Rhun could not will himself to a meeting with Morcant and Caten, because he was unfamiliar with their appearance and the terrain of their territory. But if someone he was familiar with sought them out, like Bridei, Rhun could simply will himself to him. Bridei knew Selwyn had the ability to teleport himself and others from place to place, and that was acceptable to the warlord. Selwyn was a druid of whom such wonders were expected. But if a king were to be discovered to have such a talent, that would be something to be feared. Rhun had to make sure that Bridei continued to believe that it was the Merlin who transported him from place to place.
‘I would keep an army close by.’ Rhun let Bridei know that he thought his idea to seek out Morcant and Caten a good one. ‘Anyone entering the said territories shall more than likely have to fight their way out again.’
Bridei, now mostly clothed, approached Rhun appearing a little puzzled. ‘So, let me see if I have this straight … Talorg shall be at this battle fighting for thee, against me. And now thou art advising I take an army to the aid of thy enemy … just whose side art thou on?’ Bridei frowned and held his palms up in question.
‘These kingdoms may not be our enemies, but they certainly will be if I sanction this war against them without just cause.’ Rhun began to formulate a plan of action. ‘I shall march a peacekeeping force from Gwynedd to the Wall and prevent this conflict unfolding before the truth of the cause comes to light. Anyone who wishes to oppose me before that time, let them come forth and challenge me and my army of Master warriors.’
‘But thee may lose the support of thy existing allies?’ Bridei considered it rather extraordinary that a ruler would risk so much for the kingdoms of strangers.
‘More than half my allies art loyal to me, or I would not be High King. And I would rather be allied to truthful strangers, than treacherous kindred. The innocent in this affair art my allies, for that be the will of the Goddess,’ Rhun vowed and Bridei gave a firm nod to agree with his reasoning.
‘What if the truth and the lies art so intertwined that neither side be worth supporting?’ This was what Bridei feared was the case. ‘Then it will be thee and me versus the rest of the Island!’
‘And know who would win?’ Rhun spun the rhetorical question. ‘We would,’ he stated, surely, ‘because we have the Otherworld on our side.’
‘Damn right, we do!’ Bridei grabbed the High King’s wrist to shake on it.
As Bridei grasped his bare skin, Rhun could feel the excitement and goodwill radiating from him. At least he could eliminate one person from the long list of possible deceivers.
‘Such a show of force in the north will leave thy own kingdom exposed and under-guarded.’ Bridei let go of Rhun, completely unaware that he had just won the trust of the High King for life. He clapped his hands to get some food and mead organised, whereupon all four women snapped from their captivated reverie to go about his bidding.
‘All the rulers in a position to invade Gwynedd art already involved in this dispute. Their forces art badly strained and will be concentrated on the battle to the east,’ explained Rhun, as he took a seat on the ground by the fire next to his new ally.
Bridei grinned as he considered their scheme and passed a goblet to Rhun. One of his lovely ladies, now clothed, poured them mead from a jug. ‘This attempt to keep the peace may very well end in a bloodbath.’
‘’Tis headed that way at present. If a hostile enemy takes the Wall, our trade route through the north will be lost and the allied states cut off from one another. Still, as it seems they art already divided in mind and spirit, it seems only logical that the body of our island will follow,’ he mumbled, giving a shrug as his eyes gazed vacantly in the firelight.
‘Otherworldly quests art never thwarted!’ Bridei slapped Rhun’s knee in the hope of perking up his spirits a bit. ‘To the peace keepers.’ He held high his goblet to toast.
Rhun looked back to the primitive likeness of himself, forced to smile at the reckless abandon reflected in his words. ‘To peace.’
Their goblets clunked and the leaders drank, leaving their fate and that of their kingdoms in the hands of the Goddess.
Behind the library wall at Arwystli, Cai and Bryce huddled near a wide crack in the stonework, straining to hear what the King of Powys and the King of Gwent were planning.
Blain’s queen, Javotte, had also joined the conference and was doing her best to calm her husband — something Rhun said had spooked the King of Powys into a bit of a state.
‘Whatever we stand to gain, ’tis not enough. I want out!’ Blain stressed.
‘Blain, my love.’ Javotte was using her calm, reasoning tone. ‘How am I to advise thee, if thou will not disclose what the High King said to distress thee so?’
‘He hast seen my death,’ Blain shot back at her and all went quiet for a moment.
‘A clever trick,’ Javotte decided, ‘to keep thee in line. Rhun knows none of us will doubt one of his prophecies. He toys with thee as he always hast, but he will not win this time.’
She had a real way with words, Javotte. Bryce considered she was far too manipulative for her own good.
‘Nay, thou art wrong,’ Blain defended his resolve. ‘Somehow Rhun knows what shall befall.’
‘My sweet, I am never wrong,’ Javotte reminded him. ‘Still, thee may be right in regard to how much the High King knows … if my instinct serves me correctly, I would say the leak may well lie with thy druid. Selwyn hast always been more partial to Gwynedd and hast been absent a lot of late?’ She paused, and the silence meant Javotte had got Blain thinking. ‘If thou hast any sense, which I know thou hast,’ she flattered him sweetly, before going in for the kill, ‘I would banish the merlin back to the land he loves so well, and his novice along with him!’
Cai gasped at the suggestion, but Bryce was quick enough to clap a hand over his brother’s mouth and muffle the sound.
‘That novice be my baby brother and Arwystli be his home as well as mine!’ Blain insisted, surprised that she would even suggest such a thing. ‘I shall not tell my ailing mother that I have banished one of her sons from my kingdom.’
‘This be war!’ Javotte became rather adamant. ‘Thou dost not run the risk of betrayal on the eve of launching a major invasion.’ She lectured with as much conviction as any war counsellor. ‘End of story.’
‘What major invasion? The north?’ whispered Cai into his brother’s ear, but Bryce only shrugged and motioned with his hand for him to be silent.
‘Elidyr’s troops will already be assembled, if not on the move,’ Javotte added. ‘Thee cannot back out, save by making every kingdom our enemy. The only way to keep Rhun out of this dispute now be to wipe him from the playing field altogether.’
Bryce and Cai looked to each other, both realising that Blain and Elidyr meant to invade Gwynedd.
‘Easier said than done.’ Urien’s first comment for sometime was rather snide. ‘And no one said anything to me about attacking Gwynedd.’
‘Our warriors art just as masterful as Rhun’s,’ Javotte challenged.
‘Good,’ Urien concurred, ‘because if thou dost not destroy Rhun, he will kill thee.’
Urien words succeeded in compounding Blain’s fear, judging from Javotte’s reaction.
‘Whose side art thou on, Urien?’ the Queen challenged him. ‘I wast under the impression thee wanted my husband for High King.’
‘If only it were so,’ said Urien, winningly.
‘Then let us do all we can to remedy the situation,’ Javotte advised, obviously finding Urien’s charm annoying.
‘My good woman,’ Urien began in the politest of tones, ‘if thy husband means anything to thee, ask thyself if the position of High Queen be worth the risk of his life?’
Good man, thought Bryce; if anyone could defuse this situation it was Urien.
‘I cannot believe it!’ Javotte exclaimed. ‘He hast done it again. Rhun needs no armies to keep thee under thumb — simple mind games will do. This war hast alrea
dy begun and unless our kingdoms art to be targets thee both had better hunt up some spine.’
The sound of a door slamming signaled Javotte’s departure.
‘Now,’ announced Urien, sounding relieved. ‘May I ask how the hell Gwynedd got involved in this?’
‘Most of the northern kingdoms will not stay in the allied council under Rhun’s leadership. Elidyr hast been looking for an excuse to add the kingdom of Gwynedd to Reged since his grandfather’s death. I wast tempted to support him after my defeat in the election, but no amount of power could fill the hole Rhun’s death would leave in my life … when Javotte calms down she will see that too. I will support Riderich and Talorg in their causes, but I will send word to Elidyr withdrawing my support of his intent. I will advise he abort the invasion of Gwynedd, or risk the wrath of the entire council.’
Bryce breathed a sign of relief, as did Cai.
‘Allow me to deliver the missive for thee,’ Urien offered.
Brilliant! Bryce cheered on the quiet.
‘I do have messengers for such errands,’ Blain advised.
‘Truth be known … I never did like Elidyr very much and would so enjoy delivering such tidings. Please, may I?’ Urien begged in a childlike fashion.
Blain was thoughtful a moment. ‘Sure. I would be much obliged to thee.’
The two leaders sat down and penned Blain’s withdrawal from the invasion of Gwynedd. Urien left immediately, accompanied by a few guards, to deliver the important communication into the hands of Elidyr of Reged.
The rest of Urien’s men left in the company of the rotting Sir Eldred, alias Prince Bryce. Bryce sent Urien’s guard back to Gwent to take what forces could be spared to Caernarvon in Gwynedd. The Protector himself was headed back to round up Dyfed’s Master warriors for the High King’s cause. If Urien succeeded in convincing Elidyr to back down, well and good, but if Urien failed, a formidable force would be awaiting to repel the King of Reged at Caernarvon.
Of course, Bryce was taking into account the forces Rhun already had protecting his nation, unaware that the High King was about to march a major part of his force north to the wall.
When Bryce finally made it back to Dyfed a little under a week later, he found his wife, Aella, in a panic.
Bridgit had received a message from Rhun, ordering her to stay in Dyfed until otherwise notified. But knowing the order meant Rhun was in trouble, Bridgit had defied her husband’s wishes and returned home.
‘Please do not tell me that she shall be anywhere near Caernarvon.’ Bryce knew he was asking too much.
‘She will hardly ride over the Snowdon to Degannwy,’ Aella emphasised. ‘Of course she shall go via the coast.’
Bridgit had been wise enough to leave Cadwell in Dyfed, but her departure meant there was even greater cause to make haste to Gwynedd’s defence. Every warrior in Dyfed with a horse would ride with Bryce and the foot soldiers would have to meet them at Caernarvon as soon as humanly possible. He dispatched a courier ahead to Caernarvon advising Sir Gareth, the presiding Lord, of the looming risk of attack.
The first week of Rhun’s march saw his force beyond Gwynedd’s borders and into the shadow of the Pennie Mountains. Large carts were employed to haul food stores for his fighting force, as Rhun intended to avoid all the major cities on their journey — especially York and Carlisle.
There was an old Roman fort on the Wall at Birdoswald in front of which wound the River Irthing through a crooked glen. Rhun expected Bridei’s force to be awaiting him there, having made their way over the Forth and down between the kingdoms of Clyde and Lothian. Bridei had assured Rhun that he could shift a major force through this area without causing a political incident, as his rebels were very masterful at negotiating tough terrain and they often travelled at night to hide their number.
Rhun knew his own march would not go undetected. Word would reach Elidyr, Riderich and Elifler soon, and he hoped his allies would assume he was bringing his force directly to their aid.
The weather turned sour for this leg of their passage, but Rhun’s soldiers remained in good spirits despite the teeming rain; they knew they were taking part in an unprecedented event. For never before had a native king marched an army such a distance to keep the peace.
As the days rolled by, the wet weather persisted, but it only served to make Gwynedd’s force all the more determined to reach their destination. Even those among the High King’s army who were not professional soldiers, and had joined the force during the march through Gwynedd, showed no sign of turning back. This surprised Rhun, as a king who could rally a body of free men and keep them under arms in a distant kingdom was almost unheard of. Although their march had only spanned a few weeks, this was further afoot from home than any of these men had ever intended to roam — including the Master warriors. Their function was to protect Gwynedd and her interests — few had imagined that her interests would spread so far afoot.
The night before Rhun’s expected arrival at the Wall, the High King wandered away from camp intending to will himself to Bridei. Thankfully, the rain had eased to a drizzle this morning and seemed to have finally stopped altogether.
He had hoped that Selwyn would have shown himself by now, as he needed an alibi for his ethereal passage. Last time Rhun willed himself to Bridei the warlord had, fortunately, been distracted, but if he didn’t spy Selwyn sooner or later, the Pictish warlord was bound to get suspicious. Rhun had thought about willing himself to Selwyn several times, but as he could not be sure he would find the Merlin alone, the notion was a high risk — as was this stunt he was about to pull.
‘Well, I need to know Bridei’s location,’ Rhun justified quietly to himself. ‘And as both of my merlins see fit to leave me to my own devices during this time of crisis, they give me little choice.’
Fortune again favoured Rhun’s decision when he joined Bridei in the night shadows beyond the ruins of the Roman fort where the Pictish force were camped. The warlord had wandered off to have a pee. A moment sooner, or later, Rhun would have manifested beside him in the middle of the campsite.
‘Boo!’ Rhun surprised his lookalike and laughed as Bridei spun around, trying to take a leak with one hand and draw his sword with the other.
‘Damn it all!’ He let his sword drop back into its scabbard and having finished his business, he indignantly put his equipment away.
‘It seems every time I see thee thy family jewels art on display.’ Rhun continued to chuckle away to himself.
‘Sorry, Majesty,’ said Bridei smugly, ‘but I think I accidentally sprayed thy trousers.’
‘What!’ Rhun quickly brushed himself over in search of wet bits, until Bridei began to chuckle.
‘Come on, Princess,’ the warlord jeered, motioning Rhun to accompany him back to camp. ‘What took thee so long, anyway?’
After they chased up some food and drink and found a quiet, out of the way place to talk, Rhun explained that his army were still a day or two’s march away and Bridei appeared puzzled.
‘Then how did thee get here ahead of them? Thy merlin?’ Bridei presumed, looking around to see if Selwyn stood in wait anywhere about.
‘Aye,’ Rhun acknowledged, keenly, ‘but he had other matters to attend.’
‘So all goes well with him?’ Bridei seemed, for some reason, perplexed.
‘Aye,’ Rhun responded less surely, for in truth he hadn’t seen the Merlin in weeks. ‘Why dost thou ask?’
Bridei shrugged as though it was really none of his business. ‘My sister fears he hast gone cold on her. She hast not seen him for half the phase of the moon.’
As it was Kaileah that Rhun had presumed to be keeping his Merlin so well occupied, her concerns were most alarming.
‘I shall investigate,’ Rhun assured, unable to think of any other response that wouldn’t blow his cover.
‘So he hast not mentioned her at all?’ Bridei seemed a little awkward about pursuing the issue.
Rhun felt like a complete heel as he simply sho
ok his head and changed the subject. ‘So, thou hast had words with Kaileah. What art Talorg and Riderich up to?’
‘Well …’ Bridei was dissatisfied by the lack of feedback on the Merlin. Still, he gave up on the topic and moved on. ‘She discovered Talorg hast lied to Riderich about my alliance with Morcant and Caten, so as to give Riderich and himself a common cause that appeared more Clyde’s problem than Alban’s in the council. After aiding Clyde to victory, Talorg planned to persuade Riderich to aid him in destroying me before thee ever became aware of my existence. It probably would have worked had Kaileah not seen thee and …’ Bridei shrugged unsure of how to describe his affiliation to Rhun, ‘made the connection.’
Rhun nodded, his thoughts dwelling on the Pictish Princess. ‘How long hast thy sister been spying on Talorg for thee?’
‘We did not know we were kindred until a few years ago,’ Bridei explained. ‘We were never made aware of each other’s existence. My great-grandmother, thy great-grandmother’s sister, foresaw all that be unfolding now and of how much aid Kaileah would be to me if no one knew we were kindred. By the time I wast born, my sister had already taken to the wandering life of a druidess, under the guidance of an elder, and so was none the wiser of my birth. Although it wast always known by my people that an heir existed, I wast raised by common folk and hidden from those who would have killed for the inheritance due me.’
‘Like Talorg,’ stated Rhun, and Bridei nodded surely. ‘But how did thee and Kaileah find out about each other?’ As soon as he’d asked, Rhun figured out the answer.
‘Gwyn ap Nudd,’ both men responded, smiling as they realised they were both privy to the same otherworldly connections.
‘In any case, Kaileah wast already druidess to Talorg when Gwyn ap Nudd led her to me … and our secret hast worked very much in our favour, just as my wise old great-grandmother predicted.’
Chronicle of Ages Page 45