The Bwy Hir Complete Trilogy

by Lowri Thomas

  Mary slowly turned around to face Anwen. Her eyes glistened and there was colour in her wrinkled cheeks. ‘I made a promise that if Awel ever needed anything – anything, I would do whatever she asked, and she never did ask, until a few weeks ago.’

  ‘I was ordered to hide and protect you, at any cost. Protect you and the child,’ she said, nodding towards Anwen’s stomach, ‘and I intend to do exactly that, so tell me how I can hide and protect you if you go toddling back off to Wales?’

  Anwen sat perched on the edge of her chair. ‘But, Mary, the Pride is in danger. Awel herself is in danger. How can I not go back? Taliesin has asked me to return, he would not do that if I was in any danger.’

  ‘Taliesin …’ Mary pursed her lips again. ‘The Taliesin?’

  ‘Yes.’ Anwen swallowed before adding, ‘He is the father of my baby.’

  Mary swooned, she clutched the edge of the worktop to steady herself. ‘That should not be possible, and yet … Awel would not protect you if he weren’t, but how?’

  Anwen shrugged her shoulders. ‘What should I do, Mary?’ Anwen pulled her top lip between her teeth and waited for Mary to answer her.

  ‘Does everybody know who the father is?’

  ‘No,’ Anwen replied, ‘it’s a secret, at least it was …’

  ‘Are you sure the message is from Taliesin ap Aeron Ddu? Awel hinted you were in some kind of danger. Oh, Anwen.’ Mary stopped short, the telephone was ringing in the other room and Mary hastened to answer it.

  Anwen strained to listen, but she couldn’t hear what was being said, although Mary’s voice sounded urgent and fretful. Mary reappeared in the kitchen in a state of panic, ‘Grab your things Anwen, we must leave.’

  ‘Are we going home?’ Anwen clasped her hands together.

  ‘No. I’ll explain on the way – grab your things, quickly now.’ Mary shooed Anwen out of the kitchen and vanished into her own bedroom to pack.

  ‘But where are we going?’ Anwen called, as she stuffed her new clothes in a holdall, ensuring her mirror was in her pocket and her bracelet around her wrist.

  ‘The one place no Druid would dare enter,’ Mary shouted back, ‘we’re going to Chester.’

  ‘Caerlleon? But why?’ Anwen shouted back, but Mary didn’t answer, she was busy packing her own clothes, ensuring her mirror was in her pocket and her bracelet was safely attached around her wrist.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  By the time Celyn-Bach, Gwrnach and Taliesin appeared in the Reception Hall the sun had begun to set and the Druids were busying themselves with lighting the sconces and chandeliers decorating the walls and ceilings. Despite the normal flurry of activity in the hallways, there was also a tangible air of apprehension and many of the Druids that rushed past had an air of anxiety about them.

  ‘What is wrong?’ Gwrnach asked, as he clasped the nearest Druid trying to scurry past. ‘What has happened?’

  The Druid stammered and pointed in the direction of the Hall of Mirrors. ‘R-R-Runes!’ he stammered, ‘Y-Y-Ysbrydion!’ He shook as he spoke. ‘The Dderwydd Ddrych are corrupted!’

  Gwrnach released the little man and let him scurry away. The three Bwy Hir ran the rest of the way to the Hall of Mirrors. Only on entering the huge hall did they realise the gravity of the Druid’s words. The Hall was filled with Druids, all of them Elders. They were dragging holly and mistletoe into position, laying them at the base of each mirror. Sage was burning in huge fire baskets positioned around the room.

  Llud, Bran, Gryff, Gwydion and Brenig were each drawing counter runes of their own on the huge slate paved floor. Aeron stood amid the turmoil, arms folded, with a grim look upon his face. ‘Where on earth have you been?’ he yelled as he spied them entering the Hall.

  ‘We have been to the Dell, we thought Cadno may be hiding there,’ Gwrnach answered, as he watched Celyn-Bach stroll to the nearest mirror and peer into its surface.

  ‘And was he?’ Aeron snapped, looking down at his son.

  ‘No,’ Taliesin answered, ‘neither were the Tylwyth Teg.’

  Aeron’s brow creased as his eyes became slits. ‘Not there? What do you mean? They are always there.’

  ‘They have gone.’ Gwrnach spread his hands. ‘The place is deserted, that is what we were coming to tell you.’

  Aeron unfolded his arms and placed his hands on his hips. ‘That for the moment is the least of my worries – have you seen this?’ He waved his hand towards the mirrors.

  ‘Can it be?’ Celyn-Bach leaned further in to inspect the surface of the mirror. ‘Have you seen these runes? Gwrnach, come look, it’s fascinating, such tiny runes – look!’ He pointed to what at first glance looked like tiny imperfections in the glass.

  ‘Fascinating?’ Aeron hissed, ‘Fascinating? Celyn-Bach, someone or something is trying to break through. Fascinating is not a word I would use.’

  ‘I apologise,’ Celyn-Bach said humbly, ‘I chose the wrong words.’ He bowed respectfully to Aeron. ‘I – we must speak with you, all of you.’ The Host all stopped what they were doing to watch him as he spoke. ‘It cannot wait, Aeron. It is all connected.’ He waved his hand to the mirrors. ‘Can you spare a moment?’

  ‘We have done all we can do for now.’ Bran leaned up from his completed work. ‘If Celyn-Bach says it is important, then it is important.’

  Aeron squinted at Celyn-Bach, Gwrnach and Taliesin in turn and refolded his arms across his chest. ‘To our chambers then. The Druids can hold fast here.’ He turned to leave. ‘Inform us of any change,’ he ordered over his shoulder and the Druids bowed at his back.

  The Host made their way up to their chamber and Aeron summarised the latest news as they walked. ‘Afagddu and his little minion Madog have been taken away for questioning by the Druids. They are in Dduallt as we speak. My new Councillor is with them and he informs me that Madog is loose-tongued while Afagddu remains silent … we shall see the outcome soon enough.’

  ‘Madog claims Afagddu has disposed of at least six Humans into y Gwag, there may be more, although six is a feast indeed for the hungry souls wandering the mists … I believe we can counter any Ysbrydion that try to break free, six is not enough to create too big a threat … although,’ Aeron said, fixing Celyn-Bach with a penetrating stare, ‘what if there are more? What if this has been going on for years? What if others have done the same? How big would the threat be then? Does evil truly stalk y Gwag? Does Lucifer himself have a hand in this?’

  ‘That is a lot of questions,’ Celyn-Bach said, smiling kind-naturedly at Aeron’s scowl, ‘and each will need answering in turn, but first I must heap more sorrow to fan the flames of disharmony and Cadno is the least of them.’

  ‘Cadno?’ Aeron looked over his shoulder as he opened the huge doors to the chamber they used together. ‘I thought he was not in the Dell?’

  ‘And he is not,’ Celyn-Bach replied. ‘Please sit, all of us, sit as brothers.’ Llud and Gryff, Gwydionand Brenig all sat down. Bran, as was his usual nature, stood by the fire with a suspicious scowl on his face, Aeron sat in the centre of the group while Gwrnach and Celyn-Bach stood side by side. Taliesin shied behind them, keen to shield himself from his father’s glower.

  Gwrnach kept his head down and studied his boots while Celyn-Bach was his normal composed self, looking around at the faces of his brothers. ‘Where do I begin?’ he asked himself, ‘I suppose the most urgent takes priority … The Tylwyth Teg are missing – the Dell is deserted and that leads me to one possible conclusion: they have gone to the Pride – I believe they know more of the disharmony in y Gwag than we do … and if that is so, then the Pride are not only in danger, but are defenceless while they slumber.’

  Aeron leaned forward and the others looked to each other, all concerned at Celyn-Bach’s revelation. ‘Can you be sure?’ Gryff and Gwydion asked in unison.

  ‘I am not definite, but I believe there can be no other conclusion, especially with the runes appearing on the Dderwydd Ddrych. The question though, is what can the Tylwyth
Teg do? Can they protect the Pride against malevolent evil, especially if the Ysbrydion take form? As I understand it the Tylwyth Teg are harmless and will not raise a hand to defend themselves.’ Celyn–Bach spread his hands.

  ‘We must wake them!’ Bran said in his matter-of-fact way.

  ‘And how do you propose we do that?’ Aeron rubbed his chin, his eyes were distant, staring far away.

  ‘We cannot,’ Celyn-Bach declared, ‘only a female Bwy Hir or the Tylwyth Teg can enter where they sleep.’

  ‘No one may enter?’ Gryff asked and Celyn-Bach shook his head. ‘But,’ he added, ‘there is a way.’

  ‘I will not have Atgas anywhere near the sleeping Pride!’ Aeron shouted above the murmurs. Again Celyn-Bach shook his head. ‘Please Aeron, calm yourself and be seated, I would never suggest such a thing.’ Aeron threw himself in his seat and sat with his arms and legs crossed, silently fuming whilst trying to get his temper in check.

  Celyn-Bach looked to Gwrnach and Taliesin. Gwrnach patted Taliesin’s shoulder and then stepped forward. ‘I have a confession,’ he said to the room, ‘there is a new ateb. A Pride invention,’ he added, while looking squarely at Taliesin. ‘And I was chosen to sample its effectiveness …’ Aeron unfolded his arms and legs and sat forward, an eagle ready to descend on his prey. Gwrnach cleared his throat and continued. ‘It worked … and now Olwyn is with child – my child.’

  The room fell silent. Aeron was silent. Celyn-Bach tipped his head from side to side, gauging his brother’s reactions and feelings. All except Taliesin and Aeron had known of Gwrnach’s exploits, Aeron was now the last to be told. Taliesin shuffled further behind Gwrnach, dreading the next moments.

  Celyn-Bach side stepped revealing a shrinking Taliesin. ‘There is more.’ Celyn-Bach nodded to Taliesin, but he dipped his head and so Celyn-Bach continued. ‘There is another child to be born.’ Aeron leaned over further, coiled and ready. ‘There is soon to be a Hanner- Bridia delivered unto the world.’

  The room erupted. Aeron was on his feet and practically flew into Celyn-Bach’s face. ‘What devilry is this?’ he bellowed. All the Host were on their feet, talking and shouting over one another. Gwrnach had taken a defensive position in front of Taliesin and the only person to remain calm was Celyn-Bach himself, he did not even flinch when Aeron descended. ‘I demand an explanation!’ Aeron was incensed.

  Celyn-Bach waited calmly and patiently for the room to quieten before he continued speaking. ‘Firstly, we must be aware that the Pride know of this turn of events and have accepted it. It also occurred during their rule and therefore our opinions mean little.’ Aeron grunted but appeared to calm slightly. ‘Secondly, without this event, the Pride and thus the Host would be in a sorry position indeed – we have been given a rare gift of chance, and one that will not be squandered. The Pride can be woken.’

  ‘By whom?’ Aeron retook his seat but he stared at his son.

  ‘That is Taliesin’s story to tell.’ Celyn-Bach ushered Taliesin to the front.

  ‘I am the father,’ he stated with his head held high, deliberately not looking at his father, ‘the mother is Anwen Morgan of Ty Mawr.’

  ‘What?’ His father jumped out of his seat. ‘You bedded a Human? She carries a child? It cannot be yours.’

  ‘It is mine, father.’ Taliesin met his father’s eyes. ‘Anwen carries Bwy Hir blood in her veins – I know not how, but she does and she carries my child.’

  Aeron’s face grew peevish as he looked down at his son. ‘So,’ he began, ‘so this is why you were so keen to protect the Morgan men. You sided with them against me in the Druid Hall.’

  ‘No father.’ Taliesin swallowed. ‘I would never side against you. I saw an injustice that was all.’

  ‘Liar!’ Aeron hissed. ‘You have cosseted secrets with your mother and you protected them as you protected yourself! Where is she? Where is Anwen Morgan?’

  ‘We do not know, but she can be found and she will help us.’ Celyn-Bach stood side by side with Taliesin.

  ‘Aeron,’ Gwrnach spoke softly, ‘she carries your grandchild within her, she is one of us now.’

  Aeron threw his head back and laughed. ‘One of us? Is she Bwy Hir? Does she tower over mortal men? Can she wield the elements? What use is she to us?’

  ‘She can save the Pride.’ Bran pointed out.

  ‘We do not know that they are in danger – this is nothing more than a guess, speculation, nothing more.’ Aeron spun on Bran.

  ‘We know there is evil stirring in y Gwag, we know your Councillor fed the spirits. The Tylwyth Teg are missing. Can we afford to take the chance, Aeron?’ Bran asked flatly. ‘Can we chance losing the Pride and thus seal the fate of all the Bwy Hir?’

  Aeron grunted again. ‘That I cannot do.’ He turned to his only son. ‘You should have come to me sooner. You should not have lied to me.’ Taliesin opened his mouth but Aeron stalled him. ‘Bring me the woman.’

  Celyn-Bach gripped Taliesin’s shoulder and Taliesin nodded. Aeron left the room. ‘We must find her.’ Celyn-Bach spoke softly.

  ‘I have written on her Ysgrifennu drych already, I await her answer.’ Taliesin felt wretched.

  ‘We must find her quickly, I know that Aeron will send the Seekers immediately if he hasn’t already. He was interested in Anwen Morgan before your revelation and now every Chosen’s house will be visited to find her.’ Celyn-Bach spoke softer still, no more than a whisper. ‘You must go to her family and explain what has happened … she must return home.’

  Taliesin nodded and he too left the room, feeling every eye following his departure. He retraced his steps and returned to the Cerdd Carega in the Reception Hall and lifted his hand. Can Anwen use a portal? Could she be taught in time? He vanished from the Hall and arrived back within the Gwydir forest.

  The sky was turning from blue to grey, the sun was well past its zenith and sunset was looming, giving way to the night. As Taliesin made his way to Ty Mawr Farm his heart sank lower and lower, matching the sun as it yielded to the darkness.

  He reached the farmhouse at dusk. Light spilled from the downstairs windows and smoke billowed from the chimney. All was quiet as he stealthily approached the back door, leaning to catch a glimpse through the window, making sure no strangers were present. ‘Men of Ty Mawr,’ he called in cupped hands from the shadows, ‘Dafydd ap Morgan?’

  The back door opened and Bara wagged her tail as she stared from the opening. Behind her were Dafydd and Gwyn. ‘Who is it?’ Dafydd called.

  Taliesin stepped into the light and Dafydd and Gwyn stepped back to allow him entrance into their home. ‘Go on through,’ Dafydd said as Taliesin entered the house. Gwyn led the way and Dafydd closed the back door, locking it tightly before following them into the living room.

  Gwyn was already turning off every electrical item in the room and Taliesin thanked him for the consideration. ‘Sit,’ Dafydd said and offered the sofa, but Taliesin took a seat on the floor, crossing his legs and accepting licks and sniffs from Bara. Gwyn and Dafydd sat down on the chairs and waited for Taliesin to speak. ‘Do you know where Anwen is?’ Taliesin asked.

  ‘No,’ Dafydd replied bluntly, ‘why do you ask?’ Dafydd sat defensively, arms folded, jaw set.

  ‘What I tell you must go no further, not until the Druids announce it. Do you swear?’ Taliesin looked to both men. They both nodded. ‘Afagddu has done a terrible thing.’

  ‘You don’t have to bloody well tell us that!’ Gwyn scoffed. ‘We saw my aunt’s body, or what was left of it!’

  Taliesin nodded. ‘Yes … but more than that. The bodies were concealed in y Gwag …’

  ‘You mean “in-between”?’ Gwyn probed and Taliesin nodded. ‘So?’ Gwyn pressed.

  ‘So ...’ Taliesin struggled to find the words. ‘Evil stalks y Gwag, we fear for the Pride.’

  ‘What’s this to do with them, they’re sleeping aren’t they?’ Dafydd scowled at Taliesin, unsure of what was being said. ‘They don’t use the mirrors. We use the mirrors
and if there is a danger why haven’t the Chosen been told – we’ve all got a Dderwydd Ddrych in our houses – why haven’t we been told?’ Dafydd was becoming increasingly angry.

  ‘There is no immediate danger, Dafydd Morgan,’ Taliesin said testily, ‘not to us. The danger is with the Pride.’

  ‘It’s the in between thing Awel tried to explain to me,’ Gwyn interrupted and sat forward in his chair. ‘If there is evil in the in between, then travelling through is no longer safe – that means the Cerdd Carega could be a gateway for something evil to get at the Pride while they sleep.’ Gwyn understood. ‘Oh bloody hell,’ he said suddenly, ‘that means the mirrors are a danger too! We’re all in danger!’ Gwyn jumped to his feet.

  Taliesin shook his head. ‘No, no, you’re jumping at shadows.’ He waved for Gwyn to sit down and then he turned to Dafydd. ‘The Pride sleeps, you are correct. Evil stalks y Gwag, or the in-between – both are the same place. There is a threat, but as yet no danger, but ...’ Taliesin inhaled before continuing, ‘we cannot reach the Pride to warn them … only a female Bwy Hir can.’ He looked beseechingly at Dafydd.

  ‘No.’ Dafydd was shaking his head. ‘No, she isn’t. A drop, a drop was all it was.’

  ‘A drop is all it takes.’ Taliesin leaned forward, pressing the urgency. ‘If the spirits in y Gwag get stronger, the Pride may be lost to us. Anwen must help, she is the only one!’