The Bwy Hir Complete Trilogy (75 page)

A rustling between the ferns announced the return of the Druid
. He whispered and gestured to the other before they waved the others to draw closer.

The elder of the two spoke again
. ‘There are two Seekers and four Helgi guarding the mirror. There is a wide clearing between us and the mirror, a lake on the left and a hollow on the right … Arawn and his Wraith Warriors are in that hollow. Of Cadno there is no sign, nor do we know where the other guards are. We cannot travel from here to the mirror without being seen … suggestions?’

Reverend
Morgan leaned forward. ‘The other Seekers went through the mirror two days ago and I have not seen them return. The lake you speak of, is there a way to skirt around, keeping it between the Wraith Warriors? We outnumber the Seekers; we could overpower them and be gone before the others could react.’

The Druids stared blank faced. ‘Firstly, we do not outnumber the Seekers:
my brother and I match them, Derwydd yn tân to Derwydd yn tân, the Helgi are inconsequential: they cannot attack a Druid.’

‘But they can attack the rest of us
,’ Bryn-Wisgi rasped, once again irritated by the Druid’s off-hand manner.

‘You are armed,’ the Druid stated matter-of-factly, ‘
besides all is inconsequential if we cannot reach the mirror undetected.’ He turned to the other Druid. ‘Is passing behind the lake possible?’

The Druid shrugged his shoulder
s. ‘Possibly. Maybe. I cannot see the other side until I can get nearer. There is a shelf of rock towards the rear of the cavern, if we stay low and silent we can at least get closer than we are now.’

‘Agreed.’ The Druid shifted to his feet, his knees bent, crouched low as he pulled up his hood
. ‘Let us be away.’ One by one, silently, slowly they slipped between the ferns towards the lake.

Cadno cursed as he peeped from his vantage position atop a hillock, he could see the prisoners snaking through the ferns heading in an arc towards the lake. When Atgas didn’t raise an uproar he
had presumed the Cristion had failed to release them. Where was Atgas?

He leaned over the edge of his hiding place and cursed again; they would be seen any moment. What were they doing? They would be a distraction, but one that would block Cadno’s access to the mirror. He shifted his position and peered towards the mirror – so close. He squinted and took another look towards the mirror. Ysbrydion.

He ducked and rested his head against the cool, mossy limestone. He hadn’t considered the Ysbrydion. Whoever opened that mirror would be consumed by ravenous, clutching, dark spirits. Despite his freedom from the alchemic circle he was still a prisoner. He groaned and banged his head once, twice against the cliff’s face.

‘Atgas!’ Arawn’s voice roared through the cavern. Cadno’s eyes popped open
… No reply. Where
was
she?

Temptation, as always, got the better of Cadno and he could not resist peering over the cliff edge once more. He watched as two Wraith Warriors marched into the clearing directly below him
. They turned to their right towards the pens and vanished into the darkness.

He had only minutes to make his move. Two Wraith Warriors behind him, four just off to his right huddled with Arawn. Two Seekers and four Helgi in front and a posse of deranged men to his left, not to mention Atgas who was probably lurking in the darkness like the spider she was and a horde of Ysbrydion plus the probability of more turncoat Seekers, Helgi and Cwn Annwn on the other side of the mirror. The Helgi he could discount, but the Cwn Annwn? No, Cadno definitely did not want to
be first to open the mirror.

Should he wait and see what unfolded or did he take action? The decision was made for him:

‘Attack! Attack!’ A Wraith Warrior’s guttural cry rose from the direction of the pens. ‘Atgas is down!’

His heart hammering in his chest Cadno lifted his head to view below. Two more Wraith Warriors ran past underneath him, skidding to a halt as a Druid stood up from between the ferns and shot a ball of fire directly at them.

One Wraith Warrior hurled himself into the ground, rolling away from the impact, the other erupted into flames. Cadno could feel the heat as the Wraith screamed and writhed before bursting in a shower of congealing blood.

From his perch Cadno could not see Arawn or the other Wraith Warriors but he could see the two turncoat Seekers. One raised his hand to answer the shot while the other released the Helgi. With a curse of annoyance Cadno raised his own hands; an arc of pure energy streaked through the darkness and struck the ground directly in the path of the oncoming Helgi
. With a yelp of pain and shock they shied back on their hind legs and fell to the ground twitching and smouldering.

A ball of fire streamed through the darkness to land short of the prisoners
’ position and in turn was answered in a double volley. Back and forth the Druids ducked and fired, ducked and fired in a bitter contest of their own.

Cadno twisted to his left, two Wraith Warriors were racing back down the path from the pens, spears raised, screaming their war cries. Cadno silenced them with lightning.

One turncoat Seeker was down, the other sheltering behind a low cluster of small boulders. Three Wraith Warriors were out of sight, as was Arawn. Where were the Cwn Annwn and the Helgi? As if in answer to the question, a hideous baying and barking erupted in the cavern. That was one of the Wraith Warriors accounted for; he had had the good sense to free the hunting packs.

Cadno could wait no longer, he jumped down from his hiding place and pelted towards the prisoners
. ‘Run!’ he called as he sprinted, ‘Make a run for the mirror!’ He spun on his heels and began hurling fire and lightning as fast as he could conjure it towards the approaching hounds. ‘Run I say!’

They broke their cover and ran as fast as their legs could carry them. Cadno followed in their wake, using them as a shield between himself and a possible attack from the Wraith Warriors and Arawn as he continued to hurl fire and lightning into the darkness.

The ferns were alight, cutting off the hounds from making their entrance. They yipped, howled and growled behind the wall of flames. It wouldn’t hold them long, but it would be long enough.

Flash. A Druid had reached the mirror and placed his amulet to the glass. A sudden, ear-piercing shriek erupted from the mirror as scores of Ysbrydion exploded into the cavern. Twisting, twirling
and keening their terrible cries as they came. The Druid was dragged towards the cavern ceiling by hordes of clawing, clutching Ysbrydion, his howls of terror merging with their terrible cries.

Cadno ducked, shooting lightning erratically above his head. He looked to the mirror. The remaining prisoners were down, their hands covering their heads as they cowered
. ‘Up and run!’ Cadno yelled over the chaos, ‘Up! Run!’

They scrambled to their feet and hurled themselves through the mirror. The Cristion was first through. No matter. One more casualty. Cadno felt a momentary pang of guilt before concluding it was better the Cristion’s life than his. Cadno was the last one through, leaving a burning, churning, nightmare behind him.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Reverend
Morgan lifted his head and stared in utter disbelief at his stomach. He was lying flat on his back in the grass, just to the right of the mirror he’d rushed through in his desperation to escape. Despite the waning late afternoon sun leeching in from the cave mouth torches ringed the cave he had emerged into and thus he had light enough to see his toes, which was remarkable considering there used to be a rotund belly blocking his view. But that wasn’t what surprised him; the two foot long arrow shaft protruding from his abdomen was what held him transfixed. There was no pain – other than the aching in his back from being thumped to the ground when the arrow struck him. He thought he should feel
something
.

With a tentative finger he gently pushed the shaft. He winced as he felt a stinging pain just below his navel followed by the tickling sensation of blood trick
ling down towards his groin. He dropped his head back to the soft grass and sighed in resignation; he was obviously about to die.

‘Hold!’ A commanding voice shouted an order.

Bryn-Wisgi suddenly appeared, thumping his knees down in the grass, kneeling with his hands in the air to face the row of archers ringing the mouth of the cave. Two Seekers stood behind them, each with a pair of Helgi straining at their leashes. One after the other the prisoners appeared and immediately fell to their knees, their hands raised in surrender. ‘We surrender!’

‘Stay on your knees
,’ one Seeker shouted back, ‘keep your arms still and your fists balled – all of you.’

‘Hang in there
Rev.’ Bryn-Wisgi kept his hands in the air but twisted his head to stare at the arrow.

‘Alas,’
Reverend Morgan whispered pathetically, ‘I am not long for this world …’

‘Just hang on.’ Bryn-Wisgi flinched as Cadno burst through the mirror, his torso twisted to shoot light
ning behind him, blocking any pursuit. Once he was through he stood sideways, one arms extended to face the mirror, one arm extended to the ring of archers that barred his way.

‘Bradychwr,’ he bawled at
a group of men blocking his exit, as his attention shifted between them and the mirror, ‘you will surrender immediately. Drop your weapons now or I will destroy you.’

There was a moment’s pause punctuated by a distant peal of thunder. Cadno relaxed one arm as the mirror solidified and then he turned towards the cave mouth where the archers and Seekers were whispering amongst themselves.

‘Do as I say, Bradychwr.’ He took a menacing step forward, his massive stature threatening imminent violence.

A Seeker cleared his throat, his hesitant voice echoing off the dank walls
. ‘Lord Cadno, we are not Bradychwr. We have imprisoned the Bradychwr that were guarding this cave. We now defend it on orders from the Triskele.’

Cadno took another menacing step forward
. ‘Is that so?’ he hissed. ‘If you are faithful to the Triskele, why do you have weapons raised towards one of the Host?’

The archers shrunk back but a Seeker stood forward
. ‘Because
you
are named Bradychwr and we have a warrant for your arrest.’

Cadno threw his head back and laughed.

‘Liars!’ One of the Druid prisoners jumped to his feet in a rage. ‘Lord Cadno was a prisoner too. If it weren’t for him, we would all be dead. He is not one of them. He is not Bradychwr. You are!’ He raised his hand towards the Seeker.

‘Hold!’ Cadno’s voice boomed through the cave
. ‘You will all hold.’ He gave a warning glare to the angry Druid and he obediently lowered his arm. ‘There is confusion here,’ Cadno said evenly to the Seeker. ‘Go and fetch the Host. Arawn is behind that mirror. It will not hold him long. Go.’

The Seeker hesitated a moment and so Cadno took another step forward
and said, ‘Go.’ The Seeker nodded once and took off into the night. Satisfied that he had control he turned to the prisoners. ‘Get behind the archers, if the mirror mists-’

The mirror misted. ‘Run to the archers! Run!’

The prisoners were on their feet and running towards the cave mouth. Bryn-Wisgi dragged Reverend Morgan to his feet and struggled towards the line of archers. Cadno stepped forward, grabbed both the straggling Cristion and the Chosen by the scruff of their necks and literally hauled them to safety behind the archers standing erect with their bows drawn.

Cadno had just set the men down when a blast of power so powerful
and fierce knocked them off their feet and sent them hurtling from the mouth of the cave to land sprawled in the wet, dark grass beyond.

Cadno rolled to a crouching position, shaking his head to clear the ringing inside his ears and blinking to clear his vision.

Boom! A second blast erupted from the cave, shaking the ground, raging and screaming as it pounded and pummelled everything in its way.

Cadno was thrown backwards
, landing heavily on his back. He immediately rolled to his side and caught a glimpse of the scene within the cave. The mirror was open. Atgas stood wild-eyed and ferocious, her arms outstretched, her hands clawed, her teeth bare. Behind her stood two Wraith Warriors, coiled ready to fight and then came Arawn, stepping through the mirror, his face a mask of rage, his antlers dipped, his mouth open as he howled his fury. At his heels came the Cwn Annwn; a stream of savagery, snapping and howling. Cadno scrambled to his feet and without a backward glance he ran away as fast as his feet would carry him.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

‘I will not allow it!’ Aeron sliced the air with his hand, his voice becoming a growl
. ‘You are not to leave the Dell. You will remain here. Is that clear?’

‘Why?’ demanded Taliesin, ‘Why can I not go with Awel? I have a right to retrieve my son.’

They were in Mab’s pavilion and had been arguing since they had arrived. Mab and Awel kept silent as father and son wrestled for victory, shouting back and forth to be heard; to be understood.

‘You know why.’ Thunder rumbled as Aeron spoke through gritted teeth. ‘I know you, my son, I
know
you. Would you not give your own body to save that of your son’s – or to save the Morgan girl? You would not only die for them, Taliesin ap Aeron Ddu, but you would surrender yourself to Arawn to keep them from harm … I dare you to call me liar if my words are false.’

Taliesin did not rise to the challenge; he snapped his jaw shut and looked away.

‘You see?’ Aeron spun on Mab and Awel. ‘Our noble prince would risk the world to save a Hanner-Bridia and a mongrel woman. He is weak.’

Awel remained silent no longer
. ‘If you see virtue as a weakness then you are as blind as you are contemptuous!’

‘How dare you?’ Aeron roared
. ‘You think me wrong, Awel? You think I should let my whelp run loose?’

‘
Our
whelp,’ Mab interjected with unusual calmness, ‘but you are right, as well we know.’ She turned to Taliesin. ‘I forbid you to leave the Dell. You will remain here until Awel returns.’

Taliesin shot a venomous look at his father befo
re storming out of the pavilion. Mab made to grab his sleeve but he snatched it away and vanished in a flurry of silk folds. Mab dropped her head as Awel leaned heavily on her staff. Aeron pulled down the corners of his mouth. ‘I expect you to do your duty, Awel. If either the woman or the Hanner-Bridia becomes caught by Arawn or his allies, you are to kill them both.’

Awel squared her shoulders and looked Aeron in the eye
. ‘That
Hanner-Bridia
is of your line, of your blood.’

Aeron raised a single eyebrow
. ‘You will do your duty or I will send someone in your place.’

‘Enough.’ Mab raised her hand to touch Awel on her shoulder
. ‘Awel, go and be swift in your return.’

Awel curtsied to her queen and slipped out of the pavilion. As she walked down the path stripped with shadows
, the sun making its descent towards the horizon, the consequences of her actions of so many years ago hit her like a tonne-weight. She herself was responsible for the birth of Anwen Morgan and subsequently the birth of her son, it was only right that she be responsible for their death should the time come. ‘Let it not be so.’

A sudden unexpected gust whooshed through the trees, bowing the branch
es and tearing tender new leaves from their shoots. Awel could feel it riding on the wind: energy, power. This was no natural breeze; this was the remnant of casting. Awel spun on her heels, her staff pounding the pathway, her braids tinkling and jingling as she returned to Mab’s pavilion.

‘Did you feel that?’ Awel called to Mab and Aeron as they appeared from the pavilion. Their heads were swivelled in the direction the wind had come from. ‘Come,’ she called to them, ‘I must consult with the Gwiddon.’

They followed her to her own pavilion. Gwenllian called to them from the rear chamber, ‘I am already in the process! Come, come, and let us see.’

Awel threw aside the silk partition. ‘Where are they?’

Gwenllian ignored the question, she was already hunched over the embroidered map but this time the crystal was suspended from a hazel twig as it spun in a lazy circle. ‘Turning, turning, turn around, someone’s lost who must be found ...’

A spark of power arced up the chain towards Gwenllian’s hand as she cackled at its impotence. ‘Once bitten, twice shy! I’ve learned my lesson well, Atgas
Adfyw
!’ The crystal thumped to the map.

‘Where are they?’ Awel could barely contain her anxiety.

‘They are no longer in Llyn Idwal,’ she replied matter-of-factly, ‘see for yourself.’

Awel leaned over, Aeron and Mab at her shoulders. ‘They have escaped; they are headed for Maen-Du.’

‘They? Is it Cadno or Atgas? Is Arawn with them? He would dare to reveal himself to us?’ Mab clutched at Awel arm. ‘Are you sure they head for Maen-Du and not for the Morgan woman and the child?’

Aeron raised his head and turned to leave the tent. ‘Either way they shall be stopped.’ He vanished behind the folds of silk. They could hear him bellowing for the Host and the Druids to gather to him.

Awel leaned on her staff and studied the map. ‘Arawn cannot know that Anwen Morgan is about to appear, so he must therefore be chasing Cadno.’ Awel’s voice was grim. ‘Time has run out for Arawn; he needs a Bwy Hir body
now
… when Cadno is faced with the wrath of Arawn and Atgas he will do anything to save his own skin; even if that means sharing it. Once that happens we will have no option but to kneel to the rightful King of the Winter Realm: Arawn ap Llyr ap Bran
Fendigaid
, Horned Sovereign of the Bwy Hir. Aeron knows this and will strike at Cadno first and Arawn second.’

Mab shook her head, terror clenching her heart. ‘It shall not be so. Aeron is King, Taliesin is the future King.’

Awel shook her head. ‘Your denials mean nothing. If Cadno falls then he will
become
Arawn and you will be his queen; he will dispose of Atgas as soon as he is Bwy Hir. Aeron will face the R’hela as a usurper and traitor. Taliesin will either be used as a tool to keep you compliant; else he too will suffer the same fate as Aeron … Arawn may even return Cadno’s body to him, once we hand over Taliesin’s son to him or a new donor is born; it is always better to take a young body, an innocent, unsoiled mind that has little experience or thought to cloud or mar your own.’

Mab hissed her disagreement. ‘No. Aeron will not allow it – he will challenge and kill Arawn.’

Awel had no time for foolishness. ‘If Aeron is reckless enough to challenge Arawn in Bwy Hir form then Aeron will lose. Arawn was
the
most formidable warrior in our history; Aeron would not stand a chance against him.’

‘Then we must aid Aeron; leave now and strike at our enemy united.’

‘That decision is yours to make, my Queen, but my counsel is this: remain in the Dell, do not add to the bedlam outside unless it becomes absolutely necessary.’

Awel grabbed Mab in an embrace. ‘As soon as I have Anwen Morgan and the child I will return immediately – Gwenllian, you must keep scrying – use the spirit bowl if you can – Mab will need every insight you can provide. I must go in all haste.’ 

Awel left her pavilion as a horn blast rippled through the Dell riding on a wind that carried a trace of wood smoke laced with power and malice. She heard a second horn blast; the Druids had called their men to arms. Soon the winds would carry the dragon-backed Host as they hunted their prey. Time was running short; fate would decide the future. So be it.

She skirted past the hollow, avoiding the churning cluster of Pride females as they argued and debated whilst waiting for Mab’s leadership. Taliesin stood away from them, his arms folded as his furious eyes followed Awel’s leaving. She turned her face away and took a direct path through the dewy grass towards the Cerdd-Carega. ‘Awel Chan y Bant!’ Glyn-Guinea’s voice was carried to her on the smoky wind.

‘Not now,’ she called back crossly, ‘I have no time – no time.’

Glyn-Guinea ignored her irritation as he limped towards her, Bara trotting at his heels. ‘Take me with you.’

‘No. You cannot keep up.’ She brushed past him, ignoring Bara’s imploring whimpers.

‘Then just take me out of the Dell.’ He hurried after her, as did Bara.

‘Why didn’t you leave with the other males?’ Her exasperation was evident.

‘Because I wanted to speak with you.’ He was running out of breath as he kept her pace. ‘What if something happens to you? What if you don’t meet them at the church?’

Awel faltered mid-step. ‘You’ve been talking to Gwenllian Gwiddon, I see.’

Glyn-Guinea ignored her question. ‘If you’re not there, what will they do? I’ll tell you: they’ll go home.’

Awel spun on him. ‘And what makes you think I won’t make it to the church on time?’

Had Awel’s face not been so serious, Glyn-Guinea would have laughed at her choice of words, but he kept his face straight. ‘A R’hela like no other is taking place out there.’ He waved his hand towards the Cerdd Carega, ‘The Host are whipping up a storm, the Druids are in a frenzy and the Chosen have been told to go home and protect their families against Cwn Annwn and god knows what else that’s lurking in the valleys.’ He inhaled. ‘Look, all I’m saying is that we need a back-up plan, and I’m it. I’ll go and wait at Ty Mawr Farm in case ... well, just in case.’

Awel pursed her lips. Fate had unravelled so fast that she had almost forgotten her Triskele within the Triskele and for that she admonished herself. She leaned down towards the steadfast man standing before her, the man that had proved himself time and again as a friend and ally; a compatriot to her cause. She bowed her head. ‘Forgive me, I have become as aloof as my brother and for that I beg your forgiveness.’

Glyn-Guinea felt the uncomfortable tickling of awkwardness wriggling under his skin and he waved away her apology as he stared at the grass beneath his feet.

‘You speak wisely.’ She straightened herself and turned towards the Cerdd Carega. ‘Come.’

He followed behind her, sharing a moment of triumph with an excited Bara. ‘I’ll wait at Ty Mawr until dawn, if they don’t come then I will presume you have them back safely in the Dell.’

Awel spoke over her shoulder. ‘No. Contact Liz Jones, she has a Drych ysgrifennu twinned with my own. In fact it would be prudent for them to wait at Ty Mawr with you … have you heard from Mary’s cousin, the healer among the Chosen?’

‘Saw-Bones Selwyn?’ Glyn-Guinea had almost forgotten about him
. ‘No, but I’ve not been home recently, maybe Dai or Liz has heard something. I’ll ask ‘em when I see ‘em.’

‘Very well.’ She held out her hand as they reached the huge stone
. ‘Are you ready?’

Glyn-Guinea took a deep breath, grabbed Bara’s collar with one hand and took Awel’s hand with the other. His stomach lurched at the anticipated experience of travelling through the Cerdd Carega; the sensation did not sit well with him. He clenched his teeth and replied, ‘I’m ready.’

Two of the Bwy Hir were standing guard on the other side of the Cerdd Carega, Brenig and Rhiannon stood either side of the stone, both clutching spears, both grim faced and alert. Two Seekers and four Helgi stood further off, silently vigilant beneath the pine trees.

‘You travel with a Chosen
… and a dog?’ Rhiannon sounded sceptical. ‘Would it not be better if one of us travelled with you instead?’ Brenig nodded his head in agreement.

‘I travel alone.’ Awel was already rushing away
. ‘They travel a different path. Keep an eye to the horizon over there,’ said Awel, pointing the top of her staff towards the direction of Ty Mawr Farm, ‘if you see or feel anything unusual, you must go to this man’s aid.’

‘My duty is here, Awel.’ Rhiannon’s eyes flashed angrily
. ‘I will not abandon it for one of the Chosen or his kith.’

‘Heed me well, Rhiannon
.’ Awel pointed to Glyn-Guinea who was already loping off into the shadowy trees as Bara scouted ahead. ‘The fate of the Bwy Hir and that of Humanity may well be decided where that man has chosen to go.’

‘Do you wish me to travel with him, Awel?’ Brenig’s deep voice rumbled through the clearing and Rhiannon spun her head to stare at him in chagrined amazement.

‘Watch and wait.’ Awel called back before disappearing among the trees that stretched off into the deepening gloom as dusk slowly gave way to the advancing misty twilight that heralded nightfall. Brenig watched and waited at the Cerdd Carega as an obstinate breeze shuddered through the treetops carrying with it the distant roll of thunder and the promise of the storm to come.

A third horn blast bellowed its fury, announcing the Host were hunting. ‘
Gogoniant i'r r'hel
a!
’ Brenig hurled his war cry to the brooding skies. ‘Glory to the R’hela!’

The Druids voiced their solidarity with cries of their own. Rhiannon swung her head between watching the forest for Awel’s return and surveying the skyline above the trees towards Ty Mawr Farm; watching, waiting.