Rhun grinned at the warlord’s words, but his mind was elsewhere. ‘This whole situation could become very complicated in the next few days. I think thee should get Kaileah away from the front line.’
‘But if Talorg flees this battle, or we manage to keep the peace, I shall have lost my eyes and ears in his war council,’ Bridei appealed. ‘Talorg will surely think Kaileah suspect if she abandons him before a major confrontation. And thou hast no need to concern thyself about my sister’s welfare in any case, as she hast an aptitude for all work of a secret or sacred nature.’
‘Much like my merlin.’ Rhun had to say something reassuring on that front, for Bridei had seemed a little broody ever since he’d brushed off the sensitive issue of his sister’s affair. ‘I feel sure Selwyn’s reasons for making himself scarce could only be from concern for thy sister’s welfare. For, in all honesty, I have never seen him so enchanted with anything as he be with Kaileah, unless of course it had leaves and branches.’
Bridei smiled and gave a slight laugh. ‘These two were truly meant for one another.’
‘I can think of no better way to end this debacle than with a wedding,’ Rhun assured the concerned brother, with a slap on the back. ‘Meanwhile, we shall do all within our power to ensure that the heir to thy throne hast a free and peaceful land in which to be born.’
‘Thou art a dreamer,’ conceded Bridei, losing his smile. Having spent his whole life in hiding, he could hardly imagine what true freedom was like.
‘The only difference between a dream and a goal be a plan.’ Rhun assured him, so resolutely that a glimmer of hope manifested in Bridei’s expression. ‘Our aim be to claim thy throne from Talorg, without any bloodshed between thy kinsmen.’
Bridei rolled his eyes believing Rhun was suggesting the impossible.
‘Dost thou think me joking?’ Rhun challenged the warlord’s cynicism. ‘I am not … for we can settle the fate of Alban the old way.’
The High King wandered back into his camp and his men swamped him, having been scouring the surrounding area in search of him for some time.
Sir Gareth had arrived at the High King’s camp in his absence, bringing word from the front line in Clyde, where Riderich was assembling his forces.
‘As soon as I heard word of thy march, Majesty, I made haste to seek thee,’ explained his knight. ‘Word of Riderich’s massive force hast reached Morcant, whose own forces will reach Clyde’s lower border sometime tomorrow.’
‘Damn it!’ Rhun immediately shifted into alert mode. ‘We shall have to march double-time overnight and intercept. Damn it!’ He cursed again, his concern for Selwyn underlying his annoyance. How was he to investigate the Merlin’s disappearance and inspire his weary army forth to the Wall at the same time? Rhun had learned to perform many a miracle in his thirty-one years of life, but splitting himself in two he’d yet to master. ‘Gareth.’
‘Highness?’ The knight stepped closer, eager to receive his orders.
‘Get back to thy legions and make sure they do not take to the battlefield,’ Rhun ordered to his knight’s bewilderment. ‘If a confrontation should erupt before we arrive, thou art to walk away.’
Gareth withheld his objection and took the time to nod and confirm the order.
In the High King’s mind and heart there was no doubt of this knight’s loyalty to Gwynedd. Thus, Rhun decided to lead Gareth aside and confide in him. ‘I suspect treason amid the council,’ he whispered. ‘The northern representatives have their own agenda, which I am in the midst of unravelling as we speak. Enemy and ally art not easily defined at present, so watch everyone and trust no one.’
‘I understand,’ Gareth nodded, before looking Rhun in the eye once more. ‘And I am honoured that thou doth still trust me, Majesty.’
‘Those born in our fair kingdom art about the only souls I do trust.’ Rhun slapped Gareth’s shoulder in resolve. ‘Sons of Gwynedd unite!’ he cried out to spur his men into action and the response to the war cry was surprisingly enthusiastic considering it was the middle of the night.
The huge army proved not so difficult to motivate as the High King had imagined. Having come so far, these men had no intention of falling short of their mission by half a day.
The double-time march progressed into a well-paced sprint and by sunrise the Wall was within sight. Here they were halfway between Birdoswald to the east, where Bridei was stationed, and Elidyr’s capital of Carlisle that lay a couple of hours ride to the west.
On the Wall stood a lone figure in wait of the army’s approach and as the sun’s rays filled the landscape with colour and light, the dark feathers of the figure’s cloak could be seen ruffling in the breeze.
Rhun ordered his force to march on and meet up with Gareth’s regiment, stationed with Riderich’s forces outside the border town of Arfderydd, just a short march to the north-west. The High King steered his horse away from his ranks and headed further up the Wall to speak with the Druidess, Kaileah, who had lowered herself from the Wall.
‘Thou art risking much by meeting me here.’ Rhun pulled the horse to a standstill alongside her.
‘On the contrary, Talorg believes thou art coming to Riderich’s aid and hast sent me to greet thee,’ she said, to let the High King know that she was not as foolish as he thought.
‘Talorg sent thee upon thine own suggestion, I take it,’ the High King double-guessed her. ‘And thy eagerness to greet the new High King would not have anything to do with his merlin?’ Rhun voiced the true reason for her presence here this morning.
Her cold expression softened slightly. ‘Just tell me all fares well with him and I shall not broach the subject again,’ she swore, clearly ashamed to be taking political risks for personal reasons.
In the woman’s dark eyes, Rhun could see the anguish in her soul and he knew a lie would snap her fragile heart in two. ‘I have not seen Selwyn since last we met.’
Although he told the truth, Kaileah’s expression turned icier than ever before. ‘I know thou hast visited my brother at least once since —’
‘I took myself.’ Rhun gritted his teeth and confessed, praying to the Gods he wasn’t making a grievous error in doing so.
‘What?’ It took a moment for the Druidess to get the word out, as she was so mystified by his claim. She did believe him, however, and his confession made her rejoice and fret at once. For although this meant Selwyn’s elusiveness was not restricted to her company alone, it did seem to indicate that something was most likely amiss with him. ‘Then I implore thee, Majesty, to use thy talent to find thy merlin.’
‘Precious few know about my skill,’ Rhun whispered hoarsely, although there was no one anywhere within earshot. ‘Only Selwyn, Taliesin and Prince Bryce know, and now thee.’ Rhun explained why he could not grant her wish. ‘If my fellow rulers were to discover my capabilities we would have mass hysteria on our hands.’
‘Thou art Selwyn’s only hope,’ Kaileah stated in a deadly serious fashion. ‘I feel, in my bones, that he suffers terribly.’
‘In case thou hast forgotten, I have a war to prevent this day!’ Rhun stressed, as he was concerned for his Merlin and despite all that was going on in the world, he did feel disposed toward the Druidess’s plea.
‘’Tis more than my heart that compels me to urge thee to make an exception in this case.’ Kaileah knelt beside the King’s horse. ‘The Otherworld urges thee to seek the druid. Dost thee not feel the will of the Goddess and her cohort, Gwyn ap Nudd?’
In actual fact, Rhun felt moved to tears by the force inside him obliging him to put this woman’s suffering to an end. ‘Aye, Kaileah, I do feel it.’ He sounded almost glad to confess.
The Druidess slowly rose to stand, astonished that she had convinced the High King to aid her. ‘Bless thee, Highness.’ She caught her breath, to prevent the tears of relief from flowing down her face.
‘Hop on.’ Rhun reached down and linking arms with the holy woman, he raised her up onto the horse behind him.
‘Where art we
going?’ Kaileah wondered what the plan was.
‘Out of sight,’ replied Rhun, as he urged his horse to a rapid pace, heading up the Wall away from his legions.
24
The Darkest Hour
It was a dark and uninviting chamber where the High King and Kaileah found themselves manifested. The stone walls of a fortress surrounded them, and judging from the smell and lack of ventilation, they were on the lower levels near the dungeons. The room reeked of the negative energy usually associated with dark sorcery and the implements for such conjuring were strewn about the place.
‘Where on earth?’ Rhun’s query seemed insignificant as they spied a body lying on a bench to one side of the room.
‘Selwyn?’ Kaileah ran to investigate.
Rhun grabbed the only candle in the room, which had nearly burned down to the end of its wick.
‘Oh Goddess,’ Kaileah uttered, as she rolled the frail body over, to see her lover’s withered face. ‘What hast happened to thee?’
The stench of the Merlin indicated how sick he was. The smell of vomit and other bodily excretions was overwhelming — he’d obviously been left in this state for some time.
‘Why would anyone want to harm a soul so pure as this one?’ As the Druidess put her question to the High King, tears escaped her dark eyes though she struggled to restrain the flow.
The droplets splashed onto the Merlin’s face and with a violent jerking motion, he awoke. Selwyn looked about him and although he did not have the energy to smile, when he saw Kaileah and Rhun his eyes closed briefly in silent thanks. ‘Poisoned me,’ he uttered, hoarsely.
‘Who did?’ Rhun demanded to know, but Selwyn’s eyes closed. He was weary and close to death.
‘We must get him out of here.’ Kaileah shook Selwyn gently, to keep him with them.
‘Aye!’ The Merlin came to again, looking to Rhun. ‘The sacred ring of oaks.’
‘Where I had my supposed meeting with Gwyn ap Nudd?’ the High King queried and Selwyn blinked to confirm. ‘Thou doth want to go there?’ Selwyn blinked again and without further question Rhun nodded to assure the Merlin it was as good as done. ‘I shall take Kaileah and come back for thee.’
‘Obliged,’ mumbled the Merlin as Rhun took hold of the Druidess.
‘Stay conscious,’ she begged as the ethers engulfed her and she faded from view.
When Rhun returned he found the Merlin with his eyes wide open and looking decidedly determined. ‘Thee did not doubt my return?’ he joked as he took hold of Selwyn’s frail hands.
The Merlin shook his head. ‘Praise the Goddess … thee defied … Taliesin.’ The effort to speak exhausted him.
‘Save thy apology for a time when we can both more greatly appreciate it, hey?’ Rhun advised, as he transported the Merlin to his nominated destination.
The early morning rays permeated the branches of the sacred grove in intermittent speckled streams, creating a very serene atmosphere.
The Merlin requested to be laid down on his back in the centre of the bare earth clearing encompassed by oaks, and left alone. He closed his eyes, and shifted his weary arms so that his fingertips made contact with the ground beneath his body.
The High King backed out of the ring to where Kaileah had come to a standstill, having fetched some fresh water in her skin pouch from a nearby stream. ‘I really should be getting back to the Wall,’ Rhun said to her anxiously, feeling a little pressed for time, although the Druidess didn’t seem to hear him.
Kaileah only smiled, curiously excited about something surrounding Selwyn. ‘Incredible.’ She glanced aside to the High King and seeing his frown, she frowned. ‘Dost thou not hear them, Majesty?’
‘Hear them?’ Rhun became most confused, and hushed to listen a moment. ‘Who —’
I think a brew be in order, hey what?
The High King’s eyes parted wide, as he perceived the otherworldly voice, for, as with the Goddess, he heard this utterance in his mind alone.
Send out the word, commanded a second, very distinguished sounding voice. There must be some nymph in the area who will knock together a concoction that will fix our ailing harpist, for all the Tylwyth Teg in the area have been charmed by his craft.
A tiny ball of light floated into the clearing and began dancing around the Merlin’s body.
Hold everything! a grouchy third voice advised. I think we have ourselves a volunteer.
‘I give up,’ Rhun stated in exasperation, having scanned the area and exhausted his powers of reason. ‘To whom do the voices belong?’
The Druidess looked surprised at the High King’s confession. She knew he was well versed in the greater mysteries. ‘Thy merlin converses with the trees.’ Kaileah sounded completely enchanted by the fact, as her fond gaze returned to Selwyn.
‘Of course,’ Rhun concurred, recalling that the Merlin had claimed trees as a primary source of information before today, as many other druids had. The branches of the oaks that overhung the clearing now seemed to Rhun to be leaning toward Selwyn, in consultation with him. The tiny light that danced around him suddenly began increasing in size until equal in stature to a human. This was without doubt the most breathtaking female Rhun had ever seen and she hummed a tune that sent the senses swimming. Scantily clothed by a beautiful arrangement of flowers, the nymph knelt beside the Merlin, sporting a set of large, glistening butterfly-like wings that fluttered feverishly in periodic bursts.
‘She be Gwyn ap Nudd’s Queen Amabel,’ Kaileah whispered aside to Rhun, although the High King was too captivated by the beauty to do anything more than nod. ‘Why should she be here?’ the Druidess queried softly to herself, a little jealous that one so stunning was taking an interest in her lover.
Rhun only smiled in response to the Druidess’s query, for he recalled the folk stories that claimed the Merlin played his harp at the beginning and end of every day for the Queen of the Tylwyth Teg, with whom he had fallen in love. Who said thee cannot believe the tales of the common folk? It was certainly not hard to see why the Merlin had had difficulty finding another love so awe-inspiring as this one.
The sparkling nymph held a large bell-shaped flower in her hands filled with an ultra-blue glowing brew. She might have been oblivious to Rhun and Kaileah’s presence, but it was more likely that she chose not to acknowledge them. The ethereal being sang to the Merlin as she poured the mysterious liquid in his mouth and for a moment Selwyn’s entire body was encased by a glowing blue spiritual matter, which soon became absorbed into his being.
‘Amabel?’ Selwyn’s eyes parted wide to behold the angelic face of his first love whom he’d mourned for thirty years.
So, this be the nymph he hast been pining over since first we met him? The tree with the distinguished manner enlightened the others, its overhanging branch waving about whilst all the branches belonging to the other trees remained still.
So what mischief art thou up to now, hey what? another tree demanded, its main overhanging branch dipping low to seek an answer from the otherworldly visitor.
Hush! the angelic woman implored the grove in a melodious voice. Amabel looked back to Selwyn and waving a hand before his eyes, she continued to sing to him.
Remember me not and have no regrets,
Miss me not and in peace dwell,
Love me not and find true happiness
Be haunted no more by Amabel.
With a kiss from the nymph, the Merlin fell into a peaceful slumber. Then the Night Hunter’s Queen shrank to the size of a pea and whizzed off on a breeze, out of the grove.
Rhun and Kaileah snapped from their breathless gaze and rushed to Selwyn’s side, where they were astonished to find that he appeared as he had before he had gone missing.
‘He hast completely healed.’ Kaileah ran her hands over his clean robes. ‘Clothes and all!’ Her relief and awe urged her to laugh and cry at once.
‘Merlin?’ Rhun straddled the unconscious man’s body and slapped him around the face, but Selwyn was out c
old.
The kiss of a nymph induces a fatal slumber, hey what?
The sound of smothered laughter mocked the High King’s efforts to wake the Merlin. ‘Terrific! Now how am I to know who did this to him in the first place?’ Rhun threw his hands in the air, allowing his anger to get the better of him. ‘I thought the Otherworld was supposed to be on my side!’
‘Thee could return to the room where we found Selwyn.’ Kaileah rose to suggest how he might seek his answers without the Merlin’s aid.
‘The door would be locked most likely.’ Rhun shook his head to reject the idea. ‘And I cannot walk through walls … not yet,’ he jested, to lighten the mood.
‘I assure thee, Majesty, the Night Hunter dost watch over thee,’ Kaileah reassured him.
‘Well, watching dost not really aid my cause very much!’ Rhun directed his cynicism at the wilderness around him and away from the Druidess.
As the High King stood brooding, a branch patted him on the shoulder.
Pardon my saying so, but though Gwyn ap Nudd doth not have to aid thee, thou hast one otherworldly ally who must.
‘Taliesin?’ Rhun figured. ‘Nay, he can be of no use. The leaders of the alliance no longer fear him.’
Nay, nay, nay, corrected the tree, sounding perturbed. I do not refer to Taliesin —
Thy subordinates neglect their pledges to the Goddess and her folk because they forget, or have yet to witness, the might of her wrath, the gruff tree interrupted, waving a branch high in the air. If thou art tired of chasing the truth of this affair, then strike the fear of the living Goddess back into her nation’s rulers, I say!
‘I see,’ Rhun grinned, realising what the oaks were driving at.
Now thee cannot say we never aid thee, hey what?
The High King nodded to concede his mistake as he gave their advice serious consideration. ‘If the Otherworld be my ally, then let it work with me to make these rulers cooperate.’ Rhun raised his voice to challenge the Gods, whereby all the trees cheered him on. ‘Send forth the mediator that no man will defy!’
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