“Yes sir!” It was the first voice.
“What good is a guard who stands in one place? You know how close to England we are here!”
“Yes, sir,” the man said.
I’d starting backing down the stairs at Hywel’s speech, but now turned and fled. My breath came in short gasps as I followed the curve of the tower. I was out of sight of the door in a few steps. If one of the men opened it, however, they would know by the pounding of my feet that they’d been overheard.
With a rush, Anna and I burst out of the stairwell and onto the second floor landing—and ran full-on into Llywelyn.
“What is it?” he said, his hands grasping my forearms to stop my headlong rush.
“I’ve just heard . . .” I gasped, trying to catch my breath. “There were men talking on the battlements . . .”
“In here,” he said, and pushed me into the room he was using for his office.
“Rutting bastard!” Anna said, her voice cheery. “Rutting bastard!”
“I gather you’ve been listening where you shouldn’t, too, young lady,” Llywelyn said, rubbing Anna under her chin. He turned to me. “Now tell me.”
“I wanted to walk on the battlements, just to see the countryside,” I said. “Before I could push through the door at the top of the stairs, I overheard angry voices. Two men, one of whom sounded like Humphrey’s man-at-arms, arguing about something—a plot against you, I think.”
Llywelyn’s face darkened. “I misjudged him, then.”
“No, you didn’t,” I said, hastening to redirect his thoughts. “They were angry because Humphrey refused to help them.”
“Ah.” Llywelyn stood in front of me, his hands on his hips, thinking. “Did you hear any of what they were planning?”
“No. I’m sorry. I ran because I was afraid John would come through the door and see me.”
“Understandable.”
“Hywel interrupted them, anyway. He saw them; he would know who the men were. Maybe he observed something else that would help.”
“You have a tendency to end up right in the thick of things, don’t you?” he said. “The solar would be safer.”
“But not nearly as interesting,” I said. “I don’t want to bore you.”
Llywelyn’s mouth twitched. “No, we wouldn’t want that, would we?” And then. “Let’s find Hywel and see what he says.”
I was pleased he was letting me come—he certainly didn’t have to—so I passed Anna to Maud, her new nanny, who was darning stockings in the next room. She was a widow a few years older than I, whose two children and husband had died in a sickness two years before. The thought brought me to my knees, but she hadn’t given up as she might have—as I can imagine I would have if I’d lost Anna—and was loving and fiercely protective of Anna, who in turn adored her.
Llywelyn and I mounted the stairs I’d just run down. This time we went through the door at the top. It was a gorgeous, spring day, with a scattering of white clouds in the blue sky. Flowers bloomed, particularly the early bulbs, and Llywelyn said that the farmers were already planting crops in the lands along the coast and the warmer, richer lands in southern Wales.
The guard who paced the four corners of the tower stiffened in salute as Llywelyn walked by him. I couldn’t tell by looking at him if he was the same one who’d talked to John, so trailed after Llywelyn. Hywel spied us from his post on the top of the gatehouse tower, thirty yards on, and met us half-way down the walkway.
The castle was roughly rectangular in shape, with the round gatehouse tower protruding from the southern wall and the square keep taking up another corner. Llywelyn had explained that the round tower was built first, purely as a defensive measure, before the keep was built for comfort.
“My lord,” Hywel said, with a quick bow.
“Just now you encountered John de Lacey and another man arguing, did you not?” Llywelyn said. “Meg overheard them.”
“Did she?” Hywel said, looking past Llywelyn to me. “I didn’t see you, madam.”
“I was behind the door.”
“They were arguing about a plot they’d conceived,” Llywelyn continued. “We were hoping you knew more than she.”
“No,” Hywel said shortly. “I sent my man, one Huw ap Cadoc, to his quarters. I was not pleased with his lapse in attention as it was.”
“We’ll need him now if we are to confront Lacey,” Llywelyn said.
“Yes, my lord. I’ll bring him to the hall.” Hywel strode away, back towards the gatehouse tower, and Llywelyn and I backtracked to the stairs and the great hall.
We’d only just entered, however, when Hywel appeared through the great double doors to the keep.
“He’s gone,” Hywel said, without preamble, “along with John de Lacy.”
Llywelyn swung around to stare at him. “You’re sure?”
“I spoke to Humphrey who is with the squires in the bailey. Nobody saw them leave, but as the postern gate lies behind the stables . . .” his voice trailed off at the expression on Llywelyn’s face.
“I know, dammit!” Llywelyn said. “I built the place.” He strode to the entrance doors and stared out them.
“Should I order men to follow?” Hywel came up beside Llywelyn.
“Yes,” Llywelyn said. “They’re probably long gone—making for Huntingdon no doubt—but let’s make sure of it.”
“Yes, my lord,” Hywel said. “And your plans? Have they changed?”
“No. We leave for Brecon tomorrow. Bohun will come for Humphrey and hopefully we will be rid of the lot of them.”
I placed a hand on Llywelyn’s arm. “Next time I’ll listen longer.”
“You certainly will not!” Llywelyn said. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me to him in a tight squeeze. I put my arms around his waist and hugged him back.
“Women make good spies,” I said. “Nobody ever suspects us.”
“Not my woman,” Llywelyn growled. It was exactly what I would have expected him to say. “It’s bad enough to have plots and subterfuge every time I turn around without worrying about you too.”
“Yes, my lord,”—and smiled to hear myself say it.
Chapter Sixteen
Llywelyn
At long last: Brecon.
I’d entered the keep earlier in the afternoon with Goronwy, pleased as always that I’d taken it from Bohun. Humphrey had been several steps behind us, escorting Meg and Anna, and he’d craned his neck to see what changes or improvements I’d made to his grandfather’s domain. I’d had to rebuild some of the craftsmen’s sheds in the bailey, damaged by fire when we took the castle, as well as make extensive repairs to the several of the walls. The latest problem was that the Honddu River slid by right under the southeastern castle walls and was undermining the stone foundation. The spring floods hadn’t helped.
“I’m glad that you made it without mishap, my lord,” Tudur said, striding up to Goronwy and me.
I clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m glad to see you too, friend. You have news for us?”
“I do,” he said, “though your young man-at-arms, Bevyn, whom you sent ahead of you to warn of the traitor in our midst only adds to the uncertainties.”
I glanced at Humphrey, who pulled out a chair for Meg at one of the tables and then sat across from her with a chess board. I’d watched him carefully since Lacey left, not wanting to give away the fact that I knew of Lacey’s potential betrayal. It was a test of a sort. So far, he’d not passed it.
“Has he played the game of kings with her before?” Goronwy asked.
“Not that I’m aware,” I said. “Maybe I’ll stick around to sweep him off the floor when she’s done with him.”
Goronwy smirked. “You do that, my lord. I’ll make sure the men are properly settled in their quarters.” He paced away and I turned to Tudur.
“What did you find? Whose ring was it?”
“Owain confessed it was his, but he’d given it to Dafydd many years ago.”
; “As I feared,” I said. “Dafydd sent a messenger out of Gwynedd.”
“That is all we know, for now, my lord,” Tudur said. “The question remains: to whom did Dafydd send him?”
“And did he reach his destination?”
“And why did he die? Because he was a loose end that needed tying?” Tudur said. “To destroy any link between Dafydd and our unknown man? Or to prevent him from reaching him.”
“We’ll think on it,” I said. “Dafydd has much to answer for, even without this.”
A commotion from the kitchen caught my attention. One of my new boarhound puppies burst through the doorway, followed by Anna. The puppy ran under a table and I scooped the girl into my arms.
“Careful, cariad,” I said. “He bites.”
“He’s nice,” she said. “Can I have him, Papa?”
“He’ll be bigger than you someday. Perhaps we’ll find you a kitten instead.”
Anna put her arms around my neck and squeezed. My heart melted. I carried her to Meg and sat down to watch the chess match. “Is everything in order?” Meg said, her eyes still on the board.
“Yes,” I said, shifting Anna in my lap. “We should hear soon if Lacey reached your grandfather, Humphrey. Then you can go home.”
Humphrey looked up, met my gaze, and looked down again.
I allowed a few heart beats to pass. “Do you have something to tell me, son?”
Meg’s hand hovered above a pawn. Humphrey didn’t answer, so she picked up the piece and gently moved it into position. Humphrey continued to stare at the board, not meeting my eyes. Then without warning, he upended the chess board, sending the pieces scattering across the table and floor.
“God damn them to the seventh level of a fiery hell!” Humphrey surged to his feet and I matched him, afraid of what he might damage next. Meg reached for Anna and I handed her over before moving to confront Humphrey.
“Control yourself,” I said.
Humphrey sputtered. He fisted his right hand and slammed it into the wall behind him.
“Please believe that you are among friends, Humphrey,” Meg said. “Just tell us.”
Humphrey massaged his right hand with his left. “John asked that I aid him in some plot against you,” he said through gritted teeth. “I didn’t—” He stopped. “I sent him away.”
“But didn’t feel the need to tell me of it?” Llywelyn said.
“No! I did not!” Humphrey said. “Nor uncover the details, beyond that it was not for my grandfather that he was working.”
“Not your grandfather?” Meg said. “Isn’t John his man?”
“He is,” Humphrey said.
“Was.” Hywel strode across the hall towards us. “I followed him, as you requested, my lord. But instead of taking the turning to Huntingdon, he continued past it, on north.”
“What did you say?” Humphrey spun around to face Hywel, his face draining of color. “Why would he go north?”
“I don’t know,” Hywel said. He turned to me. “My lord, I apologize, but I didn’t want to risk my men by taking them further into England. We turned back and informed the Earl of Hereford of his grandson’s imminent arrival at Brecon.”
“Did you tell of him of his wayward servant?” Meg asked.
“I did,” Hywel said, “and he claimed no knowledge of his destination. Lord Bohun said, however, that he would attempt to find out more and would report those findings to you, my lord.”
“Did he?” I said. “A new spirit of cooperation indeed among the Bohuns. It is without precedent.” Humphrey glared at me, but when I matched his gaze, he soon looked away. Once again he’d not comported himself as well as he might have, and he knew it. He bent his head and sagged onto his bench.
The others left, Anna crawled under the tables to find the wayward chess pieces, and Meg and Humphrey resumed their game, though neither player’s attention was on it. Although I could have chastised Humphrey further, Meg was all he needed.
“Why didn’t you tell us, Humphrey?” She moved a castle forward and didn’t look at him.
“Where do my loyalties lie, my lady? I am your prisoner.”
“Are you?” she said. “It looks to me the only prison you inhabit is one of your own making.”
At her words, Humphrey abandoned any pretense of playing the game. “You’re speaking of honor again.”
“You knew the right thing to do,” Meg said, “but you didn’t do it. We are enemies, yes, but not in this and not today.”
“It would serve my house if Lord Llywelyn were dead.”
“And it is worth the loss of your soul to see that happen?”
“I have killed men,” Humphrey said, “but only in battle. These machinations and subtle plotting are beyond me. I know that worries my grandfather, who is a master.”
“All you have to worry about, Humphrey, is your own actions,” Meg said. “It may be your destiny to lead men in war, perhaps even against my lord. But it’s not your nature to sneak around in the dark. Prince Llywelyn has been open in his dealings with you, and as you yourself are a knight, he expects the same in return.”
“I know it. It was not clear to me that stopping a plot perpetrated against him by another was also my duty.”
“And now?”
He held her gaze. “I still don’t know that it is.”
Meg nodded. “That’s honest anyway.”
Humphrey tipped his chin in my direction. “Your prince knows subterfuge well. My grandfather has told me.”
Meg glanced at me and her eyes twinkled. “I believe it. He’ll tell you that the end justify the means at times, but he’d also say that he accepts responsibility for his actions. A lord must understand himself and his motives, whether for good or ill.”
“I can do that,” Humphrey said. “I will do that.”
“Then you will be a man of whom your grandfather can be proud,” I said.
Humphrey gazed at Meg for another count of ten, then stood, bowed, to both her and me, and left the room.
“You think that of me, do you?” I caught a stray hair that had come loose from Meg’s wimple and tucked it behind her ear.
“I know it.”
* * * * *
Bohun made Humphrey cool his heels with us for more than a week, so it was actually Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn who was the first of the conspirators I confronted. He strode into Brecon’s great hall as if he owned the place, which he, of all my barons, allies, and enemies, never had. I found his attitude irritating so got straight to the point.
“Where is your son?” I asked him. Gruffydd halted before me, made the proper obeisance, even if the bow wasn’t quite as deep as it should have been, and seated himself across from me. A servant brought a trencher of food and a carafe of wine.
“In England, with Prince Edward,” Gruffydd said.
“That tells me everything and nothing,” I said. “I’ve not spoken with Humphrey de Bohun himself, but his grandson is with us here at Brecon and he confirms Owain’s involvement in an attack on me at the forest of Coed y Brenin. What do you say to that?”
Gruffydd turned beet red and sputtered, but didn’t reply.
Tudur leaned in. “You didn’t think our lord would charge you with this outright? Did you think that he would dance around you, anxious to appease you and your heir?”
Gruffydd’s hands clenched and unclenched. Finally he seemed to master himself. He straightened in his chair and came out with the truth. “I have dealt with him, my lord. I assure you that I had no part in his misadventure.”
“I didn’t think you did,” I said. “You’ve never been a fool. Your son, however, doesn’t appear to share your strengths.”
“My son,” Gruffydd said through gritted teeth, “was led astray by your brother. When Dafydd came to him with a plan to attack you, he felt that he couldn’t turn away such a powerful overlord.”
I let the silence draw out as I studied Gruffydd. He held my gaze, defiant. Again it was Tudur who spoke. “If you really believ
e this explanation is a proper justification for his actions, I wonder that you’ve held onto your lands as long as you have. Would not the proper course for Owain have been to inform Prince Llywelyn—or you at the very least—of Dafydd’s plans? Loyalty to the Prince of Wales surely trumps loyalty to a traitorous brother, whether or not he is a prince.”
This was the same conversation Meg had just had with Humphrey. I wondered why this appeared to be such a difficult concept for everyone to grasp. Meg told me I was much loved by my people’s descendants. But maybe it would be better to be feared by those who lived now.
Goronwy stood behind me, tapping his foot in an uneven staccato. I was tempted to put a hand on his leg to stop him, but refrained. I too was impatient with Gruffydd. I couldn’t trust him and I couldn’t ignore his son’s blatant rebellion. He would have to bend or I couldn’t let him leave Brecon.
Gruffydd took a long gulp of wine and set down his cup. He scrubbed his hair with both hands, sending the graying curls sticking up every which way, and then to my relief, capitulated.
“You have my apologies, my lord. I dragged the story from him when he returned to Powys. He claims the plan was entirely Dafydd’s, but I can hardly credit it. It was Owain himself who convinced the Bohun lad to join them; he who paid a village headman to empty his village; he who aided Dafydd in his kidnapping of your woman. When and if Owain finds himself under my roof again, be sure that I will keep him on a tight rein. I will also send a report to Prince Edward of his deeds. He will be no more pleased at Owain’s activities than you are.”
I wasn’t too sure of that but let it go. I had what I wanted from Gruffydd, for now.
* * * * *
We were nearly into April before a man shouted from the top of the battlements that the Hereford delegation was coming, the elder Humphrey de Bohun at its head, as evidenced by his personal shield—six red lions en passant on a gold background.
Humphrey de Bohun was a lion of a man, with a mane of white hair and beard, in the fashion commonly worn among the English.
Daughter of Time: A Time Travel Romance Page 17