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“We don’t usually think of the fae as having two sides, do we?” Merlin observed.
“What do you mean?”
Merlin lifted her shoulders delicately. “Just as humans have a light and a dark side, so must have the fae. The artist has shown the fae as both beautiful–” She gestured to the left wall. “But ugly, too. The symbolism is clear, I think.”
I stared at her. “Is that all it is? Symbolism? What of the humans shown on the right?”
She tilted her head consideringly. “Some of the fae may indeed have been cruel to humans. Yet our bloodlines are mingled, nearly two hundred years since the fae left Eskira, and so we must have lived alongside many of the fae in relative peace.”
I could think of other less peaceful ways the bloodlines might have mingled but said nothing.
“Who created all of this?”
“The temple is the oldest building in Camelot, perhaps in all of Pendrath. Some believe parts of it may even be fae-made.”
“And the inner sanctum?” I said, deciding I might as well press my luck.
“Not today,” Merlin said with a small smile. She turned back to the door and led the way outside and into the main courtyard.
As we stepped into the light, she stopped. “Your brother has always shown the required respect for the goddesses and the temple.” This was probably an overstatement. “But lately, he has been particularly interested in the Three’s brother.”
“In Perun?” I frowned. “I didn’t realize that.”
“Yes, he has been asking questions of some of the scholar priests. He seems quite fascinated by rituals to Perun which used to be followed by past Pendragon monarchs. Hundreds of years ago, of course.”
“I see,” I murmured. I had no idea Perun had played more of a role in our worship in the past. He and Nedola had always been sidelined. I thought that was how things had always been.
“Of course, it is natural for a male ruler to more easily relate to a male deity,” Merlin assured me quickly. “He’s simply curious. Your brother still seems properly observant when it comes to the Three.”
I said nothing.
“Yesterday...” She hesitated. “I was...disappointed...in his decision with how to deal with the young thief.”
The young thief. Not the young fae-blooded boy.
“So was I,” I said honestly.
Merlin sighed and put a hand to her brow. “Such a waste. The boy could have had great potential.”
“I’m sure the boy thought so,” I said quietly.
Her eyes flickered. “A waste of life, absolutely. But then, he broke the law.”
“Yes.”
Our eyes met. I wondered if we were thinking the same thing. Or was Merlin merely thinking the boy would have made a good addition to her collection of talented young acolytes?
Or perhaps it was the cruelty and ruthlessness of the execution that bothered her the most. Was she as concerned about Arthur as I was?
“What were the rituals of Perun?” I asked, suddenly curious.
Merlin had begun to turn away, preparing to step back inside the temple. Now she faced me, her expression serious.
“There were many. All involved blood.”
I pulled up my hood and walked back to the castle slowly, thinking hard.
