Garth’s hands. What would the ard dre do to this boy?
Then, finally, it all made sense: Uther had killed Anviv, and the ard dre would kill Arthur. A son for a son. Mórganthu would put the child’s head in some barrel or stick it on a spear. It was wrong. And if Garth allowed it, the child’s blood would be on his hands.
“Thy path is twisted. Get thee gone,” a voice called from the fog of the marsh.
Whipping his gaze toward the sound, Garth saw a thin island floating toward him. Moss clung to it, and reeds grew from its prow. But it was a boat, and a man paddled it.
“The cock has crowed,” the man said as he peered at Garth with bloodshot eyes. “Take hope and go before the bear is bled!” His patchy gray hair was slimed down upon his ragged tunic, and his eyebrows had been replaced by thick scars, as if he’d been burned long ago.
This must be Muscarvel, the one all o’ them scary tales were about. He’s sure scarin’ the wits out o’ me!
The marsh man raised a rusty sword with astonishing speed and swung within inches of Garth’s nose. “I say flee with the young one like a piskyn.”
Garth bumped backward, set Arthur down at his feet, and raised an oar for protection. “Leave me alone, you!”
Arthur lost his bread crust and began crying.
Muscarvel swung again and chopped off the tip of the oar, its wet splinters flying into Garth’s face. The crazy man laughed as he leaped to shore and sliced the rope holding Garth’s boat to the cypress.
“Must away! Tombs for the noble, life to the living.” Muscarvel tossed his blade under a bush, waded into the water, and shoved Garth’s boat away.
The old man swam and pushed the boat until the fog hid the island. “Come not back. Death stalks in the shadows,” he croaked.
“All right, I’ll go! But leave me an’ me boat alone!” Garth swung his oar and cracked Muscarvel on the head.
The old man sank beneath the water and was gone.
“So which is it?” Connek laughed. “Will you toss me that torc or shall I slice your throat?”
Natalenya almost forgot to breathe as she prayed for God’s wisdom and strength. She clutched the knife Merlin had given her. Masterfully forged by Merlin’s father, the blade was really quite small, and yet it felt solid and comforting in her hand. But what good was it? Could she really fight Connek and win? Could she ward off all his blows?
She looked into Connek’s malevolent eyes and wondered if she should give up Merlin’s torc. What was Connek’s game?
“I’m going to count to five …” Connek said.
Natalenya looked around quickly to see if she could climb out one of the windows. But they were all too high, and in the darkness, she couldn’t see anything to climb on.
If any hope remained, she wouldn’t find it by protecting Merlin’s torc.
What about Allun? Was he lying in the shadows with his throat slit? And what about the mule? She should already have been on her way to the druid camp with the wagon to help transport the Stone.
“Give me the torc, hag. I’m not takin’ any chances this time, an’ I prefer to keep its gold braids clean when I cut your ripe neck open. There’s a reward out for you too. Did you know that?”
That was all Natalenya needed to hear. Without hesitating, she unclasped the heavy torc from her neck. God, I need Your help! “Where do I throw it?” she asked, stalling for time while she gauged the distance between them and the weight of the torc.
“Here. Right into my itching, happy hand.”
She hurled it right at Connek’s head, and then ran.
Connek cried out as the torc bounced off his face and fell into the darkness. “You witch! I’ll cut your fingers off when I catch you!”
If she could make him chase her in a circle, she could unbar the door and run out — but then she still needed the mule. What was she to do?
Wary footsteps padded toward her from the darkness.
She backed up, and her foot fell into the depression where the mule walked in a circle to turn the top grindstone. It was enough to orient her. With a burst of speed, she ran the track to the other side of the stones. Reaching to steady herself on the mill, she was surprised to find the upper stone missing. Allun must have set it