The mages' quarters, Paras Derval, Fionavar
Kimberly Ford, Seer of Brennin, lay unconscious on the bed of the greatest mage in Fionavar. Arthur Pendragon had spoken long into the night with the mage, Loren Silvercloak, and his source Matt Sören, but by dawn both the mage and the dwarf were yawning. Arthur said, "Sleep. I'll watch over her
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"You met Bran at Milliways."
He knows the name Bran Davies from the other set of memories. He did not expect to hear Bran's name here.
"Of course. I knew it, I should have known it, because he told Merlion, and my lion told me, and thus we could prepare, so that all was ready when the call came -- and yet. You met Bran Davies of Clwyd, Kim Ford, and something happened then. Your ring saw him."
Arthur takes a long breath and lets the pace of his words slow, so that Kim can follow his explanation.
"In one world, my lady Guinevere bore a son Bran and took him away, for fear that I would not recognize the child as my own. You called me Childslayer, Kim Ford, and raised me up by that name, but in the world in which Bran is my son, I did not make an attempt on the life of my son Mordred, nor did I kill any child at all. In that world, I was not cursed, and after the great battles between Light and Dark were over, I and my people took our rest in a kingdom outside of Time.
"In every one of the other lives, I was the Childslayer, atoning over and over for one sin, and those I loved most were caught up in my penance. You meant to call the Childslayer, Kim Ford, but I think, because you came to Milliways, and met my son Bran Davies there, you also called the king of the Summer Country. Now I have two sets of lives in me, two sets of memories, and there must be a reason for it.
"Loren Silvercloak said something, last night, about the Weaver and his Tapestry. I think the Weaver has added something to the pattern, here, and I expect, Kim Ford, that I will be needed as I am."
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"Oh, god," she breathes, as her twinned soul twists within her. Neither she nor Ysanne had seen this, had ever dreamed this, had even considered--
"The Baelrath. It reacted to him. And because of that..."
Kim swallows hard, trying to think what this will mean for them all, but all she can find to say at first is,
"I'm so sorry."
Even as she says it, meaning every word, a deeper part of her wonders if it's entirely true.
When the time comes, I think it will be well, Professor Lyon had said, he who was Merlin once. If my lord Arthur is summoned to fight in your world, then you will have the good fortune to have him.
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"In the service of necessity, the Light can be almost as cruel as any creature of the Dark. If the Light were not so, the Dark might triumph, and then there would be no place in any of the worlds for any kindness at all. You need not be sorry, Kim Ford, or if you are sorry, you cannot reject your duties because of it. The consequences would be far too grave."
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"I know," she says softly, speaking through the sorrow that lies within her like stone, all the same. "I do know that. Nevertheless, I am sorry for it, although I would do it again, even knowing this, as well. The Warstone knows what will be needed, you see."
She hesitates, then adds,
"It may be that I can get a message to him, though. If you want."
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Loren rises to his feet from his pallet by the hearth and Kim and Arthur join him in the front room, as Matt Sören -- who had come awake instantly and so was the first to move -- opens the door to admit Brock, who is looking as bleak as ever they have seen him.
It turns out that as Brock had been returning from the Black Boar, he had found Zervan-- servant to the mages these twenty years and more-- lying stiff and unnaturally frozen in the snow outside the house.
Even as they are reeling from the shock, a second messenger arrives, bringing news of the Supreme Lord of Cathal's impending arrival from Seresh, and suddenly, there is no more time.
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