“No,” Dudod replied shortly. “I’m sure there wasn’t. But that’s where she is, all the same.”
They traveled steadily for the next fifteen days. Dudod was silent and withdrawn. During the day he rode ahead of Gwydion, cutting off all chances for conversation. At night Dudod demanded they stop at the nearest farmhouse or village, where they played and sang for their hosts in return for meals and shelter.
On the fifteenth evening, Dudod, reining in his horse, announced, “We’re just a few miles away from Rhiannon’s place. We’ll just camp out tonight and be there first thing in the morning, before she’s had a chance to leave the cave.”
“She lives in a cave?” Gwydion asked in surprise.
“It’s got a waterfall in front of the entrance. If you didn’t know it was there you’d never find it.”
“How did you find it then?” For the first time Dudod was in a mood to talk about Rhiannon, and Gwydion was quick to take advantage of it.
Dudod dismounted and looked solemnly at Gwydion. Suddenly, he smiled. “You’ve been very patient, lad. Much more patient than I thought you would be. We’ll fix supper, then I’ll tell you what you want to know. And give you some advice, which you will doubtless ignore.”
Gwydion knew better than to reply. After they had eaten a meal—which Dudod had cooked—they settled down on a convenient log placed before the fire.
“How did you find out where she was?” Gwydion asked. “Did she contact you?”
“No. She doesn’t even realize that I know where she is. Once, when Rhiannon was only a little girl, and when my wife was still alive, we traveled to Neuadd Gorsedd to see Elidyr. Rhiannon hoped to catch a glimpse of her father—a forlorn hope, as usual,” Dudod said with bitterness. “Anyway, we stopped for an afternoon rest in Coed Aderyn by a tiny lake with a small waterfall. And Rhiannon went exploring and found a cave behind it. After Rhiannon disappeared, I remembered that place. I went there once, many years ago, to be sure. And she was there.”
“Did she see you?”
Dudod gave Gwydion an affronted stare. “Are you mad? Nobody sees me if I don’t want them to. I,” he said with mock dignity, “am an accomplished sneak.”
“I’m sure you are. All those years of knowing where she is, and you never let on. And now, I spend months going to every kingdom in Kymru, asking useless questions and getting saddle sores, and you knew where she was all along.”
“Do I sense a bit of irritation?”
Gwydion thought about that seriously for a moment. “Actually, no. The trip was useful after all, even if I didn’t discover her whereabouts for myself.”
For some time the two men were silent, staring into the flames and lost in their own thoughts. At last, Gwydion said, “Years ago I asked you to tell me where Rhiannon was. And you pretended that you didn’t know. What made you decide to take me to her now?”
“Anieron. My brother can be very persuasive. That’s why he’s the Master Bard.”
“Anieron may have asked you to do this, but only you decide what you will do. So why did you?”
Dudod sighed. “It was time. For over eleven years Rhiannon has hidden herself and her daughter away. That can’t go on forever, and I’m sure Rhiannon knows it. If nothing else, she must return Gwenhwyfar to the outside world. Her refusal to do so is ruining that child’s life.”
“I could point that out, I suppose.” Gwydion mused.
“I wouldn’t,” Dudod said sharply. “You can’t simply descend upon the woman and tell her what to do. You must be gentle. You must appeal to her higher instincts—not to her mistakes.”
“But to point out her mistakes would have the merit of being true.”
“The more truthful the accusation, the angrier we get. Don’t you know that?”
“So,” Gwydion continued, “how do you suggest I handle Rhiannon?”
“Very carefully,” Dudod warned. “No accusations. Be sure that you explain yourself. She won’t respond to bullying, but she will respond to reason.”
“You surprise me there,” Gwydion said dryly. “I wouldn’t have thought she would respond to reason.”
“Why ever not?”
“Well, she’s a woman, isn’t she?”
Dudod looked at Gwydion for a long time. Finally, he spoke, “Indeed she is. I fear, however, that your experience with a limited number of women has led you astray. They are not all so emotional and irrational.”
“You could have fooled me.”
“Yes, I imagine you can be easily fooled into seeing only what you expect to see,” Dudod said shortly. “You don’t think much of me, do you?”