Kingdom of Dragons

by Anna St George

  “It’s very lovely,” said Ceridwyn. “I’m sure I shall be very happy.”

  “But you must miss your sisters very much?” asked Michael Munro, the young cousin.

  “Yes, I miss them both very much.”

  “But Artemis’ cousins, will be great companions for you,” said Lady Munro. “Won’t you girls?’

  “Oh of course Aunt, we couldn’t be more delighted to be Lady Ceridwyn’s companion,” said Deirdre and she smiled ever so sweetly and Ceridwyn was all too familiar with that sweet vicious smile.

  “I’m sure we will be good friends,” said Caitlyn.

  “Of course,” said Ceridwyn and she sipped her ale with a degree of uncertainty and at that moment the cat cried and arched its back.

  Chapter Twelve

  The Loch of Inverness

  Ceridwyn woke the following morning to a flicker of sunlight somewhere outside the window. She pulled herself up wearily and as soon as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, Maeve came rushing into the room. “My goodness, I’m running late and your barely dressed, mi’lady. Did you sleep well?”

  “Yes, thank you. I was very tired and my eyes slammed shut as soon as my head hit the pillow.”

  “Well now, let’s see. What will you wear today?” asked Maeve as she flicked through some of Ceridwyn’s gowns which had been conveniently hung for her on a wooden pole in the room and when she wasn’t satisfied, she opened the trunk and began rummaging through more. “I must say, you’ve got some lovely gowns. We’ll have to get a special tartan made for you when you marry. Every Munro lady has a tartan gown to represent her clan just as the men wear kilts.” There was a moment of silence and suddenly Maeve lifted a deep blue gown from the trunk. “Ahhh! Look at this one. This is lovely. And it matches your lovely blue eyes, very well. Don’t you think?”

  “I suppose,” was all Ceridwyn would say.

  “What’s wrong mi’lady, you don’t seem happy?”

  “I’m a little anxious is all. I’m worried about meeting Sir Fingal Munro.”

  Maeve smiled warmly. “Don’t worry mi’lady. It will all work out. The day will come and you will meet and it will be lovely and everything you dreamed of.” Ceridwyn doubted that for Sir Gregory was everything she had dreamed of and he had been left behind. “Now hop up and put a smile on that pretty face. A face as pretty as yours shouldn’t look sour.”

  Ceridwyn obeyed and stood to her feet and Maeve helped her into the blue gown and as she laced the back of it Ceridwyn couldn’t help but wonder about the three cousins, those lovely girls who had promised their friendship. “Tell me truthfully Maeve,”

  “Yes mi’lady.”

  “Does Sir Fingal have a love interest?”

  “What?” she asked in surprise.

  “Does Sir Fin…”

  “Well . . . no, not that I know,” she answered. “Why do you ask?”

  “I don’t know. I’m guessing he is twenty-something.”

  “Twenty Four, he is.”

  “And I thought he must have had an interest in someone surely.”

  “Well yes to be sure but I couldn’t tell you.”

  “Did one of his cousins have an interest in him?”

  “Cousins?”

  “Dierdre or Caitlyn?”

  “Oh, . . .” she hesitated. “No, of course not. Sir Hugh is currently making arrangements for Deirdre to marry into the Douglas clan. But not to worry my dear. As soon as he returns from his journey, he is all yours. Any prior acquaintances will be dissolved and that’s that,” she smiled.

  But Ceridwyn was not that naïve and she knew that when forced into situations, either party could still be loyal to the prior acquaintance. She exhaled deeply as Maeve finished lacing the dress.

  It wasn’t long before she was descending the stairs to the lower level and the three cousins were there and wearing their shawls and smiling so amicably. “Good morning Lady Ceridwyn,” said Deirdre. “Would you like to join us for a walk of the grounds?”

  “Thank you. I would enjoy that very much,” she replied.

  “Your cloak mi’lady,” said Maeve. She draped a long blue cloak over her and Ceridwyn fastened it and turned to leave with the girls. “Oh wait,” said Maeve. “You’ll need this today,” she said and draped a fur shawl around her neck and fastened it in place. “There now, as pretty as a petal,” said Maeve and Deirdre and Caitlyn giggled softly.

  Ceridwyn followed the girls outside and through the gate to a path that led around the side of the loch. “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “We thought we’d show you the loch,” said Deirdre.

  “There’s a monster in it,” said Caitlyn and she and Deirdre giggled.

  “It’s only a story,” said Isla.

  “It is not!” snapped Deirdre. “And how would you know anyway.”

  “Many have seen it,” said Caitlyn defending her older sister and as they walked along Ceridwyn realized that Deirdre and Caitlyn were buddies and their younger sister, Isla was often picked on. They were attractive girls she calculated. All three had chestnut coloured hair and Isla was slightly freckled. Deirdre had curly hair and Caitlyn had soft waves. Isla was very freckled and she found Isla the most warming and they talked as they walked along.

  “You must forgive my sisters. They are very loud mouthed at times.”

  “It’s alright. No need to apologize for them.”

  “So what is your cousin like?” asked Ceridwyn for she felt comfortable talking to Isla.

  “Oh look at me!” said Deirdre who suddenly jumped atop a stump of a tree and she grabbed a winter petal and placed it in her hair.

  “You’re as pretty as a petal!” said Caitlyn and the two girls burst into laughter.

  “That’s not funny!” said Isla.

  “We’re just having fun is all,” said Deirdre. “We’re trying to make the depressed girl laugh.”

  “I’m not depressed,” said Ceridwyn firmly.

  “Then why do you look so sour?” asked Deirdre in a sweet tone.

  “Stop it Deirdre!” said Isla.

  “Tell us, is it true your eldest sister ran off with a married man?” asked Deirdre.

  Ceridwyn cheeks reddened. She was certain now that these girls meant to injure her feelings on purpose. They had as much sympathy for her as the snow under their feet. “No it is not true,” she said firmly. “She did indeed marry a man that did not have my father’s full regard, but he has passed away and she is living at home again. Whatever you have been told is a lie.”

  “Are you calling my mother a liar?” asked Deirdre.

  “Well, no of course not,” said Ceridwyn nervously. “Perhaps your mother was given the wrong information.”

  “Please, can you both just be pleasant,” said Isla.

  “Oh, of course, dear sweet sister,” said Deirdre. “We will be pleasant. Come along then Dear Ceridwyn. We have something to show you,” she smiled and they carried along a pathway surrounded in evergreens and barren trees that moved along the side of the loch and in the short distance Ceridwyn could see the ruins of a castle. All that remained were its outer walls and nature had taken its way and moved inside, but it was very mysterious perched on a small hill near the edge of the loch. Deirdre and Caitlyn raced ahead and Isla stayed behind with Ceridwyn.

  “What place is this?” asked Ceridwyn as they neared the castle. A fisherman in a boat nearby waved out to them and the girls waved back.

  “It’s the ruins of Breichinn Castle. It was destroyed a couple of hundred years ago in a raging battle,” said Isla.

  “No, it was destroyed by the monster,” said Caitlyn.

  “Don’t be daft!” said Isla. “It was not.”

  “It was,” said Deirdre defending her sister. “What do you think that fisherman is doing? At this time of year? He’s looking for the monster. The monster attacked the castle and now . . .” she grinned. “Now the monster lives here!” The two girls giggled again and Ceridwyn rolled her eyes. They see
med far more immature than their young sister Isla and even the Cheswyck sisters in all their pomp and perfection were far more polite than these two brazen highland girls.

  Isla and Ceridwyn followed the girls up on the rocky ledge looking at the lake and it seemed very magnificent and the view of Adair castle was breathtaking from this point. Ceridwyn looked around anxiously should the water suddenly draw back and produce some creature but it was very still on this particular cool day and there wasn’t even a faint breeze. It was completely still.

  “Come, I must show you something,” said Deirdre and she moved to a path on the opposite side of the castle and moved down a narrow path to an edge perched over the water.

  “Come over here and have a look,” said Deirdre. “Little bird in a nest in the tree below.”

  “No thanks,” said Ceridwyn.

  “She’s scared!” said Caitlyn.

  “I’m not scared,” she defended herself.

  “Then come and have a look,” Deirdre insisted.

  Ceridwyn knew she wouldn’t win this game unless she was resolute and didn’t give in so she moved forward slowly and the two girls were softly grinning at her. Ceridwyn neared the edge and Deirdre encouraged her even more. “Lovely little birds,” she exclaimed.

  Ceridwyn moved to the edge and her heart was pounding and she paused on the edge and looked downward. There was a tree growing out of the side of the hill and several little chicks lie nestled in their nest. “Oh, how sweet. That’s very lovely.” It seemed Deirdre had done a kind act indeed. “Thank you for showing me . . .”

  “Ahhh!” Deirdre suddenly screamed loudly. “The monster!”

  Ceridwyn looked up suddenly in a panic and her foot slipped on the edge of the rock. She lost her balance and went toppling over the edge plunging into the freezing water of the loch which quickly engulfed her. She struggled to keep her head above the water and the girls were screaming and fear gripped her like a heavy weight pulling her down in the murky water. She struggled with all her might to pull herself towards the edge but the weight of her gown was heavy and the current was fighting against her. And what about the monster? The water was freezing, dark and murky. What if he was circling her at that very moment? What if he was about to surface and scare the life out of her? Ceridwyn was struggling to keep her head above the water when something suddenly gripped her shoulder and pulled and she screamed as loud as she could. She was tired and weak and she fought against it but the force was too strong. It was then she prayed with all her heart and the sun burst through the clouds and Ceridwyn suddenly felt her body lift out of the water.

  She looked up into the face of a kind old man and she was lying in some sort of boat. “It’s alright now lassie. Yer safe now. I’ll take ya back to Adair.”

  She nodded softly. “Thank you.”

  When they reached the castle, a small crowd had gathered as the girls had run back and informed everyone of what happened. Michael Munro helped the old man tie the boat and Artemis grabbed Ceridwyn and carried her inside.

  “Oh my goodness,” said Lady Munro. “She’ll be freezing. Take her upstairs. Maeve, get her out of those wet things and get her warm. I’ll get cook to make some stew.”

  “What happened?” asked Lord Munro.

  “She fell in the water. I was fishin and I heard a great splash and then screamin coming from the Breichinn. I rowed over as fast as I could and she was splashing in the water. Lucky I was there.”

  “Thank you kindly sir,” said Munro. “It was providence that you were there. We are very grateful to you. You may help yourself to the trout in my stream.”

  “Thank you mi’lord.”

  Ceridwyn was changed into dry clothing and a roaring fire lit in her room and it all seemed as though she would be fine until the following day when her throat went hoarse and the symptoms started; sneezing, coughing and worst of all, fever. The fever set in with a rampage and by the following evening she was delirious. Maeve sat at her side and Isla joined her until her mother made her leave for fear of infection. But sometime in the night, Isla snuck back in and sat beside her. “If yer mother finds out,” said Maeve. “She’ll put me in the stew.”

  “Don’t worry,” said Isla. “I’ll leave before breakfast. No one will know I’ve been here. Please. I just want to be here for her when she wakes. She is so far from home and has had the coldest reception from the Munro’s.”

  “Oh alright.”

  Isla was vigilant putting cold cloths on her head and making sure the fire was roaring away. And she picked up Ceridwyn’s bible near her bed and began reading it aloud to her. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

  It was two days before the fever finally broke and three days more before Ceridwyn was well enough to sit up in bed. She had been at Inverness for nearly a week and spent most of it in bed fighting for her very life. It was not a good start. She lie in bed one morning eating some porridge and thinking of the farm woman’s warning about Adair Castle and the Munro’s. Was falling in the water a coincidence? Or perhaps it was an omen as the farm woman said. At that moment Ceridwyn sat up and watched the sun rule out a path across her room when the door opened and in came the two sisters and they were both very humble and repentant. “Good morning Lady Ceridwyn.”

  “Good morning,” she replied.

  They walked in meekly and stood by her bed. “Are you feeling much better today?” asked Caitlyn.

  “Yes, Very much better.”

  “That’s good,” said Caitlyn.

  There was a moment of silence and the girls fumbled nervously. “Well, I was wondering if . . . when you are better that is . . . if you would like to go for another walk,” asked Deirdre. Ceridwyn looked a little skeptical and after all why should she want to go for a walk again. The last one had been a disaster. “What I really mean to say is, I’m sorry for what happened. We never meant for you to fall in the lake. It was only a joke,”

  “It’s alright. No hard feelings,” said Ceridwyn politely.

  “Thank you,” said Deirdre.

  At that moment Maeve burst into the room with a pile of linen and a smile wider than the loch. “Good morning dear. I have some news,” she retorted as she placed the linen on a chair. “Sir Fingal Munro is back. He arrived this morning.” The cousins squealed with pleasure.

  “He’s back?” said Caitlyn. “Can’t wait to see if he brought us anything. He’s such a thoughtful cousin and he always brings us presents.”

  “How nice of him,” said Ceridwyn.

  “Well one thing is for sure,” said Maeve. “He brought a visitor with him.”

  “A visitor?” Dierdre queried. “Who?”

  “You’ll see soon enough. Quickly girls, get ready!”

  This news of a visitor fazed Ceridwyn very little for her thoughts were completely on meeting Sir Fingal Munro. She wondered even more now what he would be like and if they would indeed have an attraction to one another. Deep in her heart she couldn’t imagine anyone as wonderful as Sir Gregory and with those thoughts she rose from the bed and Maeve helped her to prepare for her meeting with Sir Fingal. In no time she was ready and she sat and waited with great anxiety. She waited and waited and she sighed wearily as the sun disappeared behind the hills. She still had not met Fingal Munro.

  Two more days passed before she was brought to meet with Sir Fingal Munro. It was early evening and the sun was setting. She was called upon before the evening meal and she rose promptly and followed Maeve down the stairs. “Does he want to see m
e?” she asked nervously and Maeve calculated the anxiety in her tone.

  “Don’t worry miss it will all be fine.”

  “Then why has he waited two days to see me?”

  “He had a long journey miss. He’s been away some months. He was very tired. Now he’s feeling refreshed and his parents have talked to him and he is ready to meet with you.”

  Ceridwyn still looked very unsure of herself. “Now, take a deep breath and follow me. The sooner you meet the better. Ceridwyn paused and inspected herself in the looking glass before following Maeve out of the room. Her life was about to change forever.

  Ceridwyn could feel her heart pounding as she walked along the hall behind Maeve and when they reached the Hall she could hear Lord Munro talking with someone. He paused when Maeve moved into the room. “Lady Ceridwyn, mi Lord.”

  Ceridwyn moved into the room slowly. Lord Munro smiled at her and sitting beside him was a man about his age. As she was introduced her speculations had been confirmed and she perused the room momentarily and there was no one else present and she wondered where Fingal Munro was. He was a mysterious man it seemed. He had already been back two days and she had not even seen the faintest glimpse of him. And suddenly Lord Munro smiled warmly. “Lady Ceridwyn allow me to introduce Sir Fingal Harald Munro, mi’lady, the fourteenth viscount of Inverness, and Prince of the clan Munro.”

  Ceridwyn could hear the footsteps behind her and she turned slowly. Her face paled as she looked upward and her eyes met his. She was looking directly at the man called Fingal Munro.