16: Prophet's Block

Chapter 16 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 and Llyr revealed their Chosen marks to all the dreigiau môr. Llyr revealed the Greal isn’t lost. Emrys the Esteemed was supportive. His sister, Lady Angharad, was not. Eidothea moved into the palace. Llyr refused to move and is not happy about it.

This week we have the addition of another primary source!

I decreased my speed and waited for Cychwr to catch up and come alongside.

:What’s troubling you?: he asked. He knew the cues in my cycle of flight and confiding.

:I put a magical block between me and Eidothea. Because she—: I broke off. :Let’s just say experiencing all her emotions has been too much. The thing is, if I hadn’t done that, I would have known she was plotting something with the Esteemed and—:

:— Wouldn’t have felt so left out?: Cychwr rolled onto his side, his dark draig môr eyes observing my reaction.

I winced. :The thing is, I haven’t been unable to lift the spell. It’s like it’s stuck.: I stopped, hovering in the current. :Is it because deep down I don’t want to know what’s in her heart?:

Cychwr gave me a sympathetic look, one I knew well. :Why don’t we seek out Maeve and ask for her help? She taught you the spell and we are halfway there already.:

I agreed. We began our slow descent to the Deeps, to the cave where Maeve dwelled. We reached the bubble that shielded her abode. The lights within seemed not as bright as before.

I went to pass through the membrane but bounced back. :What the—:

Cychwr tapped on the film and it jiggled. :Maeve should be near enough to hear us.:

:Maeve! Maeve!: I called. I tapped on the shield, seeing it ripple in all directions.

:Llyr, hwyres,: her voice rasped. :You are nearby.:

:Yes, I need your advice. Why can’t we enter?:

:Because I do not wish to be disturbed. I’m working on a magic that will enable me to travel to the caer.:

I hovered before her bubble, considering her words. I wanted to respect her desire to fulfil Eidothea’s request to join her in Caer Morgana but— :I have a pressing question for you. Somehow I’ve made the shielding spell permanent.:

Maeve clicked her disappointment. :You need to undo that, mi hwyres.:

:I know,: I ground out, more than a little frustrated. :I can’t.:

:It will be difficult,: Maeve said. :I’ve shielded myself just as you have and … never wished to undo it. Perhaps you will find a way.:

:But—:

:Be patient. If you haven’t untangled the knot by the time I reach to Caer Morgana, we’ll work on it together. Now, leave me in peace else I’ll never be able to make the journey upward.:

I heard the finality in her tone. :At least she will help you eventually,: Cychwr offered.

I grunted in response.

It was the most inauspicious of beginnings. It’s not usual for a bard to tell their own story, but there is really no other I would trust.

My gut clenched as I entered the grand hallway, deep within the palace. Here, I had met Gorawyn, either outside her chambers, or in a salon nearby. Back then, I had not been permitted into the private chambers she shared with the Esteemed.

Now, I’d be living across the hall from him.

I gritted my teeth. I should ask Elin Grealseeker to find another tutor for Eidothea. How could I live so near to where Gorawyn had slept, so close to the man who likely had a hand in her death? I turned away. I would refuse this—

The Esteemed entered the hallway. His long black hair swung in a wave behind him, touching the backs of his knees. His eyes snapped in recognition. :You’re here. Good.:

:Is it?: I folded my arms. :What exactly are you planning to do with Eidothea?:

:Teach her. I have no other—:

:I’m meant to believe that?: I didn’t care if he was the Esteemed. I didn’t want to work here anyway. :After what you did to Gorawyn?:

The Esteemed’s grey eyes turned to steel. :And what did I do to her?: he purred.

His anger made me pause. I remembered him grieving at her funeral, so unassailable. His acting nearly had me convinced, but I knew enough from Gorawyn that it was not all true.

:You know very well.: If we had been in our dreigiau môr forms, I would have attacked him.

His dark eyebrow lifted, a delicate wing. Someone like him had no right to be that beautiful. :Is that so?:

My hands clenched into fists. He walked toward me, meeting my gaze with those icy grey eyes. My fingernails bit into my palms. I should defend myself. I raised my hands, unclenching them into claws.

His gaze flicked to them and he turned, sailing into his quarters.

I staggered and sank against the wall. No wonder Gorawyn ended up fearing him.

Other than singing her stories, Rhiannon kept to herself, her green eyes watchful and wary.

:Did I do wrong in asking you to join me here?: I asked soon after we moved in. It was a rare moment to ourselves between meetings and tests. We sat in our antechamber.

Rhiannon shook her head. :I see memories of her everywhere. Gorawyn. I don’t know how the Esteemed handles it.:

Emrys struck me as a practical man. :He may not have at first, and he may not still. Did you not say he has not handfasted with anyone since?: I decided against mentioning Emrys’ aborted proposal attempt.

:Or even flirted with,: Rhiannon agreed, seeming satisfied by this. :The Esteemed rulers do not handfast, Eidothea. They live by a different set of rules.:

:Why?: I sighed inwardly, chastising myself for sparking another lesson. Had this been two months ago, Above Sea, I might have been more interested to know.

Rhiannon paused to make sure she had my attention. :Because a monarch brings stability and needs to display that in their life. They handfast for life, not a year and a day.:

:Like marriage?:

:Something like human marriage with one key difference. The monarch can handfast as often as they like, although not even the most voracious of the caretaker kings have had more than three consorts. Most are happy with one. One should be bound because of love but sometimes politics does come into it. The monarch must choose carefully, for they must be equally devoted to each consort.:

I frowned. :How does this apply to me as the Chosen Court monarch?:

Rhiannon arched an eyebrow. :Where do you think the tradition descended from?: Rhiannon plucked at the strings of her small harp. :But I don’t think you’re ready to hear about that yet. There are other considerations.:

I huffed a sigh. :Most marry one, as you said. That is enough for me.:

One week passed, then another. From waking to sleeping, I stood at the Esteemed’s side, listening and later asking questions, being quizzed on identities and policies. Rhiannon shared her stories at meal times, if Emrys wasn’t listening to reports, which he would then expect me to digest and summarise.

At the end of the two weeks, Emrys convened a meeting about the upcoming summer solstice celebrations. We gathered in a large room of the Great Hall. Rhiannon and I arrived with Emrys. Ceridwy and Llyr entered. We sat around, waiting.

:Thank you for joining me in this discussion,: Emrys nodded to Llyr and Ceridwy.

:Of course,: Ceridwy replied, taking a seat in the circle of chairs.

Llyr sat beside her. A polite expression rendered his face expressionless, and because he still blocked our connection, I had no sense of his feelings. He refused to meet my gaze, taking in the elegant but sparsely appointed room.

Lady Angharad drifted in. Her gaze swept over us and she took her seat next to Emrys, twitching the skirts of her robe into place. :Is this necessary?:

:Sister.: Emrys gave her a sidelong glance. :We discussed this.:

:This is an important festival for our people,: Ceridwy said, eyeing Lady Angharad as one might a spider, or a snake. :One for them to see their Queen and Prophet in their new roles.:

Lady Angharad snorted. :We should continue as tradition states, with the royal family performing the rites. They’re not ruling yet.:

Emrys sighed. :It is no longer our time, sister. We should show our support. While neither the Great Examination nor the Coronation has yet occurred, a symbolic handing over of our roles is important.:

:Forgive me,: Llyr murmured, :but do you truly intend to allow Eidothea to assume the throne?:

I studied his face. A slight frown marked his forehead.

:Over my dead body,: Lady Angharad grumbled.

:Of course.: A twitch in his cheek belied Emrys’ calm demeanour. :Llyr, rhe trial was for your benefit, to bring you out into the open. When Eidothea is ready—:

:Ahh!: Llyr leaned back in his chair, almost as insolent as Lady Angharad. :Will that day come?:

Emrys darted a glance toward me. I had asked him the same question. :Of course it will. Now please, let us discuss the solstice…:

In the end, we determined the order of the procession. The people would assemble first in the ancient stone circle. The Council and their families would lead the parade into the circle, followed by the royal family, Lady Angharad and Emrys, with Llyr and I the last to enter.

Lady Angharad glowered and pouted but she had no ally. She insisted on beginning the rite. :And if I begin it, I must finish it.:

:There is a moment where you can hand over—: Emrys started, mimicking the movement she would do.

:No.:

I looked at the siblings. Both bristled. Emrys’ quiet anger frightened me more than Lady Angharad’s elegant and grandiose fury. :Allow me to assist you,: I offered before someone’s head got bitten off.

:You cannot be in a subservient role!: Ceridwy burst out. :You are the monarch!:

:I am here to serve and save my people,: I retorted. :I will assist in the offering.:

Lady Angharad huffed, twisting away in her chair, waving me off. :Nonsense.:

:Then you and I must begin the first dance,: Emrys decided. Lady Angharad ignored his warning look.

I swallowed. These dances preceded the mating dances that took place later in the evening, the infamous dragon dances. I hesitated. I did not care to receive another proposal.

:She will dance with me,: Llyr insisted. :No other.:

I glanced askance at Llyr. I did not need a bond to see he suffered jealousy. It seemed he had at least stopped despising me.

:She is the queen of the people. She should dance with everybody,: Lady Angharad jeered, insinuating those would all be the dragon dances.

I raised my hand for attention. :She is still in the room. I will decide with whom I dance.: I met Emrys’ wary gaze. :The Esteemed has a point. To dance with him shows old and new coming together.:

Llyr’s expression darkened, his lips pressed tightly together.

:However, do we not all end up dancing? I propose we add Llyr and Angharad and make it a four. We include the council and draw everyone in together. After that, the dances will go on. I intend on sitting them out.:

Llyr’s lips twitched in a small smile, swiftly concealed.

:That is not at all in the spirit of the evening.: Ceridwy shook her head. :You’re supposed to enjoy yourself—and you cannot hide from your people.:

Her accusation hit a nerve. :I will not hide.: I did not intend to give an explanation.

:You need not leave the stone circle,: Emrys said gently. :You are not required to choose or be chosen.:

Lady Angharad burst out laughing. :Your Above Sea moralising has no traction here! The people want a passionate Queen, not a frightened minnow. Are you sure you want this?:

:I have never wanted it,: I said flatly. :That is the difference between you and I.:

Lady Angharad’s lip curled. :Milquetoast.:

I bit the inside of my lip. :It is my decision to make. I’ll dance with Emrys, then Ll,yr. No other.:

Ceridwy patted my hand. :You might feel differently on the night. You have a hard road ahead of you. Enjoy yourself while you can.:

Unbidden, my gaze met Llyr’s. I remembered the last time I enjoyed myself: kissing Jasper while underground.

Llyr looked away first. I had to admit the truth of Ceridwy’s words. :That may be so. I shall have to practice between now and then, so I do not shame the Chosen Court.:

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