"What are you reading?" Wallace Jones pulled out a chair and sat down across from his girlfriend. Susan held her book up, keeping her eyes
plastered to its words. The coffee shop was uncharacteristically quiet today; it was occupied by only a small number of customers. Wallace
smirked. "Queen of Camelot?" he read. Susan didn't hear him and continued reading, her eyes scanning each sentence.
"Susan? Hello? Earth to Susan."
Susan shot her eyes up. "Huh?"
Wallace laughed. "Good book?"
She grinned. "Yeah, sorry."
Wallace looked at the front cover. It pictured a pale and beautiful women with blond hair standing bold and majestic. "What's it about?"
Susan placed her bookmark in the pages towards the end of the book.
"It is the story of Queen Guienevere. She was the daughter of a king and later marries King Arthur of Camelot."
Wallace smiled patiently as his girlfriend ranted on. "Her cousin Elaine is jealous of her and Arthur. And later, Guinevere has an affair with the knight Lancelot and Arthur has a child named Mordred with his sister Morguase." Wallace raised his eyebrows. "That's one messed up family." He peered
at the menu over the counter. "Want anything? "As Wallace ordered her a cup of coffee Susan returned to her book. She remained transfixed on the story. Wallace returned with their drinks and cleared his throat. She regretfully shut the book. She took a sip of hot coffee and the couple chatted lightly about school. Eager to return to her story, she changed the subject. "Are you going to visit your father today?" Wallace looked at his watch. "I suppose." she
stared blankly at him. He glanced at her book and sighed knowingly.
"I'll let you get back to it." He rose to leave and she smiled apologetically. "You and your fiction and legends." He snickered. A
crackling laugh sounded behind them. Wallace turned and looked at the
source: an old man. His long white beard hung low and his face was
full of wrinkles. His eyes, however seemed ageless. "Fiction and
legend." the old man laughed. Wallace stared at him strangely.
"Yeah.. Well, I'll see you later." Wallace said turning back to Susan and kissing her on the cheek. He waved goodbye from the shop door and left. The old man chuckled again. He stood up slowly, straightened his cap, and passed Susan a smile. He walked slowly out the exit, the bell
ringing as it shut. He turned down the street, his steps small and his pace sluggish. As he approached the crosswalk, he spun around rapidly at the sound of a car horn. A taxi slammed on it breaks, screeching towards a bus. In an instant the words were on his lips. The old man rose his hand towards the commotion and in a low voice hissed "Astrye onbregdan." The bus swerved quickly from the taxi, avoiding a terrible crash. He lowered his hand. He watched the bus be evacuated of numerous men, women and children; numerous men, women and children who were safe. He was content but remained stoic. His mind was tired; his body was weak. Merlin spun around and continued down the street home.