Kingdom of Dragons

by Anna St George

  Chapter Thirteen

  Unexpected News

  Unexpected news arrived one morning as Merry arrived in the Great Hall a few days after Gwen’s departure. She had much on her mind this particular morning as she strolled towards the Great Hall. She wondered how Daniel was on his journey to Ireland and how Ceridwyn was coping with the Munro’s and Gwen with the Prince Pryderi and his family. It seemed strange without Gwen or Ceridwyn there to keep her company but her consolation and peace came from her times of prayer and reading the word of God.

  Merry had fussed much over her appearance that morning putting on a soft blue silk gown and Agnes had done her hair up in a sweet fashion and hopefully to Lord Carwyn’s approval. And she walked along with a lightness in her step that morning as she moved down the halls and past the large cathedral window on the second floor landing and something caught her eyes. She paused suddenly and peered out into the morning light and saw riders approaching the front of the castle. There were three of them. She raced down the stairs with more urgency in her step and went directly to the Great Hall and took her place at the table beside Lord Carwyn. “Good morning Merry.”

  “Good morning Eddy.”

  “You look absolutely lovely this morning.”

  “Thank you,” she smiled. “I see we have visitors,” she said.

  “Visitors?” he questioned and lifted his brows and at that very moment Gilbert walked in and sat down at his place. His father glanced at him angrily for he had been away a few days again and with certainty to see that strange girl Jane Folly.

  “So you decided to grace us with your presence. The sooner your brother returns and you are wed, the better,” said Godwyn.

  “Of course father,” said Gilbert non-chalantly and took a sip of the cider in his goblet. “I look forward to my dear brother’s return with pleasure,” he added in an exaggerated sweet tone.

  “I hope that woman has not cast a spell on you.”

  Gilbert pulled the goblet back from his lips and set it down. “I’ve been struck by a strong and dangerous spell father. The deepest, ancient magic you could ever imagine. I believe it’s called love.”

  “Why that confounded!” Godwyn fumed like a dragon and had the castle steward not come forth into the hall and announced the arrival of their visitors Gilbert would have had a steaming lecture. Sir Jamie stepped forward with urgency. He didn’t wait for the steward to finish talking.

  “Sir Jamie De Winter, Sir, of Arrencourt Hall and his brother Sir Alfred and companion, Sir Rhys Rhinehart of Winchester.” His words faltered away with a soft sigh as Sir Jamie had already reached Lord Godwyn’s presence.

  Lord Godwyn could tell from the pale cool tone of Jamie’s eyes that news he brought was not good and he quickly stood to his feet. Jamie and his two companions bowed as they stood before him. They were out of breath and in a hurry having ridden day and night to arrive at Berwyck at the most opportune time. The De Winters were long-time allies of the Godwyn’s. Their shields emblazoned with the symbol of the eagle and always ready to defend and serve the kingdom.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you and your family my good Lord, Lady Godwyn, but I bring you news of great urgency, Sir.”

  “What news do you bring?” asked Godwyn.

  He sighed deeply before speaking and the room was dead silent and even the servants stopped and listened for they knew it was unusual for Sir Jamie to arrive at such a time unannounced.

  “Sir, I come with regret to inform you that the King’s regent, the Duke of Wexford has passed away. He died in his sleep. The message came to me just two days ago at Carlisle and I rode here as soon as I received the message from Sir Simon Balfour.’ There were gasps and sighs around the table and Lord Godwyn had the look of utter shock on his face.

  “And?” he questioned. “What else do you need to tell me?”

  The room went silent again and everyone waited for Sir Jamie to speak again. “What we have feared for some time has now come to pass, Sir, the Duke of Redforte has declared himself the rightful king. He has made a public statement that King Edward is dead and he will take over the throne since Edward has no heir and was an only child. There have been riots, complete chaos. The Duke’s men have been riding through villages and towns and taking over, demanding allegiance or death. I’ve had messages come back of accounts in some towns. There have been pillaging and burnings, and torture.”

  “Deceitful scoundrel!” said Crewe.

  “We have all expected this for some time and the kingdom will now have a war on its hands and I am most interested to see who will stay loyal to the king,” said Carwyn.

  “Any news of a . . . dragon?” asked Lord Godwyn.

  Merry looked up surprised. “Dragon?”

  “Oh, it’s just a nickname . . . for the dragon clans,” said Godwyn. “Surely you know that Merry.”

  “Of course father,” she replied with some resilience. Nicknames and secret sayings seemed to be rampant in this household.

  Sir Jamie refrained from answering the question but Lord Godwyn addressed him again. “Have you spoken with the Earl of Dinefwr?”

  “No sir, we haven’t been able to find him. We arrived at Dinefwr and were told he had taken a trip to Pembroke. We arrived at Pembroke and were told he had gone to Cardiff and we arrived there and he had just left for Chepstow. It seemed we were on a wild goose chase. And then a messenger pursued us on the road with a message from Sir Simon Balfour and we came here directly. We’ll keep searching for him and as soon as we do find him, sir, we will bring him to you.”

  “The Duke is doing his best to convince the people that the king is dead and will not return,” said Sir Rhys. “Those of the dragon banners are rallying together. I myself will travel to Lord Stanley when I leave here sir. I hope to have him here with an army in less than a fortnight.”

  “And what of the seven royal knights of King Edward? Any news?”

  “Well sir,” said Jamie. “They are making progress through the kingdom. I know that Sir Peregrine Faithful and Sir Aaron D’Angel arrived at Wakefield, but with little welcome. Lord Arthur Goodkind and Sir Harald Peace were at Calder the last I heard. I have not had any word from Sir Richard Blessed and Sir Christian Freeman but I do believe Sir Albert Lovejoy was seen heading into the North recently with another young knight. News of the king’s return is spreading sir in spite of what the dragon armies are declaring.”

  “Father, what about Gwendolyn,” said Merry with anxiety.

  “There is nothing for you to fear mi’lady,” said Carwyn. “The Princes of Gwynedd are allies of King Edward. Caenarfon is well fortified and the Welsh Prince Pryderi is a fearless young man.. Your sister is in good hands.”

  “Sir I feel it is a good time to muster the allies to gather here in the North and be ready for the inevitable,” said Sir Jamie with urgency in his tone. “Once the Duke has control of the lesser kingdoms, he will head north. He knows this area is the largest and holds the biggest threat against him.”

  “What is being done to inform all the allies of this change in circumstance?” asked Godwyn.

  “Messengers are on the move as we speak to inform of the current situation.”

  “Good. I will prepare my men directly. This region is devoted to Edward, the rightful king and we will be ready when the time comes.”

  “There is one more thing Sir,” said Sir Alfred and he glanced at his brother. “It is rumoured sir that the Duke . . . did not pass on of natural causes as was stated by the crown but that he was indeed poisoned.”

  There were more gasps and comments circulating through the room. “Yes, it is true sir. I have been informed that the acting Regent was indeed poisoned sir,” said Sir Jamie.”

  “Poisoned,” said Godwyn. “It does not escape my bewilderment.”

  “Do you have proof of this?” asked Carwyn.

  “No, not exactly but we are working on it. We have an insider working closely in the Regent’s royal court. We hope to have an answer soon.”
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  Carwyn nodded briefly and Merry could tell that this news had upset him. “Let me know as soon as you know something. The king’s family . . . were very close to my family.”

  “Of course sir,” Said Jamie.

  “Send me word as quickly as you can of any changes,” said Godwyn.

  “Of course sir.”

  “Father, I must go back with Sir Jamie,” said Lionel.

  Then Lord Godwyn turned to his eldest son who was already feeling anxiety and apprehensions for his wife was staying in London caring for her ill mother and he had not had word from her for a while. “Lionel, I want you to stay here. This is where you are needed. I will see that Elizabeth and her family are brought here.”

  “No, father. I must go to her. I will leave this very day sir. I am most anxious to be on the road. The sooner I see my dearest Elizabeth and know that all is well with her my spirit and soul shall again be at rest.”

  “What did my father really mean by dragon?’ Merry whispered to Carwyn while her brother argued with her father about his journey.

  Carwyn cleared his throat before speaking. Why was this woman always a challenge? “It’s just . . . um a secret code word that’s all, just as he said.”

  “Oh, I see. You are sworn to secrecy as well,” she stated as her eyes filtered over him judgmentally. Her judgment was not enough to unravel him and she was met with a pert grin. “You will not cooperate, will you?” He shook his head negative. “Do you really believe that King Edward will return?”

  “Yes, I do,” said Carwyn. “Don’t you believe Merry?”

  “Well, I know father believes it whole heartedly but there has been no word from him since he left except for various accounts and well I have never seen him myself. To believe in someone you have never seen but only heard of is challenging indeed. And now there are the accounts of his death to contend with.”

  “Do you believe in God?”

  “Of course I do, why?”

  “Well, you have never seen him but you believe, why?”

  “Well,” she stammered. “Because of the testimony of others, and from his word which speaks truth and the miracle of creation.”

  “Yes, we’re surrounded by the miracle of creation,” said Carwyn. “It’s in the simplest song of a red breasted robin. It’s the stars sparkling over our heads at night, and the ever faithful sign of a rainbow after each rainfall.”

  “I never cease to be amazed at the sign of a rainbow in the sky,” Merry agreed.

  “ So you would admit there is a degree of faith involved here. It is written, blessed are those who have not seen but have believed. Can you believe from the testimony of those who knew the king and from his written edict that he would return when his work for the good Lord in the Crusades was complete?”

  “Of course,” she replied. “But, I think the real question is, who do I support? King Edward or the Duke of Redforte? But then of what importance is a woman’s opinion anyway? Are you sure you want to hear what I have to say?”

  He grinned at her smartness. “You know I want to hear what you have to say.”

  “Well then, of course I support King Edward but that still does not mean to say that he will return for how do I know? He could be anywhere for all we know. He might not even be in the Crusades anymore.”

  “That’s good calculation, Merry.”

  “You know heroic legends are made from brave knights riding off into war and never returning. Forever glorified in our hearts,” said Merry.

  “Are you familiar with the story of Odysseus; the king of Ithaca? I read it years ago in my studies of Greek History.”

  “My father loved that story and mother hired actors to perform it at Christmas one year and Gwen and Daniel and Pryderi I believe performed it for the hunters who attend the annual hunt at Berwyck.”

  “The story tells of a king who went to fight in the Trojan wars and after many journeys he returns home to his wife after twenty years away. Can you imagine that, Merry? And his wife remained faithful to him after twenty years. And our king has been away six years and everyone is ready to bury him.”

  “Yes, it’s an amazing tale of faith and long suffering on her part anyway.”

  “The story tells that Odysseus returns home in the disguise of a beggar to see who is faithful and who is not. He finds that there are suitors wooing his wife. No one knows if he will ever return and the suitors are convinced he is dead. The same as our good Lord. He said he would return and it has been over a thousand years since he was taken to heaven and people have forgotten what he said. Many have given in to those things that woo our hearts away from God’s love and purposes.”

  “Well perhaps King Edward walks among us in disguise as an old beggar,” she jousted and Carwyn laughed.

  “Perhaps,” he grinned and lifted the goblet in his hand. “Cheers, Lady Meridyth. You are a woman of great mind. You inspire me.”

  “Inspire you?” she laughed. “Thank you sir. You know,” she said with a deep look in her brown eyes. “Our good Lord was unrecognizable to his Disciples when he rose from the dead.”

  “He was indeed,” replied Carwyn. “He had just risen from the dead having defeated the war over sin and death once and for all.”

  “Perhaps the people in this kingdom have lost faith,” she speculated.

  “Not all of them” said Carwyn and Merry noticed a vibrant sparkle in his eyes as he looked at her. “There is a remnant,” he grinned again before taking a sip of the wine in the silver goblet and he moved from her side and went to talk with Sir Jamie de Winter.

  Merry retired that night feeling most unsettled for it seemed as if everyone was leaving but her. First, Ceridwyn, then Daniel and Gwen, and now Lionel would be next. She and Gilbert would be the only Godwyn siblings left at Berwyck. She suddenly felt very alone as she walked up the stairs that night and pondering everything Lord Carwyn said.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The Lioness in the Tower

  Lionel Godwyn held the honourable position of the eldest son of the house of Godwyn and he was nothing like his father except for appearances with dark hair and dark eyes that held a degree of mystery for he was a very secretive man. Lord Godwyn always spoke the truth and was quite straight to those who addressed him but not his son. Lionel was a man who would lie to save those he loved but he hated lying. In fact Lionel had learned from experience it was better to say nothing than to be in a position of lying or to say something and be judged for it. He had seen his father judged by his enemies for speaking the truth and for this reason he said very little and therefore he gained the reputation as a mysterious man of few words.

  He was on his horse promptly before late afternoon and heading towards the city of London in the company of Sir Jamie de Winter and his brother Alfred and companion Sir Rhys Rhinehart. Like his younger brother, Lionel had a form of excellence on the horse, a skill for which he was well praised. A crowd was never scarce when Lionel was in tournament and even if it was just to get a glimpse of him and his horse formally dressed. He matched the elegance of the king in a royal parade. But this was no parade and Lionel was glued to the saddle as they rode over ice and snow and rough terrain. He rode with determination with his mind set on reaching London. The current situation of his lovely wife was all he could think about and as soon as he saw her and knew she was safe he would be at peace again.

  They rode some hours before stopping for the night in a small hamlet of Whitwell which was a very small farming community and overshadowed by the parish of St Michaels. They took shelter in the Parish that evening bunking down under many woolen blankets for it was a cold evening. The wind howled all night like a determined hound rattling windows and shaking the door. Lionel wrapped the blankets tightly around him and he tossed and turned all night for the night was cold and he longed to be with his wife.

  They were on the road again before the sun rose and Lionel had a quick bite to eat which consisted of rashers of bacon and cold cider but he gratefully consumed
his and headed for the stables to ready the horses. They rode all that day as well and for the next two days stopping in small villages along the way.

  It was several days later they approached the city riding up the hill called Glory. They paused at the top and looked at the sight in front of them. The position on top of the hill produced a glorious sight of Whitehaven, the king’s palace which was visible in the distance. It was a massive stone castle that had been built three hundred years prior, the glory of the Godwyn kings and from this position on top of Glory hill was the best view of the castle. It glowed on the skyline like a priceless jewel. It was the envy of many kings.

  The four men paused in silence paying respect to King Edward when suddenly a cloud of smoke came into view. “Look there,” said Sir Rhys squinting in the daylight. “That cloud of smoke off to the right.”

  They all turned and looked and as Sir Rhys had said there was a dark cloud of smoke. Something was burning and suddenly another fire came into view only this time they could see flames and there were people running to and fro. As they reached the bottom of the hill and moved onto the main road it was as if they were engulfed in a tempest of unrest. There were riots and people rushing about. The king’s guard rode their horses through the streets shouting, “All hail King Luther!” They dragged three men along behind them dressed in fine clothing. Lionel wasn’t sure who they were but they were men of nobility and he guessed they were supporters of King Edward. They were brought before the executioner’s platform. One of the guards stepped forward and unrolled a piece of parchment from which he read in a deep loud voice. “I hereby sentence all three of you to be hung this day on accounts of treason by the order of his majesty, King Luther the first.” It all happened so quickly. Nooses were placed around their necks and within moments they were dangling by the ropes and there was yelling from the crowd.

  “What’s going on?” asked Sir Jamie to a spectator in the crowd.

  “Don’t you know,” said the scraggly old man.