CHAPTER 11.

"On three," Anna called out.

"One."

"Two."

On the mark of three, they stepped through the portal. Axel watched a cyclone of colours overlap each other for a couple of seconds until they reached the dark, narrow, and abandoned alleyway.

The gate of the portal made a loud slurp sound when it closed. A salivating smell enveloped the air and made Gavin's stomach growl.

The strange part about the markets as there was barely any noise. This was by far the most abnormal thing Axel has ever experienced. She knew by this hour the markets would be packed. The crowds were always suffocating.

Magnus moved to the corner and glimpsed around the corner, holding his hand up for them to wait.

"It's clear. There's just a couple of old women, that's it." Magnus described them. Anna approached the entrance of the alleyway and began to walk down the markets. Marcus lifted his black-coloured hood, concealing parts of his hair.

Axel approached the old women that spoke to one another.

"Good morning." She greeted the two women.

One of them smiled brightly, "Morning, young miss." the old woman with grey and fuzzy hair, tied back into a braid replied.

"By any chance can you tell me where has: everyone left at this hour?" Axel politely asked.

"You haven't heard the news? The legends are true! The sword of Legend has arisen. All the men have lined up near Seabass Bay to give the sword a pull. Legend has it that a man will pull the King's sword. If he draws Excalibur back from the stone, then he will be named King! Isn't this marvellous news?" the old woman explained with excitement.

It seemed as if the women supported the tales. It also almost sounded like she desired to remove Queen Vortigern from her rank.

Though the women desired more, that the next ruler would be as valiant and a good leader as Uther Pendragon.

Anna's eyes locked on the woman that was silent. She kept her thoughts concealed, afraid of speaking low of the Queen. The second old woman shifted her gaze from Axel and over to a brown-coloured poster.

It read the name of Axel Embers in bold letters and the price of forty-thousand coffer reward.

Anna chanted a small spell and made sure the woman locked eyes with her. Anna erased minutes of the women's memory and motioned the group to start walking.

"Hey, what was that?" Axel questioned Anna. Anna pushed Axel with her staff again.

"Keep moving." the mage said emotionless as it seemed.

"Stop. Mind telling me what's going on? No more secret bullshit." Axel begged the Mage. Marcus noticed Anna was in a tight spot. Marcus scolded himself for not telling Anna or anyone earlier about the 'wanted posters.'

"You're wanted for treason." Magnus hinted to Axel.

Axel snapped her gaze away from Anna and over to Magnus.

"What?" She questioned in confusion. Magnus took Axel gently by the arm and pointed at the picture of her.

Axel widened her eyes, her hands shook. She felt like someone wrapped their hands on her throat and strangled the life out of her. How could this be possible? She traced her memories back, trying to recall what she did that was considered treason in this country.

Then it hit her, someone must have told the Queen after eavesdropping on Axel and Gavin's first conversation. That was the only answer she could think of.

She ripped the paper off from the nail and tore it to shreds. Taking her anger out on the thin sheet of paper. Axel started walking, isolating herself from the rest of the group. She felt unhonorable for her name being on the Queen's wanted list.

How would she escape this one?

This wasn't a coincidence. Axel acknowledged that these haven't been up long. And how many people would recognize her?

****

Crowds muttered amongst each other. A massive line went as far as a mile, from Camelot's square and up to the bay where each man gave it a tug. Trying to prove that they were the worthy soul who would become King.

But more than eighty-percent desired riches and power among others.

Axel widened her eyes seeing the bay was all dried up, seaweed coated most of the moist floor of the ocean. A stone was near the docks, and a sword was perfectly wedged into the stone. Axel was surprised the men didn't warp the sword from obnoxiously tugging it in different directions.

Axel stared and the sword from the distance and felt a chill crawl up her skin.

She licked her chapped lips, creating a small river of blood caress down the side of her lip.

She wiped her lips with her sleeve and inhaled deeply.

"We need to get you and Gavin to the front," Anna suggested, breaking the silence between the five of them.

"Suggesting otherwise, if we wait in line we'll be here until; tomorrow morning," Marcus noted. He crossed his arms and started to strategies what to do. What they could do and the consequences that lead with it.

"We could try pushing our way through," Gavin suggested.

The four stared at Gavin for a moment, that seemed like their only option that could end in a massive riot.

"Alright, let's do it. But if anyone pulls a stunt, I won't hesitate to end their life." Marcus growled, his hand hovering over his blade.

Axel widened her eyes, "No one has to die. We just have to get to the front." Axel protested against Marcus's plan of action.

"You can never be too careful." Magnus reminded Axel. His expression remained cold, he followed through with the plan and started shoving his way through the crowd. Axel bolted after Magnus, followed by Gavin.

Many of the men started to yell and curse, but some didn't object to their actions even if it was rude.

Axel apologized around a thousand times before reaching the front. Guards stood off to the sidelines, watching everybody closely. But in unfortunate matters, they noticed a woman that didn't belong in the crowd.

"Of all people, a woman" the guards laughed.

"Useless tit on a washboard, get out of that line! The Legend says a man will pull the sword, unless...you have balls or genitals." A man behind her yelled.

Axel felt herself ignite with raw fury and rage. She hated how the men around Camelot treated the women.

"Alright. Up you go, give it a tug, get your brand, and off you go." A guard explained to Gavin. Axel looked away from the guards.

"Give me your hair tie, Marcus," Axel whispered under her breath. It sounded almost like her voice was as soft as the breeze that morning.

Marcus agreed with Axel's intentions and did as she says. He handed her the black hair tie, and she started to tie her hair up into a bun.

Gavin on the other hand struggled to pull the sword. He stepped off the stone platform. Magnus stood closely behind Axel.

He leaned over her shoulder and whispered, "Anything happens, I will be right behind you." Magnus reassured Axel. Axel felt all eyes on her at that moment. It was a terrible feeling and made her stomach toss and turn like a rhyme scheme.

"Aye, lads, where do you want me?" Axel changed her speaking. The guards turned their heads and one approached her.

"Look, hands on the handle, stupid. Give it a tug, receive your brand and then you leave." the guard suggested rudely. Thankfully she wasn't noticed by the guards.

But because she had such a bold look to her, it was almost convincing that she looked masculine.

Raindrops started to wash away over their heads, marble clouds blackened the skies. A storm approached from the west, threatening the line to be soaked. Axel walked up onto another stone platform, past pieces of the broken docks.

She stared at the sword and felt the same bitter chill crawl up her spine. Her fingers wrapped around the handle. She stepped back after feeling a spark burn through her veins. Axel took a breath and looked at the same cut on her hands that this sword marked her with.

Her cuts glowed a vibrant blue. Her heart started to quicken its pace, refusing to calm down.

"Aye, lad, both hands. I said both hands." the guard corrected himself.

Axel looked back at the inpatient and silent men in the background. The guard's hounds started to bark wildly. The guards stayed and held their dogs back. Axel took another look at the sword and curled her fingers around the blade once again. A blue and white mist evaporated into the air. People started to mutter and become louder. She froze in astonishment.

"Come on, it's simple. Just a few steps, it's simple. Hands-on the blade, left foot separated with the right one, give it a tug." The guard said in annoyance. Almost frustrated that she was wasting everyone's time.

She quietly followed the guard's orders and placed her hands again on the sword. Her hands hovered around the leather bindings of the sword's handle. The runes on the sword started to gently light up, the ground started to shake. Pebbles and pieces of dirt bounced, gently.

The stone the sword was stuck in for many years started to crack, slowly.

Nearby birds started to flock together, the dogs backed up behind their owners and started to whine. The sword smoothly started to exit the stone. Even Queen Vortigern felt the rhythm of the Earth shifting. The wine in the Queen's glass started to ripple with the movement of the sword exiting the stone.

Axel's ears started to ring and she felt the pure power of the Excalibur consume her in its wake.

She heard a muffled yell by the guards as they charged after Axel. She felt a hard impact on the side of her head. Her head collided against the stone. Roughly a fight started to break out, Axel's vision started to focus and unfocus like a camera. It was almost laughable how weak she felt, she fought to stay awake. But darkness embraced her with a velvety embrace.

Even though she was outnumbered she proved the legend to have an error in it. No man drew the sword from the stone, but a woman did.