‘Thou art, from this day forth, a teacher, a protector and a representative of Briton, the Goddess and her mysteries. For this be the will and the way of the Goddess,’ Tory concluded
‘So be it,’ the assembly announced with great cheer.
As soon as the formalities were over, Katren hugged her boy.
‘Am I dreaming?’ he questioned.
His mother pulled back to hold him at arms length and shook her head. ‘Congratulations!’ She admired the fine young man she’d raised, and was urged to hug him again.
Tory was also bursting with pride. She had begun training Bryce in the martial arts at age five; now, at fifteen, he had become her youngest student to earn the title of Master and be initiated into the circle of twelve — a record that she imagined he would hold for many years to come.
The celebrations continued into the wee hours of the morning. Tory was just considering calling it a night when her champion, the Lady Ione, found her.
‘Majesty.’ She bowed her head slightly and leaned close to Tory. ‘A situation hast developed that requires thy attention. If thee would quietly follow me.’
The High Queen slipped out of the banquet room without even Maelgwn noticing. ‘Ione.’ Tory made haste to catch her champion up. ‘What hast happened?’
‘The Lady Cara asked my advice on a sensitive matter, but I suggested she speak to thee,’ Ione informed gravely.
This surprised Tory, as Cara and Ione had never been especially close and Ione was a ‘call in times of physical danger’ kind of girl. Why would Cara have turned to Ione in an emotional crisis? Because Ione hast also been raped, Tory theorised on the quiet.
Ione led her to a small sitting room at the other end of the castle, where Queen Katren of Powys was comforting a very distraught Lady Cara.
The Queen of Powys looked at her as Tory entered the room, her eyes filled with tears of empathy. ‘The High Queen be here, Cara.’ Katren encouraged her to sit upright and state her woes.
‘Cara?’ Tory knelt before her and took hold of both the lady’s hands. ‘What ails thee?’
‘I fear,’ she sobbed, ‘that the Goddess hast abandoned me … I am with child.’ Cara collapsed into uncontrollable weeping once more.
Obviously she feared that the child was Conan’s. ‘Cara, my sweet, I understand thy doubt,’ Tory began, ‘but be it not just as likely that the child in thy womb be of thy husband’s making?’
Cara had considered this, but her fear was too great to allow her to seriously entertain that happy notion. She stared at her Sensei, so wanting to believe it.
‘I put it to thee in this way. Conan had thee but one night of last month. How many times did Vortipor have thee?’ Tory had to smile as she asked the question, as Cara had often commented that Vortipor was far too devoted to that facet of husbandry.
As Cara thought seriously on the question, she too was forced to concede that the odds were tipped largely in her husband’s favour. ‘But will that be Vortipor’s reaction? He can never know for sure. Goddess forbid if I bore a son!’
‘Well, what choice dost thou have?’ Tory stood, angered by the realisation that Cara was hinting at aborting it.
‘I wast hoping thee might suggest some means to be rid of it.’ Cara was slowly choking on her remorse at suggesting it, but she did not retract her words.
Now Tory understood why she had confided in Ione. As Tory looked to her champion, Ione confessed: ‘If I had fallen with child from my rape at the hands of Prince Caradoc, I would have kept it.’ Tory was appeased by her champion’s resolve and had turned back to Cara to preach the child’s cause, when Ione added: ‘That child would now be of three and twenty years, and if male, I warrant he would be out to avenge his father’s death by the hand of thy husband, King Maelgwn, and to steal the throne of Gwynedd.’
That scenario served to enlighten Tory to the far-reaching implications of such a pregnancy. ‘Whoa!’ The High Queen’s mind boggled. This question was too complex for her to fathom the right thing to do. ‘I think we need to consult Taliesin on this one.’ She looked to Cara to get her okay.
‘Alright.’ Cara nodded. The advice of a High Merlin would certainly not go astray.
‘Take my hands.’ Tory took up Cara’s limp grip and pulled her to standing posture.
‘What art thou doing?’ Cara smiled through her tears.
‘Taking thee to see Taliesin,’ Tory announced in a playful fashion. ‘I have learnt a new trick.’
‘What —’
‘Just close thy eyes and do not let go of my hands,’ Tory instructed Cara, closing her own eyes to concentrate.
‘Goodness!’ Cara cried with delighted expectation as both she and Tory slowly vanished from sight.
Katren and Ione were completely thunderstruck.
‘Truly, the hand of the Goddess be upon her,’ uttered Katren, before clapping her hands delightedly. ‘Excellent! Tory shall be able to visit more often now.’
Maelgwn returned to the main table where he’d left Tory, of the mind to whisk her away to their chambers for a lustful encounter. He was highly disappointed to find her missing. ‘Oh damn,’ he mumbled. Tory always told him when she was retiring, so this meant she’d wandered off somewhere. The High King collapsed into his seat, too drunk to be bothered searching the castle for his wife. He held out a goblet towards Vortipor, who was refilling his own.
‘Hast thou any idea of my good queen’s whereabouts?’ asked Maelgwn, as his goblet was refilled.
‘Cara’s missing, too, and Queen Katren,’ Vortipor grumbled, ready for bed himself. ‘They’re probably all off together somewhere.’
So much for a lustful encounter, Maelgwn thought glumly. If the women had retreated to talk, that was the last he’d see of Tory tonight. Whilst he was dwelling on the subject of lust, Maelgwn thought to inquire of Vortipor’s decision regarding Conan. Still, this was a celebration — that topic would be best left until the meeting of the allies the following day.
Vortipor was considering that the women might be discussing Cara’s misadventure, for she had been reluctant to speak of it with him. She strove to be the same carefree, loving wife she’d always been, but when they made love now there was an element of constraint that had not been there prior to the sad incident. Vortipor expected that this would heal in time, and he was glad that Cara had close female friends who could aid her through her pain where he could not.
‘I had the bastard drawn and quartered,’ Vortipor advised the High King.
Maelgwn was startled, thinking Vortipor had read his mind. ‘I would have left him to rot in darkness a few years first,’ he commented, pleased that the episode was closed.
‘Cara could not abide the thought of him living in the same dwelling, so I wast forced to show mercy. I could have transferred him to a dungeon elsewhere, but why risk an escape?’ he reasoned and Maelgwn quite agreed.
‘I promised Aurelius Caninus that I would set Gwent Is Coed to rights in Conan’s wake, and I shall. Sir Leoline shall administer the Council’s rule of the kingdom for the time being, until a suitable heir to the throne can be found or appointed.’
‘But the old king had no living heirs or relatives, bar Conan.’ Vortipor pointed out.
Maelgwn shrugged. ‘When a throne be left vacant, it be amazing how many long-lost relatives crawl out of the woodwork.’
‘Oh, brother!’ Vortipor held his head with both hands. He had not yet considered the nightmarish chore of tracing the validity of claimants to the throne.
‘Fear not, old friend.’ Maelgwn slapped the Protector’s shoulder and encouraged him to drink. ‘We shall face that horror together, when and if we come to it.’
‘To keeping the horrors at bay,’ Vortipor proposed, clinking his goblet against Maelgwn’s.
‘Here, here.’ The High King drank to that.
Tory’s visualisation of the entrance foyer to Taliesin’s otherworldly labyrinth manifested around her, and she was not surprised to find the High Merli
n waiting to greet them. She released herself from the grip Cara had on her. ‘Open thine eyes, Cara. We have arrived.’
When Cara beheld her grand and wondrous surroundings, she could not help but be enchanted. The art, decoration and architecture were unlike anything she’d ever imagined. That was when Cara realised that Tory had brought her into the realms of the Otherworld.
‘Splendid. I see thou art finally utilising another aspect of thy potential, Highness.’ Taliesin bowed to Tory and then to Cara. ‘My Lady. I have been expecting thee, please follow me.’ He turned to lead them out through the double doors located at one end of the large cathedral-like room.
As they followed, Cara gripped hold of Tory’s arm once more. ‘Stay with me,’ she pleaded, wary of the unknown.
‘I am with thee, all the way.’ Tory patted her hand in assurance.
The Merlin didn’t take them very far into his maze. Tory suspected that this was to avoid giving Cara sensory overload.
They entered a room that was candlelit and cosy and contained nothing that would have been unfamiliar to Cara. The lady relaxed upon entering, and Taliesin motioned both women to be seated on the large scatter cushions in front of the fireplace. Once all three of them were settled, Taliesin looked to Cara and said: ‘I know thy woes, Lady. I know thou art seeking answers to a question that, if only thee knew the full truth of it, thee could answer.’
‘Aye.’ Tears of hope filled Cara’s eyes.
‘I can tell thee the whole truth, and grant thee some insight into the future … if thou dost wish it?’ As Cara nodded in agreement without thought, the Merlin cautioned her. ‘I must confess that at this point I have only seen fragments of what may lay in store for thee. I need thy permission to see the complete picture. But I cannot guarantee thou shalt like what I have to say. Art thou prepared to face the worst?’
‘Better that I know, than spend a life in torture wondering,’ replied Cara, resolutely.
‘Then give me thy hand.’
Cara offered her right hand to the High Merlin, which he took hold of with his left. Taliesin then reached his right hand inside his robes to grip hold of something that hung on a chain about his neck. Although Tory wondered what that something might be, she maintained her silence so as not to disturb his truthsaying.
Taliesin closed his eyes and went very quiet for some time, which was agonising for Cara as the Merlin’s expression gave nothing away.
‘The Goddess hast not abandoned thee, Cara,’ he said finally, and the Lady was set to burst into tears of joy when he added. ‘Thou art to be tested, however.’
‘Nay.’ Her voice filled with dread.
‘Listen to me.’ Taliesin cautioned her to calm. ‘I know what lies in store for thee and the identity of this child’s true father, but thou dost not need to know. It be enough that I am aware.’
‘Nay.’ Cara regained her composure. ‘I want to know all that thou dost.’
‘Then I shall be frank with thee.’ The Merlin took hold of both her hands now. ‘Muster all thy strength, Cara, for what I have to tell thee will not be easy to hear. Bear in mind that thou art being tested, and so seek only the lesson and the good that will come of thy fate. For if thee can do this, all shall be well with thy soul, thy family and thy kingdom.’
Cara took three deep breaths and then nodded for Taliesin to continue.
‘The first thing thou must know be that this pregnancy will kill thee.’
Cara gasped with shock, but the Merlin continued regardless of her horror.
‘Try and abort this babe and thou shalt die in the attempt. See the pregnancy through to full term and the delivery shall kill thee.’
Tory rushed to place a comforting arm around Cara as she was now continually gasping for breath. ‘Taliesin!’ Tory was mortified that he could be so brutal in the delivery of such news.
‘The child will be male.’ The Merlin regained Cara’s full attention with this statement. ‘He will be the only living heir to the throne of Gwent Is Coed.’
‘Nay!!’ Cara collapsed into an hysterical fit of tears as all of her worst fears were realised.
‘How could thee?’ Tory demanded an explanation. It was not like Taliesin to be so callous.
‘She must come to terms with the harsh hand she hast been dealt, before we can draw the good from it.’
‘Good!’ Cara raised herself back off the floor to a seated position. ‘Conan’s bastard be killing me!’
Taliesin shook his head to enlighten her. ‘This child saved thee, Cara. Thee should have died by Conan’s hand, but the Goddess spared thee long enough for thee to save Gwent Is Coed from ruin.’
Cara was about to deny any concern for the future of Gwent Is Coed, when she was struck by the consequences the kingdom’s future would have on her own descendants.
‘This extra time the Goddess hast granted thee, thee can use to savour life and thy family here in this day and age, or thee can spend it bitter and tormented.’
Cara began to regain her perspective and her weeping suddenly subsided. She recalled when Conan had overpowered her and she had thought her moments among the living were numbered; to see her family and friends again had been her only desire. ‘The Goddess granted my dying wish,’ she realised.
Taliesin nodded. ‘The child in thy womb shall not grow to be the monster his father was. How could he, when he was conceived in the realms of the Otherworld? He will be known as Urien, and as sure as I am seated here, I can tell thee that in due course he will deliver the whole of Briton from the brink of crisis, Dyfed included.’
‘Why am I being tested in this way?’ Cara sniffled. ‘Have I offended the Goddess?’
‘Spiritually speaking, thou hast travelled in leaps and bounds in this incarnation, Lady. Thou hast all the great qualities of one of the Chosen, save one. Selflessness. This be the final test of thy soul-mind, Cara. If thee can endure this lesson, thy perfect reincarnation can finally be set apart as Chosen and thou shalt find life eternal upon thy death when thy spirit joins thy immortal self. If not, thou shall reincarnate again and again. For this lesson must be learnt before thee can join the ranks of the Chosen Ones and be freed of earthly karma to move on in the universal scheme of things.’
Taliesin made death sound more amazing than life, Cara thought. ‘What would thee do in my place?’ Cara looked to Tory for her opinion.
Tory exhaled heavily as she considered all the facts. ‘I would grant the Goddess her heir and take what time I could to enjoy my family to the fullest.’
Lady Cara bit her lip before posing her next question. ‘And remembering that thee could always tell thy husband that the child died in birthing, would thee make him aware the child was not his?’
Goddamn. Tory considered Cara’s plight. Cara had some monstrous decisions to make. ‘Although it might effect the time that was left to us, I would tell him. Considering the circumstances, I feel sure that Maelgwn would support and respect my decision.’
‘But thy husband be an emotionally mature soul, whereas Vortipor …’ she shook her head.
‘I would urge thee,’ Taliesin spoke up, ‘and thy husband, not to think of this child as the son of Aurelius Conan, but as the grandson of Aurelius Caninus, who hast been a dear and trusted ally to ye both for many, many years.’
Cara stared into the firelight. It was too much to take in all at once. ‘Who shall raise the babe upon my passing?’ she queried, her eyes entranced by the flames.
‘The young king shall have three guardians: myself, so he shall know the way of the Goddess; Sir Leoline, so he shall know the way of the warrior and the duties of state; and, thirdly, a Lord Bishop, who goes by the name of Samson —’
‘Nay,’ Cara insisted. ‘No priest.’
‘He must know and respect the two faiths of his people to rule more wisely than both of his predecessors.’ The Merlin spoke up over Cara’s protest. ‘This holy man studied with the High King for many years. King Maelgwn will vouch for his good character.’
‘Excellent,’ Taliesin conceded, calmly. ‘For he shall certainly wish to meet with thee.’
6
Shortcomings
In order to face her fears in their entirety, Cara told Vortipor the whole truth. By so doing she was granted an extraordinary insight into her husband.
Her confession prompted a giant outpouring of pent-up fears and emotions from both Vortipor and herself. Never before in their ten years of marriage had they sat up talking until the dawn about deep and meaningful issues. Together they had reached the decision to have the child, and hand him over into the safekeeping of Taliesin Pen Bierdd, as the Goddess would have it. Vortipor refused to believe that Cara would be dead by next Beltaine, but intended to make the most of every moment they had together, whether the prophecy came to pass or not.
The redeemed man, Vortipor, made his way down to the lowest levels of the dungeons at Castle Dwyran. It was rare that anyone committed a crime so grievous as to be condemned to rot in the dark, damp stench of this place. Most of the prisoners were kept on the upper prison levels where some light penetrated into the cells. These pits were reserved for the scum whose crimes were too horrendous to be atoned for by their death.
Vortipor came to stand over an iron grille in the floor. ‘Art thou enjoying thy accommodation here at Castle Dwyran, Highness?’
‘Thee cannot treat one of royal blood like this, Vortipor.’ Conan’s voice echoed up out of the dark pit. ‘My people —’
‘Bid thee good riddance,’ Vortipor cut in. ‘Everyone wast most relieved to hear that I had had thee drawn and quartered.’
‘What!’
‘Aye, Conan,’ Vortipor teased maliciously. ‘To all bar me, thou art dead and buried.’
‘Lying maggot!’
‘Well, we all have shortcomings, and thou art mine.’ The prisoner went quiet, no doubt wondering what his fate was to be. Vortipor decided to enlighten him. ‘Make thyself at home. I shall be back to see how thou art faring in a couple of seasons.’
Chronicle of Ages Page 10
