by Tony Hays
“I made up the story about you, and they were confused and superstitious enough to hold me. The leader, a dim-witted man himself, sent me with these two to ‘the gathering’ to be dealt with.”
“The gathering? What could that be?”
“I know not. But I know that the delivery I saw was of spears and shields and enough dried meat and fish to feed an army.”
I nodded, making certain to scowl as well. “I saw a band of three hundred making shore at Bannaventa. They are even now at the edge of the levels, skirting the base of the meneds, heading south by southeast.” A thought struck me. “Did the guards at the Mount of Frogs not see these goods changing hands? You must have been right beneath them.” From the Mount of Frogs, you could see up and down the coast easily.
Llynfann turned his head from me. “I watched as Lauhiir’s men bribed them with coins.”
I laughed to myself. Such was exactly what I would expect. “Llynfann, my little friend, the coins are forgeries, fakes, made by Lauhiir. And that swine’s men killed three of Arthur’s men to hide it.”
The little thief’s head snapped up with alarm. He knew immediately what that meant for the lord of the Tor. I heard our captors getting restless and mumbling something in their foul language.
“They are talking about killing us or taking us with them. The one who attacked you is frightened. He is afraid that he has mortally offended you and that you will strike him dead. The other is less certain and believes that they have wasted enough time. He also thinks that you look more like a drunk than a wizard.” He paused as the jabbering grew louder. Finally, he visibly relaxed. “They have decided that to kill us would be tempting the gods, and they still do not understand why I was watching them.”
“So we are to be taken to this ‘gathering’?”
“Aye.” Llynfann glanced quickly about. “You could try to rush them, but unless you can get my hands untied and we could both attack them, they would have done for us both in a flash.”
He was right. They had all the weapons, plus four arms to our three. I cursed my missing limb, but I did not feel the anger I normally would. Where would I go if they released us? To warn Arthur of course. At least this way, I was assured of safe passage to their destination. We might not find escape when we got there, but at least we would have some idea of what these remarkable events meant, more information for Arthur. Although I was beginning to get an idea, and it frightened me.
Our path was circuitous and treacherous. The Scotti had left my arm free, and that helped me stay on my feet as they set a torrid pace. Our trail led us along the meneds. An hour later and we were drawing close to a place I knew in passing and had heard of many times. The “river of sorrows” flowed through caves there, below a steep cliff. My father told me that the caves were haunted by the shades of Roman soldiers, murdered there by Druid priests in the old days. Druids had no love for Romans. Smugglers were said to hide their treasure there, and a witch, legend had it, cursed all who entered.
When I was at the abbey, healing from my wounds, the monachi encouraged me to take long rides. They claimed that healing the mind had much to do with healing the body. On many of those rides, I had passed the cave’s entrance a few times, tucked though it was at the head of a small hollow, but the stories were enough to hold me at bay. Besides, I was not fond of dark, damp places when the open sky was available.
The closer we drew, the more Scotti we saw, and, to my amazement, soldiers wearing the tunics of Teilo and Dochu, a pair of lesser lords from across the channel near unto Caermarthen. Neither had the prestige or territory to merit a seat on the consilium. But more amazing yet were the soldiers of Lord David, manning guard posts as we descended the cliffs over the cave. The entire area was lit by torches, and I wondered at the brazenness of their actions. Then my memory of this hollow in the daylight blossomed. The hills surrounding were close; it was a very secluded place. What the hills did not block, the trees would. The torches could not be seen unless you were almost on top of the entrance.
A campfire was set next to the river flowing out of the cave. I thought for a moment that our guards were going to take us to the large group of soldiers gathered around the fire, but they directed us instead toward a smaller opening in the rock face of the cliff.
Once inside we were shoved into a side chamber, carved out of the rock. The two Scotti disappeared and were replaced by two of Lord David’s men. Llynfann smiled at me. “A better class of guard, Malgwyn.” They left my arm free and I felt the damp walls with my hand. I could not think of a more secure prison. One exit and solid rock all around.
“Calm yourself, Malgwyn,” Llynfann exhorted me. “We are yet breathing, and so long as we still breathe, there is hope. I have escaped stronger jails than this.”
I chuckled at his bragging. Part of me wanted to tell him that he was young and hope was a gift of the young. But it took only a single glance at my companion— the lines already growing on his face, the hint of gray in his beard, and most especially the tired glint in his eye— to know that the little thief had lived ten men’s lives already.
“I would that neither of us be in this mess, Llynfann. But that we are still alive is cause for wonderment. I do not doubt that your stories of wizards would fool the Scotti. They are pagans and unsophisticated. But our lords will not be so easily confounded. Aye, David knows me by sight, all too well. If he is here, as I am sure he is, we are doomed.”
“None of that! We are not dead and do not pretend that we are!”
I saw no use in arguing with him. He was one of those beings fated to always take the most positive view. I was too practical for that. I saw little chance of ever alerting Arthur to this threat, but I stayed awake the rest of the night, while Llynfann slept the sleep of the trusting. Though I could hardly believe it, the cave did not grow colder, not really, but it stayed just as damp. With nothing else to do, I applied my brain and observed.
I looked out the rock-carved door to our prison, and at an angle I could see the cluster of men around the main campfire. They seemed to pace aimlessly back and forth, except for one small group who were arguing, it seemed, arms waving and gesticulating wildly.
At odd intervals, messengers galloped up, the horses sliding in the mud as their riders hopped down. Without exception, each of these arrivals caused yet more argument. The more I watched, the more I understood what was transpiring.
It took no great genius to see that Teilo, Dochu, and David were allying with the Scotti. That Lauhiir’s men had bribed Arthur’s troops at the Mount of Frogs was proof to me that he was involved in this rebellion as well.
David, Teilo, Dochu, and Lauhiir. Together they could not field an army capable of moving against Arthur, but throw the Scotti into the mix and make it a quick strike to kidnap or kill Arthur at Ynys-witrin? That was more than possible. That was nearly a certainty. By the time that Kay, Gawain, Gaheris, and the other lords could react, David would have staked his claim as Rigotamos. If nothing else, he could establish a northern confederacy operating outside the consilium’s control.
That was the very thing that Arthur was trying so hard to prevent. If we were divided, the Saxons could slice through us like a sharp dagger through pig. But all David and his friends dreamed of was their own power, their own purses, their own greed. Already these lords held too much power in their incapable hands. None of them could see beyond their own noses. True Britons understood the need for solidarity; even poor misguided Vortigern had understood this before he became besotted with the Saxons.
But what was causing the consternation at the campfire? I saw nothing of the Scotti leader I had watched at Bannaventa. Something was not working with their plans and the flow of riders was not bringing the information they needed. For with each rider, their frustration was more and more obvious.
Then, with a start, I recognized the two Scotti who had captured us, being pushed into the circle of light. They were but foot soldiers and deserved little respect, or so thought our
lords, I suspected.
One Scotti, the one that had wanted to kill us, I thought, was on his knees, begging, it seemed. At one juncture he pointed toward us. A tall, imposing figure, still merely silhouetted against the campfire, yelled out. Two figures rushed in our direction. As they drew closer, I saw that they wore the tunic of David.
I had never seen David’s two soldiers before. They had not been with his escort at Arthur’s castle for the election. One, a tall man with his hair braided, ordered the guard at the door away. The other, shorter and stouter, bulled his way in and grabbed the sleeping Llynfann by his hair.
I dove forward to stop him, but his companion with the braided hair was suddenly on me with his dagger at my throat.
Still, I pushed forward until the dagger tore my skin, but I heard Llynfann’s voice call out gaily to me.
“No, Malgwyn! These lads just want to talk to me a bit! I’ll be back.”
And then my little friend was gone. I rushed to the door again, but the two guards still barred my way. My eyes searched the darkness but wherever they had taken him was out of my field of view.
Time passed. I tried to question my guards, but they completely ignored me. I worried about Llynfann. He would not be in this mess had I not commandeered him and sent him on my mission. At the time, I suspected that Lauhiir and Coroticus were trading with pirates, illegal, but hardly an affair to die over. I had no idea then that it was a conspiracy, aye, one aimed at the heart of our island.
As for the reason I had traveled west, well, I thought I understood the murders now. Myndora had provided many answers, aye, even answers she herself did not realize she possessed. The gods had truly wrapped this puzzle in the thickest clay.
Dawn came and went. No sign of Llynfann, but the Scotti leader, he of the white and gold tunic and hair as red as sunset, strode into camp with an escort. They all carried heavy spears and shields, draped around on their backs. As their leader joined the others at the campfire, the men of the escort found an empty spot and squatted.
I watched closely as the tallest of our lords, a man I now recognized as David, spoke to the Scotti. His hands outstretched, palms upturned, I knew at once that he was pleading with the Scotti leader. Maybe whatever problem faced them would have the conspirators at each other’s throats.
Turning back into the cave’s chamber, I took up a bowl of pig meat that they had graciously given me. Sitting on the floor, I wedged it into my lap and began shoveling the food into my mouth. Still no sign of Llynfann. I suspected that the little thief was spinning another tale of wizardry and dragons. But I knew something he did not. Once David got a look at me, no story Llynfann told could save us.
It took but a few minutes to finish the meat. All it did was dull the pain in my stomach. I flung the bowl against the rock wall where it shattered.
“You should be more grateful, Malgwyn.”
I turned to see Lord David standing in the entrance to the chamber. I did not stand. “And why is that, my lord?”
“I almost had you killed before I realized that one of Arthur’s principal counselors was among us.”
“And why did you not? Not four moons ago, you were quite ready to see me lose my head.”
“I have a problem, you see. And I am wondering if you can solve it.” David circled me. The way he hunched his shoulders and scrubbed his hands would forever remind me of a vulture. “Is that not what you are famed for?”
“Whatever skills I have in that regard have caused you troubles in the past. Why should I use them to help you?”
“Because I am going to spare your life if you do.”
I knew that he lied. My life was over. But the longer I led him along, the longer there was hope. “Go ahead. Tell me your problems.”
“As I am sure you have guessed by now, Teilo, Dochu, and myself have allied with Lauhiir to overthrow Arthur.”
“My lord! You shock me!”
David shook his head in mock exasperation. “Do not interrupt me, Malgwyn. Now, our plan hinged on two things— first, Lauhiir’s ability to lure Arthur to Ynys-witrin at the right time was the key element.”
“Which he did. Arthur’s habit of traveling without a large escort has already spread across the land.”
“Exactly. Without a full escort, he could easily be killed or taken prisoner. Second, the Scotti, as you have already seen, have joined with us as well. Their task was to raid to the south and southeast of here as a diversion. That would draw troops from Arthur’s castle and from Mordred’s forces as well.”
“Mordred is not privy to this?”
Lord David smoothed his mustache as he snickered. “Mordred has his own ambitions, and seeing me crowned as the next Rigotamos is not among them. You misunderstand me, Malgwyn. I mean only the best for our lands. Arthur’s way is too weak. We need strength. That is what I shall give the people.”
“So you would risk a civil war to correct a mistake you think the consilium made by naming Arthur?”
“Malgwyn, Malgwyn! Look around you. We are in a perpetual state of civil war. This is not a country, not yet. And if you have not noticed the rotting villas, the Romans are gone. The consilium is but a dream, an illusion created so that the people can feel safe, so that they have someone to complain to. I propose to give them more than that, a true king who can rule from strength, not compromise!”
“Our people have already had that. From Vortigern, who ignored the consilium, ignored the people, and ended up feasting off his own lusts. Something has obviously gone wrong in your little scheme, David. What is it?”
He squatted before me. “Lauhiir is missing, and while I could do without his pitiful force, he has something else I do need.”
And then I understood so much. “Let me guess. Lauhiir has the coins to pay off the Scotti. They are merely mercenaries, paid to wreak havoc on our people.”
“Yes! What do you know of this?”
“Enough that you should be begging me for your life.”
His eyes narrowed. “What?”
“Have you no spies in Ynys-witrin? Do you not know what has taken place there?”
“I know that the bishop Patrick is there. That was something we had not foreseen, but of little consequence. But Lauhiir provided us with our ears in that place. And—”
“And you have not heard from him for almost two days.” I said it flatly, as fact.
“I have underestimated you, Malgwyn. Obviously, you have information that I need. Speak and you shall have a chance to save your life.”
“How kind of you, Lord David.” At that moment, I would not have given a dry crust of bread for my chances of living.
I knew that he was really just toying with me, trying to infuriate me enough to get me to reveal what he needed to know, what he assumed I knew. But I wanted to see the look in David’s face when he realized how far afield his plans had gone. Perhaps he should have included Mordred in his scheme. Mordred was a far better planner.
“Lauhiir’s forgery operation has been revealed. When that happened, his men killed three of Arthur’s. Lauhiir is now a fugitive. His men have been offered the choice of joining Arthur’s forces or being executed. I will leave it to you to guess which they chose.”
“Hmph! How do I know that you tell the truth?”
“Have you seen more than a handful of Lauhiir’s men in recent hours? Have those you have seen been from the troop charged with bribing the watchmen at the Mount of Frogs?”
Lord David licked his lips nervously and looked away.
“Did you know that Patrick, the bishop of the Scotti, is dead? Or that Arthur now has ten troop of horse at Ynys-witrin?” It was actually only about six troop, but a dead man has a right to a last jest.
David’s eyes widened. “Ten?”
In truth, ten troop of horse was not that formidable a force. In numbers. But Arthur’s horse were superbly trained and the equal of twice or three times their number. What it meant in practical terms was that instead of a single troop which cou
ld be dispatched quickly, the conspirators were looking at a pitched battle in which victory was no certainty. And traitors sought certainty.
Much as was Arthur’s habit, David chewed the end of his mustache. “What caused Arthur to bring more horse to Ynys-witrin?”
“Lauhiir’s treachery.”
“What does Arthur know of this?”
And now I was the one chewing my lip. The truth? Or did I know the truth? More than a day had passed since I last saw Arthur and Bedevere. I knew nothing of what had transpired except that Lauhiir had not run to his fellows. I thought quickly of what I would have done in Lauhiir’s place. The answer came just as quickly. Dodging Arthur’s patrols was risky at best. The one place he could be sure of preserving his life was to claim sanctuary at Ynys-witrin.
The truth was enough to dash Lord David’s hopes. I did not need to lie. “I do not know what Lauhiir may have told him. But when I left, he was suspicious of all of the coins flowing through the village. He had no idea of what forces had gathered against him. But Patrick’s death and Lauhiir’s fumbling have made him wary. Do not doubt that Lauhiir will give you up to save his own worthless hide.
“So, what does Arthur know? I suspect by now that he knows it all.”
Surprisingly, I did not see defeat written upon Lord David’s face. Rather, a calculating expression settled there, pulling his mouth at the corners and raising his bushy eyebrows.
He stood swiftly and moved to the entrance.
“What of your promise to spare my life?”
“I have no time to settle accounts with you now. That will have to wait. But rest assured, I will return.”
“Then what of my servus?”
David, about to leave, turned back with a smile that I did not like. “Malgwyn, you have no servi. If you mean the bandit, well, he was not as helpful as you.” He jerked his head at one of the guards who disappeared for a moment.
