Malice

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

CYWEN

Cywen didn’t like the stables at Uthandun: they felt too new. She was riding out today with Princess Edana and her parents. Most of their horses were stabled in meadows outside the fortress, but the royal mounts were kept within Uthandun’s walls. She frowned to herself and shivered unaccountably. Something here didn’t feel right. She wanted to go home.

Don’t be such a bairn. She led her saddled horse out into the yard where Edana were already mounted.

And anyway, she had no reason to feel this way. Quite the opposite. Ronan had asked her to walk with him last night. He made her laugh and blush in equal measure. He had spoken of them as a couple, of asking her da for permission to court her. She felt a fluttering in her stomach, just at the thought of it, could still taste his lips. She shook her head and looked around shyly, as if people could guess her thoughts, just by looking at her. But no one was paying her any attention. Except Ronan, of course. They shared a smile.

They were going for a ride in the Darkwood today, King Brenin having said to King Owain that he would like to see something of the forest. Owain had immediately put a guide at their disposal.

Queen Alona was also coming with her husband, which meant Tull and a score more stern-faced warriors. She mounted quietly.

There was a clatter of hooves and Vonn rode into the yard. He dipped his head to Alona.

‘King Brenin sends his apologies,’ he said stiffly, ‘but he and my father are unable to ride out today. They have been unavoidably detained.’

‘Oh,’ said Alona, then frowned. ‘This place is so dull,’ she said with a sigh. ‘Well, as we are all here ready, we might as well go without them — wouldn’t you say, Tull?’

‘Whatever you wish, my lady.’

‘Will you join us, Vonn?’ she asked.

‘I am afraid not,’ the young man said. ‘My father bid me return to him as soon as I have passed on this message.’

‘Then I’d best not keep you,’ Alona said.

‘My lady.’ He dipped his head and turned his horse.

‘Why the long face, Vonn?’ Edana asked as he passed them.

‘Huh? Nothing.’ He shrugged. ‘Father. .’ he muttered, then shook his head. ‘Nothing. Or nothing you would understand, anyway.’

Edana frowned.

Cywen scowled at Vonn, suddenly remembering that day in the paddock, when he had confronted Ban, when Shield had killed the hound. ‘Perhaps you have broken his heart, Edana,’ she said, ‘now that he knows the two of you will never be handbound.’ It was common knowledge that Evnis had been manoeuvring Vonn as a potential husband for Princess Edana. According to Edana, last night her father had made it clear to Evnis that this would never happen.

Vonn smiled humourlessly at her and leaned over in his saddle. ‘Would you hear a secret?’ he said quietly, not waiting for a reply. ‘I am glad that we will not be bound. Glad. I love another.’

‘Who?’ the two girls said together.

Vonn grinned, suddenly looking handsome, and touched a finger to his nose. He kicked his horse on and left the yard.

Soon all were gathered for the ride, a score of grey-cloaked warriors about them. Tull headed the column, towering over Alona and the red-cloaked guide, a huntsman of Uthandun. Then they were on their way, through the hard-packed streets of Uthandun, out onto the green hill, and suddenly Cywen felt her spirits lift. She saw Corban standing by the bridge that spanned the river. There was only time to smile at him, then they had passed him by, cantering over the bridge and turning west along the river’s bank before their guide veered under the trees of the Darkwood.

‘Who do you think it is?’ Edana said to Cywen as they trotted down a dappled path, the sun making shifting patterns on the ground as branches above swayed in the breeze.

‘Who what is?’ said Cywen.

‘Vonn’s mystery girl.’

‘I did not think him the type to fall in love. He always seemed too arrogant.’

‘There are always females hovering around him, though,’ Edana said.

‘Like flies,’ muttered Cywen.

‘Maybe he smells bad,’ Edana said.

Cywen laughed.

‘But I’ve never seen him look interested in any other women,’ Edana continued.

‘Thought he only had eyes for you?’ Cywen said. ‘Are you hurt?’

‘Don’t be stupid,’ Edana said sharply. ‘I just hate not knowing. We shall have to watch him a little closer, when we go home.’

‘Watch who?’ Ronan said as he cantered closer.

‘Vonn.’

‘Vonn. What for?’

‘Because he has a secret,’ Edana said mysteriously.

‘Cywen,’ Queen Alona called from the head of the column. ‘Come. Ride with me.’

Cywen kicked her horse forward, Edana raising her eyebrows.

‘I saw your brother, at the bridge,’ Alona said.

‘I did too.’

‘How. . how is he? Since that business with his wolven?’

‘Well, sad, of course,’ she said, not knowing how honest she should be. ‘I hear him crying at night, in his chamber.’ She shrugged. ‘They had a bond.’

‘It was a shame,’ Alona said. ‘But there was no other choice. After what that wolven did.’

‘They deserved it,’ Cywen snapped. ‘Rafe drew his sword. I think they would have murdered Corban and Farrell, even Bethan — Storm saved them, did no different to what my da’s hound would have done, yet she’s punished, not Rafe or Crain. Ban went to help someone, and then he’s punished. It’s not fair,’ she said, then blushed and closed her mouth. They were all thoughts she’d had countless times, but she had never intended to voice them to the Queen of Ardan.

Tull grunted beside them, something like approval in his eyes. Queen Alona frowned at him.

‘And if it had been Corban that had had his arm mauled, or Farrell?’ she said. ‘Your judgement is subjective, Cywen. No, it was the only option. The wolven should have been destroyed.’ Alona shrugged. ‘Other than that, has Corban been different, in any other way?’

‘No. .’ said Cywen. In truth Corban was changing in all kinds of ways. Ever since that man had left — Meical — he had seemed quieter, withdrawn. She had wanted to talk to him about that and tell him what she had overheard, but every time she tried, something stopped her, whether it be circumstance or just a feeling. And at other times he seemed like the old Ban, only more confident, more sure of himself — at least when he was teaching her and Dath their weapons. Without even realizing it, Corban had become their leader, the glue that held them all together.

‘Not really,’ she amended. ‘He misses Storm.’ She shrugged. ‘And he sits his Long Night soon, takes his warrior trial. He is just growing, I suppose.’

Alona nodded slowly, thoughtfully. ‘Tull, how does Corban fare in the Rowan Field?’

‘Corban? He has done well, my lady. Very well. He could be a master with a blade, though. .’ he frowned, said no more.

‘Though what?’ Alona prompted.

‘Nothing, really,’ the warrior said. ‘His style, that is all. It is different. Maybe because Halion is his master.’ The big man shrugged. ‘With a spear he is adequate: not the best, but not the worst. With a bow, well, let’s just say that is not for him.’

‘Thank you,’ Alona said.

Tull was silent a moment, then spoke again. ‘He has grit. . courage. The deep kind. I’ve not seen it so clear in one so young before.’ He nodded to himself and said no more.

They rode in silence a while, the thud of hooves, the creak and jingle of harness filling the forest.

‘There is a glade ahead, my lady,’ their guide said. ‘A good place to rest the horses and stop for a drink.’

They spilt into the glade, the sunlight suddenly dazzling. Cywen was still at the head of their column, with Alona, Tull and their guide trotting into the centre of the clearing. The rest of them, Edana, Ronan, the other warriors, spread to either side of the Queen, some dismounting.

Cywen looked up, blinking, and shielded her eyes from the sun’s glare. Birdsong filled the glade, bees buzzing lazily around clumps of snowdrop and red campion.

Then the first arrow struck.