Page 40 of Arise the Queen
Gwendolyn shrugged. “For all I know, you’ve some stake in my victory.”
“Don’t we all?” he allowed, and Gwendolyn sighed.
“Gwendolyn,” he said once more. “I amnotyour enemy…” And this time, when he smiled, she felt the sincerity of it in the marrow of her bones.
If she did not mistake it, there was a suspicious glitter in his eyes when she turned to look at him, and Gwendolyn swallowed her pride. “Very well. I shall cry peace,” she allowed, her voice softening. “If you will promise me a plain-spoken conversation?”
“Now?” he teased, flicking his gaze about the room.
Yes, now. Though Gwendolyn knew it would be impossible with so many ears and eyes upon them. There was so much she longed to say. “When it suits you,” she said.
“You have my word,” he said, and Gwendolyn turned her face back to the celebration, a little more heartened.
“A song of tribute,” shouted one of the Llanrhos Druids, and then another crooned, and Gwendolyn’s brow furrowed. “I… I know this song.”
Málik tilted her a glance. “Do you?”
“Yes, it was a favorite of thedawnsio.”
A melody she had, in truth, nearly forgotten, but how could she? It was her mother’s favorite. The story of Amergin Glúingel, a judge of the Sons of Míl, who, having impressed the Tuatha Dé Danann with his fair judgment, won their favor and trust. Later, when the Fae were banished to theunderlands, it was Amergin who was appointed the First Druid. And in due course, when the sons of Míl inherited Ériu and brother set upon brother, it was Amergin again who’d divided the isles, imposing the Brothers’ Pact. The Druid continued singing, capturing everyone’s attention, effectively silencing the hall, but Gwendolyn’s brow furrowed as tankards settled atop the tables. Some of the Druid brothers rose to accompany him, and together, their voices blended with the music of the lute and reed. Achingly lovely, it made sense they would sing this tribute, surrounded by thedescendants of the man who wrote the song… but the words sent a frisson down Gwendolyn’s spine, for they spoke too familiarly of her life…
Could it be?
I am a tide that drags to death
I am an infant…
I am the womb of every bolt.
I am the blaze on every hill.
I am the Queen of every hive.
Was he singing about her? Had the Druid of Druids so long ago prophesied her reign? Why would this song speak so eloquently of a woman’s strife when it had always been a man’s world?
The Red Tide was foretold…
And the infant…
Why had Queen Eseld favored this song? Had she, after suspecting Gwendolyn’s true nature, drawn her own conclusions from Amergin’s song?
Even then, had she viewed Gwendolyn as Pretania’s deliverance? Had she, as Bryn once claimed, only ever wanted the best for Gwendolyn, and perhaps if she was too hard on her, it wasn’t because she’d believed her unworthy of thedawnsio, but too far above it to be led? The possibility of that made Gwendolyn’s heart wrench for all the wrongful conclusions made—and more, every argument she’d waged. She and her mother had been at odds for nearly all of her life—every rueful moment…
And now she was gone, and Gwendolyn feared that the reason for Esme’s absence was that she’d lied. Because… alreadyGwendolyn had determined that lies were effortless within the Fae’s constitution.
Is my mother dead?
Gwendolyn swallowed the lump of emotion that rose to choke her.
“No Hob cake?” asked Málik, dragging her attention from the Druid’s song as he pulled the tray closer. And suddenly, Gwendolyn had the most devastating urge to flee…
“Nay,” she said, her hand flittering to her belly. “I… I… am… not… hungry.” And she rose from the table. “I beg pardon,” she said hurriedly. “I shall be prepared to ride at sunrise. Please see to it your men are as well…”
Málik caught her by the hand. “What is it?”
“Nothing!” she said. “I am only tired and mean to seek my bed.…alone.” He peered down at the hand she was tugging so insistently from his grasp, suddenly releasing her.
“Go, then,” he said, and without another word, Gwendolyn flew from the hall, tears stinging her eyes, never turning even when Bryn called her name.
