enemies, the Saxenow! I have seen fathers begging for bread with their eyes gouged and gone. I have rescued the men and women taken as Pictish slaves to the northlands. I protect you while you sleep in safety on your straw.”
The people murmured again, but no one else came forward to take the oath.
“Do you hear? I have just come from raising Kembry, and they have sent most of their men, food, and weapons. All they could spare, because they know how dire the threat is. And now I have come to raise Kernow, and in two days I will meet King Gorlas to receive his help. Who will fight with us? Stand, men! Stand and join the battle!”
Merlin felt a few raindrops fall as another lightning bolt split the sky. The explosion was deafening, and it seemed the world dimmed for a brief moment.
“Citizens,” Uther called. “I give you one last chance! But before I do, I will show you a goodly example. There is an expected individual who has not yet sworn fealty to me, and thus I call forward Tregeagle, who will show his fealty to the one who protects his subjects.”
Tregeagle shuffled forward and bowed upon the grass before the Rock of Judgment where the king stood. “Speak, splendid lord. What shall your servant swear?”
“We will begin with the usual. Proceed.”
“I beseech thee, High King,” Tregeagle began, “and deign thee to protect me even as I swear fealty to thee and thine heir.”
Uther paced. “That is good. Now, swear that you utterly reject and hold in contempt this foolish druid Stone. Ha! Swear to crack it in half the next time you set eyes upon it!”
But only the rising wind answered the High King.
“Speak!” Uther commanded.
“I cannot, my lord,” Tregeagle mumbled.
Uther’s voice rose in mountainous anger. “What bewitchment is upon this village?”
Merlin suddenly felt all the hairs rise on the back of his neck, and his scalp felt as if scores of tiny worms crawled across it. The last time this happened was when Prontwon died. The lightning!
Uther roared in fury, and standing on the very edge of the Rock of Judgment, he raised his sword straight up, ready to slash it down and kill Tregeagle.
“Stop!” Trevenna and Natalenya shrieked.
Merlin burst forward. Holding his staff level, he charged the dark form of Uther. Surprising the High King, Merlin struck him full on the side and upset his balance so that they both tumbled to the grass.
Immediately lightning struck at the same spot where the High King had stood.
Everyone was blown back by its force. Screams and shouts coursed from the villagers. Arthur cried.
Twice more it struck, slicing the sky like an angry whip. When the booming finally faded, the air itself tasted burnt.
Uther turned and tried to pull Merlin up by the shoulders, but Merlin refused to rise. “My lord, I expect your judgment for daring to strike you.”
“You saved my life.” Uther heaved Merlin up and laughed. “Karo-Righ I call you, Merlin. Not servant but friend of the king!” The High King then stooped to help his wife up, with the bawling Arthur in her arms, just as hail poured from the sky like countless angry bees.
The villagers scattered as Uther and his retinue ran toward the village meeting house.
“Tas?” Merlin yelled through the driving ice. “Where should I go?”
“With Uther,” Owain called. “I’ll be at the smithy!”
Merlin felt Colvarth’s hand on his arm, and together they made their way to the cramped meeting house. At the door someone jostled them from behind to get out of the hail.
“Vortigern,” Colvarth said. “I did not see … you following us.”
CHAPTER 25
MYSTERIES UNBIDDEN
Uther pushed his way behind a table at the back of the crowded meeting house, evicted a warrior from the bench, and sat down. The air stank of sheep manure and wet leather, but that was the least of his concerns. It was those druidow, curse them! They were behind this village’s impudence. Colvarth had told him about these meddlers, but Uther had never expected to run into so many. Certainly not in this wee village. If its mountain fort hadn’t been on the main line of beacons, Uther would have never even come.
And he wouldn’t have visited Kernow at all if that contentious King Gorlas had simply joined him against the Saxenow. Their former rivalry for Igerna’s love made things difficult.
Nowhere had people refused Uther fealty. And they always loved Arthur! But here, they scowled. Refused him honor. Wouldn’t join the fight against the