Ever My Merlin - By Priya Ardis Page 0,1

plague upon this land. The pandemic will take half their lives in exchange—”

The Lady said harshly, “Better than every single life. There is always a price to be paid when you cheat time. Besides, I will not leave them completely defenseless. I have a plan.”

“Oh, yes.” The man laughed. “The sword.”

“The world will see a dark age, but our garden will flourish again, despite our abandonment.”

“It will not be abandoned. Father realizes our time here is at an end. The world has grown, and in time, they will gain their own power. Anyhow, it was not his choice. It was written in the stars. You have only delayed it. The universe will not rest until it finds a balance. Kronos’s Fury will rebound.”

“I will not give up without a fight.” Chop. She cut the potato in two neat halves.

In the storeroom, I winced at the hard sound, yet my heart swelled. The Lady would protect my brother and me, no matter the cost.

“They can save themselves, Mother,” the man said.

I didn’t like him.

She answered. “Your father doesn’t understand. Sometimes when you see too far, you can forget to look at what is most near. Fate must be helped along, my son. We must make sure the boys are protected. They will be needed.”

“One boy, Mother. There was only meant to be one,” the man replied. “I do not know how those idiot wizards somehow managed to cause the conception of two.”

In the cold blackness, my grip tightened on my brother. I really didn’t like this man.

“You can only leave the gift to one, Mother,” he continued. “We do not have the strength for more. Who will you choose?”

“I have already chosen.” The Lady moved on to a new potato. With one clean slice, she cleaved it open. “However, the two are tied so closely together. This will be hard for them—”

“You orchestrated their conception for this purpose.” The man’s tone hardened. His green eyes almost glowed as he watched the Lady. “My brothers and I were close once also. You must do what is right as we did.”

“I am well aware what is at stake.” The Lady paused in her cutting and laid down the knife. “We must all do what is necessary, but it does not mean we should forget our hearts. Are you and your brothers ready to do your part?”

The man stared at the Lady, his mother. I wasn’t sure what they were talking about. I knew this moment could change everything. The Lady looked steadily at her son. Finally, he sighed. “You know I would do anything for you. So will Jupiter.”

The Lady smiled and picked up the knife again. “And Hades?”

The man shook his head. “Pluto does not agree, but is too busy to be a problem. Jupiter has gone to see Father, but you know as well as I that Father will not part with the apples.”

“It is merely a ruse,” the Lady said. “Your father doesn’t know about the ones I sent Hercules to steal.”

The man paused. “Are you absolutely certain you want to do this? Father has strict rules against playing with two worlds.”

“Sometime you have to break the rules to save what is most important.”

“And the other way—”

“It is too risky,” she said dismissively, with a wave of the knife.

The man sighed. “I hope you are correct about this boy, Mother. So much hinges on it. I will go to my island after I leave you. I must give them their final instructions.”

“You will not be the least bit sorry to leave your son?”

The man’s face blanched. “We always knew this day would come. Triton is of this world. He belongs here.”

She looked down at the slices of potato. “It will be as difficult for you to let go of the boy as it was for me to let go of you.”

“I survived.”

“Vivane also reminds me a good deal of you, but he is more vulnerable. He is of this world. He has you in him, but he is not ours. Remember that. Teach him to be a warrior, but do not break him. You must return him in seven years’ time. Merlin’s training will be completed by then as well.”

“Triton knows what he must do,” the man said.

In the pit of the storeroom, I stood frozen to the spot. I made an effort to breathe. She was giving me away. She was keeping my brother, but she was giving me away.

My brother would be alone.

A jagged sword of anger surged

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