Page 31 of The Dragon Ring
“Where are you going to ride her so I can watch?” I asked.
Someone had put a wooden box outside the drop rails, and now Llacheu led her over to it, positioned her carefully, and used the box to leap up onto her saddle. The four horns gripped his thighs, making him look very secure despite the lack of stirrups.
“This way.” He drummed Seren’s fat sides with his heels and led the way, with Tulac and me following, through the pens toward the outer wall of the fortress. There, against the bank, lay the narrow strip of land I’d seen the day before from up on the wall-walk. Three other boys on ponies were already there, and someone had set up a round target for them. As we approached, one of the boys charged his pony at the target, short blunt spear in hand, and hit it hard in the center. It spun out of his way as he went galloping past.
They all looked older than Llacheu.
“Fetch me my spears, Tulac.” He was very imperious. This was a child who knew his place, and it was high up. Maybe not as high up as it could have been, but it seemed that illegitimate or not, being Arthur’s son had perks. Tulac loped off good-naturedly back the way we’d come.
The three boys rode over to greet Llacheu. They all rode small ponies like Seren. The boy who’d hit the target had long legs that hung down below his pony’s belly. The sleeves of his tunic were well above his bony wrists, as though he’d recently undergone a growth spurt. Bright ginger hair peeked from under the leather helmet he wore. Might he be Cei’s son?
“Hey, Llacheu, did you see me hit the target?” he cried excitedly. “I got it dead center.”
“Who’s she?” asked one of the other two, a rather chubby boy with a double chin, pointing a grubby finger at me.
Llacheu drew himself up. “She’s the Lady of the Ring. The one foretold. She’s come to watch me ride.” Emphasis on the wordme.
Chubby’s mouth made a round O of astonishment, and his eyes went to my hand, where the dragon ring shone in the morning sunlight. But it was Long Legs who found his voice first. He did a little awkward bow to me from on top of his pony. “My Lady.”
“She’s going to marry my father,” Llacheu went on. “And be queen when he’s king.”
Chubby did a little bow as well, his round face alight with interest. The third boy, nearly as dark as Llacheu, didn’t look quite so impressed. “She’s still just a girl. And girls can’t fight so they’re not important. It’s a sword that makes a warrior, and it’s warriors that make kings. Not girls.”
I smiled. “I quite agree with you. It takes more than marrying someone to make a king.”
Tulac came back lugging a couple of short spears, one of which he handed to Llacheu.
The little boy settled it in his right hand and, using his left on the reins, wheeled his pony toward the target. Seren was obviously used to this. She set off at a fast canter toward her target, hairy little legs pounding the muddy ground. The spear wavered a little, then hit the target, which spun round so fast it almost knocked Llacheu out of the saddle. He righted himself and managed to pull Seren up about a hundred yards away, looking very pleased.
“Let’s fight next!” he shouted, kicking Seren into a trot toward us. “Take my spear, Tulac. Swords, Drem!” The dark boy, Drem, whipped out his own wooden sword and kicked his pony toward Seren. Llacheu drew his sword and waved it above his head.
“Wait a minute. Wait a minute.”
I spun around at the sound of a deep, amused voice. Arthur was walking toward us across the trampled grass.
“No fighting without shields,” he called. “Tulac, go and fetch them all some shields.”
Tulac ran off once again.
“Father!” Llacheu shouted. “We don’t need shields. We can fight like this. It’s easy.” But he and Drem had lowered their swords and brought their ponies to a halt.
“You know it’s a rule,” Arthur said, in a voice that brooked no argument. “You know you need to learn to use your shield as well as your sword. Once you’ve got your shield you can show me and the Lady Guinevere what you’ve been learning.” He turned to me with a conspiratorial smile. “I take it that’s why you’ve been invited down here?”
I returned his smile. It was infectious. Were his eyes twinkling at me? I was struck anew by how very attractive he was. It wasn’t just his looks– something about him shone. What would it be like to have a man like him take me in his arms and kiss me? My cheeks grew warm at the disturbing thought.
“Yes, sir.” Clearly disappointed, Llacheu shoved his sword back into its scabbard and trotted over to us. “Did you see me hit the target? It nearly swung round and got me, but I didn’t fall off. I’m getting better at that, aren’t I?”
Seeing them side by side, I was struck by how very much alike they were. Arthur himself must have been like this child when he was young.
Arthur nodded. “You’re certainly improving. As you should be. Here comes Tulac. Put on your shield. Here, take yours, Drem.” The two boys donned their small round shields, both white painted and devoid of any emblem.
“We’ll do the Battle of Llongborth. You be the Saxon Cerdic, and I’ll be Prince Geraint.” Llacheu drew his sword again and waved it in the air, pulling his pony round to meet Drem’s. The wooden swords clashed as they rode knee to knee, and Llacheu managed to get in a sound blow to Drem’s shield. “Got you!” he shouted.
“Geraint dies,” remarked Chubby, who had brought his pony over to stand next to Arthur and me. “Cerdic kills him.”
For a momentsomething akin to anger flitted across Arthur’s face, then he laughed. “I think my son is keen to rewrite history.”
I studied his face, sure there was something here I’d missed. But no, he was watching the two boys begin their fight with only the love of a proud father in his eyes.
