The Hollow Hills - Mary Stewart [190]
"Thank you," I took the reins from him, and mounted. "They're expecting me at the gate?"
"Yes. Merlin" -- he still kept a hand on the reins -- "let me come with you. You shouldn't ride alone. You've a bad enemy there who'll stop at nothing."
"I know that. You'll serve me better by staying here and seeing that no one rides after me. Are the gates shut?"
"Yes, I saw to it. No rider but you leaves this place now until Arthur and the others ride out. But they tell me that there were two men slipped out before the company left the hall."
I frowned. "Lot's?"
"No one seems clear on that. They said they were messengers taking the news of the King's death south."
"No messenger was sent," I said curtly. I had ordered this myself. The news of the High King's death, with the fear and uncertainty it would engender, must not be carried beyond the walls until there could go with it news of a new King and a new crowning.
Ralf nodded. "I know. These two got through just before the order came. It could just be someone hoping for a purse -- one of the chamberlains, perhaps, sending word south as soon as it happened. But it could just as soon be Lot's men, you know it could. What could he be planning? To break Macsen's sword, as he broke Uther's?"
"You think he could?"
"N-no. But if he can do nothing, then why are you riding up there now? Why not wait and ride up with the prince?"
"Because it's true that Lot will stop at nothing now to destroy Arthur's claim. He's worse than ambitious now, he's frightened. He'll do anything to discredit me, and shake men's faith in the sword as God's gift. So I must go. God does not defend himself. Why are we here, if not to fight for him?"
"You mean -- ? I see. They could desecrate the shrine, or destroy the altar...If they could even prevent your being there to receive the King...And they may kill the servant you left to tend the shrine. Is that it?"
"Yes."
He took the chestnut by the bit, so roughly that it jibbed, snorting. "Then do you think that Lot would hesitate to murder you?"
"No. But I don't think he'll succeed. Now let me go, Ralf. I shall be safe enough."
"Ah." There was relief in his voice. "You mean there are no more deaths in the stars tonight?"
"There is death for someone. It's not for me, but I'll take no one with me, to put more at risk. Which is why you are not coming, Ralf."
"Oh, God, if that's all -- "
I laid the reins on the chestnut's neck and it gathered itself, sidling. "We had this fight once before, Ralf, and I gave way. But not tonight. I can't force you to obey me; you are not mine now. But you are Arthur's, and your duty is to stay with him and bring him safely to the chapel. Now let me go. Which gate?"
There was a stretched pause, then he stepped back. "The south. God go with you, my dear lord."
He turned his head and called an order to the guard. The courtyard gate swung open, and crashed shut again behind my galloping horse.
***
There was half a moon, shadow-edged, thin silver. It lit the familiar track along the valley. The willows along the river's edge stood humped above blue shadows. The river ran fast, full with rain. The sky sparkled with stars, and brighter than any of them burned the Bear. Then moon, stars and river were blotted from sight as the chestnut, feeling my heels, stretched his great stride and carried me at his sure gallop into the blackness of the Wild Forest.
For the first part of the way the track went straight and smooth, and here and there through breaks in the leafage the pale moon sifted down, throwing a faint grey light to the forest floor. Roots, ribbing the pathway, rapped under the horse's hoofs. I lay low on his neck to avoid the sweeping branches. Presently the track began to climb, gently at first, then steep and twisting as the forest ran up into the foothills. Here and there the way bent sharply to avoid crags which thrust up among the crowded trees. Somewhere deep down on the left was the noise of a mountain stream, fed like the river with the autumn