Gambit of the Glass Crowns: Vol. I of epic fantasy The Sundered Kingdoms Trilogy (16 page)

“Rhiannon and her party left immediately after the clansmeet. Ceridwen would not have had the opportunity to speak with her.”

“Then…‌I could travel to Arlais tonight.”

“Your uncle would certainly grant you leave, would he not?”

He let out a long, lingering sigh. “My uncle‌—‌I will need time to think of how to broach the subject. He will not want me to leave his sight.” Connor remained silent for a few moments. “You avoided my question.”

“Hm?” Gawain looked at him.

“Why have you not yet married?”

He supposed he had not found the woman he saw himself spending the rest of his life with‌—‌sitting amidst tomes describing the world as they knew it, speaking of things which he had not spoken of to any other. But he did not have to explain himself because at that very moment Duke and Lady Helygen appeared in the doorway.

“Connor!” called Rhodri. “It is good to see you out of bed. I was frightened for you.”

He smiled and, with help from Gawain, rose to his feet. “I am all right now.”

“Aye.” Rhodri smiled, giving him a bear hug.

Connor looked to Siana. “I assume I have you to thank as well as Ceridwen for my recovery, sister.”

“I am glad to see that you are better,” Siana said as she walked toward him with open arms. “I wish we could stay in Cærwyn for a time. I would like to oversee your health a while longer.”

“You are leaving?” Connor turned to Rhodri.

“My duties in Helygen call as always.”

“You will have to come visit us soon,” Siana said. “We see each other so seldom. You could come to Helygen for the spring, to see the flowers in bloom.”

“Yes, it has been so long since I’ve seen the flowers of Helygen, or the willow groves.”

“I am sure the trees miss the boy who used to climb in their boughs.” Siana’s eyes held a twinkle as she spoke, not unlike the spark in Ceridwen’s eyes.

“Can you hear the trees in Helygen?”

“Alas, I have been away from Arlais for too long. I fear I can no longer hear them.”

“I shall take my leave.” Gawain gave the three of them a courteous bow. “And leave the three of you to yourselves.”

“No, please stay.” Connor placed his hand on Gawain’s forearm.

“We are to join the high king’s table to sup before we leave,” Rhodri continued.

“Are you?” Though Connor spoke to his brother, Gawain noticed the boy’s gaze remained on him.

“Will you join us?” Siana asked.

“No, I am tired,” he said, rubbing his shoulder. “I feel I should rest.”

“It is best that you return to your bedroom then. You need to heal.”

“I will come see you off before you leave.” Connor smiled as he led Gawain out into the corridor.

* * *

Connor knew Arlais was, of course, the most logical route, but traveling there would take some finagling on his part. Uncle Alric was overprotective of him as it was. He would be lucky if he let him outside the castle walls. Under normal circumstances, Connor took comfort in his uncle’s careful watch, but it would become an annoyance once he spoke to him of leaving Cærwyn.

With Bronwen as queen, Connor felt even more detached from the castle than he had previously. It was not that he disliked her too terribly, but he had the distinct feeling she did not care for him, even though they had not spent much time together. The glances she gave him revealed more than her courteous exterior would have him believe. Knowing her stance on how to deal with followers of the Old Ways hardly gave him cause to be fond of the girl. Certainly she had heard the whispers of the servants about him by now.

When Connor reached the top of the stairway, he glanced at the end of the hall: Ceridwen’s door. He took a deep breath and walked toward it. The room no longer had the life it once had. She never decorated it to a large degree, but without the few books and trinkets she kept, it seemed so empty despite the usual castle adornments. The spirit she gave the room was lost.

He closed the door, shoulder aching, and returned to his room. While he was out, a servant had put another log on the fire, so the room remained pleasantly warm. He closed his door and smiled when he saw the book Ceridwen had given him on the bedside table. His studies had not yet ended. Exhausted from the activities of the day, he put off his reading until later. He knew he needed rest.

The warmth of the bed called to him with its heavy blankets and enveloping mattress. He struggled to take off his tunic, and he let it drop to the floor. He crawled under the blankets head first, as he often would as a child. The bed linens were still warm. Completely surrounded in a cocoon of blankets, Connor fell soundly to sleep. He felt the visions of his dreams wash over him like the early evening tides of the Fawrion, and soon found himself immersed in the waters of his mind.

He stood in an unfamiliar place. There was a sound of celebration in the distance, and he felt compelled to attend. He walked, now feeling the path beneath his feet.

As he neared the clearing, he detected the smell of roasting meat. It made his mouth water. People gathered all around, dancing in a circle, arms raised in the air. Lady Rhiannon and her party, including Ceridwen, were also there.

Connor smiled and waved, but Ceridwen did not notice him.

He walked down the slope toward the dancers and continued around the outskirts of the area to meet Ceridwen. He noticed the dancers had stopped dancing, but even more curiously, the fire in the center of the circle had simply stopped. It still burned, but it was motionless.

A cold shriek cut through the silence, quaking throughout his body. When he turned, he saw that the Lady and her party had vanished. Eyes leered out from the forest. He stepped backward, joining the dancers in the circle.

They were surrounded by soldiers.

The roar of the men echoed throughout the forest as they rushed the group. When the first sword swipe came toward him, Connor fell backward, putting his arms in front of himself for defense.

He hit the ground and waited for the imminent strike, eyes clenched shut as to not witness the blow. After several moments passed, the sounds died down and Connor felt nothing. He slowly opened his eyes and realized that he was, once again, at the base of the oak tree.

Ceridwen sat beside him. But neither Rhiannon nor her party were in sight.

“Ceridwen?”

She looked at him.

“Why?” Connor could feel the tears running down his cheeks.

She only smiled.

“Why?” Connor asked again, anger accompanying his tears as he clutched her shoulders.

Ceridwen took his hand and placed a book in it.

Connor woke abruptly, the pain of his wound excruciating and hit the floor with an undignified thud. He, thankfully, had been clutching a pillow. He realized, however, he held something in his grip: a small, leather bound book; a book different from the one on his bedside table. But where had it come from? It must have been tucked under the pillow, and he had not noticed when he climbed into the bed.

He flipped through its pages and instantly recognized Ceridwen’s handwriting. It was a diary, the first entry written on the day she came to Cærwyn. He quickly flipped to the back of the book. Her last entry was the day before. It was not a diary entry, but a letter addressed to him.

To you, my dear Connor,

You must know I never suspected this fate to befall you. In all my visions of your future, never did I imagine this would be the path given to you, but you must know She gives us only that from which we can garner strength and understanding. You will see that before too long, I trust. Be strong.

I know that which haunts your thoughts. You stand upon a precipice, and you must be careful not to let carelessness pull you from this world.

You have many great things ahead of you, dear child. You must not let the curse take you before you accomplish the greatness of which I speak. I fear to say more, lest I alter fate’s plans for you.

Take comfort in knowing you are not alone.

I am with you always,
Ceridwen

Connor took no comfort in this last advice from her. As usual, only half of which he understood. It had, however, heightened his resolve to go to Arlais. She could not expect that he would not seek her out to obtain all that she knew about his future.