The Void Place: The Swithen Book Three

By Scott Telek

The destruction of a man.
The devastation of a woman.
The creation of a king.

Merlin destroyed two lives to create one. But that one... is King Arthur. In the third installment of The Swithen, The king, his faithful knight, a beautiful woman, her adoring husband, their daughters, and the entire country are drawn into the wizard’s twisted psychological game of intrigue in order to create the one thing that can transform fledgling Britain: A king.

Merlin’s control over King Uther Pendragon’s life leaves him struggling to express his own will—or any control over his life. After an attempt at making his own decision fails spectacularly, Uther fixates on the lovely (and married) Igraine, believing only her love can fill the yawning hole in his life. What neither of them realize is that they are both falling into Merlin’s devious design, a plan that will leave both of their lives devastated, tear the young country apart—and give Merlin what he wants: a child born of nobility he can mold into the future King Arthur.

Faithful to the centuries-old legend and its dark mysteries, The Void Place is far from a pleasant fable of noble kings and lovely ladies, but a murky labyrinth of obsession, manipulation, vicious hatreds, unforgivable crimes and unexpected friendship and tenderness, set against a backdrop filled with magic and court intrigue.

At the end, the main character of our series is born.

Containing the explosive event that sets the Arthurian legend in motion, this novel establishes the conflicts that will resonate throughout the rest of the saga. Meet future sorceress Morgan Le Fay at only ten years old and learn why she vows to avenge their mother by destroying King Arthur in the decades to come. Encounter her sister Margause, future mother of Arthur’s famed knight, Sir Gawain. Know a young King Lot and see why he will make war on Arthur in fifteen years. And discover the tale of Ulfius, loyal friend to the ailing Uther, and future mentor to his son, the young Arthur.

The Swithen series is committed to remaining faithful to the events of the actual Arthurian legend from 800 years ago, so you will know that as you read, you are learning the real stories of King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, the Knights of the Round Table and so much more. What this series does is add the psychology, illuminate important interconnections, and bring its intriguing mysteries to the fore to make the ancient legend compelling to today's readers.

Experience a twisting tale of madness, power, war and love as we witness the fall of a king and the destruction of a lady, victims of Merlin’s single-minded focus on creating a man that will bend the country to his will—and become the greatest king Britain will ever know.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Scott Telek
• Release date: Sep 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798989106202

Scott Telek

Scott Telek is a writer, artist and filmmaker. He has been writing professionally for over 20 years, while also writing fiction, film reviews, doing oil painting and creating films. He has always been interested in legend and folklore, which led to his obsession with the lore of King Arthur.Telek takes a different approach to epic fantasy, which usually invents new stories taking place in the Arthurian world. Telek's interest is in honoring the ancient tales by retaining the plot, story, and weirdness of the original legends from nearly a thousand years ago, but filling in the character and psychology in ways that are compelling to modern readers, but missing from the Middle English sources. That way, readers get to know the real King Arthur of lore, with all the grandeur, magic and romance that modern, made-up stories simply cannot match.You may think you know all about King Arthur--but you don't. Sure there's swordfights, honor and romance. But there's also a lot of magic, psychological intrigue, supernatural occurrences and unexplained phenomena that make this much more "Twilight Zone" than "Camelot." And the entire, decades-spanning plot, with multiple interlocking storylines, was completed over a thousand years ago--so it's all going somewhere, and it's all been thought through, right to the very end. No making up as we go along!Enter The Swithen at book one, which details the real origin story of Merlin--laid down 800 years ago! Book two finds Merlin preparing Britain for the coming of Arthur, and at the end of book three, Arthur is born. Get on for the ride as we see Arthur rise, unite Britain, marry Guinevere, form the Knights of the Round Table, be betrayed by Lancelot, and be there are the whole thing comes crashing down, in the most monumental, epic, intricate and moving tale of a civilization's rise and fall ever set down.

Book preview

The

Void

Place

The Swithen: Book Three

By Scott Telek

Praise for The Swithen series

"After decades studying and teaching many versions of the Arthurian legends, this is the most realistic and compelling."

– Joanne V., Facebook recommendation

"Absolutely engrossing! It brings me into the medieval world as other versions of the Arthurian legend haven’t."

– Starborne, Amazon review

"Really enjoyed books 1, 2 and 3. Couldn’t put it down. It is written so well you become part of the story. Loved it. Bring on the next 20 odd books. Can’t wait!"

– Amazon review

"I have rarely known such richness and depth of psychology in nearly anything I’ve read, let alone anything Arthurian."

– Steve Gladwin, Author of The Seven

"Too often, Arthurian characters become stick figures in modern retellings, but that is far from the case here."

– Tyler Tichelaar, Author, Children of Arthur

"Makes the Arthurian legend readable and relatable for us."

– Alex S., Amazon review

"If you weren’t fascinated by how Telek depicted Merlin in the first novel, I guarantee you will be here… What is fascinating about the novel is not the plot, but the psychology of the characters as the chain of events unfolds… Telek has created the most real and sympathetic version of Vortigern to date."

– Tyler Tichelaar, Author, Children of Arthur

"If the rest of them are as enjoyable as the three that I have been fortunate enough to read thus far, it should be quite an impressive series. I look forward to seeing where it goes from here, as each successive book does seem to improve on what has gone before."

– Katinka, MomKateReads Book Blog

Copyright © 2019 Scott Telek

Smashwords edition

This is a work of fiction. The characters are in the public domain or invented from the author’s imagination. The base of the story is drawn from works in the public domain and enhanced by the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved under domestic and international copyright. Outside of elements drawn from the established source legend, all new story elements and characters are invented by the author and protected by copyright. Outside of fair use (such as quoting within a book review), no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission of the author.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Ebook ISBN: 979-8-9891062-0-2

Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9996773-4-6

Swithen ‘S’ design copyright © 2023 Scott Telek

Cover design: Scott Telek

Chess piece photo reference: Unsplash

Bearded man photo: Pixabay

www.theswithen.com

Facebook: TheSwithen

Instagram: theswithen

Twitter: @TheSwithen

4R

This book is dedicated to my sister, Andrea Telek Koch

Table of Contents

Praise for The Swithen

In Previous Books

Returning Characters

Sources

Part One: The Empty Seat

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Part Two: The Blind Spot

27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

Part Three: The Vacant Chamber

45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64

65 66 67 68 69 70

Part Four: The Void Place

71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107

In the Next Book

Legend to Novel: The Void Place

In Previous Books

In A Man of Our Kind: The Swithen Book 1, the devil wanted to create a mortal man on Earth in order to lead people into temptation. A young woman, Adhan, is the target of a demon, who kills her family one by one until he is able to impregnate her. At that time, an illegitimate child bears a judgment of death by burning. A holy man, Blaise, suggests that Adhan be locked in a tower until the child is born, and that the baby be baptized at birth. This allows the child to keep his ability to see all events of the past and future and to shape-shift. Adhan names the child Merlin.

Meanwhile, tyrant King Vortigern has the king’s son killed, sending the rightful heirs, brothers Pendragon and Uther, into hiding.

At one year old, Merlin is able to defend his mother at the trial for her life. He decides that the best way to use his powers is to transform Britain through the creation of a king—Arthur.

In The Sons of Constance: The Swithen Book 2 Vortigern takes Merlin, then seven years old, from his mother to prophesize on how to save himself from the returning brothers. When the come back to claim the throne, Merlin allies himself with Pendragon, the new king, and Uther, his brother. While Merlin leads Pendragon to many unbelievable victories, the king is never sure if he is not simply Merlin’s pawn.

After a grand battle, Uther becomes king. Merlin creates the Round Table, choosing twenty-two men to sit with Uther there, but leaving one seat empty; the void place. Now alone in the world and unsure of his ability to lead, Uther both fears and treasures Merlin.

Returning Characters

Merlin: Fathered by a demon but won to good by his mother, Adhan. She had him baptized at birth, allowing him to keep all of his powers and the free will to decide how to use them. Merlin can assume any form and possesses all knowledge of the past and future.

Uther: The current king. Brother of the previous king, Pendragon. Uther took on the ceremonial name ‘Uther Pendragon’ after his brother’s passing.

Ulfius: Uther’s best friend since boyhood. A fearsome and fiercely loyal knight.

Duke Gorlois: A member of Uther’s Round Table, husband to Igraine, and father of their daughters, Margause and Morgan.

Blaise: A holy hermit who advised and helped Adhan before and during her pregnancy with Merlin and consequent trial for her life. Blaise has moved to Northumberland, where he lives with Merlin, as they work on a book chronicling all of the events contained in this story.

Adhan: Merlin’s mother. This character was named Meylinde in previous editions.

Pendragon: Uther’s older brother, and the previous king, who died in the Battle of Salisbury.

Rossa: One of the midwives who attended Adhan when locked in the tower prior to Merlin’s birth. She now assists Adhan in her sanctuary for troubled girls.

King Lot, King Uriens, King Leodegrance: Three kings who were chosen by Merlin to be knights of Uther’s Round Table.

The Saxons: People from Germanic countries who are making constant attempts to settle and conquer Britain.

Sources

The mission of The Swithen is to honor the original Arthurian legend by maintaining strict fidelity to the source literature, while fleshing out characters and scenes to make the thoughts and emotions of the characters clear to modern readers.

This novel is adapted from The History of the Kings of Britain, by Geoffery of Monmouth, of approximately 1150 A.D., Wace’s Roman de Brut of 1155, Layamon’s Brut of 1190, The Story of Merlin from the Lancelot-Grail (Vulgate Cycle), written between 1215 and 1235, and the Prose Merlin of 1450.

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Now Available

A Man of Our Kind: The Swithen Book 1

Vortigern wrongfully assumes the throne, inviting in the invading Saxons and sending rightful heirs Pendragon and Uther into hiding. Meanwhile, the devil’s failed attempt to create a man on Earth results in the birth of the wizard Merlin.

The Sons of Constance: The Swithen Book 2

Merlin serves three successive kings while setting the pieces in place that will result in the conception of Arthur.

The Flower of Chivalry: The Swithen Book 4

Arthur’s sense of justice develops through the pains and joys of his childhood, until his path leads him to encounter the sword in the stone.

Wonderly Wroth: The Swithen Book 5

While Britain’s leaders debate making a king of a teenage boy, Arthur is put into training with the knights who served his parents.

The Future of The Swithen

Book 6:

Arthur must wage war on those who dispute the reign of a teenage king and receives the sword Excalibur.

Book 7: 

Arthur forms the Knights of the Round Table, romances Guinevere, and begins constructing Camelot.

Book 8: 

Balin le Savage’s unlucky adventures leave the country under a curse that can only be repaired by achieving unity with the Holy Grail.

Book 9: 

Arthur marries Guinevere, and his knights depart on three mystic adventures.

Book 10:

Morgan Le Fay makes a daring attempt to destroy Arthur and claim his throne.

Book 11: 

The childhood of Lancelot in the Lady of the Lake’s hidden matriarchal society.

Book 12:

Lancelot joins King Arthur’s court and embarks on the adventure of the Dolorous Guard.

Book 13:

A mysterious new knight, Beaumains, is entrusted with a crucial adventure, while Sir Gawain fulfills his promise to the Green Knight.

Book 14:

Lancelot is torn between love for Guinevere, King Arthur’s wife, and fellow warrior Galehaut, the Lord of the Distant Isles.

Book 15:

Lancelot becomes ensnared in an affair that results in the birth of Galahad.

Book 16:

Lancelot wanders insane as Percival searches to bring him back and heal the court.

Book 17:

Over the course of one day, mysterious adventures unfold and the quest for the Holy Grail is enjoined.

Book 18:

The knights depart to seek the Holy Grail while Arthur and Guinevere’s marriage is in ruins.

Book 19:

The knights encounter death, destruction and despair as they seek the Holy Grail.

Book 20:

The few remaining knights stumble back to Camelot as three knights encounter the Grail.

Book 21:

Lancelot is drawn into a relationship that leaves Guinevere furious and another woman dead.

Book 22:

When Guinevere is kidnapped, Lancelot departs to save her while Arthur’s jealous rage grows.

Book 23: 

When Guinevere’s affair is finally exposed, the kingdom collapses and the aged Arthur goes to war.

Book 24: 

The distraction of the war allows Arthur’s bastard son, Mordred, to seize the throne—and Guinevere.

Book 25:

The death of Arthur.

Keep updated on new books and insights about the series at www.theswithen.com.

Part One

THE EMPTY SEAT

-1-

One day, while they sat reading in the quiet front room of their cottage in Northumberland, Blaise lowered his book and turned to Merlin. You’ve been here for some time lately. Are you no longer advising Uther?

Merlin did not look up but took in a long breath and exhaled it slowly, lines gathering on his forehead. I am still advising Uther, he said. But everything that happens now must appear to be his own decision.

-2-

That week of March was unusually warm. Still cold, but warmer than any of the past weeks. It was sunny and temperate enough for Igraine to take her daughters Margause and Morgan walking along the rocky seashore below Castle Tintagel, an area revealed only at low tide.

She was glad to get them out of the gloomy indoors. The two girls were bursting with energy, mostly for fighting, yelling and running. It was clear they’d been kept inside too long, playing in the cold, gloomy stone halls and chambers.

The sun shone brightly. The sea air was bracing and wet. It blew straight at the cliffs in a strong blow hurled in from the ocean. Above, the castle sat atop high cliffs rising nearly straight up from the crashing sea. The land around had been carved away by the ocean into fascinating inlets, cliffs, holes and caves, and all jutting out into the sea, only a thin thread connecting it to land. No one spot was quite like another.

Igraine was still moved by the beauty of the place. It seemed noble and brave, if a stone castle could be brave, standing strong against the unrelenting pounding of the waves and unending stream of salt air. She thought of the air traveling for miles across nothing but ocean water, arriving cleaned and raw, yet suffused with harsh salt that caked and corrupted.

Her daughter Margause was then fourteen, Morgan ten. All the women of the family had lovely blonde hair, although Margause’s had hints of tawny brown, while Morgan’s was brilliantly light, like gold thread. When it whipped around in the wind, Morgan’s hair looked like a swarm of tiny mosquitos with wings of leaded gold, fluttering about her head. The younger girl rushed along the waterline, running forward between the waves to look at what was revealed by the sea, while Igraine and Margause strolled closer to the cliffs. Forty feet away, Bretel and Jordanus, Duke Gorlois’ chief knights, chatted amiably and basked in the sun as they ambled thirty feet behind, keeping an eye on the women.

When you met Father, asked Margause, did you know right away he was the one you wanted to marry?

Igraine smiled at the thought. She was just over thirty-two then. Everyone thought her lovely and radiant. Her head was covered in blonde hair that had a coppery sheen of rust to it and lay with lines like rich wood grain when braided down the back of her head. Her smooth, creamy skin perfectly complemented the tones of her hair, naturally drawing attention to her pale blue eyes. She had a warm, affectionate disposition. Anyone who brought her to mind usually pictured her smiling. The people of town loved her and the girls, and always brought them gifts when the family came out to visit. In return, the duke was always generous to the people of his realm.

Not at first, no, Igraine said, the corners of her lips curling. I mean, you see your father is very handsome, but of course, she gestured, that’s only one thing. He was very nice to me, and kind, and didn’t treat me like a fool—or an assured thing, because—well, you know, our marriage wasn’t arranged, but it was, she sighed, strongly suggested. It was one of those situations where we were presented to each other with the idea that if we liked each other, wonderful, because it also makes a good match in terms of strengthening family names, transfer of land and building of wealth.

Margause’s brow wrinkled, and she watched the ground as they walked.

So we met against that background, Igraine continued, which causes some men to approach it as though, well, they give you a once-over and, if they see no obvious defect, then; ‘let’s get married!’ She giggled. But your father wasn’t like that. Although you see what a strange situation it is. You’re both looking at each other…. She put up her hand, made a funny face. But your father openly spoke about the strangeness of the situation, which made us both feel more comfortable. She looked at the girl. You know how your father is able to disarm people.

Margause smiled. Igraine looked back to check on Morgan, who was showing a shell she had found to Bretel. His intense eyes hung beneath sharply-angled eyebrows. He was Gorlois’ foremost knight, entrusted with keeping Igraine and the girls safe. Morgan threw the shell down and raced back to the shoreline.

Then we were alone, on a walk…. Igraine’s face grew rosy. But even so, it wasn’t instantaneous. She gazed at the pebbles passing below her feet. But when I met him again, and the more I thought of him, in different ways, at different times, it just always seemed right. She cocked her head with a smile as she gazed on her daughter and stroked her hair. After that, I knew. And around then, he asked.

Margause smiled and blushed. Will it be the same when I marry? The arrangement, I mean.

Igraine nodded. It will be very much like that. You’ll be presented with a number of suitors, each of whom would make an advantageous marriage, and you’ll spend some time with them. And we’ll see which ones you like. And each of those arrangements will increase wealth and power and bring security and ensure our legacy through the ages going forward. And honor, and greatness. She waved her hand, then placed it around the shoulders of her daughter. But I’ll help you through the process, when it comes, and I hope you’ll always tell me what you really feel, because I can make sure you find someone you feel comfortable with, and someone you truly love.

Margause smiled and let her fingers graze the back of her mother’s coat.

I was lucky with your father, Igraine went on. Because he’s such a wonderful man. He’s very respectful of women and appreciates them. Not all men do. They see women as something they own or as part of their fortune. And ultimately, women, she sighed, "are considered the property of their husbands. It’s the way it is. We have little protection or say of our own. And any we do have is given by a man. We’re held to ridiculous standards of honor, which can amount to, she shook her head, well, life or death. So I was very lucky to come across a good man like your father and that he liked me." She smiled down on her daughter, the skin around her eyes crinkling.

I hope I’m lucky like that, said Margause.

I hope so too, said Igraine, stroking the girl’s hair. But I’ll look out for you and guide you. There is a lot to consider in terms of the advantages to the families, but, a gentle smile played across her face, I think it’s important to insist on there being love. You’re going to spend the rest of your life with that person and be entirely beholden to his wishes and what he decides for you, so, she paused, her eyes scanning over the rolling waves, it’s much better to have someone you love. And trust.

Up ahead, Morgan ran among the rocks of the beach. She rushed after them as the water went out, then screamed and ran up the beach as the next wave rushed in. She pointed and yelled, You die, fish! then threw a rock into the surf.

Margause walked on, eyes lowered to the rocks beneath them. But how will I know I’m in love?

Igraine smiled. Well, first you have to spend more time with boys and see what you like and don’t like. You have quite a while. You don’t want to rush.

Morgan ran at them, holding a rock before her. Look at this! It looks like there’s a plant on it! Igraine and Margause stopped and looked. Indeed, the rock she held in her hand seemed to be a sculptured relief of several stalks and leaves.

That’s incredible, said Igraine.

How did it get that pattern on it? Margause asked.

Igraine shook her head. It was… carved by someone?

It was sculpted by the fairies! said Morgan.

I think it must have been, said Igraine. Are you going to keep it?

Morgan thrust it into her mother’s hand to carry, then ran off, rushing ahead to examine the next few boulders on the beach. Margause and her mother walked silently for a few moments, listening to the sound of the crashing waves. Each was followed by the grinding of stones tumbling one over another as they were pulled back into the sea.

You will know when you’re in love, said Igraine. There can be times you spend a lot of time wondering. But—I don’t know, I can only say how it was with your father. A smile warmed her face. When it’s right, she placed a warm hand on her daughter’s back, there’ll be no question.

Margause smiled up at her. I hope I meet someone as good as Father.

Igraine smiled warmly and gave her shoulder a squeeze. I do too. I’ll help you. She turned and looked back at the castle. The afternoon sun had moved closer to the horizon, causing long shadows behind the huge boulders that jutted up from the small stones. But we should be getting back soon. Morgan! she called ahead, and waved for the younger girl to come back.

Look, I can make the pebbles move! said Morgan, pointing out toward the small rocks at the shoreline.

That’s wonderful, said Igraine. Come along now, we need to get back.

-3-

Uther sat alone at the Round Table. His eyes stared straight ahead. His thumb rubbed over his forefinger.

There were no other knights in the chamber, which was unusual. The space was open for his knights to come and go. But there were four servants standing in the shadows against the wall behind him, two guards on either side of the door, and eight guards outside the door.

As the high king, that meant he was alone.

At first he had been aware of their presence. Now he sometimes forgot they were even there. These were some of the touches that made being the high king at once surprisingly everyday and bizarrely unreal. He would find himself raising an eyebrow or scrunching a cheek, speaking aloud or gesturing as he worked through a thought, then grow stiff, remembering he was being watched. Always watched.

Then his eyes would lower to the surface of the table, and he would go very still, making no movement, no expression. He didn’t want to look crazy. But he could start to feel crazy, trying to keep control of every tiny movement he made. He supposed some people would enjoy the attention.

There were people talking about him. There were people, many people, whose professions revolved entirely around him. There were people he didn’t remember who had deeply engrained memories of him. And people he’d never met with firm ideas of what he was like.

He told himself he should just forget it. Simply imagine the guards weren’t there. That he didn’t know about all the people. It seemed like truly giving in to insanity, but maybe that was the best course?

He remembered when the stillness started. It was when Pendragon, his older brother and the king before him, told him that Merlin knew everything they did and said, but could not know their thoughts. He had begun to go very still after that, as a method of defense, the only defense he had. It was only after, in the routines of kingship, that he realized the value of absolute stillness. Revealing nothing.

His thumb rubbed over his calloused forefinger, a habit he mindlessly engaged in while thinking. He couldn’t remember how he had received the cut that started it all. It was at least two years ago. He’d rubbed it so much it built into a hard white blemish on his hand.

After Merlin had left, a year and a half ago, Uther and his men had gone to Gaul to help King Aramont with his war against King Claudas, who had sided with Rome against the British. Uther helped Aramont defeat Claudas and send him into exile, razing the land as they left in order to leave him nothing to return to should he make another takeover attempt. They felled trees, dammed rivers and burned the entire place. Once they had left, the region was called the Land Laid Waste.

They had been back for almost six months now, and in that time, no combat. Just ruling. Which hadn’t been nearly as difficult as he had expected in terms of tasks and routine. He slipped into a machinery that already existed. He agreed with what his advisors suggested. He facilitated proposals that his liegemen brought to him. He was the image of the king. He could maintain the image.

If he did nothing, every day would be exactly like that.

His eyes rose, falling on the void place. He usually attempted to glance to the right or left so as not to see it. Although it was difficult to avoid, being directly across from him.

That seat was always to remain empty, according to Merlin’s edict. It stood for the place Judas had at the Last Supper—or something. It had something to do with the Holy Grail—the Sangrail—as well. There was a long history to it Uther couldn’t always remember. But Merlin said to never to let anyone sit there, and if they did, something very bad would happen. And something very bad to Merlin was usually unimaginably awful to anyone else.

When Uther sat in his place at the Round Table he looked at the empty seat. He looked at it when the table was empty, when the table was half full, and when the table was full. There was a chair there, and the maids dusted it, but no one sat in it. A red velvet sash was kept across it to ensure no one sat there.

Every time the table was full, and often when it was not, the empty seat was asked about, and Uther had to explain why no one was to sit there. Uther gave the explanation again and again, sometimes making it serious, sometimes funny, sometimes earnest. People still looked toward it with noses wrinkled.

Merlin had told him there is someone who will one day sit in that seat—someone who has not yet been born. That person’s father is going to sit at that table as well. He hadn’t been born yet either.

Another person who hadn’t been born yet and is going to sit at that table, right in the very spot Uther was, is the great king to come. One who will transform the country and have the worthiest stable of knights, who will also sit at that table. Uther even knew his name; Arthur. The Round Table is going to be very important to King Arthur and will do wondrous things for him during the course of his glorious reign, which will happen sometime after Uther dies.

You could even say Uther was just minding the table until Arthur came along.

He picked up a knife. He put the point right at the edge where the wood met one of the inlaid stones.

Uther had the urge to jab the knife in but knew the varnish on the wood was too thick. He had done it before, pretended to cough and jabbed the knife down so the guards would think nothing strange, but all he accomplished was to create a long, wavering scratch in the varnish, right where he had to look at it all the time.

His skin burned when he thought Merlin must know of it.

Sometimes Uther thought of taking a hammer to it. Watching the wood break, the stones shatter into chips.

Sometimes he thought of having the Round Table brought to a rocky cliff. He could invite all his knights and many people—make it a celebration. They could all help to tilt it on its side, start it turning.

He imagined it rolling off, spinning in the air, then landing, right on its edge, on jagged rocks below. He saw it shatter, wood shards flying, exploding pieces of the precious stones glinting in the sun as they spun in the air. In his mind, he heard the tinny sounds as they clattered across the stones, bouncing into the ocean.

Where is the Round Table? Merlin would ask.

Oh, Uther imagined himself saying, we threw it out.

He made a short bark of a laugh, then caught himself, hand lifting over his mouth. He dared not look if the guards had seen.

Besides, Merlin would never ask. He’d already know.

-4-

Uther and Ulfius were sitting at the Round Table. The king was in his chair, elevated a foot above the others. Ulfius was at his place next to him. There were some other knights chatting amongst themselves on the far side.

Ulfius leaned in toward Uther, his large brown eyes gazing up at the king. His shoulder-length dark hair was tied back, and his open hand rubbed down over the fluffy mass of his grand black mustache.

I’m sure you’re going to hear this soon, so I thought I’d tell you first, because it’s something that might, he grimaced, upset you. Or relieve you. But, he raised his eyes to his friend, you’ll want to know.

What is it? Uther asked.

Ulfius raised himself to speak into the king’s ear. Merlin, he murmured, is said to be dead.

Uther stared at him. What’s that?

Merlin, Ulfius carefully enunciated each word, is reported to be dead.

Uther turned his head slowly toward the middle of the table. He put his hands flat down on the surface and remained still. His gaze grew very intense as he stared at the carving in the center, eyes seeming to recess into his head. Ulfius leaned back, eyes not wavering from the face of his friend. Abruptly Uther turned.

How do they—are they sure?

An older man, who had a gray beard, was in the woods, acting like a madman. He harassed some knights, and they beat him to death. The people who are reporting it as Merlin say this man had a blue robe, but by the time they saw him, he was quite, Ulfius made a gesture about his face, eaten away.

Uther sat absolutely still. That’s all we know?

That is all we know, Ulfius said.

Was his staff found with him?

Ulfius’ brow furrowed in thought. There was no mention of it.

Uther turned to stare into the center of the table. He looked at the carving in the center, tiny waves rippling out and returning, and then his eyes raised to look beyond it, to the void place.

-5-

The next day Uther was again at the table, speaking with Duke Gorlois of Tintagel. He was one of his Knights of the Round Table, visiting Carduel to meet with Uther on a proposal to garrison some of Uther’s troops at his two castles, Tintagel and Castle Terrabil. This would help Uther keep men ready in locations around the country, and the new buildings and influx of knights would benefit the people of Gorlois’ duchy. A few other groups of knights sat in places around the table, chatting quietly.

The duke was a strong and keen-eyed man of pleasant, smiling demeanor with black hair and piercingly bright blue eyes. Their meeting was just coming to a close when one of Uther’s knights, one who had not been selected by Merlin to sit at the Round Table but was often found around it, burst loudly through the door. Sir Riger le Brun and his friends, Sir Tanner and Sir Yates, strode excitedly in, smiling broadly.

King Uther! Riger said loudly, causing all present to lift their heads. Have you heard the news? Merlin is dead!

Riger was a very handsome, well-built knight with strong upper body and virile square jaw, accented by rich brown eyes under thin and angular eyebrows. His face was surrounded by shoulder-length brown hair. He was younger and more carefree, and naturally gregarious, with a wide and blisteringly white smile. His confidence and cheerful nature made people want to be around him, although there were those who quietly slunk away when