Page 41 of The Road to Avalon
“That doesn’t mean he did it,” I said, aware of the desperation in my voice. “He could have run for any number of reasons. He could just be afraid you’d think it was him, after the fight they had. It doesn’t mean he’s guilty. You need to hear his side of it before you pass judgement. Please.”
“And how are we supposed to do that with him fled?” Cei asked, anger in every word. He’d loved Llacheu like a son, particularly after the death of Rhiwallon. “He’s run, and that’s enough for me. As good as a written confession.”
Oh God.Since when had gentle Cei become so judgmental? So narrow minded?
Arthur turned to Merlin. “Take Gwen into our chamber. She needs to lie down. Cei and I have things to discuss, and a pursuit to plan. It’s clearyou’llbe of no assistance.” His last sentence came out sharp with accusation.
Merlin put a strong arm around my shoulders, holding me close, but I didn’t miss the angry look he shot at Arthur. In stony silence he escorted me through the door into my chamber. Someone closed it behind us, shutting out the Hall.
He sat me on one of the chairs by the table and poured a goblet of wine. “Here. Drink this. You’ve had a nasty shock.”
He sat as well and filled a second goblet for himself, knocking it back in one go while I sipped mine. It was strong, unwatered Falernian.
“Why can’t you see?” I asked, a question that had been nagging me since he’d said his vision was clouded. “What is it that’s stopping you?”
He shrugged. “If I knew, then I could prevent it. I’ve tried, believe me, but I can’t.”
I bit my lip, unsure whether to broach my suggestion.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Do you think Morgana could be somehow behind it? Be blocking you in some way? She’s the only person with the power to do that.”
He looked me in the eye. “That’s possible, I suppose. What makes you think she’d want to?”
“Because she has an agenda.” Best not to mention my suspicions that her plans might involve his own daughter. “It suits her to prevent you finding out what it is. She’s like an evil spider in the center of her web, spinning her silk to ensnare the unwary, writing the fates of others, and twisting history to suit herself.” I shuddered. “I refuse to be considered amongst the unwary. I won’t let her get the better of us.” I seized his hand. “She means Arthur to kill our son in revenge for Llacheu’s murder. In my old world, no son of Arthur is mentioned as following him after his death. We have to change that. Amharmustfollow him as king.”
“Put like that…” Merlin said, with a wry smile. “We can but try.”
I nodded. “She needs to be stopped before she unleashes any more wickedness.” Oh, how I’d like to be the one to do that. “Then you’ll be able to use the Sight to see who really killed Llacheu, and if it’s Amhar, he, and I, will have to accept his father’s justice, but if it’s not, then we can save him.”
The conviction that I was meant to save Amhar, and with him, Arthur, washed over me like a tidal wave. I could change history; I knew I could. This was why I was here. My purpose all along had been to save my son. All the doubts I’d felt about Amhar fell away, replaced with a rising confidence that he hadn’t done this terrible thing, and I was going to prove it.
“As soon as Arthur and Cei set out after Amhar,” I said. “Then we must head to Viroconium. Just you and me. We’ll corner that old witch and force a confession out of her.”
Merlin’s brow furrowed.
I tightened my hold on his hand. “Amhar’s my son. Ihaveto save him. We need to get to Viroconium and find out what Morgana’s done before Arthur finds Amhar and metes out his justice. It’s the only way. I refuse to sit at home and twiddle my thumbs while my son’s in danger.”
He sighed. “Very well. We’ll go together. But we’ll take guards. We can’t ride that far in safety if there’s just the two of us. There could be brigands.”
I nodded. “Llawfrodedd. I’d trust him anywhere. He should come.”
The door from Archfedd’s chamber swung open and she hurtled in. “If he’s going, then I am too. You can’t leave me behind. Amhar’s my brother, and I know he’s innocent. Llacheu was my brother, too. We need to find out who really did it. You have to let me come.”
I looked into her determined face. She scowled. “And anyway, I refuse to stay here alone with Medraut.”
No use telling her it was wrong to listen at doors.
Chapter Eighteen
First thing inthe morning, Arthur, who’d not come to bed last night, Cei, and a force of forty men set off in pursuit of Amhar, leaving Gwalchmei in charge of Din Cadan. Arthur had asked Merlin first, but Merlin had declined, excusing himself on the grounds of being unable to make decisions with his Sight so clouded. Gwalchmei had stepped proudly into the breach.
I saw them off, my heart heavy and my nerves jangling with fear. With any luck, tracing Amhar would be like finding the proverbial needle in the haystack. He could have gone to ground anywhere and might very well no longer be in Dumnonia. At the back of my mind, despite my decision to believe him innocent, there was always that horrible, creeping fear that he might actually have been the perpetrator of this crime, and the suspicion that all Merlin and I’d be doing with our efforts was proving his guilt.
Occasionally, back in my old world, I’d seen on the news when a serial killer was at last apprehended, and the avid speculation as to whether his mother or wife or girlfriend had known of his guilt and kept quiet. Now I stood in their shoes, I understood all too well why they might have done. Would I keep quiet if we found Amhar to be guilty? The urge to protect your offspring is overwhelming, but Amhar’s crime involved the young man I’d always seen as another son. How could I weigh my feelings for either of them and come up with a decision?
Arthur had been gone less than an hour, and I was busy packing my saddlebags, when the slight young girl who was maid to Llacheu’s widow, Ariana, came running through the open door from the Hall. “Milady, you has to come quick,” she gasped, her cheeks flushed red, probably with exertion and fear. “Mother Donella sent me to fetch you. Milady Ariana’s took bad.”
