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

talk, says he'll send his son out if you'll warrant his safety ""Agreed " Llewelyn looked at Davydd and then grinned "Tell him I'll even invite him to dinner1"THE tents of English kings were opulent, even sumptuous, spacious enough for privacy as well as comfort Llewelyn's tent was of a more modest scale, for even if he'd had the resources to indulge himself, no Welshman could have respected a commander who went to war with feather mattresses and silver plateLlewelyn contented himself with a pallet, and when dinner was served, he and his guests sat in a circle on the ground, just as his men did around their campfiresIf Will de Braose thought Llewelyn's accommodations spartan, it did not show in his face The Marcher lords tended to be a hardy lot, as robust and tough-minded as the Welsh they fought and befriended, and Will ate with gusto, even knowing that he was being served one of his own beef cows As much as it irked Gruffydd to hear Normans pervert his tongue, it offended him even more to hear one speak such fluent Welsh, and he was hard-pressed to manage even a semblance of politeness He would never understand how his father could bnng himself to eat and drink with their enemies, never"It scarcely seems fair to repay your hospitality with what I have to Ml you now " Will reached for another piece of bread "But my father and I thought you had a right to know Your daughter Gwladys is within the castle "There was a moment's silence Then Llewelyn laughed derisively and Gruffydd spat, "Liar1""My son speaks bluntly, but true which is more than you do Do you think I'd besiege Buellt without first making sure of my daughter's whereabouts, her safety7 Gwladys is many miles to the north, at my c°urt on the isle of Mon "Will did not seem at all abashed He shrugged, said with an unrePentant grin, "Well, you cannot blame a man for trying, can you7"Llewelyn shifted his position with unwonted care, neither mutton at nor a lanolin ointment had done much to ease his discomfort "You'd °t be here lest you had an offer to make What is it7"'Seven hundred head of cattle if you ride away on the morrow "That was a fair offer But there was more to consider than profit,

562w563more at stake than cattle. "I'll think about it," Llewelyn said noncommittally. He'd noticed that Will kept glancing over at Davydd, had noticed, too, that it was making the boy uncomfortable. "You do know my sonDavydd?" he said pointedly, but Will did not take up the challenge."I suppose I was staring," he conceded calmly. "It's just that he looks so much like his mother. It's not often a blood kinship shows so plainly as that."Gruffydd set down his wineskin. "I always thought Davydd looked verily like John, God rot him."Will's eyes cut toward Gruffydd. "I'll drink to that, to John, King ofEngland . . . and of Hell."Even in the subdued lantern light, Llewelyn could see the color rising inDavydd's face. It did not surprise him; if Joanna at thirty-two could not resolve her relationship with John, how could Davydd at fourteen? For his son's sake, he acted to end the conversation. "I'll give you my answer on the morrow."But Will did not move. "You must have hated John even as much as I did. Christ knows, he gave you reason enough!"Llewelyn looked over at Davydd, then nodded slowly. "Yes, I hatedJohn."Will leaned forward. "Then . . . then how could you live in contentment withJohn's daughter?"Llewelyn was astonished. But as he studied Will's face, he saw that the younger man had not meant to offend. His grey eyes held Llewelyn's own; he seemed truly to want to know. Llewelyn had no intention, however, of answering a question so intensely personal. "I fail to see," he said coolly, "how my marriage is of concern to you."Will's eyes flickered; he was the first to look away. "You're right, of course. It is not my concern. If my curiosity has led me astray, I apologize."His smile was self-mocking. "If there is one thing we de Braoses pride ourselves upon, it is that we never offer an unintentional insult!Llewelyn was not taken in by Will's nonchalant disclaimer. He did not knowReginald's son well at all, but one thing he did not doubt, that the mere mention of John had touched a very raw nerve indeed. It was Davydd who toldWill what he wanted to know. Davydd could not bear to have his mother associated in any way with the cruelties of the tn glish King, and he said abruptly, "My lady mother and King John were estranged for the last four years of his life."Gruffydd opened his mouth, but for once discretion prevailed, welyn had risen, and this time Will took the cue and rose, too.J were exchanging ironic courtesies when one of Llewelyn's men du under the tent flap. )>."My lord, one of our scouts has just ridden in, says it is urgent that he speak with you."The man was unshaven, begrimed, had obviously passed a full day jn the saddle.He knelt before Llewelyn, but wasted no further time on protocol. "My lord, Ibear evil tidings. The English King and the Justiciar marched out of Hereford at dawn this morn, heading toward the Gwy Valleytoward Buellt.""How large an army?""Too large, my lord. Mayhap twice the size of ours."Llewelyn turned aside. He heard Gruffydd cursing softly, damning the English to a particularly vile quarter of Hell; rarely had his son's sentiments so perfectly mirrored his own. It was at that moment that VVill de Braose did something as provocative as it was impolitic. He laughed.He at once regretted it, found himself the focus of icily measuring eyes. His hand dropped instinctively to his sword hilt, but he put greater faith in his

privileged status, a guest at Llewelyn's hearth. "Need I remind you that you swore to my safety?""No, you need