“But Constans!” Uther blurted out like a crying two-year-old. He felt like he was going mad. How could Merlin not understand?
“Constans would have never made a decision based on rage and lust like you have done! If you wanted to lead these people, then you should have led them. Instead, you used them to build yourself an empire. You saw the power of Avalon and took it for yourself and blocked it away from those who it belongs to.
“Then you killed your best friend. Forgive me, Uther, but I thought humans cherished life. How many times have you reminded me of my inferior state? You have made us machines and yet you act in the ways you are afraid we will. You shut people away and take their powers. You take whatever you want because you have that power. You took Igrain from Galois.”
“You helped me,” he spat in defense. “That was your idea or have you forgotten?”
“You made it so I had no choice. What was written must happen.”
“That’s no excuse,” Uther shot back. “What is written anyway? You and I have free will and can choose how to lead our lives. You had a choice!”
“Then watch how you lead it,” Merlin said.
“Do not blame me for what happened!”
“How do you not see this as your fault?”
“Cantus attacked us.” Uther panted from exertion now. They had been yelling for a while now and no one had come to see what the shouting was about.
“Because you killed Horsa, his brother.”
“You know I didn’t know that!”
“You attacked Vortigern rather than seeking discourse with him.”
Uther covered his face with his hands. “This is not my fault!” His lungs were on fire now. His entire torso hurt and his heart felt like it cracked with every beat.
“You are king!” Merlin slammed his staff onto the table and at the same time, something nearby shook the walls and made the lights flicker. Both men waited out the electric falter with panting breath and locked eyes.
Merlin spoke first. “You took this throne and now you have a responsibility to put aside selfish endeavors and personal gain and build your people up.”
But Uther didn’t understand. “What leader of man has ever done that? To be above all other men is to be their lord. To decide if one should live or die for his crimes. I hold the power of millions of lives in my hand. That is how great I have become. I have the power to attack Cantus with a thousand times more power than that which they have bestowed on us today.”
Standing up straight and leaning back onto his staff, Merlin closed his eyes and bowed his head.
“You’re right.” Uther could hardly hear his voice over the soft humming of the machines healing him. “What leader of man does that? Why could you not be that man? If you knew the battles and trials of your ancestors, you would choose differently. Your children…” He stopped.
Uther’s eyes bulged in remembrance. “Where is my son, Merlin?”
Merlin quickly turned away and nearly ran to the exit.
“Stop, D.R.U.I.D!” Uther shouted. “Tell me where my son is!”
“Your line is already broken,” he replied. He stopped just before the sliding door. “As you fought for your vanity and your power, I tried to save your son and sent him away. But a Cantus aircraft shot it down. Your son is dead, Uther.”
Without waiting, Merlin left the broken king to his dark thoughts. He hoped Uther would dwell on his deeds and come to the conclusion that he needed to be a better man. That was just the surface. Merlin didn’t know how to get Uther to look underneath all that and see what it meant to be a real ruler. He wasn’t sure even he knew. All he had was his mission.
Leaving all of Camelot behind, Merlin boarded a space-craft taken from Vivian’s hangar under the lake. He rose up, above the burning cities and the fading light, and launched himself towards the stars. For a moment, his hand hovered over the com-unit. He wanted to speak to Nimueh and tell her that he would be back. He didn’t want to abandon her with Uther, but he couldn’t go back.
“I think I’ve failed,” he said aloud to no one. His hands were tight on the controls. There was no one for him to go to for advice. At least, not on Camelot.
***
Lot stood with baby Gawain in his arms and watched the screen before him carefully. The D.R.U.I.Ds on Camelot had been working tirelessly on rebuilding the splendor that had so quickly come into existence. Not even Lothian could boast the technology and civilization that had seemingly just appeared on Camelot.
“He’s doing it again,” Lot said to his wife at his elbow. “He won’t give up, will he?”
Morgause gazed at the progress as well. “I don’t care about him. This winter coming promises to be a hard one and Uther has shunned Pellinore and all his advisors.”
“Yes, you were right, by the way.” Lot smiled. “Merlin has left.”
“Good.” Morgause stepped away. “It will take time for the people to trust their stupid king again. Their trust will not be as easily won a second time. We have some time to spare. I suggest we start with touching base with the other planet befor Uther does.”
“How?” Lot asked. “All we have is Mab.”
Black intent brimmed from Morgause’s eyes as she smiled in near tears of joy. “We have Glastonbury.”
“Avalon’s sister.” Mab lurked in the shadows. She stepped out, robed in her dark colors. “And better still, Uther has lost his heir.”
“Or so he thinks,” Morgause put in. “Since he has no advisor, we’ve decided on one for him who will see to it that he does have an heir.”
Lot shrugged. “He has no wife. Will he marry again? If he wants the people to feel strong, he will not break his government structure. Not yet. He will remain king. So?”
The women stood next to Lot again, one on
