The crystal cave - Mary Stewart [176]
He said suddenly: "When we last talked, there in the middle of the Hanging Stones, you said you wanted nothing from me. But by all the gods, Merlin, if you help me now, if I get her, and in safety, then you can ask what you will. I swear it."
I shook my head, and he said no more. I think he saw that I was no longer thinking of him; that other forces pressed me, crowding the firelit room. The dragon flamed and shimmered up the dark wall. In its shadow another moved, merging with it, flame into flame. Something struck at my eyes, pain like a claw. I shut them, and there was silence. When I opened them again the fire had died, and the wall was dark. I looked across at the King, motionless in his chair, watching me. I said, slowly: "I will ask you one thing, now."
"Yes?"
"That when I bring you to her in safety, you shall make a child."
Whatever he had expected, it was not this. He stared, then, suddenly, laughed. "That's with the gods, surely?"
"Yes, it is with God."
He stretched back in his chair, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. "If I come to her, Merlin, I promise you that whatever I have power to do, I shall do. And anything else you bid me. I shall even sleep tonight."
I stood up. "Then I shall go and make the draught and send it to you."
"And you'll see her?"
"I shall see her. Good night."
***
Ulfin was half asleep on his feet outside the door. He blinked at me as I came out.
"I'm to go in now?"
"In a minute. Come to my chamber first and I'll give you a drink for him. See he takes it. It's to give him sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day."
There was a girl asleep in a corner, wrapped in a blue blanket on a huddle of pillows. As we passed I saw the curve of a bare shoulder and a tumble of straight brown hair. She looked very young.
I raised my brows at Ulfin, and he nodded, then jerked his head towards the shut door with a look of enquiry.
"Yes," I said, "but later. When you take him the drink. Leave her sleeping now. You look as if you could do with some sleep yourself, Ulfin."
"If he sleeps tonight I might get some." He gave a flicker of a grin at me. "Make it strong, won't you, my lord? And see it tastes good."
"Oh, he'll drink it, never fear."
"I wasn't thinking of him," said Ulfin. "I was thinking of me."
"Of you? Ah, I see, you mean you'll have to taste it first?"
He nodded.
"You have to try everything? His meals? Even love potions?"
"Love potions? For him?" He stared, open-mouthed. Then he laughed. "Oh, you're joking!"
I smiled. "I wanted to see if you could laugh. Here we are. Wait now, I won't be a minute."
Cadal was waiting for me by the fire in my chamber. This was a comfortable room in the curve of a tower wall, and Cadal had kept a bright fire burning and a big cauldron of water steaming on the iron dogs. He had got out a woollen bedgown for me and laid it ready across the bed.
Over a chest near the window lay a pile of clothes, a shimmer of gold cloth and scarlet and fur. "What's that?" I asked, as I sat down to let him draw off my shoes.
"The King sent a robe for tomorrow, my lord." Cadal, with an eye on the boy who was pouring the bath, was formal. I noticed the boy's hand shaking a little, and water splashed on the floor. As soon as he had finished, obedient to a jerk of Cadal's head, he scuttled out.
"What's the matter with that boy?"
"It isn't every night you prepare a bath for a wizard."
"For God's sake. What have you been telling him?"
"Only that you'd turn him into a bat if he didn't serve you well."
"Fool. No, a moment, Cadal. Bring me my box. Ulfin's waiting outside. I promised to make up a draught."
Cadal obeyed me. "What's the matter? His arm still bad?"
"It's not for him. For the King."
"Ah." He made no further comment, but when the thing was done and Ulfin had gone, and I was stripping for the bath, he asked: "It's as bad as they say?"
"Worse." I gave him a brief version of my conversation