“Oh, hell,” she sighed. “It’s because of the Saxons. And Odin. It’s not safe for me to reveal who I truly am. That, and, well, I’m the youngest, the most junior, so — ” Summer shrugged.
Merlin nodded. What happened to make you have to hide?
“It’s not that a particular thing happened — it’s … well.” She stared at her hands for a minute. “It’s complicated, but basically Odin’s been threatening to kidnap one of us, for ransom, for the crown, since we were born, my twin and I. It’s hard to know how serious he is about it; he’s been nibbling at our borders for ages. The idea was to put one of us totally beyond his reach, in case he should muster enough of an army to actually take the kingdom. Camelot was the safest place.”
He shivered at the thought of Odin kidnapping Summer or her sister. He knew that kidnappings in power struggles weren’t uncommon, but it never sat well with him. I’m glad that you’re both safe, then. It’s strange how Camelot can be so safe but also incredibly dangerous.
“The /world/ is dangerous. Some days it’s unsafe even to breathe. I could trip over a stone and break my neck tonight. But it’s not — to avoid dying, that’s not — you know. Just not to be used against my family. And it would take someone very bold indeed to seize me from the Pendragon’s very grasp.” She shrugged, picking up a pebble and turning it over. “I think most days I am in far less danger than you, despite what we share.”