Page 21 of Touched By Maen Llia
“I do not want either of them as my husband’s heir,” Eira said.
The room broke out into shouting. Tables thudded as fists hammered them. Some, those who felt strongly about either Caron or Dai, bounced to their feet.
So did Caron and Dai. They were cousins, although the relationship was distant, but both of them would have settled for the other to take the throne if they could not. Both to be ousted must be making their heads pound even harder than usual. Catrin watched Caron’s face turn red as he waved his arms about and shouted, too.
Merlin waited until the room was near silent and willing to listen properly. He looked at the two men on the other side of the table. “The shock of his last son and heir dying so young, overwhelmed Geraint before he had a chance to name his new heir,” Merlin said. “Queen Eira is the only person alive who can attest to his thoughts about the new heir. She has indicated that it should not be either of you.”
Caron’s face was still red and now the throbbing in his temples was visible. He was sweating. He threw out his arm to point at Catrin with a thick, unsteady finger. “If she’s so good at treaties and such, why don’t you makeherking?”
Dai gave a hysterical laugh.
Marcus shot to his feet. “Why not?” he called out. “Catrin has done more to keep this kingdom whole than anyone here bar the Queen!”
“She’s awoman, you fool!” Dai shot back.
Catrin pressed her hand to her chest as the room broke out into more shouting and thumping. Feet stomped on the floor. Everyone looked angry. “No…” she whispered, horror swirling through her. But no one could hear her. She could barely hear herself.
Again, Merlin waited until everyone was prepared to listen, once more. He said to Marcus, who was still upon his feet, “You were about to say?”
Marcus nodded. Everyone turned to look at him. “I was about to say,” he said heavily, “that my liege lord is Mair of Corneus. TheLadyof Corneus.”
“He lies!” Caron cried. “Everyone knows Bedivere is the head of the Corneus tribe.”
Bedivere got to his feet. “You are wrong, Caron. I was my father’s heir, yes, but I needed to serve the High King as his War Duke. My sister, Mair, was appointed the Duke of Corneus in my place. Marcus is correct—Mair is his lord and Arthur is his King.”
Marcus added, “I follow the Lady of Corneus’ orders. You would do well to do the same with Catrin, for she has saved all of you this day.” And he sat.
Everyone turned back to look at Merlin at the head table.
Catrin swallowed. Her throat clicked dryly. For not everyone was watching Merlin. Many of them were looking ather.
Merlin studied Catrin, too. “Marcus told me you saw the wine was black last night.”
Catrin jumped a little. “I…yes. I didn’t drink it. It looked bad.”
“Only to you,” Merlin said. “Even I did not see the evil in it. Only tiredness stopped me from drinking too much of it.” He turned to Eira. “Madam, what do you know of Catrin’s heritage? She got her power fromsomeone.”
“I have no power,” Catrin said quickly.
“You have, although you are yet to learn the full extent of it,” Merlin assured her.
“It is natural that she have power of a kind,” Eira added. “For Catrin is the bastard daughter of my son, Owain.”
Catrin echoed the gasp which ran around the room. “Owain was…my father?” she breathed.
Eira nodded. “He married the princess he ought, but he loved your mother Ceridwen with all his heart and soul. It was too dangerous to acknowledge you as his, even as a bastard. Too many were looking to weaken Geraint’s rule. So I took you in, because Owain would have wanted it that way.” Eira sighed. “My marriage was blighted—all my sons died before their father, then Geraint himself on the day of Peredur’s passing… Perhaps it is a good thing an indirect heir take the throne. One who has brought happiness to the Queen and peace to this kingdom.”
Abruptly, she sank, fumbling for her chair. Merlin helped her to sit and squeezed her hand. He straightened and considered Catrin once more, while the room buzzed and whispered.
With a jolt, Catrin realized that the whispers and the murmurs did not hold the heat and anger they had a few moments ago.
Why, theylikedthe idea!
She began to tremble once more. “I am not a leader of men,” she told Merlin. “I am not a warrior.”
“A warrior did not serve Dyfed today,” Merlin replied. “You are a descendant of Geraint, and although you have not yet realized it, you are also ofmyblood, too. The power of the stars touches all of us in this family, one way or another. My mother had the Sight. You may be touched with it, too. You will come to learn that, by and by. But in a different way, you have been shaped to lead these people.”
His voice was strong and loud, a singer’s voice designed to reach the back walls of the room despite fidgets and whispers. She realized that Merlin was speaking to everyone else in the room, even though he appeared to be addressing her.
