“No!” I cried, not certain what to believe.
“Oh yes. My father wished to feign his death. He made the mistake of soliciting Merlyn’s aid.” Gawain’s expression turned grim. “But only Merlyn returned from their adventure. Only Merlyn strode into this hall.”
“Perhaps Avery did feign his death.”
Gawain glared at me. “Then how did his corpse come to wash upon Ravensmuir’s shore three days later, his pockets filled with stones?”
I looked away, struggling with this revelation about my spouse. I fiercely wanted Merlyn to be innocent of this. “Where is he?”
“He made the mistake of asking me for aid,” Gawain snarled. “After all he had stolen from me. My brother lied in his assessment of me, for he is the more cunning thief of the two of us. That relic should have been mine five years past!”
I
