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

they'd lost more than a cherished friend, companion of boyhood and manhood. Standing in the shadowed choir of Aberconwy Abbey before Rhys's coffin, the same thought was in each man's mind, that it could have been him.That thought, too, had been Joanna's. Common sense told her that she was likely to outlive Llewelyn, but she'd never allowed herself to dwell upon that likelihood, upon that eighteen-year difference in their ages. She knew their life together was bound to change as he aged, but not yet. Merciful Lady Mary, not yet.Llewelyn's hair had begun to silver. His sight was no longer as sharp as it had been, and he tired more easily, complained of slowing reflexes. But he could still put in a day's hard riding. His health was excellent. Like all theWelsh, he'd taken good care of his teeth, and he still had a handsome smile, a young man's smile. Although he and Joanna no longer made love as frequently as in the early years of their marriage, Joanna had no complaints about their love life. She found it hard to believe that twenty-two years could have passed since the day of their wedding, and time seemed to be treating Llewelyn so kindly that it H'as surprisingly easy to pretend it was also standing still.But then Rhys had died in seizure upon the floor of Aber's great hall, Rhys who was four and fifty, a year younger than Llewelyn. And a ew weeks later, word reached Aber that Reginald de Braose had died at jibergavenny Castle. Like Rhys, Reginald had been in apparent good ea"h/ and he, too, was younger than Llewelyn. Joanna began to lookP°n her husband with new eyes, eyes haunted and full of fear.Her anxiety was all the greater because the news from England was good. After five years of peace, the Marches were once more in ^°il, andJoanna passed this, her thirty-sixth summer, in growing

574T575dread, for it was beginning to seem more and more likely that Llewelv would be riding again to war.Stephen Langton had died early in July, and with his death an irre placeable voice for peace and conciliation was stilled, the last check upon Hubert deBurgh's growing ascendancy, for Peter des Roches had departed England the preceding year to fulfill a crusading vow, Chester had been stymied, Will was dead, and Pembroke was in uneasy alliance with de Burgh. Flourishing a new title, Earl of Kent, de Burgh now turned his eyes and ambitions westwardtowardWales. In April Henry agreed to give him the castle and lordship ofMontgomery.The local Welsh reacted with alarm, laying siege to the castle and pressing their attack with such vigor that Henry and de Burgh were compelled to lead a royal army to the rescue. So far Llewelyn had not taken up arms himself, but he was deeply mistrustful of de Burgh's motives, and Joanna feared he would eventually be drawn into the fray She was to meet Henry later in the month atShrewsbury in hopes of preserving their fragmenting peace, but she was not optimistic of success, for the interests of her husband and brother were at heart irreconcilable.AUGUST found Llewelyn's court at his seaside castle of Cricieth. On Tuesday, the Assumption of the Blessed Mary, Joanna spent the afternoon dictating letters to Elen, Catherine, and her young sister Nell. A brief letter was also dispatched to Gwladys, who'd returned to South Wales to settle a dispute over her late husband's lands; Reginald's son Will was contesting her dower rights.Joanna was just completing the last and most important of the lot, informingHenry that she had received his safe-conduct and would be meeting him in a fortnight's time at Shrewsbury.Branwen and Alison had long since departed Joanna's service, had been found husbands and were raising families of their own. Glyms/ Joanna's latest maid, had grown bored and wandered to the window, where she stood gazing out to sea."The sun has just broken throug Madame. After nigh on a week of rains, I'd all but forgotten what' looked" A loud blaring noise intruded over the sound of rolling su the raucous gulls. It blasted again and Glynis exclaimed, "Did you that, my lady? A hunting horn. Your lord is back from the hunt!By the time Joanna reached the bottom of the stairs, Llewelyn ^ already dismounting. The bailey was thronged with laughing lathered horses, and barking dogs; even before Joanna saw the de^ casses strapped to the sumpter horses, she knew their hunt ha rousing success.as she ie wasGiving his reins to a groom, Llewelyn reached for Joanna as she caff16 within range, bending her backward in a playful embrace. He was hegrimed and sweaty, and when he kissed her, she tasted mead on his breath; they'd apparently begun celebrating on the way back to the casfje That meant, she knew, dinner would likely be a rowdy, boisterous affair. But she did not mind in the least, for this was the first time since ghys's death that she'd seen Llewelyn in such high spirits."What were you doing?" she chided, "chasing deer through a mud wallow?""Is that the thanks I get for putting venison on your table?" He gave her a sudden squeeze, laughing when she squealed. "Come, I'll show you the prize kill of the day, a fine ten-point buck brought down by Davydd. Unfortunately, two of the brachet hounds were hurt"Llewelyn had stopped, was gazing across the bailey. Joanna turned, saw at once what had caught his eye. Several horsemen had just been ushered through the gateway. But it was the horse being led that was drawing such admiring glances. The destrier was always larger than the palfreys used for daily riding, but this particular stallion was one of the largest Joanna had ever seen, standing almost seventeen hands high. It was a magnificent animal: broad chest, lengthy flanks, a powerfully muscled body and small head, a sweeping

silvery tail and a coat as white as the foaming breakers crashing down upon the beach. Joanna smiled at her husband, said