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After dinner, Lazarus decided to have a meeting in his room.
The servant showed them back to their rooms, and Lazarus and the others gathered in his as it was large enough to encompass all the members of the group. He wondered if it was wise to have Della and the Professor come with them.
Lazarus was about to speak, when Professor Jacobs, sitting on the floor next to Della, spoke. "Lazarus, I know what you’re going to say, and we are going with you."
"Professor Jacobs, it is going to be dangerous where we are going. I'm not sure we can protect you."
"Master Lazarus," Della said. "With respect, we need to go with you. Professor Jacobs feels that he could help you."
Lazarus wasn't sure the Professor could help him. He knew he’d let the Professor keep Merlin's amulet, but he could be the amulet keeper instead of the Professor.
"Are you sure, Professor?” asked Cindy. “You can stay in the Capital, where it is safe."
"I know what you're all thinking,” he said. “You have seen enough death in your lifetime. Don't worry. Our destinies are entwined. We have to go."
Lazarus was not sure about this either. He never believed in destinies or makers of magic, but he thought about himself. He was a wizard, an Alpha Mage, who was searching for Merlin.
"Okay, you can come with us. But remember, if you want to go back you can," Lazarus said.
"I'm full and so tired,” said Cindy. “I need some sleep. I hope Princes Gwyneth will help us."
"Della," Lazarus said, "have you heard of this Princess Gwyneth before? Is she trustworthy?"
Della was quiet for a few seconds. "Elves are not naturally treacherous, Master Lazarus. They're not like humans. I mean no disrespect, Master Lazarus."
He nodded. "Go on."
"My Queen had several daughters. We were told Princess Gwyneth had disappeared during the Great Migration."
Grace said, "What is the Great Migration?"
"Sorry, I forgot you don't know our history."
"You can to tell me another time," Professor Jacobs said.
"I will. But Princess Gwyneth was the oldest of the Queen’s daughters, and the wisest and smartest."
"So," Lazarus said, "you trust her."
"Yes, without any reservation," Della said. "I don't understand why you wouldn't trust her."
"I think you remember about the elf named Justina, who betrayed her friend Marlena and also killed everybody on board her father's ship," said Lazarus.
"I don't know if the Princess will be affected by the Vvong. I just don't see it."
"Sorry," Lazarus said. "I just suspect everybody except the people here in this room. I know we are protected."
Cindy was sitting close to him on the bed, and Lazarus could tell she was getting tired. Grace was sitting in a chair, her head slumped on her shoulders. Royce was the only person who seemed energized. He ate twice as much as anybody and he seemed as if he could run still a marathon.
Cindy yawned. "We don't know that, Lazarus. Anybody here could be seduced by the Vvong Queen."
Lazarus knew his powers were increasing and felt his powers could shield the people here. But it was only a theory. Yet, he could almost see the magic tendrils coming out of him and hovering around his friends.
"Okay, everybody,” he said, “let's not jump at shadows. I think we are done talking tonight. Let's get some rest."
***
LAZARUS LAY ON HIS bed, not thinking about anything.
His window looked out over the city below. All their rooms were located in the high castle in the middle of the Capital. As far as he could tell, the castle was the biggest structure in this fair city. He had his magical light turned off and his room lie in darkness. He wondered when all this would be finally over, and what he was supposed to do. He knew he had to find Merlin, and then look for the fabled sword, Excalibur. And then, once he was armed with all these weapons, he was to destroy the Vvong Queen.
He wished Merlin was there to lead him or tell him what he needed to do. He was tired, tired of being a hero who was supposed to stop a Vvong Queen he had never seen.
He heard a soft knock at his door. He stood from the bed. The door silently opened. The magical lanterns instantly turned on. Cindy was at the door.
"I couldn't sleep. Can I come inside?"
"Sure, but I'm not sure you should stay. I'm sure these Elves would get mad if we stayed in the same room together," Lazarus said.
Cindy closed the door behind her. She wore a long white shapeless shirt that covered her from her shoulders to her knees. He felt a longing to touch her, but he didn't. She moved to the bed and lay there.
Cindy said, "I forgive you."
He understood what she was talking about.
"Thank you," Lazarus said.
"Can we just lay next to each other? I don't want to do anything."
"Yes," he said.
Lazarus moved around to the other side of the bed and lay next to her. Cindy snuggled close to him and placed her hand over his chest. Lazarus turned off the lights.
He loved how close she was to him. He loved the smell of her hair and skin. It has been a while since they’d slept this close together. He brushed her hair from her face. She didn't stir. Cindy was asleep.
Before he closed his eyes, Lazarus focused his magic. A magical glowing orb floated next to him. He always created safeguards around him. The magical orb moved to the door and floated there, so if anybody tried to enter his room the orb would awaken him. He closed his eyes and slept.
A bright light arose him from his slumber. Looking up, he saw he was in front of something blocking his view. It took him a few seconds to understand what he was looking at. He was staring at a mass of tree limbs and leaves. He was crouched inside a culvert.
"Hey, where did you go?" a woman said. She came into view. The woman had long red hair, pale skin, and she was gorgeous.
"You better not use your magic, Merlin. That is not fair."
She was moving closer to his hiding place. Lazarus was not sure how he got there and why she was calling him Merlin.
"I could use my magic too, if I want," she said defiantly.
The woman moved close by him and he grabbed her from behind. Suddenly, he was lifted upwards and then he hit the ground. Pain shot into his ribs and arm.
"Oh, poor Merlin, trying to sneak up on a poor defenseless girl."
From his own mouth, he said, "I don't think you're a defenseless girl, Morgana."
Lazarus understood. He was somehow transported into Merlin's dream. It was the reason he didn't answer. He was asleep in a twilight slumber.
He tried to move his head but he couldn't. It was like watching a movie in a first-person point of view, stuck watching what the person was looking at. But Lazarus was also feeling what Merlin was feeling.
