AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“By some secret means, I suppose,” Arthur said dismissively. “We know there are passages. We will find each one and root them out.”
“I disguised her, and out the front door we went,” Merlin said, blatantly lying. I knew it was my uncle, Caspar, who had helped Guinevere escape my brother. And that he had used one of the castle passages to do it, not the front door. Merlin was being very bold—and very deceptive.
I wondered if my brother would really fall for all of this.
“Poor Morgan,” Merlin sighed. She looked at me, and only I could see the expression in her eyes.Oh, Merlin. “She longed to return to you. Her fury must have known no bounds.”
“Release her,” my brother said coldly. “I would speak with my sister.”
“I’m afraid it is not so easy as that,” Merlin said, her hands still raised as if to hold me in place. “I’ve bound her like this quite permanently.”
Arthur’s eyes narrowed. “How permanently?”
“I meant to kill her in the end,” Merlin said, and there was a tinge of malice to her voice that made my blood run cold—even though I knew it for a lie. “You are not the only one who believes in the power of blood offerings, my lord. Would you have mourned your sister, I wonder, King Arthur?”
“This insolence has gone on long enough, my lord,” Fenyx said, his voice a low snarl. “May I dispose of her?”
Something flickered in Merlin’s eyes. A hint of fear? Or something else?
“Ah, yes, that frightens you, does it, Merlin? Is it because it is the only way to free the king’s sister?” Fenyx demanded. “By ending your life?”
“Or we could simply take her back to the castle and torture her.” Arthur’s eyes were glacial. “Perhaps once she broke, the bonds holding Morgan would break, too.”
Fenyx glanced at his king. “You do not wish to free Lady Morgan immediately?”
If I had been able to snort with laughter, I would have. Clearly, this general knew nothing about my family.
Yet something crossed Arthur’s face. Hesitance?
“I want her back, of course. I wish to hear her tell us herself precisely where she has been.”
Fenyx seemed genuinely surprised. “You do not believe the priestess then?”
“Morgan returned from Valtain through an ancient fae arch below the temple, which I have now since destroyed,” Merlin declared. “You will find the evidence of it if you search.”
The portalIhad destroyed. Surely that was the one she must have meant. There must be more than one for Lancelet to have come back through another.
I prayed the others were hidden so well that my brother would never find them.
My brother exchanged a glance with his general. “A fae arch?”
“We have heard of such things,” Fenyx murmured quietly.
“Yes, she was grievously wounded,” Merlin continued. “She babbled incessantly about the sword you’d sent her after. Her guilt at failing to bring it back seemed overwhelming. Stupid girl.”
She glanced at me with undisguised affection this time. Careful, Merlin, I pleaded silently. Be ever so careful.
Arthur was looking at Merlin as if she were a fool. “Is there anything else you wish to confess to, High Priestess? Besides kidnapping my sister and helping a valuable prisoner from Lyonesse to escape?”
Merlin tilted her head as if giving it serious consideration. “I believe that is everything. Of course, if you wish to find Guinevere...”
Arthur took a step forward. “Yes? Where is she?”
Fenyx put a hand on the king’s arm, then quickly removed it as he noticed Arthur’s furious expression. “Pardon me, Your Highness, but does the priestess care nothing for the safety of the former queen?”
“She’s not to be called that,” Arthur hissed.
“Of course,” Fenyx said smoothly. “Guinevere then.” He gazed at Merlin with suspicion. “You cared enough to help her escape. Why help us find her now?”
