Read The Dragon Lord's Daughters Online
Authors: Bertrice Small
The Dragon Lord's Daughters (29 page)
“It might have ended there had the Welsh been willing to let it go, but they were not. They kidnapped the de Bohun heir, and castrated him in retaliation for their daughter's death. Of course, he did not live long after it, but at least his wife bore him twin sons several months afterwards. She raised them to hate the Welsh, and particularly the Pendragons. It has been that way ever since. Pendragons do not wed de Bohuns, Simon, and there is an end to it.”
“How long ago did this happen, Father? A hundred or more years ago? Is it not time for this feud, or whatever it is, to be ended? And what better way than by a marriage between a Pendragon and a de Bohun? A marriage that this time will be celebrated and consummated, and lead to de Bohun heirs,” Simon said to his father. “A betrothal began this feud. Let a marriage end it.”
“Jesu!” Hugo de Bohun swore violently. “It is as I have always feared. You are a damned weakling with a soft heart. Fuck the girl if you must, but you will wed the girl I choose for you to wed. You will not disobey me in this.”
“I will marry no one but Junia Pendragon,” Simon said angrily.
“You will wed Aceline de Bellaud,” Hugo roared. “She is an only child, and her father is as anxious for the match as I am.”
“First you speak of this girl as if you are merely considering it. Now suddenly it appears that you have already set the negotiations in motion, yet you have not consulted me in the matter. I am eighteen, Father, not a stripling of twelve.”
“Under the law, however, you are bound to obey my wishes, Simon.”
“I could leave Agramant,” Simon threatened his father.
“Leave your home?” Hugo shouted, and he slammed his cup onto the high board, sloshing wine across it. “Where the hell do you think you would go? And what would you do, you damned weakling?”
“I could go to my mother's family,” Simon said.
“Do not think your grandfather would take you in under the circumstances. He would send you packing as soon as he learned why you had come! Your mother's father is a man who understands the necessity of an advantageous marriage. Aceline de Bellaud will make you an excellent wife. Her lands are fertile. She has livestock aplenty. And she has a dower of both silver and gold.”
“If she is so well-propertied, Father, then why would her father consider us?” Simon queried his father. “We are a minor branch of the de Bohuns.”
“But we are still de Bohuns,” Hugo replied. “And while the de Bellauds have wealth, they have not a great name. We do. Aceline is an only child. Her father's line dies with her, but can live on in her de Bohun sons. I have seen the wench myself. She is ripe for fucking, and you'll get a houseful of sons off such a toothsome little bitch.”
“It sounds as if you would like to have at her yourself, Father. Why don't you wed her? Why must I be the sacrificial lamb to your greed? And while I am thinking about it, what the hell was the matter with the de Bohuns that they would not return the dower belonging to the Pendragon girl? The marriage had not been celebrated, and the death of the bridegroom was not their fault. The dower should have been returned. It was not the Pendragons who were greedy, Father. It was the de Bohuns.”
“They killed the de Bohun heir,” Hugo growled.
“After their daughter was cheated, shamed, and killed herself,” Simon countered. “I expect they considered it as much justice as they would ever receive from us.”
“It matters not just what I say or think, Simon,” his father replied. “The Dragon Lord will never allow you to wed his child. The Pendragons hate us every bit as much as we hate them. Put the girl from your thoughts and concentrate on a marriage with Aceline de Bellaud, for it is she who will be your wife, and not this Junia Pendragon.”
“I will not marry this girl of your choosing,” Simon said firmly. “I will wed with Junia, or I will not wed at all.”
“You will obey me, Simon, for I am your father,” Hugo said. “Whatever made you think you could choose your own wife?”
“You did,” was the answer.
“Aye, I did, but I was lord of Agramant when I did. My father was long dead, but I followed in the path I knew would please him when I chose your mother. I could not have known how frail she would become after your birth,” Hugo de Bohun replied. “You have not the authority to pick your own wife, and so you will obey your father who does.”
“Must I kill you and become lord of Agramant to gain Junia as my wife?” Simon shouted angrily.
“You have not the balls for it, lad,” Hugo mocked his son. “You are far too civilized and good-hearted. The bride I have chosen for you is a strong young woman. She will make up for your lack, and make certain you do what you should when I am gone one day.” He laughed at the look on Simon's handsome face. “Sulk for a bit if you must, boy,” he told his son. “Satisfy your longing for the girl if you are man enough. When you are ready to see reason we shall visit the de Bellaud family, and you can meet your bride, Simon. As I have said, a most toothsome little bitch.”
“Go to hell, Father!”
“I undoubtedly will one day,” Hugo responded, “but I shall have a fine time getting there, I promise you, boy!” And he laughed as his son stormed from his hall.
Simon found the sanctuary of his own chamber, and flung himself across his bed. What a disaster this was! But he loved Junia, and he was not yet ready to give up his quest for her hand in marriage. He would go to her father himself! He would do whatever he had to do to gain the Dragon Lord's permission to wed Junia. He heard the door to his chamber open and close, and looking up he saw old Elga.
“My poor laddie,” she began.
“Were you in the hall?” he asked her, “Or did someone else report the conversation my father and I had? More a shouting match, I fear, Elga.”
She sat down next to him on the bed. “You must give up this girl, my lad. If you do not, your father will do whatever he must to see that you do. Hugo de Bohun is a bad man. You have not yet seen the length and breath of his wickedness. Only your mother, God assoil her good soul, could keep his demons under control. If you truly love this lass you must part with her, for if you do not you put her in the gravest danger.”
“I would go to her father and plead my case with him,” Simon said. “Certainly if he sees how much I love Junia he will allow us to wed.”
Elga was pained by her nursling's naivete. “Laddie, even if the Dragon Lord would take into account the love you and his daughter have for one another, what have you to offer if your father disinherits you? And he will if you disobey him.”
“But I do not care if he casts me out, Elga! Junia has become my very life! Today when she said she loved me I thought my heart would crack within my chest from the sheer happiness I experienced. How can I give her up?”
Elga sighed. “You must, Simon. If you do not, then whatever vile revenge your father takes on this innocent maiden will be your fault. Can you live with that? And in the end you will still be forced to do his bidding and marry the bride of Hugo de Bohun's choosing. And the Pendragon girl will be forced to marry the man of her father's choosing despite her love for you. Better you break off this unfortunate liaison now so that both of your hearts may have time to heal,” Elga advised. She patted his shoulder. “I am so sorry, laddie. More often in this life we do not get to do the things we want, or have the things our hearts desire. It is the way of the world.”
He sighed. It was a deep and desperate sound. “I am to meet her again in three days at Mryddin Water,” Simon said.
“And you will tell her then that this union between you is not possible?” Elga probed.
“I do not know,” Simon replied.
“You have not breached her, laddie, have you?” Elga's worn face had a worried look upon it.
“Jesu, no!” he said with such fervor that she knew he spoke the truth. “I love her, Elga. I would not shame her.”
“Of course, laddie, but I thought it wise to ask,” she answered him. Then she arose. “I will leave you now to consider what you must say. You have three days in which to decide.” And she departed his chamber.
“I will not give her up,” Simon said softly to himself. “There has to be a way. There has to be!”
Chapter
14
14
S
he couldn't keep it to herself. She just couldn't! Seeking out Gorawen in the hall she caught up the older woman's hands in hers saying, “Simon is going to ask his father to ask for me in marriage!” Junia's eyes were sparkling. Her whole demeanor mirrored her happiness. She sat next to Gorawen.
he couldn't keep it to herself. She just couldn't! Seeking out Gorawen in the hall she caught up the older woman's hands in hers saying, “Simon is going to ask his father to ask for me in marriage!” Junia's eyes were sparkling. Her whole demeanor mirrored her happiness. She sat next to Gorawen.
“And Simon's family is?” the Dragon Lord's favorite probed gently.
“He is Simon de Bohun! It is an honorable name, Gorawen, is it not?”
Gorawen grew deathly pale. “Oh, my dearest child,” she said, “you cannot wed with a de Bohun. Your father will never allow it. I am so, so sorry!” She reached out to embrace Junia, but the girl drew back as if she had been scalded.
“What are you saying?” she gasped.
“We must speak with your father now,” Gorawen said, her eyes filled with tears.
Junia sat as if she had been carved out of stone. “You must say nothing until his father comes to ask for me,” she responded woodenly.
“His father will not come, Junia. Merin! Please hear this,” Gorawen called to the Dragon Lord. “Junia, tell your father of your meetings at Mryddin Water with Simon.”
“What is this?” Ysbail was immediately on her feet. She ran to stand before Gorawen and Junia. “Have you been meeting with a man, you slut?” She slapped her daughter's face. “Will you ruin yourself, you little fool? Who will have you if it is known you are a road already well traveled?”
Gorawen jumped to her feet. “Do not dare to hit Junia,” she said angrily. “You know naught, but you have already assumed the worst. Are the daughters of this house raised to behave like common whores?”
“Do not tell me how to discipline my daughter,” Ysbail screeched. “I did not raise her to behave like some trull!”
“And she has not!” Gorawen said sharply. “If you will shut your mouth and keep your evil thoughts to yourself you will learn the tragedy that is befalling your child. Her sweet and innocent heart is about to be broken.”
Ysbail sat down heavily. “What has happened, Junia?” she queried her daughter in calmer tones. “Tell me.”
“No,” Merin Pendragon said. “Tell me, daughter,” and he came and sat on the other side of her from Gorawen, pushing Ysbail away as he did so, curious that Brynn came and sat down on the floor before his sister.
“His name is Simon de Bohun,” Junia began, hearing both her mother and Argel gasp. “Brynn and I met him two years ago in the ruins at Mryddin Water.” Two large tears slipped down her pale face. “We are in love, Father. He wants to marry me. Why is that so wrong?”
“It is not wrong to be in love, Juni,” her father began. “And it is not wrong to want to wed. But there is bad blood between the Pendragons and the de Bohuns, my daughter. No marriage between you and this Simon can ever be celebrated. I am sorry.”
“Why is there bad blood between our families, Da?” Junia asked, her voice shaking with her shock.
“One hundred and twenty-two years ago Bronwyn Pendragon was to marry Robert de Bohun. The betrothal papers had been signed, and then in a quirk of fate Robert de Bohun died before the marriage could be celebrated. His family refused to return Bronwyn's dower portion. They claimed the very agreement signed by both families entitled them to it. That it was not their fault their son had died. It was a dastardly and greedy act. You know that the Pendragons have never been a wealthy family, Juni. Without the return of her dower Bronwyn could not be rematched. Not even the richest religious house would take her without a portion of some kind, and there was simply nothing left. Because of the de Bohun name we had scraped together everything we could. But Bronwyn had loved Robert de Bohun. Heartbroken by his death, and by the fact his family's refusal to return her dower had caused a breach between the Pendragons and the de Bohun's, Bronwyn threw herself from the top of the north tower.”
“Oh, Da!” Junia said softly.
“That was not the end of it, daughter,” the Dragon Lord continued. “Bronwyn's father sought out the de Bohun heir, the family's other son. He castrated him, causing his eventual death. He had hoped by this brutal act to wipe out the family thus restoring his daughter's honor. However, the de Bohun heir's wife was enceinte. She gave birth to twin sons seven months later, and raised her children to hate the Pendragons as has every generation of de Bohuns since. And that, Juni, is why you cannot wed with a de Bohun.”
Junia was silent for a long moment, and then she said, “That is ridiculous, Da! Are you telling me that because of a feud that was begun one hundred and twenty-two years ago, Simon and I cannot wed? Have neither the Pendragons or the de Bohuns ever considered healing this terrible breach? Is not now a good time to do it? Until this day neither Simon or I was aware of the other's surname, and certainly we did not know of this feud. We have fallen in love. We want to marry. Can the love we have for each other not cure the ancient bitterness between our families? Is not love stronger than hate? I think it is, and I would have Simon de Bohun to wed. No other.”
“Junia,” her father said, “I would give you this if I could, but I cannot. Your Simon's father is a man with a particularly cruel reputation. For a time he ceased his wickedness, for his wife was known to be a very good woman. But after her death he once again took up his old ways. He will not consider a match between our families. I am sorry.”
“If no one will try to make peace then there will never be peace,” Junia replied.
Merin Pendragon nodded. “That is true, daughter, but it is the way of the world.”
“I will have no other to husband me,” Junia said stubbornly.
“Aye, you will, one day, Juni,” the Dragon Lord told his youngest daughter, “but for now your heart needs time to heal itself. I will not force you into marriage with any man until you tell me you are ready to consider it,” he promised her.
Junia stood up. The look she gave them was so tragic that Argel, Ysbail and Gorawen all began to weep. Then the young girl ran from the hall sobbing bitterly.
“Is there no hope?” Gorawen finally said.
The Dragon Lord shook his head. “If Hugo de Bohun did not have so foul a reputation I might attempt to end the bad blood between us for Juni's sake, but I want no daughter of mine in that man's house. And who is to say this Simon did not know Junia was my child? Who is to say he is not like his father, and was attempting to seduce her?”
“Simon is a good man, Da!” Brynn spoke up. “He has always treated my sister with the utmost respect.”
“But you have not been with them always,” Gorawen reminded the boy. Like his sister he was yet trusting of the world.
“You left them alone?” The Dragon Lord sounded displeased.
“My sister asked me not to trail after her,” Brynn said, the very memory of it offending him. “It was only a few times, but I spied on them twice. All they were doing was sitting and talking. And they weren't even close to each other.”
“We raised her to have pride in her honor,” Argel said quietly.
Gorawen concurred, saying, “I trust Junia, and she has told me nothing happened between them. I believe her, Merin.”
“I will beat her senseless if I learn she has been loose in her behavior,” Ysbail muttered. “What a pity there is bad blood between the de Bohuns and us. What a fine match that would have been for my daughter! A de Bohun for a husband would certainly have been a better catch than a FitzHugh, and perhaps even Emrys Llyn.”
“Put it from your mind, woman,” Merin Pendragon said harshly. “Hugo de Bohun's serfs are said to scar their own daughters to keep them from his roving eye and that of his men. I should not like our daughter in such a house.”
“To think that Junia could attract such a fine name,” Ysbail said, half ignoring him. “You will have to go some, my lord, to find an equally good husband for Junia now. I shall not be satisfied with just anyone.”
Argel and Gorawen looked at each other, both tempted to laugh. They managed to restrain themselves. As always, Ysbail was being selfish. They knew she hoped to leave Dragon's Lair to live in her daughter's house when Junia was finally wed one day. Both knew she would be doomed to disappointment in that matter. Still, both women wished that Ysbail understood the heartbreak that Junia would suffer from this incident. They could but hope to console the young girl's disappointment in her stead.
Junia did not appear in the hall the following day. She kept to her tower chamber.
Argel sent a servant up twice with a tray for the girl. Both trays were returned untouched. Junia would allow no one into her chamber. Listening at the door Gorawen heard her weeping piteously, and hurried away lest she weep herself. They left her to herself, for they knew that Junia needed time to come to terms with the unfortunate situation. And then on the evening of the second day the young girl appeared in the hall, and took her place at the high board. She was pale, and very quiet, and she did not speak a great deal but to answer when spoken to, but this was in keeping with her past behavior.
The following morning Junia came into the hall, and broke her fast. She seemed a bit more cheerful, and Brynn noted it aloud. They were alone.
“Today is the day I am to meet Simon,” Junia said softly, her eyes shining. “I know he will have overcome his father's objections to a match, for he loves me. Together we will surmount my father's objections. It is past time this feud was ended, Brynn.”
“Don't tell me you are going to Mryddin Water, Juni,” the boy said.
“Simon said he would meet me in three days' time. Today is the third day, Brother,” Junia replied calmly.
“If his da is as bad as our da says, he'll not be there. It might even be dangerous for you to go, sister,” Brynn warned her.
“Simon will let nothing happen to me, Brynn,” Junia assured her brother.
“Then I will go with you,” he answered her.
“Nay, you must not,” Junia responded. “Given that both Simon and I now know the story of our families estrangement, it would appear that I did not trust him if you came. There is naught for me to fear.”
“Let me go,” Brynn pleaded with her. “If he is not there, you have your answer. If he is, then I will ascertain the lay of the land for you.”
“Nay,” Junia replied. “I trust Simon, and if you tell Da, I will follow the example of Bronwyn Pendragon, and jump from the north tower, Brynn.”
Brynn grew silent. There was no reasoning with Junia when she got this way. In that sense she and Maia were much alike. He would simply follow his sister to be certain she came to no harm. It was not likely that Simon de Bohun would show up anyhow. Like Junia he was bound to obey his father's wishes, too. Junia would make the trip, see the truth of the matter, and cry, but that would be the end of it. And he already felt badly for his sister. A feud such as the one his father had described in the hall three nights ago seemed so foolish. Brynn arose from the high board, and bidding his sister be careful, left the hall.
Junia went back up to her tower chamber. She washed her face, and brushing out her long black hair replaited it in a single braid, which she tied with a small bit of ivory ribbon. Her gown was a deep green. It was her second best gown, but she wanted Simon to be proud when they met today. Going to the stables Junia called for her horse, and it was brought. She mounted the beast, and rode from her father's keep, watching carefully to be certain that no one of note saw her go. The stable yard was quite empty, and the sentries posted at the entry to the keep merely nodded as she moved by them. They were used to Junia's wanderings.
Brynn Pendragon watched his sister leave their father's keep. As he knew where she was going, he also knew he need not hurry after her, and risk being seen. Simon never arrived at the ruins by Mryddin until after they did. Brynn suspected he waited to see them come before coming himself. There was more than enough time to reach the place of assignation. Brynn did not pray often, but he now prayed that Simon de Bohun would not come to meet his sister. No matter what he said, Junia would believe she could overcome the great odds of the ancient feud between their families. And knowing Simon de Bohun, another dreamer, Brynn thought, he would think so, too. It was a pity. They were very well matched. Perhaps one day when this Hugo de Bohun was gone to hell, Brynn considered, he could approach Simon, and together they would put a stop to this foolishness. Of course, by then it would be too late for Simon and Junia. Both would be wed to others.
Brynn now went to the stables to fetch his horse. As an afterthought he strapped on the sword his father had given him on his last birthday when he had turned eleven. His bow and quiver he affixed to his saddle before mounting the beast. Then he rode out of his father's keep, following the barely visible track that would bring him to Mryddin Water. He was far enough behind his sister that she would not hear him to her rear. By the time he reached the water the sound of the little weir would muffle the sound of his animal's hooves. Brynn was rather pleased with himself, and he thought his father would be, too. He was thinking like a warrior.
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