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he has tasted of life. Uther,' I said gently, 'he is your kin. By all laws of heaven and earth it would be a
grievous crime to kill the child. The deed is not worthy of you, Uther you, who let Octa, the son of
your enemy, live. How will you justify killing the son of your brother, whom you loved most dearly?'
Uther snarled. 'You twist things!'
'I say only what is, Uther. Give it up! If not for the child's sake, then for your own. Do not think to enter
God's rest with this black deed on your soul.'
The High King stood unmoved, feet apart, glaring baleful-ly, his mouth a firm line. Oh, he could be
difficult.
'What is the use, Uther? Where is your gain?'
He had no answer, and made none. Neither did he give in.
'Very well,' I sighed. 'I had hoped to persuade you, but you leave me no choice.'
'What will you do?'
'I claim the promise you gave me, Uther. And I bind you with your honour to grant it.'
'What promise?' he asked warily.
'On the night I brought Ygerna out of the fortress, you promised me anything I desired. "Even to the half
of my kingdom," you said, if I would deliver her to you. I fulfilled my half of the bargain, and asked
nothing for myself at the time. Well, I make my claim now.'
'The child?' Uther was incredulous. Until this moment he had forgotten that promise. He remembered it
full well now.
'The child, yes. I claim the child as my reward.' Uther was beaten and he knew it. But he was not about
to give up so easily. 'You are a cunning hound,' he faced me squarely. 'What if I refuse?'
'Refuse me now and lose all honour and self-respect. Your name will become a curse. You will never
command a man with authority again. Consider, Uther, and answer: is killing a helpless babe worth that?'
'All right!' He fairly burst with exasperation. 'Take it! Take the child and let there be an end to it!'
Presently, Pelleas returned with a jar of mead, cups, bread and cheese. He put these on the table and
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began pouring the cups. 'I could find no meat,' he said. The kitchens were empty.'
This is enough, Pelleas, thank you.' I turned to Uther and handed him a cup. 'I accept my reward,
Uther,' I said lightly. 'Let us part as friends.'
The High King said nothing, but accepted the cup in one hand and a bit of bread in the other. We drank
and ate together, and Uther calmed somewhat. But as his guilt and anger seeped away, he was left with
the shame. He slumped in his chair and became despondent.
To shift his attention to something else, I said, 'What has become of that bear, I wonder? Perhaps we
should go and see.'
We walked back through the empty hall and outside. The dogs had stopped barking and I thought by
this that the bear must be killed. But no; it lived. The men had it cornered by the fortress wall, where,
surrounded by torches and spears, the beast stood reared on its hind legs, its forepaws outspread, pelt
bristling, claws extended, fangs bared. The yard was strangely quiet.
A magnificent beast, its dark eyes glinting in the ruddy torchlight. It was cornered but unconquered.
Uther looked upon the bear, and his aspect changed. He stopped and stared. What he saw, I cannot
say. But when he moved again, it was as one in a dream: walking lightly, languidly, he made his way to
the ring of men, stepping among them on his way to the animal.
'Lord King! No! Stay back!' shouted one of his chieftains. He threw down his spear and made to lay
hold of the High King and pull him back.
'Silence!' I hissed. 'Let him go!'
My senses prickled to the presence of the Otherworld. I saw everything in sharp relief: the risen moon,
the bear, the men holding the torches, Uther, the glinting points of the spears, the stars, Pelleas, the dark
hardness of the wall, the stones at my feet, the silent dogs. . .
It was a dream, and more than a dream. The dream had become real or reality had become a dream.
These times are rare; who is to say where the truth lies? Afterwards, men shake their heads in wonder
and endure the scoffing of those who were not present. For it cannot be explained, only experienced. But
this is what happened:
Uther boldly approached the bear and the animal lowered its head and dropped onto its forefeet. The
High King held out his hand to the beast, and the bear, like a hound recognizing its master, pushed his
muzzle into the High King's palm. With his other hand, Uther stroked the bear's huge head.
Men stared in astonishment: their lord and a wild bear, greeting one another as old friends. Perhaps, in
some inexplicable way, they were.
I will never know what Uther thought he was doing, for he could never remember it clearly. But the two
stood this way for the space of a few heartbeats, then Uther lowered his hand and turned away. One of
the dogs growled and lunged forward, pulling its leash free from the slack hand of its holder. The bear
reared as the dog leaped, and gave a sideways swipe with its great paw. The dog tumbled away, howling
with pain, its back broken.
The dream ended then in the yelps of a dying dog. The other dogs were at the bear in an instant. The
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