[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

changed places, he would be first to question it, and last to believe it.
I wished I had some of Cai's dogged obstinance. As hardheaded as he was bighearted, he refused to
believe the worst about anyone or anything. But I believed - more the dread - for I had some small
experience of Morgian's powers, and it chilled me to the marrow to think she was somehow involved in
the theft of the Grail.
We fell silent. No one believed Cai was right, but no one had the heart to dispute him, either. After a
time, Arthur turned quietly to Cador. 'What of Rhys?' he inquired softly.
The change in the Pendragon astonished me. The fire of his anger had been quenched utterly. Cowed by
Myrddin's revelations, he appeared shaken and defeated.
'I did not like to keep you waiting any longer,' Cador replied. 'I thought best to bring word, but also to
begin spreading the search. Rhys and the Cymbrogi are riding to the nearby settlements and holdings to
ask their aid.'
'Soon the whole world will know of my failure,' mused Arthur ruefully. The king dismissed Cador then,
charging him to rest and return to the court when he was once more refreshed.
When Cador had gone, the Pendragon turned to the remaining Grail Guardians and Bors, who had in all
respects taken Llenlleawg's place. This is what your negligence has wrought,' he said, 'the ruin of a
kingdom.' He glared around the ring effaces. 'If you have anything to say, I beg you say it now, friends.
For I tell you the truth, unless the Holy Cup is restored, Britain is lost.'
We all stared in silence, loath to make matters worse for saying the wrong thing. Alas, it was true; the
Guardians had failed in their sworn duty and now the kingdom was imperiled. Who could answer that?
Unfortunately, the king read our reticence the wrong way. Taking a step backward, he collapsed into the
thronelike chair. It was as if a blow from the flat of a sword had struck him down. 'Even my friends
desert me,' he groaned. I could but gaze in wretched misery at his anguish now made painfully visible.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Then, as if to fight the despair that even now ensnared him, the Pendragon heaved himself up once more
and stood defiant - a man confronting his accusers. He spoke, and there was fire in his voice. 'Every day
more and more pilgrims arrive at the shrine, only to find it empty. The word of miracles has gone out:
'Come!' they say. 'Come to the Summer Realm, and there you will see miracles!' And so the people
come expecting a marvel, but instead see only Arthur's folly.' His grotesque smile was terrible to see. 'Ah,
perhaps that is the greatest marvel of all: one man's arrogance and pride transformed into a hollow shell
of lifeless stone.'
He regarded us dully, then flicked a hand at us. 'Leave me!'
No one said a word, and no one moved. 'What?' the king demanded. 'Are you become stumps? Leave
me, I said. Get you from me! I cannot bear the sight of you!'
Bors, standing with his head down, arms wrapped around himself, made no move. Lost in thought, he
seemed no longer to heed anything taking place in this world. But Bedwyr, dour in his silence, turned on
his heel and led the retreat, abandoning his king to his misery.
Oh, it was a hard, hard thing, but what else could we do?
With Arthur in this vile humour, there was nothing for it but to quit the chamber. To stay would have
served no good purpose. Bedwyr and the others went to the hall, but I could not bring myself to join
them.
I went my way alone, wandering wherever my feet would take me, and soon found myself out on the
high parapet above the gate - the inner yard on one side, the sloping hill with its twisting path on the other
and the lake beyond. I watched as the dull twilight deepened, and with it a dreary fog rose from the
marshes and lake to clothe the Tor in a thick, damp, silent cloak - the silence of the grave, Myrddin
would say.
My thoughts flittered here and there, restless birds that could find no friendly roost; when I looked [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]