Incandescent

Chapter 7 of Act 3 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?

Arddun met the parents as Panawr’s intended. The Esteemed still expected the two young half-siblings to support their older brother. They refused. Panawr’s father relays Morfudd’s intention to end the couple’s happiness. Arddun discovered she has been infected. Indeg asked Arddun to fix Cynwal, who is unable to forgive himself. Arddun uses the gift on both Cynwal and Indeg. She is arrested. The Esteemed is dead. Murdered. Arddun and Panawr are accused of it. Panawr is happy to go into exile so long as they are together. Arddun showed Panawr her infection. She cannot leave Caer Morgana without killing the dreigiau môr in the water around her.

Panawr grabbed her hand. :Wait … why did you tear a hole in yourself?:

She shook him off and pushed her sleeve up past her right elbow.

He stared. :Is that … is that a mole?: Arddun heard the subdued horror in his thought. He knew.

:It wasn’t there before,: she got out, gills convulsing. :I don’t know how it happened, but I’m infected, Panawr. I can’t be exiled. I’ll kill everyone around me. I’ll kill you.:

:Oh, love.: Panawr reached for her arm, his face slack, both comprehending and disbelieving.

She drew down her sleeve, securing it in place with her finger in the rent in her sleeve. She fell into his arms. :I cannot go with you.: She buried her face in his shoulder, sobbing. :I can’t bring harm to you or the guards who will send us on our way.: Her tears continued to fall.

Panawr shivered, his shoulders hiccupping. :Arddun,: he moaned. :I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.: His arms tightened about her. He pressed his lips to the crown of her head. :My love, I should never have let you—:

Arddun shushed him, capturing his mouth with hers. :I would do it again. This is not your fault. I chose to heal you.:

Panawr didn’t respond to her kisses. :I should have kept you at arm’s length. I warned you not to get close—:

With her teeth, Arddun tugged on his lower lip. :Do you regret these last few days?:

His eyes fluttered closed. :It’s made you sick. Of course I regret it.:

Arddun pulled away. He opened his eyes to track her movement. :I do not regret loving you.: She tapped her arm. :If this is the price of loving you, I gladly pay it.: Her lower lip trembled. :My only regret is that we won’t have more time together. I cannot wish away the love we’ve shared. Can you?:

Panawr groaned. :I would rather you live.: His fists pounded the stone floor. :I was such a fool.:

She captured his fists, her right sleeve settling over his left hand. :My infection is small. I have not quickly succumbed like the others.:

His head remained bowed. :It took my mother some time.: The bleakness of his thought scared her.

Her gills flattened to her neck. :Panawr—:

He cupped her face. :Arddun, if you’ll allow me, I will not leave you. I’ll stay until the end.:

:Right now, you don’t have a choice.:

His lips quirked and his fierce gaze softened. :Arddun. Arddun, I will treasure our every moment. The thought of you dead by my hands ruptures something in here.: He tapped his chest with a fist. :You have undone me, my love.:

She flung her arms around him. :We can still make memories, so long as you do not touch that spot.: She shivered. :I don’t want to be separated from you, Panawr.:

:You shall not be.: He found her mouth and delved in hungrily. With one hand, he loosened her belt, slipping his hand underneath, skimming over her hip. :You never will be. I swear it.:

The next day, stone-faced guards marched them out of their cell. Bound in burgundy seaweed ropes, they ascended to the ground level of the palace and entered the Great Hall.

The Council sat in a row below the dais. The throne remained empty. Except for the absent Cynwal, the royal family stood to the right of the Council. Rhydderch and Morfudd didn’t look their way, their expressions stony, impassive. Beside them, Indeg’s rose pink robes seemed gaudy in light of her wan face.

Dreigiau môr filled the hall behind them, silent despite the missing Esteemed. Panawr saw Arddun’s father in the crowd along with other faces that he’d gotten to know among the royal guard families.

The guards manoeuvred Panawr and Arddun to stand before the Council.

:Who will speak for you?: asked Mabsan ap Canllaw, the head councillor, seated in the centre of the row of councillors. A mix of male and female, all of them bore greying heads.

:I know none of the details,: Panawr began, :but I will speak in our defence.:

:I will speak for him,: Drudwas ap Ewin, the advocate who had been his mentor, stepped forward. Like the councillors, his grey hair indicated his age, despite the relative smoothness of his face.

:And I,: said another advocate.

:And I,: called a third.

:We only need one,: Mabsan grumbled.

:Allow me,: said Drudwas, turning to his colleagues. They bowed and melted into the crowd. He thought privately to Panawr and Arddun. :I need to know—innocent or guilty?:

:Innocent,: they replied together.

:I was honest when I said we know none of the details,: Panawr added.

:Those details have not been released,: Drudwas told them, :We swim blind.:

Rhydderch advanced, his shoulders uncharacteristically stooped. :It’s unfortunately a simple case. I will be the prosecutor today, though it grieves me.:

Panawr sucked in his breath, his gills flattening against his neck. Arddun leaned against him in silent support. How could Rhydderch act against his own son?

:Rhydderch, no one doubts your grief or your need for justice.: Councillor Mabsan gazed with compassion upon the Consort. :We all know how you loved the Esteemed. But you are too close to this. Surely you have not had time to investigate this yourself?:

Panawr’s father bowed his head in acknowledgement. :I surrender the prosecution to Captain Cynddylig. He examined the scene and conducted the search.:

The captain of the royal guard stepped forward. :As the Consort said, the case is simple. The Esteemed succumbed to poison in the early hours of yesterday morning. The poison is one that is slow-acting and builds up in the body with repeated small doses. The Chief Healer can provide more details if you need it. A vial containing this poison was found in Prince Panawr’s chambers. Additional bottles were found hidden in the palace’s solar, a known haunt of the prince’s. My witnesses will speak to the prince’s access to the Esteemed’s wing and having seen him there two nights ago.:

:Poison?: Panawr burst out. :I would have chosen more direct means. If I were to do such a horrible thing, I’d hide the evidence in my sister’s quarters. I’m not an idiot.:

:You see how arrogant he is!: Morfudd called out, her pale and beautiful face purpling in fury. :He thinks he is above the law, smarter than our guards and council!:

:Enough!: shouted Mabsan. :Let’s hear the evidence without further interruption, if you please.:

The Chief Healer delivered a dry precis of the poison, admitting his failure to recognise its presence in the Esteemed. :What nobody outside Eigr’s family knows is that Panawr suffered from a life-threatening infection. Anyone who touched his infected skin died of it. This infection caused delusions of the mind. He thought becoming the Esteemed would cure him.:

The healer’s gaze encompassed the listening crowd. :It’s a wonder that he dared to wrestle with those in the guard. One slip and the infection could have spread to another, and then another. He cared for nobody but himself.:

:I took preventative measures,: Panawr muttered to Drudwas, but the chief healer’s pronouncement had the desired effect, turning the crowd against the prince. :I’m cured now.:

He heard the shocked and angry gossip current rise behind them.

:It’s my belief that this delusion to become the Esteemed drove him to give Eigr the poison. He could no longer wait for her to step down or die of natural causes because his infection was spreading across his body.:

Drudwas stepped forward. :Prince Panawr is cured now—does that not negate any motivation to murder the Esteemed?:

:Not at all. The business was begun months ago. The prince was cured only in the past week. Even if he had a change of heart, the poison had already been repeatedly administered. His only recourse would be to confess in order for the Esteemed to receive an antidote and allow me to conduct the appropriate spells. Which at this late stage might not have worked at all.:

Various palace staff came forward to say they had seen Panawr enter the Esteemed’s quarters that fatal evening. Others shared that Panawr was always first in the family dining room and had behaved in a secretive, guilty manner.

:Describe his action,: Drudwas asked of them.

:He was hunched over like he hid something.:

:He was standing behind the Esteemed’s chair and scurried away when I entered.:

:I do not scurry,: Panawr muttered to Arddun. He hadn’t lied about the evidence being damning.

Drudwas had no other defence except to let the prince speak.

Panawr began with admitting his illness and how he had made an additional tie to keep his robe securely in place. :I never wrestled until I had discovered a way to protect my opponent. Having won the recent tournament, you know I have the ability to swiftly end a life should I wish it.: He met the gaze of each councillor, hiding his dismay as more than one failed to hold his gaze. :Having spent most of my adult life in pain, why would I inflect such a slow, horrible death on another?:

:Because you hated her,: Morfudd snarled. :You hate all of us.: She stood tall and indignant, reminding Panawr more of Eigr than her own mother.

:Having little patience for your antics is not hate,: Panawr responded, quiet and calm.

:You don’t deny you hate her.: Morfudd scowled, cold ice in her thought.

Panawr felt his patience evaporate and he struggled to gather it. He couldn’t lose his temper. Too much lay at stake. :You didn’t like her either, and poison is a tool for those who lack both physical strength and courage.:

:The princess is not on trial here,: Councillor Mabsan interposed. :Have you finished?:

:I have not.: Panawr made eye contact with each councillor before continuing. :I am innocent of this charge. For the sake of my father’s happiness alone, I would not have committed such an act. :He glanced at Arddun, a desperate expression crossing his features. :Not one word has been said against Arddun. I ask that she be freed.:

:Her guilt and that of Teithi ap Rhun and others is predicated upon your guilt.: Captain Cynddelig spoke with reluctance. :She is known to have colluded with you in the past, and so your guilt becomes hers.:

Panawr directed his gaze at Morfudd and thought privately to her. :It’s me you want. Let her go.:

Morfudd smiled. :You will confess if she is released?:

:Yes.: He allowed his answer to be suffused with all his grief, anger and heartbreak in the hope Morfudd would relent and leave Arddun alone.

The princess approached Cynddelig, her fingertips trailing along his forearm. The captain, long handfasted to another, eyed her with hunger, nodding at the princess ten years his junior.

Cynddelig returned his attention to the council. :If the prince confesses, we will release Arddun. The princess has begged for mercy.:

The councillors conferred, private thoughts swimming between them. Mabsan raised his hand. :We are agreed.:

:Don’t you dare,: Arddun breathed at Panawr. :You can’t come back from this.:

Panawr straightened, feeling her anxiety prickle at him. He couldn’t let it sway him. :The evidence is pretty damning. Very well, I confess to killing Eigr the Esteemed.: He couldn’t look at his father, not even after the man let out a groan.

:Untie Arddun ferch Wyddel.: The nearest guard cut her free of the braided seaweed rope while Mabsan continued, :It would have been better if you had confessed it sooner. We shall decide upon your sentence.:

Arddun stayed at Panawr’s side, her arm pressing against his stiff form.

:Go to your father.: Panawr stared ahead, not even glancing her way.

:Why? Why did you not continue to fight?: Her private thought shattered with her grief. :No, this can’t, won’t, happen.:

His lips thinned, a nostril flared. :You can’t go into exile,: he told her, his thought quieter than a whisper. :Now, go back to your father.:

:No.: Her fingers curled around his sleeve. :I’ll stay with you until the end.:

Panawr looked at her then, allowing his heart to show. They gazed at each other in wordless silence. Even thought could not express their overflowing, aching hearts.

:We have reached a decision.: Mabsan stood, as did the other councillors, their expressions grim. :Prince Panawr ap Rhydderch, you are sentenced to death, to be carried out immediately.:

Arddun screamed, flinging herself between Panawr and the Council. :No! You cannot!:

Panawr’s heart broke. Broke for her and for the caer. He might have saved them from a plague but their society would be forever changed by this deviation from honouring life.

He forced a cool calm into his voice. :The Esteemed made it a law that no life would be taken for a life.: His thought cracked with anger. :You dismiss her legacy? Now, in this hour?:

Mabsan raised his chin, looking down his nose at them. :We decided that there needed to be an exception to the rule. Taking the life of a reigning Esteemed is that exception.:

:No!: Arddun blazed.

Panawr stumbled back a step. She really did blaze. Incandescent with fury, she pulsed with golden light.

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