Tales From Camelot Series 10: MIRROR

Tales From Camelot Series • Book TEN

MIRROR

paul green

Copyright Notice

www.PaulGreenAuthor.com

Copyright 2018 Paul Green All Rights Reserved.

First Printing: August 2018

Revision A11

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Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Notice

Tales From Camelot Series

Reader Recommendation

Acknowledgements

From the author ...

Map of Pretania

~ A Life in the Day ~

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

~ Through a Mirror Darkly ~

Map of Pretania

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

~ A Long Day ~

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

~ Reflections of Love ~

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

~ Mirrored Paths ~

Chapter 71

Chapter 72

Chapter 73

Chapter 74

Chapter 75

Chapter 76

Chapter 77

Chapter 78

Chapter 79

Chapter 80

Chapter 81

Chapter 82

Chapter 83

Chapter 84

Chapter 85

Chapter 86

Chapter 87

Chapter 88

Chapter 89

~ Final Reflections ~

Chapter 90

Chapter 91

Chapter 92

Chapter 93

Chapter 94

Chapter 95

Chapter 96

Chapter 97

Chapter 98

Chapter 99

Chapter 100

Chapter 101

Chapter 102

Chapter 103

Chapter 104

Chapter 105

Chapter 106

Chapter 107

Chapter 108

Chapter 109

Chapter 110

Chapter 111

Chapter 112

Chapter 113

~ Something Different ~

Chapter 114

Chapter 115

Chapter 116

Chapter 117

Chapter 118

Chapter 119

Chapter 120

Chapter 121

Chapter 122

Chapter 123

Chapter 124

Chapter 125

Chapter 126

Chapter 127

Chapter 128

Chapter 129

Chapter 130

Chapter 131

Chapter 132

Chapter 133

Chapter 134

Chapter 135

Chapter 136

Epilogue

Notes to the reader ...

Map of Pretania

Tales From Camelot Series

About the Author . . .

Tales From Camelot Series

Part One

Book 1: PENDRAGON

Book 2: CAMELOT

Book 3: CHAMPION

Book 4: SORCERESS

Part Two

Book 5: ROYALS

Book 6: EXCALIBUR

Book 7: CURSED

Book 8: LADY Part 1

Book 8: LADY Part 2

Part Three

Book 9: WARLORD

Book 10: MIRROR

Book 11: WYVERN

Book 12: QUEST

Grand Finale

Book 13: LEGEND

www.PaulGreenAuthor.com

Reader Recommendation

Due to the unique subject matter, this series will appeal to a very broad audience: teen to elderly, male and female alike.

Although some parts may be considered to be too intense for pre-teen or younger readers. Ages 13 and up recommended.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to all my reviewers. Your input has been invaluable.

Special thanks to Nathan and Geraldine, you are the best!

Thank you to my son Christopher for his help in designing the covers.

And extra special thanks to the One who gave me the desire to write.

From the author ...

So ... this one is about a mirror.

Or is it?

While I won't give away the plot, and in this book in particular there is nothing I am going to tell you about the plot, I can at least tell you this much - prepare for a rollercoaster ride of emotions all the way to the end.

We get to start right where we left off in WARLORD. While MIRROR is a very unique and hauntingly memorable story, part of it will be bridging the gap between Pirates and Camelot. After all, we never really had those two worlds connect last time, did we? Cassi never met Arthur or anyone else, except for Georgina and Constance primarily. But now we need to bring it all together. And it's going to happen in some very surprising and unexpected ways.

The first section is aptly titled and guaranteed to be a profound emotional tale you will never forget. And that's just the opener. Our opening little tale begins with our newly introduced Pirates and is intended as a transition, kind of serving as a bridgeway segment from WARLORD.

Then immediately following the opening segment, at long last and after countless dropped mentions in many of our previous books, we finally get to meet one of Camelot's most legendary characters: Sir Galahad. The introduction of Galahad is VERY important; as he is a crucial player not only in this story but also in our upcoming stories as well, especially by the time we get to Book 12: QUEST. Why? Because according to the legends, the son of Lancelot and Ursulet is the key character in the search for the Holy Grail. And because he is such a unique and important character, I sincerely hope I did his introduction justice. I also have no doubt that he will be popular with you ladies out there; after all, this handsome fellow is the one who made Cassi walk into a tree. I have even had one early reviewer tell me that if she ever ran into him on the street, she would also likely run into a tree. Lol.

In addition to uniting the two worlds of Pirates and Camelot, I have a special treat for you in this story involving our good old friends from the Second Chance series, but I can't reveal anything here. Spoilers. :)

Oh and lest I forget, one little factoid of trivia that I failed to mention in my Forward in WARLORD. You may or may not have caught it, but with the introduction of the 'Pirate Class', I chose to use a more common variation of speech in order to differentiate from the Royal Family that the Camelot series has been known for. Whereas I tend to use more formal and refined speech with the Royal Class, for our Pirate friends I went with more everyday speech such as is common and familiar to all of us - including some very mild salty language (lol). From the beginning of the series, the Royal Family has never really resorted to 'language' and/or cursing or swearing - with the rare once in a while exception of Georgina. That was new with the Pirates because ... Pirates! Plus it helps sets the tone and sets them apart. Because we will be involving more of the original Camelot characters in this book than the last, the difference should be more noticeable this time.

You are also going to meet a couple of VERY unique and unforgettable new characters that are sure to cause a jaw or two to drop. Can't say anything more about that now.

Lastly, we'll also have the opportunity to spend time with some of the newest generation of 'kids'; though they aren't kids anymore, they've only just recently crossed the threshold into adulthood. Including of course, the one and only Sir Galahad.

Overall, this will end up being an emotional journey - arguably more than any previous work to date. So be prepared. But you can also count on the fun and zany moments you've also come to expect. Climb aboard the rollercoaster my friends, and let this amazing and wild ride begin - in the wonderful world of Camelot.

Paul

~ A Life in the Day ~

Chapter 1

Land of the Kells

It was almost dawn. Soon a new day would be upon them; a whole new dawn for the lives of many. In fact, it would be a new day in the lives of the entire world.

On the following night after which Nimue had been defeated and the Barbarian Pictish fleets had been destroyed, the selfless heroine who had thought to be dead - was now adjusting to still being alive; an impossible outcome she had never considered.

The Black Rose was still anchored just offshore the western Land of the Kells; where on the previous day Megan and Jeffrey had washed ashore after miraculously riding out and surviving a titanic wave which had carried them across the Celtic Sea to foreign shores.

And surrounding them on all sides was now the entire armada - over twelve hundred pirate ships representing the collective Pirate Nation, as well as over four hundred ships belonging to the High King's fleet, including King Arthur himself who was aboard the King's royal ship.

Although as of yet, Cassi had not met with the coalition leaders. In fact as of yet, she had never even met King Arthur. Instead she had asked Liam to politely postpone any such meetings and introductions to the following day, beginning at noon. A reasonable request, given the unique circumstances, to which all had graciously consented. Liam had simply explained to them that their Pirate Queen was tired and needed some time to recuperate from her ordeal. And even though Arthur had been anxious to finally meet her for a very long time, they were unilaterally respectful of her request; for it was the least they could do for their savior. Hawk may have taken out the Barbarian fleet, but it was the Pirate Queen herself who had in fact saved the world.

Albeit, that didn't stop the gathered armada from having all kinds of independent celebrations which would continue for the next several days, while the Black Rose was undergoing some necessary ship repairs. Even Hawk and Kea'Lani and their party of seven, including Isolde the future Queen of the Kells, had by now joined up with Arthur on his ship; and were also amongst those anxious to finally meet the infamous god-killer and Queen of Pirates.

Cassi hadn't even learned yet that Georgina was still alive, which was a bittersweet pill for her to swallow and somewhat dampened her enthusiasm.

For the time being, on this first night of victory, Cassi had preferred a more private and less-chaotic, low-key 'game night' with her friends and crew that lasted until the wee hours of the morning. But eventually it was Cassi and Megan who were the first to yield to drowsiness and finally retired to their cabin. Fortunately they had the luxury of being able to sleep in until noon that day.

After the two girls left the galley area where the tabletop game tournament had been going on, much of the piratey discussion then turned towards the two girls themselves. With the few exceptions of Jeffrey, Ebenezer and Liam, most of the rest of the crew were still convinced that Cassi and Megan were more than just mere cabin mates. And pirates being pirates and men being men, the discussion quickly took a salacious turn while Jeffrey and Ebenezer tried their best to defend their honor; but their arguments always fell on deaf ears. Because for the crew, it was far more fun to imagine what they believed went on behind closed doors.

Rightly had Georgina said that even though their relationship was 'non-sexual', they were so close that at times it could give the wrong idea to the crew. In Georgina's own words, Cassi liked men, and Megan was asexual; meaning she lacked sexual attraction to others. And even though Megan liked to tease about promiscuous things because she thought it was funny, she actually held little to no interest or personal desire for sexual activity of any kind. Megan would in fact be quite content remaining celibate her entire life; for such was her unique makeup. The only thing that truly mattered to Megan was her close friendship with Cassi. Although Georgina had also noted that the two girls were 'very feely and touchy'. But they had in fact always been that way throughout their young lives, ever since Cassi had first inadvertently knit their souls together back in their infancy. And so while people oftentimes questioned their relationship, Cassi and Megan both understood it for what it was.

Mostly.

Only, as far as the Captain and her First Mate were concerned, it wouldn't end up being a night for sleeping. Their night of monumental events was far from over. The young sixteen-year-olds had already been through a lot and their lives had already been drastically changed in many ways. But as fate would have it, little did they know that something else unexpected and even more dramatically life-altering was about to take place - something that would be beyond their wildest imaginations. Something which would profoundly change them forever. And it all had to do with a mirror.

*** *** ***

Lying in her bed in the early morning darkness of her Captain's cabin, with her ever loyal First Mate lying at her side, neither one had been able to sleep. Cassi was still trying to come to terms with the fact that she actually had a living future ahead of her. She stared up at the dark ceiling in thoughtful silence while Megan lay on her left side - propped up on an elbow while playing with her Captain's hair.

Are we being broody again? Megan teased, curling a lock of Cassi's long black hair around her index finger.

Shaking her head, Cassi replied, I know I should be exhausted; but my mind will not rest.

Same. I should be exhausted, too. This has been a very ... eventful day.

Cassi turned her head and smiled at her. Not to mention you nearly drowning this morning and pulling Jeffrey safely to shore; with him floundering around with a broken leg, no less. I do not even know how you have the strength to remain awake.

I will give you a little clue. My Captain, is alive. That's my favorite part.

Cassi chuckled. My favorite part is that you are alive. And Jeffrey, and Ebenezer and Liam and all the rest of the crew.

Oh really? Megan grinned. I am at the front of the list?

Cassi reached over and lightly grazed her fingers across Megan's freckled right cheek. As if my soul could be at the end of the list? What kind of ridiculous question is that?

As Megan held Cassi's hand against her face, she asked more seriously, You seem a little subdued. I know you are sad about losing Georgina; I miss her, too. But I know you and I know you are also overwhelmed with your new reality. Surviving what happened hadn't exactly been on your agenda.