The Seven Swords by Nils Johnson-Shelton Page A

sword. . . .
    â€œI did it because it’s mine,” Erik said, striding toward Sami. “And now I think you owe us some things,” he added.
    â€œErik Erikssen!” Kay exclaimed, brimming with excitement and even, she hated to admit it, a little bit of admiration. “Wow . . . just, wow.”
    Erik flashed Kay the easy smile of a school-yard crush. Gram had given him confidence in many areas, and he was glad for it. Super glad.
    Artie clapped Erik on the shoulder as Kay spun to Sami and said, “How do you like us now, strongman? I’ll be taking this back, thank you very much!” She snatched Cleomede from the ground and sheathed it.
    Artie stepped next to Kay and held out his hand. “I’ll take my scabbard too, if you don’t mind,” he said calmly. Sami wordlessly unbuckled the scabbard and passed it to Artie, his eyes never leaving Gram. As Artie retrieved it, a wave of relief washed through him. “I told you I wasn’t lying,” he said
    â€œI . . . I’m sorry. I’m sorry I cut you like I did. I’m sorry I doubted you.”
    â€œDon’t sweat it,” Artie said graciously.
    â€œIf I can ever make it up to you, please, let me know.”
    â€œI doubt we’ll ever be coming this way again, Sami, but if we do, you can count on it,” Kay said for Artie.
    Artie glanced at Erik, who’d moved back to Barnstokk. Gram rested easily in one hand, and his other pressed against the bark of the tree. Very quietly he said, “Thank you for keeping this.”
    The tree shuddered and shed its final leaf. It drifted down, cradling back and forth through the air, and landed gently on the flat of Gram’s gleaming blade.
    Erik turned to the others and said, “What a trip.”
    â€œCool, right?” Artie asked. “Getting Excalibur was a major rush for me too.”
    â€œYeah, it’s cool,” Erik confirmed. “A little overwhelming, but cool.”
    Sami’s voice wavered as he said, “Did you just say ‘Excalibur’?”
    â€œYes, I did,” Artie said confidently. And then he asked, “You ready to go, Erik?”
    Erik stared at his friend, his classmate, his neighbor. The whole experience of visiting the Otherworld—and meeting a dragon, and going berserk—had been like a dream. But now he had woken up. He understood. He might return to school one day, or he might not, but he knew that his life would never be the same. He was ready for everything. For anything. Erik nodded. “I sure am.”
    Kay joined them. Before they left, Artie said, “So long, Sami of Sweden. Next time consider being nicer to strangers.”
    â€œOkay,” Sami said weakly. Then Artie, Kay, and Erik started walking out of the camp. “But wait!” Sami called, jumping to his feet. “Who are you?”
    Without turning around, Artie said, “I’m King Artie Kingfisher, and I’m no longer at your service.”

12 - IN WHICH ARTIE CROSSES PATHS WITH DRED
    â€œMoooor-dreeeed!” Morgaine screamed over an intercom into his room.
    Man, Dred really hated hearing his mum say his name like that.
    He had given Qwon the spoon that morning and now he was beginning to regret it. Not so much because he thought Qwon didn’t deserve it—in truth, he kind of liked her—but because if his mum ever found out, she would probably kill him.
    Literally.
    So it was with heavy feet that Dred dragged himself to Morgaine’s room. Dred pushed the doors to her chamber open and trudged in. He looked around and didn’t see any sign of his mother.
    â€œMum?” he asked.
    She rose like a shot from behind a stack of books and magic knickknacks littering her desk. “What took you so long?” she wailed. A scarlet-tufted jaybird flapped excitedly around her head.
    â€œI came as soon as—”
    â€œCome and look at this, snookums,”