The Dark Age

by Traci Harding

  Maelgwn couldn’t blame her for being angry. He thought it best to let her be for tonight, to save aggravating the situation further. ‘Goodnight,’ he whispered, closing the doors quietly behind him.

  ‘Lady, lady, please wake up.’

  Tory stirred slowly, her head still heavy. A vague recollection of being wrapped up in Calin’s arms made her groan, and she held her hands over her eyes in an attempt to dispel the horror.

  ‘Lady, I am so sorry to wake thee like this, but I fear something dreadful hast happened.’

  Tory noticed Katren was sobbing. ‘What distresses thee so?’

  ‘Sir Brockwell approached me last night as I finished my duties …’

  ‘Katren, it was thee in Calin’s room last night?’

  ‘Nay, lady! I would never shame thee in such a manner. But when I declined, Sir Brockwell took Vanora’s maid, Malvina, in my stead. I fear I have passed up the only chance I shall ever have.’ She collapsed onto the bed and burst into tears once again.

  ‘Katren, look at me. Brockwell drank so much last night that I doubt he will remember a thing this day, and I’m quite sure he hast kicked Malvina out by now.’ This brought a smile to Katren’s face. ‘Thou hast done the right thing, believe me. For if thou wishes to catch Calin for keeps …’ Tory paused for confirmation and Katren nodded eagerly, wanting to hear more, ‘…thee must ignore his every advance. Brush him off as if thee did not care for him at all.’

  ‘But then Sir Brockwell will find himself another woman who be more obliging, like last night.’

  ‘He will keep coming back to thee, though. Want to know why?’ Tory prompted, and Katren nodded her head. ‘Because, although Sir Brockwell be used to getting what he wants, if there be no conquest, there be no glory. Understand?’

  Katren smiled. ‘Aye, I see the sense of it.’

  Tory glanced at the stairwell to find that Maelgwn had taken a seat, and was listening intently to every word they said. She leaned closer to Katren, wondering how long he’d been there. ‘The way I fight seems to excite these men, and we shall use this to thy advantage when the time be right.’ Katren giggled as Tory sat back and gave her a wink.

  ‘Oh thank thee, lady, thou art too good to me.’ Katren rose, pulling herself together. ‘I shall be about my duty and get thee fed.’

  The maid turned bright red on discovering the Prince. She curtsied to him then left as quickly as she was able.

  Maelgwn’s mind was set at ease by what he’d heard, and he admitted that Tory was quite correct in her analysis of his cousin. Her words gave him hope that she might be using the same strategy on him. For surely if Tory was advising another woman on Calin’s entrapment, she could hold no true interest in him herself. ‘Art thou still angry at me?’

  He strolled over to take a seat on the bed, while Tory silently debated the issue in her mind. ‘When thee said yesterday that thou had dreamt of me, what did thee mean?’ she asked.

  He found the question an amusing one. ‘I assure thee, if enlightened thee would never speak to me again.’ Some of it had been rather erotic so he wasn’t lying, yet in his experience the Prince knew it to be much more than a dream; it was a prophesy. He’d had these waking dreams when the Dragon first came to him, and they would stay with him for days, tormenting and guiding him to do things he wouldn’t normally consider.

  ‘I see.’ Tory found it hard to keep a smile from her face.

  The door downstairs slammed open, startling them both.

  ‘Majesty, thee will never guess who be here?’ Brockwell reached the top of the stairs, short of breath.

  ‘Taliesin,’ answered Maelgwn, calmly.

  ‘How did thee know?’ Brockwell stared at his friend amazed, before racing back downstairs; he was still a bit embarrassed by his behaviour the night before and wasn’t yet ready to face the repercussions.

  Tory’s eyes had parted wide. ‘Taliesin! The Taliesin? Maelgwn, thou dost know him?’ she clutched Maelgwn’s shoulder, excited. If only part of what the history books said of him was true, this renowned magician might know of a way to get her home. ‘Why of course you do!’ Tory hit herself as she recalled reading something to that effect.

  ‘Aye. He was my tutor and occupied this very tower. My mother held him in very high regard.’

  The star charts on the wall are his! She viewed her tower in a different light now. ‘Be he as powerful and all knowing as they say? Be he truly immortal and a shaman? He could help me get home, could he not?’

  Maelgwn just laughed in response to the interrogation, fully suspecting Taliesin of having everything to do with her being there in the first place. ‘Thou shalt have to ask him thyself.’ He rose, eager to greet his old friend. ‘I will bring him to meet thee.’

  ‘Can I not come down?’

  ‘I believe a more private meeting be in order. I will not be long.’

  Maelgwn hadn’t seen his old mentor in over ten years, and he remembered that they didn’t part on the best of terms at the time. Still, Taliesin’s indignation about the puerile resolutions Maelgwn made as a boy hadn’t stopped the old man from arriving when he was needed most.

  Brockwell strode alongside the Prince, his conscience plaguing him. ‘I believe I owe thee an apology.’

  Maelgwn was unsure of what he meant and had to stop and think about it for a moment. ‘If thou art referring to Tory, I would say she be the one to whom thee should apologise. I cannot very well blame thee,’ he replied to Brockwell, who appeared surprised that the Prince was taking it so well.

  ‘She told thee, then?’

  ‘Nay, she did not. She knows about Malvina. I saw thee taking a woman to thy bed last night, and presuming it was Tory …’ The Prince shrugged.

  Brockwell was horrified. ‘What must she think of me now?’ He wondered if perhaps the Prince had told her on purpose.

  ‘I am sorry, Calin, but thee made thy own bed, so to speak.’

  As the Prince didn’t have time to train with her this morning, Tory had decided to jog a few laps around the open wall-walk instead. After a few simple stretching exercises, she set off around the path.

  By her fourth lap she had settled into a good rhythm when, to her horror, the door to the west tower opened and Prince Caradoc led the Princess Vanora onto the walkway.

  Tory didn’t slow down, but nodded in greeting as she approached. ‘Good morning, Highnesses.’

  As she passed them, dressed only in her tracksuit and joggers, Caradoc’s smirk broadened. Vanora just stared in cryptic disapproval.

  ‘Wait downstairs,’ Caradoc urged her.

  Vanora stood defiant. ‘Why?’

  ‘Just do it,’ he hissed back. Caradoc watched the Princess leave and waited for Tory to make her way back around to him.

  Oh shit, Tory thought, noticing that Caradoc was alone. She put her head down and picked up speed to get past him.

  Caradoc leaned against the sea-wall to admire Tory’s form, and allowed her to pass before demanding, ‘Halt right there!’

  As she came to a standstill, Caradoc strolled up to her. ‘What dost thou think thou art doing?’

  Tory was not in the mood to be reckoned with. ‘I think thou art intelligent enough to work it out.’

  Caradoc smiled as he reached his hand round the back of her neck and gripped her tightly. ‘How sharp be thy tongue for one of the weaker sex.’ He observed her closely, considering the pleasure to be had in breaking such spirit.

  His laugh was unnerving, and he pulled her toward him, forcing his tongue into her mouth. Tory clenched her fists; this bastard really knew how to push her buttons.

  ‘Thy tongue be lush,’ he told her. ‘It would be a shame to have to bite it out.’

  ‘And miss the pleasure of my conversation?’ She smiled, not in the least bit fazed.

  Caradoc lifted a hand to strike her but the sound of his name stopped him. He backed off, letting her go.

  Tory breathed a sigh of relief as Brockwell strode up and stood between them. �
��If thou hast a gripe with my lady, thee will take it up with me.’

  Tory noticed that Brockwell didn’t show Caradoc the same respect he did Maelgwn.

  Caradoc held his disdainful air. ‘Nay, I have no gripe,’ he assured the knight as if he had never been angered. ‘But I would suggest thee teach thy woman some manners, before she lands thee in serious trouble.’

  Tory watched Caradoc leave, looking forward to a time when she could kick his chauvinistic butt back to whence it came.

  ‘Art thou alright?’ Brockwell turned to her, pleased she’d had the sense to refrain from defending herself.

  ‘Aye, that be two I owe thee, Calin.’ Tory smiled briefly. ‘I did fancy smashing his royal worship right between the eyes … ’twas a good thing thee came along.’

  ‘Dost thou not think me volatile after my wanton conduct last night?’

  ‘Who thee chooses to bed be thine own business. But Malvina, Calin?’ She gave him a distasteful look. ‘I find that insulting.’

  ‘Thee did not have to wake up to her.’ Brockwell held his head that ached with a vengeance. ‘I honestly swear, I remember naught of it.’

  Tory felt sorry for him; men were so stupid sometimes. ‘Doth thy head ail thee?’

  ‘Aye, almost as bad as my conscience.’

  Tory flung an arm over his shoulder. ‘Come to my tower, I have something that will fix thee right up.’

  7

  THE MAGICIAN

  Maelgwn entered the library to find the old wizard standing in front of the long windows, savouring the sun’s rays. ‘Should I be glad to see thee, High Merlin, or hast thou come to vex me?’ Maelgwn poured himself a well-needed drink and filled a goblet for his guest.

  ‘Thou art one of my most notable students, Maelgwn. Thee should know the answer to that. Hast thou not been expecting me?’

  Maelgwn’s fears were set to rest, he knew his old confidant could never truly despise him. ‘Dost thou know what lies ahead for Gwynedd?’ The Prince held out a goblet in offering, observing the aging face of his mentor. Taliesin’s body, though twisted and old, was still strong, and he never seemed to lack vigour.

  The Merlin turned his eyes of palest violet to the Prince. Under his long silver moustache and beard Taliesin smiled as he accepted the drink. ‘This situation be of thine own making. A monk indeed.’ He chuckled at the thought. ‘No wonder thy father be so eager to see thee wed.’

  ‘That much I know,’ Maelgwn replied impatiently. ‘Be that why thou hast sent Tory and have plagued me with visions of her?’

  ‘The dreams be thine own.’ Taliesin cocked an eye. ‘Quite enlightening, were they not?’

  ‘What am I to do with her? She be driving me to distraction.’

  ‘Thee and every other male in this household.’ Taliesin closed his eyes as he sensed a disturbance on the roof above them. ‘Even as we speak thy brother be up to mischief.’

  ‘Caradoc be with Tory?’ Maelgwn didn’t wait for an answer.

  ‘Halt, all be well. Brockwell hast found them.’

  ‘Art thou sure?’

  ‘Pardon?’ said Taliesin, insulted.

  ‘My apologies, I should have known better than to ask. Now, what of my question?’

  ‘Well, I would marry Tory if I were thee.’

  ‘Of course! Why didn’t I think of that?’ Maelgwn gave up. ‘Thou art no help.’

  ‘Chiglas still despises thee for the loss of his ally, even though he claims otherwise,’ Taliesin informed him. ‘Understand, Maelgwn, thy father feared losing thee to a monastery and his kingdom to Chiglas, that be why he sought this arrangement. But thine instinct serves thee well and thy own plans art quite sound.’

  Maelgwn was taking him more seriously now. ‘What should I do, confront my father?’

  Taliesin waved off the idea. ‘He be not of the mind to listen at present. And in any case, there will prove to be no need.’

  ‘So what should I do then?’

  ‘Thou art not a child any more.’ Taliesin became serious. ‘And soon thee will be king.’

  Maelgwn was unnerved by the comment.

  ‘Stop worrying about thy father’s plans and instigate thine own.’ The magician began to fade before Maelgwn’s eyes. ‘The fate of Gwynedd be again in our hands, Dragon.’

  ‘Wait! Damn it.’ Maelgwn reached for him but the Merlin was gone. ‘Thou art always disappearing before I am done with thee.’

  There was an urgent hammering on the door and Lady Gladys entered with haste. ‘Maelgwn, thou art here, praise the Goddess.’ She raised her eyes to the roof and took hold of his arm. ‘Thy father hast taken ill, thee must come at once.’

  Tory waited impatiently for Maelgwn to come with the famous Taliesin, but with every passing hour she grew less hopeful of their meeting.

  Selwyn had arrived for practice, as he did every afternoon around three, and upon finding Tory engrossed in a book, he’d quietly seated himself and begun to play.

  Tory hummed along with his tune as she read up on her expected guest. She had amongst her things a book that told of the Mabinogion, a volume of the ancient writings of the Britons. These were not quite fiction nor mythology, more folk tales with some history thrown in. The writings were deemed by historians to be amongst the few sources of information on the Dark Ages in Wales, as most of the great scholars and writers had retreated to Rome more than a century before. This left only the bards and the romantic poets to record the everyday life and events of the time. Tory was delighted to find a whole chapter on the writings of Taliesin. As she read a couple of passages jumped out at her — the first was a direct address that the bard had supposedly made to Maelgwn.

  Primary chief poet

  Am I to Elffin.

  And my native country

  Is the place of the Summer Stars.

  John the Divine

  Called me Merlin,

  But all future kings

  Shall call me Taliesin.

  This long poem went on to tell how Taliesin had been present at the birth and crucifixion of Christ, with Noah on his ark, and with Moses at the River Jordan. It claimed he’d carried the banner for Alexander, and went on to name just about every significant hero and event known to humanity at this time. It also told of how Taliesin knew the names of each star and was able to instruct the whole universe. He referred to himself as ‘a wonder whose origin was not known’, as one of ‘the Old Ones’ who were the guardians of cosmic time.

  The other passage from the book captured her interest on a more personal note.

  He who would seek the muse, he who would seek

  To marry himself to any kind of sovereignty,

  Must take the descent down to the earth’s centre,

  To face his utmost fears and his most secret

  anxieties.

  It seemed quite possible that Taliesin would be able to give her an explanation for her predicament.

  Selwyn had moved on to a new piece, which struck Tory and she was suddenly overcome with the urge to cry. A small sigh slipped from her lips, and Selwyn stopped playing.

  ‘Something ails thee, lady?’

  ‘It reminds me of a piece my mother used to play,’ Tory answered, overcome with a longing for home. ‘She be a harpist too.’

  ‘Be she a great master like thyself, lady?’ Selwyn hoped he wouldn’t upset her further by asking.

  ‘Oh,’ Tory waved him off. ‘Far better than I could ever dream to be. My mother plays alongside many famous musicians. She hast been invited to play in huge, grand concert halls all over the world, and thousands upon thousands of people gather to listen to their beautiful music.’

  Selwyn’s eyes opened wide in awe. ‘Thee must be honoured to have such a heritage, music be thy birthright.’

  ‘Although I have her love of music, Selwyn, I do not have her dedication. It is her whole life. Music consumes her completely.’

  Tory sounded a little perturbed by this, and there was silence in the caphouse for a time.

&n
bsp; ‘I was not born of a bard,’ Selwyn began his story. ‘I do not know who my parents were. I have no birthright to music, only a pure and loyal love of it. So it be grand that thou hast come to share thy inheritance with me. Truth be known, lady, I had never before been asked to play at court. That be a privilege reserved for high court bards, not a humble squire like myself. I owe thee more than I could ever repay.’ Selwyn paused, placing the harp aside. ‘I know thee must miss thy home, but I assure thee, thou art well loved here. Many of us hope that one day thou shalt consider Gwynedd thy home.’

  ‘Oh Selwyn, that be a lovely thing to say.’ Tory brushed a tear from her face. ‘Truly.’ She went over to the young page and gave him a huge hug, which he quite innocently returned. ‘I am happy to know I could be of assistance to thee in thy quest.’

  Selwyn couldn’t recall the last time someone had held him thus, and it was more than welcome. ‘I swear thou art too good for this world, lady.’

  Katren arrived later than usual with their supper. She climbed the caphouse stairs with haste to find Tory engrossed in kata. ‘Lady please, I be sorry to bother thee, but hast thou not heard, the King hast taken ill.’

  ‘Good grief, will he be alright?’ No wonder Maelgwn hadn’t made it back to see her today.

  ‘He be stable now, but I do not think his ailments come from natural causes.’

  ‘Dost thou know something of medicine, Katren?’

  ‘Nay lady, I do not. I am a simple farmer’s daughter. But from what Lady Gladys hast told me, the King be suffering from the same ailment that inflicts cattle who have been eating hemlock.’

  ‘Hemlock! Art thou quite sure?’ Tory knew the plant could be deadly if one ingested it in large quantities.

  ‘As sure as I be standing before thee. I have already told Lady Gladys of the remedy, which only be flour mixed with water to absorb the poison.’ Katren was obviously proud to have had a hand in saving the King’s life. ‘Lady Gladys did kiss my cheek and bless the day thee brought me into the service of this house.’