her cloak, "my swordplay was something, wasn't it?" To my detriment, Arthuriana's smile quelled my protests.
"I believe my boons and enchantments saw us through, but yes, you are quite fine with a sword, my princess. Yet for all our work, we are not one step closer to locating Excalibur."
The young woman paused, her smile fading. She took in a breath, then shook herself, resuming her jaunty tone, "But you must admit, my dear Merlin, the thrill of the hunt is not to be denied!"
She skipped past me, heading down the rocky outcropping and to the valley below. I followed behind, casting a glance over my shoulder, "And you have forgotten the hoard within? The wyrm's treasures could—"
"Oh, come now, Merlin," she chided, "I for one do not wish to return to the sour stink of that sulfur-stench'd hollow! Besides, I seek a single reward, not trinkets or baubles. Honor, virtue and chivalry guide me, not glory or gold. Excalibur will be ours, and with it Britannia, if we only muster our courage and believe it with all our hearts! I believe in us, Merlin, do you?"
Her question struck me to the core. I had never truly believed in myself before, yet the princess's belief had set my feet firmly upon the path of Arthuriana's destiny. If I did not believe in her, then why should I continue?
"Yes, my dear Arthuriana," I replied, falling into step beside her. "I believe."
Arthuriana stopped abruptly, turning to look at me with wide, shining eyes, "Then let us go forth together, and find Excalibur!"
I smiled back, "Together, my dear princess."
***
We descended from the rocky outcrop, following the steep trail downward. A cool breeze brushed against my skin, the air crisp and clean. It was a welcome change from the fetid funk of the dragon's lair.
Arthuriana leapt lightly from rock to rock, her tattered cloak billowing behind her, "I knew it, Merlin! There is magic in the wind, and I feel it calling me!"
"You know, your enthusiasm is not helping," I said, shaking my head. "If you want to find Excalibur, then we need to focus."
"Focus?" She looked at me incredulously, "I don't think so! I'm a princess, not a scholar, and I've spent far too long cooped up in books and parades. I thirst for adventure, do you not?"
I sighed heavily, "Of course I do. But there is a time and place for everything, my dear Arthuriana. Right now, we should be looking for Excalibur."
"No, Merlin," she insisted, "Excalibur is calling to me, and I shall not be deterred!"
Such pride! It was by the grace of her sacrosanct beauty that I followed the obstinate princess so obediently. I threw up my hands, "Fine, but when we finally find it, I am going to lock you away somewhere until you learn to control yourself."
Arthuriana rolled her eyes, "Very well, Merlin, I'll try to behave."
I watched as she skipped down the hillside, bounding from boulder to boulder like a mountain goat, and shook my head. She was growing more and more reckless by the day.