Page 22 of The Road to Avalon
Drustans reached for Essylt. “This ismykingdom, Essylt. And you are my one true love. I refuse to walk away from either.”
Seleu, face contorted with anger, stepped between Drustans and his mother. “You are wrong. This ismykingdom you are in, given to me by my father as he lay dying. I am king here and my word is law.” He paused. “My mother has spoken. She does not want you. No man will take my father’s place. And today is my coronation as king of Caer Dore.”
Drustans reached for Essylt again, but she shied away from him. He groaned. “No. Whatever he’s done to you, my love, I will undo. I love you, Essylt. I’ve carried my love for you through all these years.” He slapped his hand against his chest. “Here in my heart. You will remember. Youwill.”
Seleu shoved Drustans, his hand on his shoulder. “She will not. She cannot. She doesn’t want you. Leave my mother alone.”
Arthur shot a glance at where Cei and Merlin stood in the body of the hall and jerked his head. Drustans needed removing so this coronation could continue.
He was too late. We all were.
“Get out of my way,” Drustans grunted, shoving Seleu hard in retaliation. “She will remember. I know she will.”
A collective gasp rose from the audience. Touching a king in aggression was strictly forbidden.
The younger man staggered against his mother who, uttering a little cry, almost fell.
Drustans, trying to push past his half brother, reached for her a third time, and she cried out in alarm. Voices rose in the body of the hall. Angry voices. The people surged against the barrier our warriors had made, straining to do what, I had no idea.
Seleu’s hand went to his sword again, but Drustans was quicker. His blade flashed with reflected torchlight as it arced through the air towards Seleu. Merlin and Cei dashed forward at the same time as Arthur.
But Essylt was quicker than all of them. Whatever it was that Drustans intended, she stopped it, a she-wolf defending her cub. Her dagger took her one-time lover in the chest, sliding up to the hilt between his ribs with the power of her blow.
The sword dropped from Drustans’ suddenly slack fingers to clatter on the flagstones, and his eyes flew wide in a look of utter shock. His hands scrabbled for a moment at the hilt of the dagger, his imploring eyes gazing into Essylt’s, inches from his face, as seconds stretched to an eternity.
Silence fell, as though a collective breath were being held, only the sound of forty swords sliding out of their scabbards breaking it.
Cei and Merlin caught Drustans as he fell backwards, his eyes rolling up into his head, and lowered him to the ground. Dropping to his knees, Cei cradled Drustans’ head and shoulders in his lap.
Our men held the crowd of Cornubian warriors and villagers back at sword point.
Archfedd’s hand gripped mine and her free hand went to her mouth, but her startled cry remained just an indrawn breath.
Essylt stood transfixed, staring at the smears of blood on her hand, then down at the man lying on the rush-covered flagstones of her hall with her dagger in his chest. “I-I’ve killed you.” Her words came out as a whisper. “Oh God, I’ve killed you.” Her horrified eyes fixed on Drustans’ white face.
She fell to the floor beside him. “I didn’t mean to.” One hand went to her heart. “I thought you were going to hurt my son.” Her breath caught. “I didn’t mean to.”
A little blood seeped out to darken Drustans’ fine green tunic, but the dagger was forming a plug. If we were to pull it out, he’d bleed out in a bare minute. His freshly shaven face had gone parchment pale, and his lips were turning blue.
I let go of Archfedd’s hand and joined Essylt in the rushes beside him, catching his hand in mine. “Drustans,” I called. “Stay with us.” A feeble request. This was a dying man before me. Nothing could save him now.
Essylt took his other hand and held it tight, despair emanating from her in waves. “My love.” Tears ran down her cheeks. “My own true love. What have I done? What have I done?”
A bit late to discover she really loved him after all.
Drustans coughed, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His eyes focused on her face. “Essylt, my love.” He had no strength, and the words were like a faint breath of wind.
“I didn’t mean to,” she moaned again in some sort of mantra. “I didn’t mean to. I thought you were going to hurt my boy. I had to protect him.” Her voice broke. “He’s my son.”
Seleu loomed over her, angry and righteous. “Hewasgoing to, Mother. He wanted to kill me. You did the right thing.”
Her other children still huddled in the shadows with their nursemaid. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Archfedd going to them, ushering them away from the tragic scene unfolding here. Sensible girl.
Drustans licked his lips. “Essylt,” he whispered. “I would that he could have beenourson.” He paused, fighting for breath. “I wish our lives could have been different… I wish I’d taken you and run… Even if we’d had to live as poor farmers…” His eyes closed as he struggled to get the words out. His hand clutched hers, and as his eyes opened, I saw the desperation in them. “Tell me you still love me. Let me die with that knowledge in my heart.”
With a sob, she bent forward and kissed him on his bloody lips. “I love you, my heart. I have loved you since the day we met, and I willalwayslove you. I didn’t dare to dream that one day we might be together again. But we shall be. I promise.”
His eyes closed. His breath rattled out of his chest. His head slipped sideways, limp and lifeless.
