Page 228 of The Daughters of Avalon
“When you were a babe,” Isolde explained. “Not more than two, I realized what you would become, and I bound andglamouredyou.”
Seren peered up at Elspeth, standing close with the child on her hip, brow furrowed.
“A trick of the eyes,” the old woman continued, brushing a hand through the air as though to remove a veil.
Elspeth’s mouth gaped. So, too, did Rosalynde’s, for in the wake of Isolde’s flourish, Seren was changed.
“Sweet fates!” Said Rosalynde, with as much confusion as Seren felt. “Your eyes… they are…” The woman waved her hand yet again, and her eyes were again blue.
“How is this possible?” demanded Elspeth of the crone. “Rhiannon is the one whosemagikwas strongest. I do not understand!”
“Indeed, Rhiannon’smagikis powerful,” agreed Isolde. “But not because she is Goddess-blessed. Rather, she is blessed by your grandmamau with thehudpowerful enough for three.” She held up three bony fingers. “I knew your mother would keep the Promised One close, only to slay her if she manifested the power of the divine, so IglamouredRhiannon’s eyes as well.”
Rosalynde narrowed her eyes. “So what you’re saying is that you endangered both my sisters’ lives by altering the color of their eyes, only to keep my mother from knowing who the true Regnant should be?”
The old woman sighed. “Alas, ’tis true.”
She straightened her back. “And what would you have had me do? Allow your mother to murder the one-true Regnant? Do you believe I am the only one to have contrived sacrifices?” she asked, and then answered her own question. “But nay.” She addressed each of the sisters in turn. “Rhiannon, too, contrived, and so did Arwyn.”
“The fire,” Seren whispered, somehow understanding what it was the old woman was saying.
“Aye,” the lady confessed, turning again to regard Seren, spearing her with ice-blue eyes. “She had a visit on the morning of the fire, and your sister sacrificed herself so you would remain free.Youwill be the Regnant, Seren.”
Gasps of surprise followed her announcement, but neither Seren nor her sisters could form questions, so shocking was the proclamation.
“You were aptly named,” said Isolde. “In our tongue, as you must know, Seren means star, and little did your mother realize that the “star” she gave birth to was the Regnant she should fear—you and only you, and if not you, then no other in this day and age. But now you must earn your laurels.”
Somehow, though the old woman’s words offered more questions than answers, Seren understood…
Everything she already knew confirmed it; everything she didn’t know came rushing forth, like a torrent.
Since that day at the Widow’s Tower, she and Rose and Elspeth had many times pondered her newfound abilities. None of them could find any good reason to explain them.
It was herwitchwaterthat put out thewitchfireat the Widow’s Tower, and no other means could have doused it.
“I don’t understand,” said Elspeth.
The old woman ignored her two sisters, speaking only to Seren now. “You must find your true self. Only then will you find your answers. Seek yourself first, then imbueCaledfwlchwith the power of the divine.”
Her gaze moved to Rosalynde, and she said, pointing a finger quite vehemently. “That sword is no longer yours to wield. You must give it to your sister. When the time arrives, only she will know what to do with it.”
The old woman then smiled cannily, peering up at Elspeth, and said, “There are mysteries in life we are not meant to learn, Elspeth Pendragon.” She wagged a finger. “You must guard your boys. ’Tis not over, and it will not be over until the Queen of Avalon is restored to her throne. But the sea will not keep her.”
“You speak in riddles!” Elspeth said, annoyed. “What?—”
“Hush, Elspeth. Remember the sigil on the livery of Morwen’s soldiers?” Elspeth nodded, and Seren said, “Let the woman speak.”
The old woman gave Seren a grateful nod, and then continued, “I was her student before she understood she was my teacher. Only now you must realize… she is no daughter to Morgan. She is the Witch Goddess who sought the prophet’s doom. It was your own mother, the child, who summoned the Lady from the Lake, and your uncle Emrys who opened the door.”
“How?” asked Rose.
“Bloodmagik,” the woman hissed, and she placed a finger to her lips. “Bloodmagikso hideous I dare not speak it. But the how of it you must not long to know. Only know this, Daughters of Avalon; once she realizes her mistake, she will return for the child.Heis her doom.”
The woman then narrowed her ice-blue eyes on Elspeth. “He will not be the one to close her eyes, but once she is vanquished, it ishewho holds the key to keep her from the realms of men.”
“My son?” asked Elspeth.
“The fair one,” Isolde said with a nod. “He is the Merlin reborn, and if you doubt me, then see for yourself; he bears the birthmark at his?—”
