Night Birds' Reign(27)

Ygraine herself sat in a chair of oak, resting her hands on the curved armrests. She was dressed in white and her shining auburn hair gleamed. She wore a circlet of pearls around her forehead and her hair was elaborately curled. Another string of pearls encircled her neck twice then spilled down the front of her dress. Ygraine had not noticed the two men, all her attention bent on the child that played at her feet.

Arthur was small for his four years. Slender and delicate-looking, his eyes seemed too big for his face. A shock of sandy blond hair hung over his forehead. The child had a serious expression as he stacked small blocks of brightly colored wood to form a tower.

Duach cleared his throat. Arthur jumped slightly and the tower he was building teetered and fell. Unlike many children, Arthur did not cry at the destruction. He gravely looked at the ruins of his tower then glanced up at the two men. Obviously a fair child, his eyes held no blame for the mishap.

“My Queen,” Duach said bowing deeply. “May I present to you a noble visitor. Gwydion ap Awst, Dreamer of Kymru, Walker-between-the-Worlds—”

“Thank you, Duach,” Ygraine said dryly. “I believe I am aware of the identity of this uninvited guest.”

Duach bowed again. “Is there anything else you wish, my Queen?”

“Yes. I wish for you to go,” she said, her voice like winter snow. Swallowing hard, Duach bowed himself out.

“You scared him,” Gwydion said mildly, his eyes never leaving Arthur.

“No I didn’t. He expects that from me. He’d be frightened if I was nice to him,” replied Ygraine, just as mildly, her eyes also fixed on her young son.

To gain some time before he faced Arthur, Gwydion went to the cradle by the window. Two-year-old Morrigan slept with a contented smile on her exquisite face, her auburn hair illuminated by the sun. She did indeed have her mother’s delicate features, but Gwydion could see Uthyr in the set of her smiling mouth.

“She’s beautiful,” Gwydion said softly, lightly brushing his forefinger against her smooth cheek.

“Yes, she is,” Ygraine said softly, but Gwydion noticed she had not taken her eyes from Arthur.

Gwydion crossed the room and knelt down beside the boy, who gravely returned his gaze. “Hello, Arthur. I’m your Uncle Gwydion.”

Arthur swiftly looked up at his mother for confirmation. She nodded and Arthur returned his gaze to Gwydion, filing away this new bit of information.

“I’m sorry about the tower, Arthur. We didn’t mean to scare you.” Another long pause. “Can you say hello to me?”

“Hello,” Arthur said briefly, then stared down at the floor.

“Arthur is shy,” Ygraine said softly.

“I was, too.” He handed a block to Arthur. “Shall we build again?”

Arthur said nothing, but he reached for the block and set it on the floor. Gwydion placed a second block on top of the first and the two rebuilt the tower in silence. Then they sat back to examine their handiwork.

“What do you think?” Gwydion asked.

“Good,” Arthur replied.

“Yes, it is good. I agree.” Gwydion looked over at Ygraine. “A man of few words, I see.”

“Yes,” she replied. “I wonder where he gets it?”

Ygraine almost smiled, but caught herself in time. She studied Gwydion, then said, “Tell me, and try not to lie for once. My son is being tested today. What are you up to?”

“Ygraine, he’s my nephew,” he said, with exaggerated patience, playing for time. “I’m just showing some interest.”

“No you’re not. You never show interest in anyone—unless you want to use him or her for something. So, tell me this, Gwydion, how do you intend to use my son? And what makes you think I will let you do that?”

Gwydion opened his mouth to reply, but at that moment the sound of horses hooves clattering in the courtyard below reached them. A babble of voices floated up through the open windows.

“Uthyr has returned. I hope the hunt was good,” Ygraine mused. “Don’t you want to go down and see him?”

“You want me to leave?” Gwydion asked innocently.

“Yes.”

“I think I’ll just wait here for a while. He’ll drop in, I’m sure.” As the two sat in silence Gwydion fixed his gaze on Arthur who had been quietly playing with his wooden blocks. The child had built another tower beside the first and was attempting to construct a bridge. “Need any help?” Gwydion asked.

“No, thank you, Uncle Gwydion,” Arthur replied politely, not lifting his eyes from the construction.

Within moments Duach and Uthyr were at the chamber door. “He’s here,” said Duach, gesturing to Uthyr. “Shall I fetch Susanna now?”