'You know it, my lady,' said Neufmarche, holding her in his gaze. 'I suspect you've known it for some time.'
Merian nodded. 'You must march against the king.'
'Surely not,' complained Garran. 'We cannot hope to achieve anything against William and all his men.'
'Perhaps not,' replied Bernard, 'but that is my-that is our-only choice. If we hope to hold onto what we have, we must defeat the king-or at least hold him off until peace can be reached.'
'A peace,' volunteered Merian, 'that will include justice for Elfael and pardon for all those who have fought for what is right.'
'Amnistie royale, oui,' replied the baron.
'But we risk everything,' Garran pointed out.
'Our only hope of keeping what we have is to risk it all,' agreed Neufmarche.
Garran fell silent, contemplating the enormous jolt his life and reign as king had just taken.
'And that, I suspect,' continued the baron after a moment, 'is why the Welsh noblemen have come.'
'Cymry noblemen?' said Merian. 'Here?'
'Mais, oui,' Neufmarche assured her, 'it is the reason I intruded just now. A number of Welsh noblemen have arrived, and are seeking audience with the king. I asked Luc to bid them wait a little because I wanted to speak with my son-in-law first.' He smiled. 'So, you see, c'est fortuit.'
'Non,' corrected Merian, 'l'est la providence.' She turned to her brother, freshening her appeal in Welsh. 'Don't you see, Garran? Riding to the aid of Elfael is the only way. And with the baron's help we cannot fail.'
The young king was far from convinced, but as client to the baron, he knew he must do whatever his overlord commanded. Still, he sought to put off his consent a little longer. 'Perhaps,' he suggested, 'before going any further, we should see who has come, and hear what they have to say.'
'They have been brought to the hall,' said Baron Bernard, 'and the serving maids instructed to give them refreshment.' He held out his arm to Merian who, after a slight hesitation, took it. Garran went ahead of them, and the baron followed with Merian on his arm. As soon as Garran had left the room, the baron turned to her and whispered, 'Lady Merian,' he said, 'hear me-we have not much time. I do most humbly beg your pardon, for I have not always had your best interest at heart. I pray your forgiveness, my lady, and vow that in the days ahead I will make every effort to find a way to make up for my past mistakes.'
'You are forgiven, my lord baron,' replied Merian nicely. 'What is more, your determination to aid Bran and Elfael absolves a great many trespasses. I pray now that we are not too late.'
'So pray we all,' replied the baron.
They followed King Garran and his seneschal into the hall, where they found the benches full of strangers. Some of the king's men had already gathered to host the visitors, and all rose to their feet when the young king appeared.
'My lord king,' said one of the visitors, stepping forward at once, 'in the name of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, I give you good greeting. I am Lord Llewelyn of Aberffraw at your service.' He gave a small bow of deference. 'I present to you, my lord, King Gruffydd of Gwynedd'-a tall, lean man stepped forward-'and with him, my lord, King Dafydd ap Owain, lord of Snowdon'-a stern-faced battle chief stepped forward and, putting a hand to the hilt of his sword, gave a nod of his head-'and Iestyn ap Gwrgan, king of Gwent.' The last of the great Welsh noblemen stepped forward and made his obeisance to the young king.
'Peace, and welcome to you all,' said Garran, deeply impressed that such renowned men should have come to beg audience with him. 'You honour me with your presence, my lords. Please, be seated again, and fill the cups. I am eager to hear what has brought you to Eiwas and to my hall.'
'Lord Garran, if it please you,' said the lanky nobleman called Gruffydd, 'I speak for all of us when I say that we are grateful for your friendship and would like nothing more than to sit with you and drink your health and that of your people.' His eyes shifted to the baron and he hesitated for a moment, then continued, 'Unfortunately, we cannot partake of that estimable luxury. Time presses. Do not think me rude, therefore, if I decline your hospitality. We are passing through your lands on our way to Elfael.'
'Elfael,' remarked Garran with a glance at his sister, who was quietly translating for Baron Neufmarche. 'It does seem to be a busy place of late.'
'I will be brief,' said Gruffydd. 'We go to join forces with Bran ap Brychan to aid him in his fight to reclaim the throne of Elfael from the Ffreinc. As God is my witness, Lord Bran has done me a very great service which I can never hope to repay in full. But I go to do what I can. Moreover, it has been borne upon me with some considerable force'-here he glanced at Lord Llewelyn-'that if any of us would be free in our own land, we must all be free. To that end, I have persuaded these lords to join me.' He put out a hand to his august companions and their commanders, who filled the benches at the board. He stepped before Garran to address him more directly. 'I would persuade you, too, my lord.' He regarded the young king steadily. 'Join us, Rhi Garran. Help us right a great wrong and win justice for Elfael, and all who call Cymru home, against the Ffreinc and their overreaching king.'
One of the lords stepped near to Gruffydd just then and whispered something in his ear. The king of Gwynedd squared himself, turned, and gazed boldly at the baron. 'It seems I have spoken too freely,' Gruffydd said. 'I am informed that we have a Ffreinc baron among us. Had I known that he was here-'
'Truly,' said Garran, 'there is no harm done.' He turned and beckoned the baron and his sister nearer. 'My lords, I present Baron Neufmarche, my liege lord, and with him, my sister Lady Merian.'
'My lord baron,' said Gruffydd in stiff acknowledgement of Neufmarche. His hand went to the sword at his side and stayed there.
'As the baron is my overlord,' Garran continued, 'it is well that he has heard your intentions for himself.'
'How so?' said Gruffydd suspiciously.
'For the fact that this was the very course he himself was urging only moments before we joined you here.'
'Mes seigneurs et mes rois,' said the baron. 'C'est vrai.' Merian translated for the Welsh kings, and explained that the baron had defied Red William's summons and had come to Eiwas instead, and that he and Garran had just been discussing the need to aid the rebels of Elfael in their struggle against the crown. After a quick consultation with Bernard, she concluded, 'Baron Neufmarche wishes you to know that he stands willing to pledge his men to the aid of Elfael, and asks only to be taken at his word.'
This provoked a hasty and heated discussion among the Welsh noblemen. Merian watched as the debate seemed to roll back and forth. It was swiftly over, and the Welsh lords turned to face the baron with their answer. Gruffydd said, 'We have argued your offer, Lord Baron, and it is most unexpected, to be sure-but no less welcome for that. We will accept your pledge and thank you for it.'
The baron expressed his gratitude to the Welsh kings for placing their trust in him, and then, through Merian, asked, 'How soon can you be ready to march?'
'We are already on the march,' replied Gruffydd. 'Our men are on their way to Elfael even now.'
'Then,' replied the baron, when he had received Gruffydd's answer, 'we must make haste to overtake them. Among my people, it is counted a very great shame for a commander to lead from the rear.'
CHAPTER 39
Rhoddi scrambled through the upper branches of the greenwood canopy, skittering along the hidden path of the sky way, to drop deftly into the little clearing where the Grellon had set up camp after abandoning Cel Craidd the day before. He searched among the sleeping bodies huddled in their cloaks on the ground for the one he sought, and hastened to kneel beside it. 'Bran!' he said, leaning close. 'Owain says to come at once.'
Bran sat up. It was early still, the feeble grey light barely penetrating the heavy foliage of oak and elm round about. Reaching instinctively for his bow, he rose to his feet. 'Trouble?'
Rhoddi shook his head. 'There's something moving on the King's Road,' he said quietly, 'something you should see.'
'Will,' called Bran softly, rousing the forester, 'begin waking the others and get everyone ready to move. I'll send word back.' To Rhoddi, he said, 'Lead the way.'
