The Dark Age

by Traci Harding

  ‘What dost thou mean?’ Tory pulled away, making sport of his ardour. ‘I do not want to get fat, Maelgwn. I have never been overweight in my whole life.’

  ‘Tory, it will not be fat. It will be flesh and blood. Thine and mine — ours.’

  Tory relaxed, so pleased she’d married this extraordinary man. ‘What if the baby is a girl?’

  ‘I should love her just as well as her mother, I expect. But he not be a girl.’ Maelgwn sounded very sure about it, and with a slap of his hands he returned to the book. ‘I can hardly wait to make the announcement, Taliesin will be beside himself.’

  ‘I want thee to know, Maelgwn, thou art the only man in this entire universe I would do this for,’ Tory said solemnly.

  ‘And I do love thee for it.’

  The King’s new wife falling with child so soon would be regarded by all as an Otherworld blessing — a sign of both a fortunate reign for Maelgwn, and of rich harvests ahead for Gwynedd and her allies.

  Consulting an old calendar of her own, Tory figured that the baby was due in mid-June (Duir), just before she was to return home.

  So much for the hope of giving birth in comfort, she decided. Still, Taliesin was not a bad consolation. No fear.

  16

  SAMHAIN

  The festival of Samhain, better known to future generations as Hallowe’en, was only two days away and tension amongst the masters was high as they approached grading.

  Sir Brockwell, under Maelgwn’s guidance, had been favourably courting Katren. Finally, he plucked up the nerve to pop the question for the second time, asking her to marry him at the forthcoming feast. To Calin’s great amazement, Katren accepted and they would be wed the following week.

  As fate would have it, however, this arrangement was short-lived. Brockwell’s recollection of the tradition of taking one’s intended to thy bed the week before the wedding, thwarted him within the hour. He tried as subtly and as sweetly as he knew how to entice Katren’s favours from her in advance, but she only took offence to the suggestion. She accused her ‘briefly intended’ of being fickle, presumptuous, and displaying a total lack of respect for the Goddess. Katren promptly withdrew her acceptance, vowing she would never consider him as a suitor again.

  Calin was crushed, and he’d failed to sway her in the two days that had since passed. His written words of explanation, which had proved far more eloquent than anything he could say, had not managed to appease her this time.

  Tory tried to allay her fears on Calin’s behalf, explaining that even King Maelgwn endeavoured to uphold the old tradition, but Katren was adamant. She explained that if he didn’t respect her now, he never would. ‘’Twas not the act so much, more that he expected it — as if I owed it to him. If becoming his wife means favours on demand for life, I do not want to be wed. It be not that I do not find Calin attractive, as thou art well aware. But right now, my will be my own. Why should I give up my freedom to satisfy what is obviously nothing more than a lustful whim?’

  ‘A lustful whim, Katren? Be that really all thee believes Calin holds for thee?’

  ‘Aye, I do. I think to marry the man I love would be entrapment. In fact, the only way I shall ever really know if Calin loves me for sure, would be to do as he wishes. Then at least when he discovers that this great love he boasts for me disappears upon consummation, he will thank me for not trapping him. If he continues to pursue me then perhaps it be love. Now I see why the other women who have lusted after Calin have resolved thus.’

  Tory couldn’t argue with her reasoning; the decision was Katren’s to make. Since the Queen had become the confidant of so many, she tried to listen and advise without interfering with anyone’s views.

  Despite Tiernan’s constant efforts to befriend Ione, no amount of patience and understanding seemed enough; Ione had not warmed to him at all. Tory thought this rather strange as they appeared so in tune when they worked together, especially during kata. Still, the more determined Ione was to ignore Sir Tiernan’s goodwill, the more determined he became to win her trust. Tiernan was going to see this woman smile, or even better laugh, if it killed him, and Tory had faith that he would finally succeed.

  Vortipor wasn’t disillusioned by receiving a cold response from Cara of late. He was charming, good-looking and quite used to getting what he wanted. The young maiden was delighted when he merely doubled his efforts to impress and pursue her. A vague suggestion of marriage was underlying his advances, Cara felt sure of it.

  After following her Sensei’s instruction, Alma took to meeting Angus at the sundial in the courtyard every morn at sunrise. Much to Tory’s satisfaction, the two had actually realised why she had matched them as a team and were using it to their individual advantage. They’d agreed not to become romantically involved just yet, as neither wished to be distracted from their studies. Thus, with the aim of reaching the highest standards, Alma and Angus spent most of their free time together practising, meditating and talking, content to avoid the misadventures of others.

  The weather grew ever colder, and a howling wind ripped at the trees outside the long windows of the Great Hall. As grading was nearly upon them and the masters were all so malcontent for one reason or another, Tory decided to try something a little different this morning and prepared herself for a drama. Ione was late to arrive, probably because of the frightful weather. She refused to stay overnight in the castle with the others, due to her aversion to soldiers. Her absence gave Tory time to brief Sir Tiernan on her intended exercise and the special part he may have to play in it.

  Rhys and Cedric seemed a mite perturbed when the Queen sent for their wives. Tory didn’t attempt to ease their troubled minds, concluding that the pair of chauvinists deserved to sweat a little.

  Everyone had gathered when Ione finally joined them, wet and windblown after her trek up from the village. She begged forgiveness by bowing before Tory, holding her cupped hands to her heart.

  ‘My dear Ione. I do wish thee would stay in the house with us. Thou shalt catch thy death making thy way up here every morn, come snowfall.’

  Again Ione gestured that she was sorry, but motioned a firm no, before she took up her place between Tiernan and Cedric.

  Tory led the masters through a meditation. Today they were exploring the seven chakras located in the subtle body, where the spine is found in the human physical form. ‘These seven concentrated centres of energy convert Otherworld, or cosmic, energy into body energy, and vice versa. Thy chakra system transcends the constraints of time and space. It connects thee to the Otherworld, thus uniting all of creation into one force. This be what I mean when I say that we art all one,’ Tory explained.

  After much deep breathing and chanting, all seemed relaxed and elated. Satisfied that this was as amiable as they were going to get, Tory asked them to stand and face their partners. She requested that Jenovefa take a place in front of Rhys, likewise with Mabel and her husband, Cedric.

  ‘I have noticed that thou art all seeming rather tense,’ Tory began to a mixed reaction. ‘Thus today we art going to try something a little different. Please allow me to explain.’

  Tory walked into the centre of the circle and Maelgwn followed, coming to stand behind her. ‘When I give the word, I want all of thee to hug thy partner as thee would a wounded child.’

  There were a few disgruntled murmurs until Tory reminded them, ‘Anyone who wishes to object be free to leave.’ She waited for silence again. ‘Now thy aim in exchanging this energy be to comfort the other person to the very best of thy ability. I would like to stress this be not for thy sexual stimulation, gentlemen. I expect as adults thee will be well aware of the difference.’

  They all laughed as Tory drew the long drapes to dim the light in the room. She had participated in similar exercises in the past, during various self-development courses, and even if there were no truly amazing breakthroughs this day she considered every person in the room could use a good hug.

  ‘Face thy partners.’ Silence again fe
ll. Tory nodded to Maelgwn by the CD player, and soft ambient music began to filter through the room, creating a perfect mood.

  ‘My instruction be this …’ Tory said, her tone as soft and soothing as the music, ‘thou art to hold thy partner, eyes closed and in silence, until I ask thee to stop. No matter what may be going on around thee, under no circumstances art thou to open thy eyes or let go of thy partner. Be aware of how this exercise makes thee feel, perhaps it will stir a memory, perhaps an emotion, but only the truth shall serve thee well. For if one cannot face the truth about one’s self, one can never expect to understand another. This interaction be part of the quest of the spiritual warrior who strives for total self-awareness and understanding. Please begin.’

  Katren and Brockwell, who were still not on speaking terms, seemed somewhat reluctant. So in a gentle voice, Tory advised the whole gathering, ‘Forget the past, forget the future, there be only here and now. We all have troubles and sorrows in our lives, but just for this moment I want thee to relax and forget them. Forget from whom thou art seeking comfort at this time, they art whoever thee wants them to be.’ Tory smiled as Calin and Katren now appeared more absorbed.

  Angus and Alma stood perfectly still, smiling blissfully in their embrace. As they appeared to have nothing to resolve, Tory instructed that they could stop.

  Neither flinched and with a giggle, remained as they were.

  Tory moved on to Vortipor and Cara. ‘For holding a child thus, thee could be charged, sir,’ she commented quietly in jest, removing Vortipor’s hand from Cara’s behind.

  Vortipor smiled, raising his eyebrows, but didn’t stray from Tory’s instruction and remained silent with his eyes closed.

  Tiernan and Ione, funnily enough, seemed quite content, gently swaying to and fro to the music. When Tory had given them leave to begin Ione had seemed hesitant, yet she was quite relaxed now. How odd, Tory thought. She had felt sure this little exercise would spark some diverse reaction in Ione. Perhaps she was wrong about Ione’s motives?

  Rhys and Jenovefa had opted to sit on the floor and thankfully appeared to have overcome their differences. It had not been Tory’s intention to divide the pair when she’d invited Jenovefa’s interest in her craft, she’d only wanted her to feel included. She was about to give them leave when suddenly Katren burst into tears. Tory knew Calin was uncomfortable with such behaviour in women, and held back to see if he could cope with the situation on his own.

  Even though Katren pushed away from him, Calin wouldn’t let her go. He broke Tory’s instruction, determined to console her and asked, ‘What upsets thee?’

  ‘Thou dost,’ she sobbed, thumping his chest with her fists, too dismayed to put any strength into the struggle. ‘Thou art the one … doth thou not see?’ She broke away from him. ‘Forgive me Sensei.’ She bowed quickly to Tory and ran from the room.

  Calin looked to Tory, at a loss for what to do. Tory indicated for him to go after her.

  ‘Sensei,’ Tiernan drew Tory’s attention to Ione, who had suddenly begun to struggle. When she could not break free from his restraint, the woman began to shriek.

  I was right after all, Tory thought, as she approached the pair.

  Tiernan held Ione firm, as Tory had instructed, and spoke gently to calm her.

  ‘Sshh, thou art fine.’ Tiernan persisted warmly, despite Ione’s protest to the contrary.

  Tory asked her to look her in the eye. With a grunt, Ione ceased her struggle. ‘What disturbs thee so?’ the Queen said, wiping the hair and perspiration from the woman’s forehead.

  Ione shook her head repeatedly and began to push away again. Then with one almighty screech, she collapsed into tears.

  Sir Tiernan, who was handling the situation very well, was close to tears himself. Tory smiled to him in quiet support as she gently rubbed Ione’s back. As Ione began to settle and her breathing grew more regular, Tory was gripped by fear. Her heart began to pound, the room rushed away from her, and she found herself running scared through a forest.

  ‘Sensei?’ Tiernan called as she began to tremble, and beads of sweat formed on her skin.

  ‘Stay away,’ Tory uttered, no longer aware of their presence as she dropped to her knees.

  Ione’s weeping ceased and her eyes opened wide in recognition. She gripped the Queen’s hand in desperation.

  ‘Tory?’ Maelgwn approached.

  ‘Nay! Stay away!’ She cried out, her eyes open and staring straight ahead.

  Kicking and screaming she struggled to break free from her attackers, who were boys of no more than fourteen or fifteen years old.

  ‘Hey, brothel bitch, save your energy,’ a very young Caradoc advised her, with a sharp slap to the face. ‘We’re only just getting started.’ He unbelted his trousers, then forced his pelvis between her legs.

  ‘We shouldn’t be doing this,’ she heard the boy behind her say, as he restrained her arms. ‘What if she tells somebody?’

  ‘I always said thou wast a whimp, Cadogan,’ Caradoc snarled, looking back to his victim and gripping her about the neck to draw her face closer. ‘She won’t utter a word.’ He opened his mouth wide as it converged on hers.

  Tory began to shake her head, letting loose a bloodcurdling scream, before she began to choke.

  The King dragged her away from Ione and she broke from her trance. She freed herself from Maelgwn’s restraint to run back and embrace her harrowed pupil.

  ‘I saw them, Ione, I saw their faces.’ Tory was barely able to breathe from the shock of the horrid scene she’d just witnessed. ‘I know them, I know what they have done and they will pay. I swear to thee, Ione, they will pay.’

  Ione collapsed into her arms, not knowing whether to laugh or cry from relief. Though tears streamed down her face, Ione’s smile had warmth.

  Tory looked at Tiernan, who appeared most gratified by what he’d helped to accomplish this morning. He took Ione in his arms, rocking her ever so slightly. Tory left her in Tiernan’s embrace, giving the others their leave. ‘Those who wish to break may do so.’ Nobody moved.

  ‘Ooh!’ Jenovefa gasped in pain. ‘The babe …’

  Rhys was besieged by panic and managed to incite the whole room into a state of alarm within seconds.

  Brockwell pursued Katren to the women’s quarters. Once inside she closed the door behind her. Under normal circumstances, Brockwell would not have entered unannounced. In fact, he hadn’t been inside these chambers since he was knighted. However, as he had the leave of the Queen this day, he barged in after her. ‘Katren, I give up, thou art driving me insane.’

  ‘Thou art not allowed in here!’

  ‘Katren please, talk to me. I so want to understand. Be my embrace so horrible, did I hurt thee?’

  Her stance weakened, the tears silently falling from her eyes. ‘Nay,’ she confessed, ‘Thou art the one I wish would hold me all my life.’

  ‘Then marry me!’

  ‘I cannot do that, Calin.’

  He rolled his eyes, ‘In the name of the Goddess, Katren, why not?’

  In the midst of her hysteria, Katren unexpectedly found some clarity and she replied, ‘Because thou art not in love with me.’

  ‘Nay, Kat—’

  Katren placed her fingers to his lips to silence him. ‘Aye, it be true enough, and I can prove it,’ she whispered, before bestowing on him the most luscious of kisses.

  This was quite a change for Katren, and Calin was more than happy to go with it. But when she slid her hands inside his jacket, he backed off. ‘What art thou doing?’

  ‘I want to Calin, really. It be alright.’

  ‘So thou shalt marry me?’

  ‘Nay.’

  Her reply made him frown. ‘Art thou saying thee will be my mistress, but not my wife?’

  Katren nodded to confirm.

  Brockwell paused, appearing rather bemused. He slipped Katren’s hands from his chest and stepped away from her. ‘Nay, Katren, I shall have thee as my wife or not at all.’

&nb
sp; ‘Calin, see reason! Why should I be different from the others? If thou would just take me thee would find that thou art not really in love with me at all, and thus we will be saved a lifetime of heartache.’

  ‘How can thee say that? I have sworn on my honour that I love thee, why will thee not believe me?’ He took hold of her. ‘Should I swear by the elements for thee, Katren? Send me on a quest to prove my love, anything, just tell me what I should do.’

  She gently held her hand to his face and smiled as she caressed his skin. ‘Make love to me.’

  The answer brought a tear to his eye. Maelgwn had warned him many times that his past would catch up with him, but only now did Calin truly realise what the Prince had meant. Here he had finally found the one woman to whom he could remain loyal, yet no amount of assurances would convince her of it.

  ‘Katren, come quick,’ Alma called, racing into the room, too preoccupied with her news to notice she’d interrupted anything. ‘It’s Jenovefa, her water hast broken.’

  Katren looked at Brockwell. She was reluctant to leave him when he appeared so forlorn.

  ‘I am not going anywhere.’ He gave her leave to tend to the emergency. ‘Thee should go.’

  For nine hours the Queen remained at Jenovefa’s side. Ione had fetched Old Hetty from the village to attend the birth. The old woman had delivered more children than everyone else in the area put together, and Tory felt Jenovefa was in the best of care.

  This shall be me before too long, Tory gulped, as she watched Jenovefa, sweating and screaming through her agony. I must be insane, Tory concluded as she left the room.

  ‘How doth she fare, Majesty?’ Rhys was upon her as soon as she emerged.

  Tory smiled. ‘As well as one could expect, sir, but she be only halfway there at best. So thee may as well get some rest.’

  ‘Who could sleep? I want to see her.’

  ‘I would strongly advise against that. At this stage, Rhys, I think she would probably kill thee. Tiernan, would thee take Rhys and fill him with food and mead until he passes out.’