Pendarric knelt beside the King and made to press the Stone to his side.
"No!" whispered Uther. "It ends here. Bring the leaders of the Goths and the Saxons to me, Prasamaccus. Do it swiftly!"
"I can save you, Uther," said Pendarric.
"To what end?" Blood stained the King"s beard and his flesh was deathly pale. "I could not be anything less than I am. I could not live on a farm. I love her, Pendarric, I always did.
But I could never be just a man. You understand? If I stay, it will be to fight the Saxons and the Brigante and the Jutes -trying to keep the candle aflame just a little longer."
"I know that," Pendarric said sadly.
Prasamaccus returned with a tall fair-haired Goth, who knelt before the King.
"Your name?"
"Alaric," answered the man.
"You want to live, Alaric?"
"Of course," replied the warrior smoothly.
"Then you will lay down your weapons and I promise you that you will be allowed to return to your ships."
"Why would you do this?"
"I am tired of blood and death. Your choice, Alaric: live or die. Make it now."
"We will live."
"A good choice. Severinus, see that my orders are obeyed, there is to be no more killing.
Where is Asta?"
"I am here, Blood King," said Asta, crouching before the dying monarch.
"And I will be true to the promise I made to you yesterday. I give you the land of South Saxon, to rule and to govern. This I say before witnesses."
"Not as a va.s.sal?"
"No, as a king, answerable only to your own people."
"I accept. But this may not end the wars between my people and your own."
"Not a man alive can end war," said Uther."See that the Goths reach their ships."
"Is that an order, Blood King?"
"It is a request, such that one king might make to another."
"Then I agree. But you should have those wounds treated."
Uther raised his blood-covered hand and Asta took it in the warrior"s grip, wrist to wrist.
Then he rose and walked back to his host.
"Get me to the Isle," said Uther. "There is someone waiting for me."
With great care the men around him lifted the King and carried him back into the Great Circle where they laid him upon the altar. Pendarric stood by and the King called Cormac forward. "We did not have time to know one another, my son. But do not think of me with bitterness. All men make mistakes, and most suffer for them."
"No bitterness, Uther. Just pride . . . and regret."
The King smiled, "Galead," he whispered, his voice fading.
"I am here, my lord."
"When we come through the Gateway, you will see a boat. Carry me to it and sail to the Isle. A woman will be waiting there, who knows that I lied. Tell her my last thoughts were of her." Uther sagged back on the stone.
Pendarric moved forward swiftly, raising his arm and the King and Galead disappeared.
Prasamaccus cried out in his anguish and stumbled away. Gwalchmai stood dry-eyed, his face set.
"He will return. I know that he will. . . when our need is great."
No one spoke. Then Severinus Albinus placed his hand on Gwalchmai"s shoulder.
"I do not know all your Celtic beliefs," he said, "but I believe also that there is a place for men like Uther, and that he will not die."
Gwalchmai turned to speak, but the tears could not be held back, he nodded stiffly and walked away to stand alone at the altar, staring up at the sky.
Cormac stood by, his heart heavy. He had not really known Uther, but he was blood of his blood and he was proud. Turning he saw a young woman running across the field, her hair flowing behind her.
"Anduine!" he cried. "Anduine!"
And she heard him.
EPILOGUE.
Goroien lifted her silver helm and laid it on the throne, her gauntlets and breastplate beside it. Her swords she kept. Then she walked down to the hall, through the silent ranks of the shadow-beasts and out onto the plain before the Keep.
She could see the grey ribbon of the road wending its way into the distance, and upon it stood a shrouded figure. Slowly she walked to the hooded man, her hand upon the hilt of a silver sword.
"Are you a servant of Molech?" she asked.
"I am no one"s servant, Goroien, save maybe yours." He pushed back the hood and she gasped, hiding her face in her hands.
"Do not look at me, Culain. You will see only decay."
Gently he took her hands and stared down at her unsullied beauty.
"There is no decay. You are as beautiful now as the day I first saw you."
She looked at her hands and saw that he spoke the truth.
"Can you still love me after all I have done to you?" she asked him. He smiled and lifted her hand to his lips.
"No man knows where the road leads," she said. "You think there is a paradise?"
"I think we have already found it."
LAST SWORD OF POWER.
LAST SWORD OF POWER.