Arthur's Sons (Book 1)

The Mark of Nimueh (Part 3)

" Hello?" Merlyn called into the empty cavern her voice echoing of the nearby walls. There was a beat of great wings as the Dragon swept down and landed on the stone perch, amusement shining in his ancient eyes.

" Hello. The great witch returns, as I knew she would." The dragon says mysteriously causing Merlyn to mentally eye roll.

" I need to know how to defeat an Afanc." Merlyn said getting strait to the point.

" Yes, I suppose you do." Merlyn sighed internally at the dragons tone and reined in her anger before it got her barbecued.

" Will you help me?" She tried hoping the Dragon would give her a strait answer.

" Trust the elements that are at your command." Merlyn's eye twitched in anger but she indulged the dragon despite the sudden urge to make lizard stew.

" Elements? But what is it I have to do?" Merlyn asked trying to be more specific.

" You cannot do this alone. You are but one side of a coin. Arthur is the other." Merlyn furrowed her brow in confusion at the dragons declaration.

" I, I don't understand. Just tell me what it is I have to do." Merlyn tried again to get a strait answer from the dragon who merely smiled and took flight.

" No! Get back here you bloody giant, scaly twat!" Merlyn roared into the cavern but was only rewarded with a echoing chuckle that was clearing mocking her. Merlyn huffed and stomped all the way back up to Gaius's chambers. Once she entered she quickly began searching through Gaius's many books trying to find something on elements. Gaius entered a few minutes later raising a white brow at the mess Merlyn had made looking through the books.

" Merlyn, what are you doing?"

" Looking for a book." Merlyn replied curtly.

" You going to tell me which one?" Gaius asked carefully sensing his wards frustration.

" A book on elements." Merlyn muttered search through another stack.

" Elements?" Gaius asked curious.

" Yes. Which one would I find them in?" Merlyn stood looking at her mentor expectantly.

" Well, most of them. The study of base elements is at the very heart of the scientific process." Gaius spoke factually and Merlyn cocked her head in question.

" But how would they help me kill the Afanc?" At this Gaius raised his brow again.

" Well, the Afanc is a creature made from earth and water. That's two of the four base elements." Gaius explained with made Merlyn perk up suddenly getting somewhere.

" Which means that the other two must be what we need to destroy it." Merlyn beamed finally putting the crack dragons cryptic puzzle together.

" And how exactly did you come by this hint in the first place?" Gaius squinted in suspicion.

" Erm... I just knew, you know? One of my powers." Merlyn lied with a sweet smile.

" What else do your powers tell you?" Gaius queried.

" That I am only one side of a coin. The brighter side, obviously." Merlyn smirked.

" And who's the other side?"

" I think that might be Arthur." Merlyn sighed. Before Merlyn could continue the twins burst through the door for the second time that day.

" They're bringing forward the execution. We have to prove Aunty Gwen's innocence." Rowan gasped bending over his knees trying to catch his breath.