Merlin's Shadow Read Online Free Page B

slipping through his hand into a creek and away. He would never see his father again, because Mórganthu had killed him in the smithy during a fit of rage.
    He looked to Garth for confirmation of Caygek’s story, but the boy only shrugged his shoulders.
    Merlin kicked his mount forward and left them behind. All this talk was slowing them down, and he didn’t want to think about his father’s death.
    They continued on for a few hours, and the trees slowly changed from oak and beech to pine. The whole time Merlin did his best to keep the moon at his back left — until Colvarth called to him.
    â€œHold the moon more to your left now. Soon we will come to the Camel River. As it must be swollen with all this rain, we will need to find the bridge. From there we still have a long trot to Dintaga.”
    Merlin’s legs and back ached. “That far?”
    â€œYes, and the trees will thin. If Vortigern has suspected our direction, he may head us off by taking the road — pray, Merlin, that the bridge is clear.
    â€œIs there no other ford?”
    Colvarth tilted his head and thought. “Into the hills, to the east … how far, I don’t know, but out of our way, and Vortigern would get to Dintaga first. The best way is by the bridge and its road.”
    A wolf howled somewhere off to their right.
    Merlin turned and called to the group. “We must move faster.” He motioned them forward, and they clipped through the pines as fast as the horses could pick their way. Soon the ground sloped downward and they could hear the rushing of a stream. Upon coming to the water, Merlin halted the party, and surveyed the swiftness of the current. “Colvarth is right,” he called. “We have to find the bridge.”
    Behind them, a wolf howled again, closer.
    Merlin’s horse tensed, ready to bolt.
    Eight wolves stalked from the cover of the pines.
    Merlin had his sword halfway from its sheath when his horse plunged headlong into the stream. It was all he could do to hold on as the horse struggled against the current, diving and rearing. Behind him, Natalenya screamed. Merlin’s horse turned with the current now, and he was nearly thrown off into the churning water. From the corner of his eye, he saw Natalenya’s horse vault into the water. She held on past midstream, where the horse lost its footing. Down she went with Arthur into the water and disappeared.
    Merlin gasped. Having grown up mostly blind, he barely knew how to swim.
    Natalenya fought and kicked up to the surface, holding a gasping Arthur. She swirled toward Merlin, and the current pulled them under again.
    Merlin panicked. He couldn’t lose her! They’d just become engaged two days before and had received the blessing of Natalenya’s mother.
    The flexible branch of a nearby plane tree extended over the stream, and Merlin reached up and grabbed it, dove into the water, and with his free hand grabbed Natalenya’s tunic.
    She spluttered to the air, and he held on tightly as the current pulled at their legs.
    The thicker part of the branch cracked — and broke off the tree.
    Merlin dragged the wood closer, and Natalenya gripped it, her chin shaking and her tresses soaked.
    The river swept all three downstream, and finally, in a wide and calmer spot, Merlin kicked them over to the other side and they scrambled ashore. Not far downstream, their two riderless horses ascended the bank.
    Natalenya sat on a rock and looked at Arthur. “He’s not breathing!”
    Merlin took the child from her. He was pale, with his eyes closed. Merlin held him upside down, and water trickled, then gushed out. The child choked — and cried.
    Natalenya pulled him close, warming him.
    â€œThat’s one way to learn how to swim,” Merlin said, but it wasn’t funny. He went to get the horses, wondering what had become of Colvarth, Garth, and Caygek. The horses seemed glad to be on land, and he led them