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

dark by the time a fasting-day fish supper had been served, beforeGruffydd and his companions were able to find beds for themselves in the side aisles of the great hall. Madoc ap Maelgwn sauntered past, nodded coolly.Gruffydd gave an equally cool greeting in return, was glad when Madoc moved on; he was not good at dissembling, found it awkward to be in such close proximity with the son of his father's enemy.He knew Collen's father had not sent him any money for some weeks, and he was counting his own coins to make sure he could pay for them both, when a man clad in the red and white livery of the King stopped before his pallet."I've been sent to escort you to the King's Grace," he said brusquely, andGruffydd's heart skipped a beat. He could think of very few reasons why John should be summoning him, none of them reassuring.THE room was circular, lit by smoking wall cressets, cluttered with open coffers and clothing. Gruffydd found it almost intolerable to be in John's presence, sometimes thought he might choke on his hatred, and it was with the greatest reluctance that he came forward, knelt.But in the next moment the English King was forgotten. Gruffydd got abruptly to his feet, stared openmouthed at the woman standing next to John. He would never have believed he could be so glad to see one he so detested, but now he stepped toward her, said eagerly, "° you bring a message from my father, Madame?"Joanna shook her head, and he felt his throat close up with disap pointment.But then he heard a familiar voice say, "Why should I g1 Joanna a message Ican better deliver myself?" and he spun aroun < disbelieving.

355"Papa?" He sounded stunned, and Llewelyn laughed, came swiftly across the chamber."I wanted to surprise you, lad, not send you into shock!"Gruffydd still could not believe his father was here, on English soil, nJohn's private chamber, not even when he found himself gathered into an affectionate embrace. His sense of unreality went spinning wildly out of control when Llewelyn turned, said with the utmost nonchalance, "John, I'd like to take Gruffydd back to my own chamber now, so we can talk."And when John replied composedly, "By all means; Joanna can stay and visit with me, giving you time alone," Gruffydd decided that the world had gone mad, and all in it.He somehow managed to hold his peace as they crossed the bailey, entered the northwest tower, mounted the spiral stairway to the chamber allotted forLlewelyn and Joanna's use. But as soon as the door closed behind them, he blurted out, "Papa, what in God's name are you doing here?""Just what it looks like," Llewelyn said blandly. "I am celebrating Easter with my wife's family." And then he gave a sardonic laugh, added, "Of course, this reunion required a safe-conduct and an exchange of hostages!""Are you sure that you're safe here?""As safe as Salisbury's life can make me. John sent his brother again as a pledge of faith."Gruffydd's anxiety abated somewhat, although not his bewilderment. "But if he did not lure you to England to imprison or murder you, what has he in mind?Why is he being so polite to you?"Llewelyn laughed again. "He cannot very well do otherwise as long as I am a guest at his court. Ostensibly he summoned me so he can visit with Joanna, whilst magnanimously giving me the chance to see you. The reality, of course, is that John wants something from me. Sit, and we'll talk about it. Do you know what has been happening in Wales?""Not much," Gruffydd admitted. "Just what we manage to overhear. I do know that John sent Falkes de Breaute and Maelgwn into Ceredigion, that they defeated Owain and Rhys leunac, forced them to surrender, to come to London and make a public submission to John." "at was a distasteful memory toGruffydd. He grimaced, said, "They Were thoroughly cowed, Papa, showed no spirit at all... not like you."That was, Llewelyn realized, Gruffydd's oblique way of making mer»ds for those earlier accusations of cowardice. He smiled at the boy, ld< "But John then made a fatal blunder. Rather than turning CereSton back to Maelgwn, he claimed it for the crown, set Falkes de reaute to building a castle at Aberystwyth."

356Gruffydd gave a low whistle. "Maelgwn must have thrown an apoplectic fit!"Llewelyn nodded. "I cannot say John is his own worst enemy; the competition for that honor is too fierce! But he does have a decided tendency toward self-sabotage. He has always to push his advantage to the breaking point and then beyond. As a result, his victories, no matter how brilliant, are always ephemeral, of fleeting moment. Maelgwn and Rhys Gryg are no fools, soon realized that John means to claim as much of Wales as he can, their lands as well as mine. Whatever their other failings, they are not men to become puppets of the English crown. They besieged John's new castle at Aberystwyth, burned it to the ground. At the same time, John gave Robert de Vieuxpont a free hand in Lower Powys, so Gwenwynwyn, too, is growing restive. For months now, all of South Wales has been in turmoil, and I suspect John is worried lest I throw in with Maelgwn and Rhys Gryg. My guess is that he's sent for me to try to ferret out my intentions and, if need be, to use threats, even promises, to fetter me to the crown.""And will he, Papa? Will he fetter you to the crown?""What do you mean, Gruffydd?""You say Maelgwn and Rhys Gryg are in rebellion, that South Wales is ablaze.But not Gwynedd. It has been more than seven months since John took from you the Perfeddwlad. Passive acceptance is not like you, Papa. You have stayed your hand because of me, have you not?""Yes.""You cannot do that, Papa. The longer you allow John to hold the Perfeddwlad, the harder it will become to dislodge him. You cannot