Once & Future (Once & Future #1)(78)

“Tomorrow,” she grumbled. “Today is for Mercer.”

Ari sat back on the grass beside her ragtag collection of knights. In the near distance, Merlin was getting fussed over by Val. The newly embodied Morgana was smelling a disturbing number of things, including Lam. And Kay and Gwen were fighting, which would have felt great, maybe, if their arguing didn’t reek of long-standing intimacy.

Ari’s eyes found Jordan, sitting on the other side of the pile of plates and chain mail. The black knight admittedly had the best armor and kept it in the best shape. For once, her blond hair was down, crimped from being unbraided and spread around her wide shoulders. She wore a plain tunic, polishing her shoulder guards with a rag that looked older than Error.

Ari picked up a dented breastplate and held it to herself, but there was no way to hook it on. Knights didn’t dress themselves; they had squires, or they helped one another. She dropped it.

“You’ll need someone to assist you,” Jordan said. “It’s not going to be me.”

“I could have guessed that much.”

Jordan glanced up and caught Ari’s eye. “If you had lowered yourself to ask me one question about my personal life—one—you wouldn’t have suspected me of stealing your love. None of you would.”

Ari stood. If she was going to be lectured by Jordan, she was doing it on her feet. She walked closer, casting a shadow across Jordan’s polishing. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t take,” her eyes traveled to where Gwen and Kay argued, “lovers.”

“You’re ace?”

Jordan looked up at Ari with a how could you be so slow expression. “Of course.” She held up her armor. “This is my passion. This is my love.”

Ari tossed herself down in the grass, lounging back. “I’m sorry, Jordan, but—it’s better if I don’t try to lie. You see, I’ve never wanted to like you.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

Ari surprised herself with a smile. “I’m glad I have you on my side, though. You are a great warrior.”

“And you,” Jordan said, returning to her polishing, “have no way of winning this duel you’ve challenged the Administrator to.” Ari sat back up. “Mercer will not have honor. Not swords or shields. They will most likely drop a flash bomb. Something quick, efficient, and deadly.”

“And the universe will be watching. If we have to be martyrs, so be it.”

“Like Ketch?”

“What?”

“You shared Ketch’s death with the cosmos as if their loss was a kind of sacrifice, but that was ten years ago. Mercer covered up their crimes, their honor, their loss. And it changed nothing.”

“That won’t happen here today. I’ve made sure that the universe will care. That others will come and help,” Ari said, although she wasn’t certain. How could she be? She glanced at the golden-webbed sky and then reached for her security blanket, pulling Excalibur out of the leather sheath. The blade was tarnished, filthy.

“Oh!” Jordan exclaimed. “What have you done?” She tossed a polishing rag at Ari. “Spit and circles. Tight ones.”

Ari began to polish while Lamarack crossed the field to them, hunkering to examine the pile of armor. “Slim pickings,” Ari said. “We won’t exactly look the part of heroes when Mercer storms down.”

“Heroes we will be. Lords and ladies? Not so much.” Lam tossed a broken gauntlet. Their smile came up to meet Ari’s in a way that had her daydreaming about years and lives ago, when Lam was the first person to catch her eye.

“Help me get outfitted?” Ari asked. Lam nodded, and Ari hopped up, grabbing the breastplate and holding it in place. Lam fastened the back while Ari asked, “How come we never got together, Lam?”

Jordan muttered, “Unbelievable.”

Lam enjoyed themselves thoroughly with a sexy chuckle. “Because your brother would have thrown a fit.” Their voice faded with careful kindness. “And because, for those of us who were paying attention, there was only ever one person for you. Even back when you two were only known for your shouting matches.”

“Not obvious to everyone,” Ari said, chewing each word, staring at Kay. Her brother looked at her—and then away.

“You were dead,” Lam said. “Besides, they’re not the kind of couple you think they are. It’s more convenience and grief, and a very odd request on Gwen’s side—”

“An honorable knight would ask them,” Jordan shoved in.

Ari didn’t have to decide how to answer. Kay was stalking toward them.

“A word, Ari,” he said, “before we get dive-bombed by Mercer?”

“Leave the sword,” Jordan growled.

“I’m not going to stab him!”

“So I can polish it! You’re doing a terrible job. No wonder you failed knight camp.”

“These two flunked out. I was a conscientious objector!”

“Yes, and what are you now?” Jordan asked, never fazed by Ari’s temper.

“King Fucking Arthur, that’s who!”

Lam busted out a full-bellied laugh. Ari’s own smile cracked as she stuck the sword in the earth before Jordan. Kay looked like he wanted to smile but was afraid that if he did, the sky might crumble down around him.