Free Merlin’s Song by Samantha Winston

came. Willow peaked and then collapsed onto Sebring’s chest.
He looked down with a groan and ran some more water into the basin.
    “Throw me a towel,” cried Sebring.
    Merlin tossed him a sopping-wet towel and Sebring caught it
and laughed. “Aren’t you glad I invited Merlin to join us?” he asked Willow,
stroking her hair.
    “I am.” She looked at Merlin, and he saw a flush steal
across her cheeks. “If I can do anything for you, I will. Just ask.”
    “I want Kyla back.”
    She sighed. “All right. It won’t be easy, but if you promise
to trade her for two of Hivernia’s courtesans, I don’t think you will have any
problems. I will give you his name and ask one of my guards to take you to his
manor. But more than that I cannot do without compromising my position.”
    No problems? Merlin went back to his room and took a hot
bath before he dressed, and he successfully ignored the maid’s obvious efforts
to seduce him. He wasn’t sure that there would be “no problems” as Willow said.
For one thing, he didn’t know any courtesans in Hivernia!
    * * * * *
    The ride to the nobleman’s castle was interesting. Merlin saw
more signs of a society in degeneration. The fields lay fallow, the orchards
and vineyards were only partially tended. Everyone seemed well-off, but
melancholy gripped the land. It soured Merlin’s already dark mood. When the
manor came into sight his heart gave a lurch. It was a beautiful place with
tall shade trees and many sparkling fountains and pools set like precious
jewels in the impeccable gardens. Even in the royal palace he’d seldom seen
such opulence. Then he remembered that the nobleman was in charge of the army. Warfare
seems to bring wealth , he thought bitterly, remembering his fallen
companions.
    As he entered the gates, servants came running. One man took
his horse while another took his dusty cloak.
    “Welcome,” said a man’s voice. “You’re early!”
    “Early?” Merlin echoed.
    “I haven’t seen you before. Are you a friend of my wife’s?”
The man strode forward and clasped his hand warmly. “I’m Lord Fontaine. The
party will start at sunset but you are welcome to wait until then.”
    “I’m Merlin Winterhelm, and I have come to see Kyla.”
    Lord Fontaine laughed. “Of course you have. Everyone is
coming to see her. But it’s to be a surprise unveiling. Until then, make
yourself comfortable in the garden. The servants will attend to you. Now, if
you’ll excuse me, I have much to do before the festivities.”
    Merlin had rarely been struck speechless, but he was now.
Party? Unveiling? What was going on? It didn’t take long to find out. The
servants gossiped eagerly. As she poured his wine, a serving maid told him
everything.
    “She’s ever so pretty, and even if she did give our mistress
a knock on the head, she’s very nice.”
    “A knock on the head?” Merlin wondered if he’d heard
correctly.
    “Well, she was confused. She’d been drugged, I heard, and no
one told her that she’d been sold. Her ex-master should be horsewhipped, that’s
what I think. Selling her without even a by-your-leave!” The servant gave a
little sniff and Merlin choked on his drink.
    The servant didn’t notice and continued blithely. “Everyone
adores her already. She’s so much fun. She knows all latest styles and court
dances from Hivernia, and she’s already taught the minstrels some new songs,
thank goodness. I was getting so tired of ‘Round the Moonlit Garden’.”
    Merlin started to wonder how he could get the chatty servant
to tell him what he really wanted to know. Was Kyla happy here? And had she
made love to Lord Fontaine yet?
    As the sun set, other guests arrived. Merlin started to feel
distinctly underdressed. He’d worn his best cloak and Queen Willow had given him
a rust-colored tunic with gold embroidery. He’d thought it far too ostentatious
when he was getting dressed, but now that he saw what the South Islanders were
wearing he decided