Dragon of the Island

by Mary Gillgannon

  “Now that you have told me these things, what do you want me to do?”

  “I want you to go to your husband and warn him of the treachery that is plotted behind his back.”

  Aurora gave a deep sigh. “I don’t know if he would believe me. Maelgwn thinks I am just as untrustworthy as his sister, if not more.”

  “Can’t you at least talk to him?”

  “Why should I bother?” Aurora answered in frustration. “If Maelgwn is foolish enough to trust his scheming sister, why should I try to help him?”

  “It’s a pity you care so little for your husband. He is a better man than most, especially for a king.”

  “Oh, I well know how beloved Maelgwn is among his people. To them it would seem he is generous, even kind.” Aurora’s voice was harsh with sarcasm. “But with his wife he does not pretend. I know just how cold and arrogant he really is!”

  The old woman sighed. “I see I am wasting my time. Apparently the stories Esylt has been telling are true—that you hate your husband and would be happy to be rid of him.”

  Aurora gasped. “Is that what she has been telling everyone?” She paused, thinking of how coolly the people of Caer Eryri treated her. She had thought they were scorning her because Maelgwn no longer shared her bed, but perhaps there was another, more disturbing reason.

  “It’s not true that I hate Maelgwn,” she protested. “It is just that we...” Aurora stopped, suddenly confused herself. “It is just that we... we can’t seem to stop fighting.”

  “And is he all to blame for that?”

  Aurora blushed. Her temper was almost worse than Maelgwn’s and she was at least as stubborn as he was. It had taken both of them to bring their relationship to this terrible stalemate.

  “Isn’t it true that Esylt has spoiled all your chances to be happy with Maelgwn?”

  Aurora looked at Justina in surprise. “What do you know of it?”

  The old woman shrugged. “I have heard things. It’s clear Esylt wishes to cause trouble between you and your husband. The king’s sister is like the weevil that fouls the grain or the worm that rots the ripening fruit. Everything she touches is spoiled!”

  Aurora was startled by the. vehemence in Justina’s voice. It was strange to meet someone who hated Esylt as much as she did. Still, hate was not proof of treason.

  Aurora shook her head. “It’s not enough. I’ll never be able to convince Maelgwn that Esylt is going to betray him. You have not even seen Esylt and this man together. How do you know that this stranger is anything more than an outlaw waiting around for the chance to steal something?”

  Justina went back to poking at the fire. She seemed to shrivel as Aurora watched, as if all her power came from her voice and eyes, and the rest of her was merely an empty shell.

  “I want only to help him—to help us all. Maelgwn is a good king; he has brought his people peace and prosperity. I don’t want to see him fall victim to the jealous treachery that has toppled the rest of the line of Cunodag. Even if you do not love your husband, Aurora, can you not see how important he is to his people? Can you not help him for our sake?”

  Aurora pulled her gaze away and stared pensively into the fire. Doubts crowded her mind. There were too many things she didn’t know, too many riddles left unanswered. She looked up.

  “If you were once close to Maelgwn, why don’t you go to him and warn him?”

  Justina laughed a bright, tinkling laugh. “Do you think he remembers me? A worn-out whore he spent a night with so many years ago? I think not! Even if he did remember, he certainly doesn’t know who I am now.”

  “You were a whore?”

  Justina almost giggled. “Did you think I was some lovely farmer’s daughter sent to warm the new king’s bed? No—he came to me because I was experienced, because I had a reputation for keeping men’s secrets.”

  “But why... why did you choose to be... one of those... women? Were you poor? Did your father cast you out?”

  “It’s not so bad a life,” Justina answered wryly. “You might say I was born to it. My grandmother followed the legions. There is plenty of freedom, except for worrying about babies and diseases, and my mother taught me how to deal with those problems.”

  Aurora stared at the tiny woman incredulously. She had been brought up to believe that women who had sex for payment were the most despised of creatures, but this woman was admitting to it freely, almost proudly. Aurora was shocked, but it did not take long for her curiosity to get the better of her surprise.

  “Did you... like it?” she found herself asking.

  “It’s just another way to put bread in your mouth and a roof over your head. It takes patience and the willingness to listen, more than great beauty or skill in bed. Men want someone to confide in, someone to listen to their complaints and troubles.”

  Aurora sat very still, staring down at the rings on her fingers. “Your story is very hard to believe,” she said softly. “But somehow I do believe it. Still, there is much that does not make sense. I know Esylt is a greedy, power-hungry woman, but I’m not sure she would ever betray her own brother—and why now, when he has been so successful?”

  “You do not understand, do you, Aurora? It’s because of you that Esylt is driven to treachery. She fears you—fears your power over Maelgwn. That’s what has forced her to take such drastic action.”

  “The power I have over Maelgwn? He doesn’t care about me at all!”

  “Ah, but you are wrong, very wrong. Even though the two of you have fought bitterly, Maelgwn has not talked of voiding the marriage or sending you back to Viroconium. Have you never wondered that he let’s you shun him from your bed and yet insists that everyone treat you as his beloved queen? His feelings toward you are stronger even than his pride.”

  “I still do not see why that gives me any power over him that Esylt might fear.”

  Justina shook her head. “Esylt is afraid that someday the troubles between you and Maelgwn will be over, and you will take her place at Caer Eryri.”

  Aurora gave a hollow laugh. “If only she knew how unlikely that is. She may think Maelgwn cares for me, but I do not. He has always been cold and cruel to me.”

  “Always?”

  Aurora looked away from Justina’s questioning gaze.

  “Well, no, there have been times when I thought he might begin to feel kindly toward me. But something has always happened. Esylt was always there to ruin it.”

  “This time Esylt will do more than ruin things between you and Maelgwn. This time she may well see that you and Maelgwn are both killed, and Gwynedd is once again torn apart by warfare!”

  Aurora shuddered. “I’m afraid, Justina. I want to go to Maelgwn and tell him what you have told me, but I worry he won’t believe me. I need time, time to sort out my thoughts and make sense of everything.”

  Justina nodded. “We have a little time, perhaps. This Brigante spy does not have what he needs or he would not still be here. But do not delay long, Aurora. If you care for your husband at all—do not wait too long to warn him.”

  Aurora stood up stiffly. “I should be getting back. I... I am glad to have met you,” she added, extending her hand to the woman’s gnarled and twisted one.

  Justina smiled her odd, enigmatic smile. “Remember, I want only to help Maelgwn—and all of us.”

  Aurora leaned down to squeeze through the tiny doorway. It was already twilight. The afternoon had vanished, and she was nearly late for supper. Had she truly been in Justina’s house so long? Aurora felt goosebumps along her skin. She could not help recalling the stories of people who went to fairyland for a few days and returned to find that years had passed. As she rode up the hill, the fortress still looked the same, stolid and gloomy in the fading light. Aurora leaned forward and loosened the reins to quicken the horse’s pace. She was anxious to be within Caer Eryri’s safe walls. If Justina was right, there was an enemy lurking in the shadowy forest pathways.

  Maelgwn glanced at the setting sun as Aurora
rode into the fortress, roughly calculating how long she had been gone. He had not yet stooped to following his wife, spying on her to see what she did with her days, but he was tempted. She had been going riding alone in the valley almost from the first few days of her arrival at Caer Eryri, but she had never stayed away so long before. It was well past supper, and she had ridden in from the direction of the village. Had she met someone there?

  Maelgwn decided that it was time to confront his wife. He greeted her at the door of the stables as she brought her horse in.

  “Good evening Aurora,” he said as he stepped out of the darkness.

  Aurora gave a little cry of fright, and then seemed to regain her composure. “Good evening,” she answered.

  “Let me help you down.”

  It had been a long time since he had been close to Aurora. His heart pounded unnaturally as he reached up and helped her slide down the side of the horse. He had forgotten how slender Aurora was. He could almost clasp his hands all the way around her narrow waist.

  Once she was down, they stood there, looking at each other awkwardly.

  “Where have you been?” he asked, trying to keep his voice light.

  A flicker of fear registered in her eyes. “I... I have been riding.”

  “Where?”

  “Around the lakes, down near the priory.”

  “Alone?”

  “Aye, alone. Who would go with me?”

  They were so close. Aurora was but a hand’s breadth away from him. Maelgwn sensed something different in her attitude toward him. She seemed more vulnerable, even shy somehow. He reached over tentatively to kiss her irresistible mouth, and she did not draw away. It was a long lingering kiss, both tender and uneasy. It was Maelgwn who first broke off their embrace by releasing her and stepping backwards. His feelings were too confusing and troubling to risk staying near his wife for long.

  “You should get something to eat,” he said abruptly. “Come, I’ll walk you to the kitchen.”

  After he had left his wife off at the kitchen, Maelgwn walked aimlessly in the courtyard, deep in thought. He paused and looked up, scanning the heavens, making out the faint pattern of the stars above him.

  “Are you making a wish?”

  Maelgwn turned away from the sky to see the bulky shape of Balyn silhouetted against the fading light.

  “If I believed that wishes on the stars came true, I might make one tonight.”

  “And would it involve Aurora?” Balyn asked in a soft, almost gentle voice.

  Maelgwn sighed. “Tell me what you think? It seems that everyone has a different opinion of Aurora, and I can’t even decide in my own thoughts.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “There are times when Esylt near convinces me that Aurora is a conniving, untrustworthy bitch, but then I look at her as she was tonight, and see only her beauty and gentleness.”

  “Surely you can’t believe Esylt. She hates Aurora.”

  “Aye, you are right, but why am I tortured by doubts? Why do I feel I can never be sure of her?”

  Maelgwn could not see his face, but Balyn’s shrug was plain in the darkness. “Perhaps it is the way of love, never to be completely sure of the other.”

  “I was not speaking of love.”

  “Nah, nah, you do not love her. No, you let her throw you out of your own bed, you keep track of her every move, you resist any man who suggests that you divorce her, but no, certainly you do not love her.”

  “I don’t need your sarcasm!”

  “Well, you did ask for my opinion.”

  “Ah, so I did, but now that I have it, it solves nothing. It is my own heart I battle with.”

  “Where is she now?”

  “She is eating, and then she will undoubtedly go to bed.”

  “And will you go to her?”

  “The gods know, I want to, but I don’t know... I can’t bear to risk another battle with her like the last one.”

  “All the same, you have no intention of disavowing the marriage?”

  “Why should I? I would have to relinquish Viroconium, or fight a war with Constantine.”

  “It seems it might well be worth it... for your peace of mind.”

  “You think I would have peace of mind if I returned to her father? Think again. I would dream of her for the rest of my days.”

  “But of course, you do not love her,” Balyn said slyly.

  “I don’t understand the thing you speak of as love,” Maelgwn said wistfully. “There are times I think this is a sickness, an obsession.” He groaned. “Perhaps Esylt is right—this woman is like a poison in my blood.”

  Balyn shook his head. “I can’t help you, my lord. The Roman god, Eros, has never wounded me so severely. But then, I never had a chance with a woman like Aurora.”

  “Tell me,” Maelgwn said softly. “Tell me what you truly think of her.”

  “Aye. She is beautiful and full of passion. She is the kind of woman men dream of even as they sleep by their wives.”

  “But I can’t make her care for me,” Maelgwn said bitterly. “I can make her obey me, but I can’t make her love me back.”

  Chapter 24

  Aurora glanced up at the sky uneasily. It was already late morning, and she had not been able to depart the fortress yet. If only it hadn’t taken so long to get the food for Justina. Convincing the man in charge of the food-stores that she had a right to a bag of grain and an amphora of oil had not been easy. It was infuriating. She was queen, but with Esylt overseeing everything, Aurora was reduced to begging for a share of her husband’s property.

  Hurriedly, Aurora made her way to the stables. At least the stablemaster was willing to take orders from her. Paithu should be saddled and ready by now. She found the mare and began to secure the food to the saddlebags. Hearing heavy footsteps behind her, she turned.

  “My lord,” she gasped out as she saw Maelgwn.

  “Good morning. Are you going riding today?”

  Aurora nodded, trying not to meet his eyes. Maelgwn was such a shrewd observer, she was afraid he would see her fear and misunderstand.

  “Surely that is not all for you,” he suggested, pointing to the bag of grain she held in her hand.

  “No, no it is not. It is a gift for someone in the village... a friend.”

  “And who might this friend be?” Maelgwn asked, moving closer to her. The slight smile he had worn earlier faded, and his eyes searched her face with cool intensity.

  Aurora bit her lip, trying to decide. Should she tell him the truth? Lying would probably only make him more suspicious.

  “Her name is Justina.”

  Maelgwn’s dark brows went up in surprise. “That old crone? What business do you have with her?”

  “I went to her for some herbs. We talked and became friends.”

  Maelgwn’s frown deepened. “Herbs, what use do you have for herbs?”

  Aurora struggled to think of something plausible. It was clear that Maelgwn guessed that she was not telling him all the truth.

  “I... I wanted to make a certain beauty preparation.”

  Maelgwn looked startled. Then his face relaxed. He reached out and touched Aurora’s cheek gently, his voice was vibrant with regret.

  “Aurora, you don’t need such things. You have more than enough beauty to break my heart.”

  Aurora held her breath, feeling the aching longing that passed between them. Then it was gone, and Maelgwn’s voice was light and controlled again.

  “Go then, Aurora, but do not come back so late today. I can’t have them keep the gates open for you every night.”

  Numbly, Aurora let Maelgwn help her mount her horse. Then she led the mare out of the stable. As she headed for the gate, her whole body began to tremble. Maelgwn had not seemed cold and mocking this morning, but tender and concerned. Was it possible that he wanted to forget the past and try again? Was it possible that he truly cared for her?

  The thought filled Aurora with yearning. Perhaps there wa
s hope after all. A giddy, light-headed happiness nearly overtook her—until she remembered Justina’s warning. Maelgwn’s life might be in danger; she must try to help him. Aurora sighed. But would he let her? Even if Maelgwn wanted her back in his bed, that did not mean he trusted her or would listen to her.

  She thought of telling Maelgwn about Justina’s warning and immediately guessed his response. He would ask what Esylt would gain by conspiring to overthrow him. He would point out that his sister already had as much power as any woman in Gwynedd. Why would Esylt risk everything on the chance that she would have more authority and honor as Cunedda’s consort than as Maelgwn’s sister?

  The tangle of questions made Aurora’s head ache as she urged Paithu down the hill. It was obvious that she needed more proof before she went to her husband. She could only hope that by today Justina would have learned something more, something which might prove to Maelgwn that his sister was about to betray him.

  Aurora rode past the village, too deep in thought to remember to look for Morganna. She cautiously approached Justina’s hut, set back in a clearing away from the rest of the village. Everything seemed deserted, and for a moment Aurora wondered if she had only imagined Justina and the events of the day before.

  She dismounted and approached the hut, holding her skirt carefully out of the mud. Lifting up the hide that covered the entrance, she saw a low fire burning in the fireplace. Aurora went in and set the gifts she had brought on the table, further reassured by the fragrant odor of herbs which filled the dwelling. She sat down on one of the stools, to wait beside the glowing fire.

  It was not long before Justina entered with an armload of freshly cut plants. Aurora had forgotten how tiny the woman was. Her burden of greens seemed almost as large as she was.

  “Hello,” Aurora said shyly. “I did not think you would mind me waiting for you.”

  Justina gave her little tinkling laugh. “Mind? No, of course I do not mind.” She dropped her burden on the table and looked at Aurora intently. “Have you talked to Maelgwn yet?”