Dragon of the Island

by Mary Gillgannon

Evrawc looked at the king. His face was even more careworn and angry than usual, but his eyes looked kindly, even tender. “There’s nothing for you to say, my lord. I know that you are a king, and you must always suspect the worst of those close to you. I can’t hold your caution against you.”

  “All the same, Evrawc—you’ve served me well over ten years now. I should not have thought...”

  “It was natural enough,” Evrawc interrupted in a dismissing tone. “No doubt most men do share secrets with their wives. But I...” Evrawc laughed bitterly. “It seems I share nothing with Wydian except anger and contempt.”

  “There are your two children—Ofydd seems like a fine boy.”

  Evrawc gave a snort of disgust. “Lately I have even begun to wonder about my children—are they really mine, or has Wydian kept a lover all along?”

  “Wydian has a lover?” Maelgwn asked in surprise.

  “So, it would seem. I just found out. As painful as it was to have you accuse me of treachery, it was even worse to learn that my wife had brought another man to our bed.”

  “Who is he?” Maelgwn asked impatiently. “It is not just idle curiosity either, Evrawc,” he added hastily as he saw the man’s troubled look. “If Wydian shares her bed with another man, perhaps she shares secrets with him as well.”

  “You think he is the source of the rumors about Constantine and Gwyrtheyrn?”

  “It seems likely, does it not?” Maelgwn said excitedly. “You said that Wydian was not interested in men’s affairs, but if a lover told her a story that seemed to make the queen look bad, she would surely remember it. What do you think? Could the man your wife betrayed you with be the one?”

  Evrawc sighed and his face twisted with bitterness. “It was one of the soldiers left to guard Caer Eryri while we were in Manua Gotodin. Grimerwyn is his name.”

  “Grimerwyn? He is one of my sister’s cast off lovers!”

  “Aye,” Evrawc said disgustedly. “It is bad enough that my wife betrays me, but she must do it with a churl like that, too.

  Maelgwn stood up abruptly. “I’m going to look for Balyn. I want you and him to go among the men and find this man, Grimerwyn. When you find him—bring him to me!”

  It did not take long for Evrawc to hunt down Grimerwyn and drag him to Maelgwn’s tent. As the man was brought before him, Maelgwn clearly recalled his swarthy face and thin, wraithlike form from the visit to the Brigantes.

  The king stood, so that he towered above the prisoner, but he kept his voice controlled and impersonal.

  “Do you know why we have been brought here, Grimerwyn?”

  The man shrugged and glanced insolently at Evrawc. “It would seem it has something to do with that bitch, Wydian.”

  Evrawc glowered back, and his hands curled into fists, but he said nothing and made no move against Grimerwyn.

  “Aye,” Maelgwn said impatiently. “This has something to do with her—something to do with a story you told her.”

  Grimerwyn remained cool and arrogant. “I say many things when a woman is in the mood for talk.”

  “Ah, so then you admit that you told Wydian that Constantine was planning to invade Gwynedd.”

  Grimerwyn began to look around uneasily. His dark face seemed to grow darker still and the whites of his eyes shone luridly in the lamplight. There was the sickening rasp of a sword being drawn, and the sudden dazzle of a blade at the prisoner’s throat.

  “Answer me!” Maelgwn thundered.

  The air of defiance that Grimerwyn had worn was fading. Those watching could see the beads of sweat begin to form on his face, and his voice was a harsh croak.

  “Aye, I told her that—what of it? She did not even seem very interested—she was much more interested in complaining to me about the queen.”

  “How did you know? Where did you hear of it?”

  Grimerwyn looked around at the grim faces staring at him. He stopped when he got to Maelgwn’s still, deadly countenance and smiled weakly.

  “It’s odd about women, isn’t it, my lord? They seem so weak and unimportant most of the time, but if they betray you, it hurts more than it does with a man. We are all fools when it comes to them.”

  “Explain yourself!” Maelgwn ordered. “Was it a woman who told you of Constantine’s plans?”

  “Aye, it was a woman, my lord... someone you would never expect... or would you?”

  Maelgwn’s calm mask seemed to crack, and his hand holding the sword wavered visibly, but he said nothing more, indeed, he seemed incapable of speaking.

  Balyn moved forward to grab Grimerwyn’s shoulder roughly. “Enough of your clever insinuations,” he hissed. “Tell us her name.”

  Grimerwyn let out his breath slowly.

  “It was Esylt.”

  “Esylt?” Maelgwn sounded stunned. “Why? When did she tell you this?”

  “It was... I don’t recall the time exactly... it was before you left for the north.”

  “Did she... she say how she knew this?”

  There was a raw grating sound as Grimerwyn laughed.

  “You still don’t understand, do you, Maelgwn? Esylt told me—nay, she bragged to me, that she had made sure that you would pay for your mistakes at Viroconium.”

  The man paused and looked at Maelgwn with a mixture of pity and defiance.

  “It seems she has spread a web of lies halfway across Britain, and you and Cunedda are to be the victims of her cunning deception.”

  “Cunedda?” Evrawc cried in surprise. “What does he have to do with this?”

  Grimerwyn’s face was bright with sweat and there was a wild cast to his eyes. “You see how shrewd she is? You still have not guessed, and by now you are too far away to help him. The Picts that you thought you were fighting—that was Cunedda’s son making it look as though barbarians were ravaging Manau Gotodin. It was only a ruse to get you away from Gwynedd and to distract Cunedda until half of his forces had joined up with Ferdic. Even now, Ferdic is moving in to crush Cunedda and take the kingship for himself.”

  Everyone seemed paralyzed with shock. Finally, Balyn cleared his throat and asked the question which filled them all with dread.

  “And Gwyrtheyrn and Constantine—did Esylt have any part in their joining forces?”

  Grimerwyn flashed his ugly, ironic smile again. “Of course. Constantine would never have allied himself with a wolf like Gwyrtheyrn if he did not feel he had been sorely wronged. It was only when he heard that Maelgwn the Great had raped and beaten his beloved daughter that he even considered revenge.”

  He looked at Maelgwn with grudging admiration. “You had that one right, my lord. Constantine loves his youngest daughter dearly—he would make a pact with the gods of the underworld themselves to avenge her.”

  Maelgwn’s voice seemed to come in a ragged gasp. “But it’s not true! I love Aurora! I never meant to hurt her! I certainly did not rape her or beat her!”

  “Ah, but you were not there when Constantine heard of your abuse. I, myself, carried the news to him. He was eager to believe the worst of you, and when several other soldiers reported that you struck your wife not two days after your wedding... well, he was enraged, so furious I thought he might have a fit and die right there.”

  The group of men in the tent waited for a moment in stony silence. Finally Evrawc spoke.

  “I think we’ve heard enough, Maelgwn. Now that this foul scum has spilled his guts, I say we make quick end to his miserable, worthless life.”

  Maelgwn still seemed dazed. “What... I... No. We may need to ask him questions. Indeed, I have another question to ask of him now.” He moved forward to look directly in Grimerwyn’s face. His voice was soft, almost pleading.

  “Why, Grimerwyn? Why did she do it?”

  The man’s face was scornful. “Why should I tell you? You’re only going to kill me anyway.”

  “I have a right to know,” Maelgwn said painfully. “I have to know.”

  Grimerwyn cleared his throat and spat nervously on the gro
und.

  “It was Aurora, I think. Before she came to Caer Eryri, Esylt could feel that she had some control over you—that she could influence your decisions. But then you married Aurora, and Esylt knew it was all slipping away from her. Eventually, Aurora would truly be queen, and she would be... nothing.”

  “But now she is nothing anyway,” Maelgwn said in an agonized voice. “Did it matter so little to her that Gwynedd might be destroyed, her own people slaughtered?”

  Grimerwyn shrugged. “Ferdic and Gwyrtheyrn both promised her part of the spoils. I believe she hoped that they would even let her rule Gwynedd after you were killed.”

  Maelgwn sighed and put his sword away with a defeated gesture. The rest of the men watched him, full of pity. They didn’t know what to say, or how to comfort him.

  The king looked at Grimerwyn again, as if suddenly remembering him.

  “Take this man away, and keep him safe. I don’t have time to deal with him now. Then go among the men and pick out those soldiers who have any tie to Esylt—lovers, servants, whatever. Keep them under guard. I won’t have any traitors within my ranks!”

  Maelgwn’s eyes lingered over his officers, and they all longed to look away from the suffering in his face, but they met his glance warmly, with compassion.

  “And when you have done those things,” he continued, “try to get some rest. We may have a battle to fight in the morning.”

  After he dismissed his men, Maelgwn himself lay down. He had barely closed his eyes when the images came to him. He and Esylt playing as children. Her small brown hand resting on his own. Her face flushed with excitement. Her dazzling sapphire eyes bright with passion. What a waste, he thought bitterly.

  Then Aurora’s face appeared before him—enigmatic... exotic... beautiful. Even in a daydream, she made his pulse quicken. Had that been his mistake? Had he chosen wrong? Even now, Aurora was somewhere near Viroconium, trying to persuade her father not to fight him. If she did not succeed... if he did not win... he might never see her again.

  Ah, but he felt her. Even across the miles... the lowlands that lay between them—he could feel her warm presence, hear her soft whispering voice. She loved him. She would not betray him. Maelgwn sighed in his sleep and thought no more.

  Chapter 31

  Aurora swooned in her sleep. She was surrounded by monsters—huge, with wings of molten metal that blinded her. The creatures beat their wings threateningly. The sound was deafening—Aurora could feel it drowning out her breath and the beating of her heart. She was terrified. She tried to move, but her limbs seemed frozen. She struggled against the invisible bonds that held her down. Her mouth was full of the bitter taste of bile.

  Soft white things, like snow, began to drift down on her; they buried her lips and filled her mouth. She tried to cry out, to scream, but there was no sound—only whiteness everywhere.

  Then she saw Maelgwn. He was calling to her, speaking soundlessly. The wind blew back his dark hair, and his blue eyes blazed like liquid fire. She saw him reach out his hand, and she reached out to him... forever... into an endless darkness.

  Then there was a fluttering sound in her ears, and a familiar voice. The world came back to her with a painful, dizzying rush.

  “Aurora!”

  She woke and looked up into her father’s worried face.

  “Papa?”

  “Aye, I am here. Your man, Elwyn, sent me to you. Thank God you are safe.”

  “It was just a dream,” Aurora said uneasily. “I saw Maelgwn, but I couldn’t hear him. I couldn’t understand what he was saying.”

  “Hush, my love. He won’t hurt you anymore. I promise you.”

  Aurora sat up, startled, suddenly realizing where she was and why she was there. She was still in the small tent, but a pallet of straw had been placed beneath her, and a lamp burned nearby. She could see her father’s worried face.

  “Papa?” she asked quietly. “Is there a guard outside?”

  Constantine nodded.

  “Do you think he speaks Latin?”

  “He is a common soldier—I think not.”

  “Good,” Aurora said, switching to the old Roman tongue. “I have something to tell you. Something which must not reach Gwyrtheyrn’s ears.”

  Constantine looked startled. “What is it? What must you tell me?”

  “I love Maelgwn.” Aurora looked into her father’s surprised face and shook her head to silence him. “Aye, it is true, and I have come to talk you out of fighting him.”

  “But it’s too late!” Constantine protested. “I have made an agreement with Gwyrtheyrn. I don’t understand... how could you love Maelgwn... after what he has done to you.”

  “It was all a mistake, Father. He never meant to hurt me. He loves me!”

  “He raped and beat you, and now he tells you he loves you! Oh, my sweet child—how could I have married you off to such a demon?”

  “Maelgwn never raped me,” Aurora protested. “He struck me once, but I’m sure he was sorry. We did have... misunderstandings, aye, but they are all over now. We love each other.”

  “But how can that be? One of Maelgwn’s own men told me of his abuse. Then, a few weeks ago, I received word that you were badly injured, perhaps wouldn’t live. Elwyn just told me that you had not completely recovered yet.”

  Aurora reached out to touch her father’s arm with a patient, soothing gesture. “I fell off my horse, Papa. I was caught in a rainstorm, and I was so cold and tired that I fell and hurt my head. Maelgwn was there beside me as I recovered—he never left me. As for my illness now...” a smile lit up Aurora’s pale face. “I think I am ill because... because I am going to have Maelgwn’s baby.”

  “Oh, Jupiter,” Constantine said in a ravaged voice. “What lies have I listened to. What cleverness Gwyrtheyrn has used to entrap me!”

  Aurora sat up so that her mouth was close to her father’s ear as he knelt beside her.

  “It’s not too late,” she whispered. “You could still ask your men to turn against Gwyrtheyrn. In the heat of the battle, they could switch to Maelgwn’s side.”

  “I don’t know,” Constantine whispered in dread. “If Maelgwn loses, we would be slaughtered by Gwyrtheyrn, and if Maelgwn wins... who can say if he will stay his hand against us.”

  “I will make him,” Aurora said. “I know that he will do what I ask.”

  Constantine shook his head. “But Maelgwn won’t win. Gwyrtheyrn is too strong, even for him. We will be well into Gwynedd by the time his army arrives from the north. We are less than four days’ march from Caer Eryri now. We will crush his stronghold, and then we will cut his army to pieces before he can get reinforcements from the coast.”

  “No, Papa, I have warned Maelgwn. Even now he is probably waiting with his army between here and Caer Eryri. Nay, I know he is there. J can feel him.”

  Constantine looked at his daughter in doubt and confusion.

  “I don’t know what to do. It’s too late to stop Gwyrtheyrn. He has come this far—he will not turn back without fighting Maelgwn.”

  “But once the fighting starts, could your men get away then?”

  “Perhaps,” said Constantine. “But there is no guarantee that our defection would turn the battle. And if Maelgwn lost...” Aurora could read the fear in his eyes.

  “Papa, would your men change sides if you asked them? Would they abandon Gwyrtheyrn and fight for Maelgwn?”

  Constantine considered. The lines in his forehead puckered in thought.

  “Many of them are angry at the way Gwyrtheyrn has treated us. Viroconium has been like an armed camp these last few days. Gwyrtheyrn has seen fit to take the best of our cattle and grain to feed his men. Some of the women have been abused, and the men are afraid to defend them against Gwyrtheyrn’s soldiers. For all that he humiliated us, Maelgwn didn’t mistreat us so.”

  Constantine looked into his daughter’s pleading face.

  “I can only ask them, Aurora. I’m not a leader like Maelgwn or Gwyrtheyrn. M
y men respect me, but they do not fear me. I can’t order them to follow me if they feel they would be better served by Gwyrtheyrn’s protection.”

  Aurora nodded. “I know, Papa. Even though I love Maelgwn, I would not ask you to do this if I did not think it would be best for the people of Viroconium.”

  Constantine looked nervously toward the door of the tent.

  “I must go now. I told the guard that you are sick, he will wonder that I risk tiring you by talking so much.”

  “Where is Elwyn? Is he safe?”

  “Aye, he is safe, but very closely guarded.”

  Aurora smiled. “Elwyn has been a great help to me. How did he get away to speak with you?”

  “It seems he knew one of Gwyrtheyrn’s men—the man is a hired soldier who fought with Maelgwn once for pay. He brought Elwyn to me. Elwyn told me nothing except that you were ill and needed to speak to me.”

  “I’m so glad he found you. I was trying to think of a plan when I fell asleep.” Aurora reached out for her father with an imploring gesture. “Remember what I said, Father... Papa... remember what I told you of Maelgwn.”

  “I will not forget, Aurora. Sleep now. You are very pale. I fear that what Elwyn says is true—you have not recovered from your injury. I will try to see you tomorrow... if there is time... if we are not at war.”

  After her father left, Aurora fell asleep again, but this time her dreams were unmemorable. In the morning she woke with a churning nausea in her stomach. It took all her willpower to rise from the pallet and shakily search for her pack of things lying in the corner of the tent. Someone had seen fit to bring it in when they brought the lamp and a jar of water to her. She was not quite a helpless prisoner, but oh, her stomach!

  Aurora struggled to untie the package of barley bread she had left in her pack. She took a bite and gagged at the flat dry taste, but then took another and swallowed. She must eat—it was the only way she would feel better. When she was done, she drank the full jar of stale water. Now to attend to her appearance. Her comb was in the pack as well, and Aurora unbraided her hair and dragged the bronze comb through her thick tresses. She wished she had some water to wash with, but she had drunk it all. She moistened her veil with the last drops and rubbed it over her face.