Glancing down at the child cradled in the crook of her arm, she saw the dark hair and sharp little features etched fine, and she thought of the fiercely independent bird that had struggled so hard to be free. “Merlin,” she whispered sleepily, “my little hawk.”

Taliesin had another name already chosen. But he gazed upon the child, smiled, and said, “Merlin it shall be.”

There came a knock on the door and Henwas stepped in. “There are men here, Master,” he said softly. “They are asking for you.”

“What men?”

“Druids by the look of them. I have never seen them before. Will you come out or shall I send them away?”

“No, I will come.”

Four men in hooded mantles stood in the foreyard of the villa, leaning on their wooden staffs and waiting in the chill drizzle that leaked from a low, leaden sky. When Taliesin approached, they turned silently to meet him, murmuring among themselves. “Learned brothers,” said Taliesin, “I am the one you are seeking. How may I serve you?”

The druids made no move or sound. And then one of them advanced and drew back the hood from his face. “You are a long way from home, brother,” he said.

“Blaise!” cried Taliesin, sweeping his old friend into his arms. “How glad I am to see you. Oh, and what is this? A rowan staff?”

The druid smiled happily. “One cannot stay afilidh forever. “

Taliesin acknowledged the others standing nearby. “How is it that you are here?”

“We have come to speak with you.”

“How did you find me?”

“As to that, we simply followed the river of rumor to this very door. Wherever you have been, Taliesin, men behave as if they have seen Pwyll, Prince of Annwn, and Rhiannon herself. So when the people hereabouts told us there was a god living in Lord Pendaran’s villa, we said to ourselves, ‘This can only be Taliesin.’ “ He smiled again and spread his hands. “Besides, Hafgan told us where you could be found.”

Taliesin embraced him again and then shivered with cold. “You must not stand out here freezing. There is a fire in the hearth and food to eat. Come inside, and you can tell me of your errand.”

Linking his arm through Blaise’s, Taliesin led them into the hall. Chairs were brought and placed before the fire while the druids shed their sodden cloaks and rubbed the warmth back into their hands. “We must honor the lord of this house,” said Blaise as he sipped the mulled wine that had been given him.

“Sing for him tonight,” replied Taliesin. “You will find him a most genial host.”

Blaise sat beaming at Taliesin over his cup. “It is no great wonder that people consider you a god. On my life, you do look like Lieu of the Long Hand, Taliesin. Until now I did not realize how much I have missed you these many years.”

“It feels to me like we have never been apart. Still, I want to hear all that has happened since you left Caer Dyvi.”

“It is little enough to tell. I served at Cors Baddon for several years and then at Cors Glanum in Gaul. I have traveled to Rome and Greece, returning to the Island of the Mighty only last summer when Theodosius returned with troops to crush the conspiracy.”

Taliesin nodded sadly. “Caer Dyvi fell-there was nothing to be done.” Then his face brightened. “You have seen our new lands in the south?”

“A fine place-although Elphin says he does not know what his farmers will do with a land that grows more grain than stones.”

“How is my father?”

“He is well and sends his greetings-your mother also.”

They fell silent remembering a time and place now far away. At length Taliesin stirred and said, “You did not come to give me a kinsman’s greetings.”

“No, although that would have been reason enough for me,” replied Blaise. “But no, there is another purpose. Hafgan has been very excited these last months. He is certain that the Champion of Light, as he calls him, has been bom, or soon will be.” Blaise shrugged. “We have seen no signs, but Hafgan has yet to be shown wrong. So he sent us to find you…”

“To walk the paths of the Otherworld and see if I might discover whether this Champion has taken his place among the living?”

“Just to learn if you had seen anything that might confirm him in his Belief.” Blaise looked at Taliesin hopefully. “His presence would be known in the Otherworld, would it not?”

“No doubt,” admitted Taliesin, then added firmly, “But I follow the Savior God now, also called the God of Truth and Love.”

“Hafgan told me as much, although he did not say you were prevented from journeying in the Otherworld.”

“No one has prevented me from going there. It is only respect for my God that keeps my feet on mortal paths.”

“I see.” Blaise turned to gaze at the fire. “Last night we saw a sign that may well bear great significance: there was a ring of light around the moon, and within the ring a single star. This star appeared and flared brightly just after moon-rise, and then darkened so as to fade away. When all that remained was a faintly glimmering spark, the ring of light dimmed and vanished-as if to lend its light to that of the dying star. It was then that the star began to burn with a steady light.” He studied Taliesin. “Did you see it?”

“I Believe that it happened just as you say,” replied Taliesin, “although I saw nothing, for I was holding vigil for the birth of my son.”

“Your son?”

“My son, yes-is that so surprising? My wife gave birth last night.”

The other druids leaned close, murmuring excitedly among themselves. One of them reached out a hand and pointed his finger at Taliesin. “This child surely is the Great Emrys, the Immortal, who shall be king in this land and whose reign shall last unto the next age.”

“What do you mean?” Taliesin asked softly.

“Indeed, it is just as Hafgan has told us,” said one of the druids. “The Champion has been born.”

“My son?” Taliesin rose and began pacing before the fire.

Blaise answered him in the voice of a prophet. “Light is life. The silver ring is endless life-the Champion’s birthright and his crown. The star within the ring is the life of the one born to wear that crown.”

“But you said the ring faded and vanished.”

“So it did.”

“A life was snuffed out then, giving life to the Champion.”

“Yes, so it would appear,” answered Blaise. The others muttered agreement.

“Then you must look elsewhere,” said Taliesin. “My wife is well and the child thrives. There was no death in this house last night.”

Blaise spread his hands. “All I know is what I saw in the heavens.”

Taliesin stopped pacing and stood over his friend. “Then there must be some other interpretation.”

“I wonder at you, Taliesin. What have I said to disturb you so?”

The bard dismissed the question. “It was a troubling birth, and there was little sleep for anyone in this house last night.”

Blaise studied Taliesin closely. “Well, perhaps we must look elsewhere after all.”

“You will stay here and rest from your journey. You have much to tell me of the world beyond these shores, and I would hear it all before you depart.”

“And you shall, my friend, though I talk all night. But first I would see the child, if that is easily arranged.”

“Later,” said Taliesin with a careless wave. “Certainly there will be time enough later.”

The druids wondered at this but said nothing. When they were alone with Blaise for a moment they said, “What is wrong with Taliesin? Is he hiding the child? Are we not to be allowed to even see the babe?”

“Taliesin must have his reasons. We will not press the matter further now, but we will watch and wait and trust that all will be made known to us in good time.”

Lord Pendaran was pleased to have so many bards under his roof and declared a celebration to honor the newborn child; it was to last five days and five nights whereupon each of the five bards would sing. Blaise courteously agreed and begged the honor of singing before Lord Pendaran’s household the last night.