be a meddling monk and the blind beggar of the smith trying to make trouble.”
Mórganthu ground his teeth. “I had hoped today’s message to the abbot would keep them away. But they come again, and I dare not call the Eirish warriors here with these brutish men of Uther’s about.”
“Then what have you prepared for these pests, Father?”
“Our spies tell me that nearly all the monks are present. It is time to show our strength.”
Anviv licked his lips. “And if they do not respect us, O Father?”
“Tonight is the warning. Tomorrow evening there will be an end unimagined.”
Anviv laughed. “You mean —”
Mórganthu whistled. Immediately, two men walked up. Mórganthu whispered in the ear of the first, and he raced away.
The second man stepped forward, and the light of the bonfire fell upon his brown cloak and hooded face. Mórganthu smiled. It was crooked-nosed Connek, the perfect man for tonight’s work.
Speaking into his ear, Mórganthu pointed out Merlin.
Connek nodded and slunk into the darkness.
“Give me the armband!” Mônda said. “Where did you put it?”
Owain held out his empty hands. “It’s gone. Merlin destroyed them, and we’re free.”
“Nooo!” Mônda tried to scratch him, and he backed up.
Three druidow appeared out of the darkness and gazed at Owain.
Startled by their sudden appearance, Owain readied his hand at his dirk and locked eyes with the largest of them.
“Just lighting these,” the man said as he held three torches to the embers. “We’re not looking for trouble. We’ve a job to do.” The torches flamed up, and the men left, heading east into the darkness and away from the gathering.
Mônda screamed again, causing Ganieda to cry.
“Come with me,” Owain pleaded. “All three of us can heal. Jesu will help!”
“I won’t,” his wife spat. “I’ll never leave the druidow again.”
Connek slid closer to Merlin. Stopping just short of the inner ring, he concealed himself next to a twiggy druid with a gray tunic.
What are the fools doing? Connek wondered. Had Gold-neck and the monk started worshiping the Stone too? Or maybe they were just trying to make their own gold coins without permission. No problem, then, for Connek would steal those as well.
Merlin tilted his head slightly to the left, revealing the edge of the torc. The fine metal glittered in the stone’s blue flames. All it would take would be one prick of his blade in the right place …
Connek watched Merlin and the monk for several moments as they knelt in front of the stone. Then Merlin pulled some object from a bag and handed it to the monk. Connek wasn’t sure what they were up to, but he decided it was high time Merlin got what was coming to him. He smiled at the thought as he edged closer to his prey.
When Dybris saw the flames subside and sink back into the Druid Stone, he knew it was time. He stood and called out, “All of you, listen to me!”
The crowd hushed and the drums stopped.
“You have worshiped this Stone and turned away from the Living Christ who bled for you, but I now Christianize the Stone in your presence!”
Many of the people shouted.
Dybris uncorked the pot and dipped his brush in. Raising the wooden handle, and without glancing at the Stone, he stooped down to its dark surface and pressed the brush against it. Quickly, he painted a large white cross on the top, dipping three times into the colored pigment.
Dybris raised his arms, brush in hand.
“What you worship in confusion, I proclaim to you in truth. Christ is Lord of all. Your Stone has no power over Him, and this sign I have made confirms His Lordship. Continue to worship, but do so to God and not to the false powers of the earth or sky!”
As he finished speaking, a deep rumbling sounded from the Druid Stone, and Dybris eyed it cautiously.
Connek’s heart pounded as he pulled the knife from his sleeve. Just a moment more, and the kneeling fool would be dead. A knife in the back, a grab for the torc, and he’d run off into the woods. The opposite direction of those snail-footed warriors, who had stupidly left their horses tied up on the other side of the field and wouldn’t be able to catch him.
And then Mórganthu’s three gold coins would be his as well. Connek tensed his legs. With a burst of rage, he lunged forward. His clenched fist aimed the death point of the knife straight at Merlin’s back.
A sizzling blue flame exploded from the