There was a silence. Behind him, on a dais in the corner of the room, was the bed, with the covers drawn back ready. Above it, leaping up the wall, was a great dragon fashioned of red gold. In the firelight it moved, stretched its claws.

He said suddenly: “When we last talked, there in the middle of the Hanging Stones, you said you wanted nothing from me. But by all the gods, Merlin, if you help me now, if I get her, and in safety, then you can ask what you will. I swear it.”

I shook my head, and he said no more. I think he saw that I was no longer thinking of him; that other forces pressed me, crowding the firelit room. The dragon flamed and shimmered up the dark wall. In its shadow another moved, merging with it, flame into flame. Something struck at my eyes, pain like a claw. I shut them, and there was silence. When I opened them again the fire had died, and the wall was dark. I looked across at the King, motionless in his chair, watching me. I said, slowly: “I will ask you one thing, now.”

“Yes?”

“That when I bring you to her in safety, you shall make a child.”

Whatever he had expected, it was not this. He stared, then, suddenly, laughed. “That’s with the gods, surely?”

“Yes, it is with God.”

He stretched back in his chair, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. “If I come to her, Merlin, I promise you that whatever I have power to do, I shall do. And anything else you bid me. I shall even sleep tonight.”

I stood up. “Then I shall go and make the draught and send it to you.”

“And you’ll see her?”

“I shall see her. Good night.”

*   *   *

Ulfin was half asleep on his feet outside the door. He blinked at me as I came out.

“I’m to go in now?”

“In a minute. Come to my chamber first and I’ll give you a drink for him. See he takes it. It’s to give him sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day.”

There was a girl asleep in a corner, wrapped in a blue blanket on a huddle of pillows. As we passed I saw the curve of a bare shoulder and a tumble of straight brown hair. She looked very young.

I raised my brows at Ulfin, and he nodded, then jerked his head towards the shut door with a look of enquiry.

“Yes,” I said, “but later. When you take him the drink. Leave her sleeping now. You look as if you could do with some sleep yourself, Ulfin.”

“If he sleeps tonight I might get some.” He gave a flicker of a grin at me. “Make it strong, won’t you, my lord? And see it tastes good.”

“Oh, he’ll drink it, never fear.”