way?
Colvarth coughed next to him, and the moment of indecision passed. Would Merlin really become a bard? A real bard? He knew it would take years of training, but a sudden excitement coursed through his heart and danced down his arms to his fingertips. This was something he could do, even if he was blind. A faint strum of harp strings floated through his mind, and he saw a vision of himself wearing a finely made black cloak pinned with a silver brooch and standing before a king. The chieftains of Britain as well as those of the heathen Saxenow feasted before him, and all looked upon his countenance as he played a song of wisdom and power. It was a sad song — a song of treachery, deceit, and tragedy—but the truth of its notes shone forth like an unquenchable torch.
In his vision, Merlin gazed upon a handsome young man who stood nearby wearing leather armor laced with iron scales. He had dark hair, and he smiled devotedly at Merlin. The young man’s face seemed familiar, but from where he didn’t know.
The vision faded, and the blur of Uther’s form appeared once again.
Colvarth placed a hand on his shoulder. “Are you … ready, Merlin?” he asked.
Merlin nodded.
Colvarth led Merlin to the foot of Uther’s bench, where he bowed and repeated the old man’s words.
I beseech thee, High King,
and deign thee to bless with thy right hand.
The fealty of my mouth,
that I may speak well of thee.
The fealty of my heart,
that I may follow thee.
The fealty of my arms,
that I may fight against thine enemies.
And the fealty of my legs,
that I may go where thou commandest.
Merlin paused and swallowed before he said the last words.
For all my days will I serve thee and defend thee,
along with thine heir, and all that is right under Christ,
on the Isle of the Mighty.
As instructed by Colvarth, Merlin found Uther’s boot and kissed the fresh-smelling leather lacing. Then, reaching up, he found the dangling boot of young Arthur, small yet strong. As he kissed it, he wondered what kind of man Arthur would become. His life was bound to the boy’s now, for better or for worse. For a moment panic sprang up in Merlin’s heart. So young — still just a babe, in fact. What if Arthur grew to be a tyrant of a man? What of Merlin’s vow then?
Even as the question rose in his mind, his heart knew the answer. He would serve Arthur no matter what type of leader the prince became, but he would never compromise fealty to God, even if it cost him his life at Arthur’s hand. Yet in the capable care of his parents and Colvarth, the boy might grow into a godly High King, and for that Merlin prayed.
Uther raised his hand. “I receive your fealty, Merlin. And may the Lord Jesu bless your future service. Know that as I carry the mercy of Christ, I also carry the sword of God’s vengeance against all who do wrong, including oath breakers.”
Colvarth helped Merlin find his place on the grass before turning to the assembly. “Who will … likewise swear fealty, either to serve as a warrior to … fight the Saxenow or as a Briton grateful for the High King’s … protection?”
Merlin saw a small number of blurry forms rise and step forward. His father, sitting next to him, spoke the names in Merlin’s ear as each approached the Rock of Judgment. The monks. Allun the miller. Troslam and Safrowana. Kyallna the widow. Trevenna and Natalenya. And the char-man. Finally Merlin’s father rose and went forward as well. But the rest of the villagers remained sitting on the grass, murmuring in angry whispers.
“No more?” Colvarth called. “Do you understand that … you refuse your High King?”
Lightning flashed, striking the Meneth Gellik, and thunder rolled down the hillside.
Uther handed his son to Igerna and stood. Merlin heard the ring of metal as the High King pulled his sword once more from his belt. With it in his hand, he limped back and forth on the rock, and his feet scraped against it each time he turned.
He uttered a curse and then spoke to the people. “You think your Druid Stone more important than your king. You think yourselves safe here on the moor, far away from the coastal raiders, and that you need me not.”
The people quieted as the anger of the king rose.
“You are wrong,” Uther said. “I have seen the babes gutted by our