The Beast of Caer Baddan (75 page)

“Prince Owain put a curse on King Cadfan's head,” said Annon, his voice cautious and filled with awe.

“Really!” the king cried. “That is why there are all these hushed voices about, and the people quake in their shoes!”

Owain laughed at his father's teasing.

“You knew,” Annon said, annoyed. “Well the Lords of the Dumnonni are now convinced that Prince Gadeon should be king.”

“Now that is good,” King Irael replied. “It bothered me when I heard that the boy was being passed over in favor of Prince Cadfan. Is he a good-hearted person?”

Annon indicated that he had no idea.

“I believe he is, Da,” Owain replied.

After Annon went to bed, Owain was again alone with his father, and glad for the oportunity to talk. He wanted answers about the assassin attempt.

“It seems Prince Cadfan, or King Cadfan I suppose, slipped passed the guards as they were changing for the third watch,” the king said. “He must have hidden in the garden for over an hour, waiting until the guards were less alert, and then sneaked into Leola's outer room, by the open window.”

“Perhaps they should be moved upstairs,” Owain mused.

“Leola likes her rooms and does not want to the climb stairs,” King Irael said. “And I am certain that your little performance in the Dumnonni circle as eliminated any threat to their lives.”

“True,” Owain replied, with a smile. “I believe it has. But I still wish for more fortification.”

“Well the Captain of the Guard is reorganizing the watch so that the men are not changed all at once. That shall make it harder for expert murderers to get in unseen. It was very fortunate that Leola had a knife on her, for I am certain that she stabbed him three times.”

Owain raised his eyebrows at these words, for his thoughts rushed to the conversation he had with her in the sitting room. She had asked him how to kill a prince, and he had obligingly taught her.

“Where was he stabbed?” Owain asked.

“In the stomach and abdomen I believe,” King Irael replied. “Very deep, nasty wounds. She is a strong woman, but I think fury made her stronger still.”

Owain laughed.

Leola had taken his words to heart, but something told him that she had already killed before.

“She is very strong, but please, continue,” Owain said aloud.

“The guards heard her screaming and went in and dragged Prince Cadfan out. I was woken and went down myself. I got the story from her when she stopped weeping, and ordered his head removed. I think he might have been nearly dead by then, but you must ask the Captain for particulars.”

Owain nodded.

There was much he must inquire of when he arrived in Baddan, but at least he would be home with his family.

“Thank you, Da,” he said. “One more thing I must speak to you about.”

“Of course,” King Irael replied. “What is it?”

“I was thinking about what you said last winter,” Owain said. “How you wished to retire.”

“Oh, do not worry about that, my son,” the king said, with a hearty laugh. “I know how you are not ready to leave the Army.”

“But I have thought it over,” Owain said. “Your heart always troubles you, and I do not want you to work yourself to death.”

“No, no,” King Irael replied. “I am perfectly healthy and shall continue to rule like you said. Do not worry for my sake, Son.”

Owain was shocked by these words.

His father had been weak, ill even, for Owain's entire life, and now the king was not only alive with energy but claiming to be healthy.

“But your heart,” Owain said, confused.

“I have not had any pain in my chest for over a week,” the king replied. “My heart is perfectly healthy. I might even live to be sixty.”

Regardless of his relief and pleasure at this news, Owain could only stare at his father in surprise.

“It is Leola,” Owain said, with a wide grin dancing on his face.

King Irael gave him an innocent look, as if he did not know what his son was talking about.

“Well,” Owain continued. “It is either Leola or it is Gratianna with her wishing stone. Which one?”

King Irael burst in to laughter.

“I confess!” he cried. “It is Leola. She has made me drink boiled hawthorn three or even four times a day the last two months. Foul, disgusting stuff, but it does work.”

“Of course,” Owain replied, teasing. “It would be Leola who could get you to actually take your medicine.”

“But you see that as I am no longer in danger, you should not have to give up the Army for me,” the king said. “I am very proud of you, my little Owain. I have always been. But I am now even more so. You are the greatest warrior. You shall soon be greater still.”

Owain wondered what his father meant by this, but decided against inquiring. It was enough for him to know that his father thought so highly of him, that Owain did not care about the particulars of these prophetic words.

The morning found Owain and his party packed and ready to leave for Baddan.

“I shall be in Baddan in two weeks,” King Irael said, as he embraced Owain. “It seems I am quite behind in the affairs of the land.”

“Your heart is healed,” Owain said. “That's what matters.”

“I think both our hearts are healed,” his father replied.

Owain knew well the truth of this and was glad that his father recognized it in him as well.

When Owain and Annon arrived at the castle in Baddan, Queen Madge greeted them at the front door.

“God keep you, Queen,” Owain said, with a respectful bow of the head.

“God keep you, Dominae,” Queen Madge replied.

She gave him a kiss on each cheek.

“How is Leola?” Owain asked.

“She is well,” Queen Madge replied. “But she is in need of her husband.”

Owain nodded in understanding.

“And you, my darling,” the queen said, placing both hands on Annon's smooth face. “I was going to go to Caer Gloui to get you. Your father requires your presence.”

“Ah, no,” Annon replied.

He squirmed in discomfort as his mother kissed him and ran her fingers through his loose hair.

“Would that be possible, Dominae?” the queen asked.

“Of course,” Owain replied.

“Excellent,” the queen said. “Come, then. Gratianna is running around here somewhere. She would not forgive me if I kept you all to myself.”

As they went inside, Annon complained to Owain.

“Why did you not make up an excuse to keep me here?” he asked.

Owain smiled and shook his head.

“One day, you shall be King of Pengwern,” said Owain, “and trust me, you will value what you learn under your father's tutorage.”

Annon let out a defeated sigh.

“Here is the girl,” Queen Madge said.

Gratianna rushed through the front hall and threw herself into Owain's open arms.

“Tada!
Tada! Tada!” she cried. “How I missed you! I love you! I love you! I love you!”

“I love you too, my precious one,” he said.

Owain scooped her up and kissed her round cheeks.

“Oh, my!” he cried. “You are getting big!” And he pretended to have trouble lift her up.

“I have been practicing the harp every day!” she squealed. “Queen Madge says I am getting quite good.”

“That is true,” the queen said. “She sounds marvelous.”

“I shall hear you play this evening then,” Owain replied. “Where is your mama?”

“In the garden,” Gratianna said.

Owain set her back down and directed her to lead the way, leaving Annon to the doting of his mother.

Chapter Sixty One: Husband and Wife

“Mama! Mama! Mama!” Gratianna cried.

“What is wrong,
Dearest?” Leola asked.

“Tada’s here!” and the little girl burst into a long stream of giggles.

“Oh!” Leola gasped.

She came to her feet and looked up where Gratianna pointed at an approaching Owain.

“You have returned,” she said, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Yea, Beauty,” Owain said.

Somehow, Leola felt that he was different, changed, for there seemed to be a quiet peace about his mien that she had never seen before.

“Did anything special happen?” she asked.

“Something did happen but it is a story for another day,” Owain replied, with a smile. “Prince Annon is here with me and Queen Madge shall take him back to Pengwern when she leaves.”

Leola was glad for this, for although she had appreciated the queen's company for the last four days, what she really wanted was to be alone in Owain's arms.

“I saw my father in Corin,” he continued.

Leola nodded. “He left three days ago,” Leola replied. “He said that it was important, but he promised to drink the hawthorn with every meal.”

“I believe he has kept that oath,” Owain said, with a laugh. “He was healthier then I have ever seen him.”

“I am glad,” she said.
“Oh, Owain!”

Leola gasped, fighting back the tears.

He took her cheeks in his broad hands and stared down into her eyes, and she felt that he could fill her with his strength.