I reached out a hand to touch her, to take her.

Into my mind sprang the image of two people coupled in the act of love, limbs intertwined, bodies straining. And it seemed to me that something hideous was happening. The image shifted slightly and I saw that the body of the woman was a rotting corpse…

All desire vanished in that instant, replaced by an unspeakable repulsion. Sickened, I turned away.

‘Pelleas… ' her breath was hot on the back of my neck, her voice a moan of desire. 'Take me, Pelleas, I want to love you.'

'No!' The shout tore unbidden from my throat. 'No!'

Her hands were on me, encircling my waist, caressing me. 'Love me, Pelleas. I want you.'

'Leave me!' I screamed again and whirled towards her, my hand poised to strike.

Nimue stood defiant, a look of haughty triumph on her beautiful face. 'Do it,' she urged, 'strike me!'

With an effort of will, I lowered my hand. The desire to strike her remained strong, yet I resisted. 'I will not.'

Her seduction failed, she nevertheless could not resist gloating. 'I despise weakness,' she hissed. 'Show me you are not weak.' She stepped towards me, her hands stroking her thighs.

'Get away from me, whore!' I said, forcing out each word. 'In the name of Jesu, stay back!'

She halted, her lips twisting in revulsion. 'You will live to regret this, Pelleas ap Belyn!' she rasped, as if she had been struck a blow in the stomach. Then she whirled away, scooped up her clothing, and fled from the house.

As soon as Nimue vanished, a great weariness came over me. The room grew dark, and wavered in my sight like a reflection in a pool. I felt drunk – yet I had touched no wine. On unsteady, unfeeling legs I stumbled to the bedplace; it was all I could do to keep from falling over. I tumbled headlong onto the straw pallet…

I awoke to sunlight streaming into my eyes, and the sound of a horse nickering softly. I raised myself up and saw that I lay in the grass beside the pool. My horse grazed nearby on its tether. Merlin was nowhere to be seen.

All at once, memory of what had happened the night before came rushing back to me and I jumped to my feet. My head pounded with a dull throb, my eyes ached and my limbs were sore, but I was unharmed. I ran up the path towards the house.

The dwelling was not there!

I searched until I panted for breath, but could not find it. The solid stone structure was nowhere to be seen. The house was gone – and Merlin with it.

I realized what had taken place. But it was too late. Too late. I cursed my blindness, and the ease with which I had succumbed to the enchantment.

And then I remembered Nimu and the threat uttered in her rage: You will live to regret this, Pelleas ap Belyn…

She had called me by name! A wave of sick dread convulsed me. The bile rose to my gorge and I retched -

– Morgian!

EIGHT

Fear came swimming out of the very air. What if Morgian should return to claim her prize?

Blessed Jesu, help me! Where is Merlin?

I ran. Searching blindly. Stumbling, falling, picking myself up and running on, I searched for the house – but I could not find it, or Merlin. I called his name, but there was no answer… no answer.

In the end, I returned to the pool and forced myself to kneel down and drink. Somewhat refreshed, I washed my sweating face and then set about saddling the horses.

I was resolved in my soul to find my master, or die trying. Though Morgian returned… though all the powers of hell raged against me… I determined to find him and free him from the sorcery that bound him.

With this vow in my heart, I went down on my knees and prayed for the leading of the Guiding Hand and the protection of angels and archangels. Then I rose and swung into the saddle, and thus began my search anew.

Perhaps prayer is so rarely heard in that wilderness that it is answered all the more readily. Or perhaps wherever the Adversary flaunts his power, the Most High quickly grants the plea of any anguished bean that seeks him.

However it was, my urgent prayers soon turned to shouts of praise, for I had ridden but half-way round the pool when I saw my master. He was lying face down beneath an elder bush, his legs and feet in the water.

I vaulted from the saddle and ran to him, hauled him from the pool and rolled him on his back. Pressing my ear to his chest, I listened. He lived. His heart beat slowly, but rhythmically. He slept – a deathlike, leaden sleep: no movement, breath light and shallow.

Cradling him in my arms, I began chafing his hands and shaking his shoulders in an effort to rouse him. But I could not.

I rose to my feet, contemplating what next to do. Clearly, we could not stay in the forest. We needed help. There was nothing for it but to ride for Benowyc, but I could not leave Merlin.

'Forgive me, Master, there is no other way." So saying, I raised him up to sitting position and, bending low, took his weight on my shoulders and lifted him.

Slowly, and with immense difficulty, I eased my master onto his horse. Then, though it hurt me to do it, I drew his hands together around his mount's neck and bound them – all the while praying his forgiveness for the pain I knew it would cause him.

At last, satisfied that he would not topple from the saddle, I took his mount's reins and tied them to the cantles of my saddle. Without a backward glance I started for Benowyc.

'Whatever is required will be done,' Ban repeated earnestly. 'You have but to name it.'

I could think of nothing save bearing Merlin away to Ynys Avallach as soon as possible. For I had made up my mind that if my master were to be healed anywhere on this earth it would be at the Shrine of the Saviour God near the Fisher King's palace. And if anyone in this worlds-realm could heal him, it would be Charis, the Lady of the Lake.

'Again I thank you, Lord Ban,' I told him. 'The use of your fastest ship will avail us much. It is all that we need now.'

'I will come with you.'

'It is not necessary.'

'Allow me to send a physician in any case. I will summon one from the abbey.'

'I dare not delay even a day longer. There are physicians at Ynys Avallach who will know how to free my master from this sorcery.'

Ban frowned. 'Very well, you shall leave at once. I will accompany you to the ship and instruct the pilot and crew myself. Also, I will send a man to help you.'

We left Caer Kadarn as soon as a litter could be prepared for Merlin. The tide was flowing when we reached the port; the ship was manned and ready. We boarded as soon as the horses were safely picketed, whereupon Ban delivered his orders to the boatmen. But a few moments later, I felt the ship surge away from the quay and turned to call farewell to Lord Ban.

'Whatever happens,' he replied, 'we will come to you in the spring. Also the supplies you have asked for will be sent as soon as the harvest is gathered in. I will not forget my promise of aid!'

In truth, I had forgotten all about Arthur and our reason for coming to Benowyc in the first place.

All that can be said of the sea -journey is that it was mercifully short. Favourable winds carried us swiftly over the sea and into Mor Hafren. We made landfall late in the third day, along the Briw river, having sailed inland as far as the river would allow. From there we rode, following the river directly to the lake surrounding King Avallach's Isle.

We came upon the Tor at dawn, glowing red-gold in the new day's misty light. We had ridden through the night, stopping neither for food nor sleep. The horses were near exhaustion, as I was myself.

'We are home, Master,' I said to the body lying deathly still on the litter beside me. 'Help is at hand.'