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

She wondered if it was because she'd become pregnant so soon after Isabella's birth. At the time she'd welcomed this pregnancy; what better way to offerJohn tangible proof of er fidelity? But in the sweltering heat of high summer, the child she amed was becoming more and more of a burden. She'd never felt so"ngainly, so vulnerable.John had closed his eyes, and as she studied his face, she felt a new j*nd chilling fear. John, too, looked vulnerable. What if he was? What if e iost this war? What would happen to her?"t7k*vnen we leave Oxford, I mean to send you and the children to re K S ^e strongest of my castles; you ought to be safe there." John(j0 f°r the wine cup, pushed it away after one swallow. "Send wh tV° ^e buttery for hippocras; I cannot drink this swill. But first, athaveyoutotellme?"

468"John ..." Isabelle braced herself. "The Welsh Princes have ridden in/' she said, and winced at his sudden smile. "My love, I'm so sorry, but . . . butLlewelyn did not bring Joanna with him. John, he came alone."WHENEVER he stayed in Oxford, John held court in the palace known as the DomusRegis, the King's House; it was his birthplace and a favorite royal residence.But it was also situated outside the city walls, and for his July confrontation with the charter committee of twenty-five, he bypassed the more comfortable King's House for the greater security of the eleventh-century castle. It was there that he welcomed the Welsh Princes, and there that he accepted their oaths of homage and fealty.AS Llewelyn glanced about the chamber at the men mingling in apparent harmony, his sense of unreality intensified. He could almost believe he'd stumbled into some lunatic land in which nature's laws were mocked and madness reigned. The committee of twenty-five had been in session all week, hearing appeals of men who felt themselves wronged by John, and Oxford seemed populated by John's enemies. Giles de Braose alone was absent; he and his brother Reginald had balked at taking part in the Runnymede settlement, at making any peace withJohn.Llewelyn was turning as a voice murmured just behind him, in Welsh, "Would you care to wager how long their Runnymede peace lasts?""Till Michaelmas?" Llewelyn hazarded, and Maelgwn gave a shrug, a twisted smile."I've just heard a story I can scarce credit, but Saer de Quincy swears it to be true. John was to arrive on Thursday last from Woodstock, but he did not reach the city till the morrow, and sent word that his illness would prevent him from leaving the castle. He wanted the barons to hold their council in his chamber, but they refused, insisted that he come to them."Maelgwn drained his wine cup. "I would," he said, "have given a great deal to witness that."° t\oLlewelyn would never think of Maelgwn as a friend, but in' theLlewelyn would never think of Maelgwn as a friend, but in three years they'd been allies, he had developed a grudging respect the other man. He'd watched as Maelgwn knelt before John, recel ^ the kiss of peace from the man who'd murdered his sons, and wonde ^ if he'd have found Maelgwn's resolve hadGruffydd, too, died at tingham Castle.

469"I said Michaelmas, but it could be even sooner. John has as many enemies as he has barons, and I truly think that at last he is going to reap what he's sown. And when he does, Maelgwn, Christ Jesus, what an opportunity for theWelsh! Once John is hopelessly bogged down in a yfal with his own barons, we move into South Wales, move against the l[orman enclaves in Deheubarth andPowys.""We?" Maelgwn echoed, cocking a sardonic brow. "So the Prince of Gvvynedd will lead an army south to fight with us against the Normans? Most magnanimous, my lord, but I wonder what Gwenwynwyn will think of your generosity. I suspect he'd say we might be exchanging one army of occupation for another.""I daresay he will. But what of you, Maelgwn? What say you?""Oh, I expect I will give you the benefit of the doubt. But what I will not give you is Ceredigion."Llewelyn laughed. "I prefer to make new mistakes, not to keep repeating the same ones over and over. I learned a hard lesson four summers ago atAberconwy, but I learned it well. Welsh disunity is the most potent weapon theNormans have, and we alone can deny it to them.""My lord ..." A servant was approaching, clad in the King's livery. "My lord, the King wants to speak with you. Will you follow me to his chamber?"This was a summons Llewelyn had been expecting. "Like all here in Oxford, Iserve the King's pleasure," he said dryly, and Maelgwn laughed for the first time since arriving at the English King's court."i WANT no war with the Welsh. I want this peace to last." John spoke slowly, drawing his words out for emphasis, to stress his sincerity. "I would hope you believe that."Llewelyn did; even John could handle only one war at a time. This was the first close encounter he'd had with John since the oath-taking, and he was startled to see what ravages three years had wrought. John's eyes were bloodshot and puffy, his waist thickening, his gestures* rapt. He looked more than ill, he looked haunted, and Llewelyn sudn|y remembered the judgment he'd once heard an Augustinian monk Pass uP°n theEnglish King. A great Prince, the monk had said, but Scar*ly a happy one.A silence had fallen between them. John knew he had more dan"nu°f?S enemies than the Welsh Prince, but there were few he hated as0 ' fnc* rarety had anything come harder to him than this overture of -iel' KProve to you that I mean what I say, I am granting you two lire* manors'Bidford in Warwickshire and Suckley in Worcester-

470T471Llewelyn was not impressed. How much English land did John think the lives of twenty-eight Welsh hostages were worth? "I shall hold the manors