The Reckoning - 3 (52 page)

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to. It made no sense that he should be so friendly, not with Rhodri's claim leveled at the heart of Gwynedd, a weapon sharp as any sword.
Edward continued to make easy, offhand conversation as they crossed the bailey, offering to show Llewelyn the downstream site of his new castle, pausing to dispatch a servant to fetch the Queen from the Dominican friary, explaining to Llewelyn that was where he and Eleanora were lodging, expressing the hope that Llewelyn had included a few attorneys in his entourage. "I'd have wagered that Wales had more sheep than lawyers," he said with a grin, "and I'd have been ^ong, for Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn rode in yesterday with enough n kwyers to sue half the souls in Christendom."
* By n°w they'd reached the steps of the great hall, and Edward d- s^°PPed suddenly, put his hand on the other man's arm. "Llewelyn, re is something I would say to you ere we go inside . . . about Rhodri. itts set f * "^Sh* to plead his case before my court, and the session is rey oursd ^ morrow-But l ^n^ we'd do better to ^7to settle this amongst heV ta^ Vv ^riodri awaits us above-stairs in the solar. Let's go up and
Wr j We ouSht to be able to come to terms, I should think, as DW-n j, We are reasonable, willing to compromise."
etyn shrugged, said with equal nonchalance, "It is a bad bow

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odrithe warily
Day. But not in Welsh! Actually, I think I can resolve this ri h if given half a chance." 8 l ^ck], "Do you?" Llewelyn said softly. "Do you, indeed?"
"Yes, I do. It is rather simple, in truth. We have the handhere," Edward said, holding up the deed. "What SWeTat Llewelyn? Are you willing to abide by its terms, to pav RK ^ ^°u/ thousand marks?" * ^^ the
Llewelyn was trying to master his shock. "Yes," he said unable to believe
Edward was taking his side, "I am willing " ^'
Rhodri was even more stunned. "Well, I am not! I do not w money, I want the lands!" e
"You may, of course, make that argument tomorrow befo court." Edward leaned back in his chair, watching Rhodri over th ^ of his wine cup. "But I would offer you some advice. When you cann get what you want, it is wiser sometimes to want what you can get"
Rhodri was mute, so enraged and dumfounded and disappointed that he feared he might choke upon it. His throat had closed up; each breath he drew hurt. "What proof would I have that I'd get so much as a farthing? What reason do I have to trust his word?"
Edward glanced toward Llewelyn. "Can you provide sureties for payment?"
"Yes," Llewelyn said grudgingly, giving Rhodri a look that all but seared the air between them, "I will provide sureties." But then, prompted by an impulse he could not explain even to himself, he said, "What about you, Davydd? Do you want to act as a pledge for my good faith?"
If he'd meant to startle Davydd, he'd succeeded. But if his intention was to discomfit his brother, he'd failed. As their eyes met, Davydd grinned. "Why not? We might as well keep it in the family."
"A right fine pairing," Rhodri said acidly, "for your word is as worthless as his!"
"Did you always whine so much back when we were lads?" Davyd asked, still with a smile. "If so, little wonder my memories of you are so dim. I must have blotted them out in sheer self-defense."
Llewelyn had long known that Davydd had an uncanny knack or hitting where it would hurt the most; he bore enough scars of his o to testify to that. But he doubted that Davydd had meant to draw ^ much blood, for Rhodri lost color so fast that he looked suddeniy and then, murderous. The Welsh came tumbling out as if esca?^ engulfing them in an outpouring of embittered, venomous inve
^ needed no translation, that seemed to echo in the air even after whirled toward the door, slammed it resoundingly behind tam' ^
Davydd slid off the table, setting down his wine cup- "Ere 7°
"Ere you''

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Edward, "Rhodri urged the Almighty to smite me with leph« sat hrivel my crops in the fields and bedchamber, to curse my tf^' *? n through the ages, and I
might be mistaken, but he may name ° ^ something about Llewelyn and snakes.
Now ... if the have' 's entertainment is done up here, I think I'll go back to the jfternoo ^ ^ ^^ g^ some way to amuse myself: see how long it h^ bait
Gloucester into a foaming frenzy, tell Clifford what I heard ^u rtimer say about that haughty French wife of his ... The pos-
dhilities are endless."
Davydd was talking too fast, trying a little too hard to be clever, riewelyn caught it, saw that Edward had not. But then, he had a *° _ d advantage over Edward, had a lifetime's experience in trying to H Davydd's mercurial moodsfor all the good it had ever done him. He looked at his brother, and, against his will, he found himself reembering the night that forever changed things between them, the right when Davydd had laughed and joked and lied, all the while expecting him to be dead before dawn.
Davydd was half-way to the door when Edward stopped him. "Do not go just yet, Davydd. First lef s drink to your good fortune. Did he te!! you, Llewelyn? My cousin Elizabeth has borne him a son."
Llewelyn had never known before how powerful an emotion envy could be. The impact was physical, a blow that he'd not been braced to withstand, for he'd not expected to feel like thischeated. He did not like the feeling; envy was a petty emotion, a sin too shameful to admit. With an effort, he shook it off, retreating behind the impenetrable shield of courtesy, and offered Davydd his congratulations. "You both must be very thankful," he said evenly, "for a man's first son is indeed a blessing from God. Tell Elizabeth how pleased I am for her. What did you name the lad? Gruffydd, after our father?"
Davydd hesitated, and an enigmatic, guarded look crossed his face.
He smiled then, but the smile, too, had an odd edge to it, was both defensive and defiant, with a hint of his familiar mockery. "No," he
^"d, "as it happens, I named him Llewelyn," and watched, still with
' twisted smile, as his brother choked on his drink.
of h?8 qi"et 3fter Dayydd departed the solar. Edward finished the last me ^
^e' Watching Llewelyn intently all the while. "You expected coi^ h ^ Rhodri's claim," he said abruptly, almost accusingly. "You bere^j j*Ve sPared yourself a great deal of anxiety had you only remembers Wv, SWore to defend your possession of Gwynedd against all going t h Would tnat not include Rhodri?
Sooner or later, you are ° have to learn to trust me, Llewelyn."

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Llewelyn looked at the younger man for a long moment. "I VVQ^J find it easier to rely upon your good faith," he said, "if you were nQ. still holding my wife at Windsor."
Edmund drew an audible breath, swiveling toward his brother. BU( Edward seemed unperturbed. "You need not fret, Edmund," he Sai

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tell me why you did that? You know Ellen's arrival was meant ^"surprise."
t° ,,To0 many surprises can leave a bad taste in a man's mouth, es. .j a man as prideful as that one, Ned. I just wanted to make sure P6 Tiewelyr1
did not take offense when none was intended." *at Eciward responded with a
Welsh oath he'd learned from Davydd. "That is absurd. It is lucky that you have so many worthy qualities, for sorry to say that you have no more humor than . . ." He paused, ping f°r a comparison, and Edmund supplied one. "Than the Earl of Gloucester?" he suggested, with a straight face, nd Edward struggled in vain to keep a straight face of his own.
"Jesu, no," he said, "I am not that irked with you, lad!" A sudden clamor drew him then, to the open window, just in time to see Llewelyn reach up, lift
Ellen from her saddle. She slid down into his arms, into an embrace ardent enough to stir enthusiastic cheers from the soldiers thronging the bailey.
Watching, Edward said wryly, "Are they ever coming up for air? You are right, Edmund, about his overweening pride. But to give the Devil his due, he does not lack for nerve. Not many men would have dared to challenge me the way he just did. No, the man has cojones," Edward said approvingly, whetting Edmund's interest, for he knew that slang Spanish expression, picked up from Eleanora's brother, was Edward's ultimate accolade; Edward's creed was simplicity itself, that a man without courage was no man at all.
"Is that why you agreed to Llewelyn's surrender last year? You think we're better off with him than with Davydd?"
"By the Rood, no!" Edward said, and laughed. "Nothing could be further from the truth. Llewelyn poses a greater danger to England than Davydd ever could, for he is the one man the Welsh might rally around. They'd never trust Davydd.
Why should they, when his loyalty is for sale to the highest bidder, for who can outbid the King? No, England would have been better served with Davydd at the helm, for he'd be far more likely than Llewelyn to run their ship up onto the rocks. But Llewelyn was not about to turn the helm over of his own free will. I told you once that I wanted Wales, but it would have cost more than I
was willing to pay to see Davydd enthroned at Aber."
"Was that why you turned a deaf ear to Rhodri's plea?" "Of course. Why would I
risk pushing Llewelyn into rebellion again? To please a meagre whelp like
Rhodri? Not bloody likely! Nor am I displeased with my new vassal so far."
The noise from the bailey was intensifying, for the Welsh had emptied the hall, eager to get a first glimpse of their lord's lady. Ellen and

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Llewelyn were encircled by jostling, jesting men, and to judge by M the smiles, Ellen was winning them over with ridiculous ease. Edward was not surprised, for it would have been hard to resist her at that moment. She was so radiant that not even the most cynical Welshman could doubt her joy at being reunited with her husband, and when under Llewelyn's coaching, she gamely attempted a few halting words in Welsh, Llewelyn's men would willingly have forgiven her any sin under God's sky, even the sin of being English.
Edward watched for a few moments, then turned back to his brother.
"No," he repeated, "I am not displeased. It was not easy to snare our Welsh hawk, and it took patience, but we've been able to bell him, to break him to the creance, and to teach him to fly to the lure. A pity we have to lose her now. But I suppose it is time to test his lameness, to see if he can be trusted to fly free."
23
WORCESTER, ENGLAND
October 1278
/\LL the towns in the Marches were eager to host a royal wedding, but it was
Worcester that won the coveted prize. Its citizens were delighted at the prospect of such a splendid spectacle taking place in their midst, although the town was hard put to accommodate so many highborn visitors. The Bishop of
Worcester had the honor of providing hospitality for the King, his Queen, and the bride. The Prior of St Mary's turned his own residence over to Edwards brother-in-law, the King of Scotland, and the Franciscan friary was chosen to lodge Llewelyn and his entourage. The other wedding guests had to find beds as best they could: in the priory guest hall, in the old castle/ in the few inns, with local gentry. To the awed townspeople, it bega" to seem as if Worcester had suddenly become the center of the worlds'

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^LATCHING the shutters of his chamber, Llewelyn looked out upon a Hay of surpassing fairness, upon colors vivid enough to delight the most xacting artist's eye: gold-tinted sunlight, autumn-splashed trees vying for attention with the last lingering flowers of summer, under a sky so bright it could not long take unshaded stares. Joining him at the window, Einion breathed in the clear, crisp air, saying, "I know this day has been long in coming, but now that it's here, it's well nigh perfect. I have to admit, Llewelyn, that Edward has surprised me. I had no idea this wedding would be so lavish, that Edward could be so generous."
"Generous? I suppose so," Llewelyn said, but he sounded skeptical. "It is just that I cannot help thinking how unnecessary this wedding is, Einion. In the eyes of the Almighty and all of Christendom, Ellen and I have been husband and wife for nigh on three years. But Edward would insist that we marry again, almost as if we are not well and truly wed without his approval, his blessing."
He glanced sideways at his uncle, then smiled. "I'm not exactly overflowing with gratitude, am I? Mayhap I ought to make a vow, that I'll give Edward the benefit of every doubtjust for today! It is true that he has been open-handed, and I'll not deny that he gave me a right welcome wedding gift when he agreed to free my hostages. I only wish he'd thought to consult Ellen and me about what we might have wanted for this wedding."
"You mean the guests," Einion said shrewdly, and Llewelyn nodded.
"Indeed. Pembroke, Clifford, Herefordthose are men who'd rather be attending my wake than my wedding!" Llewelyn laughed shortly. "At least I was able to prevail upon Edward about de Mortimer; Edward agreed that his presence would be distressing to Ellen. But he insisted upon inviting Gloucester. He said de
Mortimer might not like being omitted, but he'd understand, whereas Gloucester would have nursed a grievance to his grave, and I have to admit he is likely right about that. We'll just have to see that he stays away from Ellen."
"Is it true that Davydd will be here?"
"Yes, I regret to say he will. He told Edward that Elizabeth wanted to come."
Llewelyn said no more, and Einion tactfully changed the subject, asked if it was true Llewelyn had postponed sessions of his high court for the next fortnight.
"Yes, I wanted to have enough free time to show Wales to Ellen
^d vice versa. We'll pass a few days at Dolwyddelan, and then move
UP the Conwy valley to the abbey and on to Aber. Then we'll cross over
0 M6n, for Ellen wants to visit the friary at Llanfaes where Joanna is uried." Turning from the window, Llewelyn moved to the table, reach-
8 for a small casket. "Let me show you Ellen's bride's gift."