A Memory of Love

'And you liked it?' Oth questioned Glynn.

'Aye, 'tis why I went again,' the young man replied.

The two older men laughed. 'Well, in that you are your father's son,' they told him.

Then Oth said, 'Since you've made a beginning of it, we'll teach you what you need to know, young Glynn. Acre is as good a place as any for a young fellow to sow his wild oats.'

'But first I must find Edward,' Glynn said, all business again.

'We'll find him,' Oth promised.

And they did, although it took almost a full week. During the hot days they sought out de Beaulieu, while in the evenings Glynn's sweet voice filled Mistress Nada's inn and poured out into the streets. Word of the young minstrel spread quickly, and the inn was packed with men of all lands listening to Glynn as he sang ballads old and familiar and some that he had himself composed. The inn's guests quickly found a new favorite in 'The Warrior Woman,' which Glynn had composed about his sister. The serving maids had taken to practically tiptoeing when Glynn was entertaining. They had also taken to coming into his chamber at night to pleasure both him and Dewi while Oth was with Mistress Nada.

'The woman's insatiable,' Oth complained to Glynn and Dewi the day they found Edward de Beaulieu.

Edward immediately recognized Oth and Dewi, but at first he did not recognize their companion. Glynn was no longer a young boy but a man. 'What,' he demanded, very surprised, 'are you doing here?'

'Where is my sister?' Glynn demanded.

'She is dead of her own foolishness,' Edward replied bitterly. 'Come, sit down out of the sun, Glynn. How did you leave Haven?'

'Haven stands as it did the day you departed it with my sister. Your cousin Rafe and your bride-to-be, Katherine, eagerly await your return,' Glynn said rancorously. 'Tell me of my sister. How did she die? Were you not there?'

'We were at Carthage,' Edward began, signaling his servants to bring cool wine for his guests. 'I was ill with fever and a terrible flux of the belly and bowels. Rhonwyn nursed me devotedly, only allowing Enit to sit with me a few hours each night so she might sleep. All around us men were dying like flies, but Rhonwyn moved our tent away from the others and kept it and me scrupulously clean. I owed her a debt for saving my life. King Louis died, and Charles of Anjou made peace with the infidels. Prince Edward would not have it and made plans to move on to Acre.

'Rhonwyn had been penned up with me for weeks. I suggested she go with Sir Fulk to play at sword practice. I saw she was well garbed for it, though she argued with me because of the heat, but then, properly dressed, she and Fulk went off to the practice field. Shortly after, the infidels began one of their little attacks on the encampment. It was routine. They did it each day. It was never more than a skirmish, and nought ever came of it. There were rarely any injuries and certainly no casualties.

'Rhonwyn obviously decided to bloody her sword in real combat, and Fulk, it appears, went with her. Her headpiece ensured that no one knew she was a woman. They say she rallied the soldiers magnificently. It became a serious battle, and the infidel was beaten back. Unfortunately Rhonwyn got cut off from the main body of soldiers. She was captured, and Fulk, riding after her, was taken, too. I spent four days with Sir Hugo and Sir Robert seeking any trace of her. There was none. It is the opinion of those who know about such things that she was probably found out, then raped and murdered. She might have been sold into slavery somewhere, but that, it seems, is unlikely, for she was not a virgin,' Edward de Beaulieu finished.

'My sister is not dead,' Glynn ap Llywelyn said. 'If she were, I should sense it in my heart.'

'Glynn, I am sorry,' Edward said, reaching out to the young man whom he genuinely liked.

'She is not dead!' Glynn shouted. 'And I will find her, Edward.'

'If you find any trace of her, it will be nought but her bones. I have prayed for her each day since she was lost to me,' Edward said angrily.

'You have prayed tor her while seeking another bride,' Glynn replied furiously. 'And Rafe de Beaulieu lords it over Haven, even as his sister waits meekly for your return!'

'Rhonwyn should have waited meekly for my return,' Edward said.

'If you had wanted Rhonwyn to await your return, then you should have forbidden her to accompany you, Edward. I think it pleased your vanity to have her with you as the lady Eleanor was with Prince Edward. It was my sister, I know, who first expressed enthusiasm for the crusade, and not you. Rhonwyn, ap Gruffydd's daughter, made the king's son look favorably upon you, and Edward Plantagenet will be England's king far sooner than later, we all know,' Glynn said with devastating veracity.

'Am I to be condemned then by you, a mere singer of ballads, a Welsh outlaw's bastard get, for considering the future of my family?' Edward de Beaulieu demanded. He would not be made to feel guilty!

Glynn smiled scornfully. 'When I find my sister, I shall tell her the kind of man she is wed to, although I already suspect Rhonwyn knew, for even I could see you were not a well-matched pair. Had you been, perhaps you might have mourned my sister's loss instead of hurrying to make a match with your cousin Katherine.'

'Your sister was a coldhearted bitch,' Edward declared heatedly. 'She would scarcely allow me my husbandly rights. Why do you think there were no children? My seed is strong. I have fathered my share of bastards, Glynn, but Rhonwyn would not let me near her. At least Katherine is eager for children and will give me legitimate heirs.'

'How convenient that my sister should suddenly disappear then,' Glynn said. 'Or did you arrange her mysterious disappearance?'

'Do you think me so without honor, then?' Edward demanded.

'Yes,' Glynn ap Llywelyn said deprecatingly. Then he smiled a silent challenge at his brother-in-law.

Edward de Beaulieu's hand went to where his sword would have been in battle. His eyes flashed irately at the younger man.

'My lord,' Oth's voice broke in amid the tension. 'Glynn has not the skill to fight you. He is angry beyond reason, as you well may understand. You are the man in this matter.'

'Get from my sight,' Edward said to Glynn. 'I do not want to see yo u ever again!'

'I am not afraid to fight you!' Glynn declared passionately.

'Come, lad,' Oth said softly. 'He will certainly kill you, and then who will there be to find our Rhonwyn?'

'I place a Welsh curse upon you, Edward de Beaulieu,' the boy said. 'May you have only daughters!' Then he turned and left the courtyard.

Edward laughed mockingly. 'Would that his sister had shown me such passion,' he said to Oth. 'Take him home before he gets himself killed. Perhaps ap Gruffydd can do something with his son. He is no longer my responsibility, nor do I want him.'

Oth nodded silently, and then followed after his young master. While he had managed to keep Glynn from getting himself killed, he was in total agreement with the lad. The Welshman had always thought de Beaulieu coldhearted, but now he was certain of it. Still, what could they do now? If the Englishman was telling the truth, and there really was no reason to think he wasn't, then where had Rhonwyn gotten to? Thinking about it hurt his brain, and when they reached their inn he gladly followed Nada to her chambers, as was her custom in the afternoon heat.

She rubbed his head, taking the ache away, and he pleasured her into temporary repletion, saying afterward, 'I want to buy you a gift, Nada. What would you like, remembering I am a poor man?'

She laughed her husky laugh. 'A gold bangle will not harm your finances, Oth, but you must remember I wear only gold ornaments that come from the caliphate of Cinnebar. Their goldsmiths are truly without equal. Later this afternoon when it is cooler, we shall shop together at the only merchant in all of Acre who carries jewelry from