Here Be Dragons - 1 Sharon Penman (paper ebook reader .TXT) 📖

question is that a VVe s sworn oath is worthless." ^Llewelyn was unnerved by the intensity of his rage, by ^tion of how close he was to losing control of his temper, his to %^ stared at John, his ears filled with the derisive laughter of J°""" for all to see.&ce. y i gather from your silence that you're loath to ask for abso?Surely your pride is not as tender as all that. It did allow you, lution',j to send a woman to plead for you!"a^er . ^eiyn was livid. "And would your brother Richard have par, u a{Lisieux if not for the intervention of your lady mother?"This time the laughter came from behind Llewelyn, came from his en He sawJohn's face twitch, saw he'd drawn blood. John had ° n to his feet so abruptly

that the chair tilted, and Llewelyn instinc& , started to rise, too, only to freeze as John swung the sword up. Th weapon was three feet long, honed to a razor edge, tapered for hrusring. It had been custom-made for Llewelyn, and he knew better than most its killing capabilities. Now, with that naked blade leveled at his throat, his mouth went dry, he dared not even blink. He heard a woman cry out; although it did not sound like her, he knew it could only beJoanna.The sword's point was pressed against his windpipe, but Llewelyn's pulse was slowing, his breathing steadying, for he'd realized that John did not mean to kill him. He would never know what had stayed John's hand; Joanna's scream?Fear for Will? He could not even be sure John had ever meant to follow through on that first thrust. He knew only that John's eyes did not mirror the passion of a man provoked beyond all reason; his was a rage more glacial than volcanic, utterly implacable but controlled, icily deliberate, the rage of a man willing to wait for his vengeance.It was not the first time Llewelyn had seen his death foretold in another man's eyes, but never had the threat carried so much lethal conviction, all the more chilling in eyes eerily like Joanna's. He felt the pressure increase, felt a stinging sensation, knew that John, too, had drawn blood. And then the sword was withdrawn and John stepped Mck, beckoned to one of the watching men."Take this," he said, "and break it."he man looked dubiously at the sword, uncomfortably aware how U£ Pressure the blade was meant to bear. But he made haste to obey, the sword and withdrew, shouting for a hammer and anvil, ^vn l eVL6 W3SBecoming aware again of their audience. Gwenwynyears °° llke a man at Peace with himself for the first time in three Thorna3^311 who/d Just received payment for a long-overdue debt. *" Hu h°r t00' was gleefully jubilant, Chester his usual impassive nored Ll ^et na88ard/ obviously ailing, whileEustace de Vesci igSurPrisine7e'yn alt°8ether' watched John with unblinking intensity.8 y, Maelgwn had lost his smile; his eyes held Llewelyn's for

344several moments, but his thoughts were masked, utterly his own. Joanna, however, was not within Llewelyn's range of vision. He'd have given a great deal had she only been back at Dolwyddelan, been anywhere but here, witness to his shame."Your Grace!" Grinning triumphantly, a man was hastening toward John, holding out Llewelyn's sword. But it was no longer a weapon, was no more now than two twisted pieces of jagged metal.John reached out, took the hilt in one hand, the sundered blade in the other."As easily as I broke this sword, so could I have broken you . . and would have, if it were not for my daughter. But do not count upon her to save you a second time. From this day forth, the Virgin Mary herself could speak for you and it would avail you naught."He flung the sword fragments to the ground. "Now you may withdraw," he said contemptuously, "and wait until I have time to speak with you about the terms of your surrender."Llewelyn got slowly to his feet. His pride was already in shreds; he knew that if he allowed John to dismiss him as if he were a serf, the memory would haunt him for the rest of his life. But he saw no way out of the trap. He stared down at his broken sword, and then looked up, saw his wife.Joanna's face was ashen, wet with tears, but her eyes were a brilliant, blazing green, and her mouth was contorted with rage. Richard was beside her, was gripping her arm, but as her eyes met Llewelyn's, she jerked free of her brother's restraining hold.Llewelyn stood very still, watched as she moved toward him. All were watching her now. John took an involuntary step forward, said her name. She seemed not to hear, never took her eyes from Llewelyn. Coming to a halt before him, she said loudly and very clearly, "My lord husband," sank down on the grass in a deep, submissive curtsy.It was more than a clever face-saving stratagem, it was an avowal of loyalty, of love. Llewelyn raised her up, looked for a long moment into her face, and then kissed her, kissed her as if they were alone, as if nothing mattered but that moment and the woman he held in his arms. Even he could not have said which meant more, that he was kissing John's daughter or kissing his wife.Joanna could hear the erratic hammering of his heart, could feel the tremor in his arms, and behind her closed eyelids she could still see the sun glinting on the blade of his sword. She touched her fingers to his throat; they came away bloodied, and she shuddered, raised up an kissed him again.Llewelyn smiled at her; she'd never seen his dark eyes so soft, s tender. And then she saw his smile change, saw it twist with triump She turned slowly and, like Llewelyn, looked at her father.

TI345John's face was burning with color, but his eyes were blank, utterly