King of the May

by Myers, Karen

  “I will forbid you these interviews,” he said through his clenched teeth.

  Angharad stood her ground, unruffled. “Why, am I not a guest in these quarters, my lord king? Surely I may see whom I choose.”

  There was a beat while the issue hung unresolved. With an obvious effort, Lludd swallowed his anger at this challenge to his abuse of guest custom. He turned and left without another word, and Maelgwn breathed again. Bedo stared at Angharad in open admiration.

  Maelgwn exchanged looks with him, and nodded to him with respect, and Bedo returned the gesture. Then he picked up his tray and resumed his work.

  Angharad continued her painting as if nothing had happened.

  Six days later, George strode down the corridor to Angharad’s rooms, outpacing Gwyn in his haste. He had just returned from his hunting tour, his clothing stained from travel and hard use. He’d tossed the reins to Emrys in the stableyard and left him to sort everything out while he went looking for his wife.

  As they approached the closed and guarded doors, Gwyn reached for him to slow him down.

  “I’ve done what you asked,” George growled over his shoulder. “Don’t try to stop me.”

  “Don’t do anything hasty,” Gwyn said

  When they reached the doors, the guards in their ram-headed livery stepped in front. “I’m sorry, huntsman,” the nearest one said, “but you are forbidden entrance.”

  George wanted to just knock them out of the way but made himself take a breath. He drew himself up to his fullest height and looked at them implacably.

  “This is my wife,” he said, thickly and with menace. “And what would you do in my place?”

  The guard visibly winced.

  Gwyn said, mildly, “He’s just here to see if she is well.”

  The two guards looked at each other. “Well, in the doorway, then,” the first one said, and he opened the doors.

  He stood on the threshold and Angharad’s eyes lit up to see him. She put her things down and ran to him, and they embraced just inside the entrance. George turned his back to the guards and pinned her against the wall of the entryway, hiding her from them with his body, protecting her. He closed his eyes as he held her tight, the scent of her hair under his nose. After a few breaths he began to calm down.

  She laughed in his arms and he loosened his grip. “Are you alright, love?” he murmured.

  “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

  He rolled his eyes. “‘Don’t worry,’ she says. I haven’t slept for days, trying to make conversation with strangers and worrying about you the whole time.”

  “Maelgwn’s taken good care of me, like my squire.”

  George looked over her head at Maelgwn standing watch inside the room. He nodded to him as he would to a grown man. “I’m very glad to hear it,” he said.

  He heard noise behind him and turned to meet the potential threat. It was Lludd, who must have just heard the news of his return. His vision went red for a moment—this was the man who held his wife from him.

  Lludd blistered the guards. “I thought I told you not to admit him.”

  Gwyn intervened. “That’s my fault, father. I assumed you weren’t really trying to separate a woman from her husband, and both of them your guests.”

  Lludd lost his temper. “You can hold your tongue, you. Rebels, the lot of you.”

  With difficulty George restrained the horned man within, aroused by the wrath of an enemy. He glanced at the walls with all the Cernunnos studies pinned to them, and the tension increased. There would be blood in moments, he could feel it.

  With a light patter of steps, Rhian ran up from behind Lludd, an innocent look on her face. “Sorry I’m late, Angharad. I meant to be on time, but…”

  Turning to George and winking so that only he could see, she said, “Oh, George, you’re back. Good. Have I interrupted anything? Come help me choose which dress I should use.”

  And with that, she hooked her arm in his and led him right into the room in the teeth of Lludd’s fury.

  There was nothing Lludd could do without making himself look ridiculous. He spun on his heels and left.

  Later, after George went to his chamber in Gwyn’s suite to clean up, Angharad and Maelgwn were left alone in her rooms. Already the day seemed brighter to her, the colors warmer.

  Maelgwn approached her with a serious expression, and she gave him her attention.

  “Now that my foster-father has returned, I’d like your leave to, um…”

  “Watch his back as you have done for me?” she suggested.

  He nodded, relieved at her understanding.

  “Of course you may, and I thank you for it.” Time to speak seriously, she thought.

  “I’m not really in danger,” she said. “No one wants to kill me. At the worst, I may be a hostage.” She looked at him to make sure he was listening.

  “But your foster-father, now, that’s different. There are many who would think themselves better off with him dead or under their control. I don’t want you to put yourself in danger, but an extra pair of eyes would relieve some of my concern.”

  He nodded at her like a veteran. “There’s another matter,” he said. “That servant, Bedo. If you’re ever in trouble, I think he might help.”

  So he’d noticed, too, she thought. “Yes, I believe so.”

  She smiled at him. “Do you know, some of the paper and charcoal have gone missing?”

  CHAPTER 17

  My last day as a girl, Rhian thought, as she waited for everyone to assemble in Angharad’s rooms. I will come back from this ceremony a woman, in public recognition. It’s too bad that Ceridwen can’t do the honors, but here in Lludd’s court it would be Lludd’s man Derlwyn in the traditional role.

  She laughed at herself, quietly. I imagine no one feels quite like a grown woman at these ceremonies. This doesn’t really change anything, after all. I’ll still hunt my foster-father’s hounds. And Brynach will still be there. She smiled at that thought.

  But legally, now… In the old days they sometimes announced betrothals at these events.

  She looked down at her dress, pale green with gossamer lace overlays. She swayed lightly, as if dancing, just to see it move. Once again, Angharad and the maid had done astonishing things with her hair, but it was the clothing that she cherished. Soft and silky, clinging to spots she blushed to think about. She quickly touched all the places where a knife was hidden. There were only four. She would have added more, but Angharad had warned her about the dancing. Couldn’t have a partner’s arms encountering steel through the soft clothes. Still, it was better than nothing, some small comfort in this lion’s den that was her great-grandfather’s castle.

  She knew this feast and the dancing were really just an excuse for politics, but nominally, at least, it was for her, as the youngest adult of Lludd’s lineage. She intended to enjoy herself.

  I wish Brynach could see it, she thought. Maybe Angharad would do a painting of it sometime. It suddenly occurred to her, I could commission that and pay her. I don’t need to ask anyone’s permission. I’ll do that, she thought, my first adult piece of business.

  She looked at the studies of the red deer’s head all over the walls. My lord Cernunnos, she thought, please bless this event and all my family from Annwn.

  The men came in through the doorway to join her and wait for Angharad. Their looks of admiration, openly expressed, warmed her. This was going to be fun, she thought, as she rehearsed her court curtsy for them.

  In Hadyn’s rooms over the armory, Eurig was deep into a discussion before dinner about guard rotations when a young cadet burst into the room.

  “Sir, there’s been a disturbance in the cellars at the manor.”

  He looked about ten years old to Eurig. He waited for the cadet to leave and muttered to Hadyn as they rose to follow, “You’ve got the children standing guard?”

  Hadyn said, “Good practice and they can go everywhere with no one paying attention to them.”
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br />   They walked briskly but without the appearance of alarm to the back of the manor. Eurig suspected spies everywhere, and the less they knew, the better. The stairs led down to three levels below ground. The first was for the staff’s use and storage, but the lower levels were guarded. Many precious things were kept there.

  Eurig and Hadyn both knew there were extensive diggings beyond the limits of the building above, though that was a well-kept secret to most.

  Three levels down, Eurig bent over to talk to an older cadet who’d been helped to a seat on a bench by his fellows. He was covered with dust from the floor and held his head.

  “You injured, lad?” Hadyn asked. “Did you see him?”

  “Sorry, sir, he knocked me on the head. But Guto here alarmed him and he ran off, up the stairs.” He looked up apprehensively. “Are the master-tokens unharmed?”

  Eurig and Hadyn each picked up a lamp and walked off down the corridor, waving off the rest of the cadets.

  Eurig asked Hadyn quietly, “Do you think he got close enough to see this was a decoy?”

  Hadyn replied, “Hard to tell. I’m almost glad we’ve had the first attempt. It’s a relief, after chasing shadows for so long.”

  He sighed. “I’ll interview the folks upstairs, but I’ll bet he wasn’t seen or, at least, noticed. Glamoured, maybe.”

  Eurig said, “He’s not likely to be working alone.”

  “No, indeed.”

  “I’ll let Gwyn know,” Eurig said.

  Derlwyn intoned the final words as he placed the thin coronet on Rhian’s hair. “Senua and all the gods keep you. A blessing on you and your family, as the line continues.”

  Rhian rose from her knees and turned to face the people gathered in the great hall. Gwyn and Edern stood a step behind her on the right, and Angharad on the left. Angharad’s guards lurked unobtrusively behind her and everyone ignored them. George beamed at her from the side and next to him Maelgwn grinned. She’d thought she’d have a hard time keeping her own face composed, but the solemnity of the moment was compelling.

  A general hum of congratulations wafted up from the main floor. As the echoes died down, a man’s voice rose from the back of the great hall.

  “My lord king, I claim this woman in payment of the old debt.”

  Rhian could feel the blood draining from her face. Gwythyr, older than her foster-father and his implacable enemy, strode down through the hall, and the crowd parted before him as he came.

  Lludd stood up from his throne, leaving Creiddylad, next to him, seated.

  Gwythyr approached and sank onto one knee and bowed his head. When he rose, he said, “Hear me, my lord king. Long ago we made alliance, and we affirmed the bond with the person of your daughter, Creiddylad.”

  Lludd nodded.

  “Circumstances changed that, and tonight I would reaffirm our bond.”

  Rhian couldn’t move. She saw Gwyn lay a restraining hand on her grandfather Edern. He wasn’t going to allow this, was he?

  Gwythyr walked up the dais to her and nodded at her, his face unreadable. She couldn’t make herself respond. She froze in place like a frightened rabbit.

  Lludd smiled, and her heart sank. He expected this, she thought, appalled.

  “As of this ceremony, Rhian returns to the care of her closest kin, her grandfather Edern,” Lludd said.

  Oh, no, she thought, Gwyn no longer stands as my foster-father. The coming-of-age breaks that legal bond.

  He continued, “My lord Gwythyr, I approve your request, but only if you are the victor at this year’s Nos Galan Mai contest. Let that be a confirmation from the gods of the righteousness of your claim.”

  Gwythyr looked her over, and her knees weakened. She found George by her side, supporting her. When did he approach? She never saw it. Why didn’t Gwyn say anything?

  George didn’t speak but his very presence was an implied threat. Gwythyr ignored him and nodded to her again, saying, “Never fear, I will treat you well, my lady.” He bowed courteously to her under George’s glower.

  Then he turned and left the hall. The crowd maintained its silence until he was gone, then broke into excited conversation. The musicians started up and the dancing began.

  Rhian barely noticed. George walked her off the dais to a place where she could sit down, followed by his family. Maelgwn and he both stood between her and the crowd, creating a barrier.

  Angharad sat next to her and pushed her head down. “Breathe,” she said. Eventually the light-headedness passed and she sat up again.

  Gwyn walked up with Edern.

  “Foster-father…” she began.

  “Shush. Not here.” He looked at her sorrowfully. “We will get through this evening with fortitude and then we will talk, yes? Nothing will happen tonight.”

  Edern glared at him.

  Rhian nodded and straightened up. She made herself stand up, for the dancing. George patted her shoulder.

  Her foster-brother Maelgwn gave her a look of concern, but also respect. It warmed her, getting respect from this fierce young man, and she let that support her as she resolutely walked out onto the main floor of the hall on the arm of her grandfather.

  “You were right,” Gwythyr said, pleased. “Lludd agreed.”

  They were seated in Creiddylad’s rooms, after the long night of celebration had begun to wind down and she could leave the hall to meet him.

  “He laid a condition on it, you’ll have noticed.”

  He waved that aside. “I’ll take her now, and wait for the actual wedding. Once I have her, he can whistle for her back, whatever the outcome of Nos Galan Mai. Abduction of a recognized betrothed is within my right.”

  “Don’t be rash,” she warned.

  “You just lay your own plans and be ready. I’ll do as I wish in this. I've made my arrangements.” He smiled in satisfaction.

  He’s a fool, she thought. He’ll ruin it all if he’s not careful.

  CHAPTER 18

  At George’s request, Maelgwn walked over and closed the doors to Angharad’s apartment. All of them had gathered there, late at night, after the celebration had lost its savor.

  George glanced around the room. Everyone was tired and angry, and Rhian looked like she was near tears. Her woebegone face tore at his heart.

  Edern was the first to loose his fury at Gwyn. “How could you let that stand without a protest?”

  Gwyn said, patiently. “I’m only her foster-father, and with today’s ceremony she returns legally to you. That’s why she was vulnerable. You’ll have time to object. Nos Galan Mai is almost two months off.”

  “Quiet, both of you,” Angharad said. They glanced at the desolate Rhian, and George hoped they were ashamed.

  Gwyn walked over to her and held her by the shoulders until she looked into his face. “I’m sorry, foster-daughter. I would have warned you if I’d thought anything like this would happen. This was no part of any plan of mine.”

  She nodded.

  Edern said, “I detect Creiddylad’s hand in this. Did you see her face? She wasn’t surprised by it.”

  “I don’t understand,” George said. “Why would Gwythyr ask for Rhian?”

  Angharad told him, “Lludd has probably promised him Gwyn’s domain, and this is how Gwythyr expects to make him live up to that bargain.”

  Gwyn nodded. “Yes, that’s how I would read it.”

  “That would make me a hostage for everyone’s good behavior,” Rhian wailed. “I can’t do that. I won’t.”

  She subsided, and George suspected she was thinking of Brynach. Look at her, he thought, drooping in her lovely clothes.

  Gwyn said softly, “I won’t let this happen, foster-daughter. Be at ease.”

  George wondered how he planned to stop it. Rhian didn’t look reassured.

  A knock on the door gave warning, and the guards passed a courier through with a note for Gwyn.

  Gwyn took one look at it and asked the courier to wait outside for a response. He glanced up at the others
after he left. “There was an attempt made tonight on the master-tokens at Greenway Court. It failed, but the thief got away, unidentified.”

  “So,” George said, “an attack on two fronts tonight. Same perpetrator?”

  Angharad said, “I’m not so sure. The one in Annwn is more Lludd’s style than Gwythyr’s. I still think Lludd’s the one best able to put agents so freely into our midst.”

  Gwyn said, “Yes, but Gwythyr was always smarter, less blinded by wishful thinking, and if he has allied with Creiddylad, then he has all the information he needs to be very dangerous. She knows how my domain operates.”

  That was indisputable, George thought. No one replied.

  Angharad stood up. “Let’s all go to bed. This will look brighter in the morning.”

  Gwyn said, “Edern, stay a moment. George, please send the courier back in so we can compose a reply.”

  After complying with Gwyn’s request, George escorted Rhian down the hall to their suite. Maelgwn hung back in the usual position he took up as guard. George ignored him— all of his attention was on Rhian.

  “You know we won’t let anything happen to you,” he said.

  “That’s a tale for children,” she replied, hanging her head. She yawned. “I’m too tired to think about it now.”

  “That sort of shock always takes it out of you,” he said. “Sleep is the best remedy. You go on to bed. We’ll be here.”

  She opened the door and entered the dark common room of the suite. George lingered to locate a lamp in the light from the hallway while Rhian groped her way into her own room and shut the door. Maelgwn was still in the corridor outside when George sensed a presence in the room and his sense of danger flared. “Look out!” he cried.

  He turned and drew his sword, but something heavy rapped his hand and it dropped. Several men swarmed him in the dark and encumbered him with a thick net. In just a few moments he was trussed up, and a blow to his head put him down.

  Maelgwn heard George’s warning but then the door was pulled shut. He listened before turning the handle, and the noise of the fight came to an abrupt end.