Tuck

The two climbed up the rope ladder onto the interconnected arrangement of limbs and boughs, planks and platforms that the Grellon maintained to move easily and quickly to and from the King's Road overlook. A swift and precarious dash brought them to the place where Owain was perched high up among the rocks on the bank of the cliff overlooking the road. 'What is it?' asked Bran, climbing up beside him. 'More troops?'

'Aye,' replied Owain, 'it is more troops, Sire. But there is something odd about these ones.' He pointed down the road to where a column of knights was just coming into view. 'A scouting party passed just a little while ago. I think this is the main body just coming now.'

'Ffreinc, yes,' said Bran. 'I see them. What is so odd about them?'

'The scouts were Cymry,' said Owain.

'Cymry!' said Bran. 'Are you sure?'

'As sure as I can be. They were Welsh-born, I swear on Job's bones-and all of them carried longbows same as us.'

'Not good,' muttered Bran. 'Our own countrymen going to join King William-not good at all.' Before his companion could offer a reply, Bran grabbed his arm. 'Look!' He pointed down to the second rank of mounted soldiers riding behind a double row of men-at-arms on foot. 'I know that man-I know his standard… Saints in heaven!'

'Who is it?'

'Wait…' said Bran, straining forward. 'Let them come a little closer…' He slapped the rock with his hand. 'Yes!'

'Do you recognize someone, my lord?'

'It is Baron Neufmarche-or I am the archbishop of Canterbury,' said Bran, still squinting down into the road, 'and, God help us, that is Merian beside him.'

'Are you sure?'

Bran squirmed around on the rock and called down to Rhoddi waiting below. 'Go get Scarlet! Tell him to bring every man who can draw a bow. Tell him I want them to be ready to fight when they get here. We'll have to take them on the fly. Hurry, man! Go!'

In the road below, the soldiers came on, slowing as they neared the place where the road narrowed beneath the overhanging rocks. 'Do you think they know we're here?' wondered Owain.

'Perhaps,' replied Bran, withdrawing an arrow from the bundle and nocking it to the string. 'Come closer, proud baron,' he whispered, pressing the belly of the bow forward. 'Just a little closer and you're mine.'

But when the riders resumed their march, it was not Neufmarche who advanced-it was Merian, and another, riding beside her. The two advanced together.

'Who is that with her?' said Owain.

Bran stared hard at the mounted warrior beside Merian.

After a moment, Owain observed, 'He doesn't look like a Ffreinc.'

'He isn't,' concluded Bran. 'He is Cymry.'

'Do you know him?'

Bran lowered the bow and eased the string. 'That is Gruffydd, Lord of Gwynedd. Though what he is doing here in the company of Baron Neufmarche is a very mystery.'

'Maybe Neufmarche has taken them captive,' suggested Owain.

By way of reply, Bran drew and loosed an arrow into the road. It struck the dirt a few paces ahead of the two oncoming riders. Merian reined up. She lifted her face to the rock walls rising to either side of the road and then, placing a hand to her mouth, called, 'Rhi Bran! Are you here?' She waited a moment, then said, 'Bran if you are here, show yourself. We have come to talk to you.'

Owain and Bran exchanged a puzzled glance. Bran moved to rise, but Owain put a hand on his arm. 'Don't do it, my lord. It might be a trick.'

'From anyone but Merian,' replied Bran. 'I will talk to them-keep an arrow on the string just in case.'

Bran stood on the rock. He lofted the bow and called down to the riders in the road. 'Here I am.'

'Bran!' cried Merian. 'Thank God-'

'Are you well, Merian? Have they hurt you?'

'I am well, Bran,' she called, beaming up at him. 'I have brought help.' She twisted in the saddle and indicated the ordered ranks of troops behind her. 'We have come to help you.'

'And Neufmarche,' said Bran. 'What is he doing here?'

'He has joined us,' said Gruffydd, speaking up. 'Greetings, Rhi Bran.'

'Greetings, Gruffydd. I never thought to see you again.'

'For that I am full sorry,' replied the lord of Gwynedd. 'But I beg the chance to make it up to you. I have brought friends-and, yes, Baron Neufmarche is one of them.'

'You will forgive me if I am not wholly persuaded,' remarked Bran.

'Could you come down, do you think?' asked Gruffydd. 'I grow hoarse and stiff-necked shouting up at you like this.'

Slinging his bow across his chest, Bran prepared to meet them on the road. 'Keep an eye on them,' he said to Owain. 'When Scarlet and the others get here, position the men on the rocks there and there'-he pointed along the rocky outcropping-'and tell them to be ready to let fly if things are not what they seem.'

'God with you, my lord,' said Owain, putting an arrow on the string. 'We'll wait for your signal.'

Bran lowered himself quickly down the rocks, dropping from ledge to ledge and lighting on the edge of the road a hundred paces or so from where Merian and Gruffydd were waiting. Behind them stood the ranks of the baron's knights and men-at-arms, and Bran was relieved to see that none of them had moved and seemed content merely to stand looking on. Unslinging his bow, he put an arrow on the string and advanced cautiously, keeping an eye on the troops for any sign of movement.

He had walked but a few dozen paces when Merian spurred her horse forward and galloped to him, throwing herself from the saddle and into his embrace. Her mouth found his, and she kissed him hard and with all the pent-up passion of their weeks apart. 'Oh, Bran, I have missed you. I'm sorry I could not come sooner.'

'Merian, I-'

'But, look!' she said, kissing him again. 'I've brought an army.' She flung out a hand to those behind her. 'They've come to help save Elfael.'

'Truly,' replied Bran, still not entirely trusting this turn of fortune. 'How many are with you?'

'I don't know-over five hundred, I think. Baron Neufmarche has come in on our side, and Rhi Gruffydd is here, and Garran and-'

'Votre dame est la plus persuasif,' said Neufmarche, reining up just then. King Garran rode beside him.

'It is true,' said Garran. 'My sister can be very persuasive. She would not rest until we agreed to come help you.'

King Gruffydd rode up and took his place beside the baron. Seeing Gruffydd and Neufmarche side by side seemed so unnatural, Bran could hardly credit what he saw, and his native suspicion returned full force. Instinctively, he stepped in front of Merian.

'That is close enough, Baron,' said Bran, raising his bow.

'Aros, Rhi Bran,' said Gruffydd. 'You are among friends-more than you know. The baron has pledged his forces to your aid.' Indicating the troops amassed behind him with a wide sweep of his hand, he said, 'We have come to confront King William and his army, and would be much obliged if you would lead us to them.'

'If you have truly come to fight the Ffreinc,' said Bran, 'you will not go home disappointed. I can show you all you care to see.'

King Gruffydd climbed slowly down from the saddle. He walked to where Bran stood and then, in full sight of everyone there, went down on one knee before him. 'My lord and friend,' he said, bending his head, 'I pledge my life to you and to this cause. My men and I will see you on the throne of Elfael, or gladly embrace our graves. One or the other will prevail before we relinquish the fight. This is my vow.' Drawing his sword, he laid it at Bran's feet. 'From this day, my sword is yours to command.'

'Rise, my lord, I-' began Bran, but his throat closed over the words, and overcome with a sudden, heady swirl of emotions, he found he could not speak. In all that had happened in the last days and weeks, he had never foreseen anything like this: the help he had so long and so desperately needed had come at last, and the realization of what it meant fair whelmed him over.