Fast. No, faster than fast. Faster than the wind in a hurricane.

And as their surroundings turned from a blur to a whipping murk of dark and light, Arthur squeezed Miss Eustace tighter. It felt like Much was about to take off, to soar off into the universe.

Any other time Arthur would question how this was possible for a horse to be this fast, but his thoughts were only on one thing. His parents. He couldn't help but shed a tear, it instantly flinging from his face and dispersing into the turbulent throng.

A jostle and a turn sent Bitty, Dolores and the other gnomes squeaking madly from behind and sent Arthur's arms digging further into Miss Eustace. Next, the light around them shone brightly before dimming as if they were galloping past a town or city. And this ebbing and flowing continued until eventually everything faded except for the sparse streaks made from the stars above.

'We're almost there,' Miss Eustace yelled, although Arthur only heard a whisper.

Shortly after, it was as if they had mounted a see-saw. Up and down they went, Arthur sure they were traversing hill after hill. Then, the falling stopped and they just continued to rise until Much began to slow.

All around the nightly murk started to clump together, forming the sky, the horizon, peaks and valleys below, a few wind swept trees and the grass under Much's hooves.

As gallops turned to trots, Arthur loosened his grip on Miss Eustace, peered over her shoulder and saw a burning torch perched on a water's edge, a thick fog beyond.

The sight sent shivers down his spine and for a brief second he thought Miss Eustace was going to take Much into the wet abyss but they stopped at the torch.

'Where are we? What is this place?' Arthur asked, as Much dropped his head and began quenching his thirst.

'You'll see,' Miss Eustace replied.

The horse's lapping seemed to grow louder and louder until it felt like he was about to drink all the water in the world but soon Arthur realized it wasn't Much who was making the noise.

Through the fog, he saw bubbles frothing at the surface of the water, it shaping into a narrow strip that disappeared into the gloom.

Hearing Arthur's heart race and a quiver in his breathing, Miss Eustace said, 'Don't worry, this is normal. Trust me, we're more than safe.'

Just then, stones emerged from the gurgling, rising out like the back of a gigantic scaly reptile.

'A bridge,' gasped Arthur, stunned. And despite the reassurance, and as Miss Eustace led Much onto the crossing, he was beyond scared.

Clop after clop they traversed the stone span and the fog became so dense that Arthur could barely see Miss Eustace in front of him.

Suddenly, however, as if a giant had come along and just blew it all away, the fog cleared.

Again, Arthur peered over Miss Eustace's shoulder and saw something spectacular. Out from the water, a craggy rock loomed into the air, it morphing into a spiraling tower.

'Whoa.' Arthur breathed.

'Welcome,' said Miss Eustace, 'to the Isle of Avalon.'

Arthur gasped. He couldn't believe it. From all the books that he had read, he knew of this place very well. 'The resting place of King Arthur.'

'That's correct.'

'And now it is where the Merry Knights gather,' added Bitty.

'The Shadow can't find us here?' Arthur asked.

'The only way anyone can find this place is if they are shown the way,' replied Miss Eustace.

As they drew closer, Arthur spied that they were heading towards a gate set in the rock. And the very moment they reached it, Miss Eustace said out loud and with pride, 'Courage and generosity.'

The gate opened with a rasp and through they went, soon stopping before a towering wooden door. And around them, many unmounted horses welcomed them with neighs.

Miss Eustace jumped down from Much before helping Arthur off and said, 'Good, many are here already. They got the message.'

'It looks like Will hasn't–' Dolores started with a chirp but was drowned out by a grinding groan.

Arthur watched as the door opened to reveal someone he was not expecting.

'Great Uncle!' he burst out.

Wearing his usual suit-of-armor, the old man beamed down yet his eyes showed the gravity that they were in.

'Arthur,' he bowed and the boy ran up and gave him a hug.

'Mom and dad were taken,' Arthur sniffled.

'I am aware, my dear boy,' his great uncle replied solemnly. 'Come on, let's get inside and you can meet some more of the Merry Knights.'

Arthur unwrapped his arms and his great uncle turned on his heel, the old man as solid on his feet as if the two were sparing. Arthur along with Miss Eustace, Bitty, Dolores and the other gnomes then followed him. Up a set of winding stone stairs lined with lamps they went before another imposing door loomed.

Arthur could hear much chatter echoing on the other side and when his great uncle pushed on the door, all of it burst out but quickly died to nothing.

'After you, Arthur,' his great uncle said and stepped aside.

Arthur shuffled through the doorway and into a cavernous hall, where countless eyes encircling an enormous round table set in the middle were fast to stare. And they weren't just looks from humans or gnomes.

There were great big giants, elves with pointy ears, centaurs and centauresses, harpies with beautiful feathered wings and many more creatures that Arthur thought only existed in mythical tales.

'Is my mind's eye deceiving me?' a centaur with spiral horns announced. 'Does the young prince stand before us?'

'The prince?' asked Arthur.

'You,' Miss Eustace replied.

'Your mind's eye,' came Arthur's great uncle, 'is not mistaken, Amzin.'

In a rush, chairs moved and creatures stood before they all bowed deeply.

'We are beyond relieved,' Amzin continued, 'that all of you have made it here safely. And saddened too, young prince, of your parents' capture. As the Merry Knights, we will do everything in our power to rescue them.'

'Indeed,' said Arthur's great uncle.

'There is something else,' came Miss Eustace. All eyes turned to her. 'The Princess of the Fays was looking for Arthur's shard. And it looks like she is in possession of one herself.'

Gasps and murmurs of anguish rang out around the table and a giant slammed down his fist, making it tremble.

'So the Shadow knows of its existence and they've somehow found another piece,' Amzin nodded gravely as Arthur looked on in puzzlement. 'If they get their hands on Caliburn, our goal of ridding this world of evil will be a lot harder.'

'Arthur still has his shard,' replied Miss Eustace. 'And as long as that is so, the Shadow will not get stronger.'

'What's all this about?' came Arthur. 'Who or what is Caliburn?'

'Caliburn,' replied his great uncle, 'is King Arthur's legendary sword that he pulled from the stone.'

Arthur froze. 'The Sword in the Stone?'

'Yes.'

'And a piece of it is on my back in my school bag right now and has been on my shelf in my bedroom for my entire life?'

'Yes,' replied Miss Eustace.

In such shock, Arthur stuttered until Miss Eustace put a hand on his shoulder and said to him, 'Let's find you a seat.'

'Please take mine, young prince,' Amzin said immediately and Miss Eustace guided the boy over.

Arthur was about to take his place when he noticed something at the other end of the hall. Set on its side, it was a slab of rock.

'What's that?' he asked.

'That is the tomb of King Arthur.'

Arthur began stuttering again until he found himself wandering over.

There was nothing remarkable about the grave but as he got closer, he saw an inscription.

Hic jacet Arthurus, Rex quandam, Rexque futurus.

'It reads, "Here lies Arthur, the once and future king,"' Miss Eustace said as she made her way over herself.

For who-knows how long, Arthur just sat and stared at the rock, his thoughts on his parents, but eventually, they were interrupted by a boy's voice booming through the hall's door.

'Where are we going?' it said. 'You're not going to hurt me, are you?'

'I would have done so by now if I wanted to,' replied another voice Arthur recognized. 'I just need to do something before I take you back home.'

With a grate, the hall's door opened and in walked Mr Scarlett with a large stick in his hand. And behind him was a boy dressed in a gnarled wooly coat and hood.