Here Be Dragons - 1 by Sharon Penman (best ebook reader android TXT) 📗

587dead, I'll take what is rightfully mine I'll take Gwynedd and I'll take// niv vengeance *Llewelyn had gone very white "Do you think I'd let that happe^,?, Gruffydd forced a laugh "How can you stop me' You'll be sajpej gone to God, remember7"A muscle had begun to jerk in Llewelyn's cheek "Courage sucH a yours is not always a blessing, Gruffydd Sometimes it can be a curs^ " He no longer sounded angry, sounded oddly dispassionate and distant and then, as Gruffydd puzzled over the cryptic meaning of his words' he raised his hand, said, "Seize him "Llewelyn's household guards looked utterly appalled, but they did not hesitate, at once surrounded Gruffydd, drawing their swords Gruffydd's reaction was as instinctive and as explosive as his white stallion's had been, he made a dive for the window seat, for his sword But although the sharpening stone still lay untouched, the sword was gone, for Ednyved did not believe in taking undue risks and had quietly appropriated the weapon Trapped in the window seat, Gruffydd drew his dagger, turned to face his pursuers They advanced wanly, nervously aware that Llewelyn's command had been to seize him, not to slay him, and they made no attempt to stop Senena when she darted between them"Gruffydd, you cannot fight them' Beloved, save yourself, I beg you1"Gruffydd had friends in the hall, had men sworn to him With a bitter sense of betrayal, he saw now that none of them was going to come to his aid, that they'd not go against Llewelyn He knew Senena was right, but he knew, too, that he could not yield "Senena, I cannot " he said huskily, and then, "Christ, no1 Owam, get back1"His son had entered the hall unnoticed, had stood transfixed until the scene erupted in violence The boy did not understand what was happening, saw only that his father was in danger, and he sprinted forward, crying, "Papa'"Sobbing, he began to flail out at the men encirc'ing Gruffydd, until Llewelyn grasped him by the arms pulled him away Even then, he continued to struggleThere was no sound in the "all but that of his sobs No one moved And thenGruffydd's shoulders Dumped, he dropped the knife into the rushes"You win, Papa What now7 Are you going to do Davydd's killing °r nim7" That was sheer bravado, though, for Gruffydd felt certain ewelyrt would never put him to death "I can only tell you what I told JOH that I'll not beg "Llewelyn released his grandson, watched as Owam ran to his far Alun," he said, still sounding like a stranger to Gruffydd, one

588remote and unrelenting and beyond reach, "you are to escort rrtv DeganwyCastle. He is to be confined there until I personally gjn to orders to the contrary. He is to be well treated at all times, and hi ^°U and children may join him there. But he cannot be trusted, and i closely watched. If you fail me, you'll long regret it. You underst H"Indeed, my lord." Alun gestured, and Gruffydd found his being forced behind his back. He no longer resisted, for he had$ much pride to let himself be dragged, bound and helpless, from the h But at the door he halted, his voice rising in a defiant shout. "You've' bought Davydd some time, no more than that! You'll have to kill me u man, and I doubt that you can do it, that you" His guards shoved'h forward; the rest of his words were cut off by the closing door.Senena had stood very still. Now she turned, crossed to Llewelyn and dropped to her knees before him, a supplicant's posture belied bv the blazing grey eyes. "Gruffydd will not beg, my lord, but I will. You must not do this.Confinement will kill Gruffydd, you know it will. He's your son, your firstborn son. Let him go. We'll leave Wales, I swear it, will never return.Just let him go.""I cannot do that. He would never accept exile, and you know it, Senena."Senena rose to her feet. "It would have been a greater mercy if you'd killed him, then." Reaching for her son, she said, "Dry your tears, Owain. We go toDeganwy Castle to be with your lord father."A path cleared at once; no one seemed to want to touch her, even to meet her eyes. Head high, she started toward the door, leading her son by the hand. But she stopped as she reached Joanna, and then whirled, spun around to faceLlewelyn."Do you want to know whose fine hand brought about my husband's downfall? She did it, your so innocent and right loving wife! She sought Gruffydd out in the window seat, deliberately goaded him to violence, to his ruin. None of this need have happened if not for her.AFTER seeking Llewelyn in their private chamber and the chapel Joa" was at a loss as to where to look next. But as she approached the stat> a young groom came hurrying out at sight of her. ., "Madame, how thankful I am to see you! My lord Prince f{K°dg me to saddle his chestnut palfrey, then ordered me to go, saying e it himself. And when I tried to tell him that I was right glad to serve ^ he lashed out in a fury, told me to get out, to ..." The groom trai e ^ in despair. "My lady, I did not mean to displease him, do not even what I did. And now he's so wroth with me .. ."

589"No he is not. You need not fret; you've done nothing wrong. Just h ut your other duties. All will be well, I promise you."%°a t.s she entered the stable, Joanna could feel inquisitive equine eyes her Horses were poking their heads over their stall doors, and herUP .j£ roan mare gave a welcoming nicker. But Llewelyn was nowhere taV seen. She