Dragon of the Island

by Mary Gillgannon

  “That does not solve our problem,” Balyn said uneasily. “There is a spy at Caer Eryri.”

  Maelgwn looked across the valley. The light was fading now, and the fortress was a drab dull gray again.

  “Let’s go home. If the rumor is true, then we are needed there. And whatever we find at Caer Eryri—we will have to deal with it soon enough.”

  Abelgirth met Maelgwn at the gate.

  “Seldom have I been so glad to see you, Maelgwn,” Abelgirth said with a smile. “I was not looking forward to facing Gwyrtheyrn’s army by myself.”

  “It’s true? When do they march?”

  Abelgirth shook his head. “We really don’t know. Your man in Viroconium left there four days ago, and they had not set out yet. Perhaps since they think you are still in Manau Gotodin, they have grown overconfident and are taking their time.”

  “Good. I don’t want their army anywhere near Caer Eryri when we meet in battle.”

  “You plan to march to meet them then?”

  “Aye. We’ll set out first thing in the morning, after my men have rested. With luck we can keep them to the lowlands and fight them there.”

  Maelgwn looked around, as though he had just remembered something.

  “Where is Aurora? I thought she would be here to greet me.”

  “Ah, perhaps you should talk to my daughter about Aurora,” Abelgirth suggested. “I don’t understand it myself at all.”

  “Understand? Understand what?”

  “Well,” Abelgirth began hesitantly. “It seems she has gone to talk to her father.” He nodded at Maelgwn’s blank, dumbfounded expression. “Aye, I thought it very strange, too. First she sends a message to you to warn you of the invasion, and then she runs off to warn her father. But Gwenaseth assures me that it is not like that—she says Aurora has gone to convince her father not to fight you. I suppose we ought to believe Gwenaseth’s version though. If she trusts Aurora enough to send Elwyn with her, perhaps we should give your wife the benefit of the doubt.”

  Maelgwn gaped openly. “Elwyn, too! Of all the foolish, irresponsible things. This is utter madness! They will be captured—Gwyrtheyrn will show no mercy. Or worse yet, he will use them as hostages against me.”

  Abelgirth shook his head sadly. “I agree with you. It is madness. Still, you have to admire the girl’s spirit. It seems she means to try and save you both—both the men that she loves.”

  Maelgwn looked uncomfortable. “I don’t know about her love for me. I can’t help wondering if she is not more concerned with saving Viroconium and the people she cares for there rather than me.”

  “Well, she certainly didn’t have to warn you, did she?” Abelgirth asked pointedly. “Don’t belittle your wife’s courage,” he added. “It’s a quality that not many woman have... nor men either.”

  “Loyalty is not a quality many have either,” Maelgwn said with a sigh. “You must excuse me, Abelgirth. I will meet with you later to talk about our strategy for the battle, but right now I must have some answers for the questions that are troubling me.”

  Maelgwn left Abelgirth and headed for Esylt’s chambers. It was late, and she was already dressed for bed when she let him in. She wore a long loose white gown and her dark hair fell gracefully around her shoulders.

  Esylt spoke lightly. “So, brother, you have come home to defend us.”

  Maelgwn scrutinized his sister’s face critically. “You don’t seem surprised that Gwyrtheyrn and Constantine have joined forces.”

  “Should I be surprised?”

  “Don’t play games with me, Esylt. I need the truth this time—how long have there been rumors of this war?”

  “Rumors? There have been rumors since you left Viroconium that you were too easy on Constantine. Is it any wonder that the conniving, sneaky weakling has gone behind your back?”

  Maelgwn crossed the room rapidly and grabbed a handful of Esylt’s hair, drawing it tight in his fingers until she winced in pain.

  “I will have the truth, Esylt, not more of your taunts. When did you first hear of Constantine’s alliance with Gwyrtheyrn?”

  Esylt’s eyes were as bright and deadly as two blue flames, but she answered him matter-of-factly. “Like everyone else, I first learned of Constantine’s treachery two days ago, when word came from Viroconium.”

  “Are you sure?” Maelgwn hissed, pulling his sister’s hair more tightly.

  “Aye, I am sure! Would you like me to make up a lie so you will stop hurting me?”

  Maelgwn released his sister, pushing her away in disgust. He turned to look about the room distractedly. “It’s strange that Aurora would hear of this rumor, and you—who usually have ears as sharp as a fox’s—would not.”

  Esylt shrugged. “You know I don’t listen to women’s gossip—whose baby has colic and whose husband lost at gaming—I can’t be bothered with their simple-minded babble.”

  “You can’t tell me that Evrawc’s wife and the rest of the women know more of what is happening in Viroconium than you!”

  “All right,” Esylt said calmly. “I won’t tell you that. Perhaps I heard this ‘rumor’ as you call it. What does it matter? Why should I pay attention to it? Don’t you think it’s odd that Aurora heard the same things as all the other women, and somehow she knew that the rumor was true. If I were looking for a spy at Caer Eryri, I would look no further than your own bed!”

  “That’s absurd. Why would Aurora send a message to warn me to come home if she were in contact with someone from Viroconium regarding her father’s plans?”

  Esylt shrugged. “Perhaps she felt guilty, perhaps she was too cowardly to betray you completely. And now it seems she has gone to talk to her father—it is rather a coincidence isn’t it?”

  Maelgwn shook his head. “I don’t believe it. Aurora may well be trying to stop this war in her own foolish way, but she didn’t spread this story of Constantine’s disloyalty. Wydian was the one who spoke of it, and she is no friend of Aurora’s.”

  “It matters little enough now,” Esylt said impatiently. “If you are done with your harassment of me, do I have my lord’s permission to go to bed?”

  Maelgwn longed to slap his sister’s sneering face, just once, to see her recoil in pain. But he stayed his hand—he had too many other things to attend to.

  The four men met in the nearly deserted hall. They sat down at a table by the fire for a late supper of sausages, apples and barley bread.

  “So, Gareth,” Maelgwn began when they were all seated. “What did Wydian have to say about telling the other women that Gwyrtheyrn and Constantine had joined forces?”

  “Not much,” he growled. “She said she overheard two soldiers who were gaming speak of an alliance between Gwyrtheyrn and Constantine—but of course she can’t recall who the soldiers were. She claims she thought little of their words then, and it was only when she saw a chance to torment Aurora that she remembered.”

  “There is truth in that,” Balyn said between mouthfuls of sausage. “I spoke with Gwenaseth, and she remembered Wydian’s words exactly. She saw it as a deliberate attempt to humiliate Aurora in front of the other woman.”

  “Wydian must be lying,” Maelgwn said thoughtfully. “But at least she didn’t accuse Evrawc of telling her—I am glad to know that he is cleared from suspicion.”

  “What about Esylt?” Balyn asked pointedly. “You spoke to her—what was her story?”

  “The same as always,” Maelgwn said in disgust. “She claims to know nothing about the rumor, and naturally, she could not resist suggesting that it was Aurora who knew all along what Constantine was up to.”

  “Well,” Gareth said quietly. “There is something to that. How did Aurora know to send you a message of warning?”

  Rhys had not spoken yet, but now he pushed his plate away and faced Maelgwn resolutely. “My lord, I, too, would like to know—how do you explain that Aurora has run off to Viroconium with one of your captains?”

  “I can explain!” Balyn interrupted.
“I spoke to Gwenaseth. Elwyn tried to keep Aurora from going, but when he couldn’t, he went with her to protect her. It seems to me that if Gwenaseth trusts her husband with the queen, then we should not suspect them of disloyalty either!”

  Maelgwn sighed deeply and said nothing. The other three men watched him uneasily. More than ever, they felt the weight of responsibility their king bore. Each could not help wondering—if Aurora were his wife—would he trust her?

  Chapter 30

  Aurora looked sideways at Elwyn as he rode beside her. How could she ever repay him for his help? She had talked bravely enough before she left Caer Eryri, but the truth was that she would have never made it this far without Elwyn. Even in daylight, she could not have found her way over the mountains by herself, and the injury to her head still bothered her—she tired easily and sometimes grew so dizzy and sick she could hardly stay on her horse.

  Elwyn caught her looking at him and smiled.

  “Are you feeling better?”

  “Aye,” Aurora answered. “The mornings are the worst, as the day wears on, I begin to feel more like myself.”

  “We are almost halfway there,” Elwyn said, his smile disappearing. He anxiously surveyed the frosty moors ahead of them. “I can’t believe that we have not yet met up with your father and Gwyrtheyrn.”

  Aurora frowned, too. “It does seem like they’re taking their time. I thought they would be advancing into Gwynedd by now. I wonder if the messenger from Viroconium could have been mistaken. Perhaps Gwyrtheyrn was there to talk to my father about something else. Perhaps they do not mean to make war on Maelgwn after all.”

  Elwyn shook his head. “I wish I could be so hopeful, but Maelgwn’s man in Viroconium is an experienced soldier—he could easily tell the difference between a peaceful envoy and an army ready to do battle.” He looked at Aurora critically. “Are you sure you still want to do this?”

  Aurora held her head up stubbornly. “Aye, I must talk to my father.”

  “Do you know how dangerous this is, Aurora? If Gwyrtheyrn suspects that you are trying to turn your father against him, he may have you killed!”

  “I know what a risk I’m taking, Elwyn,” Aurora answered with a sigh. “It’s funny, the young woman who left Viroconium barely four months ago would never have dared to do this thing, but after all I have been through with Maelgwn, I have to try and help him somehow.”

  “You love him, don’t you?” Elwyn said in a soft voice.

  “Aye, I love him!” Aurora answered with a gasp of emotion. “I have fought it and denied it, but it’s true. Perhaps that makes what I have to do even harder. With Gwyrtheyrn, I will have to pretend that I despise Maelgwn, and that I have come to betray my husband.”

  “If he believes you, it might work. Gwyrtheyrn is a greedy, scheming man. He will not question that you would show no more loyalty to Maelgwn than that. Once we have his trust, perhaps we can influence things in Maelgwn’s favor.”

  Despite Elwyn’s reassuring words, Aurora suddenly seemed to grow pale. She stopped talking of their plans, and a short distance later she pulled Paithu to a halt and dismounted. She barely made it a few paces before she doubled over retching.

  Elwyn watched her in concern. Was it the strain of the coming confrontation with Gwyrtheyrn that made her ill, or could it be that she had not yet recovered from her recent fall? He begged Aurora to stop and rest, but she stubbornly refused. It was past midday now, and she wanted to have her meeting with Gwyrtheyrn before nightfall.

  Aurora noticed that the landscape was changing again. The mountains were behind them, and they had reached the soft rolling hill country. They were taking the same route that they’d followed when she’d left Viroconium for Gwynedd as Maelgwn’s new bride. She guessed that they were about two days’ ride away from Viroconium by now—surely they should meet up with her father soon.

  Just before sunset, as they mounted the crest of another hill, both Aurora and Elwyn looked down on the plains below and gasped. A vast army was spread out on the valley below them. Gwyrtheyrn’s standards were purple and gold, and in the light of the setting sun, the whole field seemed to bleed with color.

  Aurora felt her throat closing up in fear.

  “The gods help us,” Elwyn whispered. “I did not expect this. Even Maelgwn will be hard put to defeat this large an army.”

  Aurora cleared her throat and sat up stiffly. “That makes what we have to do even more important.”

  They spurred their horses on and rode down the hill toward the army. It was growing dark when they reached the sentry at the edge of the camp.

  “Who goes there?” the man cried, thrusting a torch up to peer at their faces.

  Elwyn spoke up briskly.

  “I am escorting Lady Aurora, daughter of Lord Constantine—she seeks refuge in her homeland.”

  They could hear the guards whispering among themselves in the darkness.

  “Lady Aurora?” one of the guards said after a moment. “The Lady Aurora who was wedded to Maelgwn the Great?”

  “Aye, this is she,” Elwyn answered. “She comes east to seek protection.”

  There was more murmuring, and then the guard with the torch lifted it up even higher so that the smoke swirled into their faces. Aurora and Elwyn held their breath, but apparently the sentry was satisfied by what he saw, for he handed the torch to another man, and then grabbed Paithu’s bridle.

  “Come then,” he said. “You can tell your story to Gwyrtheyrn himself.”

  They were taken quickly to a large tent near the center of the camp. There they dismounted and their horses were led away. Another soldier escorted them to the tent and then, with a few gruff words, presented them to Gwyrtheyrn.

  Aurora looked into the shadows and saw a gaunt, feral face.

  “So, you are Lady Aurora, or should I say Lady Maelgwn now?” the man suggested derisively.

  “Aye, that I am.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I’ve left my husband. When word came that my father had joined forces with you, I decided I no longer had to endure my unhappy marriage.”

  “Your husband treated you unkindly?”

  “Aye, he kept me almost as a slave, even locked me away at times. I have to say that I feared for my life at my husband’s hand!”

  “A touching story,” Gwyrtheyrn said with a sneer.

  He stood and moved out of the shadows, so that Aurora could see him more clearly. He was not a large man, but there was a lean, dangerous cruelly about him. Aurora stood as still as possible, trying to control the trembling of her hands.

  Gwyrtheyrn walked around her, and his eyes inspected her warily, but at last he smiled. “I’m surprised that Maelgwn let such a beauty get away from him. Your account of things should help keep Constantine’s army eager to fight for your honor. My men will escort you to a safe place. But your guard,” he motioned to Elwyn. “He will stay with me.”

  Aurora moved closer to Gwyrtheyrn and tried to make her voice soft and enticing. “There is something else I would ask of you, my lord,” she purred softly. “I have seen the standards of my father among your army. I would like to go to him and assure him personally of my safety.”

  “You may set your mind at ease on that account,” Gwyrtheyrn answered. “I will go to him myself and tell him that you are safe.”

  Aurora moved even closer, hoping that Gwyrtheyrn would catch the scent of the sweet perfume she had hurriedly anointed herself with before they met the sentry. Then, with a subtle hand, she reached up to pull her cloak away from her face. As she did so, her loose tunic slipped down slightly, revealing the smooth, white skin of her shoulder. Aurora saw Gwyrtheyrn’s fascinated stare and waited.

  After a moment, Gwyrtheyrn looked back into Aurora’s face and laughed. “You are a bold one, aren’t you? Cover yourself up, woman. It is cold, and I have no desire to taste Maelgwn’s leftovers—not when Constantine has two other lovely and unspoiled daughters to choose from. You will be taken to see your
father when I choose, and not before.”

  Gwyrtheyrn dismissed them. Aurora had one last desperate look at Elwyn before she was led away, and then her guard shoved her roughly into small tent.

  Aurora sat down heavily on the bare ground. There was no lamp, and no furs or blankets for comfort. She was a prisoner.

  She tried to relax and think. Her heart still pounded unnaturally from her confrontation with Gwyrtheyrn. She could not help wondering what she would have done if Gwyrtheyrn had decided to take what she offered. Even if she had been able to see her father and change the course of the coming battle, would it have been worth it? Aurora shuddered just thinking of Gwyrtheyrn’s clawlike hands swarming over her. No, perhaps she was lucky after all. Somehow she feared that even if she did it only to help him, Maelgwn would never be able to forget the image of her in Gwyrtheyrn’s arms.

  But what was she to do now? She was helpless, trapped in this tent with no way to reach her father. Even faithful Elwyn was gone. Aurora shuddered again. What if they hurt him? How would she ever make it up to Gwenaseth if Elwyn were killed?

  Aurora shook herself, trying to clear her mind. She must not let her fears get the best of her—she must concentrate and think of a plan.

  It was a bitter cold night in the highlands. Maelgwn’s soldiers huddled by the fire and stomped their feet to get warm. Maelgwn was restless, as always before a battle. Would it be tomorrow or the next day? By morning, they would be in the foothills—surely they would meet with Gwyrtheyrn soon.

  He walked quickly through the camp, stopping occasionally to give an order or share a word with a group of his men. He had almost reached his own tent when he saw a familiar figure, sitting alone by one of the fires.

  “Evrawc,” Maelgwn spoke softly. “So, you, too, are troubled by your thoughts tonight.”

  Evrawc nodded as Maelgwn sat down beside him.

  “You know, Evrawc,” Maelgwn began. “I want you to know how sorry I am about that business back there. I should never have suspected you of disloyalty.”