by Lowri Thomas
They’d talked none stop all the way home to Ty Mawr. His father was enraged, determined to speak with the Druids the moment he set foot through the door. He wanted his daughter back, he wanted Nerys found and above all he wanted his memory back, he had no recall of the events that led up to him being found under the tree. He wanted answers.
‘Dad, please,’ Gwyn implored, ‘Anwen is safe for now, but she can’t come home. She’s pregnant, remember? Taliesin is the father and we need to keep that to ourselves, even Dai doesn’t know she is pregnant, I kept that bit from him. Awel thinks the Druids have something to do with Nerys being missing, she’s probably dead, you know that, don’t you?’
‘Just get me home, Gwyn. I’ll set this straight with them. I want my family back.’ Dafydd’s jaw was set.
‘Dad, you can’t! You know you can’t, please listen to me!’
But Dafydd wouldn’t listen. He was adamant that the Druids and Taliesin be brought to account.
‘You’ll not mention Taliesin, Dad – Dad?’ Gwyn kept one eye on the road and one eye on his father. ‘Promise me, you’ll not mention Anwen is pregnant?’
They pulled up to the house and Dafydd was out of the car before Gwyn had turned the engine off. Still barefoot and wearing nothing but waterproofs, Dafydd stormed into the house to be greeted by an excited Bara – her master was home at last!
‘Dad! Dad!’ Gwyn hurried after his father and came to a standstill when he saw who was waiting for them in the kitchen.
‘Taliesin ap Aeron Ddu, what the hell are you doing in my kitchen?’ Dafydd barked with his hands on his hips. ‘I remember now, I wanted to punch you in the face!’
Taliesin looked both angry and concerned. He looked past them both into the hallway to make sure the front room door was closed tight. ‘I bring terrible tidings. The Winter King would speak with you.’
‘Why? Does he know about Anwen?’ Dafydd and Gwyn stood side by side, fists clenched.
‘No. I fear it is worse than that. Cadno has accused Afagddu, Councillor to the King, of the murder of a Seeker and two Helgi, all of which were last seen on your farm.’
Gwyn bounced on the balls of his feet. ‘Dad?’
‘Do not worry, you have not been implicated in this matter, the charges are leant against Afagddu only, but my father inquired about your missing women – Anwen included.’ Taliesin’s soft voice made him sound young and inexperienced, not like Awel, much more unworldly. Gwyn couldn’t see what Anwen had found so enticing about this lanky, pale skinned juvenile.
‘What does he want to know?’ Dafydd’s voice was gruff and gravelly.
‘I do not know, but you must not mention my involvement with Anwen or that Awel and my mother protect her.’ He was shaking slightly. ‘The Solstice is tomorrow, there is nothing my mother or Awel can do until Spring, you understand that? My father cannot find out, please Dafydd Morgan, please hold your tongue, I loved your daughter, I would not see her hurt.’ His huge eyes were sincere and full of sorrow as he pleaded with Anwen’s father.
‘Bit bloody late for that!’ Dafydd fumed. ‘She’s already hurt because of you!’ He thrust a finger at Taliesin’s chest. ‘But, my immediate concern is for Nerys. Bring me to your father then, and if I’m to keep my mouth shut then so should you and you, Gwyn. They will not have my daughter.’
Taliesin nodded as did Gwyn. ‘Lead on then.’ He motioned for Taliesin and brushed past them into the hallway and into the front room. ‘Gwyn,’ his father whispered, ‘let me do the talking, you keep quiet, okay?’ Gwyn nodded again before handing his father his amulet from the kitchen table.
The mirror was standing open when Dafydd and Gwyn entered the room. Taliesin opened his hand and Dafydd grabbed it. ‘Keep hold of my hand, Gwyn.’ Dafydd extended his free hand to his son. ‘Don’t let go until you’re on the other side, we don’t want the mirror closing with you half way through it.’
Gwyn took a deep breath and gripped his father’s hand. It felt good to have his father holding on, squeezing tightly, reassuringly. They stepped through one by one.
Gwyn bumped into this father’s back and stumbled, it was quicker than travelling through the Cerdd Carega and much less painful, but his head still swam and he had to shake it a few times to regain his focus.
‘You can let go of my hand now, Gwyn.’ Dafydd’s voice was calm and soothing. Gwyn let go and stepped from behind his father. His jaw dropped open as he craned his neck to view the sheer size of the chamber they were standing in. A vast cavernous ceiling vanished into the darkness above their heads supported by colossal stone columns that blocked his vision to the chamber walls stretching out in each direction, punctured at intervals by massive arched doorways. Gwyn was overawed by the magnitude of the place, the scale was immense.
‘Follow me.’ Taliesin strolled through the centre of the chamber, black clad figures silently watched their passing and Gwyn stuck close to his father’s side, his head swivelling from left to right as he took in the enormity of the place.
Aeron was waiting in the Druids’ Council Chamber. He was enclosed by ranks of nervous Elder Druids called to bear witness to what was about to unfold. Aeron leaned back in his huge chair as the two Chosen entered. ‘Taliesin, introduce me to our guests.’
Taliesin bowed to his father, Dafydd and Gwyn knelt before the Winter King. ‘Aeron Ddu, King of the Winter Realm, Arch Orphanim of the Bwy Hir, I bring before you two of the faithful Chosen, Dafydd Morgan and Gwyn Morgan of Ty Mawr.’ Taliesin’s voice rang through the chamber.
‘Stand my friends, stand so I can see you.’ Aeron leaned forward as Gwyn and Dafydd stood up. Aeron smiled at Gwyn’s obvious astonishment. ‘You are the new initiate?’ Aeron asked and Gwyn nodded, not trusting his voice.
‘A rare privilege for such a young initiate, to enter the domain of the Druids.’ Aeron leaned back, pleasantries over, ‘You understand why I have called you?’
Dafydd spoke in a steady voice, ‘No, my Lord, I do not.’
Aeron nodded his head. ‘Two of your women are missing, one of my Seekers is missing, two of my Helgi are missing. Can you offer any enlightenment?’
‘I cannot, my Lord.’ Dafydd’s voice was firm. ‘But only one of my women is missing, the other is away and safe.’
Aeron leaned towards Dafydd. ‘Explain. Our Seekers hunt for two women. How is it they cannot find them and what do you mean by safe? Do you fear for their safety?’
‘I do indeed fear, I fear my aunt is murdered and my daughter ran for her life. A Druid was in my house and attacked my aunt.’
‘Do you know who this Druid was?’ Aeron inquired as he looked upon the gathered Druids. Their faces were a mix of concern, disgust and disbelief.
‘No, my Lord, I had a seizure while I was in the fields. I was not home. Gwyn, my son here, came to find me and left the women alone, when he got back, they were gone.’
‘How do you know it was a Druid?’
‘Because my daughter contacted us and told us why she ran away.’
‘And you believe her story?’
‘I have no reason not to.’
Aeron leaned back and listened to the disturbed mutterings echoing through the chamber. ‘Taliesin, bring Afagddu and Cadno.’ Taliesin rushed to do his father’s bidding while Aeron smiled down at the two Chosen. The Elder Druids were stone faced and unreadable as they stood around the chamber, a feeling of apprehension hung in the air.
Gwyn took a moment to study the huge, radiant figure of Aeron Ddu – he was magnificent, splendid and Gwyn was in awe. He was much, much taller than his son, bigger, more poised and incredibly handsome, but there was a cruel cast to his eyes and mouth, his movements were too fluid, too deliberate. Gwyn felt he should fear him, and fear him he did.
Taliesin returned, followed by another tall Bwy Hir and behind him came a malformed Druid with cuts to his face, shadowed by two of the biggest dogs Gwyn had ever seen: Helgi.
The Druid shuffled to the centre of the hall and then stopped, h
e raised his head and shot Dafydd a horrid glare. Absolute silence filled the chamber, a resonant calm before an impending storm.
‘Do either of you know this Druid?’ Aeron asked the Chosen men.
Gwyn shook his head, but Dafydd was staring into the Druid’s face. Eye to eye they stood as if reading each other’s mind. Dafydd knew that instant, that very instant that this Druid had killed Nerys, but he could not prove it. ‘I recognise this Druid from the Solstice, but from nowhere else.’
‘You have never had any other dealing with this Druid?’
‘No, sir, but he could easily be the man who attacked my Aunt, all Druids have access to my home through the mirrors.’
There was a rumble of discord through the gathered Druids and Aeron’s eyes filled with fury. ‘Silence!’ he bellowed. And the room fell silent again. ‘Afagddu do you know this man and have you ever been to his home?’
‘No, my Lord. I have little interest in the lives of farmers.’ Afagddu sneered at Dafydd and flicked a glance at the pathetic boy stood shaking next to his father.
‘I think you are the liar.’ Dafydd was calm when he spoke directly to Afagddu. ‘We have the knife Nerys used to protect herself, it fits the cuts on his face.’ Dafydd jabbed a finger at Afagddu and for the first time Afagddu looked unsure of himself: scared. Another intake of breath from the Druids.
Cadno was growing concerned, this was not going according to plan. He wanted Afagddu accused of disposing of the two Helgi Cadno had already stashed away ready for his departure along with the new ateb and the whereabouts of Atgas. He’d wanted a diversion, not full scale insurrection.
‘Liar!’ Afagddu spat.
‘We have a knife, my Lord, we do not lie!’ Dafydd wanted to grab Afagddu and strangle the truth out of him, but he stayed still, his hands clutched together in front of him, calm and calculated.
‘Where is your daughter now?’ Aeron asked.
Gwyn opened his mouth but Dafydd silenced him. ‘Where she’s safe.’
‘I wish to speak with her. I wish her to be brought before me.’ Aeron’s voice was hard.
‘I want her kept out of this. I’ll not have her dragged into whatever schemes the Druids are cooking.’ Dafydd felt the first flutter of anxiety as Aeron’s eyes glittered with fury.
‘What does the girl have to fear from me?’ Aeron was irritated, he was used to getting his own way.
‘She’s safe where she is. She is not Chosen and not under the jurisdiction of the Triskele.’ Dafydd raised his chin defiantly. ‘We have a knife to match that man’s face, make of it what you will.’
Aeron tilted his head to the side. He had no doubt that his Councillor was capable of all he was accused of, but there was something more, something the Chosen was hiding. ‘Dafydd Morgan you will submit your daughter to questioning.’
‘No!’ Dafydd shouted, ‘You’ll not harm her!’ Gwyn was confused and scared. ‘What they gonna do to Anwen?’ He grabbed at his father’s arm.
‘They want to question her, but they’ll not do it kindly, they’ll hurt her – you can’t have her!’ he raged up at Aeron.
‘We do not need the girl,’ Cadno appealed to Aeron, ‘Afagddu will confess under questioning, let us be done with this matter, the Solstice is tomorrow, we don’t have time for this!’
Aeron watched his son, Taliesin looked scared. Why? What am I not seeing? Aeron pursed his lips. ‘Time …’ Aeron’s voice rang out about the uproar. ‘... Time is something I have plenty of … I make my judgement.’ The chamber hushed again. ‘Afagddu you are to be imprisoned pending further investigations … Dafydd Morgan you implicate this Druid by words alone, although you have a knife, you have little else. The only person that can truly link Afagddu to these events is Anwen Morgan herself, and yet you refuse to hand her over for questioning.’
Dafydd shook his head, he would not surrender the girl. ‘So then, this is my judgement: Afagddu and Dafydd Morgan are both to be imprisoned until Anwen Morgan is produced and submitted to questioning, then and only then will the innocent party be released. My judgement is law.’ Aeron leaned back, pleased with himself. Cadno shrugged his shoulders. Taliesin looked ready to faint.
‘You’ll not touch my father!’ Gwyn screamed as he shielded Dafydd with his own body. ‘You’ll bloody well leave us alone!’
Aeron wasn’t finished. ‘And you, little man,’ he said to Gwyn, ‘are to be pronounced Gwaradwyddedig until you produce your sister. My hand stretches far, there is nowhere she can hide.’
‘Father, no!’ Taliesin grabbed at his father’s sleeve. ‘This is not the Morgans’ fault. Be done with Afagddu but you must spare the Chosen, they are innocent in all this, they are the victims!’
Aeron snatched his sleeve from his son and backhanded him across the face. ‘You do not tell me what I must do.’ Taliesin reeled at his father’s sudden aggression.
The commotion in the chamber had brought many spectators. Gwrnach, Llud, Celyn-Bach and Gwydion stood in the doorway, looking on with concern and discomfort. Druids peered in from the hallway, all jostling for a better view of the tumult as it unfolded.
Aeron stood. ‘My judgement is law!’ he roared, ‘I am the law! My wishes are sovereign.’ He carved a path for himself as he swept through the chamber. All shied away from his ferocity.
Grabbing hands seized Dafydd, pulling him away from his son. Dafydd didn’t fight, he just kept shouting over the uproar. ‘Protect Anwen, Gwyn, protect Anwen!’
Afagddu stood erect among the chaos, a small smile played on his lips as he watched Dafydd being dragged away. Taliesin was shielding Gwyn as he pushed him towards the hallway and back to the mirrors. Cadno saw Afagddu’s smile and he too became enraged, how he hated the deformed Druid. He flew from across the room and grabbed Afagddu by the scruff of his neck, wiping away the smirk. ‘You I will take to prison personally,’ he said through gritted teeth, ‘you will face the R’hela sooner or later and the Host will all skewer your skin for what you have done, my murderous little raven.’
Gwrnach shook his head sadly as the chaos subsided. It was a dark day, for the Triskele, Druids, Bwy Hir and Chosen had all turned against one another. ‘What will become of us?’ he asked a pale faced Celyn-Bach.
‘A shattered Triskele is not a Triskele: it is a trinket, a relic to be discarded and forgotten. I fear for us all, Gwrnach. The Triskele is precious, it should not be treated so.’
Gwrnach patted his brother’s shoulder. ‘I must find Taliesin, Aeron should not have done such a thing.’
‘You ask what will become of us?’ Celyn-Bach spoke over his shoulder, ‘Taliesin will make a fine king, I only hope that Aeron leaves a kingdom worth ruling,’ Gwrnach agreed.
CHAPTER FORTY THREE
Anwen stepped off the train onto a cold, soulless platform. People bumped against her and they moved through the crowds to be first on the platform. Anwen’s eyes were gritty with sleep. She’d managed to snatch a few hours rest on her journey down to London, but she was still exhausted. She felt frail and insubstantial as she followed the throng towards the exit.
Gwyn had told her she would be met at the station, but she couldn’t see anyone waiting on the platform or by the exit, so she kept walking until she found herself in the main concourse.
Anwen spun round on her heels, looking at every face that passed her, but nobody looked her way. She stared up at the huge billboards, at all the platforms and trains, the information was mind boggling – so many places, so many people.
She dug into her pocket and fished out some coins, she needed to phone Gwyn. Her head was bent over the coins when she heard a voice speaking over her shoulder. ‘Well you’re a Morgan if ever I met one.’ Anwen’s head shot up and she looked into the face of an elderly lady. ‘It’s all in the eyes.’ The woman continued, ‘Your grandfather always had the most beautiful eyes. I thought I was going to marry him, until your grandmother stole his heart, but I won’t hold that against you.’
‘Who are you?’ Anwen a
sked.
‘Me? My name is Mary Evans. Cousin of Sawbones himself. Valley born and bred, although I haven’t seen them for many, many, years. I’ve almost forgot those green hills as I’m sure they have already forgotten me, which is just as well considering your current predicament … well, what are you waiting for? Let us be away and get you home and settled. You must be exhausted.’ Mary took hold of Anwen’s elbow and began to steer her towards the exit doors. ‘Is that all the belongings you have with you? My, we’ll have to get you some more clothes, but right now a hot meal, a warm bath and a comfy bed are in order.’
That sounded like heaven to Anwen. She felt as though she’d been travelling for weeks. It was nice to see a friendly face, nice to have someone to look after her. The idea of a hot meal and a bath made Anwen almost lightheaded, but she remembered what she was doing before Mary had arrived. ‘I need to phone my brother.’
‘You can do that later, let’s get you home first.’ Mary pulled at her elbow again.
‘No, I promised. I’ll only be a minute.’ Anwen dug her heels in and Mary released her grip. Anwen held the coins in her fist. ‘I’ll meet you in the café there.’ Anwen pointed across the concourse. ‘I’m parched and could do with a cup of tea, if you don’t mind?’
Mary pressed her lips together but then smiled. ‘Two teas it is then.’ Anwen watched Mary stroll into the café before finding a telephone. She put her money in the slot and dialled home, eagerly waiting to hear Gwyn’s voice.
‘Hello, Gwyn?’
‘Anwen, for the love of light, run!’ he breathed down the phone, ‘Trust no-one, just bloody run, they’re coming for you.’
‘Oh, god, no, Gwyn, please, no.’ Anwen felt her knees go weak.
‘Do as I say, run and keep running and don’t phone again.’ The line went dead and Anwen wailed before slamming the receiver back in its holster.
Taking a steadying breath Anwen checked over her shoulder. Mary was still at the counter ordering tea. She kept an eye on Mary as she walked backwards before slipping out of the exit.
