The Beast of Caer Baddan (62 page)

His quick ears caught the sound of Roman army boots behind him.

“Owain,”
came Britu's voice.

“My father’s father,” Owain said, speaking of the statue that he now gazed up at.
“Your mother’s father.”

“Emperor Mascen,” Britu replied.

The man who had claimed tAlbion for himself, drained the island of valuable resources, and caused the deaths of so many brave men.

“Mascen.”
Owain said. “You know, I was born the night he died.”

“I know,” Britu replied.

“Grandmother said that I was granted his soul.”

“The soul of an emperor,” Britu mused.

Where Owain before would have kept his thoughts to himself, his newfound life seemed to loosen his tongue. It also came to him how Britu had stood by him, even though Owain had been so melancholy for his scars.

“Cousin,” Owain said, “when I knew that I was destined to die, I prayed that my soul would be given to my son. But I now have lived.”

“Your soul was given back to you,” Britu replied.

“So who shall be given my soul when I go once more?”

“That is not for us to know, Owain. That is God’s will only. We cannot pretend to understand what God intends.”

“Of course,” Owain replied.

He knew the truth of these words but his mind could not help but wonder.

“So, what did you get from the storehouse?” he asked, changing the subject.

Owain turned from the statue and directed Britu out of the armory toward the great hall.

“Almonds,” Britu said, irritated with the thought.

“Almonds?” Owain said in surprise. “So it is a wedding you go to then.”

“It is,” Britu replied.

“In the Town of Tiw?”

“I promised to attend,” Britu said, and his eyes glazed over revealing his expected boredom. “And I shall not go back on my word.”

“Be careful,” Owain said.

“I shall take all of my knights with me,” Britu replied. “I do not want any ambitious Saxon trying to assassinate me.”

Owain nodded. “Food, then,” he said. “You must eat before you leave.”

They were five of them at their meal, for Owain allowed young Garrick to join them, although he was really just a child.

Garrick ate quickly, and Leola began to fear that he would choke.

“Slow down and chew,
Dear,” she whispered in his ear. “No one is going to take the food away from you.”

It came to Leola that this was perhaps the most sufficient meal he had had in over a year. She was also little concerned for her cousin as he was to take a long journey with Britu.

“You are going to Tiwton?” Leola said to the prince.

Although her words were in Latin she added the “ton” at the end of the
city's name out of nervousness and habit.

“I am,” Britu replied, casually. “I must attend a wedding there.”

“A long and happy life to the couple then,” Leola replied, with a satisfied smile.

Britu seemed to no longer mind her presence and he stopped watching her as he had done so continuously before. Leola found
herself comfortable with him for the first time, and no longer feared young Garrick accompanying him. She did wonder how much of the change in herself was due to her knowledge that Britu had set Aluca free and what was because of his own alteration.

“It shall be a boring affair,” Britu said.
“Twice as long as a battle and not half so exciting.”

Owain laughed at these words.

“You should have seen those Eire,” Annon said. “They were everywhere, screaming and running away. And all of the soldiers were chanting for Owain.”

Leola noticed that Owain frown and shifted his body as Annon chatted on about the battle. She suspected that Owain felt that the boy should not make so light of violence and death.

“And what of Caer Gloui?” Leola asked him.

“Caer” was certainly the only Brythonic word she new but it now slipped off her tongue in all confidence.

“Is it a beautiful place?” she asked.

“It is,” Annon said, both stunned and confused. “It is very nice. And busy.
A much bigger city then Baddan. I like it.”

“That is good,” Leola replied. “Every place has its own charm. What do you do when you are there?”

As Annon chatted on about Caer Gloui, Leola saw from Owain's relieved face that he was glad she had shifted the conversation.

“Thank you,” his lips seemed to say without any sound.

Leola thought her heart beat faster at these silent words.

After the meal was concluded, Britu, Garrick, and Britu's whole party of knights and servant made ready to depart.

Leola was sad to see her cousin go so quickly after she had believed him dead for many long months, but knew that he was best with his mother and sisters and not in the foreign surroundings of a Britannae home. She was also grateful that the money she had so meticulously stored away would go to her aunt and cousins who now needed it more than she did. Thus she kissed the boy gently on the cheeks and sent him off with a prayer.

Chapter Fifty: Not Quite Healed

When night came, Leola found Owain kneeling by the cradle, watching the babies sleep. She stood at the doorway between her bedroom and the newly assembled nursery room, where the babies and their nurses had been moved just a week before. Leola still felt insecure about having them be apart from her and wondered if she should place them back into her own bedroom once more.

“They are so peaceful,” Owain said, interrupting her thoughts.

Leola giggled.

“They have been fussy all evening,” she replied, “I'm surprised we got them to bed.”

“They know you are tired and are obliging you,” he said, with a smile.

Leola giggled at the thought of infants accommodating their mother.

She looked on Owain with a little more appreciation. He had a funny sense of humor that she had not known before and an immense desire to put to right any wrongdoing. She thought on what she had wished to say throughout the afternoon and now wondered why she had held her tongue so long.

“I didn’t thank you for freeing my cousin Garrick,” she said. 

Owain came over to her and took her by the hands. When he looked down into her eyes, she felt his emerald gaze filling her heart until it was overflowing.

“Thank you, Owain,” she gasped.

“You are welcome, Beauty,” he replied.

She did not know what to say then but thought that she must speak or the pounding in her breast would drive her insane.

“You are a very good man,” she said.

Although she believed this statement to be true, these were not the words she had wanted to utter.

“I have not always been good, Leola,” he said, a cloud of sadness seeping into his deep eyes. “My foolishness has caused my father a great deal of pain. I lay with every woman I could. One became
pregnant, she sent me word about it.” 

Why are you telling me this? I do not want to hear about your other women!

“I was at war against the Eire invasion of Venedotia,” Owain continued. “I thought I would marry her. My father had been on to me to marry since I came of age. But by the time I returned to Colun, this lady had already made my father a list of demands including the castle.”

So that is what Queen Severa was about to say. The lady was only with you for the property, for riches. Poor Gratianna!

“When I heard what she wanted, I decided against marrying her and paid her instead. When Gratianna was born, the lady did not want to keep her, so I took my daughter with me here to Baddan.”

“Gratianna is happy here,” Leola replied. “You are a wonderful father to her.”

Owain gave her a gentle smile. “You are a wonderful mother to her,” he said.

“Thank you, Owain.”

“Thank you.”

Leola laid her head on his chest and breathed a long sigh.

Owain had removed his armor and bathed, and was now dressed in a soft robe like the one he had worn the day he took her out of the mead hall.

Leola was glad to be back in his strong arms and listening to the slow even rhythm of his heart. She smelled the fragrance of lavender on his hair.

Just hold me forever.

“Tired?” he asked.

“Very,” she murmured.

She felt him pulling back just a step, and his left arm wrapping around her thighs. She let out a gasp of surprise, as he scooped her up and sailed out of the nursery room.

“No!” she whispered, panicked.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said, puzzled by her reaction.

He nudged the door to the nursery closed and laid her down in her bed.

“No!” she said, more frantic then before. “I can't! I gave birth!”

Owain seemed surprised, as if he had not realized that mattered.

“Then,” he said, “I shall not enter you.”

He bent over her, and she felt his hard chest rub against her nipples beneath her dress. 

“But that does not mean that you can't enjoy yourself,” he whispered in her hair.

Then Owain lifted himself up, and she could see his face once more.

“Well, Beauty?” he said, as if he waited for her agreement.

She nodded.

“Good,” he said, with a smile.