"Scáthán uisce, droichead idir domhain, taispeáin dom mo mháistir,"I whispered.
As the whispered words faded, familiar azure light filled the basin, but not before a flutter of wings from my peripheral vision drew my attention. Glancing over, I watched as the owl, who had become my nightly visitor, arrived, alighting on the windowsill.His large eyes blinked owlishly at me—a sight that usually softened my heart but couldn't ease the storm within me now.
I turned back to the water to see that my magic had already connected me with Annwyn.
The azure light swirled and danced within the basin's depths before finally coalescing into a familiar form. Merlin's image materialized slowly, his features sharpening until I could see every detail of his weathered face. The midnight blue of his robes came into clear focus, while the small crystals woven into his silver beard caught and reflected the light in tiny prisms.
Even through the mystical connection spanning the vast distance between Camelot and Annwyn, his presence filled my small chamber almost as if he were standing here in front of me. His hands were folded before him in a gesture of patient attention. The sight of him, calm and steady as an ancient oak weathering yet another storm, provided an anchor for my churning thoughts and hammering heart.
“Guinevere.” His voice held the faintest note of inquiry.
“I’m in trouble, Merlin."
"Why is that?"
"I may have been reckless,” I began, rushing through my words, my thoughts a tangled mess demanding untangling.
“Reckless?” His brow lifted slightly.
“I sparred with Kay. I trusted that he simply wanted to take me on as an opponent. But I'm fairly certain his intentions were much... more nefarious. While we were sparring, he nicked me."
"You were beyond reckless!" Corvin's voice sounded, and a second later, his face appeared in the watery reflection. "Kay is the last person who—"
"—yes, Corvin, I'm well aware," I hissed in response.
Merlin appeared in the water once more.
"He drew blood," I said.
Merlin didn't respond for the space of a few heartbeats, then: "Yes, and?"
I frowned. "Well, he... he nicked me! My hand! He was able to make me bleed, Merlin! And he wiped my blood on his tunic. I'm sure... I'm sure he did so with nefarious intentions in mind."
Understanding settled in Merlin's gaze, which was still as impenetrable as the sea. “And now you fear your deception could be unraveled?”
“Yes, or perhaps... well, perhaps he plans to use my blood to place some sort of spell on me?” I asked, my voice a strained whisper through the cool expanse of the basin's light.
"Kay is unable to produce spells," Corvin responded, though his reflection didn't appear in the water.
I swallowed hard. “What if this jeopardizes everything—my mission, my being here in Camelot? Who knows what Kay can do with the knowledge he can uncover from my blood?”
But Merlin's expression didn’t waver. “Kay’s magic involves detecting weaknesses, child. He is not an alchemist nor a blood seer, and he certainly cannot perform blood magic."
"But—"
"—he won’t be able to decipher your truth through whatever blood he took from you, and he will not be able to weave any spells with your blood.”
My shoulders were tight, my mind a whirl of doubt. “But then why nick me at all?"
Merlin cocked his head to the side. "Perhaps it was an accident?"
"No," I insisted right away, shaking my head.
"It wasn't an accident," Corvin echoed, and I could only nod.
"It was choreographed," I said. "He wanted my blood, and he intended to get it." I took a breath. "And why go to such lengths if—”
"Is it still safe for her to remain?" Corvin asked Merlin. It was the same question I wanted to know.
