Page 34

T earmann Manor , Caledonian Forest

“ W hy did you insist she have the child here?” Rolf paced back and forth as he heard his wife’s scream from above.

“He will be one of the most powerful wizards of all time. He must be born in the same place where he was conceived.” Merlin took another drink of wine. “Be at ease, boy. Women give birth every day.”

“And they die from it every day.” If he lost her now… he couldn’t let his mind wander there.

Elsa waddled into the room. “She is doing fine, the head has crested. It makes me so anxious to have mine.” She squeezed Rolf’s arm. “Neither are in danger. Ye will be with her soon.”

Rolf put his arm around her shoulders. “You need to sit down.”

Elsa did as she was told and plopped next to Edric. “We will miss you so. It has been good to have you back. Wales is so far from here.”

“Please reconsider coming with us. Melissa needs you.” They had both tried to convince the couple to join them in Wales. Rolf needed Edric by his side as he trained more men for the king.

Elsa’s hand went to her face. “Och, I wish I had the courage but I don’t. Mayhap ye had never shown me this safe haven… Now that I know what happiness feels like, without dread or fear, I cannot let it go.”

Merlin listened intently. “Is that what holds you back?”

“Aye. I am weak, I know. I wish for Edric’s sake, I could stand the terrible looks and whispers again.” She kissed her husband and laced her fingers in his. “I do worry about my child growing up lonely, though.”

“Come here, child. Come to me for a moment and let me look upon your face.”

Elsa got up with effort and stood in front of the sorcerer.

He reached up and laid his palm over her cheek.

Rubbing it softly, she pulled away as if from instinct.

His other hand held her surprisingly firm for an old man.

A tear slipped from the corner of her eye as Merlin continued to move his hand over her skin.

“There now. Was that so terrible?”

She shook her head but quickly shuffled back to the bench as the midwife called to Rolf. “Come and see your beautiful daughter, Lord Arbrec. She has the golden hair of her mother.”

Rolf was up the narrow stairs and into the room before the rest could even offer him congratulations. Melissa lay against the pillows and bolsters, a tiny babe wrapped and sleeping in her arms. He touched the soft crown and kissed his daughter.

“And what about me? I did all the work.”

He brushed back the wet strands of hair from her flushed, sweaty face and brushed her lips with his. “My love, my life. Until this moment when I saw our daughter, I did not think it was possible for me to find room in my heart to love another. But I feel it expanding, ready to burst.”

The rest of their family entered the room. Melissa’s face wore a strange expression and Rolf followed her gaze. Elsa stood at the foot of the bed, next to Edric. Her face aglow. Her face…

Melissa gasped. “Elsa, your scar is fading. Sweet Mary, your face has changed.”

Elsa touched her fingertips to her cheek, the smooth skin making her eyes grow wide. She turned to Merlin. “You did this? Why?”

Merlin shrugged. “You have been a good and loyal friend to Rolf. I felt you earned some kind of payment. Your type never takes money.”

The tears ran down her face unheeded as she hugged the man to her. They were quite a sight with her large belly between them and the old man patting her awkwardly on the back.

When she let him go, he moved to the bed. “I don’t have to say how disappointed I am that it’s a girl. Odd, I had assumed it would be a boy.”

Melissa laughed. “I’ll try harder the next time. Will it matter if he’s not the first born?”

“I am not all-knowing, you know. We’ll have to wait and see.”

He stuck a gnarled finger under the baby’s chin.

She opened her lids, blinked and stared at him with eyes the color of aged brandy.

His bushy gray eyebrows drew together in a frown.

The amulet pulsed against his tunic. Withdrawing it, he held it over the baby and watched the violets and lavenders swirl into a pinpoint of deep plum. The colors froze in that pattern.

Merlin looked at Rolf then back at the baby. A deep, rusty laugh filled the room. “I believe the wait is over.”