Ednowain rested his sword on the ground, removed his helmet, and dunked his face into the cold river for a drink. When he finished, he turned to Gwledyr and said, “Drink. You must be thirsty, too.”

 

Gwledyr’s hands shook, and her lips twitched.

 

“It’s okay. We’re far enough away from Castle Meurig so your husband won’t find you. You’re safe.”

 

“My husband is the King. He will find us.”

 

Ednowain shook his head. “He won’t find us because I killed him.”

 

“How can I believe that?”

 

Ednowain removed a gold cross covered with twenty rubies and emeralds from his pocket. “Because I took this.”

 

“The King’s cross. You have rescued me.”

 

“I didn’t have a chance to introduce myself during your rescue.” His armor clanged as he stood and bowed. “Ednowain at your service.”

“How did you know I needed rescuing? And why did you come for me?” Gwledyr brushed her hair from her eyes.

 

“My wizard, Lorwerth, saw you chained in your dungeon through his magic box. It’s my job to rescue those who need saving. This is what I do, this is all I do.”

 

* * *

 

Back at the castle, Ednowain had barely removed his armor when Lorwerth sidled over with two glasses of mead. He handed Ednowain one of the silver cups before picking up a fire poker and prodding the flame to grow bigger.

 

On the Great Hall’s far side, a Lord’s servant played a plainchant on the lute, and on the Great Table, four of the King's army were betting on a game of Knave and Fool.

 

“Here’s to a successful rescue. Gwledyr is fast asleep with a smile on her face. You did good, but I’m sorry to say I have another mission for you, and you must leave immediately.”

 

Ednowain downed his mead in a single gulp because when Lorwerth said “immediately,” that’s what he meant.

 

“I found this book in my magic box. It’s in a strange language. I understand some words, such as ‘danger’ and ‘rescue,’ but the sentences don’t make sense. Be that as it may, I comprehend the message from the pictures, as I’m certain you will, too.”

 

The drawing on the book’s cover dazzled. The crimsons, oranges, yellows, navy blues, and emerald greens were like a meadow’s flowers in spring. Ednowain had never seen colors like this outside of nature.

 

The book’s cover depicted a brown-haired woman in blue undergarments wearing a crown next to a man in strange armor made of orbs, holding two bright torches that spilled sunbeams. Ednowain couldn’t figure out that picture's meaning, but there were more forbidding, unequivocal images inside, one of which rattled his bones: a giant spider holding the screaming woman in its legs.

 

What was going on?

 

Lorwerth read his mind. “I don’t know exactly, but I know you’re needed. Into the box you go."

 

Ednowain squeezed his four-cubit-tall body into Lorweth’s magic two-cubit square box—somehow. After he closed the top, the temperature fell, and the box spun wildly as if caught in a cyclone at night in winter.

 

When the box stilled, he opened the lid.

 

Ednowain’s eyes sprung wide. A rusted landscape of dry sand and copper mountains had replaced the forest around Seisyll Castle. The wind shrilled between those mountains like a manticore in the dark woods.

 

A ringed moon pushed through the horizon.

 

Ednowain spun toward a woman’s shriek. As in that terrifying drawing, a monstrous, black spider as big as a bull imprisoned the woman with the crown with its front two legs. She screamed again, louder.

 

He gripped his sword so tightly that its handle nearly splintered.

 

The man illuminated the spider again, and once more, the spider ignored the light. The beast pulled its meal closer to its masticating mandibles.

 

Ednowain yelled his battle cry, holding his sword above his head, and ran toward the spider. He severed the spider’s head with a single swing.

 

Ednowain caught the woman before she landed on the ground.

 

She wrapped her arms around Ednowain’s neck and said, “Thank you for saving my life. But who are you? Where did you suddenly come from? I’m happy you did because Joqiio’s lasers were ineffective against the ajuchtal.”

 

Her heart beat fast against Ednowain’s chest and synched with his.

 

“I am Ednowain of Castle Seisyll, the rescuer of those who need rescuing. Who are you?”

 

“I am Princess Aina.” She took his hand and intertwined her fingers with his, sparks filling the space between their flesh. “Castle Seisyll? Where is that?”

 

A powerfully pleasant intoxication filled Ednowian.

 

“In Cardigan on the River Teifi in Ceredigion. Where are we?”

“The planet Qipoork in the Golanw system.”

 

“We’re not in Ceredigion? What is a planet?”

 

A bright, yellow, shimmering square popped behind them like a window suspended in the air.

 

Melancholy painted Ednowain’s face. “I have to go. That’s the opening to the magic box through which I return to Seisyll.” His voice cracked; his eyes grew misty, which had never happened during a rescue before.

 

“Return to me, Ednowain.” She kissed him, a lingering kiss, held him tight, and then kissed him once more. “I’m sure I’ll need rescuing again.”

 

* * *

 

“Welcome home. Congratulations on a successful mission,” Lorwerth said.

 

“How did you—?”

 

“I know all about it,” Lorwerth interrupted. He flipped open the book and tapped on a new drawing depicting Ednowain in shining armor slaying a giant spider. “A name changed, too. The hero had been Edward, but now it’s Ednowain.”

 

“The book changed?” It was a question, but not a question.

 

“The book is your story, but the ending’s not yet written.”