Coal

Chapter 3 of Act 2 of "Obsidian and Flame"

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If you’re new to The Môrdreigiau Chronicles, welcome! You might find the Glossary helpful for some of these words. Colons indicate the sea dragon’s thought communications.

Obsidian and Flame chronicles the story of Panawr, a sea dragon prince with a deadly secret, and Arddun, who possesses a useless gift and has no desire to marry a prince. When they come together, sparks fly, but they grow aware that something more is at stake than the throne. Can they save their home, Caer Morgana, or will their quest be in vain?

Panawr, disguised, won the royal guards tournament, but it otherwise did not end well. Cynwal miscarried and his opponent, a royal guard called Trachmyr, has been imprisoned for the murder. Arddun appealed to Panawr for help.

…

:It could have been you,: she whispered after him, knowing her thought reached him. :It could have been you.:

News of the royal grandchild’s death spread with rapidity, along with learning of the arrest of Trachmyr, the royal guard ill-fated to have been matched with Prince Cynwal.

Dreigiau môr thronged the Great Hall, the gossip current vanishing when the Esteemed Eigr made her entrance with Rhydderch at her side. She leant heavily upon her Consort’s arm, though both tried to hide it. Cynwal and Indeg entered next with Prince Panawr trailing behind them. He took his position at the furthest edge of the dais and remained standing. The rest arranged themselves near the throne.

Excluded from this procession, Arddun had arrived at the Great Hall early and secured a position near the dais. After finding her in the crowd, Panawr wouldn’t look her way. That filled Arddun with unease. Had he decided not to act?

Indeg clung to her husband, her face and eyes red with tears. Face wan, Cynwal needed her support just as much, clutching at his waist. His reddened eyes displayed the only other sign of his grief.

:Bring forward Trachmyr ap Geir!: The Esteemed’s fingers curled around the calcified arms of her throne.

From a side door, two royal guards escorted Trachmyr to the only empty space in the hall—directly in front of the throne.

:Who speaks for this man?: the Esteemed demanded.

Nobody spoke. Arddun willed Panawr to act but when he said nothing, she stepped forward.

The Esteemed saw her move. :Arddun, is there something you wish to say?:

Taking one desperate glance at Panawr, Arddun said, :Esteemed—:

:I will speak for him.: Panawr spoke over her, saying exactly the same words as she.

The Esteemed glared. :So? Which of you is it?:

Panawr descended from the dais and stood beside Trachmyr. :As the one who has more experience, allow me.:

:This is nothing like your petty cases, son of my husband,: the Esteemed intoned. :Think carefully before accepting this task.:

Panawr’s back straightened. :I will speak for him, Esteemed.:

Arddun ducked her head, avoiding Indeg’s angry look of betrayal. She retreated into the crowd.

The Esteemed looked at the accused. :Trachmyr ap Geir, you have been accused of murder. How do you plead?:

Panawr answered for him. :He is innocent of these charges.:

:A child is dead, by his hands,: the Esteemed snarled. :Explain exactly how he is free of guilt.:

The poor man, despite being broad of shoulder and muscular, looked to Panawr with hope.

:Nobody outside our family knew Cynwal carried a child. Prince Cynwal entered into the competition knowing the risks. Trachmyr didn’t know.: The calm, even cold, level in Panawr’s thought did little to ease Arddun’s concerns. :In the sparring round, points are scored based on hits and the guards do not go lightly with each other.:

:Cynwal is not a royal guard.: The Esteemed reminded him, her gaze weary.

:He has trained with them—or at least, he used to. He’s not ignorant of how our royal guards train.:

:But a blow that hard?: Her grip tightened on the throne, her thought rising in volume. :Am I meant to believe it was an accident?:

Panawr remained unmoved, continuing to speak in an even tone. :I was sparring myself at the time, but I am told it was unintentional. There are witnesses who will speak to it. The attention of most dreigiau môr that day were upon the Golden Prince.:

:Esteemed,: Cynwal interrupted, his brow furrowed. :Exactly how did Trachmyr ap Geir not know? Aren’t he and Panawr friends?:

Panawr stilled. :I keep our family matters private.:

:Like Morfudd’s thefts?: Cynwal jeered. :Please explain why, then, you goaded me into entering this competition.:

Arddunn swallowed a strangled sob. Others in the crowd gasped.

Panawr showed no reaction, his lips spreading in a small, conciliatory smile. :As I recall it, you were the one who suggested I wasn’t capable of competing. I merely pushed back.:

:Enough!: The Esteemed struggled to her feet. :Enough,: her tone softened. :Cynwal, my son, what are you suggesting?:

The golden prince broke free of Indeg’s embrace, his fists clenched at his side. :That Panawr sought to eliminate me, as he did Morfudd.:

:Who is alive and well,: Panawr protested. :Is it Trachmyr’s fault you let your guard slip? You seek to shift blame to me also?:

:Cynwal,: the Esteemed asked, sounding very tired, :do you have more proof than brotherly baiting?:

The golden prince turned to his mother. :I have just left my bed. I will need more time to gather witnesses and evidence.:

:You shall have it.: The Esteemed resumed her seat. :Guards, take them both away. We’ll resume this hearing in three days.: She glanced at Cynwal. :Will that be enough time?:

Cynwal nodded. :I’ll make sure of it.:

:In the meantime, Prince Panawr, you are accused of conspiring in this murder and you will be imprisoned until I next hear this case.:

Trachmyr and Panawr passed by Arddun on their way to the dungeon. Her gaze met his. Panawr gave a slight shake of his head.

Did he warn her not to follow? Not to help? Her heart sank. How could she even think to help? If he really had colluded to cause Cynwal serious harm…

Arddun reached the chambers she shared with her sister and the golden prince.

Indeg paced the floor, grimacing in anger. :How could you have stepped forward for that man? How?: Indeg sobbed.

Arddun bore it in silence, knowing no words would ease her sister’s grief. Indeed, Arddun understood the anger. She had betrayed her sister when daring to speak for Trachmyr. It had not occurred to her that she might be wrong about Trachmyr and that Cynwal’s case was the just one, not Panawr’s.

When Indeg’s raging ended, Ardunn crossed to her sister with extended arms. :I’m sorry,: she said. :You’re right. I do have no idea how you feel, but I’m here for you now.:

Indeg accepted her hug.

Cynwal entered and the two sisters broke apart. :I don’t think you should stay here any longer,: he said to Arddun. :I won’t have someone from Panawr’s circle spying upon me.:

She gaped. :I wouldn’t… I had no idea he was like this. That he was this…this awful.: A part of her wished that Cynwal had schemed this, not Panawr. Her sister couldn’t be wrong about her beloved. The golden prince had been nothing but straightforward. Why would he scheme now and at such a high risk?

Indeg patted her arm. :You are a foolish girl.: She crossed to her husband. They curled into each other on a stone couch.

:A grandchild might have given her energy to live longer.: He sunk his head into his hands. Indeg kissed her partner’s hair.

Arddun backed away. She no longer belonged here. Not in this grief that went deeper than any sadness. Not in this guilt which cut their hearts to shreds.

She had to choose a side. If Cynwal became the Esteemed, would he keep his promise to her sister or would Indeg truly end up heartbroken? And what of her own heart? It felt like Panawr had taken every bit of her well-intentioned advice and twisted it to a darker path.

Arddun took a steadying breath. :If you need my help in getting justice, you have it.:

Panawr rested his head against the dungeon’s stone wall. He gazed up at the ceiling. Things crawled up there. He hoped they didn’t descend while they slept.

:Ignore them,: Trachmyr said. Panawr glanced at him. Trachmyr jerked his head toward the ceiling. :They won’t harm you.:

Panawr eased out a breath, giving a small nod. :I’ll look to you as my mentor and guide while we are down here then. Just as I did when I first came to the royal guards.:

:Huh.: Trachmyr shot him a confused look. :I’m not that much older than you.:

:Even a few years is a lot when you’re young and green.:

Trachmyr rubbed at his head. :Years? Months maybe.:

:What?: Panawr sat up, shifting to face Trachmyr. :You look older than that.:

:I’ll not thank you for that. I had a hard life before coming to the palace. But we’re about the same age. I’m three months older. I remember you leading us off to the Great Barrow on a winter solstice.:

Panawr took in his friend’s grey robes in a fresh light. :I hadn’t considered…: He rubbed his mouth and beard, wondering how to ask about the stolen Goddess cakes. :Was your life hard before that day?:

Trachmyr shook his head, staring at the cell wall. :Not so much. Both my parents were alive, we had enough to eat. I had a happy childhood. I guess becoming an adult takes the innocence away.:

:What happened?: Panawr asked in a quiet thought.

:My parents stopped talking to each other. After I became an adult, I never saw my mother in our home. She never spoke to any of us again, not even my sister. It must have been one hell of a fight between them.: He glanced sidelong at Panawr. :You don’t want to hear this.:

Panawr kept his face impassive. :Go on. I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to know.:

:My father became less and less successful in hunting for fish and drowned his sorrows in alcohol. My older brother took up hunting but his skills were even worse. I had to go find work as an adult and—: Trachmyr paused, swallowing and refusing to meet Panawr’s gaze. His gills flared and settled. :I don’t have a gift, Panawr. I had one, as a child, but it … it went away.:

:You’re not the only one.: Panawr glanced down at his hands, lying still in his lap. His gift seemed to be ‘not dying’. He could hardly include the sleight of hand trick he’d taught himself as a lonely child.

:I served in the guards for about three years before you came to learn.:

Panawr regarded Trachmyr. In all his interviews, he’d never come out and asked. :How do you feel about … Goddess cakes?:

Trachmyr jerked. :Those?: He laughed, scratching at his arms. :That question came out of nowhere.:

Panawr somehow managed a smile. :It’s very connected,: he replied, :if you stole some that winter solstice.:

Trachmyr’s gills flattened against his neck. :How… how …:

Panawr rested his hand on Trachmyr’s shoulder. :Say no more, my friend. I will not—:

The grille door opened. Cynwal entered. His skin had lost that pale, wan look. The heightened colour in cheeks and the pulsing gills clued Panawr that his brother’s temper had roused. Cynwal glared at the two of them sitting on the dirty stone floor. :I can’t leave you here to conspire together. Time for your interrogation, brother.:

Behind him, two guards advanced, and grabbing Panawr under the shoulders, hauled him upright and out of the cell.

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