The Dragon's Banner Read Online Free Page A

field."
    Uther frowned dismissively. "Bah! I am no
diplomat to sit and bandy words with pompous lords when battle is
in the offing."
    "Indeed," interjected Merlin, "this is of
what I speak. You are a prince of a great house, Uther, not a
common soldier. Your honor and duty will demand much of you that
you do not desire. If needs be you serve your father and people as
diplomat, then so must you do."
    Uther did not argue, yet Merlin saw the frown
still upon his face. "Uther, think you the empire came into being
long ages past simply by strength of arms? Indeed, have you learned
nothing from your father's own recountings of his battles with
Aetius against the Huns? Battles that would have been lost had
Aetius not forged an alliance with his old enemies to face the
greater foe? Think you he wished to treat with old adversaries and
seek their aid? Had Aetius and your father, and their comrades,
thought as you do, Rome itself would be a generation in ashes
now."
    There was long silence as they sat together.
Uther rose and threw a large log into the hearth, grabbing a poker
and pushing it into place over the hottest embers. The wood hissed
for a few seconds and quickly caught, and soon the fire was
roaring, the rush of heat forcing back the chill of the damp spring
evening.
    Uther was the first to break the silence.
"You speak wisely, Merlin, as always, yet I do not know if I can be
what you seek. I have no tongue for such pursuits, nor the
patience. But, I give you my oath that I shall try to complete
whatever task is given me, for I am a loyal son of my house."
    Merlin smiled. "Uther, my friend - for boy no
longer seems a fit name for the man sitting here with me - I am
proud of you, though not at all surprised. You surmise correctly
that war and strife are coming, for the whole north is allied
against us, and the barbarians from across the narrow sea as well.
We shall be sorely pressed to withstand their onslaught when it
comes."
    "We should strike first.” Uther was almost
shouting, his voice much louder then he'd intended. "For we shall
take them unawares and seize the initiative." He softened his voice
considerably.
    "Indeed, my friend, your battle tactics are
sound and, had we two legions of old assembled and ready to march,
I should agree with you. But think you, are we prepared for war?
Last year's harvest was bad, ravaged by pestilence and early frost.
Were the levy to be called now, and the spring planting abandoned,
we would face famine by winter. Nay, we must have this year's
harvest, as must our foes. After harvest, winter shall come soon,
and the snows will make campaigning difficult. Thus, war shall not
likely be upon us until next year, for beyond the harvest there is
much else to prepare. This shall be no borderland dispute, but a
battle for all Britannia, and the smiths and armorers have immense
toils ahead before a great army takes the field."
    Merlin looked intently at Uther. "And allies
we must still find, for we shall be overwhelmed without aid. This
council shall end, as all such do, with half-promises and
unfinished negotiations. Long after the kings have departed shall
diplomacy continue, for though all will fall if they do not band
together, still they will pick at old wounds and nurse ancient
grievances. Great efforts and even more profound sacrifices we
shall make if we are to withstand this test." Merlin stopped as if
he was done, and Uther sat quietly, pondering the old man’s words.
Finally, Merlin spoke again. "I know not what part you are destined
to play in all of this, my dear friend, but I feel that in some way
it will be greater than you now imagine. Embrace your fate, Uther,
and fear no challenge. You will find, I pray, that you are more
than just a great warrior."
    The two of them sat for a while longer,
enjoying the fire, as the conversation turned to more pleasant and
frivolous matters. As he usually did, Uther convinced Merlin to
tell him a tale of times past. Though Merlin appeared to him