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There was a collective gasp and Eithne and Cormac both got to their feet.
‘Merlin? He is in our world once more? When did he carry out this act?’
‘It was in the future,’ I explained. ‘The twenty-first century to be exact. I know this sounds fantastic, but I want to be completely honest with you.’
‘Lyonesse vanished from your world after the death of Arthur,’ Cormac said, watching me closely.
‘It did. But part of it returned recently as a small island, and it remains so even in the time we come from.’
Eithne’s eyes glowed. ‘Then we were correct. We sensed this recently. It was hard to believe but we were planning to investigate. Our people—do they still live there? Are they well?’
‘I haven’t seen them in this time,’ I admitted. ‘That doesn’t mean they’re not there. We haven’t really had a moment to investigate. But I do know they live on the island in my own time, and they’re happy and well.’
‘The island is our home now,’ Wren explained. ‘Phoenix and I will live there.’
‘On whose authority?’ Eithne enquired.
Phoenix removed a document from his coat and handed it to Wren, who in turn gave it to Eithne. She unfolded it and read it carefully.
‘The Queen of Lyonesse? A direct descendant of King Leodegrance still lives in your time?’ She sounded genuinely delighted. ‘This is good news indeed. The Royal Family of Lyonesse always treated our people well and kindly. And Queen Ewella has given you the deeds to this island for exactly three hundred and fifty years I see, after which, it reverts to her. This all fits with what you’ve told me.’
‘None of us wants more bloodshed,’ I pleaded. ‘I speak with both witches and fair folk, and I haven’t met one yet who wishes to see a repeat of the last great war. Haven’t our people suffered enough? We can’t keep on making the same mistakes, sacrificing thousands, hundreds of thousands, even millions of our kind for nothing. This is a beautiful world. There’s room enough for us all. We should work together to nurture our planet and keep our people safe and happy. The dimension box is safe. I will return to my own time and find the two keys; you have my word. This is my life’s mission: to keep peace and help the fair folk and witches to live securely, without fear or danger from each other, or from anyone or anything else. I swear it on the Sword of Feidhlim as the next Great Guardian of this world.’
She and Cormac exchanged glances then both watched me thoughtfully for a long, agonising moment. Then Eithne nodded.
‘So, Blaise St Clair is, to all intents and purposes, dead. The time loop has closed. No rogue witch has stolen a key. We have a new Great Guardian in the future who will, no doubt, keep the peace. And the Guardians are setting up a council to monitor the witches’ behaviour, which you, Phoenix Tremayne, will be the leader of.’
She folded her hands in her lap.
‘I think we can reassure our people they have nothing to fear.’
‘Thank you,’ I said gratefully.
‘I suspect you have much work still to do in your own time,’ she said. ‘We will not keep you any longer. You may go.’
I gave her a startled look, but she was already leaning over to talk to her husband, and it was obvious that we were dismissed.
I glanced at Phoenix and Wren who looked as surprised as I was by the abrupt termination of our meeting. I gave them a slight shrug. Such was the way of the Shining Ones and the fae. You never really knew where you were with them, but I knew I could trust Eithne and Cormac to calm their people. Hadn’t their children already told me as much?
I motioned to my sister and her fiancé to follow me, and we headed out of the throne room, finding ourselves in a large, grand hall.
‘We can go home now then?’ Wren asked hopefully. ‘Back to the island, I mean?’
‘We can,’ I said distractedly, ‘but there’s something I have to do first.’
I glanced around me, but the hall was empty. Then I heard giggling, and I realised it came from above us. At the top of the stairs sat two children. Shining Ones. I smiled, knowing exactly who they were.
Slowly I climbed the stairs until I was level with them, then I sat down beside them.
‘Hello,’ I said. ‘Are you Orlagh and Ailill?’
They exchanged glances. ‘How did you know that?’ one asked. To be honest, I can’t say which one of them it was. It was hard to tell as they were dressed identically, and both had silver eyes, pale faces, and snow-white hair.
‘Were you waiting for me?’ I asked them gently.
They nodded.
‘Mammy Flynn told us the Great Guardian had arrived with the witch,’ one whispered, ‘and we wanted to see him, but we weren’t allowed.’
