10: End It On This

Chapter 10 of "A River Trembles", Book Two of The Môrdreigiau Chronicles

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The story began in A Grail for Eidothea. You really need to catch up to make sense of A River Trembles. Go on, save this post and go have a binge read. You deserve it.

Eidothea promenaded with the Esteemed around the Royal Hall. She found out that Jasper is very probably dead. She and the Esteemed have a heart-to-heart about running away from duty and responsibility.

:What was that with the Tregallas clutch?: Grandmother asked me, low-voiced on my return.

:Nothing,: I waved her off. :Or at least, I will tell you later. Not here.: I could keep our thought conversation private but everyone would know I spoke about my encounter with that family, and watch for our next move.

:The Esteemed seems to like you,: my grandmother next offered. Rhiannon bristled in her silence behind Elin. :It won’t last, of course.:

Once he knew I was here to supplant him. :Mayhap it will soften the blow.: I watched the Esteemed mingle with his subjects. Lady Angharad moved in similar circles and seemed to be working her way back to us.

Ceridwy and Llyr rejoined us first.

:The Esteemed shows you favour,: Ceridwy observed, :but of course he cannot be refused.:

:At all?: I blinked in surprise because I had refused him, twice.

Ceridwy and my grandmother looked at each other in consternation.

:What happened?: Llyr growled the thought.

:Nothing happened. He let me recover from the Tregallas cruelty. We talked and—: I frowned. :Why am I explaining myself to you? It should be clear that nothing inappropriate occurred.:

:Should it?: Llyr jabbed back.

:You should feel it is true. Or can you not sense my emotions either?:

Llyr’s lips thinned and he looked away. I frowned at him, wondering at his response. Had he somehow severed our bond? But no, I felt his presence in my heart, even if he’d denied me the flood of his emotions.

Ceridwy sighed. :Children, this will not do.: She turned her attention to Elin. :We will visit you tomorrow.. There is much we need to discuss.:

:Not tomorrow,: I interrupted. :Perhaps in a day or two?:

Llyr’s mother considered me. :To let tempers cool?:

I nodded but in truth, I needed time to discuss matters with my grandmother first.

:I need to start sharing with you what Maeve has taught me.: Llyr’s thought ground out as if he spoke with the greatest reluctance. :We should start then.:

I nodded, allowing my worried gaze to read the signs of distaste in his body: the stiffened shoulders, the thinned lips, the sorrowful golden eyes.

After the party, Rhiannon, Grandmother and I sat in the family’s meeting room. I had not been in the room since that first time I met my grandmother. I briefed her on what happened with the Tregallases and the Esteemed. I choked up recounting Ladon’s hint that Jasper was likely dead. I squeezed my eyes shut and focused on burying that hurt.

When I reopened my eyes, Grandmother watched me with some sympathy. :Is this why you delayed meeting with Ceridwy and her son?:

:Not exactly.: I explained the awkwardness of refusing an excursion with the Esteemed. :It was a lost opportunity to ease our way in. These bandages are reaching the end of their usefulness. The jewellery designs that the Tregallases wore tonight. Is it a local artisan? Someone in their circle? I am thinking that some similar design might work to cover my Chosen mark until we reveal the truth.:

Grandmother frowned. :It is a new fashion. I am not sure it met with approval as it was so overboard and ostentatious but to take that idea, and make a small piece?:

:There is another reason. I want to meet with Cornelian and Ladon to find out how much they know. Jasper knew I was the new Prophet. Did he betray my confidence as well?:

:And we can formally end your engagement to the boy, dead or not,: Grandmother stated firmly. :We will go on the morrow and see what we can pry out of them without revealing ourselves.:

The following day, Rhiannon and I resumed our studies. The afternoon would take us to the Tregallas family. My conversation with the Esteemed had set my thoughts on a particular path. Maybe there was still a way out for me. :Rhiannon… Has there ever been a monarch who abandoned their post? Ran away? Abdicated?:

:Abdicated?: She frowned, puzzled. :What does that mean?:

I explained, knowing she had already answered part of my question.

:The monarch of the Chosen Court serves until a new Chosen Court is formed. Their lives are spent in service to their calling.:

Typical of royalty then. Madness might be the only way out, as it had been for poor King George III. :There was not a one? They all stayed in Caer Morgana?:

:At first, there was no Caer Morgana. Once it was built and settled, then yes, the court stayed here. I can only think of two instances where the prophet’s visions required them to leave the city. The most recent being to hear Arthur Pendragon’s case.:

:And the other?:

:Queen Myfanwy’s prophet had a vision of forming a new city, for the streets teemed in Caer Morgana at that time. She left, with most of her Chosen Court, and never returned. She never sent for more dreigiau môr to follow them. In time a new monarch and prophet appeared. We knew Queen Myfanwy and her court were all dead—and that they had not lived long lives. Some calamity had befallen them.:

I swallowed rising bile. :They…they failed at their quest?:

Rhiannon shrugged. :We do not know. No bard or draig môr ever returned to tell their story.:

Stung, I lapsed into silence. How would staying at Caer Morgana resolve Llyr’s vision? Was it something the dreigiau môr did, or will do, that will spark that inferno?

Smoke stacks had already started popping up across Britain. Surely these polluting technologies were at the root of Llyr’s disastrous vision. But what could a dreigiau môr queen do about it?

Perhaps I thought too far ahead. The answers, or clues, might appear once the court gathered. Hopefully, I would not be stuck in this uncertain fog forever.

:Rhiannon, would you tell me some love stories? Are all handfastings for love? And if they only last a year, what happens after? What happens if the promise is broken during that year?: I hesitated. :And what is permissible between a couple outside of hand fasting?

:A couple may do anything except participate in the dragon dance. That’s reserved for those who are handfasted.: Rhiannon plucked a few strings, creating a curious frisson of vibration in the water.

:Anything?: I remembered Ondine talking about the mating dances of the dreigiau môr.

:Anything. There is gossip initially, because we love a new romance. You and Llyr were not yet handfasted. You shouldn’t feel bad that you fell in love with another after you last saw Llyr. It’s best not to keep relationships a secret no matter how innocuous they might be. One never knows what might develop.:

I nodded. :If I had been honest, if I had told him about that second engagement then … I think I feared he would talk me out of employing Jasper’s knowledge. He would have been right too.: I stifled a sob. :That is why Llyr is upset. I did not trust him enough.:

:Eidothea, you were grieving and reeling from being so brutally betrayed by one you loved. The timing was unfortunate, and now it is a lesson learned.:

I stared sightlessly at the table top. :At the expense of losing a friend.:

:He must have loved you a little too. Don’t worry, he’s your Prophet. He’ll come around once his bruised heart heals. Your promise to Jasper Tregallas will be broken today. That will help.: Rhiannon plucked at the strings again. :Let me sing you a story of a king’s daughter. Her love ran deep and true, and she loved more than a few…:

Is it true that you stopped speaking to Eidothea for months?

It’s not true. For example, after our first trial, the Esteemed hosted a party. We spoke the next day.

I don’t know what annoyed me more, that the Tregallas family still had some hold on her or that the Esteemed might have suggested something a little country miss from Above Sea had had to refuse. Jealousy sparked and I damped it down. Her heart might not be mine, but I needed to know about her well-being.

:Eidothea?: I sat on a nearby couch, aware that I might be interrupted by Mother or Ondine.

:Llyr?: she responded, sounding surprised.

:I noticed some cruelty directed at you last night. I’m—I’m sorry for any part I played in that. Are you all right?:

:I…: She paused. Should I crack the barrier and feel for her true state of mind? :I need to tell you something.:

:I’m listening.:

:I wanted to let you know, so that you heard it from me first.:

My blood chilled. I didn’t want to hear this but I had offered a friendly ear. I steeled myself. :Go on.:

:Today, Grandmother and I are going to formally break off the engagement with Jasper. We don’t know if he is alive or dead, but this is one thing I am certain we need to do.:

I ignored the wash of relief. Perhaps what I had felt from her was love betrayed. She wasn’t still in love with him, couldn’t be. Given time … given time, she might open up her heart again. :Eidothea, I’m glad to hear this. This is why you delayed our meeting?:

:Yes. It is time to set that behind us—behind me,: she quickly amended. :It hurts still, but this feels like the right step.:

I didn’t dare speak, didn’t dare to betray my emotions further.

:How are you?: she asked. :Lady Angharad was horrible last night. It was like she knew—:

Eidothea didn’t need to finish. :Lady Angharad is an astute observer. Neither one of us has been good about hiding our discomfort with each other.: My gills flared as I breathed in deep. :I will do better about that.:

:I am sorry I hurt you.: Her thought sounded small and shrinking. :How long will you keep me out?:

She meant our bond and the barrier I had set between us. :I want us both to heal like normal people and that’s not possible when we experience each other's every emotion constantly. I can still feel your presence nestled against my heart. I would know at once if you are in any trouble.:

:I do not plan to be in any more trouble,: she replied dryly.

:We’re the Chosen Court. Of course there will be trouble.:

That got a laugh from her. My insides warmed with the pleasure of it. :Llyr, I have to go, it’s time for me to leave.:

:See you in a few days. Be well.: I ended the communication and leaned back against the couch, sighing. That hadn’t been too bad.

The Tregallas family made us wait at their front door before anyone deigned to admit us. My grandmother kept perfectly still and I mimicked her, refusing to look around. I felt the slight murmur of gossip being traded back and forth in the street behind us.

When the door at last opened, an unfamiliar draig môr showed us in. I gathered from Grandmother’s mutterings that Lady Tregallas should have answered the door herself. It seemed the Tregallas family planned to live here just as they did Above Sea, complete with servants.

The draig môr led us into the central atrium, where Cornelian ap Tregallas, Lady Tregallas and Ladon Tregallas waited. The latter leaned against the wall in studied nonchalance, while his parents occupied a stone couch. Again, each of them were bejewelled, but not to the extent of last night’s reception.

Cornelian ap Tregallas gestured to another stone couch that lay adjacent to theirs. :Please, sit. This is an unexpected pleasure.:

:Pleasure?: My grandmother’s lips thinned. :I will be straight to the point. We’ve come to break off the engagement.:

:Done.: Lady Tregallas airily waved. :That boy is no son of ours.:

:Is he—:

:Do not ask,: Grandmother cut across my thought.

I ignored her demand for silence. :Is he still alive?:

Lord Tregallas shrugged. :I left him for dead and do not care to make an assumption either way. Why do you care?:

I attempted a casual tone. :He betrayed me too. I suppose I have to be satisfied with formally cutting ties.:

:Pity.: Lord Tregallas pursed his lips. :I do have another son.:

My gaze shot to Ladon, my skin crawling. He smirked at me, wriggling his eyebrows suggestively. :I—I do not think that will be necessary.:

:Do not be so hasty,: Lady Tregallas cooed. :Go speak with the lad. The Esteemed would be pleased if we ended our enmity with a union between our two families.:

:Grandmother, no!: I begged her in private communication.

:Go on, Eidothea.: To me, she added, :Be the distraction.:

With reluctance, I rose and crossed to the far wall, where Ladon Tregallas waited. He remained still, watchful.

:Nice epaulettes,: I managed. His shoulders sparkled with tiny gems. :I have never seen anything like them.:

Ladon shrugged one shoulder, still leaning against the wall. :You have the draig môr avarice, that is certain.:

I folded my arms, realising too late my mistake when his gaze dropped to my bosom. I relaxed my arms to their sides. :Merely an observation. Nobody last night, not even the royal family, wore such jewels.: I scrunched my nose, tilting my head and studying the jewellery he wore. :It is the entire piece that is fascinating. It hangs across your shoulder like armour. It’s ingenious.:

:It is armour.: At my wide-eyed expression, Ladon explained. :It’s like chain mail. It’s hours of work.:

:You made them?:I could not contain my surprise.

Ladon barked a laugh. :Lord, no. We commissioned them. There’s an armourer in the caer. He seemed to enjoy the change of pace.:

:Do you … do you think he would make a piece for me? They are so pretty.: I tried for shallow and vapid, widening my eyes and blinking at him. He shouldn’t see me as a threat any more as I no longer possessed either Greal or Grealseeker ring. At least, so far as he knew.

:You don’t find them too ostentatious?: Ladon frowned at me.

:I have no desire to wear a full body of armour, but a strategic piece .. Or two?:

:That’s what I told them, but they insisted on wearing every piece.: He glared at his parents, who were deep in conversation with Elin.

It gave me a chance to squelch the sudden burst of sympathy for him. :Even one piece might have been too much. Grandmother told me nobody has worn anything like it. Your family certainly made a statement.:

:What will you make with yours? That button of Jasper’s?: Ladon sneered.

I sighed. :And we were so close to having a civilised conversation.: I wanted to retreat, but instead I stepped closer. :Did Jasper keep secrets from you too?:

Ladon regarded me, not immediately answering. :It seems so. We guessed you were looking for the Greal, and that was confirmed soon after you found it. He kept your identity a secret.:

:My identity?: I stared up at him. Had Jasper told him I was of the Chosen Court?

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