31: The Great Examination

Chapter 31 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.

Llyr fainted but recovered. Lady Angharad and the false prophet were condemned to exile. The Great Examination to find more Chosen Court members began. Ladon Tregallas is up next.

Ladon smirked at me, parading his body in a way that made both Llyr and Cychwr growl with displeasure. I noticed others disapproved of his manner.

I curled my lip. I did not want to look at him. I turned my back, causing surprise amongst those assembled. :I will look if you find a mark,: I told Llyr.

I waited while Llyr examined him. :Nothing,: he reported, :but you must look also in case I missed something. We don’t need the Tregallas faction snapping at us.:

With reluctance, I turned and Ladon passed by again, moving slower, his expression subdued. His copper scales shone as if burnished. I saw no mark or blemish on them.

He snarled when we disqualified him but slunk away without further protest.

The day dragged on. The examinations were a painstaking process. We needed to look closely at each candidate, before confirming with each other and then with Maeve. Maeve’s ability to see a possible mark ruled out one draig môr after another.

:Llyr, you need to rest,: Ondine murmured. By nature of being dreigiau môr, we kept in constant movement to maintain our place and orientation on the basin floor.

:There’s only a handful left,: he protested. :I will rest when we are done. I worked hard to get here.:

:We could resume tomorrow,: I suggested, casting an eye over a draig môr of yellowish hue.

:We can’t,: Cychwr disagreed. :The shore folk have to return before their absence is noticed. They’ve taken a big risk coming this far.:

:I can manage it,: growled Llyr.

We continued. At some point, Emrys and his personal entourage slipped away. With the candidate pool becoming smaller, many other dreigiau môr did the same along with their disqualified relatives. Others stayed in the hope they would witness another find.

The day drew to an end with no further additions to the Court. Ceridwy led away most of the remaining audience with a strained smile, surrounded by well-wishers. I called down the handful of guards who remained. They arranged themselves around us: those who formed the Chosen Court, plus Cychwr.

:You can rest now,: I murmured to Llyr. :And when you are ready, you will return to the palace with me. It will be a shorter journey.:

Llyr started to protest, but Cychwr cut him off. :We will be protected. You couldn’t save yourself from a mackerel right now, let alone defend Her Majesty.:

He agreed, sinking to the basin floor.

:A disappointing turn out,: Maeve said. :What of Jasper Tregallas?:

Llyr twitched. I felt his disgust at the mention of Jasper’s name.

:Must we add him?: I glanced at Llyr. :Llyr is not yet strong enough to make the journey.:

:He needs to be properly confirmed, as we have done today,: Maeve mused. :I know you had a vision but you did not see all of it.:

:You’re not going by yourself,: muttered Llyr drowsily.

I agreed. :When you are strong enough to travel the distance, we shall go: I turned to Maeve, trying not to swish cold water over Llyr. :The oldest court had both human and dreigiau môr. Not all could be present at the bonding ceremony or the coronation. Or do we go ashore?:

Maeve shook her silver grey mane, her white whiskers bobbing. :All monarchs are crowned in the Lady’s Circle as proof of her favour. It matters not that one in the Court is Above Sea. The three of us will attend to you. Jasper can be bound later.: She glanced at the wilting Llyr. :After your Coronation?:

:No date has been set yet,: I replied. :I left the decision in the hands of the Esteemed. We go to Jasper once Llyr is fully recovered.:

At last, Llyr roused and we made a steady progress back to the palace gate. Once we passed through the gate and resumed our human forms, Llyr’s grey complexion gave me concern.

:Stay tonight. There is an empty suite just down the hall from mine.: I felt his denial flow through our bond. Rest tonight and go home tomorrow.:

:Could we stay for a few days?: Ondine slung her brother’s arm across her shoulders. Disturbingly, Llyr did not protest. :He is almost himself. He needs only to regain his stamina.:

:Of course. The palace even abuts the spring house. Llyr, if you like, we could go to the palace solar in a day or two if your healer approves.: I smiled at Ondine.

Ondine nodded, smiling back.

I settled them into the suite of rooms. Ondine insisted on staying with her brother, admitting her unreadiness in facing her mother and her friends with this new destiny marked on her skin. Cychwr stayed only long enough to help Llyr into bed.

Llyr lay, eyes open. :Your staff prepared the room quickly.:

My smile faded. :It has been waiting for you.: I gazed down at him with heart-filled concern.

:Could you arrange another bed?: Ondine asked, breaking my reverie.

:Yes, yes, of course.: I retreated to the bedchamber door. :I will let you rest.: I hastened from the suite and into the hallway.

Down the hall, Emrys’ door stood open. I froze, seeing Rhiannon appear in his doorway. She looked back into his suite, frowning. The end to a private conversation? She hurried across the hall into the suite we shared. I counted my breaths, not wanting to follow too quickly behind her.

Emrys came to the door, looked across the hall and then down it. He spotted me. :You’ve returned,: he said, his cheeks reddening.

:Yes,: I walked toward him and touched his cheek. He shrank back as if scorched. :Your colour is high,: I remarked, trying not to feel hurt by his repulsion. :Are you ill?:

:No.: Emrys closed the door.

I entered my suite of rooms. Rhiannon lay on the stone couch, her face hidden by her long white hair. She sat up, smoothing her hair away from her features. :Are you disappointed that you only found one other for your Court?:

:A little,: I admitted, sitting beside her. Against my better judgement, I asked, :Rhiannon, did Emrys need something? I saw you come from his chambers.:

Rhiannon ducked her head, braids and locks falling forward. :It’s nothing.: She looked up. :It’s everything, Eidothea. I don’t know what to do. I feel like I’m in the middle of one of the old stories.: Her hands clenched a fistful of her robes.

I reached forward and covered her hand with mine. :He has upset you? Shall I talk to him?:

Rhiannon snorted from behind her curtain of hair. :Like he’d listen. What can you do? He’s the Esteemed and … and this is personal.:

I gave her hand a squeeze, and released her. It had to be about Gorawyn, Rhiannon’s dearest friend and Emrys’ consort, now deceased. :Whatever it is, you have my support.:

She glanced at me, startled, pushing back her hair. :Are you serious? It isn’t anything you can help with.:

I narrowed my eyes. :Rhiannon, do you… do you like him?:

She rose and started to pace. :Like him? Of course not. Gorawyn was my best friend! He’s just so…!: She halted. :I think I will take a walk. Excuse me.: She hurried from the room.

Rhiannon left me with more questions than answers. Was she at odds with Emrys, with the Esteemed? Had it been a mistake to bring her to the palace? Should I ask if she wanted to leave?

As bard, I stayed until the end of the Great Examination, already turning possible words and phrases over in my mind to tell the story later. I wasn’t the only bard there. We would gather later and build the song together.

In the hallway outside our chambers, I paused. I stared at Emrys’ closed door. He hadn’t looked well today. I had no reason to speak to him. Lady Angharad had been banished.

I tapped on the door and entered. He lay on a couch, sitting up when he saw me. I bowed the way servants do. :Esteemed, you do not look well. Is there anything I can get you?:

He grunted. :I have my own staff looking after me, thank you. You know you shouldn’t be here.:

I turned, knowing what I dared suggest by entering his private domain. My gaze flicked to the door leading to the consort’s bedroom. Gorawyn’s sleeping quarters.

:Rhi!: he gasped and retched.

I spun, saw him clutch his middle. :Do you need a healer?: I took a step forward, then another, watching his face constrict in pain.

:I am not invincible, Rhiannon. My healer is tending to me. It is nothing to worry about.:

:Who said I was worried?: I knelt by his side, not realising then how quickly I had traveled to him. :You’re shivering.: I checked the water around his forehead. :No fever. Why are you not under a blanket?:

:I dropped it.: Emrys gestured behind the sofa.

I rose and saw it puddled as if the blanket had been flung in haste. :Emrys…: I collected the blanket and tucked it around him. My fingers noticed a slight swelling of his belly. :Why did you want to hide being sick from me?:

:I’m not sick, Rhi.:

I decided I quite liked his nickname for me. I saw a folded cloth and patted his forehead with it. My gaze drifted back to his stomach. Seeing me look, he turned on his side, drawing up his knees. I froze. :Nausea, swollen belly… are you lying down because you’re dizzy?:

:No, it’s the nausea. It’ll pass, Rhi.: His eyelids fluttered closed. :Please don’t fuss.:

Fear chilled my skin. I didn’t want to believe it. :You can breathe easily.: I peered at his gills.

:Of course I can.: He frowned at me. :Rhi?:

:It begins with nausea, dizziness, a distended belly…: I stuttered out the thoughts, staring at him horrified. :The poison. No, it can’t be. How did she do it? Has she bribed someone—: I sat back on my heels. :What’s your healer’s name? I’ll call for him and—:

Emrys sat up, taking me by the shoulders, the colour draining from his face. :It’s not poison, Rhi. It’s not, I promise you.:

I barely saw him through my unshed tears. :If you tell the healer about the poison, he can reverse the effects—:

He gave me a little shake. :Rhiannon, it’s not poison. The healer confirmed my suspicions. It’s—it’s something I ate last night. It’s causing excessive gas and—:

:So it could be poison. The botanist said you could breathe it in but I imagine the effects from eating it are the same—:

:Rhi.: He cupped my face with his hands. :Pay attention. It is not the poison. I will tell my healer if that will make you feel at ease, but I promise you I will be fine. I’m not dying.:

My gills spasmed, flattening against my neck. I couldn’t breathe. Emrys couldn’t die, he just couldn’t. My lungs worked in vain.

:All is well, Rhiannon. All is well. I’m safe. You’re safe. All is well.: He smoothed his hands along my neck and shoulders, encouraging my gills to flutter again.

The oxygen returned in a rush. I sat, trying to control my heaving breaths. :Can I…. Can I sit with you until your healer comes again?:

Emrys grimaced, lying down and pulling the blanket up over himself for it had puddled around his waist. :You don’t trust me.:

:I do.: I snuck my hand into his, unbidden. :I trust him more.:

Emrys welcomed my touch, his fingers curling around mine. I sat there for a long time, Emrys falling into a doze.

He roused for the healer. I sensed some communication between them, Emrys probably telling him I needed reassurance, in between describing my fears that it was a particular poison.

:Tell me the truth,: I warned them.

:It’s a mild case of food poisoning,: the healer assured me. :He’ll be all right tomorrow. We may have to test if he’s developed an intolerance for a certain type of food, but he’ll recover, Bard.:

:Are you satisfied with that?: Emrys asked with a gentle smile. His hand squeezed mine.

Embarrassed that the healer had observed us holding hands, I slipped free and stood. :I’ll leave you with the healer.:

I took my leave. I didn’t know whether to be pleased or saddened that he didn’t call me back.

Council sat the next day. I attended, playing a more active role than I had in the past. I consulted with Emrys in private conversation but he let me guide the meeting.

He seemed like his usual self. I wanted to ask him about Rhiannon, who had not wanted to continue the conversation, but I didn’t want to break any tenuous bond the two might have had because of his consort.

We left the Council chambers together, the chief steward at our heels. Emrys rattled off a list of tasks for his steward to remember.

We paused outside our doors. :Your afternoon is free,: Emrys said, his hand on the handle. :I plan to rest.:

I frowned. :I seem to be asking this a lot but—: I stepped closed, examining his features. :Are you well?:

His crooked smile belied his affirmation.

I raised an eyebrow.

His hand rested on my shoulder. :It’s nothing to concern you, Eidothea. It’s … a private matter.:

I sighed. :Make sure you have something to eat.:

He chuckled, his smile widening. He patted my cheek. :Thank you for caring,: he murmured.

Down the hall, a door opened. I spun. Llyr stood there, swaying slightly. His complexion had improved although his stormy expression might have had something to do with that.

I froze. What had he seen?

Hallway conversations are the most dangerous. Also, I think the scene with Emrys as told ny Rhiannon is one of my favourites. That Red Book of hers is such a delight. Thoughts about today’s instalment? Comments? Share below or join the Chat!

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