Page 20 of Touched By Maen Llia
He shook his head.
She put the big logs he asked for in the center of the pit.
“Stand back,” Merlin told her, staring at the logs. He put his hand out, his long fingers spread.
Fire leapt up along the length of all the logs. Then he looked at her and winked.
Catrin gasped. “But…you are not meant to be able to do that! Not on the solstice!”
“Did Ianto tell you that?” Merlin asked.
She nodded. “Years ago. He has always insisted that the solstice is when the earth stops for a while, and so does everything else. Then the sun begins to move back again.”
“An old witches’ tale designed to explain why magic is uncertain and the spell the buyer wants can’t work. I’ve heard it said that magic can’t work on the equinox, on every feast day, and on the Christians’ Christday mass.”
“Ianto believed it. That’s why he lied about yesterday being the solstice.”
“I gathered that,” Merlin said dryly. “I gathered a great deal when I woke with a mind stuffed with wool and Marcus shaking me like a dog with a carcass. I’m glad I only sipped the wine.” He looked around. “There, the mint and the sage, I’ll need those. Does rosemary still grow in the corner of the orchard? I’ll need that, too.”
They worked for what remained of the morning, cooking the sage, peppermint and rosemary concoction in the cook’s biggest pot, as the palace gradually stirred around them. When everyone learned of what had happened while they blissfully slept, they were outraged, angry and fearful in retrospect.
The patrols were sent out to monitor the border common with Brycheiniog, and the cooks worked around Merlin to prepare a lunch large enough to make up for the missed breakfast. The kitchen was unusually silent, with Merlin himself bent over the firepit.
Catrin was still braced for the consequences of what she had done, and didn’t try to engage the man in conversation, either. Merlin did not seem to notice her silence.
The midday meal was later than usual, but then the day had started late for nearly everyone. Catrin was starving by the time the meal was ready to serve—a porridge with last year’s dried fruit, and hunks of bread and cheese. She had barely eaten the previous evening and so much had happened since then… She ate enormously, quite happy to sit at the tiny bastards’ table and be ignored.
But attention returned to her after the meal was finished, when Merlin got to his feet, rapped on the table with the hilt of his dagger and demanded everyone’s attention. “Catrin, present yourself, please,” he added.
Everyone in the room swiveled to look at her. She saw puzzlement and curiosity…and irritation.
She tried to ignore the range of reactions and also her thudding heart. She got to her feet and moved between the tables to stand before Merlin and the empty chair beside him.
Eira studied Catrin with an odd expression which Catrin could not fathom. Had Merlin told her what Catrin had done on the hill near Maen Llia? He must have.
Catrin’s belly cramped even more painfully, and she wished she had not eaten quite so well.
Merlin glanced at Caron and Dai. The two men sat in the chairs on the other side of the big one, and both looked as though they were suffering the effects of a hearty night’s drinking. It occurred to Catrin that they looked exactly as they always did after a feast…and most mornings, come to that. Neither of them was young and fit. They liked the easy life.
They watched Merlin with trepidation.
“While you slept this morning, the kingdom you claim is yours was nearly overrun by Tewdrig of Brycheiniog,” Merlin said. “It is only thanks to Catrin that you still have a kingdom to claim.”
That caused a stir and a mutter. Clearly, the tale had not reached the farthest corners of the palace yet.
Caron rubbed his temple. “She murdered Ianto. We’re to thank her for that?”
“She executed a traitor and spy,” Merlin said coldly. “And if she had not, you would not be sitting at the high table, regretting the wine you drank last night. Brycheiniog would have overrun this town and slit all your throats into the bargain.”
Dai winced. “Dyfed should have declared a king weeks ago,” he pointed out. Catrin thought he was attempting to sound firm, but instead, he appeared querulous. “If we’d had a king, Tewdrig wouldn’t have dared—”
“He would have dared, for he is afraid of neither of you,” Merlin replied.
The entire room gasped.
Merlin pointed at Catrin. “A new truce with Brycheiniog was hammered out this morning, andthatwill keep Tewdrig on his island for a good long while.” He paused. “Although in one respect, youareright, Dai. With a new king of Dyfed in place, it will ensure Tewdrig behaves himself. Queen Eira…” He turned to the Queen. “Which of these two do you consider should be king?”
Eira rose to her feet. Catrin moved to help her, but Eira waved her back and used her staff to pull herself up. She turned to face Merlin, and behind him, Caron and Dai.
