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grip his head even tighter. Blaise saw by the
expression in the Druid’s eyes he’d been spotted.
“My Prince, enter. Branda the Saxon has interesting views on
life. Mayhap you care to listen to her prattle...I mean her
wisdom.”
“But you said I was not to speak―”
Neilyn interrupted the Prince. “You wil guard the Princess,
wil you not? I need carry dire tidings to King Elisedd. I have not a moment to spare. Stay and keep the Princess company.”
Neilyn walked away with a speed incredibly nimble for an old
man.
Blaise stared, speechless, into Branda’s eyes. Strange, he thought, but she is doing the same. He lost al track of time until Neilyn returned with Brochfael.
“Brother, our sire cals for you. He wants you to come now.”
Brochfael grabbed him by the arm.
It must be of an urgent matter, Blaise thought. He broke his gaze with Branda and walked with his brother to the great hal,
which was empty save for the King, Brochfael and himself.
Elisedd sat in the oaken chair upon the dais, leaned his elbow
upon the armrest, and plopped his chin upon his fist. With the
other hand he gestured to Blaise to come to him.
What did he want? Blaise wondered as he stepped forward
til he stood before the King.
“My son, as ruler of Powys I do not abide Saxons.”
“Yes, father, this I know. Saxons are our enemies.”
“I wil have no aliance with them. Never. Do you
understand?” He squeezed his chin with thumb and forefinger as
he waited for Blaise to answer.
Why would he ask such? Blaise would never form an aliance
with Saxons. Was his sire going daft in old age?
The King looked to Brochfael. “What was he doing when you
found him?”
“Gazing moon-mad at the Saxon.”
“Moon-mad, at what Saxon?” he retorted in anger, and then it
hit him. Branda. The King was speaking of Branda.
Reaching out his hands, palms upward, he said, “When I look
at Branda, I don’t see a Saxon, I see a woman.”
“That is not the answer I want!” Elisedd barked.
“In truth, I know not what you want, Father.” Feeling as
rattled as a shaken beehive, he knew he couldn’t halt the buzzing
in his heart for the Princess.
Elisedd waved his hand in the air. “I need send you on an
urgent task.” He twirled and twisted the ends of his red beard.
“When did the messenger ride forth for Mercia?”
“I sent him off yesterday,” Blaise answered, unsure of where
this was headed.
“Good. If you leave now, by the time you reach Mercia the
messenger wil have delivered the missive. Meet him at the
border; there the two of you wil await Ethelbald’s reply, then
deliver the tidings to me.”
“Why are two men needed?”
“They just are. Do not question your King.” Elisedd twirled
his hand in a circle as if trying to hasten his thoughts but nothing was forthcoming. He raised his hand in a halting gesture. “Do not
get caught this time.”
Did his father think him a fool? “Your word is my command.”
Blaise turned his back, strode to the stable, saddled a rugged
Cymry pony and rode down the mountainside, headed for the
border.
Chapter Six
“Brave, be brave,” Branda said under her breath, striding past
feasters clustered in circles around short tables. Hiking her green skirt, she stepped up to the high board and eased into a roomy
chair at the Queen’s side. She peered at the empty seat between
Elisedd and Brochfael.
Leri welcomed her and Branda returned the greeting before
Leri welcomed her and Branda returned the greeting before
she nodded to the Queen.
“When is Prince Blaise expected to return?” she asked
Carthann.
Before the Queen could answer, the King said, “Blaise wil be
with us in a sennight or less.”
“Why do you ask?” Carthann’s eyes glinted of sly curiosity.
“My daffodils have wilted.” Branda brushed her fingers in the
air. Though the weather hadn’t changed, the air seemed cooler
since he left and al things duler; even the flowers he gave
expression in the Druid’s eyes he’d been spotted.
“My Prince, enter. Branda the Saxon has interesting views on
life. Mayhap you care to listen to her prattle...I mean her
wisdom.”
“But you said I was not to speak―”
Neilyn interrupted the Prince. “You wil guard the Princess,
wil you not? I need carry dire tidings to King Elisedd. I have not a moment to spare. Stay and keep the Princess company.”
Neilyn walked away with a speed incredibly nimble for an old
man.
Blaise stared, speechless, into Branda’s eyes. Strange, he thought, but she is doing the same. He lost al track of time until Neilyn returned with Brochfael.
“Brother, our sire cals for you. He wants you to come now.”
Brochfael grabbed him by the arm.
It must be of an urgent matter, Blaise thought. He broke his gaze with Branda and walked with his brother to the great hal,
which was empty save for the King, Brochfael and himself.
Elisedd sat in the oaken chair upon the dais, leaned his elbow
upon the armrest, and plopped his chin upon his fist. With the
other hand he gestured to Blaise to come to him.
What did he want? Blaise wondered as he stepped forward
til he stood before the King.
“My son, as ruler of Powys I do not abide Saxons.”
“Yes, father, this I know. Saxons are our enemies.”
“I wil have no aliance with them. Never. Do you
understand?” He squeezed his chin with thumb and forefinger as
he waited for Blaise to answer.
Why would he ask such? Blaise would never form an aliance
with Saxons. Was his sire going daft in old age?
The King looked to Brochfael. “What was he doing when you
found him?”
“Gazing moon-mad at the Saxon.”
“Moon-mad, at what Saxon?” he retorted in anger, and then it
hit him. Branda. The King was speaking of Branda.
Reaching out his hands, palms upward, he said, “When I look
at Branda, I don’t see a Saxon, I see a woman.”
“That is not the answer I want!” Elisedd barked.
“In truth, I know not what you want, Father.” Feeling as
rattled as a shaken beehive, he knew he couldn’t halt the buzzing
in his heart for the Princess.
Elisedd waved his hand in the air. “I need send you on an
urgent task.” He twirled and twisted the ends of his red beard.
“When did the messenger ride forth for Mercia?”
“I sent him off yesterday,” Blaise answered, unsure of where
this was headed.
“Good. If you leave now, by the time you reach Mercia the
messenger wil have delivered the missive. Meet him at the
border; there the two of you wil await Ethelbald’s reply, then
deliver the tidings to me.”
“Why are two men needed?”
“They just are. Do not question your King.” Elisedd twirled
his hand in a circle as if trying to hasten his thoughts but nothing was forthcoming. He raised his hand in a halting gesture. “Do not
get caught this time.”
Did his father think him a fool? “Your word is my command.”
Blaise turned his back, strode to the stable, saddled a rugged
Cymry pony and rode down the mountainside, headed for the
border.
Chapter Six
“Brave, be brave,” Branda said under her breath, striding past
feasters clustered in circles around short tables. Hiking her green skirt, she stepped up to the high board and eased into a roomy
chair at the Queen’s side. She peered at the empty seat between
Elisedd and Brochfael.
Leri welcomed her and Branda returned the greeting before
Leri welcomed her and Branda returned the greeting before
she nodded to the Queen.
“When is Prince Blaise expected to return?” she asked
Carthann.
Before the Queen could answer, the King said, “Blaise wil be
with us in a sennight or less.”
“Why do you ask?” Carthann’s eyes glinted of sly curiosity.
“My daffodils have wilted.” Branda brushed her fingers in the
air. Though the weather hadn’t changed, the air seemed cooler
since he left and al things duler; even the flowers he gave
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