13 Hour Horses Are Waiting

13 Your Horses Are Waiting “ I don't believe what just happened, " said Jack. “ What part don't you believe?" said Annie, holding the silver cup. Jack laughed and shook his head. “ I don't believe any of it, " he said. Annie laughed, too. “ That was cool, huh?” Jack pushed his glasses into place and stared at her. “ Seriously, what just happened in there?” he asked.

“ I imagined us fighting the Keepers with flaming swords, " said Annie. “ What did you imagine?” Jack shrugged. “ I-I just imagined the Keepers going back in their holes, " he said. “ Good, ” said Annie. “ We both got what we imagined. ” “ Yeah, ” said Jack, smiling. “ But what you imagined made a much better story. ” A shriek of fury came from inside the cave. “ Yikes! " said Annie. “ Let's get out of here! ” said Jack. He scrambled to his feet, and together they climbed back down over the big rocks to the thicket. Annie moved very carefully to keep from spilling the water in the cup. When they came to the thicket, Jack pulled out Sir Percival's compass. “ If we came west to get here, we have to go east to get back, " he said. “ East is that way. . . . " As they started into the wild growth, Jack went first so he could clear the way for Annie.

Without talking, they pushed steadily through the trees and bushes, moving farther and farther from the Keepers' cave. Finally, they heard music in the distance. They walked closer and closer toward the sound, until they stepped back into the green glade. The winged dancers were still there, dancing in their magic circle. Jack's heart raced. He wanted to join them again. But he knew that if he did, he would never escape their dance. “ Look! ” said Annie. “ The knights are awake! " Sir Lancelot, Sir Galahad, and Sir Percival were standing just beyond the circle of dancers. They were buckling on their swords. “ Hi! ” called Annie. “ Guess what! We got it! ” The knights walked shakily toward Jack and Annie. They still looked thin and tired, but color had returned to their cheeks.

“ We have the Water of Memory and Imagination, ” said Annie. She held up the silver cup. The knights smiled. “ Now we just have to get it back to Camelot, " said Jack. “ We would like to help you, " said Sir Lancelot. “ But it seems we have lost our three horses. " “ No, you haven't! " said Annie. “ Your horses are waiting for you! ” “ They're on the other side of the hill, " said Jack. Jack and Annie led the knights over the hill. On their way, Jack picked up the red velvet cloak. When they came to the meadow, they saw the three horses. The horses neighed and cantered over to the knights. As Sir Lancelot stroked the mane of the black horse, he turned to Jack and Annie. " You can both ride back to Camelot with me, " he said. “ Thanks! " they said.

Jack fastened the red cloak around his neck. Sir Lancelot helped them onto the back of his horse, then climbed on himself. Annie sat behind Lancelot. She held on to the knight with her right hand. She held the silver cup in her left hand. “ Can you carry the water without spilling it?” Jack asked her, worried. “ I'll try, ” she said. Sir Galahad mounted the brown horse, and Sir Percival climbed on the gray horse. Then the three knights started through the pale green meadow. “ Careful, careful, " Jack whispered to Annie. “ I got it, I got it, ” she said. When they came to the iron gate, the knights drew their swords. “ Open the gate! In the name of King Arthur of Camelot! ” Sir Lancelot called. Though he still sounded hoarse, the knight's deep voice carried an amazing strength.