"No!" William's shout thundered through the hotel room.

Mike regarded the Green Knight with an annoyed expression. One of the Swords of the Bequest was in his hands. It looked the same as the one we'd found Lady with, only there was a ruby in the pommel. The tip was against his chest. He couldn't reach the hilt in that position, so his hands were carefully placed on the blade itself. The dumbass had just picked it up as soon as he finished his pizza.

"Wait, you idiot." William glowered.

Mike opened his mouth to say something insulting. Or maybe threatening. Both? Probably both. Before he could get it out, Patrick stepped in. "You can't just grab the sword and stick it in. You have to say the magic words first."

Mike's glare faltered. "Magic words?"

"Magic words," Patrick confirmed. God damn, he had a cool voice. The man sounded like he should be in Hollywood. Or wherever it is they make cartoons. "Also, that's not a good way to stab yourself. You'll cut up your hands."

"Might not generate enough force to pierce the ribcage, either," William added. "Poor choices all around." William had been sulking since the fight. I noticed he'd been careful not to make any sudden moves. He hadn't talked much, either, which I thought was a nice plus. Fuck that guy.

"Then how am I supposed to do it?" Mike frowned, but this time he was more confused than angry.

"We'll show you," said Patrick. "But first we gotta give you the rundown. Make sure you know what you're getting into."

Mike gingerly turned the sword around so he could grip it by the hilt. "What's there to know?" He scratched his head. "I stab myself, I get magic knight powers. Then I help you guys retake Avalon and kill the shit out of the people that sent Madeline." He shrugged. "Seems simple enough to me."

"Retaking Avalon is just the immediate problem," Lady informed him. "Before you accept the Bequest, you must swear fealty to Avalon. To me, specifically." She drew herself up, face regal, and stared down the wannabe knight. "You will be tasked with the defense of myself, Avalon, and above all, the Partition. The fate of Humanity itself will depend on the strength of your arm and the courage of your heart."

"You'll hunt monsters," said Patrick. "Demons and sorcerers and shit you ain't even imagined. Demigods are bad motherfuckers."

"And people," added William. "There are a lot of people trying to bring back the gods."

"Knights don't usually retire," Patrick threw in. "You're in it til you're in the ground."

"Which doesn't take long most of the time," said William. "It's a rough business, protecting the world."

Mike looked at them for a moment. Then he nodded. "Sounds good." He turned to Lady. "How do I swear?"

Lady held out her hand. Mike gave her the sword with the ruby pommel. "Kneel," she commanded.

Mike got down on one knee.

"What is your full name?"

"Michael Charles Cross."

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"Michael Charles Cross," the Lady intoned. The sword shimmered with red light. "Do you swear your fealty to myself and to Avalon?"

Mike gave a firm nod. "I do."

"Do you swear to use the power of the Bequest to defend Avalon and to guard the Partition, even at the cost of your own life?"

Mike nodded again. "I swear."

"Then I dub thee Sir Michael Cross," The sword shimmered with red light. She dipped it, touching the flat of the blade to first one shoulder, then the other. "Knight of the Partition." She laid the flat of the blade against her hand and held the sword out to him. "Rise, and take up the Bequest."

"Cool." Mike stood, grasping the hilt of the glowing red sword. "So what's the magic word?"

"I accept the Bequest," said Patrick.

Mike gave him a dubious look. "That's it?"

"That's it," said Patrick. "You have to say it right before you drive the sword in. If you don't, you die."

"Best make sure you strike true," William chimed in. "If you miss the heart, the magic won't work."

"Ok." Mike's breath came a little faster. No matter how tough you are, shoving a yard of sharp metal into your chest is a scary proposition. "So how do I do this."

"You could try running at the wall, I suppose," William suggested.

"Best not," said Patrick. "Drywalls pretty thin. The hotel'll you charge you if you put a whole in it."

"Ah, good point," William conceded. "You'll have to fall on it, then."

"Fall on it?" Mike's eyes were a little wide.

"Fall on it," Patrick confirmed. "Place the tip against your chest and let gravity do the rest."

"Don't forget to say the magic words, first," William reminded him.

"Ok." Mike nodded. "Fuck." He reversed his grip, holding the blade in his hands. He winced as he cut himself a little. "Here we go."

I'd stayed silent until now, but I panicked a little when he put the tip against his chest. "Mike? Are you sure you want to-"

"I accept the Bequest," Mike declared, halfway shouting. He threw himself forward.

The sword burst through Mike's back. I yelled, "Fuck!" He lay there, unmoving. "Mike!"

"It's alright, mate," William reassured me. "Look," he pointed. "No blood."

William was right. The blade sticking out of Mike's back was still glowing red, but it was dry. The sword disappeared, dropping Mike the rest of the way onto the floor. "Fuck," he said. "That hurt."

He got up slowly. He patted himself down. A ragged hole had been carved through the front and back of his shirt, but there was no blood. He stared down at his hand, and I corrected myself. There was no blood on his shirt.

"I'm still bleeding," he remarked. "I thought we got magic healing powers."

"That's just me," William informed him. "Each Bequest bestows different powers. I can heal myself and others, and my sword can cut through magic and reverse spells and curses."

"Sir William has been a knight for three hundred years," Lady added. "He's immortal as long as he's wearing the armor."

"Even if I'm turned to dust, I'll come back." William continued. "The only way to kill me in the armor is with Roderick's stupid sword."

"Clarent," said Lady. "Otherwise known as the Godslayer. The same sword Mordred used to kill Arthur so long ago."

"Kills the unkillable and all that," William grimaced. "Anything it cuts won't heal." Green Armor appeared around him. He reached out and touched Mike. Mike's finger stopped bleeding.

Mike gave a confused look, then grudgingly said, "Thanks."

"Don't get me wrong, boy." The armor disappeared, revealing a stern faced frown. "We're comrades at arms now, but we'll still be having a rematch once this thing is done."

Mike considered that, then gave a slow smile. "Looking forward to it." He tuned to Patrick. "What about you?"

"I'm the Knight of the Sea," said Patrick. "I can breathe water, control water, all that jazz." Blue armor snapped into place around him. He laid a hand on the pommel of his rapier. "I'm immune to cold, and my sword will freeze anything it pierces."

My phone buzzed. I saw I'd received a text.

"Don't let his powers fool you," William remarked. "Patrick's a right terror on land, as well."

I opened the text. I didn't recognize the number. It was only one word. HIDE.

"Cool, cool." Mike was scratching his head again.

What the hell? Who would... Realization hit me like a truck. "Oh shit."

"So what can I do?" Mike asked.

"We've got incoming!" I yelled the warning, but didn't take the time to see if anyone listened. I grabbed one of the swords and dived behind the bed farthest from the door. I started to wriggle my way under it.

Shadows burst through the walls of the hotel. One passed right over me, heading for Lady. I heard grunts and shouts, but I didn't try to help. The message had told me to hide.