Kingdom of Dragons

by Anna St George

  Gwen quickly slipped behind her father and moved to the back of the now crowded room and she sighed with relief

  “The king’s army will be here soon enough,” Carwyn assured.

  “The weather will delay the dragon army for a while,” said Pryderi.

  “What of the far northern allies?” asked Carwyn.

  “The far North sir?” asked Sir Jamie.

  “Yes,” said Carwyn. “The Munro’s of Inverness. They are your sworn allies, Lord Godwyn.”

  He nodded in agreement. “Yes, this is true. I’ll send a messenger to them directly.”

  “How ludicrous,” said Pryderi. “How long will that take for a messenger?”

  “Well,” said Carwyn thinking intuitively as usual. “If you travel by boat you could be there in a day or two. The far north is loyal to the king and will rise to his aid.”

  “Then there is the journey back with an army over rugged terrain in winter” said Sir Alfred with surprise. “That could take a long time.”

  “Who will do this?” asked Godwyn looking about the room. “Who will travel to the north and raise the alarm?”

  There was silence for none fancied going north into such wild territory not even Gilbert Godwyn with his love of journeying into the unknown on horseback. With winter now here there would be treacherous ice and snow conditions to consider. And after a moment Pryderi said, “I’ll do it, sir. I’ll go to the far north and muster the allies to battle.”

  “I’ll come with you,” said Sir Trystan and Gwen looked up with great excitement in her brown eyes but refrained from saying anything but she was determined she would go too. And everyone in the room cheered the two brave men and Gwen backed away from the crowd for she longed to see Merry and she looked around anxiously but she was nowhere in sight and at that moment her father walked up beside her. “Gwendolyn my dear. I have missed you very much. Berwyck has been a dull place without your quick tongue and sweet manner.” They embraced each other warmly and Gwen held him firmly like she hadn’t seen him in ages nor would see again and she looked up at him with a sad, sweet glow in her eyes. “Father, I’ve missed you.”

  “And look at you, dressed in men’s clothing. What on earth have you been up to? Have you seen this dragon?”

  “It’s a long story father, but Pryderi has something to share with you.”

  “What might that be?”

  “He has the sword of Cadwallader!” she explained with great excitement. “Where is Merry?” she asked changing the subject. “Where is mother? Has Daniel returned yet?”

  “The sword of Cadwallader?” said her father with a nostalgic glow in his eyes and he turned and moved towards Pryderi who was in deep conversation with Lord Edmund Carwyn and Lord Crew.

  “The sword of Cadwallader,” he said out loud and every one stopped talking.

  “What did you just say?” asked Carwyn.

  “He said, the sword of Cadwallader,” said Crew.

  “I thought that’s what he said,” said Carwyn and he looked at Godwyn strangely.

  “I have it in my possession,” replied Pryderi glancing at Lord Wylde who nodded with approval and there were several comments and whispers moving about the room.

  “Where is it?’ asked Carwyn with extreme curiosity. “I want to see it.”

  Pryderi left the room and went outside and retrieved the sword in its velvet casing and brought it back inside and handed it to Edmunde Carwyn. “Here you are sir. The sword of Cadwallader.’

  Edmunde’s eyes lit up as he pulled the sword out of the velvet cloth and he marveled over it and there were more comments flying about the room and he paused and inspected it’s shining smooth surface. “This is incredible. This hasn’t been seen for centuries. Where did you get it?”

  “I gave it to him,” said Lord Wylde.

  “Of course. I should have known,” replied Carwyn.

  “You’re familiar with it?” asked Gwen.

  “Yes, you see Cadwallader was an ancestor of mine as well as Pryderi’s.”

  “Oh,” said Gwen.

  “I think you should have the sword,” said Pryderi. “I think it its right that you should have it sir.” Gwen pondered this in her mind. Why would Pryderi give the sword that had been in his family for generations to Lord Carwyn? He was a man of mystery. A man living under the name of a dead man.

  Carywn marveled at the sword in his hand again and smiled. “Thank you.”

  “Now there is no time to waste,” said Godwyn to Pryderi. “You must leave within the hour.”

  “Of course sir.”

  Godwyn turned his attention to Gwen. “And you must prepare yourself for a journey as well.”

  “Of course father. I would love to accompany Prince Pryderi and Sir Trystan.”

  Her father laughed. “That’s not where you are going.”

  “But you said a journey and I long to see Ceridwyn.”

  “You and your sister Merry will be sent to Lady Elinor Clapham’s.”

  Gwen sighed with disgust. “But father!”

  “No more buts, prepare yourself at once.”

  Gwen turned and left the great hall with vexation. She had no inclination of visiting with Lady Elinor and she was determined she would accompany Prince Pryderi and Sir Trystan north. And as she walked through the Great hall doors, Marian was there to greet her. “Just look at you? What an awful sight. Dressed in men’s breeches and you smell like a horse. You heard your father young Lady. You will be going to stay at Lady Elinor’s where there will be special guard for you and your sister.”

  Gwen looked at her with turbulence in her brown eyes. “Where is Merry?”

  “In her chamber where you should be and getting out of those dreadful clothes!”

  “Of course,” said Gwen trying to sound convincing. “Let me go upstairs and change and pack a few things.”

  “I’ll see to it that your bags are packed. Now go and clean up and change those horrible clothes and make yourself look like a lady,” she sneered.

  “Of course, Marian,” said Gwen sweetly and she even curtsied but Marian never figured out Gwen’s escapade and Gwen excused herself with discreetness never for a moment revealing her plans of escape. She turned and headed for the stairs in haste for she was anxious to see her sister. She raced along the now darkened halls of the castle and pounded on Merry’s door. “Merry, it’s me Gwendolyn.”

  Within seconds the door opened. “Gwendolyn!” said Merry excitedly as the two sisters embraced. “I didn’t’ know you were coming back. There was no messenger sent ahead but we did have a messenger arrive to say the Daniel is expected back soon.”

  “I can’t wait to see him. I have so much to tell you, Merry. It will take me hours to explain everything. And Prince Pryderi, he’s wonderful!”

  “Then we shall have one of our long walks tomorrow as I have much to tell you as well.”

  “I’d like that,” said Gwen.

  Then Merry hugged her again. “I’m so glad you are back, Gwen.”

  It was that very moment that all chaos broke loose. It started with bells ringing in the guards towers. Horns were blowing and men were running to and fro and Gwen wondered what was happening until she heard a guard yell out “We’re under attack!” Women were screaming, men yelling and moving to and fro. “Something is going on Merry.”

  Gwen and Merry made their way downstairs and returned to the Great Hall and listened intently to the account of one of the castle guards. “There were riders in the valley along the River Tweed. They pursued me and surrounded me. They could have killed me but they wanted this delivered to you.” He handed Godwyn a rolled up piece of parchment. An army of dragon riders are heading northward as we speak!”

  Godwyn unrolled the parchment and read the message from the dragon Lord Culvert out loud. “Greetings Lord Godwyn. It has come to my attention that you refused the King Luther’s request to pledge allegiance to him. I ask you again to pledge your allegiance and release the dragon prince Uther. I kno
w you are holding him prisoner.”

  There was a deadening silence in the room and everyone waited for his reply and Wylde looked up nervously wondering if Godwyn would hand Uther over to them. Godwyn walked across the room to where Uther was leaning against the window and looking out upon the night landscape. “How did this army come to know you were here?”

  “He had a companion,” said Jamie. “It’s a long story. They were both our prisoners to begin with but we soon found out that Uther was indeed Lord Wylde’s son and had been sent by his mother to warn him that the Duke’s men were looking for him. But his companion, a young dragon knight named Sir Percival Balin, fell behind on the road and returned to the dragon army. He must have told them we still had Uther and were heading for Berwyck.”

  Godwyn turned to face Uther. “Well Uther or shall I say Prince Uther. Which side are you for?”

  Uther looked around the great hall uneasily. There were more than a hundred lion supporters in the castle and thousands in the surrounding area and his eyes came to rest on his father waiting for him to give his answer. “I’m a lion supporter of course,” he stumbled over the words.

  “You don’t sound too sure about that,” said Stanley.

  “I am,’ he said firmly.

  “Fine,” said Godwyn. “We won’t be handing you over but you will help us fight them.”

  “Of course,” said Uther.

  “You’re crazy!” said Lord Stanley and those with him all agreed. “The Duke will stop at nothing until his nephew is returned. I’m surprised he’s not out there with him and just how close are you to your Uncle? How devoted are you?”

  “I’m . . .”

  “That’s enough of your questioning!” said Lord Wylde. “He is not one of them!”

  “I’m not devoted in any way to him. Not anymore anyway,” said Uther. “I was when I was a young boy but when I started to realize how he treated people and what he had done to separate my mother and father I changed my mind. And then of course . . . the dragon.”

  Godwyn turned to the room full of lion supporters. “Prepare for battle men! We ride out to meet them!”

  “I’m going to find Mother and see if she’s alright,” said Merry. Gwen nodded and there was a mass of confusion and she pushed through the crowd to try and find Pryderi but she could not see him anywhere. She had to see him before he rode out and it was in the front courtyard she spotted him with Sir Trystan as they were about to mount their horses. “Pryderi!” she yelled out. He paused and turned around and she ran to him and hugged him firmly with tears in her eyes. “Please be careful.”

  “Don’t worry Gwen. I’ll be fine.”

  “How did they get here so quickly? Sir Jamie said it would take them days to catch up.”

  I don’t know,” said Pryderi. “Unless they found a quick route somewhere but how they managed to get across the Greythorn River has me bewildered. However we mustn’t dwell on these minor details for the enemy is now at the doorstep as we speak. I must go to my post dearest Gwendolyn.” Then he leaned over and kissed her cheek and smiling warmly as he turned to join the others and she waited until he was out of sight before she went back inside.

  She nodded bravely and he turned and left and she watched with a heavy heart as all her loved ones rode off to the battle field. Gwen couldn’t go to the battlefield but she could defend the castle. She pulled her hat down over the sides of her head and went straight to the armory and grabbed a crossbow. Then she headed upstairs behind a group of other men. From the parapet she could see the outline of an army in the night sky. There torches were lit up like distant stars. “Keep your positions men!” shouted the Captain of the Guard and Gwen stood rigid and waited like a good soldier. She was ready in case the dragon army’s should breach the walls of the castle. She would fight alongside the rest of them.

  It was then arrows came flying at the castle walls and balls of fire came hurling at them. Gwen ducked and narrowly escaped being hit by a large rock which crumbled against the walls of the castle. She saw the other men start firing their crossbows so she turned and fired arrows over the castle walls not even knowing where they landed in the night setting which had engulfed them. The very foundations of the castle seemed to shake but Gwen kept her place and aimed and fired. She looked out over the night landscape and there were soldiers swarming the hillside like a hoard of bees. Dragon banners were flying in the night breeze and the hill tops were ablaze with warning beacons and something caught her eye. Edmunde Carwyn was sitting on his horse and he was holding the sword of Cadwallader and it was glowing in the moonlight.

  Gwen held fast her position that night and firing her crossbow and defending the castle. She wondered of her loved ones and Pryderi and she said a silent prayer as she stood her post bravely. Gwen woke that morning asleep on the parapet. The bugle blasted and she opened her eyes as the sun was just rising over the hills. She sat up and looked over the castle wall and could see the dragon army lined up and ready for the fight. “Bloody hell, don’t they ever give up,” she mumbled to herself.

  And the guard next to her chuckled. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

  Gwen cringed for she suddenly realized that he had heard her. “Oh yeah,” she chuckled in a deep voice. “Excuse me I need to get a new crossbow.” Then she raced back inside the castle and went downstairs to the Great Hall. Her father was in a meeting with all the clans. He sat down carefully concealing a wound under his cloak for there wasn’t time to deal with it and as far as he was concerned it was just a graze and could wait.

  Gwen slipped into the Great Hall unnoticed as usual and hid near the back and she peered around anxiously looking for Pryderi and Trystan and Lord Wylde. She spotted each one and sighed with relief.

  “We need to try and push them back beyond the river Tweed,” said Lord Stanley.

  “How will we do that?” asked Gilbert Godwyn. “Have you got a magic wand?”

  “Why don’t we give the little dragon prince back to his uncle?” said Stanley.

  “No!” said Lord Wylde angrily. “How dare you suggest such a thing!”

  “It may just be the magic wand we need,” said Lord Stanley.

  “Look,” said Godwyn standing to his feet. “We are in disagreement. We are tired and hungry. I suggest we all have a meal and rest and come back to this in an hour.”

  Stanley nodded firmly and turned and left with his men and it was at that moment that Uther stepped forward. “Sir, Lord Godwyn Sir.”

  “Yes, feel free to speak amongst us. We are all friends here.”

  “Sir, I have a suggestion.” Everyone waited in silent anticipation for Uther’s suggestion. And even Gwen was barely breathing so she could hear everything said. “Sir, I will go back with the dragon army. You will hand me over to Lord Culvert.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous!” said Lord Wylde.

  “I am serious,” said Uther.

  “He’ll kill you,” said Wylde.

  “Why do you want to do that?” asked Godwyn. “Your father is right it would be dangerous. It could mean your life. And we are not afraid to fight them.”

  “I know, but I think I can persuade them to leave the area and head back to Dragon’s Gate and my uncle doesn’t know yet of my decision to become a supporter of King Edward. They think you are holding me prisoner.” Godwyn was listening intently. “By birth I am a prince of Dragon’s Gate and by right Lord Culvert will have to answer to me if you release me. I will be able to turn the army around and send them back to Dragon’s Gate. It will give you weeks’ worth of time to come up with a plan and muster more troops. They outnumber you at the moment. And perhaps sir it is a good thing. I can spy on him. I can find a weakness to the dragon stronghold.”

  “You mean you haven’t figured that out already?” asked Gilbert.

  “Well no, I never had reason to before.”

  “You may be right,” said Carwyn to Uther.

  The room went silent again as everyone thought of the plan laid out b
y Uther Ulric. And many didn’t know if he was friend or foe. Would he carry out what he said, thought Godwyn . Or was he simply there to discover their weaknesses? He knew that this battle wouldn’t be won without risks being taken and this was one of them. “Well, gentlemen, what do you think?” he asked the rest of those present.

  “I think it’s a good idea,” said Carwyn.

  “So do I,” said Pryderi and many voices echoed in agreement.

  “He’s right it will give us more time and that is what we need right now. The weather has caused us a lot of delays. This will buy us some valuable time,” said Carwyn.

  Godwyn nodded affirmatively. “Alright Uther, if you wish to go back to your Uncle, you have my blessing.”

  “Thank you sir. And I’ll be in contact as soon as I can.”

  Within the hour Uther was ready to return to the dragon army and his father Lord Wylde stood beside him. “Take care son. I will remember you in my prayers.”

  “If it gives you comfort,” replied Uther.

  “Do me a favour,” said Wylde taking a small parchment out of his pocket. He tucked it inside Uther’s surcote. “Give that to your mother for me.” Uther nodded weakly and they embraced firmly.

  “If I don’t succeed. If I don’t find favour with my uncle then . . . I am grateful to have met you but I wish I could have known you better.”

  “And you will,” said Wylde. “When this is over.”

  Godwyn stepped forward. “Your father tells me that you don’t believe in the faith but I can’t let you leave without a blessing from the house of Godwyn.” Uther agreed reluctantly and Godwyn motioned for Brother Antoni and he came forward and prayed over Uther. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Amen.”

  “Thank you,” said Uther and Brother Antoni patted him firmly on the shoulder.

  “Have faith in God young man. He will never leave thee nor forsake thee,” said Brother Antoni.