The Prison Of Ice & Shadows (Prophecies Of Fate Book 2)

by T J Mayhew

  Coming to a stop in front of him, Nimue leaned in towards him. “You thought you were so clever, calling to the boy,” she murmured. “Did you think I wouldn’t know? That I wouldn’t feel the power flowing through you?” She let her gaze sweep over his face before leaning in, once more, to whisper in his ear. “You shall pay for what you tried to do, I promise you that.” She pulled away to look him in the eyes. “But, first, I shall make you watch them all die; they will know that, in the end, Merlin, the great protector of Camelot, led them all to their deaths...”

  To his credit, Merlin’s gaze didn’t waver. “You wouldn’t,” he stated. “You wouldn’t risk Mordred’s wrath.”

  Nimue raised her eyebrows. “Would I not?” she asked. “You have no idea what I’m prepared to do, what I’m really capable of; Mordred doesn’t scare me…”

  “Maybe not,” Merlin agreed quietly. “But Morgan should.”

  The comment was simple but it was enough to make Nimue’s confidence falter and, as if on cue, she felt the unmistakable pressure in her head, telling her Morgan was waiting.

  Pushing her doubts aside, she stepped away from Merlin and, waving her hand, watched as the flames engulfed him once more.

  Morgan let out a scream of pure rage as she returned to herself; how dare she ignore her, pushing her away as if she were nothing more than an irritant. Crossing the room, she threw open the doors and signalled to the nearest servant in the corridor, awaiting her orders.

  “Bring me my son,” she commanded before returning to her chamber, the doors slamming behind her.

  Nimue had been so promising, showing a great aptitude for all Morgan had taught her, but her need for victory over Merlin had been her undoing; she had allowed herself to get too caught up in the prospect of beating Merlin, himself, and had lost sight of their true goal.

  She had become a liability; a liability that must be dealt with.

  It troubled Morgan to admit such a thing but she couldn’t allow Nimue to ruin what she had, so carefully, planned: nothing, and no one, would stand in the way of Mordred attaining his rightful place in the world; no one would stop her reclaiming Camelot at long last.

  She turned as the door opened and Mordred strode in.

  “You wished to see me, Mother?” Noting the look on her face, he frowned. “Is everything…?”

  “Merlin has alerted Camelot of his plight and whereabouts,” she informed him brusquely. Meeting his eyes, she added, “It seems I was right to question Nimue.” Even as she spoke, she felt the pain such a realisation brought her but she pushed those feelings to one side; she needed to focus on what had to be done.

  “Damn them!” Mordred cried, frustration getting the better of him. “This is not the time! We don’t have the Cup!”

  Morgan approached, eager to placate him; he couldn’t lose his head, not now. Cupping his face in her hands, she encouraged him to look at her. “Remember, my son,” she said gently. “We still have the upper hand; maybe it is time we reveal it.”

  Mordred’s gaze settled on his mother and he grinned. “Such a revelation would send the boy reeling,” he acknowledged, barely able to keep the glee from his voice. “It would buy us the time we need…”

  Morgan released Mordred and stepped away from him, satisfied he was focused, once more. She nodded in agreement. “It would, indeed,” she murmured, savouring the thought. She turned away from Mordred, making her way back to her chair. “Mobilise the men; I shall make contact and reveal our plan.”

  Mordred nodded and walked towards the door, where he paused. Looking back to his mother, he asked, “… And what of Nimue?”

  A momentary flash of regret flared in Morgan but she hardened herself to it. “I shall deal with her in good time.”

  43

  It had been three days since their departure from Camelot and everyone was feeling the strain of being on the road but each day brought them closer to their goal.

  Shadowstar was leading from the front, often disappearing for hours at a time to scout the way ahead, ever vigilant, expecting the unexpected.

  With each passing day, Merlin’s frustration with his current situation soon began to show itself and his impatience grew. Irritated though he was, Cai couldn’t help feeling sorry for him; in his current state, Merlin was reduced to a mere observer and could do nothing to help those around him. For a man like Merlin, it must be unbearable.

  “He does realise we’re going as fast as we can, doesn’t he?” Logan asked quietly as he and Cai watched Shadowstar soaring above them, nothing more than a black speck in the late afternoon sky.

  Cai smiled wryly. “Of course he does,” he replied. “But… think about it from his perspective: he wakes up a prisoner in his own body, unable to do anything about it, and then, when he does finally find a way out, he ends up trapped in a bird, still unable to use his powers.”

  Beside him, Logan sighed. “Yeah, I guess that’ll mess with your head.” Glancing at him, he asked, “So… how you holding up?”

  Cai shrugged. “I don’t know,” he confessed. “I’m just focusing on what needs to be done right now, you know?” Logan nodded as Cai continued, “Once we have Merlin back… the real Merlin,” he added quickly, “then I’ll start thinking about my mother.”

  “Yeah, one thing at a time, eh?” Logan agreed.

  The two boys rode on in silence as Cai fought to control his emotions; he couldn’t afford to lose it now. He had kept all thoughts of his mother at bay, preferring not to think about what could be happening to her or his fears for her. He needed to stay in control and, up until Logan had started asking him questions, he had thought he’d been doing well.

  Thankfully, Lancelot chose that moment to announce they were going to stop for the night and Cai was quickly able to lose himself in the simple, mundane tasks of setting up camp.

  Afterwards, Logan approached him. “Bedivere, Kay and Gawain are taking a group to scout the area; I’m going with them. Wanna come?”

  Cai shook his head. “No, I’m fine here, thanks.”

  Logan hesitated a moment and Cai wondered if he was going to try to convince him to join them but, thankfully, he turned and walked away, leaving Cai on his own.

  Cai was about to sit on a rock when a dark mass dropped from the sky, streaking across his field of vision. He frowned as he watched Shadowstar land on the ground outside his tent; turning her beady eyes on him, she hopped over, flapping her wings. “Must you always do that?” he demanded.

  “Do what, Cai?” Merlin asked.

  “Creep up on me like that.”

  “I was hardly creeping up on you.” Shadowstar fixed him with a look and Cai shifted uncomfortably under the bird’s watchful eye. “You seem quiet, my Lord,” Merlin observed.

  “I do have a lot on my mind,” Cai pointed out.

  “Indeed, you do.” There was a brief pause before Merlin said, “You will see her again, Cai.”

  Cai dropped his gaze to the ground, not wanting Merlin to see his pain as he thought of his mother. Sighing, he said, “It’s just so hard sometimes; I’m trying to stay focused, to concentrate on rescuing you, but…”

  “It isn’t easy,” Merlin agreed. “We are, but human; susceptible to emotions, however much we try not to be…”

  Hearing the sadness in Merlin’s voice, Cai glanced at Shadowstar; he couldn’t help wondering if he was talking about more than Cai’s feelings. Before he could ask, however, Merlin spoke again.

  “I am sorry I failed you, my Lord.”

  Cai frowned. “What? You didn’t...” he started to protest.

  Shadowstar ruffled her feathers, as if dismissing Cai’s protestations. “I did fail you, Cai,” Merlin insisted. “You left me to protect Camelot... to protect your mother and I didn’t do that.”

  “No but... who could have stood up to Mordred, Morgan and Nimue and won?” he asked quietly. “I mean, we didn’t do any better when we arrived; you both still got taken.” Lowering his voice, he added, “We should never ha
ve left.”

  “You had no choice,” Merlin stated. “You did what you had to do.” He paused, before adding, “I was so blind; I should have seen the truth.”

  Cai ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “We both lost things that night; I lost my mother and you… you lost Nimue. Don’t bother denying it; I saw the way you always looked at her: you loved her, didn’t you?”

  There was a moment’s hesitation before Merlin answered. “Yes, I loved her... I loved her with all my heart and those emotions made me oblivious to what she was doing. Love made me a fool.”

  Cai stared at Shadowstar, listening to Merlin’s words but unable to ignore how awkward this conversation was; Merlin was confiding in him as an equal but it wasn’t as if Cai had any experience of love or any of the feelings Merlin was describing.

  “But she took advantage of the feelings I had for her,” he continued bitterly. “She used them to gain power for herself; she used them to destroy me. I used to pride myself on being above such earthly matters as love... I thought she was different, someone I could trust. I am ashamed to say that I told her many things that I would never tell a novice... she knows spells that no other apprentice knows. I was a fool.”

  “Why did you…?” Cai began uncertainly.

  “Because I thought I could trust her,” Merlin confessed. “And, in trusting her, I have betrayed Camelot… I have betrayed you.”

  Cai shook his head. “No, you haven’t,” he protested quickly, hoping to make it clear that he didn’t blame him.

  “Do not seek to make me feel better, Cai,” Merlin chastised. “My foolishness has cost us all so much. But rest assured, I will right my wrongs; whatever it takes to protect Camelot from her enemies, I shall do. You have my word.”

  Cai sat silently for a moment, bracing himself for what he about to say. “I am just as much to blame as you are,” he confessed. “I always felt weird about Nimue; I never trusted her…” He looked at Merlin. “You were blinded by your feelings, Merlin; I don’t have that excuse. And I think you’ve suffered enough already, don’t you?”

  Shadowstar squawked, shaking her feathers. “Alas, it is the destiny of every man to have their heart broken at least once in their life, Cai,” Merlin murmured. “Let Badden’s daughter be the one to break yours.”

  Cai recoiled at the words. “What?” he demanded, horrified.

  The bird made a funny clicking noise and Cai wondered if Merlin was chuckling. “Do not feign ignorance, Cai.”

  Cai blushed as an image of Aelwen appeared in his mind. “Do you think she will?” he asked, suddenly worried. “Break my heart, I mean?”

  Shadowstar moved closer to him, her eyes never wavering. “I meant no such thing,” Merlin insisted gently. “Just that, if anyone should, let it be her.”

  Cai frowned. “Why? You said yourself that love makes you foolish.” He shook his head adamantly. “I can’t, I won’t, let someone do to me, what Nimue did to you…” He stopped as he realised what he was saying. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean…” he began to apologise, wishing he could retract his words.

  “I know, Cai,” Merlin acknowledged. “Love can make you foolish… but it can also make you far stronger, and happier, than you ever thought possible.” He paused, allowing his words to sink in. After a moment, he added, “I have seen the way you look at her and I have seen the way she looks at you. She is worried for you, Cai, and awaits your return.”

  Cai scoffed and shook his head, determined not to acknowledge the truth in his words. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  There was a brief pause, before Merlin said, “Somehow, I suspected you wouldn’t.”

  And with that the bird launched itself into the air, squawking loudly, looking for Percival. Cai watched it go, thankful their conversation had come to an end; another second or two and Cai would have, quite happily, chased Shadowstar away himself.

  44

  Following his conversation with Merlin, sleep had not come easy to Cai and he had spent much of the night thinking of his mother and Aelwen. Eventually, after a lot of tossing and turning, he had fallen into a restless sleep and, on waking, found he was still exhausted.

  Breakfast was quick, as everyone was eager to press on, and Merlin informed them that, if all went well, they should reach their destination by late afternoon. This was welcome news and, as it spread through the ranks, Cai noticed the men’s spirits lift drastically.

  “I fear I should warn you, however…” Merlin began, and Cai immediately felt his optimism fade.

  Kay watched the bird suspiciously as she perched on Percival’s shoulder; ever since Merlin had revealed he was inhabiting Shadowstar, Kay had gone out of his way to avoid the bird. Cai couldn’t blame him; it was hard to accept and Kay had never been a man who trusted magic. “What do you mean?” the knight asked warily.

  “Nimue is aware of your approach.”

  This news was greeted with silence although Cai was not surprised by this revelation.

  “And you didn’t think it wise to warn us of this before we left?” Gawain demanded.

  “Why? Would it have changed your decision to come?” Merlin asked.

  Gawain narrowed his eyes, resenting the implications of Merlin’s words. “No, of course not,” he growled. “But we could have been prepared.”

  Bedivere frowned. “How?” he asked. “How could we have been prepared?”

  Gawain floundered for a moment before Merlin interrupted. “I tell you this now. so that we may plan what to do once we are there…” He paused before continuing, “As you know, I am powerless in this form; as we speak, my body is, but a shell…

  “So, what would you have us do?” Lancelot asked. “Presumably, you have a plan; after all, you know this place, and Nimue, far better than we.”

  “You need to allow me the opportunity to return to my body,” Merlin explained.

  “And how, exactly, do we do that?” Kay asked.

  “All I need you to do, is distract Nimue, long enough, so that I may slip past her wards,” Merlin said. “I’m not saying it will be easy, far from it, but with her attention elsewhere, I should be successful… Once I am free, I will be able to help.”

  “And you are sure you will be able to return?” Lancelot asked.

  “Quite sure.”

  Cai had to admit that hearing the confidence in Merlin’s voice helped him, no end; the idea of confronting Nimue, a very powerful sorceress, with nothing but swords was daunting enough but, with the prospect of Merlin helping them, he was sure they could defeat her.

  “Then we prepare to leave,” Lancelot announced. “The quicker we end this, the better.”

  “Thank you, my friends,” Merlin murmured.

  Lancelot inclined his head towards Shadowstar and smiled. “It will be good to have you back, my friend,” he said before turning to his knights. “Give the order that we move out immediately.”

  The remaining knights rose to their feet and returned to their units, while Cai and Logan made their way over to their horses.

  “So, this is it then,” Logan muttered. “In a few hours, we’ll be confronting Nimue; you scared?”

  Cai scoffed, ignoring the fear in the pit of his stomach. “No; are you?”

  “No way!” Logan retorted quickly.

  Both boys grinned, acknowledging their unspoken feelings.

  “My Lord, may I speak with you?”

  Cai turned and found himself facing Badden, his gaze serious and unyielding. Nodding, he moved away from Logan, giving them some privacy; he didn’t want Logan, or anyone else for that matter, overhearing anything Badden had to say to him. As he waited for Badden to speak, he couldn’t help wondering at the man’s timing; was he really going to talk to him about Aelwen now, only hours before they went into battle? “Badden, look…” he began, hoping to placate him by explaining his side first.

  Badden held up a hand, silencing Cai. “No, my Lord; let me speak. There is not much time and what I have to say has w
eighed heavily upon me for days…”

  Seeing Badden’s obvious distress shocked Cai more than he’d ever imagined. Nodding, he waited anxiously for Badden to speak, allowing him time to collect his thoughts.

  Badden glanced at him briefly, before dropping his gaze to the ground once more. “My Lord, I am not a naïve man,” he began. “I understood the risks I was taking when I agreed to serve you…”

  Cai waited, not really sure where this was going now; were they still talking about Aelwen? He forced himself to listen as Badden continued.

  “I understand that to serve you means that there may come a time when I have to lay down my life for you...”

  Cai shook his head, decidedly uncomfortable now; he could not think about Badden risking his life for him. The idea of Aelwen losing her father because of him… “Badden, don’t...”

  Badden held his hand up to stop Cai from speaking. “Please, my Lord; forgive me, but let me finish.” He took a deep breath before continuing, “If that time ever comes... if I don’t make it back to Camelot, could you ensure that Aelwen is well looked after?” He shifted awkwardly from foot to foot before adding, “I know how much you care for her; she trusts you… I trust you…”

  Cai’s throat tightened at the unexpected emotion he felt well up inside him upon hearing these words. Meeting the older man’s gaze, he saw the sorrow and regret Badden felt at having to ask this question, at having to accept the very possibility that he may never see his daughter again. Cai felt the weight of that promise and knew he would do everything in his power to uphold it. Nodding solemnly, he said, “I shall do whatever I can to help her,” he assured Badden. “Have no fear.”

  Badden’s lips curved into the ghost of a smile. He knelt at Cai’s feet and bowed his head. “Thank you, my Lord; you honour us greatly.”

  Cai shook his head. “No, Badden; you honour me.” He placed a hand on Badden’s shoulder and the man looked up at him. “But we shall both return to Camelot,” he promised, trying to sound more confident than he actually felt. “You shall see Aelwen again.”