Free Merlin's Nightmare (The Merlin Spiral) by Robert Treskillard

just made it harder. He’ll hate me for it.”
    Peredur shook his head. “No. Don’t doubt yourself. You had to keep it a secret or Vortigern would’ve — ”
    “Vortigern. The very man Arthur’s gone to serve. The man who slew Arthur’s entire family. If that man doesn’t drown in his own vomit someday, I’d like to . . .”
    “Every one of ’em died? That’s awful.”
    “Natalenya’s mother, Trevenna, sent word that Vortigern had gone to Bosventor and slain Arthur’s sisters in cold blood. That’s when she fled to the new abbey at Dinas Camlin. So now it’s all a mess. Ector is fighting in the north without us and Arthur’s heading south in ignorance.”
    Merlin gave a self-mocking laugh. “To be truthful, when we came to the cave just now, I’d hoped to find Colvarth alive. Sitting here eating fish over a campfire, like Jesu did in Scripture. Didn’t you smell the lingering smoke when we came in?”
    Peredur sat back, a startled look on his face. “Sure I did, but Colvarth alive? How — ”
    “I know it sounds crazy, but I prayed that God had raised him from the dead. When we buried Colvarth here, I hid the Sangraal nearby, wanting God to use it to raise Colvarth. God brought Arthur back to life, didn’t he? Why not Colvarth?”
    Here Merlin lifted his voice in frustration, and the sound echoed through the depths of the cave, “ Why not? I’m so lost . . . so lost without him. ”
    “You mean afraid.”
    “No, I’m — ”
    Peredur cut him off. “Yes, ya are. I’ve seen it. You’re not scared tah ask your uncle, or even Urien, to fight the Picti, but when it comes to you yourself doing something about Vortigern, you freeze all up. Arthur needs to realize he’s the true High King. And that means ya can’t go on hiding in this safe little valley. Ya have to confront Vortigern.”
    Merlin stared at the other man in shock. Was this the taciturn horse master he knew? Shaking off his surprise, he said, “It’ll take years of planning. Preparing an army alone will — ”
    “Are ya sure?”
    “I said no! The timing isn’t right.” Merlin stood and began pacing with the torch.
    Peredur shut his mouth and looked on in concern.
    A sudden urge came over Merlin to see the Sangraal once more — the very cup that the Christ had used at the Last Supper, the very cup that caught his blood when Jesu was nailed to the cross. Merlin had hidden it just a little way down the passage. Who knew? Maybe now was the time when God would raise Colvarth.
    “Come along,” he said. “I want to see the cup.”
    Peredur got a distant look in his eyes, but made no move to follow.
    “Are you coming?”
    “I still remember when I first saw it.”
    “On Atle’s mountain?”
    “Yeah. That unforgettable day I saw heaven itself open. Colvarth had spoken o’ the Sangraal before, but I didn’t comprehend. Can I really see it again?”
    “Yes.”
    Peredur momentarily covered his eyes with his hand. “Thank you.”
    Walking deeper into the cave, Merlin slipped on some loose gravel. Somewhere on the left wall there was a natural pit that he’d filled in with rocks to hide the Sangraal . . . but something was odd.Charcoal had been scratched onto the walls in seemingly random patterns. Merlin turned toward the depths of the cavern, and the sputtering light illuminated the floor ahead —
    Someone had been here.
    An old campfire lay before him. How long ago? The smell of wood smoke was extremely strong here, the oily torch notwithstanding. He unsheathed his sword and dug the tip into the charred remains and ashes. A small, glowing coal emerged from the depths, and Merlin gasped.
    “What is it?”
    “This fire was lit just last night. See? The ashes are still warm.”
    “That’s strange.”
    “Is there anyone who would’ve taken this road from Dinas Crag? Think!”
    “Only Arthur, Dwin, and Culann.”
    “But they left this morning. Who, then?”
    Peredur shook his head. “None else, with Ector’s rules