“My father and many of your loved ones met their deaths at the hand of Cadfael of Gwynedd,” he began, deliberately not according Cadfael the title of king. “They are all at peace, now, in the land across the Strait. Even so, they are with us today, just as my father, Cynyr, is in me, and in my foster brother, Cadwaladr, at whose side he rode.”
At his words, Cade’s throat closed over tears that he could no longer shed. Rhun then opened his arms wide, welcoming his people to offer him their allegiance. With a scrape of benches and a low murmur of voices, they came forward one by one, in pairs, or in family groups. Cade moved to within arm’s length of Rhun, standing close enough throughout the ceremony to offer support, but far enough away that it was clear that Rhun was the Lord of Bryn y Castell, not Cade.
Nearly one hundred souls pledged their lives to Rhun. Afterwards, they gathered at the tables for the feast, toasting the new lord of Bryn y Castell. Rhun sat heavily in the central position in his father’s chair and accepted their accolades, if reluctantly.
“He loves them all.” Rhiann had stood by the fire for the ceremony, and now Cade joined her there. Her eyes were clearer, even as she rubbed the last of the sleep from them.
It surprised Cade that she was still willing to talk to him, but he felt it only civil to answer her. “They’ve learned over the years as he sat beside his father that he was fair. They give him their loyalty willingly, and with the knowledge that he will die for them sooner than they would die for him.”
“My father wouldn’t die for anyone,” Rhiann said.
Cade glanced at her. “No. I imagine he wouldn’t.”
The feast wasn’t even half over before Taliesin was at Cade’s side again. “We must go.”
A man-at-arms disappeared through the entrance to the hall, and Cade checked the sky that showed briefly before the door closed. The sun was down, although it was not quite dark. “I would’ve liked to have been gone by now. But this is Rhun’s hour, and he needs to see it through.”
Taliesin shook his head. “No. Time is short.”
Cade focused on Taliesin more closely. “What do you see?”
“A great wave,” Taliesin said. “It is reaching the shore and will soon flood the beach. We may not even be in time to stop it if we were to leave this instant, but I only know that we must try.”
“Tell Rhun of your vision,” Cade said. “I could order him to leave, but I would rather it was his decision today.”
Taliesin nodded and made his way to the head table where Rhun sat holding court. Cade turned to Rhiann. “You still insist that you ride with us?”
“With you,” she said. “Even more so than before.”
“I am loath to put you in danger,” Cade said.
“I don’t care for the thought either,” Rhiann said, “but Taliesin told me that I had to come; that my role could be as vital as anyone’s.”
“We’ll have at least thirty men, many of whom are not as familiar with me as those who rode from Dinas Emrys. Many come from surrounding estates and have spent little time at Bryn y Castell. You must remain either with Rhun, Taliesin, or me at all times.”
“Not all these men know the truth of you, do they?” she said.
“They all know,” Cade said. “Not all believe. It is likely, however, that they all will know me before the night is out.”
“They will accept you,” she said.
“Not all of them.” Cade couldn’t read Rhiann’s expression, but thought to remind her of what had happened in the guardroom, in case the image was fading faster than it should. “I’m not human, Rhiann.”
“I’m not so sure of that, despite what you and Rhun say.” She didn’t look at Cade as she spoke, instead watching Taliesin converse with Rhun.
“I can’t spend time with you,” Cade said. “I can’t be with you or any woman. You can’t want it.”
“You have held yourself aloof from other people,” Rhiann said. “That is no way to live.”
“I’m not alive! I stay away from people out of courtesy and fear!” He swung around and made to drive his fist into the wall. It would call attention to himself, however, which he didn’t want, and he arrested the movement at the last moment before spinning back to her. “Do you not realize what you do to me? How dangerous I could be to you?” He pressed her harder. “I spoke to Taliesin yesterday about what was inside me—both good and evil. Today I feel the evil welling up within me.”
Cade held her eyes, which had widened, much like he’d imagined in his vision, but he knew that it had to be out of fear, not love. Then, Cade looked over at Taliesin, who’d finished his consultation with Rhun.
Rhun stood, nodded, and signaled to the men in the company that the time had come to leave. He raised his voice above the crowd. “I have word that Lord Geraint has need of our spears in the south. The men who will ride with Lord Cadwaladr must come now.”
The people in the hall initially hushed at his words, and then the murmuring grew loud again as Rhun strode toward the double doors leading out of the hall. Ready to get moving and put his restless energy to good use, Cade followed.
__________________
Thank you for reading The Last Pendragon! The next novella in The Last Pendragon Saga, The Pendragon’s Blade, is available Amazon!
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The Last Pendragon (The Last Pendragon Saga Book 1) Page 11