Katie rode on quietly, the voice was leaving her alone for the time being. Soon enough she started feeling a little lonely so she started humming to herself.
Do you want them to find us?
No, but I don't see why I have to ride in silence.
This is a dangerous part of the forest, don't give our position away. The voice commanded, exhaustedly.
After a long pause Katie asked, Have you possessed others, before me?
…Yes.
What happened to them?
Some of them went on to live happy, normal lives. Others… they weren't so lucky.
How many have lived on?
Do you really want to know?
Yes.
Two.
Out of?
Fifty six.
There was a long silence as Katie started to feel panic rising.
Are you always looking for the same thing?
No, they sometimes have different missions. The last four have been on the same mission as you.
And none of them survived?
Another painstaking silence fell over her.
How did they die?
This is not an easy mission, Kathryn. Now, I want you to stay focussed. I think we are being followed.
00000
"So, we just wait?" Merlin asked, angrily.
"There's nothing else we can do. We don't know where she is going. Plus, for all we know she could be back very soon." Gaius sighed.
"Or this thing could kill her. Magic is evil, Gaius." Arthur growled.
Merlin sighed inwardly and glanced quickly at Gaius. "I think it would be safer for her if we waited for her to return. Whatever is possessing her must have brought her back to Camelot for some reason. She could return sooner than you think." Gaius tried to explain. Arthur turned to leave, grumbling to himself. "And Arthur." Gaius added. "Don't tell your father." He told the man softly.
"I'm not an idiot, Gaius." Arthur replied, sadly. He knew what would happen to Kathryn if he breathed a word of it to his father.
The Prince left the room and Merlin sat down. "I should have listened to her. I shouldn't have got angry."
"It isn't your fault Merlin. This has nothing to do with you. She'll come back soon." The old man replied, tapping the boy on the shoulder reassuringly.
00000
For weeks Katie camped out in the forest and made her way through Cenred's kingdom. She felt worse and more lonely every day and she couldn't shake the feeling of guilt for leaving Merlin and her friends so suddenly, once again.
After a very long time, what seemed like years to the young woman, the voice spoke. We're here. He said excitedly.
Katie looked around her and only saw a small shack. Where are we?
It doesn't matter. Just go inside and ask if they still have the sword.
What sword?
Just do it! She could hear the impatience in his voice and decided it would be best to do as he said.
Katie dismounted her horse and gave herself a few seconds to adjust to having the ground under her feet. She sighed and walked towards the shack, before knocking and waiting patiently.
She heard heavy feet on wooden floorboards and the door opened. "Yes?" A man in his middle ages stood before her, he had a husky voice and smelt god awful. His hair was greasy and his clothes were probably washed a decade ago.
"Hello, I was wondering if you still had the sword?" Katie asked, scolding the voice for not giving any information as to why she was there.
"The sword?" The man asked squinting against the sunlight.
She had no idea what to say so in a deeper voice she replied "The sword."
"Who are you?" He asked unable to mask the realisation on his face.
"I am an interested buyer."
The man slicked his hair to the side with his hand and gestured she should enter his 'humble abode.'
"Sorry 'bout the mess." He unconvincingly apologised.
Katie forcefully smiled and the man vanished behind a door. Katie let her eyes adjust to her dark surroundings. How did you hear about this man?
He was boasting about the sword in a bar.
You believe drunken bar talk?
It's a start.
"Here we are." The man re-appeared with a sword in his hands.
Katie took it and examined it. "Wonderful, isn't it?" The man asked in awe.
To tell the truth Katie thought it looked like any other sword.
That's not it.
How do you know?
I just do, for one it's blunt. The voice sighed angrily. There was a pause. Kill him.
What?
He knows you were here and he lied to me. So kill him.
No!
Fine, I will.
Before she knew it Katie felt something take over her body. "No." She breathed. She felt herself unsheathe her own sword and walk towards the man.
He looked at her, fear in his eyes. She wanted to apologise to the man but she could not move her mouth. Before he could grab the sword next to him Katie's arm flew up and grabbed his shoulder before slicing his throat. As soon as it was done Katie felt the presence leave her body and she regained control.
Blood poured from the poor mans neck, he fell onto her and Katie lowered him to the ground. She could not suppress a sob as she looked at the dieing figure before her.
It was necessary. Leave, now. The voice commanded.
She did as she was told telling herself that someone would find him and save him at the last minute, knowing that, that would be impossible. She mounted her horse.
We may as well take you home, my dear. At least until I find out where it really is.
Katie did not reply, she mounted her horse and rode in the direction of Camelot hoping that bandits would ambush and murder her, just so she could get some peace.
Hello faithful readers, I know it's been ages since I updated and I hope you enjoyed this instalment. I think I will only be writing one or two more chapters because it's not fair for me to keep you waiting so long for each one.