Kingdom of Dragons

by Anna St George

  “Well to be honest with you Gwen, I’m hopeful that when I return from my journey that you and I . . .” His sudden silence made her more nervous and she wanted terribly to nudge him but she refrained.

  “Well I hope we can be better acquainted.”

  “Better acquainted?” she asked in surprise.

  “Yes,” he replied with firm confidence this time and his eyes showed it. “I am not one to rush into things and I believe we should take our time getting to know each other more closely because at some point . . . I may want to ask you a question, and I will expect you to know the answer. I don’t want the answer to come from your father or the pressure of your mother. I will want to hear it from you, from your own heart. The truth is Gwen, I’m falling in love with you. I must confess, I’ve been very fond of you from the moment I saw you.”

  Gwen blushed. He had revealed his heart to her and his intention but also she would have time to mull it over in her mind. And her heart skipped a beat at the warmth of his dark blue eyes perusing her gently like a warm south wind, refreshing and fine. “Oh Pryderi . . . I feel the same of you. I’m in love with you as well in case you haven’t noticed.”

  “Oh I’ve noticed,” he said and he moved up close to her and now sitting next to her. “Gwen you caught my attention at that archery competition and when I saw you jump on that horse and take off, you stirred enough mystery for me to want to pursue you and when your brother ripped off that mask and I saw your lovely face, my heart was rendered a captive from that moment. I hope I’m no longer the ogre you thought I was.”

  “I never said you were an ogre,” said Gwen with a sweet giggle.

  “No, you said I was a half-wit, a fortune hunter like the rest of them.”

  “Oh please don’t remind me. That was so very unkind and unthoughtful of me.”

  “Actually, to be honest, the first time I saw you was the first night everyone arrived for the hunt. I saw you come down the stairs with your sister. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

  “Really?” she asked with surprise. “But you never gave me a glance or approached me. In fact you showed Lady Thea far more attention than you showed me.”

  “Because, I was too nervous and I was afraid you would say no. I’d heard you were very straight and outspoken with your tongue. I must confess some of the rumours I’d heard about your boldness made me afraid to approach you.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said softly and he moved in closer.

  “Don’t be sorry. I’m sorry,” he smiled and moved back of wisp of her dark hair as he leaned over and gently kissed her on the lips and it was passionate and enthralling and even more spectacular than Gwen imagined in her thoughts. She had been dreaming about the kiss since they had acted in the play at Berwyck and this was no act. This was the real thing and as their lips parted Gwen gazed up into his beautiful blue eyes that were shining in the moonlight. “Hurry back, won’t you,” she said softly.

  “I promise.” Then he took Gwen by the hand and led her back inside.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Daniel in the Wolfhound’s Den

  Daniel travelled across the island with Sir Thomas Fairwell, a knight in his father’s regiment to a place called Galloway on the west coast and headed straight for the stronghold of an old warrior friend of his father’s, Angus Campbell. They travelled each day through the hours of daylight resting each evening under the stars. After five days of riding through forest and rugged terrain Daniel spotted the towers of the Campbell stronghold from the top of the surrounding hills. “There it is,” said Daniel with a sense of relief for he felt the biggest part of his journey was over. Crossing the sea would be easy and then the O’Neill would have Ava ready to depart back with him to Scotland.

  Daniel paused with Sir Thomas from his position on the highlands that overlooked the castle. It had a picturesque position in a misty setting nestled against the coast surrounded in hills and a lowland forest. “This is a piece of cake,” said Daniel with a wide grin as he headed down the dusty trail to the lowlands and Tom Fairwell followed close behind.

  It was nearing nightfall by the time they approached the front of the castle and the guards lowered the drawbridge for Daniel and his companion to cross over. They were greeted at the front by Campbell himself. He was a strong hearty man of his father’s age and he smiled warmly. “Daniel Godwyn, Welcome to Galloway lad.”

  “Thank you sir. My companion and I are on our way to Ireland. My father said you would aid us in the use of a boat.”

  “That I will lad. That I will. Come in and make yourselves warm for the evening will be a mighty frigid one.”

  They went inside and enjoyed a meal and ale which went down very smoothly as they had both worked up a hearty appetite. The visit with Campbell was short and sweet for Daniel was keen to get on with the mission before him and bring Ava Desmond back to Berwyck. The following day he was provided with a small sailing ship and within the hour he and Sir Thomas had set sail to Ireland. The weather was choppy but the wind was blowing from east to west and perfect conditions for taking the small boat across the sea and by that evening they had arrived in Ireland in the very harbour of O’Neill’s fortress and Daniel was well aware that some of these old chieftains had mechanisms in place around the castle for defense and so he followed his father’s written instructions and waved the Godwyn flag and a white flag symbolizing peace. But no sooner had he set foot on the sand that he and Tom were both grabbed by the arms and dragged up the beach. “Wait! You don’t understand!” Daniel shouted. “I’m Daniel Godwyn, youngest son of the Earl of Berwyck. I’m here on my father’s business. Surely a messenger came ahead of us that you could expect us.”

  “I don’t know anything about it lad. Tell that to the O’Neill,” shouted the man and he pushed Daniel forward as they reached a sandy path that led towards the castle.

  Daniel was brought into the great hall amidst the whisperings and stares from onlookers and he looked at dozens of faces studying him carefully as he surmised the inside of this Celtic Castle built a few hundred years earlier. There were wolf banners streaming from the ceilings and it seemed dark and foreboding and reminded him of the abode of some wicked war lord with dungeons and torture chambers. It was nothing in comparison to the grand castle he called home and suddenly he longed for Berwyck. He longed for its high appealing stone towers, he longed for the spacious grand hall that was full of light and warmth, but most of all he longed for the friendly familiar faces of his family and friends.

  He noticed several guards and their weapons and two giant hounds perched by and open fire. They sat up alert when he came in the room and finally Daniel’s eyes rested on the O’Neill. He was sitting at a long table with several others and Daniel assumed they were family. There were several men, a couple of ladies and seated to his right was one young woman who instantly caught Daniel’s attention. This was unusual for a lot of young ladies annoyed Daniel with their overly charming behaviours and simpering ways. And he found it most grating that young ladies were always trying to catch his attention for he was the youngest son of the Earl of Berwyck and would receive an inheritance and place as a knight in his father’s regiment. In concern of these things he was a great catch but he also had been blessed with golden good looks.

  He calculated the young woman was about nineteen or twenty and she was what Daniel would call a paralyzing beauty with a stunning figure, red hair and soft blue eyes and Daniel paused abruptly and studied her. He felt entranced by her lovely eyes which had hypnotizing power over him and he found it hard to look away. He determined at that moment he had never seen another woman of the same calculating beauty but he judged she was what Gwen would call, a brainless dove. He would be very surprised indeed to discover any sense in between those two ears sparkling with gold and emeralds.

  The O’Neill himself was a solid beefy man with strong muscle and bone. His hair was dark and curly and he had a scant beard and Daniel stopped in front of him and the O’Neill was eat
ing bits of meat off a platter in front of him and he grabbed one piece and threw it to a patient hound sitting nearby and Daniel examined him carefully but the O’Neill examined him with equal curiosity. O’Neill and the room of people were instantly impressed with Daniel’s smooth looks and lovely blue eyes and he was dressed very smartly in a leather jerkin and dark trousers and high black boots. His appearance was anything but normal to them, the son of an important man but O’Neill noticed that Daniel was very young.

  “Who are you?”

  “Daniel Godwyn, Sir and my companion, Sir Thomas Fairwell. My father is . . . ”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Well sir, my father sent me.”

  “Ahh, on an errand for your father,” said the O’Neill with amusement. “You look very young. How old are you?”

  “Nearly eighteen sir.”

  “And your father sent you on this important mission? Why?”

  “It’s all in this letter sir from my father Lord Eustace, the Earl of Berwyck. Surely my father sent a messenger ahead of me.” He handed him the letter and the O’Neill unrolled it and began reading and after a few moments he laughed hysterically. “It says and I quote, if he makes it this far please put a weight on his feet and throw him in the river!”

  The room roared with laughter and Daniel’s face reddened and he grabbed the letter back. His eyes perused the letter carefully and he suddenly realized it was Gilbert’s writing. Gilbert had put a letter of his own in there. The he noticed the parchment had another piece underneath so he lifted it and saw his father’s letter. “Here, it’s this one. Sorry.”

  The O’Neill took the letter from Daniel’s hand and read again and after a few moments his face had a serious glare. “So, your father wants the hand of my lovely cousin Ava for his son, does he?”

  “Well, that is the agreement my father made with the Earl of Desmond some years ago. I thought . . . assumed you would have known that.”

  “No, no messenger has reached my presence. It seems this agreement was made some time ago and how do you know that Ava wants to marry your brother? She is the heiress to a grand estate. Why should I let her go over the sea and marry your brother? Is he worthy of her hand?”

  “Of course he is sir. Why my brother is . . . ” Daniel paused and thought deeply for words to describe his brother and instantly he was at a loss of words for only negative thoughts arose such as judgmental, overbearing, forceful, womanising and carousing. “He is umm . . . my brother. He’s loyal, and . . . thoughtful . . . kind.”

  “Is he now?”

  “Has he fought in tournaments? Is he a grand knight?”

  “Of course he is. He’s . . . the best. Sir Gilbert he is called,” said Daniel trying very hard to sound convincing but O’Neill was not convinced.

  “Well now, perhaps I’ll just have a think about it overnight and let you know in the morning.”

  “Of course,” said Daniel. “Where is Ava? Could I be introduced to her please?” Everyone in the room giggled softly and Daniel wondered if there was some joke he had missed. “I do get to meet her?”

  “In the morning lad.”

  “The morning.”

  “Yes, pull up a chair and sit down. Have a meal and a drink. O’Rourke! Get the lad a drink.”

  Within seconds O’Rourke appeared with a tankard of ale and he started to fill a goblet and Daniel grimaced.

  “No thank you sir, I’ve abstained from the taking of such drinks in order to train my mind in various studies and disciplines.” He looked at Daniel like he was from another planet.

  “You mean you ain’t never had a drink lad?”

  “Well . . . no, not that kind anyway. Only wine.”

  “Hey lads,” he yelled out to the rest of men in the room. “This young lad from Berwyck has never had a drink! A learned young man he is.”

  “What!” they all chorused. Within moments poor young Daniel was surrounded by a group of men. “Yeah, this young lad here, Sir Daniel Godwyn has never had a drink. It is Sir Daniel, isn’t it?”

  He had called him Sir Daniel. At home he was Master Daniel and that was what Sir Thomas called him but he was on his way to becoming a knight. It was providential. “Um . . . of course,” he lied and he looked up at that moment and Sir Thomas was frowning from the other side of the table and he quickly drew his attention back to O’Rourke. Well, I’ve had wine and cider.”

  “Only wine and cider,” he responded. “How old are ye?”

  “I’m nearly eighteen,” he responded with confidence.

  “Nearly eighteen,” he emphasized. “Ooooh! Ya need a real drink lad.”

  “I’ll pour some ale,” said Malloy.

  “No, no,” said O’Rourke “Get the good stuff. This here lad is no ordinary lad. He’s the son of the Lord of Northumbria.”

  “You mean the real, real, good stuff sir.”

  “That’s what I mean,” said O’Rourke and he grinned at the young Daniel who was about to get a taste of a real Irish drink.”

  Within moments Malloy came back with a tankard of drink and poured it into a silver goblet and handed it to Daniel. He took it into his hands and carefully inhaled its scent which was strong and spicy. And then he took a sip. “Not bad,” he said in his delectable accent that was known to make the young girls faint.

  “Drink it all down,” said O’Rourke and he winked at the other men and they grinned and carefully watched him. By his third drink he was very relaxed. He lifted the goblet to the men. “My name is Sir Daniel of the house Godwyn, cheers!” he said and Fairwell rolled his eyes. “Sir Daniel indeed,” he muttered softly so no one could hear and he moved to Daniel’s side and took the goblet out of his hand. After all Lord Godwyn was the one he answered to and he gave him firm orders to protect his son. “I think you’ve had enough of that Sir Daniel.”

  “And what brings young Sir Daniel to Ireland?” asked O’Rourke and everyone listened earnestly for his answer.

  “I have come to attain, Lady Ava Desmond for the hand of my brother, Sir Gilbert Godwyn as requested by my father, Lord Eustace Godwyn, the Earl of Northumbria.”

  The men laughed heartily. “Good luck to ya lad!” exclaimed O’Rourke. “For she is a feisty lass.”

  And the room suddenly came alive with music and people were dancing and laughing and O’Rourke smiled at Daniel. “You have to get up and dance lad.”

  “I don’t dance,” said Daniel.

  “When you’re in Ireland you do. Isn’t that right lads,” he said to the group of men surrounding them.” They all agreed and then “Which girl would dance with if you had the choice.”

  “Well,” said Daniel. “I don’t know. I don’t play such silly games.” And his eyes were constantly focused on the red haired beauty he had seen earlier and O’Rourke noticed.

  “Ahhh, so it’s young Moira who has caught your fancy. O’Rourke summoned young Moira to his side and Daniel was blushing and his pulse was increasing. This young girl had impressed him in a way others had not. She had an intelligent glow to her countenance and she had a beauty that was natural and pristine, not counterfeit as he’d found most other girls to be. “Why I believe our visitor from England needs a dance partner. What about you Moira? Fancy a dance with young noble Sir Daniel?”

  She nodded politely and Daniel took her hand and they danced side by side to the lively music and he found he was speechless for the first time in long time and her bright eyes smiled up at him sweetly and every time he looked at her he felt his heart would burst from sheer excitement and when the dance finished it was all too soon and she invited him to walk with her. “Would you fancy a walk at this hour? The countryside is beautiful under the moonlight.”

  “Of course,” he replied for who would say no to such a beauty.

  They walked outside under a starry sky, through a garden and past an old stone building with a thatched roof. “What is that for?” he asked.

  “Oh it’s just used for storage or sheep,” she replied.
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  “Really! Storage or sheep,” he laughed.

  The rays of a silver moon cast its light upon the countryside enchanting everything it touched with sheer magic. In her presence he felt at ease as if he were walking along the castle grounds with Gwendolyn. He felt as if he had always known her.

  “Tell me about yourself Daniel, your family.”

  “Well, I’m from Berwyck in Northumbria. My father is the Earl of Northumbria. Moira is a lovely name by the way.”

  “Thank you.”

  So you are here for Ava? Is that correct?”

  “Yes but not for me,” he assured her. “I’m hopeful to return to England with her and present her to my brother as his betrothed.”

  “Why didn’t your brother come himself?”

  “Well . . . he was busy doing something for my father.”

  “Something?” she grinned. “You mean he didn’t want to come because he doesn’t agree with this arranged marriage and would rather hang a noose around his neck and be done with it.” She was very blunt like Gwen and Daniel felt more at ease with her but Daniel knew from experience that this was not a character trait that would please Gilbert. He expected the woman to know her place and be quiet and obedient. But Daniel liked a woman who spoke her mind.

  “Well, I guess arranged marriages have stirred many suspicions for one does not know who they will marry.”

  “Exactly,” said Moira. “It must be a moment of devastation to discover you have married someone you do not love.”

  “Well, I hope and pray I am fortunate enough to marry the one I love. My eldest brother married for love. Do you know Ava?”

  “Of course,” she replied.

  “Is she . . . you know . . . pretty?”

  “Well . . . I guess.”

  “I mean she’s not some ugly troll, is she?”

  Moira laughed. “I should say not. Is your brother worried?”