Dybris made a humming sound, as if in thought. “And if Vortigern doesn’t show? If you can’t trust him —”
“In that case, we’ll have to figure something else out.”
“And how will we take it away?” Owain asked.
“We can cover it,” Dybris said, “with the same skins they use. That way we won’t see it or touch it.”
“And Merlin and I can bring your wagon,” Natalenya said, “and wait for you.”
“Let’s not forget Kapall,” Merlin’s father said. “He’s still limping. I doubt he could hobble that far.”
Merlin sighed. “We’ll need to find another horse to pull the wagon. Can we trust Allun? His mule would be perfect if he doesn’t need it for milling tonight.”
“Sure,” Dybris said. “I’ve spoken with him recently, and if there’s anyone besides Troslam who has his head on straight —”
“Do you think he’d let us?” Natalenya asked.
Owain leaned back and tapped the wall. “I’m sure he would.”
“What worries me,” Dybris added, “is how to avoid getting caught.”
Everyone sat in silence. The druids guarded the Stone, and it would be difficult to get close without being discovered. To take it away would be even more difficult.
“What if you disguised yourselves?” Natalenya asked.
Dybris laughed. “To look like druidow? What would Crogen say?”
“And how to you propose we pull that off?” Owain asked. “You want us to cut blue scars on our arms? Without those, we’d be dead. We couldn’t even wear long sleeves, because they don’t hide their scars.”
“It’ll be dark … What if you painted them on?” Merlin said. “Surely Troslam and Safrowana have blue dye.”
His father got up and paced. “Sure, and we’ll learn the secret druid talk in the next hour too —”
“We have to do something, Tas!”
“And what if Vortigern takes us for real druidow? I don’t want a sword through my neck.”
Dybris patted his partially bald head. “I’ll just show my tonsure and vouch for you. No worries.”
“If you think you’re gong to save me with your bald spot, I have plenty of worries.”
“The plan isn’t perfect, Owain, but I can’t think of anything better. We’ll go to Troslam’s to dye our arms while Merlin and Natalenya borrow the miller’s mule. Let’s try.”
Merlin’s father resumed his pacing.
Just as Merlin prepared to speak again, a twig cracked outside the window on the other side of the house. His father ran, knocking his shin on a stool. He slammed open the door and sprinted outside, Dybris close behind.
Someone yelled, and then silence. After awhile the two men trudged back inside, and Merlin’s father swore. “Slipped in the mud and let him get away.”
“Was someone spying on us?” Natalenya asked.
“Yes.” Owain pulled off his mud-slicked tunic.
“He must be fast,” Dybris said. “I didn’t even see him run into the woods.”
Merlin took the tunic and laid it near the hearth. “Who would eavesdrop on us?”
“Don’t know. Didn’t see very well either time, but he was wearing brown. Maybe a monk …”
Natalenya took hold of Merlin’s arm. “A monk? Why would a monk spy on us, and how much did he hear?”
Dybris sat down, and his bench squeaked like his voice. “I can’t answer that. I can’t answer that. Let’s pray.”
As the druidow finished their evening meal, Mórganthu and one other druid passed like dappled shadows through the gray-skinned trees until they arrived at the glade where the circle of stones lay. Mórganthu paused, gazed at the Stone, and wrinkled his brow deeply.
The druid tapped him on the arm, but Mórganthu slapped his hand away.
“Ard dre, you have not answered me yet. We are ready now for the wicker fires of Beltayne. Shall I proceed with your plan?”
With a crooked finger, Mórganthu wiped a tear from his cheek. “Yes, yes. So sorry for my silence. Gather half our number, and do not stray from my words.”
The druid nodded, then headed back the way he had come.
Striding from the eastern side of the field, Mórganthu stopped six feet from the Stone and glanced around to verify his solitude. Then, jingling his wand of seashells, he circled the Stone southwise to follow the course of the sun. His gaze was always fixed upon the Stone, and he chanted in the druid tongue.
After passing five times around the Stone, he stopped, pulled a fish from a bag, and set it on the Stone. Then he knelt. “O great Belornos, I give you this offering and beseech thy counsel. Allow me to approach thy Stone of Abundance!”
A blue flame emanated from the Stone, engulfed the fish, and consumed it.