Dragon of the Island

by Mary Gillgannon

  At last they reached the Cymru line. They saw wounded men being attended to, and there was some semblance of order. Aurora squinted, searching the horizon frantically for Maelgwn’s standard of crimson and gold. It was dusk now and everything had faded to dark shapes floating in the eerie light.

  She turned back to gasp at Elwyn.

  “Where is he?”

  Elwyn did not answer her, and they continued riding. Some of the soldiers stared at them with startled looks of recognition, but no one called out or tried to halt them. The men’s faces were pale and expressionless, and Aurora began to fear the worst.

  “We must stop,” she begged Elwyn. “We have to ask someone—-I cannot bear not knowing.”

  Elwyn halted before a young soldier who seemed to be guarding a pile of bodies.

  “Maelgwn,” he called. “Where is Maelgwn?”

  The young soldier shook his head. “I know not—I saw his banner fall, but I’m not sure what happened.”

  “What direction was his standard when it fell?”

  “Ahead of you,” the soldier pointed. “If he lives, the king must be that way.”

  Elwyn whipped the horse into a canter. Aurora held on, feeling the wind sucking into her throat. They saw a tent and headed for it. As they neared, Aurora recognized Balyn and Evrawc. They looked exhausted and dazed, and as she and Elwyn rode up the two men stared at them as if they could not believe what they saw.

  In an instant Aurora had slid off the horse and run to Balyn.

  “The king,” she shouted. “How does the king?”

  Balyn looked terribly tired, but still he smiled.

  “Come,” he said. “Let me take you to him.”

  Inside the tent, Maelgwn was lying on pile of sheepskins and blankets. His face was pale and drawn, but Aurora could see no visible wounds. As soon as he saw her, his eyes widened and he whispered her name and struggled to sit up.

  Aurora went to kneel beside him. She reached with trembling fingers to touch his face, as if she could not believe he was real.

  “Maelgwn, are you hurt?”

  Maelgwn looked at her like a starving man who finds himself before a banquet.

  “Aye, I took a sword wound in my thigh. I cannot sit my horse for now.”

  “But you are so pale,” Aurora murmured.

  “Ah, Aurora,” Maelgwn laid a reassuring hand upon hers. “I have been to the spirit world and back these last few hours. We have lost many men—the army of the Cymru will be crippled for a generation—and until just a moment ago, I believed you were dead as well.”

  “Why?” Aurora asked, startled.

  “We found Paithu, but there was no sign of you or Elwyn. I had my men search all around the area where Gwyrtheyrn was killed, and there was no trace of you. I thought surely he would keep you near him, as a hostage.”

  Aurora smiled faintly. “I don’t think he thought you would want me back. I told him that I was running away from you, that Elwyn and I were lovers.”

  Maelgwn reached up to pull a strand of hair from her face with a tender gesture. “You are a clever girl, my love.” Then he glanced toward the entrance of the tent.

  “Where is Elwyn?”

  “I am here, my lord,” Elwyn said, walking in wearily.

  Maelgwn’s face became cool and expressionless. “I warned you once, Elwyn, about interfering in my marriage. It would seem you do not listen.”

  Elwyn seemed to cringe, and his hazel eyes were frightened.

  Then Maelgwn smiled and his face became almost radiant.

  “I never thought I would be thanking one of my men for disobeying me.” Maelgwn held out his hand. “I will always be grateful to you for taking care of Aurora.”

  Elwyn took the hand that the king offered and nodded solemnly. Then he looked at Aurora. “My lord, I must admit that I once envied you your wife, but now...” he shot Aurora a mischievous grin, “... now I see that she is entirely too much trouble.”

  They all shared a moment of giddy laughter. Then it was Aurora’s turn to become serious.

  “My father,” she said suddenly. “What has happened to him?”

  Maelgwn reached up again to caress Aurora’s face.

  “Your father honored his agreement with me at last. When the fighting began, those men from Viroconium who could, fled Gwyrtheyrn’s army and joined ours.”

  “And my father?” Tears glittered in Aurora’s eyes—already she knew.

  “I am sorry, Aurora,” Maelgwn said gently. “He was cut down by Gwyrtheyrn’s men.”

  Aurora tried to act like a queen, to be strong, but it was no use. She buried her head in Maelgwn’s arms and wept bitterly.

  Chapter 33

  Maelgwn was meeting with some of his men when Aurora went to the door of the office and stood there shyly.

  “Come in,” Maelgwn said when he saw her. Aurora entered, and several of the men stood up. Both Evrawc and Balyn offered her a seat on the bench they were using.

  “Nah, nah,” Maelgwn said. “She can sit with me.”

  Aurora walked behind the table near Maelgwn, and looked at him uneasily.

  “I won’t hurt you?”

  “Of course not!” he answered impatiently, pulling her onto his lap. “My leg is almost healed, and you are not heavy... yet.” He patted her stomach and smiled at her indulgently.

  Aurora blushed. She could not get used to this new Maelgwn. He could be so playful and familiar. The way he acted toward her in front of his men often embarrassed her.

  “Now, where were we?” Maelgwn began again. “Aye, we were discussing what to do about the kingship of Viroconium—do you have any ideas, Aurora?”

  Aurora was thoughtful. “I can think of someone who would be strong, but fair, and well-loved by the people, too.”

  “Who is that?” Maelgwn asked.

  “My sister.”

  “You mean Julia?”

  Aurora nodded. “Why not?” she asked defensively as she looked around at the doubtful faces of the men. “She would be a good ruler. If she were a man, no one would question it.”

  “But that’s just it,” Maelgwn protested. “Viroconium needs a strong commander to defend the town.”

  “Perhaps we could marry her off to an appropriate warrior,” Balyn suggested. “She is young and fair enough, it should be easy to find a man willing.”

  Evrawc cleared his throat. “I don’t know whether this is appropriate, but I would like to suggest myself.”

  Everyone in the room gaped at Evrawc.

  “You?” Maelgwn cried. “Julia is pretty, but she is as strong-willed and stubborn as a mule. I would think you would have had enough of overly independent women after your wife!”

  Evrawc smiled sheepishly. “Perhaps I’ve grown used to being ordered around, and now that Wydian has gone away, I miss it. At any rate, I’ve always fancied the girl, and I would like to try marriage again... if she’ll have me.”

  “Aurora?” Maelgwn looked at his wife questioningly.

  Aurora shrugged. “Why not? If she gets to rule Viroconium, I doubt that Julia will mind our choosing a husband for her.” She looked at Evrawc directly. “But mind yourself, Evrawc, Julia is a tyrant if you let her have her way all the time—you must stand up to her occasionally.

  “I could not give you better advice in dealing with one of Constantine’s daughters myself,” Maelgwn said with a sly smile. Aurora caught his meaning and sat up indignantly. She made a gesture as if to slap him, and he grabbed her arm playfully and slid it around his neck so he could nuzzle her.

  “Well,” Balyn said cheerfully. “It seems that we are done here.” He nodded meaningfully at the other men. “Perhaps the king and queen would like to be alone.”

  “Aye,” Maelgwn said, laughing as he made Aurora squirm. “We are done for now. You are all dismissed.”

  Maelgwn’s kisses turned from playful to serious after his men left, and Aurora broke away to whisper breathlessly: “Perhaps we should go to the tower.”

>   Maelgwn smiled. “Aye, perhaps we should.”

  They left the barracks and began walking arm in arm toward the tower. Despite the dirty snow that was piled around the fortress—and the crisp, cold air—the sun was shining brilliantly and the harsh weight of winter was forgotten for a moment. Aurora slowed her pace to match Maelgwn’s slight limp, and smiled to herself.

  “It is hard to believe that you have just let a woman join one of your council meetings,” she said slyly. “I would never have imagined such a thing.”

  Maelgwn smiled back at her. “It was hardly a meeting of my council—we were just talking.”

  Despite the jesting tone of his words, there was a lingering sadness in his eyes that Aurora could not miss.

  “You are are thinking of Esylt, aren’t you?” Aurora asked gently.

  Maelgwn nodded. “It still pains me,” He sighed deeply. “At least I did not have to have her put to death.”

  “You think she will stay safely out of trouble in Manau Gotodin?”

  “Well, Cunedda has assured me that since he defeated Ferdic, most of his men have come back and pledged their loyalty to him. Ferdic and Esylt may wish to make mischief for us, but without an army, they are no great threat.

  “I almost feel sorry for Esylt,” Aurora said softly.

  “You?” Maelgwn looked at her in surprise. “I thought you hated her.”

  Aurora wrinkled her forehead in thought. “I thought so, too, but somehow, when I found out Esylt had truly betrayed you, I was able to see things from her viewpoint.”

  She looked at Maelgwn meaningfully. “Women have so little power, especially among the Cymru. The bards tell us stories of great women warriors—like Boudicca, who defied even the legions of Rome—but now it seems we are little more than possessions of men. If she had been born a man, Esylt could have been a great warrior, even a king—but instead she was stuck here at Caer Eryri, worrying about the grain supply and whether you would marry her off to some doddering old chieftain.”

  “Esylt never tried to earn my trust or do anything but meddle in my affairs,” Maelgwn protested. “She is an evil woman—just like my mother.”

  “Perhaps,” Aurora said quietly. “But the lot of women is not an easy one here among the Cymru.”

  “Are you unhappy?” Maelgwn asked, stopping to stare at her.

  Aurora looked back into her husband’s face. Her eyes caressed the proud line of his jaw, the delectable curve of his mouth and the hypnotizing blue of his eyes.

  “No, I’m not unhappy at all,” she answered with a smile. “I have everything I want.”

  Maelgwn smiled back with a radiance that matched the gleaming gold torque at his neck.

  “Come summer, you really will have everything you want. I have spoken to one of the holy men from the priory to have him come and help us plant an orchard within the fortress next spring.”

  “And a garden?” Aurora asked breathlessly.

  “Aye, and a garden.”

  Aurora smiled mischievously. “Then maybe someday you can fix the baths.”

  Maelgwn laughed. “You are still trying to convert me into a proper Roman farmer, aren’t you Aurora?”

  Aurora nodded. “I must if I am to make sure that our child grows up as a civilized Roman and not a barbarian.”

  “You vixen!” Maelgwn cried, catching her up in his arms. “Tell me that you love me as I am—a wild, dirty brute—tell me or I’ll throw you into the snow!”

  “All right,” Aurora answered, laughing. “I love you as you are! Now you tell me... ,” she said, sliding down out of his embrace. “Tell me that you will still want me when I am fat and heavy with your child.”

  Maelgwn’s face grew serious and his eyes burned with blue fire. “Let me get you to the tower room, and I will show you how much I still want you.”

  They climbed the stairs in silence, with their fingers twined around each other’s. When the door closed behind them, Aurora stared again at her husband’s intense, passionate face.

  “Take off your clothes,” Maelgwn commanded, and Aurora hurried to obey. Her hands were trembling, and her breath seemed to come in short gasps. Would it always be like this, she wondered? Would he always make her feel so helpless with excitement?

  Aurora lay down on the bed, and Maelgwn slid down next to her. He leaned over to take one of her nipples in his mouth, and Aurora moaned. “Be careful,” she cautioned hoarsely. “They are so tender.”

  Maelgwn lifted his head up and smiled. “What a woman you have become,” he said, gazing in awe at her engorged breasts and slightly swelling belly.

  “Do you still find me... desirable?”

  “Aye,” Maelgwn answered solemnly. “You are more of a goddess than ever. Tell me something...” he asked. “The babe—when was it conceived?”

  Aurora blushed and looked away. “I think, nay, I am sure—it was at the Lughnasa festival.”

  “I thought so,” Maelgwn answered softly. “It should be an awesome child then, born of a goddess and a god.” Maelgwn hesitated a moment, and then reached up to stroke Aurora’s hair tenderly, smoothing it languidly into waves with his fingers.

  “I’m sorry about that, Aurora. I didn’t mean to come to you as Cerrunos. I didn’t mean to trick you. But I felt the power move within my veins, and I could not resist you.”

  “It’s all right. I understand now,” Aurora answered. “I think it was meant to be. I wouldn’t let you come to me as my husband, and so you found another way.”

  Maelgwn slid his fingers down her body, now caressing the fine, soft hair below her stomach.

  “Tell me one more thing, Aurora,” he whispered. “Tell me if it was better that night—tell me if the god pleased you more than the man.”

  Aurora sighed as Maelgwn pulled her close so that he could push himself into her.

  “Ah,” she moaned. “It is the man I love... the man I will always love.”

  The End

  Dear Readers,

  Few settings are as steeped in romance and mystery as Dark Age Britain. The term “dark ages” suggests our scant knowledge of this time period and the lack of written history. In writing The Dragon of the Island, I was forced to rely on other authors’ interpretations, as well as weaving the sparse threads of history into my own pattern of fact and imagination.

  While Aurora is purely my own creation, there really was a Welsh warlord named Maelgwn the Great. The monk Gildas, writing in 643 a.d., referred to him as “O, thou dragon of the island,” and denounced him as a tyrant and a terrible sinner. For all his bitter condemnation of Maelgwn, Gildas’s work also suggests a complex and enigmatic king, a man who struggled with his conscience and had doubts about the value of worldly power.

  Through military might, murderous intrigue and perhaps simply by the force of his larger-than-life personality, Maelgwn the Great eventually came to dominate much of Britain and reign as the ultimate symbol of Celtic preeminence. There are hints that he filled the void left by King Arthur’s death and served as Rex Britannia for a number of years, and his sons held positions of power in what is now Scotland as well as Wales. Five hundred years after Maelgwn’s death, Welsh princes from the region of Gwynedd continued to claim descent from his lineage.

  Maelgwn’s hold upon my own heart has been as compelling and passionate as his control of his homeland. Having created Maelgwn as a character, I found I could not easily abandon him and move on to my next hero. Halfway through The Dragon, I began planning two more books based on Maelgwn’s life and times. I hope you look forward to reading the sequels as much as I do writing them.

  Good reading,

  Mary Gillgannon

  I am fascinated by history, as well as Celtic myth and legend. These interests inspire and enrich most of my books, both historical romance and historical fantasy. Raised in the Midwest, I currently live in Wyoming with my husband, four cats and a dog. Besides writing and working (I’m employed in a public library) I enjoy gardening, travel and reading, of course
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  For more about my books and me, visit my website http://marygillgannon.com.