Read Online Falls the Shadow by Sharon Kay Penman - Free Book Online Page B

to come to terms with it. What he does not need is another confrontation. My lord Davydd, I must speak bluntly. Your father was lucky—this time. But there is always the risk of a second seizure, and that one might well be fatal.”
    Elen paled. “What you are saying, then, is that Senena could have caused my father to have another seizure!”
    “I did nothing wrong,” Senena said heatedly. “I did but express fears for my husband’s safety, well-founded fears! Do you think I can ever forget those years at Deganwy Castle?”
    “Gruffydd forced my father to do that. Again and again he’d forgiven Gruffydd, even when Gruffydd took up arms against him.” When Gruffydd would have interrupted, Elen turned to face him. “You know I speak the truth, Gruffydd. Papa loves you—even now—but you’ve given him naught but grief, you’ve—”
    “He loves me?” Gruffydd echoed, incredulous. “Lest you forget, I spent six years in Deganwy’s great keep at his command, my loving father, who would deprive me of my rightful inheritance, bestow it upon Davydd, the son of his Norman-French har—”
    “Do not say it.” Davydd’s voice was even, dispassionate, a calm belied by the glittering hazel eyes. “My mother had nothing to do with your downfall. You brought it upon yourself. Papa found you unfit to rule, and because he was not willing to sacrifice Gwynedd to spare your pride, you’ve done all you could to punish him, to make him suffer for your sins. But no more—not when it’s now a matter of Papa’s very life. I’ll not let you put his recovery at risk.” He paused. “Until he regains his strength, you are not to see him.”
    “You dare to tell me I cannot see my own father?” Gruffydd felt first shock, and then, murderous rage.
    Davydd saw it, but had only a split-second in which to react. His first instinct was to order Gruffydd subdued. But the command died on his lips. The bailey was packed with people, exacting eyewitnesses who’d judge common sense as cowardice. He measured his brother with coldly appraising eyes; Gruffydd had the height and the reach, but he was quicker, younger, and as Gruffydd’s hand dropped to his sword hilt, he, too, reached for his sword.
    A woman screamed; people cried out, surged forward. But before Gruffydd’s sword could clear its scabbard, a hand clamped down upon his wrist. Ednyved’s voice was pitched low, but throbbed with fury no less intense than Gruffydd’s.
    “Enough,” he snarled. “Davydd may not arrest you, but by Christ, I will! Do you think I’d let you do this to Llewelyn?”
    Gruffydd jerked free. Ednyved raised his hand, and his household guards moved forward, waiting for orders. Davydd’s sword was drawn, but lowered now; he, too, waited, warily. Owain was hovering a few feet away; he had his sword half-way up its scabbard, seemed at a loss as to what to do next. Gruffydd looked first at his brother, and then at his father’s Seneschal.
    Ednyved, too, was unusually tall; his eyes were on a level with Gruffydd’s own; hard, unrelenting eyes. He was, Gruffydd well knew, not a man to bluff. “For once, Gruffydd, use your head. Do you truly want to see Deganwy again?”
    “Gruffydd, he is right.” Senena was beside him now, tugging at his arm. “Beloved, Davydd is not worth it. Please…let’s go from here.”
    “Listen to her, Gruffydd,” Gwladys implored. “Papa has a hunting lodge at Trefriw, just twelve miles from here. You and Senena can stay there whilst Papa regains his strength. As for this, it will be forgotten. Nothing happened. Davydd?” She turned challengingly toward her younger brother. “You would not want to trouble Papa for naught, would you?”
    “No.” Slowly, deliberately, Davydd sheathed his sword. “I agree with Gwladys, think it best you go to Trefriw. We’ll send you word if Papa’s condition worsens.”
    “I’ll go and right gladly—but not to Trefriw. I’ll withdraw to my own lands in Powys, and I will