Dragon of the Island (12 page)

They reached the valley, where the track
followed a river that wound through small stands of hawthorn and
beech. They must be almost there, Aurora thought with a mixture of
anticipation and dread. She noticed a cluster of rude brown huts
scattered on the edge of the hill among the trees.

“Is this the village?” she asked.

Elwyn nodded. “The farmers here grow barley
and rye in small fields along the river.”

Aurora looked doubtfully at the narrow
striplike fields along the river banks. It was a wonder that the
people of Caer Eryri ever got enough to eat. There hardly seemed
room to grow enough crops to feed a household the size of her
father’s, let alone an entire fortress, and the rest of the land in
the valley was too rocky and rough for anything but pasture. No
wonder the Cymru had to rob their wealthy neighbors.

At the edge of the valley they met the track
leading to the fortress and the going was easier. The path was wide
and level, although growing soft and muddy from the many feet which
had trod it ahead of them.

Aurora stared up at Caer Eryri. With its
high round towers and massive walls, the fortress seemed like a
formidable, comfortless place. It reminded her of the burial mounds
of the Old Ones. There was an air of antiquity about the crumbling
walls, and Aurora imagined that she could already detect the sour,
musty odor of ancient stones.

The track crossed fortified ditches on the
way up the hill and then reached a massive wooden gate. Aurora and
Elwyn were at the very end of the army train, and by the time they
reached the fortress, almost everyone else was inside. The sounds
of celebration echoed clearly through the thick fortress walls, and
Aurora’s heart sank as they entered.

Once inside, Aurora could make out the
sturdy squareness of the old Roman buildings as well as a clutter
of newer ones made of timber. She had never seen such
commotion—children raced jubilantly in the mud, followed by eager
barking dogs. Everywhere people were shouting, laughing, embracing.
Servants ran to and fro, trying to care for the livestock and
unload the wagons. In the noise and confusion, it seemed to Aurora
that she would never find Maelgwn. She halted her horse just inside
the gate, frozen with apprehension.

She might have waited there forever if Elwyn
had not offered to help her dismount. He did not leave her as she
expected, but stayed loyally at her side. Tears of gratefulness
filled Aurora’s eyes. What would she have done on this lonely,
friendless trip without him?

A small, tawny-haired woman came running
toward them.

“Elwyn,” she cried. “I am so glad you are
safe!” Aurora caught a glimpse of a girlish, freckled face before
it was lost in Elwyn’s exuberant embrace.

Elwyn was obviously very pleased to see the
girl, but he did not forget his duty. Within moments he had
released the young woman, and holding her arm, presented her to
Aurora.

“Gwenaseth, I would like you to meet our new
queen, Lady Aurora, daughter of King Constantine of Viroconium.” He
subtly pulled at Gwenaseth’s hand as he spoke, and she dropped
awkwardly into a curtsy, managing a breathless greeting of, “My
lady.”

It was clear the girl did not expect to meet
her new queen under such circumstances. She gazed at Aurora with a
startled expression as Elwyn explained how Maelgwn had come to be
married.

The turmoil in the courtyard intensified,
and it was a while before Aurora was able to locate Maelgwn. She
finally caught sight of him surrounded by a large group of people.
Even then Aurora did not have the nerve to approach her husband.
Her relationship with him was too uncertain for her to be sure of
her welcome. She stood miserably with Elwyn, hoping the young
soldier did not pity her too much.

At last Maelgwn noticed her and gestured for
her and Elwyn to come forward. Aurora glimpsed a dark-haired woman
standing next to Maelgwn. Her brooding, deep-set eyes and proud
features marked her unmistakably as Maelgwn’s kin. Aurora noted
critically that the woman’s face was too fleshy for beauty, but her
dark coloring and piercing blue eyes were striking. Her bearing was
regal, almost haughty, and like Maelgwn, she made the other people
around her seem small and insignificant.

The woman watched Aurora walking toward her
as a cat might watch a mouse, stalking Aurora with cold interest.
Aurora’s heart sank with every step, and she could only look
desperately at Maelgwn, hoping he would give her a welcome that
would make her place at Caer Eryri clear. Elwyn walked behind her
protectively and Aurora vowed to repay his kindness someday.

Maelgwn smiled at her as she neared him, but
his warm expression did little to soothe Aurora’s nerves. She could
not forgive him for leaving her alone and overlooked for so long.
She felt her face harden into a rigid mask.

“Aurora, I would like you to meet my sister,
Lady Esylt.”

Aurora acknowledged the other woman with a
cool stare and a light dip of her head. She would not curtsy or
bow, she thought disdainfully—she was Esylt’s equal.

Esylt inspected Aurora. An icy smile played
upon her lips, and then she spoke in a low, cruel voice: “Brother,
you said you had taken a Cornovii princess for a bride, but I see
before me only a frightened, simpering child. Is this the best
those soft-headed, Romanized fools can do for royalty?”

Aurora heard Elwyn suck in his breath
sharply behind her. Maelgwn’s jaw muscles twitched dangerously. She
herself felt stunned, as if she had been slapped in the face. She
could think of nothing at all to say in retort, and she turned
helplessly to Maelgwn, begging him with silent, pleading eyes to
defend her.

Maelgwn’s face was full of the white-hot
fury she had seen before, but when he spoke, Aurora thought his
response was ridiculously weak and conciliatory. “I have made a
most advantageous alliance with this match, Esylt. I expect you to
honor my decision.”

Without another word, Maelgwn walked off,
leaving Aurora to face Esylt alone, with only the faithful Elwyn
behind her. Esylt grinned maliciously at her, and Aurora tried in
vain to meet her flashing eyes with a calm, confident stare.

“Does your father count you among his
precious things, little one?” Esylt purred. “If so, you would be
wise to return to him. There is no place in Gwynedd for you, and
you’ll soon find there is no room in Maelgwn’s heart for a weak,
spoiled girl.”

She gestured to Aurora’s cheek, still
bruised and swollen from Maelgwn’s blow. “Why, I see he has begun
to tire of you already.”

Aurora was so breathless with outrage and
fury, she could not speak. Esylt walked away with lazy contempt,
and Aurora leaned gratefully against Elwyn’s strong arm.

“Come, my lady,” he said gently. “Let me
take you to the king’s chambers “

Aurora’s anger helped her hold her head high
while Elwyn led her across the courtyard. They climbed the dark,
narrow stairs to Maelgwn’s sleeping chamber. The stairway had a
musty, oppressive smell, but the tower room seemed fresh and airy.
Soft breezes blew through the narrow open windows, bringing in the
scent of damp pine. The round room was small, but well-furnished
and comfortable, and the furniture—though obviously old—was of a
well-made, Roman style. There was a chair, a stool by the
fireplace, a small table and a large wooden bed covered with a soft
purple blanket.

Aurora sat down wearily on the bed, trying
to collect her thoughts. Elwyn stood beside her for a moment and
then moved toward the door.

“I will have someone come and help you dress
for the feast.” He paused, and his voice grew softer and less
formal. “Don’t let Lady Esylt trouble you. She is an evil, vicious
woman. No one at Caer Eryri cares a fig for what she thinks.”

After Elwyn left, Aurora sank back on the
bed, trembling with outrage. Her arrival in her new home had been
disastrous. She would never forgive Maelgwn for letting his sister
say those terrible things to her, and the thought of him touching
her filled her with fury. He did not deserve her! He was a brute
and a savage! How could her father have made her marry him?
Helpless tears began to flow down Aurora’s cheeks, and she buried
her face in the soft blanket that covered Maelgwn’s bed.

Elwyn hurried across the courtyard to
Maelgwn. “I have taken the queen to your chambers and she is
resting there,” he announced breathlessly.

Maelgwn favored the young soldier with a
warm smile. “I owe you a debt of gratitude for escorting her on
this journey. Your loyalty and service will not be forgotten.”
Maelgwn turned to leave, but Elwyn stopped him.

“My lord,” he said awkwardly, staring at his
commander. “I am very concerned about the queen. I think Lady Esylt
upset her greatly.”

“My sister is a meddling fool. Aurora will
have to learn to ignore her.”

“Aurora deserves better than to be left
alone with no defense against Esylt’s sharp tongue. She is a
princess—and your wife—you must take more of an interest in her
feelings.”

Maelgwn looked at Elwyn in surprise, and
there was a mocking, hostile edge to his voice: “You seem to know
quite well what my duty is to my wife. Bear in mind, though, that
she
is
my wife, and I don’t need your advice on how to deal
with her.”

Elwyn’s heart leapt into his throat as he
realized how he had spoken to his king, but he pressed on as
tactfully as he could.

“Of course, Maelgwn, I would not presume to
interfere. But it does seem to me that a lady must be found to wait
on the queen. She does not even have a servant to help her
dress.”

Maelgwn nodded. He had promised Aurora a
maid. She would have a slave to see to her basic needs, but she
also needed a woman to help her with her hair and attire and to
serve as a companion. Maelgwn wrinkled his brow in thought. It was
difficult. Most of the noble women of Caer Eryri either had
families or were too closely tied to Esylt to risk asking one of
them to serve his queen.

Just then, Gwenaseth came looking for Elwyn.
She stopped when she saw him talking to Maelgwn, but Maelgwn
motioned for her to approach.

“My lord,” she said to Maelgwn, bowing low.
Then she turned to Elwyn. “Your father and brother are here for the
victory feast. I thought you might wish to speak to them.”

“Of course. I will come shortly,” Elwyn
answered, feeling embarrassed. He had been so involved in Aurora’s
problems that he had not thought of anything else, including his
own family.

“Gwenaseth.” Maelgwn spoke her name gently,
and the girl looked up at him in awe. “Your father has sent you to
me to see that you learn all the arts of running a noble
household.”

Gwenaseth nodded, looking slightly puzzled.
It was common enough for the sons and daughters of noble families
to be sent for fosterage when they were of an age. She was not sure
what Maelgwn was leading up to.

“My wife...” Maelgwn paused and his forehead
creased slightly. “She is from a fine Cornovii household. Now that
she has come to Caer Eryri, she needs a woman to assist her and
keep her company. I think you could learn much from her, and I am
asking you if you would be willing to serve as her lady’s maid and
companion.”

Gwenaseth smiled broadly. “I would be most
honored to serve the queen.”

“Of course, we will have to make other
arrangements after you marry and have a family,” Maelgwn added
quickly. “And speaking of that matter—I was thinking of asking your
father if he had any objection to a match with young Elwyn,” he
nodded in Elwyn’s direction. “I can certainly ask him, if you would
like me to.”

“Of course I would.” Gwenaseth’s smile was
luminous. “I would like nothing better.”

“Good,” Maelgwn said heartily. “As soon as I
can get away to the coast, it will be done. Now I think it is time
you went to the queen.”

After Gwenaseth hurried off, Maelgwn turned
back to Elwyn, looking pleased with himself. “I hope you are
satisfied with this arrangement, Elwyn. I have given you your bride
and her a place of honor in my court. Now perhaps you can turn your
attentions back to being a good soldier.”

Elwyn nodded stiffly. “Thank you, my
lord.”

Maelgwn walked away, and Elwyn stood still
for a moment, feeling let down. He loved Gwenaseth, he was sure of
that, but his feelings were not quite the same since he had met
Aurora. Even now, he felt responsible for the young queen, and it
angered him that Maelgwn had so obviously relieved him of his
duties toward her. If Maelgwn continued to be so indifferent to
Aurora’s feelings, she would need him more than ever.

Gwenaseth climbed the steep stairs to the
tower room and paused at the door. She was embarrassed and shy to
be attending Maelgwn’s new wife. It was obvious that Lady Aurora
was from a refined and wealthy background, and Gwenaseth hoped she
would know how to please her. Gwenaseth had grown up on the coast
where a brisk trade with Gaul and even Greece and Rome still
flourished, and she was accustomed to fine and expensive things.
But in the many years since her mother had died, she had been
around few women who could really be called ‘noblewomen.’ Despite
her nervousness, Gwenaseth was looking forward to serving this
elegant foreign princess that Maelgwn had so unexpectedly brought
home. She took a deep breath and knocked.

“Come in.” Aurora looked up, expecting to
see Elwyn or one of the other soldiers bringing up her things. She
gazed in surprise as the small, slim figure of Gwenaseth entered
and bowed low before her.

“I am to be your lady-in-waiting,” Gwenaseth
said carefully, suddenly aware of her lilting, coastal accent. “How
may I serve you?”

“Elwyn sent you?”

“No, King Maelgwn. I am to be married to
Elwyn, though, so we will both serve you,” she added, blushing
prettily.