The Call of Destiny (The Return of Arthur Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

to come to the point.
    Uther did not really know why
he was here. Why here? Why Merlin? There was no rational explanation, except
perhaps that there was no other place to go. ‘This friend of mine I mentioned
on the phone . . . ’ Was it worth persisting with the charade? On balance he
thought it might be, though Merlin was obviously no fool, and very likely
guessed that the ‘friend’ was sitting opposite him. The pretence at least
allowed him to address Merlin as an equal, rather than as a supplicant. ‘I
thought you might be able to help him. His wife wants to have the baby boy
adopted, and he has agreed – reluctantly I may say.’
    Merlin’s eyelids drooped in
the subtlest of acknowledgements. ‘His main concern is to protect the lady’s
good name. He intends to marry her.’ Uther shifted uncomfortably on the tiny
chair. ‘Naturally.’
    Merlin’s face remained impassive.
    ‘The child was not – um –
conceived in wedlock.’ The archaic phrase somehow distanced Uther from the
harsh realities of the situation, as indeed it was designed to. ‘Normally this
would present no problem, not in this day and age. In this case though, there
are . . . complications.’
    ‘What sort of complications?’
The green eyes were focused unwaveringly on Uther.
    ‘I prefer not to go into
details, if you don’t mind. Take it from me, there would be a scandal, a
scandal that would destroy both their lives. Though as I say, my friend is less
concerned with his own reputation than with that of his lady friend.’
    No response. Uther found the
absence of reaction irritating, showing a lack of respect, perhaps even a touch
of scepticism. Again he asked himself whether he was doing the right thing in
approaching this strange man. Why should he be able to help? Even if he could,
would he keep his mouth shut? Panic stirred, his heart fluttered in his chest,
and he was tempted to make some excuse and walk out. But that would be foolhardy,
he had said too much to turn back now.
    ‘Is this really your friend’s child?’ asked
Merlin.
    Uther was startled out of his
reverie. ‘Why do you ask?’ ‘Because if it is,’ said Merlin, forcing the issue,
‘then I fear
    there is nothing I can do.’
    Uther was about to protest in
the strongest terms, but Merlin’s green orbs were turned on him, and in their
blinding light, it seemed, nothing but the truth was possible. ‘If you must
know, the child is mine.’
    Merlin nodded.
    ‘I’m not sure, but I seem to remember you and I
making some kind of deal,’ said Uther, who remembered it all too clearly, ‘a
deal I confess I never took seriously. And now here I am. A strange thing,
life.’
    ‘Isn’t it.’
    ‘Full of coincidences.’ Uther
was a proud man. It was humiliating to be sitting here, cap in hand – well,
more like baby in hand. ‘As it happens, I might be looking for a good home for
my, um . . . ’
    ‘For your son.’
    Uther was looking intently at
the table now. ‘Do you think you could . . . ?’
    ‘When was he born?’
    ‘The twenty-second of
December, I think it was.’ ‘The winter solstice,’ said Merlin.
    ‘What does that have to do
with anything?’ Uther snapped irritably.
    Merlin responded mildly. ‘The
winter solstice is about birth and rebirth.’
    ‘Really?’ said Uther indifferently.
    ‘The sun is at its lowest
point. The winter solstice is the longest, darkest night of the year. In the
moment of greatest despair, a seed begins to sprout.’
    Despair? Seed? What on earth
was the man talking about? ‘The storm had just died down?’ enquired Merlin.
    ‘There was a storm. Why all these questions?’
    ‘I just wanted to be sure. So
the boy is now two weeks old.’ ‘I suppose.’
    ‘Wonderful.’ Merlin beamed.
    Uther saw nothing wonderful
about it. Wonderful it would be if Merlin could spirit the brat away. Didn’t he
claim to be some kind of magician? That extraordinary business in the bar
    – it was all coming back to him now.
    ‘Look