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My uncle shook his head. “You can’t think that way, Morgan. It’s futile and sure to drive you mad. Merlin had her reasons, and if she believed her death was waiting for her and didn’t fear it, well, then that’s more than most of us get. Have faith. You must trust she knew what she was doing.” My uncle rose to his feet. “Oh, I suppose you’ll want news of Lancelet before I go.”
My heart leaped. “Lancelet? You’ve found her? Of course I want news. Have you seen her? Is she well?”
His mouth twisted into a grimace. “As well as someone who has been badly beaten by a gang of grown men can be. She was not...otherwise harmed.”
I understood what he meant and felt some relief.
“I visited her briefly this morning,” he continued. “I left some herbs in her cell. With luck, she’ll find them and know what to do. She was sleeping at the time.”
“I want to see her,” I said, lifting my chin. “Can you take me to her now?”
“I think we both know that there are more important places for you to be than visiting your friend this morning—a visit which could risk your life,” he said gently. “But if you wish to visit her, I suggest you go at night.”
He gestured to the passage behind him. “I’ve left chalk drawings in the passage here leading from your room. One shows the way to my chambers if you ever need to visit without being seen. I would prefer you visit openly, however. It would be safest for us both. If you follow the directions in the other drawing, it will lead you down into the dungeons. Bring a lantern. You’ll see another tracing on the wall as you go. It will guide you to the cell I found her in.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“Now, if I were you,” he went on. “I would dress and prepare for your presentation at court today. Things have changed since you left. There is a pattern to court life now. Every day begins in the Great Hall where the king and queen greet the court and listen to petitions and so on. Then they retire for a few hours. Arthur goes off to discuss the war with his council. The queen goes to her own chambers or to walk in the gardens. Sometimes she rides with a retinue of nobles or takes part in a hunt. In the evening, dinner is served in the dining hall, and the king and queen are usually present. I would make an effort to be there each night, at least at first. There will be a powerful symbolism to you taking your seat at the table alongside your brother. Use that to your advantage. Remind the court of exactly who you are.”
“The fae-blooded daughter of a fae high king, you mean?” I reminded him sourly.
My uncle smiled slightly. “Remind them of who you’resupposedto be, then. We both know life at court is about masking reality, not truth-telling.”
“I suspect Arthur will wish to introduce you to the queen this morning. I’m not sure how much true feeling there is between them, but he’s certainly very proud of her. Queen Belisent is much admired amongst the nobles for her grace and beauty.” He paused. “Though not for much else. She’s reticent and rather haughty. With any luck, you’ll be able to break past that. If you can become the queen’s confidante, there is much you may be able to find out about Arthur and his plans.”
The idea of sidling up to a queen obsessed only with her own appearance while her people were at war was not especially appealing, but I would do my best.
“What about his plans for Kaye?” I demanded. “Before Merlin died, she claimed Arthur was bringing Kaye back to the city.”
My uncle’s bushy, white eyebrows went up. “Did she now?”
“But she may have simply said what she thought would get me to follow her,” I admitted.
“If Arthur is bringing your younger brother back from the frontlines, I haven’t heard of it. But he is certainly planning something. I’ve heard him and Fenyx discussing plans for some sort of tournament.”
I scoffed, “Entertainment? While the people starve and war rages?”
“Arthur remains deluded to any chance of failure. He believes he’ll win this war. I think he sees himself as a new kind of emperor, seizing the lands of Tintagel and Lyonesse and expanding Pendrath’s reach across Eskira. In the meantime, like many grandiose men of the past, he sits in his palace watching it all—and becoming bored while he waits for the outcome. He and Fenyx plot and plan and direct others but...”
“But Fenyx is no longer actually fighting,” I supplied. “And I suppose Arthur hasn’t even visited the frontlines.”
“Oh, he’s visited them a few times,” my uncle replied. “In gleaming armor, giving stirring speeches. But does he fight alongside his men like a true Pendragon king of old would have?” Caspar shook his head.
“My brother is not only cruel but cowardly,” I said despondently.
“Arthur has had his chance. His time is coming to a close. We will see to it,” my uncle said. He pushed himself out of his chair with a groan. “Well, I'll be on my way. There is much work to do. For both of us.”
Sure enough, a lady-in-waiting arrived just a few moments after Caspar had departed. Behind her stood a maid holding an assortment of gowns.
“King Arthur has asked us to prepare you for court, milady,” the noblewoman said. She was tall and dark haired with a milky complexion. I didn’t recognize her.
It had been, I quickly realized, a statement rather than a question. Within moments, the lady-in-waiting, whose name I learned was Lady Eve, and her maidservant, Aliza, had bustled into my room.
Gowns were laid out on my bed, and the two women talked in hushed whispers about which one would suit me best, with rapid glances back at me.
Then I was pushed onto a stool and seated before the large mirror as Aliza unbraided my hair and worked her fingers through it to untangle and smooth the silvery locks. Small moonstone combs were threaded through my hair, and it was secured in a new, loose braid with delicate tendrils of curls left to frame my face.
Next, Lady Eve took a careful, but not particularly discreet, sniff of my person. Thanking the Three that I had bathed before going to see Lancelet the evening before, Lady Eve nodded and seemed to decide scrubbing me down would not be necessary.
