The Bwy Hir Complete Trilogy (39 page)

‘Then we go our separate ways with no hard feelings.’ Cadno feigned indifference but his heart was hammering in his chest. ‘What do we have to lose, Atgas? We are both exiles, this is a chance to create our own clan.’ He leaned forward.

Finally, Atgas stood and squared her shoulders. ‘This is my Ransom: we will stand together for four seasons and see how we fare – if either of us are dissatisfied after this time we will go our separate ways; you will leave Caerlleon and not return.
I
rule Caerlleon, Cadno, not you. We will try the new ateb and you will share the ingredients with me, and how the transfiguration works. I will supply you with Human blood for the Solstice and a roof over your head – the nights grow colder. This is my Ransom.’

Cadno stood up and came to stand in front of her
. ‘The Helgi are
mine
, Atgas, and remain mine. Other than that, I agree.’ He held out his right arm and they each sealed their pact by clasping each other’s forearm. ‘Done,’ they said in unison.

CHAPTER TEN

Dafydd was glad to be home
. He sat on the sofa as Gwyn fussed about making tea and preparing the fire. Dai Jones sat in the chair next to the fire looking tired but relieved to have his friend back. Bryn-Wisgi sat on the opposite chair with a glass of Penderyn single malt, his second of the evening and it was not yet six o’clock, although it had already grown dark outside and a bitter frost was threatening to descend upon the valley.

Gwyn brought a tray in and s
et it on the small side table, he handed mugs to Dafydd and Dai and took one for himself; Bryn was happy with his whiskey. Bara was sprawled out in front of the fire with her head resting on her paws, her eyes were closed but her ears swivelled as the men spoke.

‘It’s a dark business, Dafydd,’ Bryn-Wisgi
said into his glass as he took a swig, ‘who’d have thought a Druid was capable of murder … you sure it was Nerys?’ 

‘Sure as I can be, Bryn. There wasn’t much left.’ Dafydd hugged his mug of tea and sighed.

‘But why, Dafydd? Why would he kill her?’ Bryn-Wisgi shook his head. ‘He must have known he would have got caught sooner or later?’

‘Bryn, shut up with your questions will you?’ Gwyn tutted as he rested his mug on the arm of the chair
. ‘How is Dad supposed to know what was going on in the Druid’s head? I’ve always thought there was something tricky about that one – y Gigfran
they call him – I’ve never liked the look of him, he’s a wrong’en and that’s all there is to it.’

‘Yes, but what I’m asking is
: why Nerys? Does that mean Anwen can come home now he’s been caught?’ Bryn-Wisgi asked as he eyed his now empty glass.

‘Anwen can stay where she is for now until that bastard faces the
R’hela. She can come home once he’s dead, I’ll not risk her coming home until then.’ Dafydd’s face was grim.

‘But they’ve got him! Surely she’ll be safe – unless you think there are more of them out to get your family?’ Bryn leaned forward in his chair, suddenly
unsure whether he should be associating himself with the Morgans if there was still unfinished business.

‘For cryin’ out loud, Bryn, put a sock in it!’ Gwyn said gruffly
. ‘Dafydd’s got enough on his plate without you going on with yourself.’ Gwyn shook his head at Bryn. ‘You can ask as many bloody questions as you want but you won’t get any answers. The Triskelion Elders will decide y Gigfran’s fate based on their hearing – leave it to them.’

‘Alright, alright,’ Bryn grumbled, ‘only, what are we telling everyone else though? People will be asking about Nerys and Anwen and not just the Chosen.’

‘As far as the Chosen know, well there’s a meeting this evening at your pub and the announcement will be made then. As for everyone else, the story is Nerys had a heart attack and was found in a field – dead, obviously. Anwen is so distraught she’s gone to stay with relatives for a while, she can’t stand to be at the farm knowing it was where her favourite aunt died.’ Gwyn, Dai and Dafydd had already rehearsed the lie.

‘Will it wash?’ Bryn didn’t seem to think so.

Dai pursed his lips. ‘One more bloody question from you and I swear I’ll box your ears!’

‘Alright!’ Bryn said indignantly as he set his glass down
. ‘Anyways, I have to be going, the wife wants me back to change the barrels before this evening.’ He stood to leave, shaking hands with Gwyn and Dafydd before leaving. ‘I’ll see myself out.’ He cast a huffy glare at Dai before he stalked out of the room.

Dai
waited until he heard the back door click shut. ‘Bloody gossip, he only came here for the bloody gossip.’

‘Why’s he asking about Anwen?’ Gwyn asked suspiciously
. ‘She’s got nothing to do with Nerys’ murder.’

Dafydd stared into the flames. He was bone tired. ‘It’s like
Dai says, he’s just fishing for gossip to spread down the pub.’ His mind was ticking away, thoughts were whirling round and round like tiny cogs, only they didn’t sit right with one another and the cogs kept jumping out of sync: something felt … wrong.

‘You alright Dafydd?’
Dai watched his oldest friend and closest neighbour. ‘Something on your mind, my friend?’

Dafydd sighed
. ‘I guess I’m just knackered, Dai. It’s just … I don’t know, something feels wrong – more than Nerys and y Gigfran … I’ve just got this feeling … ah, ignore me, I’m just tired.’

The three men sat in silence listening to the ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway and the crackling of the fire. Gwyn took a slug of tea. He felt the same way as his father but he couldn’t vocalise it. Something felt askew, something felt wrong in some way but he couldn’t express it. Gwyn thought it felt like trying to describe something you can only partially see – maybe he was just tired too. Gwyn was always sullen when he was tired.

Dai tapped his finger on the edge of his mug. Since childhood Dai had always trusted Dafydd’s judgement. He broke the silence. ‘I think you’re right, Dafydd, something is definitely amiss.’ Dafydd and Gwyn both swivelled their heads towards him. ‘Why did they send you through my mirror? Why not yours? Why were you suddenly released, no more questions, just “sorry about that, you’re no longer Gwaradwyddedig, off you go!”’ Dai rubbed his chin. ‘Did you see what the Druids were laying when you came through the mirror?’ Dafydd and Gwyn shook their heads. ‘Well, I saw it when I came to bring you back. They were laying white sage,’ he said ominously.

Dafydd and Gwyn stared at each other for a moment, confusion was evident on their faces. ‘So?’ Dafydd asked.

Dai rolled his eyes. ‘Use your noggin’ – white sage … they’ll be smudging and you know what that means?’ Again Dafydd and Gwyn were confused. Dai leaned forward. ‘Smudging! They’re smudging and that means they’ve got a problem with Ysbrydion.’

Gwyn bounced in his seat
. ‘That’s what the Bwy Hir shouted before the mirror closed: “Ysbrydion! Dark Spirits!” – that’s what he said.’

Dai
nodded, knowingly, satisfied his hunch had been correct. ‘That’s why they wanted you out of there, they’re hiding it from us Chosen too. There’s something fishy going on, on their side of the mirrors there’s trouble afoot, you mark my words.’

‘Is a murderous
Druid not trouble enough?’ Dafydd drew his eyebrows down. ‘Evil spirits … do you think y Gigfran was possessed or something, or has he something to do with the Ysbrydion?
But what is that to do with the mirrors?
’

Dai
leaned back in his chair, Gwyn and Dafydd did likewise. ‘All I know is,’ Dai said, in a near whisper, ‘the Druids are keeping something from us and I don’t like secrets.’

Dafydd winced inside, he hated keeping secrets from his best friend, but it looked like everybody was keeping secrets lately. He didn’t know whether he truly wanted to know what was going on in the
Druid Halls, he hated politics and intrigue. “Ignorance is bliss” had been one of his favourite sayings in times past, but the past was gone and so he looked to his friend and recited, ‘”
But our innocence goes awfully deep, and our discreditable secret is that we don't know anything at all, and our horrid inner secret is that we don't care that we don't.
''’

‘I care,’ said
Dai cheerlessly, ‘I care.’

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Taliesin sat in silent study in the Great Library. Open in front of him on a worn oak desk was a large leather bound book, faded with age but little used. The book
was titled “Grimoire o gyfrinachau”:
Grimoire of secrets
.

There were many Grimoires in the Great Library, but this particular tomb dealt specifically with evil spirits and how to combat them. There were many chapters in the ancient tomb spread open on the desk, some discussed the use of herbs and plants required to dispel evil: holly, mistletoe, hawthorn and white sage to name but a few. Other chapters listed the incantations required, or the creation of protective amulets and the prerequisite
runes.

Taliesin was familiar with charms and the uses of herbs
, indeed some of the Grimoires had aided him in the creation of the new ateb. However, what Taliesin was unfamiliar with was the concept of evil: what was it exactly? He hoped to find the answers in the book he was studying.

The question had been niggling
at him for days.
Was what Anwen and I did considered evil? Even if the act was an act of love? Am I evil because of what I am? Were all Nephilim considered evil? What was evil?

The Grimoire had described evil
as “profound
immorality
, especially when regarded as a
supernatural
force
. Evil is the
dualistic
opposite of
good
. Evil is conscious and deliberate wrongdoing designed to harm others, wicked destructiveness with
malicious intentions
.” Did that describe him or his intentions i
n any way? Taliesin thought not – hoped not. He was tying himself up in knots and was increasingly worried by the recent events that had marred his father’s reign. Was he to blame? Were the Nephilim being punished for his actions? Should he confess to his father, about Anwen, about the ateb, about Cadno?

Taliesin felt bile rising from his stomach. His father would be furious. Taliesin had forgotten to mention the streak of light from the Dell
’s Cerdd Carega –
had that been Cadno
? Why had he forgotten to mention it to his father? Did he subconsciously not want to tell his father so Cadno could escape and take his secrets with him?
Am I evil?

‘Well you look like you’ve lost an arm but found your finger!’ Celyn-Bach said as he took a seat next to Taliesin
. ‘What is the matter with you?’

Taliesin sighed
. ‘Nothing and everything … am I a bad person, Celyn-Bach? Am I evil?’

Celyn-Bach was taken aback by the weight of Taliesin’s question. He saw how unhappy Taliesin was and so he answered with gentle consideration
. ‘I think you are the most un-evil being in this entire mountain,’ Taliesin smiled sadly. ‘Taliesin, how could you ask such a question? What is wrong? You can confide in me and I am a good listener. Come, tell me what is wrong.’

Taliesin looked into the sincere eyes of C
elyn-Bach and for a moment he nearly told him everything that was bottled up inside him, but instead he said, ‘I think Cadno may be hiding in the Dell, will you come with me to check?’

Celyn-Bach’s brow furrowed
. ‘Why haven’t you told your father?’

‘He has enough with Afagddu and I did not wish to send him chasing into the
Dell if my guess is wrong.’

Celyn-Bach studied Taliesin a moment longer
. ‘Alright, we shall go and investigate. Gwrnach should come too, just in case. I shall fetch him – meet us by the Cerdd Carega within the hour.’ He squeezed Taliesin’s shoulder as he left in search of Gwrnach. Taliesin closed the book and returned it to its shelf before strolling to the Reception Hall.

Taliesin met Celyn Bach and Gwrnach in the hallway and they walked to the
Cerdd Carega together. ‘I am glad to be away from these halls for a little while,’ Gwrnach said, as he traipsed beside his brothers. ‘Your father is up to his neck in Druids while they pore through the scrolls in his chambers. Llud and Bran are questioning Afagddu and Madog but getting nowhere, they will not surrender their secrets until they are put under pain of torture. They should be handed over to the Druids for questioning and be done.’

They reached the
Cerdd Carega and one by one they travelled to the Gwydir forest. The sun was directly overhead in the forest and they each squinted as they arrived, their eyes adjusting from the gloom of the halls to the bright sunshine filtering through the overhead canopy.

‘Are we allowed to travel into the Dell?’ Gwrnach asked, ‘I mean, without invitation?’

‘There is no-one to ask,’ Celyn-Bach pointed out, ‘the Pride slumbers, only the
Tylwyth Teg
will be there – they should not mind our intrusion.’

Gwrnach nodded and they set off towards the Dell. It was only a short walk and soon they had arrived at the Cerdd Carega that led to the Dell. One by one they vanished, arriving in an instant in the Dell of the Pride.

The three stood on the grassy knoll above the Dell awaiting the arrival of the Tylwyth Teg to greet them but none came. ‘Strange,’ commented Taliesin, ‘they are always here to greet a guest, the place is usually crawling with them … where are they?’

‘A gawn ni fynd i mewn? May we enter?’ he called across the hollow, but received no reply.

‘This is definitely strange.’ Taliesin was growing increasingly worried. ‘Something is wrong, I can feel it.’

Gwrnach pulled at his beard as he scanned the hillsides. Nothing moved, the place was completely deserted.

‘They should be here.’ Taliesin’s voice held a note of concern. ‘They are always here, even when the Pride sleeps.’ He pulled at Celyn-Bach and Gwrnach’s sleeves. ‘Come.’

Hesitantly they made their way into the Dell. The fire pit was cold and empty lanterns swung idly from the boughs, creaking in the afternoon breeze. The place was deserted.

On they walked through the Dell and onto the pathway that led to the tents and pavilions that housed the Pride during Spring and Summer, but they had been stricken and packed away, only brown grass marked their previous positions. The whole Dell was barren of life, even the birds did not sing in the hedgerow.

Gwrnach’s hand kept straying to his belt knife as they searched the hillside for anyone, anything, but their pursuit was fruitless and so they finally sat down upon the grass and deliberated.

‘You are sure the
Tylwyth Teg
are here during Autumn and Winter?’ Celyn-Bach asked Taliesin.

‘Yes. I have been here many times during the Pride’s slumber, the
Tylwyth Teg
are always here. I have returned during the snows to retrieve a book or clothing I had left behind and they are here – waiting. The fires are lit, the place is teeming with them … something is wrong, Celyn-Bach … do you think Cadno has something to do with this?’

Celyn-Bach shrugged his shoulders. ‘How could he? An entire race disappears and he is to blame? No. There is something amiss here, but we cannot blame Cadno for everything.’

‘So where are they?’ Gwrnach rumbled. ‘And where is Cadno?’

Celyn-Bach slowly rose to his feet. ‘Cadno will be with Atgas, of that I have no doubt, but as for the Tylwyth Teg, I have not the first idea, unless …’

‘Unless what?’ Gwrnach felt uneasy. ‘Speak brother, unless what?’

‘Y Tylwyth Teg have some sort of infinity with the Pride – what if they are with them? What if they are with the Pride?’

‘For what reason?’ Gwrnach dismissed Celyn-Bach’s reasoning. ‘The Pride slumbers.’

‘They do indeed slumber and therefore are defenceless … what if the Tylwyth Teg are with the Pride to protect them?’

Gwrnach jumped to his feet. ‘Protect them from whom? Protect them from what?’

Taliesin remained seated, but his eyes were wide with fear; he had grasped Celyn-Bach’s trail of thought and was worried. ‘Y Gwag is contaminated, evil stalks the mists.’ Taliesin’s voice was no more than a whisper. ‘The Pride is defenceless if the
Ysbrydion
breaks through.’

‘Oh no, no, no!’ Gwrnach began pacing. ‘Could that happen? Oh, no, no, no – we must wake them! We must wake the Pride! I’ll not have my child threatened!’ He was shouting, rambling, ‘How do we get in? How do we wake them? Oh, Oli!’

Celyn-Bach’s eyebrows climbed his forehead. ‘What did you say, Gwrnach? A child?’

Gwrnach stopped dead in his tracks. ‘Uh oh.’

‘What is going on?’ Celyn-Bach looked between Gwrnach and Taliesin. ‘What don’t I know?’ Gwrnach was gritting his teeth, his head slowly sinking into his shoulders. Taliesin’s mouth had dropped open – they had been caught out thanks to Gwrnach’s inability to keep anything secret. ‘Well?’

There was a moment of awkward silence, Gwrnach shuffled his feet and Taliesin sat with his eyes as wide as his mouth. Gwrnach huffed and stammered and then he blurted, ‘Olwyn is pregnant with my child!’

Celyn-Bach stood with his arms crossed, a look of disbelief evident on his face. ‘How is that even possible?’

‘The new ateb,’ Gwrnach said, ‘the one I told you about, well it works, it produces babies and Olwyn is pregnant with my child.’

‘You are sure?’ Celyn-Bach couldn’t believe his ears. ‘There is a Bwy Hir child on the way?’

‘Yes, I am sure, Olwyn herself told me, the Pride are ecstatic.’ Gwrnach beamed but then his face grew serious once more. ‘Can they be woken?’

Celyn-Bach shook his head. ‘The Pride differs from us, Gwrnach. They slumber together, unlike us who drift apart after the Solstice to sleep alone … only a female Bwy Hir or one of the Tylwyth Teg can enter their den through the Cerdd Carega in the centre of the Dell. No male can pass through.’

‘But the Tylwyth Teg are not here!’ Gwrnach began pacing again.

‘As I said, perhaps the Tylwyth Teg have already travelled through to protect the Pride.’ Celyn-Bach watched his brother pace up and down.

‘And if they haven’t? The Pride will be defenceless. We must get through.’

‘We cannot,’ Celyn-Bach replied calmly, but inside he felt a worm of worry in the pit of his stomach.

‘There are two children, not one.’ Taliesin finally stood and met the inquisitive stares of his brothers. ‘I know of one who can pass through the Cerdd Carega.’

‘What nonsense is this, Taliesin?’ Gwrnach stopped his pacing. ‘All the Pride have gone through and now slumber, there are no others.’

Taliesin felt a mixture of relief and anxiety as he began to speak. ‘As I said, there are two children due to be born to the Bwy Hir, one is Olwyn’s and Gwrnach’s, the other is mine.’

Gwrnach snorted but Celyn-Bach held up his hand. ‘Let Taliesin speak,’ he demanded.

Taliesin inhaled and exhaled slowly under the gaze of his brothers. ‘I met her in the Gwydir forest. She was so different, so alive, so beautiful … she knew who I was, or at least what I was and a friendship began … then more than friendship, I fell in love with her.’ His brothers remained silent as he unfolded his tale. ‘We kissed and I felt the first thrill of love, but I – I couldn’t display it, you know?’ They nodded. ‘So I created a new ateb and it worked!’ Taliesin blushed.

‘You created the ateb?’ Gwrnach asked incredulously.

‘Yes it was I,’ Taliesin sighed, ‘I didn’t think she would become pregnant–’

‘Who is she?’ Celyn-Bach’s eyes glittered. ‘Tell me it is not Atgas?’

Taliesin screwed up his face. ‘No! It is not her … it is Anwen Morgan of Ty Mawr, daughter of the Chosen, Dafydd Morgan.’

Gwrnach and Celyn-Bach were shell-shocked and stood in silence, reeling from Taliesin’s revelation. ‘You are telling me that you have caused a Human to carry a Bwy Hir child?’ Celyn-Bach said flatly.

Taliesin was quick to defend himself. ‘It was not deliberate! I did not know she carried Bwy Hir blood in her veins!’

‘What?’ Gwrnach stepped forward. ‘What nonsense is this? Have you banged your head? Bwy Hir blood is poisonous to Humans, we all know that!’

Taliesin shook his head, he was growing defensive and flustered. ‘It is true, you ask Awel!’ he shouted.

‘How?’ Gwrnach snorted. ‘Awel is stuck on the other side of y Gwag!’

‘Enough!’ Celyn-Bach shouted over the ensuing squabble. ‘We must speak with Aeron. This has gone far enough.’

Taliesin groaned and Gwrnach huffed. ‘He will be enraged, Celyn-Bach, enraged when he finds out what has been kept from him … if what Taliesin says is true, well, I would rather be in my shoes than his.’

‘Gwrnach, Taliesin, you must see that we cannot keep silent,’ Celyn-Bach said solemnly, ‘the Pride may be in danger. I saw the
Ysbrydion myself when I opened the Morgans’ Dderwydd Ddrych,
we must advise Aeron, there is no other way for it.’

‘But I committed a sin!’ Taliesin moaned, ‘I mated with a Human. I will face the R’hela for what I have done, and Anwen Morgan? What will become of her? My father will kill us both!’