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“If you were going to threaten me, why did you not start with that, Arthur?” I asked softly.
Arthur ignored me. “But if that is not enough of an incentive for you, remember that Kaye remains with me.”
“What does that mean?” I demanded, trying to hide my fear. “Of course, he remains with you. You are his older brother. It’s your duty to protect him. He’s merely a child.”
Arthur smiled in a way that made the hairs along my arms stand on end. “He is indeed my heir. And as such, I will not allow him to fall prey to your misguided teachings. While you are away, he’ll remain close to my side. Agravaine and I will personally oversee his instruction. We cannot leave his future in the hands of weak-hearted tutors any longer.” Arthur laid his palms flat on the table. “I will mold our brother into a worthy servant of my reign, one way or another. The way of the Pendragons is not for the faint of heart.”
I knew better than to argue with him. Not with the way he was looking at me. He was trying to frighten me. And by the Three, it was working all too well.
I already knew what the answer would be but I had to try. “May Lancelet accompany me? She is training to be a knight. She is close to completing her training. I am sure she would be a useful companion to have on such a long journey.”
“Lancelet de Troyes.” Arthur shook his head disdainfully. “You choose the most distasteful companions, Sister. Lancelet and Sir Ector’s son. Both of them would have already been cast out of the Rose Court in the days of Perun.”
“What do you mean?” My palms were beginning to sweat.
“I mean that such deviant behaviors were not tolerated before the kingdom turned to the worship of the Three. Under Perun’s law, deviancy was dealt with harshly.”
There was no need for me to ask him to elaborate on the nature of this supposed “deviance.” Even so, his words stopped me cold. Before today, I had no idea he felt this way. For as long as I could remember Pendrath had been a tolerant and fair-minded kingdom, just like our neighbors. There was no penalty for loving freely.
“And you wish to bring back Perun’s law, is that it, Arthur?” I managed to say.
Arthur sneered. “There are edicts in the records of our history that would punish women like your Lancelet in ways you cannot even imagine. That is all I am saying.” He curled his lip contemptuously. “So, no, I don’t think she would be a fitting companion to join you.”
He turned away from the table abruptly, snapping his fingers for the guards near the door. Our audience was at an end.
My mind was reeling as I walked from the room.
Suddenly everything was under threat. Kaye. The safety of my friends.
Even my life in the temple–which was suddenly sounding more and more appealing with every minute.
A small and cowardly part of me wanted to run there now, beg for sanctuary, ask Merlin to protect me. But I knew that would be of no use. Arthur’s word was law.
I steeled myself, straightening my back as I walked down the hall.
Arthur had threatened everything I held dear. Now what would my response be?
Would I fall into hopelessness or fight for those I loved, even if it meant stepping into the greatest danger I had ever known?
I grimaced. Whatever dangers lay ahead on the road to Valtain, one thing was certain. At least Florian Emrys would not be there.
For the first time in my life, I’d be leaving he and Arthur far, far behind.
