Read Online The Seven Swords by Nils Johnson-Shelton - Free Book Online Page A

his young, regal life. Artie reached into his coat and pulled out the precious pommel. “Hey, Erik, you ready to go through your first moongate?” The other one didn’t count since Erik had been knocked out.
    â€œI guess I have to be, right?”
    Lance clapped a hand on Erik’s shoulder. “Stick with me, dude. You’ll be fine.”
    The pommel warmed in Artie’s hand. He closed his eyes.
    â€œHere we go!” Kay barked.
    â€œGood-bye, knights! Good luck! Don’t lose any more extremities!” Bercilak said encouragingly, though Erik was about as far from encouraged by this advice as he could possibly be.
    â€œGood luck, lads,” Thumb intoned.
    â€œ Lunae lumen! ” Artie exclaimed.
    The moongate flickered open, and then just as quickly snapped shut around them.
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    Artie, Kay, Erik, Lance, and Bedevere found themselves in the middle of a vast, trough-shaped plain. A serpentine river flowed farther downhill. Rising in the distance were mountains shaped like upside-down bowls. Snow capped the peaks, and tendrils of white reached down their sides like crooked fingers. Across the river an ancient pine forest carpeted the land with millions of green, spear-shaped trees.
    Not used to moongating, Erik fell onto his bottom as they materialized in Surmik. Feeling like he’d just been punched in the nose, he shook his head and said, “Whoa.”
    â€œWelcome to the King Artie Kingfisher Express,” Kay said.
    Erik rubbed his face. “Tell me you get used to that.”
    â€œYou do, Sir Erik, you do,” Bedevere consoled.
    Lance was the only one facing uphill, and after he’d shaken off the moongate effect, he said, “Uh, guys, I think you should turn around.”
    They did.
    About fifty yards away was a gigantic herd of bovine creatures. At well over six feet tall, they were easily twice the size of large bulls, and each had long, pointed horns. Most were bent to the ground eating grass, but a few had raised heads, their eyes trained on the knights.
    â€œWhat the . . .” Kay trailed off.
    â€œAurochs,” Artie said. “Basically cows that went extinct on our side. They used to roam all over Europe.”
    â€œAnd you know this how?” Erik asked.
    â€œExcalibur taught me a lot about animals that have gone extinct on our side but that migrated to the Otherworld. Back when I had Excalibur . . . ,” Artie said longingly before shaking it off. “Don’t worry. I don’t think they’ll bother us. They’re basically cows.”
    â€œShall we look for the crossover markers, sire?” Bedevere asked, unimpressed by the aurochs. He was the proud owner of a saber-toothed tiger, after all.
    â€œYeah,” Artie answered.
    Artie, Kay, and Bedevere searched the ground for the pair of plate-sized rocks that would indicate the crossover. Lance watched the herd. Erik, still figuring it all out, barely moved an inch.
    â€œSire! Over here!” Bedevere finally announced, pointing his claymore at the ground.
    â€œGood job,” Artie said.
    Just then thunder rolled underfoot. Artie and Kay each felt the other’s heart sink, as they were briefly reminded of the earthen thumping that had announced the arrival of Twrch Trwyth, the horrible, divine boar.
    â€œGuys?” Lance said urgently. “Hurry up.”
    Something had spooked the herd, causing it to shudder and move as dust swam in the air. The ground shook some more.
    â€œWhat’d you do, Lance?” Kay asked plaintively.
    â€œNothing!”
    Through the aurochs’ chestnut-brown hides, something large and white could be seen moving in the distance.
    â€œWhat’s that?” Kay asked.
    â€œDunno,” Artie said a little nervously.
    But they didn’t have much time to think about it because the three closest aurochs stamped their feet. Then the one in the middle took a few steps forward and made a series