The Bwy Hir Complete Trilogy (42 page)

‘No
,’ he answered simply, ‘I am not satisfied. You have not told us
why
we can’t use the mirrors.’

‘We will when we have finished our investigations.’ Brother Nissyen leaned on his staff and peered at his adversary
. ‘We ask that the mirrors are not used while these investigations are carried out.’

Dafydd had gritted his teeth long enough. He remained seated and said, quite calmly, ‘The
Druids hide that the mirrors have been contaminated by Afagddu. Evil hides behind the glass, Ysbrydion lurk behind our mirrors.’

The
Druids were horrified at Dafydd’s revelation and the Chosen were thrown into frenzy. ‘Is this true?’ they called. ‘Are our families in danger?’ ‘Why didn’t you tell us?’ They shouted over one another, directing their discomfort at the Druids. Elder Tomas raised his hands, calling for calm. Elder Nissyen glared at Dafydd and shook his head. The younger Druid shied away from the Chosen, wishing he was anywhere else but in the midst of these men.

‘Calm! Calm! Listen to me!’ Elder Tom
as shouted over the Chosen men. ‘This has not been proven and as Elder Nissyen said, we are still investigating.’ The Chosen quietened but still viewed him suspiciously and Tomas sighed. ‘We will leave you now and as soon as there are any developments we will, of course, advise you. But,’ he said, holding up a finger, ‘we leave you with a command from King Aeron himself.’ The room fell silent. ‘The King has demanded that Anwen Morgan of Ty Mawr Farm is to be delivered to him in all haste. A bounty of fifty gold marks is offered.’

Uproar. The only person who did not look surprised was Bryn-Wisgi: he already knew.  ‘You can sod off!’
Dai Jones shouted. ‘She’s not one of the Chosen. You can’t demand we hand her over.’

Dafydd and Gwy
n were on their feet, the Druids could not hear what they were saying over the roar of the angry shouts of the other Chosen, but whatever they were saying it didn’t look pleasant.

The three
Druids made a hasty retreat with as much dignity as they could muster. Once they had left the room Dai Jones stood on top of a bar stool to tower over his peers and shouted, ‘Hold on! Hold on! Before we all start getting our knickers in a twist, we should hear from Dafydd – let him explain what’s really going on!’

But Dafydd and Gwyn were nowhere to be found. They had left the room via the bar door the moment the
Druids had made their exit.

‘Damn it
!’ Dai Jones swore as he clambered down for his stool. ‘I better tell you then and then someone can tell us what we’re supposed to do about the mirrors.’

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Cadno was impressed. Atgas
had set herself up very nicely. She had acquired the use of an empty manor house on the outskirts of the city, nestled above a river bank with wonderful views of the countryside from the rear elevation and the only downside, as far as Cadno was concerned, was that the front elevation looked over the river, onto the city walls and the teeming city beyond, full of scurrying Lost.

Cadno and Atgas had the place pretty much to themselves apart from the few staff that had been provided by Atgas’ wealthy benefactors, but the
staff were well trained; they kept themselves out of the way and only surfaced when called upon.

Yes, Cadno was impressed. Even the
electrical current had been disconnected to the upper levels of the house, only the kitchen and servants’ area housed electricity, and for some reason Cadno could not quite fathom the basement had electricity too. This was where Atgas held court to her benefactors and sycophants.

Cadno was yet to be invited to the basement level, although Atgas had promised that tonight he would be invited to join one of her little soirees, and so he waited patiently in the ample guest room set aside for him that blessedly looked over the fields and not the city.

The two Helgi were sleeping in the corner of the room, their heads buried under their tails. They were growing increasingly lethargic and Cadno had pressed Atgas for a supply of two young women that he could transfigure into mates for his male Helgi. Her promise had yet to be delivered and Cadno already doubted the worth of any of Atgas’ promises.

He wondered whether he had made a dreadful mistake by coming to Atgas. She had changed and not for the better; arrogant, vain and self-absorbed were
the perfect words to describe Atgas, but now Cadno added devious, nefarious and cold to his mental list. He would also have to watch his back and consider changing his plans. As for using the atebs, he would put that off for now, even though Atgas was pushing for its use, he didn’t trust her enough to allow himself to be vulnerable in her presence … not yet.

Cadno continued his lonely vigil at the bedroom window
. They were tall enough that he did not need to stoop to look out onto the fields and so leaning against the window’s dusty reveal he let his mind drift away from himself and out onto the vista.

He could sense all manner of wildlife, birds among the branches, mice scurrying in the dense grass, squirrels chirping to each other as they foraged, but he was interested in none of these. He drifted further away, high above the fields and out towards the wooded dell at the edge of his eyesight, sensing, probing, looking for his quarry and there they were: foxes.

He always enjoyed meeting with foxes; they were inquisitive, knowledgeable, and cunning. They knew their hunting grounds inside and out, and were happy to exchange information. Cadno smiled. They knew exactly what he was looking for and exactly where it was located. Cadno’s plans had just changed.

He withdrew his mind and returned to h
imself. He needed to make plans – if tonight was not to his liking then he was leaving, but first he needed two women and so he superciliously strolled to the corner of the room and pulled the grubby cord hanging from the ceiling and rang for the servants.

He threw himself on the bed and settled down to wait, leaning back on the plump feather
-filled pillows he stretched out, crossing his ankles and placing his hands behind his head. He closed his eyes and prepared himself, slowing his heart rate and clearing his mind. Transfiguration required focus and concentration. He had never performed an invocation so complex before and so he breathed slowly, in and out, focusing, building his strength, coiling it tightly, ready to strike.

There was a timid knock on the door before it opened. One of the young servant girls hovered at the entrance, her head bobbing nervously
. ‘You called, Sir?’

Cadno opened his eyes slowly, a grin spread
over his lips as he blinked leisurely, enjoying the rush of power. He moved only his eyes, focusing on the girl and then raised his hand, crooking his finger, calling her to him.

She shuffled forward and dropped her head, keen to avoid eye contact. He could feel the fear radiating from her as she stopped near the side of the bed, just out of reach. He smiled at her reassuringly and beckoned her forward once more. She hesitated and then advanced, her dress brushing the edge of the bed, she was now just within his grasp
… and then he struck.

She gasped as he suddenly sprang forward to grab her arm, she tried to pull from his grasp but he was too strong. Slowly he swung his legs o
ff the bed and stood, towering over her. She shrank away from him as he gazed down at her, his lips moving as he whispered his incantation.

The pain began almost immediately, a burning, searing pain radiating from her arm and up into her chest. Desperately she tried to call out, to pull herself from his grip, but she was helpless as the pain
continued through her chest and into her spine, radiating down to her legs and up into her head. Throbbing, numbing, relentless pain. Her muscles contorted, her heart hammered, every fibre of her being screamed in agony as her body began to convulse.

Cadno released her and she slumped to the floor, her body writhing and convulsing, lips pulled back as foam bubbled from her mouth, eyes rolling. Cadno watched impassively wondering whether he had failed to recite the incantation correctly and then he took an involuntary step back as her skin began to split, her muscles began to bunch and writhe and her bones began to snap sickeningly as she began to transfigure.

Cadno was rapt, engrossed, fascinated in the metamorphosis.
No wonder the Druids despise their fate
. He tore his eyes away and cast a glance at the Helgi. They too were watching the transfiguration and Cadno wondered what they were thinking.
Do they understand?

A whimper caught his attention and he swung his head back to the girl. She was a girl no longer. A
female Helgi lay panting on the floor, its coat slick with blood and viscous slime, lying on a bed of ripped and bloodied rags that were once its clothes. Cadno smiled.
Success
!

As the new
Helgi lay panting the other two padded over, sniffing and growling low in their throats. They stood over her, smelling and pushing at her coat with their huge muzzles. Her eyes were rolling, panicked and terrified as the two males stood over her, sniffing between her hind legs and almost immediately, the larger of the two tried to mount her, pushing the other aside, growling and readying himself. The other barged back, snapping at the other’s face, keen to take his place.

Cadno stood back and folded his arms. He had done it! He had a female
Helgi and the beginnings of a breeding pack. One more female was all he needed and then he would be ready to leave.

He left his room and closed the door securely behind him, leaving the two males to fight it out over the new female: the first and only female
Helgi in existence. Cadno hoped that Atgas wouldn’t be too displeased at the use of her servant, but she had promised him two females and as yet, he had only taken one.

The hallways and stairwell
were deserted as Cadno descended towards the cellar where he presumed Atgas would be, preparing for her guests. He had not been invited into Atgas’ inner sanctum and so, until now he had not ventured down into the cellar, but his curiosity coupled with his desire to share his transfiguration success spurred his feet downwards.

‘Atgas?’ he called into the shadowy recesses of the vaulted cellar. No reply. He ventured further into the cellar, his feet scraping on the cobbled floor. It was a surprisingly large cellar, spanning almost the entire width of the building. Red brick arches bridged the ceiling, meeting at the wall
junctions and Cadno could not help but admire the architecture; there was an almost natural feel to the cellar, cleverly designed, yet earthy. Cadno could understand Atgas’ choice of venue, except for the high pitched electrical buzzing assaulting his ears.
Why does Atgas allow electricity down here? The noise is almost unbearable.
‘Atgas?’ he called again, but there was still no answer.

Movement. Cadno spotted movement ahead of him and small flickers of light – candles? He advanced towards it, pushing away the buzzing in his ears and concentrating on the source of light. He discovered that there was a large brick support column in the centre of the cellar and it was that which blocked his view.

Cadno had a sixth sense, and it was warning him that something was wrong. He almost backtracked and returned to his room but his curiosity pushed him on. Tiptoeing to the column he pressed himself against it and listened. It was Atgas and she was whispering. To whom? There was only her voice and she was speaking in her native language: Welsh. He strained to decipher her words, but the electrical buzzing was interfering and so he took a chance and peered around the column.

Atgas had her back to him as she leaned over a large copper bowl. A
silver candlestick placed to her right shone its yellow glow, highlighting her raven tresses. Cadno recognised the bowl; it was not any bowl, it was a powlen ysbryd: a spirit bowl, and that meant one thing: not only was Atgas practicing in dark arts, whomever she was speaking to was in y Gwag. Cadno’s heart sank.

He leaned back heavily on the column separating him from Atgas. Gwrnach had been right: Atgas’ heart was as black as her hair. Cadno cursed silently and then suddenly winced as the buzzing of electricity changed pitch to a squealing whine. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise and he ventured a second look.

Atgas had hold of a live feed of electricity, the cord snaked off into the shadows, but its end she held over the bowl, feeding it onto the bowl’s surface and the surface was alive. Cadno could not believe his eyes: Atgas was creating a doorway, exactly akin to the Druid Mirrors, only this doorway did not pass through y Gwag, but into it.

Atgas took a jug with her other hand and lifted it over the bowl. Tilting the jug slowly, she poured its contents into the opening. Blood. Cadno concealed himself in the shadows and slowly, silently left Atgas to her machinations, retracing his steps back out into the light and up to his room.

Atgas was a lost cause and more, she was an evil threat and he needed to get as far away from her as possible.
What is she doing?
Opening y Gwag was a dangerous thing, an evil thing.
Who was she contacting? Why?
He knew he should warn the Host, Atgas’ actions could threaten the Bwy Hir, the Druids and the Chosen. He knew to put blood in y Gwag was a foolish and wicked thing, to feed Ysbrydion was inviting trouble, but why?
Why would she do it?
Cadno seethed at his own stupidity: he should never have come. He should have stayed with the Host.

Flinging the door open he began to gather his belongings as quickly as he could. The three
Helgi were sitting together in the corner of the room watching as he began to empty drawers and pack. He had to leave: now.

Whistling for the
Helgi to follow he left his room, cantering down the main staircase and out of the back door that lead into the fields. It was nearly dusk and he hoped the gloom would conceal his presence from unwitting eyes.

As he stalked through the fields he cast his mind out in search of the foxes. They were still there and they would take him to where he needed to go: the nearest
Cerdd Carega
to get him as far away from Caerlleon as he could.

He fumed as he walked. Coming to Atgas had been a mistake.
How could I have been so stupid?
He kicked at the grass. He would have to change his plans: He had listened long and hard in the shadows of Gwydir forest the night he stumbled upon Mab, Awel and Taliesin deep in conversation with a Chosen. He knew about the girl with the Bwy Hir blood. She would be his mate. She would be the mother of the new order of Nephilim. All he had to do was find her.