The Bwy Hir Complete Trilogy (30 page)

Aeron wasn’t finished
. ‘And you, little man,’ he said to Gwyn, ‘are to be pronounced
Gwaradwyddedig
until you produce your sister. My hand stretches far, there is nowhere she can hide.’

‘Father,
no!’ Taliesin grabbed at his father’s sleeve. ‘This is not the Morgans’ fault. Be done with Afagddu but you must spare the Chosen, they are innocent in all this, they are the victims!’

Aeron snatched his sleeve from his son and backhanded him across the face
. ‘You do not tell me what I
must
do.’ Taliesin reeled at his father’s sudden aggression.

The commotion in the chamber had brought many spectators. Gwrnach,
Llud, Celyn-Bach and Gwydion stood in the doorway, looking on with concern and discomfort. Druids peered in from the hallway, all jostling for a better view of the tumult as it unfolded.

Aeron stood
. ‘My judgement is law!’ he roared, ‘
I
am the law! My wishes are sovereign.’ He carved a path for himself as he swept through the chamber. All shied away from his ferocity.

Grabbing hands seized Dafydd, pulling him away from his son. Dafydd didn’t fight, he just kept shouting over the uproar
. ‘Protect Anwen, Gwyn, protect Anwen!’

Afagddu stood erect among the chaos, a small smile played on his lips as he watched Dafydd being dragged away. Taliesin was shielding Gwyn as he pushed him towards the hallway and back to the mirrors. Cadno saw Afagddu’s smile and he too became enraged, how he hated the deformed
Druid. He flew from across the room and grabbed Afagddu by the scruff of his neck, wiping away the smirk. ‘You I will take to prison personally,’ he said through gritted teeth, ‘you will face the R’hela sooner or later and the Host will all skewer your skin for what you have done, my murderous little raven.’

Gwrnach shook his head sadly as the chaos subsided. It was a dark day
, for the Triskele, Druids, Bwy Hir and Chosen had all turned against one another. ‘What will become of us?’ he asked a pale faced Celyn-Bach.

‘A shatt
ered Triskele is not a Triskele: it is a trinket, a relic to be discarded and forgotten. I fear for us all, Gwrnach. The Triskele is precious, it should not be treated so.’

Gwrnach patted his brother’s shoulder. ‘I must find Taliesin, Aeron should not have done such a thing.’

‘You ask what will become of us?’ Celyn-Bach spoke over his shoulder, ‘Taliesin will make a fine king, I only hope that Aeron leaves a kingdom worth ruling,’ Gwrnach agreed.

CHAPTER FORTY THREE

Anwen stepped off the train onto a cold, soulless platform. People bumped against her and they moved through the crowds to be first on the platform. Anwen’s eyes were gritty with sleep. She’d managed to snatch a few hours rest on her journey down to London, but she was still exhausted. She felt frail and insubstantial as she followed the throng towards the exit.

Gwyn had told her she would be met at the station, but she couldn’t see
anyone waiting on the platform or by the exit, so she kept walking until she found herself in the main concourse.

Anwen spun round on her heels, looking at every face that passed her, but nobody looked her way
. She stared up at the huge billboards, at all the platforms and trains, the information was mind boggling – so many places, so many people.

She dug into her pocket and fished out some coins, she needed to phone Gwyn. Her head was bent over the coins when she heard a voice speaking over her shoulder. ‘Well you’re a Morgan if ever I met one.’ Anwen’s head shot up and she looked into the face of an elderly lady. ‘It’s all in the eyes.’ The woman continued, ‘Your grandfather always had the most beautiful eyes. I thought I was going to marry him, until your grandmother stole his heart, but I won’t hold that against you.’

‘Who are you?’ Anwen asked.

‘Me? My name is Mary
Evans. Cousin of Sawbones himself. Valley born and bred, although I haven’t seen them for many, many, years. I’ve almost forgot those green hills as I’m sure they have already forgotten me, which is just as well considering your current predicament … well, what are you waiting for? Let us be away and get you home and settled. You must be exhausted.’ Mary took hold of Anwen’s elbow and began to steer her towards the exit doors. ‘Is that all the belongings you have with you? My, we’ll have to get you some more clothes, but right now a hot meal, a warm bath and a comfy bed are in order.’

That sounded like heaven to Anwen. She felt
as though she’d been travelling for weeks. It was nice to see a friendly face, nice to have someone to look after her. The idea of a hot meal and a bath made Anwen almost lightheaded, but she remembered what she was doing before Mary had arrived. ‘I need to phone my brother.’

‘You can do that later, let’s get you home first.’ Mary pulled at her elbow again.

‘No, I promised. I’ll only be a minute.’ Anwen dug her heels in and Mary released her grip. Anwen held the coins in her fist. ‘I’ll meet you in the café there.’ Anwen pointed across the concourse. ‘I’m parched and could do with a cup of tea, if you don’t mind?’

Mary pressed her lips together but then smiled
. ‘Two teas it is then.’ Anwen watched Mary stroll into the café before finding a telephone. She put her money in the slot and dialled home, eagerly waiting to hear Gwyn’s voice.

‘Hello, Gwyn?’

‘Anwen, for the love of light, run!’ he breathed down the phone, ‘Trust no-one, just bloody run, they’re coming for you.’

‘Oh,
god, no, Gwyn, please, no.’ Anwen felt her knees go weak.

‘Do as I say, run and keep running and don’t phone again.’ The line went dead and Anwen wailed before slamming the receiver back in its holster.

Taking a steadying breath Anwen checked over her shoulder. Mary was still at the counter ordering tea. She kept an eye on Mary as she walked backwards before slipping out of the exit.

Looking up and down the huge concrete plaza she was shocked at the size of the building
s towering above her, ugly and grey, blocking the position of the sun.

‘Do not try to run from me child.’ Mary closed her hand around Anwen’s forearm in a vice like grip
. ‘Awel said to hide and protect you and that I will do. Whatever is going on in Eryri is no business of mine and I do not particularly want to know, but you are in my charge now, so let us be going home, shall we?’ Mary’s voice was stern and brooked no nonsense. She steered Anwen back into the station and firmly led her down a flight of stairs to a dirty, grey streaked forecourt where a row of black taxi cabs stood idly waiting.

Mary frogmarched Anwen to the front taxi and leaned in the window
. ‘Chiswick High Road,’ she instructed, as she bundled Anwen in the back and sat beside her, finally letting go of her arm.

‘You’ve no right
–’ Anwen began to protest as she rubbed her arm.

‘Be quiet child.’ Mary talked right over her
. ‘I am here to prevent little girls who play with fire from getting burnt, it is a lesson you should have learned by now, but obviously you need further schooling and one of your lessons will be in good manners, so be quiet, until we get home.’ Mary looked at the reflection of the driver’s face in the rear view mirror but he seemed to be ignoring his two passengers and so Mary contented herself with ignoring her new charge and instead looked out of the window.

Anwen was bewildered by this new woman in her life, a bolsh
y, headstrong and matriarchal woman who quite frankly, scared the living daylights out of her. She realised that Mary reminded her of her Great-Aunt Nerys and that gave Anwen a sinking feeling as she watched the woman from the corner of her eye and planned her escape.

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

Taliesin ran as fast as his legs would carry him, he did not stop until he reached the Cerdd Carega in the forest. He threw himself against it and vanished, reappearing in the dell.

‘Mother!’ he called
, as he sped towards the hollow, ‘Awel!’

A sea of concerned faces greeted him as he crested the hill and descended into the hollow. The whole Pride was gathered and he had obviously interrupted the gathering.

‘Taliesin!’ Mab rushed forward. ‘What is it?’

Taliesin leaned on his thighs to catch his breath, his chest heaved in and out as he tried to slow his breathing.

Awel leaned down. ‘What has happened to your face?’ Her voice was full of concern and anger. ‘Your lip is bleeding!’

Gasps and mutterings passed through the Pride as they all gathered around him, but he waved them away
. ‘You must come.’ He gulped for air. ‘Afagddu has been imprisoned, accused of killing a Seeker and two Helgi.’ His chest heaved as he tried to get his words out. The Pride all began to speak over one another at the news. ‘There is more – he is also accused of the murder of Nerys of Ty Mawr.’

‘So it is true!’ Artio breathed, ‘The
Druids murder the Chosen!’ More shocked gasps and chattering ensued but Taliesin waved them to silence.

‘It is worse.’ He took a huge breath
. ‘Dafydd Morgan has been imprisoned too. His family is pronounced Gwaradwyddedig until they surrender Anwen for questioning!’

‘Who has done this?’ Mab demanded
. ‘This is scandalous! What are the Morgans accused of?’

‘Nothing. Dafydd Morgan was the one to suggest Afagddu murdered the Nerys woman,
suggested
. Father is enraged, he declared that both he and Afagddu be imprisoned, he was the one who declared the family Gwaradwyddedig!’

‘He cannot do this.’ Awel was incensed
. ‘Only the Triskele can pronounce the shaming, not one person alone, it must be by all three factions, the Pride was not even consulted. Aeron goes too far, he goes above himself.’ The Pride’s murmuring became bitter and angry.

‘Sound the horn!’ Mab called over the clamour of the enraged Pride, ‘I summon all Bwy Hir to
Mynydd y Gelli
.’

The
Tylwyth Teg
had stood as passive spectators on the edge of the dell, but as soon as Mab called for the horn to be sounded a sharp, clear note blasted through the dell and up onto the wind, calling all the Bwy Hir to gather as one.

‘To Gelli!’ Awel called, and the Pride followed in earnest, striding through the long grass and up to the Cerdd Carega. One by one they vanished from the dell to await their counterparts at the sacred meeting place. Never before, on the eve of the Solstice, had the Bwy Hir united upon the mount. History was in the making as Pride and Host appeared within the ancient standing stones. The Pride stalked the summit like hunting lionesses as each of the Host appeared with confusion and concern etched on their faces as they were greeted with stony feline glares.

‘What is all this?’ Aeron demanded
, as he strolled into the circle.

‘What have you done?’ Mab demanded
, as she turned to face him.

Aeron nearly smirked at the rage emanating from his
queen. ‘You have called, I have answered. What else would you have me do?’

‘You have imprisoned one of the
Chosen.’ Mab’s voice was full of accusation and anger, echoed by growls from the rest of her Pride.

Aeron cast a slow accusatory glare of his own directed at his son
, before returning his attention to Mab. ‘I have. What of it?’

‘You have no right. Neither can you declare a
family Gwaradwyddedig
without the approval of the entire Triskele.’ Mab spat her words.

‘A mere formality.’ Aeron looked around the gathered Bwy Hir, gauging their mood.

‘It is not a
formality
,’ Mab hissed, ‘it is the
right
of every member of the Triskele to receive a fair and equal trial. It is the
duty
of every Elder of the Triskele to see law and justice upheld. You consulted no-one, you did not follow the law and thus your declaration is annulled. Release the Chosen prisoner.’

Aeron glanced around the circle again, taking note of every face, he pursed his lips before speaking
. ‘
My
Councillor has charges brought against him. He is
mine
and I will do with him as I please and none will gainsay me. He is accused of murder of a Seeker, destruction of two Helgi and a further accusation of the murder of a woman with an apparent witness to the deed. The witness runs away, flits off and hides from those very accusations. Her father refuses to cooperate with the investigation and surrender his daughter to questioning – questioning that will prove my Councillor’s guilt or innocence. The Chosen is held at my pleasure and until this matter is sorted out and brought in front of a Triskelion jury then the Chosen will stay where he is. I have broken no law that I can think of, a Triskelion jury cannot be formed until the facts of the case are made clear. I will not release the Chosen, nor my Councillor.’

‘You cannot subject a woman to questioning, she is not Chosen.’ Awel spoke up.

‘I can if she accuses a Druid of murder.’ Aeron smiled.

‘And
has she actually accused this Druid of murder, or are you acting on hearsay?’ Awel prodded further.

‘We’ll find out when she is surrendered.’ Again Aeron smiled.

Awel switched her focus to the Host. ‘And the rest of you agree with Aeron’s interpretation of the law?’ They remained stone faced and silent.

Aeron shook his head, slowly and cynically
. ‘Ah, Awel you are so quick to jump to your queen’s bidding, so quick to defend and support, but you and the Pride have forgotten one important fact: Mab no longer rules. Her powers, as are yours and the Prides are weakening and yet, in all arrogance the Pride dares call the Host here to try and hold them to account for doing what is ours by right: to rule.’ His smile was vicious. ‘The Host hold sway now, and I above all. Scuttle back to your little den, Pride of the Bwy Hir and await
our
call, the Host’s call for you to surrender to our whims at the Solstice.’ With a last hideous and sardonic smile Aeron reached out to touch a Cerdd Carega and vanished, leaving a seething Pride in his wake.

The Host turned their backs slowly on the Pride and began to vanish one by one. The last to leave was Gwrnach. He stood alone balefully watching the stricken Pride. ‘For the record,’ he shouted across, ‘I am ashamed of my brother’s actions and hope the Pride can forgive us for his actions.’

Awel spun to face him before calling Olwyn forward and striding across to meet him halfway across the circle. ‘I thank you for your kind word, Gwrnach,’ Awel sighed, ‘and so we return the gift, but these words are for your ears only, Gwrnach, so keep silent this time.’ She gave him a stern look and Gwrnach had the decency to look embarrassed.

Awel left Olwyn to break the news to Gwrnach herself and
so she re-joined her sisters as they began to disappear from the hilltop. Awel had just placed her hand on the Cerdd Carega when she heard a joyous bellow erupt from Gwrnach. ‘
A Triskele is a precious thing
,’ she whispered to herself, ‘
man, woman and child being the most precious of all
.’ Awel smiled grimly as she vanished, vowing that she would do whatever it took to protect the Triskele within the Triskele: Taliesin, Anwen Morgan and their unborn child.