Fewer and fewer sorcerers attacked over the years. Merlin never gave it much thought. He just assumed that once people saw Morgana might do the hard work for them, they'd either joined her or stepped back to watch. When he was feeling optimistic, he thought perhaps they were on his side.
Now Morgana was dead, and Gwen had legalized magic. He waited for weeks after the announcement for everyone to come out of hiding. He needed something the cheer him up. He was really looking forward to meeting magic users who weren't trying to kill him.
Gilli came back. Merlin greeted him enthusiastically.
Iseldir came. His clan was about the same size as it had been, but the faces were different. He said many had been lost, but that survivors from other clans and from Helva had joined them.
Merlin waited for the others.
And waited.
And waited.
Surely by now they realized it was no trick. Where were they?
Only the wind, freed at last from its burden of ash and smoke, and the dung heaps where the remains of all that was considered worthless were dumped, knew the answer.
