“I do not think it will come to that.”
“You mean you hope it does not,” Igrain corrected him. “What if I don’t? Your father said they were to be free.”
“They’re machines, Igrain, not humans,” Uther snapped.
She wanted to argue, but they broke through the dark passageway and came onto the strangest prairie they had ever seen. Tall and thin, the grass smelled salty. Untouched for so long, it grew so high that it reached up to the rails of the of the transport at least two meters from the ground. When touched, it slithered softly through one’s fingers, almost like a firm gelatin but left no residue on their hands, just a subtle salty smell.
Weaving in and out of the ocean of grass were brightly colored, shimmering fish! They dotted the vast green plain like lights on a holiday tree from years past. When their over-large scales caught the sun, they flashed with color.
“I see now!” Ector, cried, smiling joyously at the new discovery.
“How do they swim?” Igrain gasped. “They seem to float.”
Pellinor reached over the edge with his long arms and a fish swam gracefully up to his open palm. “It is like magnets,” he said simply and Uther realized he smiled as he spoke. Pellinor had never struck him as the smiling type. “The grass is one kind and the scales on the fish another. They cannot touch but cannot sit on the ground either.”
“Oh,” Igrain smiled. “I get it.” Happily, like a young girl, she reached over and stroked a fish that bobbed up just as curious about her hand as it was of her. “Are their people here as well?”
Pellinor looked confused. “Are these not living beings?”
“I mean ones that speak our language,” she corrected.
“I do not speak your language,” he said.
“She means intelligent life,” Uther put in.
Pellinor stroked the fish again. “All life is intelligent. You think because it cannot wage war that it has no reasoning capabilities? Or because it looks different? Or it doesn’t have a face like you? If the heart beats, treat it as an equal.”
“Or if the blood flows, do not spill it,” Merlin quoted. “That is an Avalonian proverb.”
“Yes, I know them well. I have studied Avalon in lust, I am afraid.” Pellinor waved the fish away and pointed beyond the horizon. “See how much trust they are? They have no reason to fear you because you are not a predator. Do not give them reason to fear.
“Farther out where the grass is thicker and taller, Igrain, you will find the green people. They are like these fish in that their bodies are covered in rainbow scales that always reflect the grass. Giving them a green color. They have eyes that see in the darkness and a touch of shock.”
“Electricity,” Merlin corrected softly. He had fallen into a deep melancholy and did not participate in the conversation or the glee of petting the fish. “They are charged beings, no doubt, considering how they live. Sir, we should be heading back.”
“Yes, yes,” Uther sighed. “Contact Vivian and tell her I am in need of her expertise later. And let’s go to the circle.”
“Sir, please, I beg you to reconsider,” Merlin said quietly as they zoomed off. “Camelot is large enough for the D.R.U.I.Ds and your people.”
Uther clenched his fists. He didn’t need Merlin challenging him at the beginning of his reign. “Merlin, you are to serve me,” he said in a dangerously low voice so that none of the others could hear him. “I will be king of Camelot. I will rule as I see fit and if you push me, I will do what is necessary to have that. The D.R.U.I.Ds are more powerful than anything we have in our colony ship and if they find that out, we could be exterminated. We came here to live, not fight for our lives. If any D.R.U.I.D wishes to go back to Avalon, they may. You included. Someone will take your place, I am sure.”
Merlin couldn’t argue. He clenched his lips closed and moved to the back of the ship where Uther would not see his weakness. Tears filled his eyes as the wind lashed against him. What Uther would never know is that D.R.U.I.Ds were not pure Avalonians. They could not go back to Avalon perhaps ever. He called to Vivian in his mind, connecting to the stone circle with his microchip-brain and then to her. His emotions transferred to her and she understood.
Snapping his eyes open, Merlin had an idea. Uther had become part of Avalon too, in a way. Perhaps he too could have those emotions transferred to him and then he would understand. It would have to be through touch though since Uther was not full Avalonian.
“There it is,” Uther announced. “Now, I need a D.R.U.I.D who will do as I say.” He scanned the area teaming with D.R.U.I.Ds. Some stopped to watch as they glided by slowly.
He spotted a rather pretty one who’s eyes were glowing as she mind-linked with the massive computer under the ground, powered by the mysterious stones. “You there!” he called to her.
She stopped and looked up. Her skin glittered white like Merlin’s and Mab’s, but her hair and eyes were black. When Merlin saw her, his alien heart tripled its pace. His voice cracked as he gasped, “By the Mists!” which made Uther give a strange look.
“I need your help with something. What are you called?”
She stood up and walked to the transport. “I am called Nimueh.”
14
This Land is Ours
Uther attacked his plan for Camelot with sweeping grace. With Pellinore’s guidance about how a ruler must behave, he found ways to charm his audience and sway his people to his will. The ease of it came with time. He started with the beautiful D.R.U.I.D called Nimueh.
Uther let her speak first in all their communications and outings. He found that when left to speak first, ones pray became more at
