Read Online Children of Time (The After Cilmeri Series Book Four) by Sarah Woodbury - Free Book Online

to damp it down, my anger grew all the more intense because I didn’t have a right to it, nor was there anybody at whom I could direct it.
    Worse, Lili had spent the meal eyeing me carefully, though without admonishing me in the way I deserved. She had kept a gentle hand on my left thigh, even as I reached for the flagon to pour myself another cup of mead. Instead, it was Bevyn’s lips that thinned into a line. He was here because I’d asked him to come to England with me, as an advisor I personally trusted. He had a wife and child on Anglesey, but I was selfish enough to keep him from them for what would probably turn out to be over a month.
    “That’ll be your seventh,” he said. “How much more self-loathing are you going to inflict upon yourself?”
    I stopped in the act of pouring the mead and set down the flagon. My fingers tightened on my cup and I almost swore at him. He’d read my mind as easily as fishermen read the weather.
    “I am aware of that,” I said.
    “Are you really?” Bevyn said.
    Yes, Goddamn it! And what gives you the right to tell me what I should or shouldn’t do? I glared at Bevyn, teeth gritted, and resisted the temptation to sweep the table clear of food and drink.
    I took in a deep breath through my nose and let it out slowly.
    I knew it was my seventh cup. I’d been looking forward to drinking at least seven more, too, until I fell asleep right at the table, rather than face the future that confronted me. Did no one realize that if Dad didn’t return, I would be the King of Wales? That at twenty, I would suddenly be responsible for the welfare of an entire country, and if I followed his suggestion, threw my name into the ring as he wanted, I’d rule the people of England as well?
    Looking into Bevyn’s eyes, I warred with myself as to how to answer him, but my answer was never in doubt. His warning had created the desired effect in me. I couldn’t upbraid Bevyn any more than I could castigate my father.
    Bevyn rose to his feet. “Come with me.”
    Reluctantly, I rose to match him. Everyone was looking at me now, leading me to believe that I hadn’t been as unnoticed as I’d thought. Ever since we’d come to Wales alone and had only each other to rely on, Anna, at least, had been attuned to my emotions, whether I wanted her to be or not. Her eyes fastened on mine and I read pity there. I pressed my lips together. I didn’t want anyone’s pity, and hardly deserved it.
    With great effort, I said, “Continue the meal. Bevyn and I are going to take a little walk.” I leaned down to kiss the top of Lili’s head. “I apologize for my behavior, cariad . I’ll be back.”
    Lili slipped her hand around the back of my neck to keep my face close to hers. “I love you.”
    “I know,” I said, “though I imagine you might be reconsidering the decision to marry me about now.”
    That got me the smile I wanted and she released me. I straightened, only to find that the change in altitude had flown every cup of mead I’d consumed straight to my head. I was a big man—two inches over six feet and two hundred pounds—but the brewer at Chepstow was a master and made a potent drink.
    “I got you, boy.” Bevyn was one of the few, out of all my acquaintances, who could get away with calling me that. He knew it, of course, which was why he felt free to say it—and why he’d decided that he was the one companion best suited to recall me to my senses.
    I put an arm across Bevyn’s shoulder and left the hall with him. Upon leaving the shelter of the building, we entered the lower bailey of the castle—and walked into a rainstorm. After only two steps, my boot found a puddle. Water splashed all the way to my knee. “Where are we going?” I said.
    “Out.”
    I didn’t say really? even though that would have been a reasonable response. I never went anywhere without my teulu, but I sensed that Bevyn wasn’t feeling very reasonable right now, any more than I was. He urged me across