Mab helped her up and to the window. She pushed open the great glass doors and looked out across the moon Lothian. It belonged to her and Lot now. She and Lot had held elections over the last week while Uther had been preparing his army and court. Men had been nominated for the governing of Lothian. They were determined to run a democracy, unlike Uther. Surely, that was the best thing.
“Camelot will be at war with Hengist and that damned Cantus XII,” Mab said. Her soft words were hard to hear over the wind that picked up. The tide turned suddenly and the islands began to float and drift in the strong pulls and drifts. “It will be weak.”
Morgause closed her eyes and inhaled the air. The baby grew uncomfortable in the cool wind and began to struggle. She held him tighter, scared to drop him off the edge even though she stood far from it. Far out in the west, she could see Camelot glowing. It looked serene and peaceful there. As if nothing wrong could ever happen on its quiet surface.
“I can’t see anything evil happening there,” Morgause said. With her free hand, she unconsciously gripped her sleek, silver gun.
Mab was silent for a moment before she pointed out, “Your mother died there, Morgause. Uther killed her, like he killed your father. I saw it.” She put her hands on Morgause’s shoulders. “You can trust me. Uther has enslaved all the D.R.U.I.Ds and is building himself an empire. Someone must stop him.”
“Stop, Mab,” Morgause moaned. “You’ve justified yourself enough to me. I don’t hold you responsible for what Vortigern did, nor the side you chose. I don’t care about Uther or his enemies. I will not discourse with him or his men again. Lothian will be silent in these politics.”
“That may not be possible, but think on this, Morgause. You could take Camelot back.”
“Why would I want to do that?”
“It was supposed to belong to everyone; that was Constantine’s wish. I know this. I was there as was Merlin. Vivian does not know all things, but I want her to understand. She is my sister by birth and could be an ally.”
“Stop stalling, Mab. What do you want?”
Turning to face Morgause, her eyes beginning to shine wildly, Mab said, “Take it back for yourself. Then give it back to the people.”
What Mab said made sense. If Uther had taken all of Camelot hostage for his own use, then there was nothing wrong with her liberating it and handing it back over to the people who were searching for a new life. They deserved freedom from a monarchy. Uther’s power-cravings needed to be put under control. She was the daughter of a warrior. She could do it.
“I’d have to contact Cantus XII, then,” she began. Mab saw the plans forming in her head. “We could be allies, perhaps.”
“What I had in mind could take years,” Mab interjected. But Morgause didn’t have years… “Yes, let’s make these plans, they’re very wise. You are a soldier.” She smiled encouragingly. “But what if in this grand scheme I can see you concocting, we put your son on the throne in the end? A son loves his mother and listens to her council. Or so a wise son does, an old book once said. You will have wise children.”
Morgause smiled down at little Gawain in her arms. “How can he be king? Uther will make the law so that his son becomes king. The people will follow him.”
A dark twist lighted Mab’s face. “There are ways, but what if the son of Uther’s son was your son?”
Horror flashed onto every feature of Morgause. She clutched the child in her arms to her chest as though to shield it from Mab’s evil plan. She shook her head furiously and took several frightened steps back.
“He’s a child! I can’t do that. What kind of monster are you? You repulsive, vile thing!” Morgause spun and ran back inside, tears of disgust and fear mixed with unknown emotions trailed down her face quickly. When she heard Mab following her, she shouted back in a screech like a hawk, “My mother’s son! Abomination! How can you say this to me?”
“Morgause, think!” Mab ordered. She no longer pleaded or suggested.
Morgause broke from her and dashed towards the door frantically. Touching the master control in the center of the room, Mab locked the door with a single flick of her electronic hand and the lights went out to a dull glow. In the red light, Mab glowed like a celestial being. Like all D.R.U.I.Ds.
“I can make it alright,” she murmured in the darkness. “I can make it so that you don’t even know. This child,” she appeared right beside Morgause now and reached out, touching her temple. Morgause trembled and Gawain began to cry softly. “This child was created by Merlin. He helped Uther seduce your mother and used Avalon DNA inside Uther to create the thing you say is a babe. It is more Avalon than perhaps even you. Don’t think of it as… your brother. Think of it as an opportunity. It is hardly any blood relation when it comes down to it.” She added on as an afterthought, “And your new son could pilot Excalibur. That mecha would more than guarantee you any victory.”
“Merlin?” Morgause interrupted her. “He’s not unlike you then, is he? Is that what we are to you Avalonians? Pieces to be played against each other?”
“Morgause.” Mab smiled now and shaking her head. “You are smarter than this. You are a woman who has taken lives in battle. You have performed executions. You have stolen from enemies before your sleep. You were a spy and an assassin.” She touched her shoulder to tell
