Dragon of the Island (30 page)

“Let me help you down.”

It had been a long time since he had been
close to Aurora. His heart pounded unnaturally as he reached up and
helped her slide down the side of the horse. He had forgotten how
slender Aurora was. He could almost clasp his hands all the way
around her narrow waist.

Once she was down, they stood there, looking
at each other awkwardly.

“Where have you been?” he asked, trying to
keep his voice light.

A flicker of fear registered in her eyes.
“I... I have been riding.”

“Where?”

“Around the lakes, down near the
priory.”

“Alone?”

“Aye, alone. Who would go with me?”

They were so close. Aurora was but a hand’s
breadth away from him. Maelgwn sensed something different in her
attitude toward him. She seemed more vulnerable, even shy somehow.
He reached over tentatively to kiss her irresistible mouth, and she
did not draw away. It was a long lingering kiss, both tender and
uneasy. It was Maelgwn who first broke off their embrace by
releasing her and stepping backwards. His feelings were too
confusing and troubling to risk staying near his wife for long.

“You should get something to eat,” he said
abruptly. “Come, I’ll walk you to the kitchen.”

After he had left his wife off at the
kitchen, Maelgwn walked aimlessly in the courtyard, deep in
thought. He paused and looked up, scanning the heavens, making out
the faint pattern of the stars above him.

“Are you making a wish?”

Maelgwn turned away from the sky to see the
bulky shape of Balyn silhouetted against the fading light.

“If I believed that wishes on the stars came
true, I might make one tonight.”

“And would it involve Aurora?” Balyn asked
in a soft, almost gentle voice.

Maelgwn sighed. “Tell me what
you
think? It seems that everyone has a different opinion of Aurora,
and I can’t even decide in my own thoughts.”

“What do you mean?”

“There are times when Esylt near convinces
me that Aurora is a conniving, untrustworthy bitch, but then I look
at her as she was tonight, and see only her beauty and
gentleness.”

“Surely you can’t believe Esylt. She hates
Aurora.”

“Aye, you are right, but why am I tortured
by doubts? Why do I feel I can never be sure of her?”

Maelgwn could not see his face, but Balyn’s
shrug was plain in the darkness. “Perhaps it is the way of love,
never to be completely sure of the other.”

“I was not speaking of love.”

“Nah, nah, you do not love her. No, you let
her throw you out of your own bed, you keep track of her every
move, you resist any man who suggests that you divorce her, but no,
certainly you do not love her.”

“I don’t need your sarcasm!”

“Well, you did ask for my opinion.”

“Ah, so I did, but now that I have it, it
solves nothing. It is my own heart I battle with.”

“Where is she now?”

“She is eating, and then she will
undoubtedly go to bed.”

“And will you go to her?”

“The gods know, I want to, but I don’t
know... I can’t bear to risk another battle with her like the last
one.”

“All the same, you have no intention of
disavowing the marriage?”

“Why should I? I would have to relinquish
Viroconium, or fight a war with Constantine.”

“It seems it might well be worth it... for
your peace of mind.”

“You think I would have peace of mind if I
returned to her father? Think again. I would dream of her for the
rest of my days.”

“But of course, you do not love her,” Balyn
said slyly.

“I don’t understand the thing you speak of
as love,” Maelgwn said wistfully. “There are times I think this is
a sickness, an obsession.” He groaned. “Perhaps Esylt is right—this
woman is like a poison in my blood.”

Balyn shook his head. “I can’t help you, my
lord. The Roman god, Eros, has never wounded me so severely. But
then, I never had a chance with a woman like Aurora.”

“Tell me,” Maelgwn said softly. “Tell me
what you truly think of her.”

“Aye. She is beautiful and full of passion.
She is the kind of woman men dream of even as they sleep by their
wives.”

“But I can’t make her care for me,” Maelgwn
said bitterly. “I can make her obey me, but I can’t make her love
me back.”

Aurora glanced up at the sky uneasily. It
was already late morning, and she had not been able to depart the
fortress yet. If only it hadn’t taken so long to get the food for
Justina. Convincing the man in charge of the food-stores that she
had a right to a bag of grain and an amphora of oil had not been
easy. It was infuriating. She was queen, but with Esylt overseeing
everything, Aurora was reduced to begging for a share of her
husband’s property.

Hurriedly, Aurora made her way to the
stables. At least the stablemaster was willing to take orders from
her. Paithu should be saddled and ready by now. She found the mare
and began to secure the food to the saddlebags. Hearing heavy
footsteps behind her, she turned.

“My lord,” she gasped out as she saw
Maelgwn.

“Good morning. Are you going riding
today?”

Aurora nodded, trying not to meet his eyes.
Maelgwn was such a shrewd observer, she was afraid he would see her
fear and misunderstand.

“Surely that is not all for you,” he
suggested, pointing to the bag of grain she held in her hand.

“No, no it is not. It is a gift for someone
in the village... a friend.”

“And who might this friend be?” Maelgwn
asked, moving closer to her. The slight smile he had worn earlier
faded, and his eyes searched her face with cool intensity.

Aurora bit her lip, trying to decide. Should
she tell him the truth? Lying would probably only make him more
suspicious.

“Her name is Justina.”

Maelgwn’s dark brows went up in surprise.
“That old crone? What business do you have with her?”

“I went to her for some herbs. We talked and
became friends.”

Maelgwn’s frown deepened. “Herbs, what use
do you have for herbs?”

Aurora struggled to think of something
plausible. It was clear that Maelgwn guessed that she was not
telling him all the truth.

“I... I wanted to make a certain beauty
preparation.”

Maelgwn looked startled. Then his face
relaxed. He reached out and touched Aurora’s cheek gently, his
voice was vibrant with regret.

“Aurora, you don’t need such things. You
have more than enough beauty to break my heart.”

Aurora held her breath, feeling the aching
longing that passed between them. Then it was gone, and Maelgwn’s
voice was light and controlled again.

“Go then, Aurora, but do not come back so
late today. I can’t have them keep the gates open for you every
night.”

Numbly, Aurora let Maelgwn help her mount
her horse. Then she led the mare out of the stable. As she headed
for the gate, her whole body began to tremble. Maelgwn had not
seemed cold and mocking this morning, but tender and concerned. Was
it possible that he wanted to forget the past and try again? Was it
possible that he truly cared for her?

The thought filled Aurora with yearning.
Perhaps there was hope after all. A giddy, light-headed happiness
nearly overtook her—until she remembered Justina’s warning.
Maelgwn’s life might be in danger; she must try to help him. Aurora
sighed. But would he let her? Even if Maelgwn wanted her back in
his bed, that did not mean he trusted her or would listen to
her.

She thought of telling Maelgwn about
Justina’s warning and immediately guessed his response. He would
ask what Esylt would gain by conspiring to overthrow him. He would
point out that his sister already had as much power as any woman in
Gwynedd. Why would Esylt risk everything on the chance that she
would have more authority and honor as Cunedda’s consort than as
Maelgwn’s sister?

The tangle of questions made Aurora’s head
ache as she urged Paithu down the hill. It was obvious that she
needed more proof before she went to her husband. She could only
hope that by today Justina would have learned something more,
something which might prove to Maelgwn that his sister was about to
betray him.

Aurora rode past the village, too deep in
thought to remember to look for Morganna. She cautiously approached
Justina’s hut, set back in a clearing away from the rest of the
village. Everything seemed deserted, and for a moment Aurora
wondered if she had only imagined Justina and the events of the day
before.

She dismounted and approached the hut,
holding her skirt carefully out of the mud. Lifting up the hide
that covered the entrance, she saw a low fire burning in the
fireplace. Aurora went in and set the gifts she had brought on the
table, further reassured by the fragrant odor of herbs which filled
the dwelling. She sat down on one of the stools, to wait beside the
glowing fire.

It was not long before Justina entered with
an armload of freshly cut plants. Aurora had forgotten how tiny the
woman was. Her burden of greens seemed almost as large as she
was.

“Hello,” Aurora said shyly. “I did not think
you would mind me waiting for you.”

Justina gave her little tinkling laugh.
“Mind? No, of course I do not mind.” She dropped her burden on the
table and looked at Aurora intently. “Have you talked to Maelgwn
yet?”

Aurora shook her head. “No. I was afraid he
would not believe me. I need proof.”

Justina sighed. “Maelgwn has ever had a
blindness when it comes to his sister. We must do something to make
him see what she is up to. I have learned a little more at
least.”

“What is that?” Aurora asked eagerly.

“The red-haired man’s name is Urlain, and he
met with a man from the fortress named Grimerwyn.”

Aurora frowned. “Grimerwyn was once Esylt’s
lover, but he fell out of favor when we returned from Manau
Gotodin.”

“Do you think that is enough of a connection
to convince Maelgwn?”

Aurora got up from the stool and paced. “I
don’t know. If only he was more reasonable about his sister, if
only he trusted me.”

Justina brought her twisted fingers to her
chin, considering. “I would think that a woman who looked like you
would be able to convince a man of anything.”

“No, that is not true,” Aurora said in a
pained voice. “I tried to seduce my husband once, and it only made
him angry.”

“Well, if you cannot use your beauty, then
you must convince him with words. Or, there is another way I have
thought of.”

“What?”

“If Esylt were to die,” Justina said slowly.
“Then whatever she is planning with Cunedda would end there.”

Aurora stared into Justina’s ravaged face.
“Are you suggesting that I murder Esylt?”

Justina shrugged. “I am a healing woman, and
there are certain potions... if used correctly, no one can
tell.”

Aurora shuddered. “And I would be the one to
give it to her?”

Justina nodded. “You are the only one who
could get close enough.”

“I cannot do it,” Aurora said firmly. “I
cannot kill anyone so cruelly, even Esylt.”

“Aye, you are right,” Justina sighed. “It is
better not to fight evil with evil. You must go to Maelgwn... you
must talk to him... and soon.”

“I will,” Aurora said decisively. “I will
tell him what you told me.”

“Of course, you can’t mention my name,”
Justina warned.

“Why not?”

“You are the queen. Esylt dare not touch
you. But me—it would be easy for me to die accidently while picking
herbs.”

Aurora stared into Justina’s eyes. They
seemed weaker today, as if a film covered their luminous dark
pupils. “But if I can’t tell Maelgwn how I learned these things, he
will never believe me!” Aurora began pacing again, moving
restlessly in the tiny room.”If I could tell Maelgwn what you know,
then he could protect you and Esylt would not be able to hurt
you.”

“No!” Justina cried in a frightened voice.
“Esylt knows things—some of the ancient spells, the old magic—there
is no way Maelgwn can protect me from her.”

Aurora exhaled a shaky breath. She had
always suspected that Esylt had evil powers. Now Justina was
telling her that it was true. Was there no way to fight her? No way
to make Maelgwn see that his sister was deceitful and wicked?
Aurora struggled to shake off the spell of fear. She must be
strong; she must go to Maelgwn and make him understand the danger
he was in.

“I will talk to Maelgwn,” she told Justina
resolutely. “Somehow I will make him believe me.”

Aurora made a move to go—determined to face
Maelgwn before she lost her nerve. Before she reached the door,
Justina stopped her.

“Here you have brought me gifts, and I have
given you nothing in return,” she said, gesturing to the food
Aurora had left on the table. “I must repay you.”

Aurora waited while Justina went to the
corner of the room and dug in the ground there. She returned with a
little round jar made of bronze. She placed it in Aurora’s hand,
closing her fingers over the faceted edges.

“Here—in case you need it.”

“What is it?” Aurora asked uneasily.

“It is the special mixture I told you about.
No, do not give it back,” she said as Aurora shook her head. “You
do not have to use it, but you never know, there may come a time
that you will need it. It only takes a pinch in a cup of wine or
beer to make Esylt fall into the sleep that lasts forever.”

“Thank you,” Aurora said softly. She could
not understand why tears came to her eyes. Impulsively, she gave
Justina a kiss, and then hurried out the door.

Aurora returned to the fortress, shaking
with tension. She left Paithu at the stables and went looking for
Maelgwn. She found him in his office in the corner of the barracks.
He seemed to be studying something on the table in front of him,
and he did not look up as she entered. For a moment Aurora stood
quietly, looking around the large room. The table Maelgwn was
sitting at was in the corner by the fireplace, and next to him were
shelves with dusty maps and a few parchment books. On the other
side of the room there was a pile of sheepskins and blankets where
Gwenaseth said Maelgwn often slept.