“It’s destroyed, and God has graciously restored my sight.”
Colvarth stepped closer and peered up into Merlin’s eyes. “May He be praised, and … may He deliver us from our present danger as well.”
“Vortigern?”
“Yes. We must flee north … to Kembry, you and I and this … little one.”
“An’ don’t forget me” piped up someone from the dark. Stepping forward and pulling the hood of his cloak back, Garth poked his beaming face out.
Merlin grabbed him in a hug and lifted him off his feet. “Garth! I heard you saved Arthur. You’ll have to tell me about it.”
“Nothin’ to be proud of,” Garth said, his voice squeaking.
Merlin set him down, and Colvarth patted Garth on the shoulder. “He has done a … noble deed, but now we must make good our … escape.”
Natalenya stepped out from behind Merlin and approached the bard. “I would ask, Chief Bard, for the privilege of accompanying you.”
“Ah! But this is a … dangerous journey. Why would you ask such of me?”
Merlin smiled. “Because where I go, she goes.”
Colvarth’s eyes twinkled. “It is agreed, then, and I could use a … ah … woman’s delicate help with my young … charge.”
“But there is one problem,” Merlin said. “We need permission from Natalenya’s parents. We were told they would be near, but I don’t see them.”
Troslam cleared his throat and turned to Natalenya. “Your father is at the lake, and your mother with him.”
“Is something wrong?” Natalenya asked, and her smooth brow wrinkled with worry.
“Come and see.”
Natalenya held tight to Merlin’s hand as Troslam led them through the trees until they arrived at the northern shore of the lake, where Trevenna sat on a rock. About twenty feet beyond her, Tregeagle knelt at the water’s edge.
“Go,” Troslam whispered. “I’ll meet you back at the horses.”
Natalenya ran forward to her mother, and the two embraced. Trevenna’s eyes were dry, but the salt of tears had left trails upon her face.
Tregeagle, seeing his daughter, limped over and hissed at Merlin. “A mock upon my fortune has come! A scourge to my treasure and a darkness to my lamp.”
“Father?”
“What did you and your sick smith of a father do to the Stone? It doesn’t … it doesn’t call me anymore. The power is gone, and I am ruined. Ruined!”
He turned back to the lakeshore and began examining a large rock. Then he threw an iron coin onto it and wailed when it didn’t turn to gold. Natalenya bit back a tear as she realized what her father had become.
Trevenna pulled Natalenya closer, and they whispered together. “He thinks to find another stone. Mórganthu had told him it came from the lake. Now he won’t rest until he finds another.”
“Mother … Merlin is leaving with Colvarth.”
“Vortigern. Yes. The bard told me.”
“May I go with him?”
Trevenna’s eyes grew wide.
Merlin dropped to his knees before her. “My sight has been restored, and I want to marry your daughter … with your blessing.”
“And take her into danger?”
“There is danger here,” Natalenya said. “Vortipor expects to be trothed to me tomorrow.”
Trevenna looked down at her shoes, torn and gray with mud. “Yes, you’re right.”
Merlin held out his hands. “I love your daughter.”
She stared into Merlin’s eyes and burst into a weeping smile. She reached out to them both. “Your father has no blessing to give, and so go with the consecration of God and my own.”
Natalenya kissed her mother. “And what will you do?”
“My place is with your father, for good or ill. Tell of my fate to our kinsmen in Oswistor, especially my uncle Brinnoc. Have them send aid in my time of need.”
“And my brothers?”
Trevenna’s face grew sad. “Rondroc’s joined with Vortigern, and Dyslan ran off when he was told he was too young. Pray for us all.”
Merlin led Natalenya eastward along the shoreline.
“Shouldn’t we go through the trees?” she asked.
“I need to say good-bye. It’ll only take a moment.”
“I don’t understand.”
Merlin tugged her hand. “Follow me?”
The clouds were clearing, and the stars danced in the sky. They stopped at a place between two water-lapped boulders. Merlin knelt down and pulled scrub grass away to reveal a smooth white stone.
Natalenya crouched down next to him. “What is it?”
“My father placed this here in memory of my mother, Gwevian. She drowned many years before your family moved here.”
“I’m sorry.”
Merlin prayed for his mother’s soul, then, standing with Natalenya, he spoke aloud. “Good-bye, Mother.”
The waves of the lake rose and splashed the boulders.
Merlin lifted his hand but didn’t detect any change in