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valley, or surmount a lonely, frost-bitten ridge. The days grew shorter, and we rode more often than not
in darkness  and in icy, flesh-numbing rain. Gwendolau's good humour carried us on long after Baram
and I were too cold and exhausted to care whether we took another step. And though the high mountain
passes were choked with snow, we somehow managed to find an alternate route when one was needed
and so came at long last into Dyfed, the land of the Demetae.
I will never forget riding into Maridunum. The town glistened under a pall of new-fallen snow, and the
stark trees stretched like black, skeleton hands against a pewter sky. It was late in the afternoon and we
could feel the night air settling blue and hard around us. But within me a fire burned bright, for I had
returned: three years late, it is true; nevertheless, I had returned.
I hoped that Maelwys was at home. I knew we would be welcome anyway, but I desperately wanted to
see him to ask after my mother and the rest of my people, to learn what had happened in my long
absence.
We rode through the empty streets of the town and followed the trail up to the villa. We were not
surprised to find horses standing in the yard, for we had followed their tracks up the hill. As we came into
the yard two servants with torches came from the hall to tend to the horses there. We hailed them as we
dismounted.
'We have journeyed far to see Lord Maelwys,' I told them. 'Is he within?'
They came to meet us, holding the torches high and peering into our faces. 'Who is it that asks?'
Tell him that Myrddin is here.'
The two looked at one another. 'Do we know you?'
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'Perhaps you do not know me, but Maelwys does. Tell him the son of Taliesin waits without and would
see him.'
'Myrddin ap Taliesin!' The foremost servant's eyes grew round. He shoved his companion away. 'Go!
Hurry!'
There followed an awkward interval while we waited for the servant to come back. He never did. For
while we waited beneath the torch, the door of the hall was heaved open and people came streaming out
of the hall into the foreyard, Maelwys leading them all.
He stood for a moment, gazing at me. 'Myrddin, we have been waiting for you. . . '
Maelwys held me at arm's length and I saw the tears. I had expected a warm reception, but. . . the King
of Dyfed crying for my return? That exceeded any expectations I might have had, and I knew no way to
account for it. I had met the man only once.
'Merlin. . . ' The press of curious onlookers parted and Maelwys stepped away. The voice belonged to
Charis, who stood in a halo of light from the doorway; tall, regal, a slim tore of gold around her throat
and her hair in a hanging braid after the fashion of highborn Demetae women. Her white silk gown was
long and her blue cloak richly embroidered. I had never seen her looking more a queen. She stepped
towards me, then opened her arms wide and I flew into her embrace.
'Merlin. . . oh, my little Hawk, my son. . . so long. . . I have waited so long. . . ' Her tears were warm on
my neck.
'Mother  ' There were tears in my throat and eyes as well; I had not dared hope to find her here.
'Mother. . . I wanted to come sooner, I would have come sooner. . . '
'Shh, not now. You are here and safe. . . safe. . . I knew you would come back. I knew you would find
a way. . . you are here. . . here, my Merlin.' She put a hand to my face and kissed me tenderly, then took
my hand. We might have been the only people in the yard. 'Come inside. Warm yourself. Are you
hungry, son?'
'We have not eaten well for two days.'
Maelwys stepped close. 'There is venison inside, and bread, and mead. Come in, everyone come inside!
We will drink to the wanderer's return! Tomorrow we will celebrate with a feast!'
We were swept into the hall, aglow with torches and a roaring fire on the hearth, where the table was
laid and the meal already begun. Another table was hastily prepared and platters of food produced. My
mother kept my hand clasped tightly in hers, and I felt the anxiety I had lived with for the last many
months begin to melt in the light and joy of reunion, even as the warmth of the hall seeped into my bones.
Gwendolau and Baram were not overlooked. I had no worry for them; they fell in naturally with
Maelwys' men. Indeed, in my joy at being home once more I soon forgot all about them.
Old Pendaran, Maelwys' father, rose from his throne-like chair to greet me, saying, 'I cannot see where
your wandering has hurt you at all. You look a healthy young man  lean and strong, keen-eyed as your
namesake bird, lad. Come to me later and we will discuss certain matters.'
It was not likely that my mother would let me out of her sight for a moment that night, nor for many days
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to come. But I assured him that we would talk soon. 'There is much to say, Merlin,' said Charis. 'I have
so much to tell you, but now that you are here I can remember none of it.'
'We are together. Nothing else matters now.' [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]