for we do not want you to be seen passing through the village, nor do I want you stumbling through Uther’s camp.”
Only then did Garth notice all the Eirish warriors standing around. That beast McGoss glared at him through those dark-slitted eyes of his.
“Are … you sure, Ard Dre? Can’t someone else lead ‘em?”
Mórganthu raised a hand.
Garth flinched, imagining a flashing knife. “I’ll lead ‘em! Don’t —”
Mórganthu brought his hand down and smiled warmly. “When you come back, I will let you have some of those strawberries you begged me for last night. Would you like that?”
“No! No, sir!” Garth shook his head wildly.
Mórganthu’s eyes narrowed. “And why not? They have come all the way from Brythanvy.”
“I … I … wouldn’t want to spoil me supper.”
“Yes, yes, a glorious feast tonight. I nearly forgot in my, shall we say, anticipation.”
With a druid leading them, Garth and the Eirish warriors had set off at once. At first Garth walked in the middle of the group, but unable to keep up, he soon found himself trailing behind.
McGoss joined him. “Keep yer lips tight,” he hissed. “Let on about me an’ the ard dre talkin’ secret, an’ I’ll stick ya.” He lifted his cloak, and underneath glinted a long notched dagger.
Garth swallowed and nodded. He tried to catch up to the others, but McGoss yanked him back. “Keep close.”
Northward they marched over the hills. At one point they walked by a path leading down to the right, which Garth recognized as the way to the char-man’s camp. If only he were with Merlin now, fetching coal, instead of with these foreign warriors. If only he still had his bagpipe.
McGoss poked him in the back. “No laggin’.”
Soon they turned down the hillside to the stream and forded it at a shallow spot where some old tin dredgers lay on the bank. From there they cut westward across the hills until they came to the northern reaches of the marsh. Their druid guide uncovered the two boats hidden among the reeds and then returned to camp, leaving Garth alone with the warriors.
One of them put a hand on Garth’s shoulder. “So welcome, little druid. I’m named O’Sloan, and now it’s yer turn to lead.”
“To the island?” Garth asked.
“Aye. And back. But there’s a mist rising, so ya better be a good scout.”
“Navigator.”
“Whate’er. Jus’ don’t get lost, aye?”
They split into two groups, with McEwan, McGoss, and Garth in the first boat, and the others in the second.
Garth saw why he’d been picked to lead them: these men knew nothing about boats, made clear from facing the wrong way to not knowing how to use the oars. And the huge McEwan nearly tipped over their boat and dumped Garth in the water.
“We’re kern warriors, fightin’ men, ya see,” O’Sloan called. “We know horses — but we taint taken time for silly boats.”
They arranged themselves in the dinghies, then Garth demonstrated the action of the oars to McEwan and to O’Sloan in the other boat. After a few tries O’Sloan figured it out, but the giant made Garth’s boat turn in circles.
“I’d rather paddle wit’ me hands!” McEwan declared, and Garth bit his tongue to keep his comments private until the oaf picked up the habit.
Garth directed them southward into the slow central current of the marsh. The fog had thickened considerably, but he found solace in the fact the island was nearly impossible to miss, even in the creeping darkness.
“An’ why’re we goin’ to Inis Avallow?” Garth asked.
From the back of the boat, McGoss’s eyes were like icy daggers.
“To catch a little mouse,” McEwan said, and his laughter boomed across the marsh.
“Shash-en!” someone called from the other boat.
McEwan clamped his lips shut.
“No, really, what are we doin’?” Garth asked.
“Ya mean ya don’t know?” McEwan turned his head to look at Garth and smiled, his large teeth gleaming through the mist. “We’re goin’ fer revenge on the High King.”
Still getting over the shock of Troslam’s news, Merlin considered their situation while Dybris prayed silently for the safety of the brothers.
Owain waited until the monk said his amen before speaking. “Does this change our plans at all?”
“Are you backing out?” Dybris asked.
“Never. But it’s just not as simple now.”
“We need to free the brothers as well,” Merlin said.
Safrowana appeared and grasped their hands in greeting. When she saw Merlin’s arm, she gasped. “What happened?”
“It’s not that bad —” Merlin began.
“Imelys, fill a bowl from the water bucket and bring a rag,” Safrowana called. “Yes behind the drying rack …