Midnight

Chapter 4 of Act 1 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 avoided Panawr after his nightmare. Yet she returned to the clearing near the hot springs to find Panawr planning his campaign to win the seat of the Esteemed, even though his elder brother is favoured by the Esteemed herself. Panawr has a number of disadvantages. Arddun then witnessed his leadership and camaraderie with the royal guards…

Once a month, the royal family invited the Council and their families to gather in one of the palace halls for dancing and conversation.

Arddun stood behind her sister Indeg, watching her and Cynwal greet the new arrivals alongside his parents. Across the room, Panawr lurked against a wall, doing his best to smile instead of scowl. It looked painful. Noone engaged him beyond polite nods of recognition.

Morfudd sparkled in the centre of the hall, flitting from group to group with a trio of beaming young ladies in her wake. A few hopeful male dreigiau môr trailed her brilliant orbit.

Arddun smiled and nodded at something that sounded like a compliment.

Indeg gave her a mental jab. :If you cannot pay attention, go and mingle.:

:And leave you?: Arddun resolved to focus on the arriving guests. She knew most of them, for their father moved in the Council’s outer orbit.

The receiving line ended, Indeg and Cynwal led off the dancing. Arddun watched from the doorway. The pair made a stunning couple, twirling about the floor. As they continued to dance, they ascended above the head of onlookers. Morfudd soon joined them with a stunned draig môr, followed by several other dancers.

:Not dancing?: Rhydderch paused by her, his arm linked with the Esteemed’s.

Arddun shook her head. :I wouldn’t want to distract from Cynwal and Indeg. Not today.:

The Esteemed nodded in approval. :You’re a beauty too, Arddun. Don’t waste an opportunity to connect for that reason alone. Just … choose wisely.:

Arddun smiled, unsure if the polite gesture reached her eyes. :Indeg has warned me already to take care.:

The Esteemed and Rhydderch moved on, making a slow peregrination about the hall.

Arddun preferred not to force matters of the heart regardless of the potential improvement of her social status. Yes, if anyone, Panawr intrigued her, but she would never marry into the royal family now that she’d seen behind the glamour. Better to find someone who moved in less rarified waters.

Another dance began. Arddun used the chaos of finding fresh dance partners to slip around the edge of the hall and out a set of double doors.

She stepped onto a wide balcony, overlooking the palace gardens. The gathering’s hubbub dipped in volume. Arddun moved further away from the doors, welcoming the garden’s cool water on her face.

A third dance began. Eddying waters warned of a new arrival. She glanced over. Panawr stood at the railing, hands curled around the calcified barrier, shoulders drawn up to his ears. Bright light streamed through the open doors, casting his face into shadow even as it sent his silvery-grey robes sparkling.

She retreated, heading for the door.

:Stay,: he said, not breaking his survey of the gardens. :I doubt anyone has noticed you’re out here.:

Arddun listened to the gossip current. None of it seemed to be about her. She returned to her original place at the railing, beyond the hall’s light.

:Am I without hope?: Panawr’s fist clenched on the railing. :You haven’t returned to the solar.:

:Solar?:

:The cave with the hot springs,: Panawr explained, continuing to stare out at the night.

Arddun answered his question. :The Esteemed wanted Indeg and I to be well prepared for tonight. It’s been … intense.:

Panawr huffed a laugh, dipping his head in acknowledgement. :She can be like that.:

Silence fell, broken only by the chatter and music spilling through the open doors.

Arddun guessed his pride would prevent his asking the question again. :I don’t know if you can win, but’s not as improbable as everyone seems to think.:

She took a steadying breath. Staring out at the dark gardens made it easier for her to speak than facing him. :You cannot be anything other than you are. You’re terrible at pretending, as I’ve witnessed tonight. You looked as if you were in pain. I’d have thought your arm was bothering you.:

His hand rose to his left shoulder and then dropped away. :This is not sounding hopeful to me.:

:Among people you like — and you don’t much care for anyone outside your tiny circle, do you?: She didn’t wait for his answer. :I saw a different person practicing with the guards. You have their respect, but more than that, you’re a comrade-in-arms and someone they’d follow.:

Panawr shifted, reaching out a hand to her, but it fell back to his side. He kept his gaze affixed on the garden. :So?:

:You need to show others this side of you. What if the royal guards had a public demonstration? Or a competition? One you also participated in?: Arddun glanced sidelong at him. :Is Cynwal any good at it?:

Panawr caught and held her gaze. :He does well enough.:

:As well as you?:

:We don’t practice together much any more.: A grin snaked across his features. :I can beat him.:

After seeing his prowess, Arddun believed him. :I noticed something else about you.:

He turned sidelong to examine her, waiting for her to speak again,

:Some might say you are cold, but you are fair, even just, in your resolving of disputes, or at least the one I witnessed. Are you allowed to participate in justice matters? I’ve only ever seen the Esteemed render judgement.:

:No other than she can do that.: Panawr’s thought sounded flat, a warning.

Arddun faced him. :But are they always just?:

:I cannot go against her.: Panawr stepped toward her, bristling. :You’re suggesting rebellion.:

Arddun shook her head, waving her hands crosswise before her. :No, not that. Before she decides, who convinces her?:

Panawr frowned. :The truth?:

:The argument.: She grinned. :Find an advocate you can work with, one who helps those less fortunate.:

Panawr smiled and took another step toward her. :Do you think I could? I know those in the guards. This is different. New clients will be strangers.:

:Who does a royal guard’s family turn to when they need an advocate? Indeed, does one even exist for them? Is this a gap you can fill?:

Panawr stared at her. :I’ve studied enough. It’s … it’s possible.:

Arddun gave him an encouraging smile. :If you don’t end up as the Esteemed, you’ll have something to fall back on.:

:No!: Panawr grabbed her shoulders with a sudden intensity. :I can’t fail in this. I must be the next Esteemed. I have to.:

They both stood in shadow now. His fingertips dug into her. His features blurred in the dark. :Why must you?: She reached up to touch his cheek.

He snatched her wrist, pulling her arm down and away. :Do not try to get close to me.:

He released her. Arddun rubbed at her bruised wrist. :Keep that up and you won’t win anyone’s heart.:

:I appreciate your advice,: he snarled. He pivoted and strode back inside, his spine stiff. She heard the gossip current ripple after him and tracked his progress across the hall by its ebb and flow. She knew when he left by the increased intensity in the gossip current.

Arddun sank against the railing. If any guessed at their exchange, it would be just the kind of scandal Indeg warned her against. She’d be stuck out here for a long time.

Sighing, she settled crosslegged on the balcony floor, prepared to wait it out.

:Where are you?: called Indeg.

:Not feeling well,: Arddun mumbled in reply. :I’m in the gardens. Why?:

:You weren’t on the balcony just now with Panawr? He stormed through here in a fury. I thought I saw you go out there earlier.:

:I did but it wasn’t helping so I left. Panawr was upset?: Arddun winced at lying to her sister. :What else is new?:

Her sister chuckled at that and bid her rest.

Whenever the justice court was in session, Arddun attended. Little else in the palace offered her much in the way of distraction. When she first spotted Panawr there, he did nothing but observe from the dais, seated near the Esteemed. When court ended, he walked out with one or more of the advocates, engaging them in private conversation.

She didn’t seek him out, or visit the solar. He’d made his disinterest in her quite clear.

After a month, Panawr presented his first case, stepping forward with his client instead of being on the dais with the rest of the royal family.

The Esteemed Eigr glared down at him. :What are you doing?:

Panawr gave a polite smile and bowed. :I’m this person’s advocate, Esteemed. I’ve decided I must be of some use.:

:If you fail her, it’s on your head,: the Esteemed warned.

Bowing again, Panawr made his case. He spoke of his client’s good standing in the community and declared the debt a misunderstanding.

When he finished, the Esteemed looked at the draig môr next to Panawr. :You’re usually an advocate for cases like this. Has Panawr stolen this one from you?:

The draig môr shook his head. :Esteemed, he asked for my advice regarding this case and I gladly gave it. He has spoken well today.:

:He has.: The Esteemed stood. :The case against this person is dismissed.:

Arddun’s heart pointed. He’d won! She clasped her hands to stop from bouncing in delight. She didn’t dare reveal that she sided with Panawr over the other royal siblings, couldn’t show that vulnerability or be exploited for it. The sharp verbal knives of palace life had taught her that, and she understood now why Panawr kept a cold exterior.

She slipped away through the crowd before Panawr could catch sight of her. If, indeed, he even looked for her at all.

:You’re coming to the winter solstice, aren’t you?: Indeg asked Arddun while they breakfasted. Cynwal had already left their small suite of rooms.

Arddun made a face. :You know it’s my least favourite festival of the year.:

Indeg smiled. :But it will be your first one here in the palace.:

Winter solstice meant fasting between the midday meal and midnight. As she stepped out onto the palace’s viewing balcony with her sister, her stomach made an audible growl. Hunger didn’t usually bother Arddun.

Nobody but Indeg seemed to have heard it. Cynwal and Morfudd stood in private conversation with their parents, while Panawr stood well off to the side.

Two storeys above the ground, the long balcony looked out over the Royal Quarter. Below, the park bustled with dreigiau môr, an expectancy almost visible in the way the group pulsed and moved, often looking toward the far-off caer gates.

:Have the children returned?: Indeg asked, slipping her arm into Cynwal’s. :We couldn’t wait any longer to be summoned.:

Cynwal leaned against her. :The last child has been sighted leaving the catacombs. It shouldn’t be long now. Come, we shall be the first to see.: He drew her to the balcony railing.

A steward stepped onto the balcony, bearing a huge platter of Goddess cakes. The silvery frosting glowed cold in the glinting darkness. The Esteemed and her Consort each took one, Cynwal and Indeg following suit.

With reluctance, Arddun chose one. She wished for her grandmother’s Goddess cakes, for she always made a small one for Arddun, knowing how little she liked them. She looked down, her lips thinning.

:Maybe you will like these,: Indeg murmured, her thought broadcast to the royal family.

In the process of removing a cake from the platter, Panawr almost dropped it. His shock smoothed into a dismissive mask.

Cynwal lifted his cake. :What’s not to like? They’re light, fluffy and so delicious.: He beamed at the Esteemed. :Mother, I don’t know how you do it.:

A burst of delighted cheers drew their attention to the scene below. The last child had returned from the catacombs. The Goddess cakes had been successfully delivered to all the ancestors, meaning another year of prosperity for the dreigiau môr.

The gossip current floated up to them. None of the children had spotted the Lady, and two had even braved the Goddess altar that lay at the centre of the massive barrow which held all the dreigiau môr family burial mounds. It had been years since the Lady had been seen. Why did this continue to happen?

A leaden weight settled in Arddun, a deep unease at hearing the gossip current. This sensation of heaviness returned every year and tasting the Goddess cake made her feel worse.

The Esteemed raised her hands for attention, one hand still clutching her Goddess cake. :People of Caer Morgana, rejoice! Our children have made it safely home, our ancestors are satisfied! The Lady turns toward the sun and we follow.:

:Thanks and praises!: bellowed the crowd, as if the goddess could hear them better that way. :Thanks and praises! Thanks and praises!:

The Esteemed lowered her arms and bit into her Goddess cake. All on the balcony and all below ate also.

Arddun took a small bite. Every draig môr found these exquisite, but not her. She turned away, hoping to hide her distaste for the cakes from the crowd. She caught Panawr’s grimace. Did he think her unfaithful to the Lady, their Goddess?

:Let us go to the stones!: The Esteemed called. She leapt over the balcony, sailing down through the water to reach those in the park below, Rhydderch at her side and Morfudd close behind, her long pale orange robes fanning out around her ankles. Cywnal and Indeg followed, hand in hand.

Arddun made to follow but stopped. Panawr should go first. He’d retreated from the railing, reaching for the door. :You’re not going?:

He paused. :I never go,: he murmured and slipped inside.

Arddun followed. :Why not? This is an opportunity to be seen by your people.:

He swiped over his mouth. His lowered hand showed his mouthful of cake. :I can’t eat this much, let alone the several that will be foisted upon me at the stone circle. It tastes like, like…: He couldn’t bring himself to describe it.

:Like death.:

Panawr stared at her. :I thought I was the only one. When your sister said you might like Mother’s instead, I didn’t think …: He staggered back, hitting the wall behind him and sank down, his knees folding bonelessly.

She knelt before him, waving a hand before his sightless eyes. :Panawr?:

Want to know what Panawr saw and can’t wait until the next instalment? Read the short story:

Against Destiny, an "Obsidian & Flame" story

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