Kingdom of Dragons

by Anna St George

  “Oh there you are mi’lady. I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I thought someone must have kidnapped you. Thank goodness you’re here. I was about to organize a search party.”

  “Where are the others?” Ceridwyn asked.

  “They’ve gone hunting.”

  Ceridwyn sat up and flicking back her long red hair and Maeve was suddenly aware of her emotional state. “What on earth is the matter dear? Don’t tell me those girls have been causing you grief.”

  Ceridwyn sniffled and grunted. “I want to go home.”

  “What’s brought this on?” asked Maeve sitting next to her. “Don’t you like Fingal Munro?”

  “Like him? I don’t know much about him and I can’t see much of him, he’s all covered up. I do know that he is fond of . . . Deirdre. I saw them together this morning.”

  “Well, they are cousins and they have been good friends since they were children. Perhaps you misunderstood what you saw.”

  “I don’t know,” she responded wearily. “Why does he wear the mask?”

  “Well, he was wounded on the way back, surely you were told.”

  “I know but it all seems strange, that’s all. And I saw a woman on my walk around the loch.”

  “A woman?” What woman?” asked Maeve.

  “She called herself Eileen. I don’t know much about her but she told me the Earl only had one son, Artemis. And she said Fingal was a nickname for the monster! What do you say to that?”

  Maeve’s face paled and for a moment she said nothing. Ceridwyn was now convinced that something wasn’t right. “I’ve . . .never heard of an Eileen,” she said. “And besides I wouldn’t trust everything I hear especially from someone I don’t know. Perhaps, she’s jealous and had a thing for master Fingal. I don’t know. But don’t go believing everything you hear.”

  Ceridwyn spent the rest of the day in solitude thinking deeply about what Maeve said. She didn’t know this woman at all. Why should she trust what a stranger says? Perhaps she was right in her calculation but then why this strange secrecy? Why was Fingal Munro covered up with a mask? She tried to calm herself and sit still however she was anything but calm and she resorted to pacing the halls of the castle. She walked from the library to the drawing room and down to the main hall. She walked it over and over again pausing on the stair landing each time and gazing out over the loch with all its mysteries and romance. There was a soft mist lingering over the top of it like a veil covering something under the surface. But what? Was there really a monster? It was just as mysterious as this Fingal Munro. Who was he under that mask she wondered?

  It was on this fourth round that she paused on the stairwell and saw Fingal and his brother Artemis and their cousins returning to the castle. They had been gone since she awoke that morning and it was now late afternoon and trailing along behind them were the three younger cousins, Deirdre, Caitlyn and Isla. With some relief she sighed and returned to her chamber and laid on the bed waiting for Maeve to call on her for dinner. She closed her eyes and slept for nearly an hour until the door burst open and Maeve came in to get her ready for the evening and inform her that Fingal Munro had returned from the hunt.

  She was a vision of glory when she entered the great hall that night. Even with feelings of uncertainty her delicate features shined like the noon day sun. Her red hair and emerald necklace around her neck sparkled in the candlelight. A silk green gown clung to the lovely contours of her figure and she took her seat next to Fingal with uncertainty and she past glances with him as she sat down.

  He smiled at her whimsically. “Please allow me Lady Ceridwyn to compliment your appearance this evening. You look divine.”

  “Divine sir? Really? You make me sound as if I am not human,” she grinned.

  “Pardon me, mi’lady. It was meant as a compliment.”

  “Of course sir. That’s very kind of you,” she replied as she took a sip of the wine.

  “Did you have an interesting day, Mi’lady?”

  “It was as interesting as it could be sir,” she answered carefully. She remembered Gwen saying that to their Father once after she had been out riding the horses with her brother Daniel. “And what of your day sir? Did you catch anything?”

  “Yes, we did. We caught a deer and a pheasant.”

  “Winter is such a boring time,” said Caitlyn. “There is nothing to do.”

  “We could invite the illustrious Sir Gregory to dine here at Adair Castle,” said Deirdre with a smart grin and she watched with delight at the torment in Ceridwyn’s eyes. “In fact,” she continued. “As Sir Albert informed us, he is seeking a bride. I might be an option for him, father.”

  Her Father grinned wearily. “Be careful what you say, Deirdre.”

  “Deirdre!” said her mother harshly. “A lady does not make such suggestions.”

  There was a terrible silence at the table and Ceridwn had expected the conversation wouldn’t end so quickly but it did and it was as if everyone was tongue tied and didn’t know what to say and she saw the glances passing across the table and again she felt as if everyone knew something that she did not.

  “Tell me sir Fingal, are your wounds much healed?” Ceridwyn asked boldly and she was beginning to feel like Gwen for had she been back at Berwyck she might never have asked such a question. Her impertinence was obvious even to her but no one said anything of it and she waited for Fingal’s answer. His delay brought forth regrets and her heart was throbbing in her chest. Why had she done it?

  “Well mi’lady I am hopeful to be able to present myself to you soon.”

  “Very good sir. I look forward to it.” She smiled at him sweetly and when the meal was finished Ceridwyn had hoped to escape when she heard the music playing but Sir Fingal approached her beforehand and asked her to dance. She obliged willingly but with many regrets of which he was surely aware but he said nothing at first but her silence was evidence enough.

  “You are very quiet this evening Lady Ceridwyn? I hope I have not offended thee?”

  “Of course not sir, I’m just tired is all.”

  “That’s what they all say,” he replied.

  “What do you mean, they all say? Who is all? Do you refer to some past love or female acquaintance?”

  He was astounded that she spoke so boldly. “My dear lady I was merely referring to the fact that women often use the prior as a reason for their lack of conversation. Believe me, I would far prefer it if you were just honest.”

  “Would you indeed?” she replied bravely. Gwendolyn and Merry would have been proud of her standing up to this man for she had just about had enough of his secrecy, hiding behind a mask! How absurd! Had it been Gwen or Merry they just may have demanded that he remove it or with Gwen’s boldness she might have torn it off him. “Then let me enlighten you. I woke this morning with an air of delight and raced downstairs with excitement only I found I was alone. I couldn’t find anyone about.”

  “How disappointing. I’m very sorry. We left early.”

  “Not early enough,” she replied. “I happened upon the scriptorium in which I heard chatter. I believe it was you and Deirdre.”

  “Oh,” he replied as the realization became clear. “And you were not pleased by what you heard?” he guessed for he didn’t know how much she had heard.

  “Not particularly.” They were silent for a moment and their eyes locked together and she was overwhelmed by blue eyes piercing through the mask. They were deep and hypnotizing and she tried to imagine the part of his face that she could not see. “Please sir, tell me if you are in love with your cousin Deirdre and I will release you from your vow of engagement.”

  “What?” he said in astonishment. “In love with my cousin Deirdre? Are you serious?”

  “Yes, very serious.”

  “Well I am pleased to inform you mi’lady that I am not. I don’t know what I said that gave you that impression, but I assure you there is nothing between myself and Deirdre accept a lifelong devotion as cousins. That is all.”
There wasn’t much change in her icy demeanour and as the music finished he said. “Please mi’lady join me in the solar for some mulled wine.” She reluctantly went with him and they reclined in the solar by a warming hearth and goblets of mulled wine. “Tell me now. What did you hear Lady Ceridwyn that changed your impression of me.”

  “Well sir. I heard the two of you say, it’s our secret. What is your secret sir? What are you hiding? I would have felt the same had I not heard those words?”

  He was surprised at her bluntness. “Well firstly let me apologize. If you feel you have been deprived of some information then you are not completely incorrect. Deirdre and I were discussing the possibility of a winter ball. It was meant to be a surprise for you. That is all.”

  “I’m very sorry if I misjudged you sir. I just found it . . . all of this is so trying.”

  “All is forgiven and perhaps Deirdre will get her ball.”

  “And Sir Gregory,” she added.

  Fingal paused and glanced back at her but under the mask she found it hard to discern what he was thinking. “Let me be so bold as to inquire mi’lady, do you have affections for Sir Gregory?”

  “What? No of course not,” she defended herself.

  “I’m sorry to bring up such a subject but you revealed your ill feelings therefore I thought I should reveal mine. Artemis informed me that you and he were very fond of each other. Does such a fondness suddenly disappear when an engagement is broken by the bride’s father?”

  “I must confess my heart was very wounded when I learned of Sir Gregory’s behaviour at Woodcroft and his relationship with Lydia Goldsworthy.”

  “Goldsworthy,” said Fingal with surprise.

  “Yes,” said Ceridwyn. “But that was two months ago now and I assure you I am quite recovered. No injuries to report.”

  He nodded solemnly. “Very good mi’lady. I’m pleased to hear that but perhaps you misjudged Sir Gregory. Perhaps what you were informed was not the truth.”

  “Are you defending him?” asked Ceridwyn in shock. How could he defend this man who had ripped out her heart and walked on it?

  “No of course not, but it just doesn’t sound like the Sir Gregory that I have been acquainted with.”

  “You know him?”

  “Well, yes. I suppose you could say I have been acquainted with him and I assure you that this injury that you accuse him of does not ring true with me. He’s not the ladies scoundrel that everyone accuses him of. Maybe when he was younger but not now. I’m sure he is innocent.”

  “Has he told you this? And why sir, do you defend him?”

  “I have nothing against him. He has Scottish roots. Would you listen to another version of this tale?”

  “Why? What good would it do now? Excuse me sir. I’m very tired,” she said firmly and moved away from him and he sighed wearily as he watched her storm out of the room.

  Chapter Twenty Two

  All is Revealed

  Ceridwyn came down the stairs the next day with a thousand things swirling through her head. It totally flustered her that Sir Fingal had defended the notorious Sir Gregory of Tamworth. How could he give any credibility to a man who had betrayed her heart so severely? Ceridwyn was having second thoughts about Sir Fingal as she entered the Solar. She held her head high with seeming confidence and Sir Fingal was there pacing the room from side to side. She stopped abruptly and backed away quietly but he heard her delicate footsteps on the stone floor and turned around. “Lady Ceridwyn!” he called out.

  She turned around and came back to the room. “Good morning sir.”

  “Good morning mi’lady. I hope you slept well.”

  “Yes, and you sir.”

  “As well as I could. But to be honest mi’lady I was hoping that you were not offended by the words spoken between us last night. I never meant to cause you any ill feelings.”

  “Of course not, sir.”

  “Good. You look very lovely this morning as always.”

  “As always? You haven’t seen much of me.”

  “I’m sorry mi’lady. But I’ve heard much of your beauty for many a years and I have seen you at tournaments from a distance.”

  “Really? I’m surprised we were never introduced.”

  “Mi’lady I am honoured that you are to join me in holy matrimony.”

  “As I am honoured sir.”

  “I’m pleased. Would you allow me to show you around Inverness. As your first experience was one of disappointment.”

  “I would be honoured sir.”

  “Good,” he nodded.

  Within the hour they were in the carriage and heading for the vicinity of Inverness. Again Ceridwyn was impressed with the beauty of the surrounding area with valleys surrounded in mist covered hills and the loch seemed to go on forever. “Have you ever seen it, the monster?”

  He laughed softly but did not answer her.

  She took a second glance when there was no answer. “Sir?

  He cleared his throat and sighed. “You probably wouldn’t believe me.’

  “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Oh look, here we are!” he exclaimed as the carriage pulled up outside a tavern. It was a two story gabled cottage made of stone with a small sign perched at the front which said the Golden Apple Tavern. Instantly the smell of spices and baked food made Ceridwyn forget her question and she hopped out of the carriage taking Fingal’s hand.

  They were greeted at the door by a friendly middle aged woman whom Fingal greeted as Melda.

  “Welcome, welcome to the Golden Apple. It’s so good to see you Sir . . . Fingal,” she said with hesitation and Ceridwyn was surprised. Had this woman nearly forgotten his name? But then Ceridwyn suddenly remembered the woman at the lake who didn’t know who he was. This all seemed very peculiar and Ceridwyn could think of nothing else as Melda seated them by a roaring fire. “I’ll bring you stew and ale straight away sir.”

  “Thank you,’ said Fingal.

  “You haven’t tried anything until you’ve tried Melda’s stew.”

  “It’s very bold of you to just show up at a tavern for a meal. Father and mother would never do such a thing unless they were traveling.”

  “This is a close knit community here in the Loch. There is none of that formality that you have in the larger areas. We’re like family.”

  “Really?” said Ceridwyn as Melda placed the ale and stew in front of them.

  “Thank you,” said Fingal. She nodded and went back to the kitchen.

  “Well, that is strange then that the woman I met near Brechin castle didn’t know you.”

  “That is strange indeed,” he answered. “I’m afraid I can’t solve that mystery for you.”

  She smiled forgivingly but still wondered about him. “You are nothing like your sister Gwendolyn,” he calculated and grinned.

  Ceridwyn paused from taking a spoonful of the stew. “How do you know? You don’t know my sister.”

  “Well, just everything I’ve heard from Artemis.”

  “Yes of course. No, I’m nothing like her. She climbs trees, she rides horses, she plays with the hounds and she even snuck a little horse into the castle and into her chamber would you believe. We are nothing alike I assure you.”

  “So tell me who you are, Ceridwyn.”

  She thought deeply for a moment. He was asking who she was? How absurd and he was the one wearing a mask. “Well I’m not the one wearing a mask,” she said sternly.

  “Please forgive me. I already explained that . . .”

  “Yes, I know. You were wounded at sea. I’ve seen many wounds and nothing has bothered me yet. I may seem like a delicate flower at times and you’ll probably never find me riding horses or playing with hounds but I like the solitude of a book, or the satisfaction of plucking my fingers over a stringed instrument. I always enjoyed it when my parents had large numbers of guest staying. I thrived on the excitement of it and meeting new people as much Gwen detested it.”

  “Now you have told me somethin
g of yourself. I also heard that you are very kind and forgiving of the human nature and that you accept people the way they are.”

  “I try my best sir.”

  “Well, now I ask you Lady Ceridwyn. Will you accept me with my scars and all? I assure you I have no prior endeavours to regret except that I admit I was fond of the ladies as a younger lad but I have matured since I took on my father’s merchant business and I am ready to settle down in marriage. I ask you to forgive me of that debt and be my wife.”

  “Thank you sir for being truthful. I forgive you and I don’t know why you should ask me to be your wife. It has already been set in stone when your brother won the tournament.”

  “I know but I would like to know that you agree all the same.”

  “I would be honoured sir. My mother always used to tell me it is what’s in a person’s heart that matters the most. I can see you have a good heart.”

  He smiled with pleasure and kissed her on the hand and then softly on the lips and Ceridwyn had flashbacks of Sir Gregory. He had lips like Sir Gregory and she felt as if she was reliving the moment with him. They finished off the meal and returned home and Ceridwyn had the most haunted feeling as if she had relived the moments with Fingal before. She felt very strange as she traveled with him and his manners and behaviour suddenly seemed as though she had met him in another time or place.

  However the following morning she rose with a soft smile and heard laughter coming from outside and she moved to the window. Fingal and Artemis and Sir Albert were leaving the castle grounds on horses. “Where are they going?” she said aloud softly. It was then Maeve came in the room with a bundle of linen and set it on a chair.

  “Good morning mi’lady.”

  “Good morning,” said Ceridwyn. “I see that Sir Fingal has gone hunting again.”

  “Yes, I believe so,” said Maeve. “And he left you this message,” she said and extending a small letter rolled and sealed with wax. Ceridwyn politely took it from her hand and Maeve excused herself and left the room while Ceridwyn anxiously opened the letter and began reading.