Merlin's Shadow Read Online Free PDF

downward, steep and wet. One slip and any of them might plunge to break their neck, orfall into the sea to be swept away. From the bottom of the stairs the path led to the island across a crooked finger of land.
    It was their only hope of escape from Vortigern.
    But the island itself rose up before Merlin like the crown of a skull wedged amongst the crashing waves. And like a war hammer smote upon the crumpled right side of this rocky head lay the high and unbroken walls of Dintaga. From its few and narrow windows, no light shone.
    The last remnants of storm blew past, and a single stray lightning bolt leapt from the sky and struck the island’s summit. An old and crooked bush smoked and lit on fire. The blaze began at the roots and quickly spread until every branch was aflame. Eerie light danced over the walls of the fortress.
    â€œMerlin, come,” Natalenya called. She and the others had already gone two flights down before he realized his delay. Caygek and Garth steadied her as she carried Arthur.
    Behind him, Vortigern’s horsemen had reached the crossroad.
    Taking a deep breath, Merlin dropped his feet to the first step and climbed down, fingers throttling every ledge and hold he could find, legs trembling at every movement.
    Halfway, Merlin looked to the right, and there jutting out into the sea lay a shelf of rock, scarred and barren. It reached out to the island as if it, too, had once touched it and been a path, but was now sheared off. Merlin wondered if the stairs beneath his own feet might give way and fall into the sea.
    Finally at the bottom, the wheeling gulls seemed to call, “Go back, go back,” but
back
didn’t exist. Forward he rushed even as Vortigern’s men reached the top of the stairs and began the long descent toward them.
    Ahead of him the others ran, Colvarth leading with his black hood flying, harp in one hand and staff in the other. Garth and Caygek ran together, with Natalenya close behind.
    She slipped and fell, turning her body to protect Arthur from the rocks.
    Merlin caught up with her and helped her just as an arrow whizzed overhead.
    She sucked in air, her right elbow scraped and bleeding.
    A swell of water rose up and churned over the rocks, almost knocking Merlin’s feet from under him.
    â€œThe tide,” Natalenya yelled over the salty spray.
    He held on to her tightly. If the water swept her away, he was going with her — but the waves fell back and they slipped forward to higher ground just as more arrows fell and shattered on the rocks behind them.
    Above loomed another stair, but less severe. Upward they climbed, right and then left — dodging arrows and hiding when possible — until they came to an open portcullis through a high wall. This cut off the island from the causeway and the rest of the mainland beyond.
    â€œCome through, come through,” Colvarth said as an arrow struck the wood of the door.
    Vortigern’s men had now reached the bottom of the opposite stair, but were wise not to brave the foaming water rushing over the rocks.
    Garth pulled Merlin and Natalenya through the opening, while Colvarth released the chains holding the portcullis, which slid down with a crash.
    â€œNo one guards the gate?” Merlin asked.
    â€œThere is always a sentinel on duty at Dintaga, watching,” Colvarth said. “If we had come with a large host or had looked unfriendly, he would have come and shut the gate before we had got here. It is good we were not barred.”
    And there Dintaga stood — the fortress of Gorlas, king of the people of Kernow. Merlin had heard a few whispered stories of this man, but little was truly known. Although his warriors collected taxes, few could attest to having seen the king himself. A customer of Merlin’s father had been judged once by Gorlas for starting abrawl that ended in someone’s death. It was a severe judgment — if one could count the ragged scars upon the