Kingdom of Dragons

by Anna St George

  “I didn’t know Ulrich was capable of such kindness,” said Sir Jamie. “I’m sorry if it bothers you to hear me say that, but I know a different side of Wolf Ulrich.”

  “Of course,” said Uther. “I know many do not like him.”

  “So you’re a believer of the faith?” asked Jamie examining the gold cross.

  “Not really,” said Uther. “I’m not sure what I believe. I wear it for my mother’s sake. It’s just a keepsake as far as I’m concerned.”

  “So were you on a mission to find the Earl of Dinefwr?” asked Sir Jamie.

  Uther was puzzled and as if he didn’t know what to say. “Well . . . no, sir.”

  “Why were you looking through our knapsacks? You knew we were there!” Pryderi accused.

  “I knew,” he confessed. “I . . . I had a message for the Earl of Dinefwr. So I suppose you could say I was looking for him only I intended to leave the message in his knapsack. But you found us.”

  “Where is this message now?” asked Lord Wylde.

  “I don’t know sir. I think I dropped it at that point.”

  “Who was it from?” asked Pryderi.

  There was a long moment of silence and Uther looked very uncomfortable. “I don’t know.”

  “You don’t know!” said Pryderi doubtfully. “Surely you know who gave it to you.”

  “I can’t tell you that,” he said firmly and swiftly.

  “Do you know what it said?” asked Wylde.

  Uther wet his lips nervously. “No, of course not.”

  “I just find it strange,” said Sir Jamie. “That you should mistakenly stumble on a group of Lion supporters traveling with Prince Pryderi and Lady Gwendolyn to escort the Earl of Dinefwr to Berwyck. We know for a fact that your father Wolf Ulric had already been to Dinefwr in hopes of taking Lord Wylde back with him to Dragon’s gate. Did you know anything about that?.”

  “No. It was a coincidence,” said Uther. The room went silent again and Lord Grey summoned the guard to escort Uther back to the dungeon while they all discussed everything that was said.

  “Well?” asked Sir Jamie to the group of men and Lady Gwendolyn once Uther was gone from the room.

  “He’s hiding something for sure,” said Lord Wylde. “But what?”

  “Something to do with the message perhaps,” said Gwendolyn.

  “We may never know then,” said Sir Jamie. “He’s lost it, apparently.”

  “Do we take him with us to Berwyck.?” Asked Wylde.

  “I see no reason to take him,” said Sir Jamie.

  “I think he could be of value to us,” said Wylde. “Let me talk to him, alone.”

  Sir Jamie nodded. “Just this once. See what you can get out of him. We leave in the morning,” he said to everyone.

  Gwen finished her glass of wine and went upstairs to bed. There was so much to think about; Pryderi, Lord Wylde, the dragon, her family back home and the state of the kingdom. There was much swirling through her mind as she went to the chamber organized for her but tiredness had won this battle. It was the first night in at least two weeks that she was able to collapse into a bed. Her head hit the soft pillow and she was sound asleep.

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  The Prisoner of Northgate

  It was some time in the middle of the night that Lord Wylde made his way downstairs to the dungeons of Northgate and requested to see the prisoner. The dungeons were located underneath the castle. A long narrow tunnel of stone led Wylde down below the castle and it was dark except for the light of a torch and he was led to a cell that seemed like it was at the far end of the castle. The guard lit the torch outside the cell and let Lord Wylde in.

  Uther sat up rubbing his eyes. “Sorry to wake you,” said Wylde.

  “It’s okay. I was barely sleeping.”

  Wylde sat on a stool and studied the young man intently. There was never anyone who puzzled Lord Wylde more than this young man. In fact he reminded him of himself in many ways. First of all he was stubborn. He had refused to give his name and they had to figure it out. Wylde considered himself the most stubborn among his acquaintances. His mother had always been telling him he was stubborn. Uther put up a good fight with the sword unwilling to give in even when surrounded and he had adamantly refused to reveal his name. Then there were the physical similarities as well and Wylde was chilled to the bone as he examined this young man’s blue eyes and high cheek bones and slim build. Was it a coincidence his mother happened to be Lillian Wyvern, the love of his life?

  “What did you come for?” asked Uther.

  “Give me the message. You still have it, don’t you?”

  “No,” he lied.

  “You know Lord Grey isn’t always as nice as he seems. You’re a prisoner in his castle. Don’t think you’ll get away with anything just because you are the Duke’s nephew.”

  “Yeah, I’ve thought about that. I don’t expect any special treatment if that’s what you mean. In fact I’m surprised he hasn’t hung me already.”

  “Why are you in his service anyway?”

  “I was born into it,” he replied sharply.

  “I was in his service once too but I got out of it when I realized what he was like. You have a choice. You don’t have to remain a dragon supporter.”

  “So what do you suggest?” asked Uther sarcastically.

  “I suggest you leave the dragon side and join the lions.”

  Uther laughed. “You’re crazy! My uncle will kill me.”

  “Well that’s a possibility unless you kill him first or someone else does. Many want him dead. What has your mother taught you? I remember her being a very intelligent and sensible woman.”

  He sighed . “Oh that’s right. You and my mother had a thing going,” he challenged. “How come you didn’t marry her? Wasn’t she good enough for you?”

  Wylde sighed with frustration. This young man was trying his patience. “Because the Duke wouldn’t let us marry and besides if I had married her she wouldn’t have married Wolf Ulric and you wouldn’t be here!” he stated affirmatively. At that moment Uther fell into a strange silence and Wylde could tell he wanted to say something but wouldn’t or couldn’t. “See, you know I’m right don’t you?” said Lord Wylde.

  Uther stood and put his hand in his surcote and pulled a small parchment out of an inside pocket and handed it to Lord Wylde. “Here, this is the message I was supposed to give you.” Wylde was stunned and he stared at it momentarily. “It’s from my mother,” said Uther.

  A worried look flushed across Wylde’s face as he took the small piece of parchment and opened it and began reading it out loud.

  “My dearest Elidir,

  It has been such a long time since we have seen each other or read each other’s written words but I write to you now with great urgency and concern for you. I know the Duke, my brother has plans and a secret weapon. I believe he has a dragon. I can’t tell you that I have seen it but someone dear to me has.”

  He paused at that point and looked at Uther. “Have you seen it?” The dragon?”

  “Yes,” said Uther. “The most frightening thing I’ve ever seen in my life. It was black with glowing eyes and steam coming out of its nostrils and when it roared . . . I’d never heard anything like it. It was like a sound not of this world.”

  Wylde sighed and shook his head and continued reading. “He has sent a group of men to hunt you out and bring you back to Dragon’s gate. Please be careful. By now you have met my son Uther” He looked up at Uther and smiled and then back to the reading. “He is . . .” Wylde paused from reading the next words. His face paled and he couldn’t open his mouth and he looked up at Uther who smiled back weakly. “Do you know what this says?”

  “Yeah,” Uther replied.

  Wylde took a deep breath and read it out loud. “By now you have met my son Uther. He is your son,” he said trembling and his eyes filling with tears. “I’m sorry I never told you as I thought it would spare you some heartache but now he needs you
r help. Please look after him. He is not like the rest of them. I can’t say he is a lion, but he is not a dragon either. Love always. Your dearest Lillian.”

  He folded the letter and put in his pocket and wiped the tears from his eyes. “Uther . . . son, you should have told me.”

  “I didn’t know how. Mother told me about you when I was sixteen. Wolf never liked me. He always treated me like I was an annoyance or something and I can only assume he knew I wasn’t his. I wondered about you often and what happened. I asked my mother one day about it and she told me she was forced to marry Wolf. I couldn’t believe my uncle had done such a thing. He had always been fair towards me, hard, but fair. I learned a lot from him. More than I learned from Wolf. He taught me to ride, to hunt, to shoot a crossbow. You see I was sent to serve under him for a time and it was there I learned many things about him. It was then I made my conclusions and it was then I saw the dragon. I realized how much devastation it could cause. But I had also been raised among the dragon clans of England. I didn’t want to become a lion. You have no idea how I felt to discover that what I had always believed in was a lie. And even my own mother lived a lie everyday just to keep me safe. I couldn’t’ believe it. I wondered about you often and I heard many things about you and not just from my mother but from others who had known you when you were on the dragon side. They said you were very eccentric and studied a great deal and knew many things. Some even said you had a dragon of your own and had learned how to control them, something Uncle Luther has never learned. And some said you were a traitor. I was confused and I had to know for myself. I just wanted to see you. Percival and I followed you for a couple of days and I was in turmoil as you can imagine. I decided I was going to leave the message in your knapsack and leave. But I didn’t’ know which one was yours and that’s what I was doing. I was trying to find your knapsack.”

  “Anything could have happened,” said Wylde thinking back to the sword fight and then even being arrested by Lord Grey. “I could have sliced you with my sword. In fact I grazed your arm but it could have been worse and you’re lucky Lord Grey hasn’t sent you to the gallows.”

  “I guess I was a little worried. I didn’t know if you’d like me.”

  Wylde stood up and went to him. “Like you?” Tears filled his eyes and he put his arms around Uther. “No I don’t like you at all. I love you my son.” They embraced each other firmly and Wylde announced. “You’re coming with us to Berwyck.”

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Home at Last

  The travelling party reached the hill top at Berwyck ten days after leaving Northgate Castle and they stopped their horses and looked at the view before them. Gwen was ever so relieved to see the towers at Berwyck rising into the sky. She looked towards the heavens and thanked God for their safe arrival as tears filled her eyes.

  “Well how does it feel to be back at Berwyck Lady Gwendolyn?” asked Trystan.

  “Just marvelous! I can’t wait to see Merry!”

  “But one word of warning,” said Pryderi and he looked at her with a serious glow in his eyes that Gwen had never seen before. “You must not tell anyone about Aeronwy.”

  “Oh,” she sighed. “Why not?”

  “I’m sorry Gwen but you must keep it to yourself. It could be too dangerous if the wrong person were to find out.”

  “But this is Berwyck. My father is not . . .”

  “I know,” he cut her off. “But we can’t take any chances. You heard what Lord Wylde said, if the wrong people found out it would be devastating. I’m sorry but dragons will have to remain a tale you tell your children.”

  “Oh alright,” she sighed glumly but her spirits soon lifted as the horses moved forward and the excitement of reaching home pumped adrenalin through her veins. She thought of Merry, Gilbert and Lionel and her mother and father and she wondered if Daniel had returned yet from his journey abroad. And the thoughts of sitting down to a nice home cooked meal of roasted meats and warm mulled wine were high on the list of remembrance. The horses couldn’t carry them to the gates quick enough and Gwen was so thrilled as they reached the cobblestoned avenue leading to the front of the castle. She jumped off her horse and startled the guard at the entrance. “Lady Gwendolyn?” he questioned as his eyes perused her suede breaches and leather jerkin. “You look . . .different,” he calculated.

  “Where’s my father?” she asked urgently. “We must see him at once!”

  “In the great hall, mi’lady but . . . ” That was enough of an answer for Gwen and she raced past the guard with Pryderi and Trystan and the others following at a fast pace and she burst through the Great Hall door and stopped. It was a full room and he was engaged in a meeting with several others. Carwyn and Crew were there, and many from noble houses of the kingdom and supporters of King Edward.

  “What is the meaning of this intrusion,” said Godwyn standing to his feet and his eyes beheld the smiling face of his lovely young daughter dressed in suede breeches but this was not an uncommon occurrence and he was not as surprised as one might think.

  “My darling Gwendolyn, Gentlemen welcome. Welcome to Berwyck.” Then his eyes rested on the gentleman in the middle. The peculiar gentleman with long hair and unusual attire and that long bony face and hazel blue eyes met him with some familiarity.

  “Sir may I introduce, Lord Elidir Wylde, the Earl of Dinefwr,” said Sir Jamie.

  “Of course Lord Wylde, we have met before.”

  “It was a long time ago,” said Lord Wylde with a bittersweet sparkle in his eyes. . “At the estate of Sir Simon Balfour I believe.”

  “Yes,” said Godwyn with remembrance in his eyes. “It was a winter ball. I remember it like it was yesterday. Soft snow was falling that night and I believe it was the first snow that year. There was lively music playing and all the lovely ladies dressed in their beautiful silks. It was a fine evening.”

  “It was indeed,” said Wylde with a twinge of sadness.

  “I remember you caught the eye of um . . . let me guess for a moment,” said Godwyn thinking and then he snapped his fingers. “Ahhh yes, it was the lovely Lady Lillian Wyvern. Nothing like her brother or the rest of the family for that matter. She was like a breath of fresh air. A light in the darkness for that family in particular.”

  “Yes,” said Wylde. “She was a great beauty with a gentle spirit.”

  “You did not wed her?” asked Godwyn.

  “We took vows in a secret ceremony sir, but it was never approved by my father nor her brother and she was given in marriage to Sir Wolf Ulric.”

  Godwyn sighed. “I’m sorry to hear that and thank you for coming in this very trying time.”

  “I’m honoured to be here,” said Lord Wylde.

  “We saw the dragon’s army as we rode here,” said Sir Jamie.

  “Where?” asked Carwyn.

  “We followed them along the Gwydyr Forest. Then we were pursued by them on the North Road all the way to Northgate,” Replied Sir Alfred.

  “The inevitable has come,” said Godwyn. “And now we must take courage. And remember what our good Lord said, In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

  “We will face them when they come. We will not back down in fear.” said Carwyn firmly.

  “There is one more thing,” said Pryderi. “He has a huge dragon.”

  “Yes, we know,” said Carwyn.

  “How did you know?” asked Gwen.

  “I told them,” said Sir Jamie.

  “And how did you know?” asked Pryderi.

  “An informant in the Duke’s service,” said Jamie reluctantly.

  “It was me,” said Lord Wylde. “I relayed the news to Sir Simon Balfour and he told Sir Jamie.”

  “I believe that is why he was put in the tower,” said Sir Jamie. “Only they had no idea who the informant was.”

  “And you have seen this dragon?” asked Carwyn. There was various remarks moving about the room and some of the skeptical. Some of
the other houses of England did not believe that Lord Wylde had seen the dragon.

  “Oh yes,” he replied.

  “Do you have proof of this dragon?” asked Lord Stanley of Richmond Hall.

  “Proof?” replied Wylde. “How does one give proof of such a creature of great magnitude. I saw it with my own eyes. He has seen it too,” said Wylde referring to Uther. And everyone turned to him now. “Isn’t that right, Uther.”

  “Yes,” he replied. “It was the most frightening thing I have ever seen.”

  “Who are you?” asked Stanley.

  “Please allow me to introduce my son, Uther.” There were many shocked expressions in the room over this sudden news.

  “Your son?” questioned Godwyn. “I didn’t know you had a son?”

  “Nor did I until recently. As I explained prior, his lady mother and I took vows in a secret ceremony but it was never formally recognized and her brother took her and gave her away to someone else.”

  “Of course,” said Stanley. “Ulric. You are Uther Ulric.” Uther nodded softly. “Why should we believe you?” Stanley challenged again. “Dragons have been gone so long they’re nothing but a legend. And why should I believe in some fire breathing reptile that may have roamed the Isles a thousand years ago? How do we know you aren’t siding with the great dragon Lord. After all you used to be one of them!” he accused and the room was roaring with chatter.

  “He’s telling the truth, Father!’ said Gwen adamantly and Pryderi cringed.

  “And how do you know that, Lady Gwendolyn?” asked Lord Stanley. “Have you seen this beast as well?”

  Gwen paused and remembered what Pryderi had told her and she glanced upward and saw those turbulent blue eyes glaring back at her and her tongue was suddenly paralyzed. “Umm . . . well . . . I”

  “Please, can I have your attention,” said Godwyn. “We have an army moving in this direction and they could arrive at any moment. This is our most current and urgent circumstance. Let’s not lose focus, gentlemen.”