Reunion by Kara Dalkey Read Free Book Online

another me inside, but different somehow.” He shook his head. He really did sound crazy.
    â€œHmm. That may prove to be the same thing, in time.”
    â€œSo you believe this ailment is a blessing, not a curse?”
    â€œAs to that, I couldn’t say, for wisdom can often prove to be both. The denizens of the sea are often said to be the bringers of gifts—fish that grant wishes. And the merrows.”
    â€œWhat are merrows?” Corwin asked with a frown. So much new information was coming at him, and he had been newly infused with so much curiosity that it was all quite overwhelming.
    â€œThe mermen and mermaids who are said to visit our shores. There is a tale of a man named Lutey, who rescued a mermaid from a tide-pool. In gratitude, she gave him the skill and knowledge of healing, which he passed down through his family. Though, as I recall, at the end Lutey had to leave his land-wife and sons and join the mermaid in the sea. And though there are many stories of land people falling in love with merrows, or vice versa, these tales often don’t end well for one or the other. And if there are children from these unions, they might be born with a curse upon them, or webbed feet, or scaly skin.”
    â€œYour thoughts wander more than mine, old man,” Corwin said. “I haven’t seen any mermaids.” But he did remember the vision from the mind-that-was-not-his of the gray-bearded man with a fin instead of legs. And that other sense inside of him—it seemed to itch at the description the button-maker had just given him, as if there were something familiar there. Because of that vision, maybe?
    â€œNo one I know has seen any mermaids, either, my boy, but that doesn’t prevent their legends from persisting. The sea is so vast that it can contain whole kingdoms of human fancy. And who is to say what does or doesn’t exist? Selkies and sea serpents, ghost ships and giants, mysterious islands that appear and disappear. Do you know the tale of Atlantis?”
    â€œNo,” Corwin said. He noticed that his new inner mind suddenly became very attentive.
    â€œIt’s a story from the ancient days. Of an island whose people offended the gods and sank into the sea. But it was said the Atlanteans were a great civilization, a people older and wiser than mankind. A Roman centurion I met long ago, who stayed in Wales after his regiment was ordered home, told me of it. He mentioned that there are roads in this land, straight as plumbed lines, connecting landmarks of importance, that were not built by his people. They existed before the Romans arrived. His commander used to joke that the people of Atlantis built them.”
    Too bad Fenwyck never heard that story , Corwin thought. He could have made more use of it than of Hammurabia. The wonders of the ancients right under our own noses! For a moment, Corwin acutely missed the old conniver.
    â€œAh, but forgive me,” Henwyneb said. “These are just prattlings. My mind wanders too freely these days, as you said. These summer evenings are a delight, when the sun lingers late.”
    Corwin wondered why that should matter to a blind man, but then understood that Henwyneb could feel the warmth upon his face.
    Suddenly Henwyneb cocked his head and appeared to be listening to something. “Two horses approaching. Male riders—noblemen, from their speech. Are you expecting others to join you?”
    Corwin sat up. “What—?” Then he heard the soft hoofbeats and men’s voices. “No! In fact, I would rather not meet anyone else right now.”
    â€œAh. Then you had better find a place to hide, since they are clearly coming here, and I have no other door but the one they will surely come through.”
    Corwin spotted a stack of short, stout barrels in one corner. Onto these had been heaped sticks and deer antlers and shells and other materials from which Henwyneb could make buttons. Corwin slipped