The Dark Age (31 page)

Vanora smiled broadly, pointing to his bedside table where a tiny black bottle slowly materialised. ‘It hast been made known to us that the new Queen of the Dragon, the War Goddess, already carries his heir. King Chiglas wants the Otherworld warrior from the future for himself. It be his wish that, come the first snowfall, thee take this bottle and make with it to Aberffraw. Then, without alerting any to the fact, give the contents to the Queen.'

‘What will it do to her?' Cadogan didn't seem as keen now.

‘It will sedate her for the journey to Powys and help rid us of Maelgwn's troublesome seed.'

‘I do not know about this, the risk involved in just getting her out of Aberffraw unnoticed be very high indeed.' He seemed to have sobered somewhat, giving the matter closer consideration. ‘Let alone the trip back to Powys! The mountains will be perilous come snowfall, I cannot guarantee she will survive.'

‘My love.' Vanora crouched beside him, aroused that Cadogan, unlike Caradoc, actually seemed to be mildly intelligent. ‘My father shall send a boat that will await thee at the end of the Menai. This can bring thee all the way back to Powys — no mountains, just a short ride inland to our capital, Arwystli. What could be easier?'

‘It shan't be easy, I assure thee.' Cadogan, knowing Tory better than Vanora or her father did, thought it would be near impossible. Yet, he had so much to gain.

‘But thou art so smart, Cadogan. Thou hast not been caught out yet for the treacherous leech thou art.'

‘True.' He took hold of her around the waist as the Princess seemed rather amiable at present.

‘So thee shall do it?'

He nodded.

‘Excellent. Oh, there be one more thing, if I may?' she flirted, aware this was the only way to persuade him.

‘Ask and it shall be done.'

‘We also want her maid, Katren, as we might need her for persuasive purposes.'

‘Wise move.' Cadogan considered he could use her to the same end.

‘Stay in thy room this night and take advantage of this silly child, as she shall prove thy perfect alibi.'

‘But we have planned nothing for this night, why should I need an alibi?' Cadogan was afraid he might have missed something.

Vanora smiled, dropping her voice to a whisper. ‘So that when Caradoc escapes, thou shalt not be suspected. King Chiglas wishes to punish him for his bungling. Caradoc, of course, will believe his love coming to his rescue. But after he hast made it all the way back to my father at Arwystli, he shall find a very different reception awaits him.' The pair grinned mischievously.

As Cadogan broke from a kiss with her, he was startled to find the young maid had regained her own drunken sensibilities.

‘How did we end up on the floor?' The girl burst into laughter.

The knight didn't bother with an explanation.

 

Come grading day, the masters had burnt off much of their nervous energy at the Samhain celebrations. As they'd also had a day to rest and recuperate, they were all in a much improved frame of mind.

Tory began with a simple meditation to relax them. ‘The perfect balance of mind, body and nature be what I expect to see this day. We have come a long way in just two months, so remember what I have taught thee. Remain calm, balanced and focused. I wish thee well.'

Percival was seated at a small desk with pen and parchment, keeping score and jotting down the Queen's notes as she discreetly conveyed them to him.

Tory ran each master through what they'd learnt: kata, Tae-kwon-do exercises, kicks, and strikes on the bag. As this grading was a test of the self, competition through sparring wasn't a factor. But when the masters had completed the program, they were given the option of taking a breaking test.

Tory had been training Maelgwn in this technique, known as Shiwari, since their first lesson. The King had spent many hours hitting the straw pad, which hardened the hands, fists, and outer edge of the foot. Most of the masters had taken up the practice, yet none bar the King and Queen had ever tried it out on a wooden board.

Some of the masters declined the test when informed that if they did not succeed, it would be deducted from their grade. This stipulation differentiated between those who truly believed it within their capabilities and those who did not; this belief was essential if one was to succeed.

Most of the men opted to test their new skills, except for Rhys and Angus. Only Ione stepped forward to represent the women. Tory knew Katren was procrastinating, but her fear of loss prevented her from stepping forward. Tory thought this a shame, as Katren was quite capable and the planks were not very thick.

First up was Brockwell, as he was so sure of himself.

‘Calm and focus thyself, Calin,' Tory instructed gently. ‘Thought and action must be one, no hesitation.' At the point where Brockwell unleashed his power, Tory realised that she was witnessing the warrior she'd known in Brian. A tear escaped her eye as she watched
his unmistakeable technique, the wood splintering apart under the force of his blow.

Vortipor, who hadn't been concentrating from the start, was next. The trouble with Vortipor was that everything was a game to him, thus he accomplished naught but a bruise for attempting the feat.

Cedric also failed. Tory knew that he'd only attempted the blow because he felt he had something to prove to everyone, which subsequently he did not.

Ione had no problem with the test. Tory's heart warmed when Ione then encouraged Tiernan with a light thump on the shoulder and a smile, as it came his turn. The knight, in the quiet realisation that his own personal mission had been accomplished, stepped forward confidently to face the breaking test. When Tiernan accomplished the deed, he and Ione actually hugged each other voluntarily. He then took the liberty of declaring them the supreme team, as they were the only pair to successfully perform the task.

The last to step forward was the King, who did so with a huge smile on his face. ‘Two,' he motioned, holding up two fingers.

‘Two!' Tory just adored his spunk, challenging him in fun only as she felt confident he could do it.

‘Aye.'

Tory gave him the go ahead. He has worked so hard on this skill, she quietly prayed, Goddess grant him victory.

His subjects watched breathlessly as the King brought his closed fist down to shatter the two pieces of timber, and a round of applause was raised to
commend the achievement. With this the examination was over.

After tallying the points scored throughout the day, Tory gathered her students in the circle to award them their new colours. She first addressed those who'd made the least rate of progress.

Cara had jumped a half grade from white belt-yellow tip (ninth Kyu), to yellow (eighth Kyu). Her progress and fighting style were good, but her concentration was not. Rhys, Cedric, Vortipor, and Angus had jumped a grade from white (tenth Kyu) to a yellow belt.

Katren and Alma achieved a whole grade, from ninth Kyu to a yellow belt-green tip (seventh Kyu). Calin, Tiernan and Ione, who'd proven themselves outstanding, progressed from their white belt (tenth Kyu) up one and a half grades to the yellow belt-green tip (seventh Kyu).

The star of the day was, of course, the Dragon himself, who proudly stepped up to receive his green belt. Maelgwn had jumped one and a half grades to sixth Kyu. He tied on the new belt that represented all those months of hard work, and wore it with great pride.

O
ver a month had passed since the news of Caradoc's escape reached Aberffraw, and still the soldiers at Degannwy had failed to find any trace of the treasonous prince, nor had they determined how he'd escaped.

‘Cadogan had a solid alibi,' Sir Vaugnan, who had been keeping an eye on the knight's movements for the King, told the court. The guard who held the prison keys had been in attendance all night, and vowed he'd not lapsed into sleep at any time. Still, come the morning after Samhain, Caradoc was not to be found in the supposedly impermeable oubliette.

The report had set Maelgwn on edge for a week or so. But when Caradoc didn't rear his ugly head to avenge him, the King felt he could safely assume that
his half-brother had run back to Powys where he would hide out until the snow had passed. The next day, the nineteenth of December by a modern calendar, marked the first of the five ‘Dark Days'. The Britons called this five-day period of sorrowing, when time stood still, the dead of the year. Soon the land would be covered in snow for the sleep time, better known as burgeoning.

Maelgwn was rather pleased at the prospect that he could beat Caradoc senseless all over again come spring. For his brother would most certainly return then, to atone for his past failures and imprisonment.

 

Come dawn of the first of the five days of sorrowing, Tory awoke from a frenzied dream.

‘Tory, what ails thee?' Maelgwn hugged her close, trying to calm her.

‘Blood, so much blood …' She could not convey how nauseous the vision made her feel. But this time there had been something else — Tory recalled a face. ‘I saw a man! At least I think it was a man. He looked more like a slug.' She shuddered. ‘And he was reaching for me.'

Maelgwn's embrace tightened, and he went very quiet.

Tory could sense that fear of loss in him again, and pulled back a little. ‘Who be it that I see, Maelgwn? Be it Chiglas?'

‘Aye.' He hesitated then agreed, ‘There be no mistake by thy description of him. Caradoc may have told him something of thee.'

‘But he knows little. None of Chiglas' kindred saw me fight. The only way Chiglas could know anything of my skills or origins would be if
Cadogan
had said something to him.'

‘Thou art right. Still, a dream cannot be deemed as proof of his treason, Tory, and Taliesin warned thy dreams could be misleading whilst thou art with child.'

‘Oh please, Maelgwn, don't patronise me. I do not wish to start arguing about Cadogan again, I am just telling thee what I saw.' She climbed out of bed, annoyed with him.

Taliesin had also warned that Tory would be much moodier while she was pregnant, so the King was patient and held a good mood. ‘Of course. I shall be alert, I promise.'

‘I am sorry. I did not mean to snap. Oh look!' Her whole manner softened as she looked outside.

‘Aye, an early snow.' Maelgwn watched with a smile as Tory approached the huge long windows; now their winter seclusion had truly begun.
Peace at last.

 

That evening, the King met with a rude shock when he was informed that Cadogan was on the doorstep bearing a grave message from Degannwy.

‘Thee must forgive my setting foot on Mon before spring, Majesty, but I am the only courier of merit who be fit to ride in such weather. There hast been a murder at the citadel.' He pulled a scroll from inside his clothes and handed it to Maelgwn.

‘And there seemed no cause for the attack whatsoever, sir?' the King asked after reading.

‘Nay, Majesty. Some have speculated that perhaps Prince Caradoc never left Degannwy after escaping the oubliette. It could be possible, I suppose …'

‘Aye, Sir Vaugnan stated thus in his note.' Maelgwn was thoughtful a moment. ‘I shall have Sir Rhys and Sir Brockwell accompany thee to Degannwy at once. I feel sure they can resolve this in my stead.' He felt nervous about having Cadogan so close at hand after Tory's warning this morning.

‘Majesty, please.' Cadogan's voice was meek, as he dared to make a request. ‘The weather outside be truly fierce. Could I not rest the night and set out in the morning?'

The King was disinclined to agree, but he could hardly expect the man to turn around in near darkness and head back through the snowfall. ‘Of course. I shall send Sir Rhys and Sir Brockwell on ahead of thee to investigate, just in case the situation at Degannwy worsens overnight.'

‘Very good, Highness. I do appreciate it, I assure thee.' He bowed.

‘Send Tiernan, Brockwell, and Rhys to me,' the King commanded.

After the King briefed Rhys and Brockwell on their errand, they left at once. They were eager to return to Aberffraw and their training before the weather became too bad to permit safe passage home. The King instructed Tiernan to ensure that at no time while Cadogan was in the house was the Queen to be left alone.

Heeding the implication of mistrust in the King's voice and having just cause to be suspicious of Cadogan himself, Tiernan swore this would be done.

 

As the five days of sorrowing were observed as a holiday, the courtiers were at leisure to do as they pleased. Katren was taking an early morning stroll along the east hall when she spied Sir Cadogan, sneaking around.
What be he doing here?
She was quick to conceal herself in a doorway to observe his movements. The knight glanced back in her direction, and Katren flattened herself hard against the door. When she ventured another glance down the hall, Cadogan had vanished.
Did he see me?
She proceeded cautiously along the corridor, keeping her back to the wall. The large stone buttresses, which jutted out between the doorways, provided many a place to hide.

‘Lady Katren.'

The maiden was startled as she felt the cold steel of a knife against her throat.

‘Just the maid I am looking for,' he hissed, dragging her into the room from which he'd emerged. Cadogan closed the heavy door behind them, keeping the knife hard pressed against his captive's jugular. ‘Where be the Queen?'

The tears welled in her eyes. She so wanted to test her skills, but could she move fast enough to escape his blade? ‘I am no longer the Queen's maid, sir,' she said. ‘I do not follow her schedule as closely as I once did.'

‘Do not test me girl!' Cadogan turned her around, and thrust her hard against the wall.

This was the break Katren had been waiting for. She drove her knee deep into his stomach and, clenching her hands together, took a swing at his face. Half keeled over, Cadogan stumbled backwards. Unable to believe her own strength, Katren raced for the door.

‘Damn it!' Cadogan lunged forward to grab her, but fell short.

As Katren fumbled with the door handle, she lashed out with a kick to her attacker's jaw to buy her some time. The door swung wide and she escaped into the corridor, only to be tackled to the hard stone floor and dragged back inside the room.

‘Blasted bitch!' Cadogan rolled her over and belted her across the face repeatedly, until she was too delirious to resist him. ‘Now.' He raised the maiden up and shook her, to make her conscious. ‘Thee will tell me where Maelgwn's whore be, or I shall gut thee before thy own eyes.' He made the knife at her belly felt.

‘The north tower,' Katren mumbled, ashamed.

‘Much better.' He roughly locked arms with her again.

 

Tory was taking a bath in the north tower this morning, as the bath in the royal chamber was being cleaned and refilled. Sir Tiernan had instructed Ione to keep an eye on her until she joined the King for supper, as Maelgwn was attending to some matters of State. Tory laughed when there came a knock at the door, sure that it was Maelgwn neglecting his duty yet again for a little play. ‘Enter.'

‘It be Katren, Majesty,' the maid announced through the door without entering.

‘Well, thee may enter, my sweet.'

‘Could thee get the door?'

Tory nodded to Ione, who moved to oblige. As the door was unbolted, it burst open on her and the heavy oak wood knocked Ione unconscious. Katren came hurtling into the room, followed by Cadogan who strode in, closing and bolting the door behind him.

He stepped over Ione's body and drew his sword, thrusting it towards Katren. ‘Get out of there,' he instructed Tory, a lustful glint in his eye as he watched her huddled in the bath.

‘I am so sorry, Majesty,' Katren cried.

‘Thou art a spineless snake, Cadogan.'

‘Thou art so right,' he was pleased to agree. ‘Do it!'

Tory stood up, as Cadogan's sword was getting awfully close to her friend. As his eyes ravished her naked form, Tory recalled her wedding gift from the King. She quickly let down her long hair, which fell about her like a cloak, and she wondered if she'd acted fast enough to prevent him noticing the waistlet. She climbed out of the bath and retrieved her jeans and jumper from the back of the chair, pulling them on. ‘My, but thou art a sucker for punishment,' Tory decided to try to provoke him in the hope of drawing him closer to herself and away from Katren. ‘Doth thou want to tell me of thy game before I beat thee senseless?'

Cadogan pulled the black bottle from his bag, placing the potion on the ground before stepping away again. ‘Come here.' He took hold of Katren by the hair, jerking her head back and placing his blade across her stretched neck.

‘Drink the contents,' he instructed Tory.

‘One of Vanora's concoctions, I presume. Poison?' She slowly knelt down to retrieve the bottle. It made her hand ache just to touch it; this brew had dark origins indeed.

‘Nay, it be not designed to harm. It would seem the great Chiglas hast taken an interest in thee and requires thee still functional.' Cadogan didn't disclose that he knew of her pregnancy. ‘It be naught but a sleeping potion, so drink it.'

As she appeared to have little choice in the matter, Tory did as she was instructed. She raised the bottle to her lips, spying Ione coming round out of the corner of her eye. The taste of the evil brew made her gag as it trickled down her throat. Tory stood, casting the empty bottle to the floor. It smashed into pieces on the stone flagging confirming that the contents had been consumed. ‘Now release her.'

Cadogan scoffed at her command. ‘I am the one giving the orders now, Highness.'

 

Tiernan made his way through the house, inquiring as to the whereabouts of the Queen. He was not alarmed by her apparent absence, safe in the knowledge that Cadogan had left Aberffraw early this morning.

‘Lady Cara.' He spied someone who was sure to know.

‘Sir Tiernan,' she bowed to him.

‘Where be the Queen hiding herself?'

‘Why I do not know, sir. I have not seen the Queen or Lady Katren all day. Perhaps they took a walk together?'

Tiernan became concerned. ‘What about Ione, hast thou seen her?'

‘Nay. Be something amiss?'

‘Fetch the King from the library, I shall be in the north tower.' Tiernan urged her to hurry. He should have thought of the tower earlier, as Ione and the Queen had been headed there when last they spoke.

Tiernan entered the tower and froze as he beheld a pool of blood, intermingled with water and glass on the stone floor. ‘Please not the Queen,' he prayed. He couldn't bear to be responsible for failing her twice in his lifetime.

He followed the trail of blood that led around the large stone tub, and spied a body which had been dumped there. Tiernan, realising it was Ione, rushed to her aid. ‘Unmerciful Goddess. Hast this one not been through enough!' He crouched to hold her in his arms, washing the blood from her face with cool water in the hope of reviving her. ‘Ione. What happened … who did this?'

As he cleaned the gash on her head, Tiernan realised that it didn't seem so bad as to warrant so much blood. He desperately sought another source, finding a bump on the back of her head and a gash on her upper arm also. ‘Please Ione, open thy eyes.' He took the belt quickly from his waist and bound her arm tight near her shoulder to stop the loss of blood.

Ione's eyes parted and she silently watched Tiernan, who tended her unaware that she had regained consciousness.

‘Thou art too a fine a woman. Damn it, wake up,' he pleaded as their eyes met. An awkward feeling beset the
knight's stomach as he caught the look of perfect wonder that graced Ione's face, as if she were witnessing a miracle. She reached out slowly and wiped a tear from his cheek, then she watched it trickle down her finger as if it were an incomprehensible phenomenon.

The door burst open and the King paused a moment upon sighting the blood. ‘Tiernan!'

‘Here, Majesty.'

With the spell suddenly broken, Ione gripped Tiernan's shirt and pulled herself up as she recalled what had befallen the Queen. Ione had regained consciousness before Cadogan made his getaway. In her bleary state she'd endeavoured to overpower him, resulting in the further injuries she'd sustained.

‘Ione, what hast befallen you? Dost thou know who attacked thee?' The King was getting more used to communicating with her now; simple yes or no questions saved a lot of guesswork.

Ione nodded to confirm and pointed to the stub which was all that remained of her tongue, the expression on her face appearing hopeless. If she'd never been able to convey the identity of her attackers before, how was she going to do it now. The Queen was the only one who knew her secret.

Maelgwn frowned, frustrated, he didn't understand. ‘What doth that mean?'

‘The same man who attacked thee?' Tiernan asked.

Ione nodded, rather surprised that he'd guessed. The Queen must have told him how she'd lost her speech.

‘Caradoc?' Tiernan presumed, as the bastard prince was still on the loose and hot for revenge.

She shook her head with a frown and encouraged him to guess again, wondering how long he'd known about her ordeal.