by Myers, Karen
George.
Don’t drink.
Lies.
Enemies.
Listen to animals.
How long had that been there, she wondered. It had to be that time he got out, he must have met Rhian in the garden. She’d never told Gwythyr about it, she was afraid of his wrath.
Let Gwythyr be furious for now, she thought. He’s lucky. He’s too angry to be afraid. Not me. She remembered George tearing apart the room and crashing the furniture against the wall that stood between them. That had been personal. That was Cernunnos. She thought with dread of what happens to those who anger the gods.
It had taken them three days to rid the castle of the vermin that had come over the wall, and she was still tired from the effort it had taken to work that much magic. No wonder her temper was short. What would Cernunnos do to them once he had the time to consider carefully?
She calmed herself. They had to stick together. “What about your domain here?” she said. “Will Llefelys do anything? Does he even know?”
“If he doesn’t yet, he will soon. Where else would they go?”
Gwyn read Rhodri’s note from the courier for the third time in a row that night, letting it fully sink in. It had been written in haste, the harbinger of good news. Everyone found, no one hurt. They freed themselves from Calubriga. Llefelys was hosting them, and indignant against his vassal Gwythyr. Details to follow.
It seemed too good to be true. I’m sure they are not truly unhurt, but still there was apparently no permanent harm, he thought. Better than I deserve.
Rhodri asks me what he can tell them about the rock-wights. Morien wants to know, and so, by implication, does Llefelys.
So, what does this mean, he considered. I think I can move Llefelys from his famous neutrality if I do this right.
He wrote to Rhodri,
If you trust them, then tell them everything. Answer whatever they ask.
There were no secrets he needed to keep from Llefelys, he thought, and that will win him allies in the long run.
He will have a price, he reminded himself. Not a bribe, more a favor, something he will want.
Gwyn added to the note,
If Llefelys will consider an alliance, he may ask what he will.
Now off to tell Angharad, though I suppose she already knows, doesn’t she. A message for Brynach, from Rhian, was enclosed. That made him smile.
And he’d better scribble a note for Eurig, hadn’t he. They would all rejoice at home, and he wanted to make sure Seething Magma stayed put.
What to do with George and Rhian now? Better to keep them both in Gaul for a while, he thought. Fewer enemies. I’ll send Ceridwen tonight, and maybe she can bring her colleagues there instead of visiting them. Let them see George for themselves. Let them talk to Cernunnos, if he’ll oblige them.
Rhodri dropped in on George very early the next day, well before the morning meal, but Morien was there before him. George remained asleep, and there were still animals underfoot in the room.
Rhian had come by twice in the evening, once before dinner, and once late, before bed. She’d dispersed the animals each time by bespeaking them to “go home.” Nevertheless, throughout the evening people dropped by on the excuse of seeking their pets, though many clearly came just to see the comedy for themselves. There was no keeping the situation quiet.
As Rhodri looked around, Morien pointed out some of the new beasts to him. Two little bats hung from the top of the bedstead, and a small owl blinked uncomfortably from a rafter. “Wildlife, too?” Rhodri said.
“The ones who could get in, anyway.” Morien replied. “I suppose we’re lucky not to be closer to the stables.”
“You weren’t here all night, were you?”
“No, I had a couple of servants keep watch, just in case anything changed,” Morien said. “Come, join me. I don’t think he’ll sleep much longer, and I wanted to be here when he woke up.”
As they chatted quietly, they were surprised by a soft knock on the open door and the entrance of Ceridwen. Morien and she were already well-acquainted. She handed Rhodri some correspondence from Gwyn and pulled up a chair to join them at the table.
Another cat crept into the room, and Ceridwen listened with amusement to Rhodri’s summary of the situation.
Morien asked, “What is it he’s clutching, around his neck? I can’t get a good look at it.”
“That’s a simple directional charm from his wife, Angharad,” she said. “It’s only detectable when it’s away from his skin, so it’s hard to see when he wears it. I’m sure he finds it comforting.”
“I take it Gwyn got the news last night?” Rhodri said.
“That’s why I’m here,” she replied. “I’ll tell you all about it once he wakes up…” She paused and cocked her head at the bed. “…and he’s listening to us now.”
She raised her voice, “Welcome back, George. We’re all very glad that you and Rhian are well.” She cleared her throat. “You are well, are you not?”
George blinked. He’d heard Ceridwen’s voice and forgotten where he was for a moment.
He sat up in bed and stared at the cats curled up against his legs. The dogs on the floor roused at his movement. “What’s going on? What is all this?”
Rhodri laughingly directed his eyes to the rafters for more. “I think this may be some of that ‘leakage’ you were talking about yesterday.”
“What am I supposed to do with them?”
Morien said, “Rhian had some luck with ‘go home.’ You might try it. Then we probably need to work on some adjustments.”
George looked around bemused at all the animals. “Alright, gang, I can’t take you with me and, besides, I’m sure there’s someplace you’re supposed to be.” He started by bespeaking the wild animals first, and watched the bats flit away, down the corridor. He had to prod the sleepy owl a bit more forcefully.
“Dogs next,” he said, and they stood and stretched before trotting out of the room purposefully.
“Don’t make me tell you twice,” he said to the cats. They took their time about it, but each of the half-dozen on the bed dropped to the floor as if it were its own idea and took its time pacing to the doorway.
“That’s better,” Rhodri said.
George felt a pulse of warmth that was still unaccounted for and sought for it under the covers. He brought forth a small black kitten about the size of his two hands. It blinked yellow eyes at him and yawned, exhibiting little needle-sharp teeth. It ignored him when he bid it to leave.
“What about this one?”
“No one knows who he is,” Morien said. “When he arrived he claimed a space for himself and everyone left him alone. Rhian cleaned him up on the outside and I took care of his parasites. I think this one is yours now, no home to go to.”
What am I supposed to do with a kitten, he thought. It purred at him. Enchanted, he stroked its cheek with a finger and the purring got louder.
He stopped himself from falling deeply into his beast-sense again and caught a big grin on Rhodri’s face. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” he said.
“I was just thinking. I forgot to tell you, you’re a father now, of 27. Whelps, that is.”
“Are the dams alright? Did everything go well?” He remembered his dream about the puppies.
“As far as I know, everything’s fine.”
George suddenly looked at Morien. “Wait, wasn’t I supposed to dine with Llefelys? Was that just last night?” He looked around at the morning light in the window and raised his eyebrows. “I seem to have overslept.”
“We’ll make it breakfast instead,” Morien said. “They’re expecting you.”
Ceridwen put a small leather pouch on the table she shared with Morien and Rhodri. “The contents of your pockets. They left it all behind.”
She opened it and reached in. “You’ll be pleased to see this,” she said, and pulled out his pocket watch. Morien examined it with interest.
“I’ll be gl
ad to explain it to you in detail, later, if you’ll just let me get up and dress,” George said, exasperated. Rhodri grinned and ushered them out.
Before Ceridwen left, she placed a letter on the table for him. “From Angharad,” she said.
He threw back the covers and snatched it up as she closed the door.
Angharad wrote how she had felt him, from afar, through her amulet, and how she had known the moment he recovered, yesterday. She made light of her own predicament, joking about how uncomfortable she was making it for Lludd while still obeying his commands. She gave him the news about Maelgwn tracking their captors, and being sent home by Gwyn, a precaution with which he agreed. It was altogether heartening, despite the lack of any advance in her own situation.
His companions waited outside in the corridor while he hurriedly dressed.
He draped Coronwen’s cloak over his arm and opened the door to leave. The kitten rocketed past him into the corridor and sat there waiting for him, expectantly. “Go back in and stay there,” he told it. The kitten washed a paw diligently and ignored him. Morien looked down at the kitten, then up at George.
George sighed. He picked the kitten up and placed him on his left shoulder, and felt the little claws dig into the wool of his new jacket. There was no sense of distress from its mind, so he let it be and joined his companions. Rhodri tried to maintain a straight face at the sight, but failed. Even Ceridwen had to cover her mouth with her hand.
“What, you’ve never seen a man with a kitten before?” George asked, straight-faced. “Come along, let’s not keep them waiting.”
CHAPTER 25
George entered a pleasant room filled with morning sunlight. Llefelys was seated at one end of a long table, with his wife at his right hand. They were about to start their meal.
Morien had walked ahead to prepare introductions. Rhian was waiting for them near the entrance, where the light from a window fell upon her, and George stopped, pulled to a halt by Cernunnos. He altered into the horned man abruptly, startling the kitten which clung to his shoulder gamely as his form changed, and then sank on one knee before her. She flushed and smiled at him uncertainly but stood her ground.
“My lady,” he said, in the horned man’s deep voice, “We well recall what debt we owe you. We will repay it.”
She nodded shakily, and he rose and pulled the form back in. After he was sure the incident was done, he told her, “Sorry to frighten you. There seemed to have been some urgency to get that taken care of.”
She smiled at him genuinely this time. “Who’s this?” she said, pointing at his passenger. “Don’t I recognize him?”
“Mister Independent,” he said. “He wouldn’t stay behind. Will you hold him for a moment? I need to look a bit more dignified.” He winked at her.
He plucked the kitten off his shoulder and gave him to Rhian, then he walked past her and joined Morien for the formal greeting.
“My lord king,” Morien said, “this is George Talbot Traherne, whom you met yesterday.”
George made his best court bow.
Llefelys nodded at him. “You seem to have recovered from your ordeal,” he said.
“Yes, my lord king. I’m sorry I was not able to attend you at dinner as requested.”
“No matter,” Llefelys said. “This is my queen, Coronwen.”
George bowed deeply. “My lady, I return your cloak, with much gratitude.” He handed it to a servant. “And I bring you greetings from your parents, who hoped I might see you.” She looked like her mother, he thought, and a good thing, too. For a moment his imagination supplied Eurig’s walrus-like mustaches, and he choked.
“Will you please join us?” she said. “Rhian, I believe you know my cousin, Brynach. Please come and sit here with me, and tell me all about him.”
Morien sat on the left hand of his king, and Ceridwen was next, then Rhodri. George sat next to Rhian. He took the kitten back and dropped him onto the chair next to him. “Stay,” he said, not expecting success. The kitten curled up obediently.
His stomach rumbled at the sight and smell of the food, and he realized he was ravenous. When Morien raised an eyebrow at his third helping of ham, he paused to explain. “Sorry, but I haven’t eaten in a while. Couldn’t really see the appeal of twigs and leaves.”
As George had hoped, the casual reference to the uncanny deer surprised them into laughter and helped break the ice.
After awhile, when they’d finished eating, George took advantage of a lull in the conversation. “Could someone explain what has happened since we’ve been gone? How long were we held?”
At a nod from Llefelys, Morien said, “It’s been three weeks. What do you remember?”
“I remember all of it, both before and after,” George said grimly. He turned to Rhian. “Scilti was there. Creiddylad wanted to boast. She let him take a look at his handiwork, what was left of it.”
She shuddered.
He continued, “From what Rhodri told me, it’s obvious what Gwythyr wanted with you, but not what Creiddylad wanted with me. My one clue is overhearing her tell someone, probably Gwythyr, that she ‘wanted me willing, with my powers intact.’”
Ceridwen and Rhodri said, almost together, “The ways.”
George nodded. “Yes, I think so, too.” He automatically reached out and felt for the ways in the vicinity. There were several and, as always, a couple of hidden ones.
“I was lucky,” he said. “Her enchantment was too strong, too successful. It locked that away with everything else, and something stopped my tongue, besides.” At that, he felt a stir inside. Did Cernunnos make him mute, as a defense?
Llefelys observed, “Calubriga is isolated from the ways. It’s famous for it.”
“The better to hold me,” George said.
Coronwen nodded.
Time to ask the important question. He cleared his throat. “My lord king,” he asked, “can Gwythyr be held accountable for his actions, as your vassal?”
Llefelys paused over his answer.
“With regard to Rhian here, he was technically within his rights, however much we may disapprove. Once Lludd had agreed….”
George swelled with outrage, but Rhian put her hand on his arm.
“It’s true, George. And he did not mistreat me. I am obliged to admit it.”
Llefelys continued, “For his guest’s action he is indeed responsible but—forgive me, huntsman—you are not a vassal of mine and your position is not high enough to justify an overt and violent response from me.”
George frowned. “My… companion is not pleased to hear it.” And indeed, emotions roiled in the depths, wrath uppermost.
Llefelys looked at him steadily. “I must keep the interests of my own kingdom foremost in my thoughts. I would seem weak to discipline a vassal for so small a matter.”
“It was not small to Madog,” George said. “What if he had succeeded?”
“True. And others may try.” He gave him a speculative glance. “How if I keep the both of you myself?”
There was a sharp intake of breath around the table. Careful, George, he told himself. This is a king. Tough. No more diplomatic answers. I won’t have it.
He replied, evenly. “You can try, my lord king. It didn’t work out so well for Gwythyr.” He reached down with his left hand and clasped Rhian’s right hand, in her lap.
Llefelys considered him, and nodded. The tension subsided in the room.
“No, I will not do that. Nor, having heard Rhian’s tale, will I defend Gwythyr against any actions you or anyone may take in revenge.”
That cheered George up.
“In addition,” he said, “I am now prepared to attend more favorably to Rhodri’s blandishments against maintaining my customary neutrality.”
Rhodri said, formally. “My lord king, I have new instructions from my lord Gwyn to answer freely and frankly any questions you may have. Any at all. My companions, too. He also suggests that you think about what might be a suitable request, whateve
r he can grant you.”
“That is most welcome to hear,” Llefelys said. “He is not to harm my brother directly, see to that. However, I cannot let these outrages continue, and I cannot be thought to give them encouragement. Things will need to change, brother or no.”
George said, “How can I help with that?”
Ceridwen spoke up. “Gwyn has proposed that instead of my continuing my journeys to my individual colleagues on his behalf, that I bring them here instead, with your permission, lord king, where they can also meet with Morien, with George, and with Cernunnos, if he will oblige us. The god seems to be taking an active role, and there have been signs of attention from some of the others.”
“I really don’t see why I should be such an object of interest,” George said.
Ceridwen looked at him. “What Gwyn is planning, what you can do, what Cernunnos has in mind, above all who controls you… you embody a great nexus of change. The holders of power want to know you, to understand what you can and will do, especially in light of Gwyn’s conflict with his father.”
“And so do I, kinsman,” Llefelys said, turning a stern gaze upon him.
Llefelys pushed his chair back and Rhodri was relieved to see an end to this session. He hadn’t expected George to beard Llefelys at his own table. What had gotten into him?
“You may arrange your visitors,” Llefelys told Ceridwen, and she curtsied to him.
“Morien,” he continued, “Have Bedwyr equip her with the necessary tokens.”
To Ceridwen, he said, “That’s my way-finder. Morien will take charge of you and have my steward organize the meetings. I will attend them myself, when I can.”
He looked over at Rhian, who had risen with everyone else. “And what about you, kinswoman?”
Rhodri said, “Gwyn suggests that she stay here for the month, until Nos Galan Mai, and then come with you. That will keep her out of Gwythyr’s reach. And your brother’s.”
Rhian sent him a worried look, and he told her, “It’s the best thing to do.” He smiled at her. “I forwarded your letter.”
