Dragon of the Island (14 page)

When the meal was finished, Maelgwn rose to
speak. Aurora found it hard to pay attention; she was looking
around the room, staring at the unknown people who were now to be
her subjects. Their clothes were unashamedly bright and garish. No
man in Viroconium would ever wear such wild shades of red, saffron,
blue, and purple, and there was not a toga to be seen. The men wore
short tunics, leather trousers and vividly patterned shawls over
their shoulders. The women wore loose gowns gathered at the neck
and waist. The colors they used were softer and more subdued than
those of the men’s clothes, but their necks and wrists were adorned
with bright enamel and bronze jewelry, their hair elaborately
braided and decorated with gold threads, pearls and precious
stones.

Maelgwn was still speaking, describing the
events that led up to Constantine’s surrender. He seemed to be
emphasizing the ease with which they had frightened the Cornovii,
and there were occasional derisive shouts of laughter as he painted
the picture of Constantine cowering before the superior Cymru
forces. Aurora felt herself flush as she realized that Maelgwn was
portraying her father as a fool. It was so unfair! What had he
expected her father to do? Fight and get them all killed?

When he had finished with his fun of
ridiculing the Cornovii army, Maelgwn began a long recitation of
the livestock, grain and other property Constantine had paid for
the truce. The crowd grew more exuberant with each item. It would
be an easy winter in Gwynedd no matter how the harvest fared.

After he listed the tribute, Maelgwn paused,
and the crowd held their breath expectantly. Aurora could not help
turning with the others and staring at Maelgwn. Her husband was an
imposing man, and he looked especially dramatic this night. Dressed
in his best dark tunic, with a deep red mantle draped over his
shoulder and his long dark mane of hair framing his masculine
face—even Aurora felt a stirring of awe as she looked at him. Then
he began to speak in his arrogant voice, and her hatred
returned.

“As a symbol of his complete loyalty,
Constantine has given us another gift.”

Maelgwn glanced almost imperceptibly at
Aurora, and she wished she could disappear into the floor.

“I know that I speak of one of Constantine’s
most prized possessions, and that it pained him greatly to give her
up.”

Maelgwn’s smile broadened into what seemed
to Aurora to be a gloating grin, and she felt the blood creeping
into her face. She was being presented as a trophy prize, part of
the spoils of Maelgwn’s victory over her father!

“As a gesture of his fealty, Constantine of
Viroconium has given me his fairest daughter in marriage.”

His silly compliments counted for naught,
thought Aurora bitterly. He chose me not because he found me
fair!

The spectators crowded around, red-faced and
loud, staring at Aurora. Maelgwn turned to her, and taking her
hand, helped her stand and face the room.

“I present to you, my new queen, Lady
Aurora.” The playfulness was gone from Maelgwn’s manner, and he
faced the room with a commanding air, his eyes daring any man to
show a hint of disrespect.

Aurora stood as tall as possible and tried
to pretend she was her mother—calm, regal, in control—but her hand
gripped Maelgwn’s in white-knuckled fear. The room was hushed, and
Aurora looked out at a sea of faces, some leering, some hostile,
some smiling, all curious.

Balyn broke the silence with a confident
shout. “A toast, a toast to our beautiful Queen Aurora!”

Other voices followed and soon the hall rang
with cheers. Glancing nervously at the room full of excited faces,
Aurora’s eyes rested for a moment upon Esylt, seated near the
king’s table with a group of raucous soldiers. Their eyes met, and
Aurora felt the force of Esylt’s hatred. She stepped back
instinctively, just as Maelgwn gave a full-throated laugh and
grabbed her for a lusty kiss. The onlookers roared with
appreciative delight. Aurora tried to smile, but her face felt
frozen; she could not forget the malice she had seen in her
sister-in-law’s eyes.

Gradually the hall began to settle down, and
tables were moved away from the center of the room. Aurora’s nerves
steadied and she grew curious as to what would come next. A lone
man, robed in the plain, nondescript wool of a bard and carrying a
huge, graceful harp, moved to the center of the room in front of
the king’s table. The crowd grew quiet as he ran his hand across
the silken strings, sending a ripple of silvery notes into the
hushed room.

His voice was beautiful, low and vibrant,
but Aurora was disappointed. The man’s accent was so strong that
between that and his lyrical delivery, Aurora was unable to
understand most of what he was singing about. It seemed to be the
story of Maelgwn and all the battles he had fought, but many other
kings and heroes were mentioned and Aurora grew weary of his
recitation.

At last it was over. People began to get up
and move into informal groups. Aurora spied Gwenaseth holding
Elwyn’s hand and smiled uncertainly at them. To her delight, the
young woman hurried over to her. Gwenaseth was wearing a beautiful
saffron-colored dress with a brilliant purple shawl. Her necklace
and earrings of gleaming amber rivaled even Aurora’s costly
jewels.

“You look beautiful, Gwenaseth,” Aurora said
softly, reaching out to touch the shawl. “I have never seen such a
rich purple.”

“It’s a special dye made only in Tyre,”
Gwenaseth answered proudly. “It’s said to be the same color used by
Roman senators for their state robes.”

“Aye, I have heard of it—royal purple, it’s
called,” Aurora said, feeling slightly envious. She wondered if
Gwenaseth did not look more striking than she. But if she did,
Aurora could not tell by the way Elwyn looked at her. The young
soldier was staring at her with a dazed expression of near
worship.

“Next there will be dancing,” Gwenaseth said
enthusiastically. I don’t think Maelgwn will join in, but you can
stay with us,” she added kindly.

Aurora nodded, feeling ashamed of her less
than generous thoughts. Gwenaseth seemed as loyal and kind as
Elwyn.

The pulsing beat of drums and pipes began,
and groups of people stepped out of the crowd and began to circle
and twirl with abandon. The spirit of celebration was contagious,
and it was not long before Aurora’s body longed to move freely to
the stirring rhythm. The ritual feasts at Viroconium—now held in
conjunction with Christian holidays instead of the ancient
celebrations of harvest, sun and fire—suddenly seemed very dull
compared to the primitive throb of life that filled the great hall
of Caer Eryri.

Laughing, Elwyn and Gwenaseth pulled Aurora
into the swirling, sweaty crowd. At first, Aurora was uncertain,
wondering if she would know what to do, but gradually she
surrendered to the hypnotic beat and followed the instinctive
rhythm of her feet. She was soon exhilarated and sweating, and a
warm glow spread throughout her body, making her feel weightless
and full of life. She gradually lost track of Gwenaseth and Elwyn
and moved along with the flow of the crowd. As she clasped hands
with flushed, smiling strangers, the barriers Aurora had felt
earlier as a foreigner in Gwynedd were gone, and the Cymru suddenly
seemed to be the handsomest people she had ever known. She admired
their glossy dark hair and the flash of strong white teeth in their
dusky faces. The Cymru were not savages after all, she decided, but
a dynamic, fun-loving race.

As she moved around the room, admiring eyes
followed Aurora, and the bolder men shouted bawdy compliments.
Aurora could not help blushing, but deep down she was pleased. It
was nice to be treated as a desirable woman. She was no longer the
raggedy little sister, but the king’s wife. It was hard to believe
that the flashing confidence she felt had come so quickly.

Aurora stopped to catch her breath and gulp
some watered wine, and Gwenaseth joined her.

“It is a wonderful celebration, is it not,
my lady?” Gwenaseth’s eyes glowed with soft fire as she followed
Elwyn’s graceful figure as he moved with the other dancers.

Aurora nodded, but she felt a sharp pang of
jealousy, too. Elwyn was sweet, but he belonged to Gwenaseth. Why
could she not have a kind, considerate husband like him, instead of
cold, arrogant Maelgwn? She looked around the smoky room for
Maelgwn’s tall figure. He had not joined the dancers but was
standing with his men, a jeweled cup in his hand. He caught her
watching him and smiled.

Aurora looked away quickly, a tingle of
unease coursing through her. It would not be easy to avoid
Maelgwn’s unwelcome embraces tonight. She had found him watching
her more than once with a rather drunken, possessive stare. She
could only hope that he would drink so much he would not be able to
stay awake for lovemaking.

Maelgwn watched, mesmerized, as his wife
danced. His eyes followed the sweep of her long dark hair—glinting
russet, almost wine-colored in the dim light—and the sinuous lines
of her body in the bright gown.

“Many a man is envying his king tonight.”
Balyn commented as his eyes were drawn to the vivid figure of the
queen.

“Aye,” conceded Evrawc. “I thought her
sisters fairer myself, but there is no doubt that the queen is a
beauty.”

“The people seem to like her,” added
Maelgwn. “Perhaps despite being a foreigner, she will be a popular
queen.”

Balyn smiled at the king. “The main thing is
that she pleases you, my lord,” he said, gulping contentedly from
his cup. “Perhaps this will be the start of a love match as well as
a strong alliance.”

Maelgwn looked up sharply. “I warned you
before not to jest about my feelings for Aurora. She will serve
well as my queen, but that is as much as I want from her.”

“Of course, Maelgwn,” Balyn said with a
smile. “I should have known that kings were above such frailties
and foolishness as love.”

“Do not mock me, Balyn,” Maelgwn said with a
frown. “Kings cannot afford to fall in love, and I am a king first
of all and a man second.”

Rhys interrupted with a lewd laugh. “Well, I
do not envy the king then, but ah, the man... would that I would
ever have such a beauteous creature to grace my bed.”

“Are you sure you would know what to do with
a woman like that?” asked Balyn with a laugh. “Tell us, Maelgwn,
are Cornovii princesses the same as other women in bed... or do
they have some special charm all their own?”

The king’s deep-set eyes drooped
dangerously, and his low voice was thick and indistinct. “Aye, she
is different,” he said after a moment. “Never have I had a woman
whose skin was so soft, who smelled so sweet. Her body is like
swan’s down scented with the flowers of spring.”

Maelgwn’s men looked at him with surprise.
It was unusual for the king be so open with them.. Usually he
ignored their indiscreet jesting and retreated behind a wall of
impenetrable reserve. It was obvious he was getting very drunk.

Balyn was especially concerned by Maelgwn’s
mood. Despite his enthusiastic speech, the king seemed edgy
tonight, and it was uncharacteristic of him to drink imprudently.
They would have to keep a watchful eye on his cup. Maelgwn was a
heavy man to carry, and the tower stairs were steep.

Aurora was dancing ecstatically when Maelgwn
came and grabbed her tightly around the waist.

“It is late, my love,” he said softly. “Come
to bed.”

Aurora was in no mood to leave the dancing,
and she wrinkled her nose in distaste at Maelgwn’s state. He was
drunk and leaned heavily on her, breathing his hot, wine-scented
breath in her face.

“You go,” she said, trying to disentangle
herself from his strong arms. “I will be there soon.”

“Ah, so already you prefer the company of
other men to mine. It does not matter, for they cannot touch you,
you are mine alone,” he whispered as he tightened his possessive
embrace.

Aurora was suddenly anxious. There seemed to
be no way to escape Maelgwn’s unwanted attentions. “It’s not that,”
she answered. “As host and hostess of the feast, one of us should
stay until the festivities are over.”

“I care not what people think,” Maelgwn said
loudly. “Tonight I intend to consider my own needs first, and right
now I need you naked beneath me.”

Aurora glanced around in embarrassment.
People were watching them, only halfway containing their curiosity,
and the way Maelgwn was touching her was lewd and humiliating. His
hands had insinuated themselves below her waist to stroke the curve
of her hips familiarly.

“All right,” Aurora hissed under her breath.
“I will go with you. But please... stop holding me so tightly and
touching me so. Everyone is watching. It is unseemly.”

Maelgwn grunted and released her. As they
made their way through the room, people moved aside to let them
pass, smiling and murmuring. Aurora’s happy mood had evaporated,
and she felt humiliated, imagining that everyone was commenting on
her body and Maelgwn’s sexual prowess. Why did he have to make such
a spectacle of his power over her? Whatever warm desire the wine
had aroused in her was gone, and she was more determined than ever
to get out of making love with her husband.

They left the feasting hall. Outside, it was
a lovely summer evening, and under different circumstances, Aurora
might have enjoyed the amorous atmosphere of moonlight and fresh
mountain air. But tonight she was concerned only with stalling
Maelgwn and keeping his big strong hands off of her. Perhaps she
could divert his attentions and tire him out by walking.

“Maelgwn, please, show me around the
fortress,” she coaxed as he led her toward the tower.

“You mean tonight?”

“Aye, it is so pretty out, and I know you
won’t have time in the morning.”