doing here, my lady?"
"Thinking."
Blaise laughed deep in his throat. "I usually try to avoid that as much as possible as it most often leads me to mischief or mayhem."
She smiled in spite of herself. The mandrake had a way with words. She actually liked him a great deal.
"So what were you thinking of?" he asked as he neared her.
"Something Morgen said about Kerrigan while we were fleeing Camelot. She told the gargoyles to take his sword. She said that if they took his sword and scabbard that he was naught but a mortal man. Is that true?"
She saw the indecision on his handsome face as he debated on what to answer. "Do you think it is?"
"Aye."
"Then you would be wrong. Kerrigan isn't like other men anymore. Morgen saw to that. But without his sword and scabbard he can be killed."
Seren cocked her head as she considered his confession. "Why would you tell me this?"
Blaise flipped his long braid over his shoulder before he answered. "Because I trust you to do what is right. Kerrigan is a formidable enemy, but he makes a far better ally." Blaise bent low to whisper in her ear. "He is a lost soul, my lady. Everyone gave up on him long ago and cast him aside as worthless. Don't be like all the others."
"And if he kills me?"
"I don't think he will."
How she wished she had his faith. "That's easy enough for you to say since it's not your life hanging in the balance."
He smiled at her. "True. But I have lain in your hands the way to destroy him. What you do with that information is up to you." He started away from her, then paused. Even though he couldn't really see her, his pale eyes were searing with their intensity. "Don't disappoint me, Seren. Kerrigan is the father of your child, and he's risked much to keep you from Morgen."
"And he threatens to kill me with virtually every breath."
"But you're not dead yet."
The "yet" was the key part. But then she had dared Kerrigan to do it and he had tossed away the dagger. It gave her hope that she was reaching him. She could raise her child alone, but it would be much easier if the babe had a father.
"No matter what he blusters, he won't kill you, Seren. Trust me."
Seren sighed as Blaise withdrew from her. Well, at least now she knew Lancelot had been honest with her about the sword. Take it from Kerrigan and he wouldn't be able to harm her.
Neither would Morgen.
But the last time she'd gone near Kerrigan while he slept, he'd stabbed her and had almost killed her.
There had been only one time when he'd removed his sword??/p>
When he bedded her.
It would be a bold move on her part. And if she failed this, his anger would be boundless. She couldn't even blame him. Taking his sword would leave him vulnerable to anyone who came near him.
But it would protect the baby??/p>
Her.
Do it, Seren.
It could very well be her only hope.
Hours went by as Kerrigan contemplated the strength of Morgen's army. He could summon the gargoyles in to the castle one by one and slay them. But to deplete the gargoyles would weaken him greatly and leave the dragons unchecked. Since gargoyles were made primarily of stone, only they could successfully battle one of those beasts. Dragons' breath would incinerate any living creature, but in the case of gargoyles, it only charred them a bit and left no lasting damage once the flames cooled.
It made them perfect dragon fodder, which made them valuable allies.
Perhaps he should try and woo some of them to his side. Definitely something easier said than done since, as a rule, the gargoyles hated him. He hadn't been exactly nice to them in the past. Like the mods and graylings, they were servants to do his bidding.
As for the dragons??/p>
The mandrakes held no more love for Morgen than the gargoyles did, but the problem was that they cared even less for him.
Perhaps Seren was right. Kindness did have its benefits.
Kerrigan scoffed at that. What was he thinking? Fear was a much more potent motivator, and it was definitely the one he preferred.
But it all came back to one question. "How did I get myself into this?"
He and Morgen had always existed under a truce. Now he'd breached it for a bit of fluff that had no use for either of them. Seren's child would be able to command the Round Table and