“Well, Gwydion,” he said in his usual bluff tone, “What’s up?” He turned toward Ellirri. “Has he said yet?”
“Not just yet, dear. Here, sit down.” She gestured to another chair but Urien took a place at the edge of the hearth. “Chair’s too little, I’d break it,” he grinned. “Now,” he turned to Gwydion, “tell us.”
“I’m looking for Rhiannon ur Hefeydd.”
“Oh, that gal that ran off a while back?” Urien asked.
“The same.”
“Well, she didn’t come here. Is that it?”
Ellirri said gently, “Perhaps Gwydion will tell us why he is looking for her.”
“I had a dream,” Gwydion said shortly.
“See?” Urien said, turning to his wife. “That’s all he ever says. Waste of time asking him anything. You know that. Plays his own game. Always did.”
Unaccountably, Gwydion flushed. Urien’s analysis of Gwydion’s constant evasions embarrassed him, perhaps most of all because Urien had said it without rancor.
“I’m sorry, Gwydion. But we have learned nothing here about her. Perhaps in Prydyn they know more,” Ellirri said.
“I just came from Prydyn, actually.”
“Oh! How is Rhoram?” Ellirri seemed to know something about how Rhoram usually was, for she asked the question with some trepidation.
“Better. He was doing quite well when I left.”
“Was he?” She turned to her husband. “I believe it might be well for Elphin to visit there now.”
“For what?” Urien asked in surprise.
“To meet Sanon, of course. Rhoram’s daughter.”
“Planning an alliance?” Gwydion asked.
“If they like each other,” Ellirri replied serenely. “I think I’ll send Owein with him as well. It would be good for him to travel a little.”
“Do as you think best, my dear,” Urien said.
“I need Trystan,” Gwydion said, somewhat abruptly.
“When?” Ellirri asked, her brows raised.
“He must come to Caer Dathyl by Suldydd, in Cynyddu Wythnos, Ysgawen Mis.”
“Why?” Urien asked curiously.
“I cannot tell you. Not now.”
Urien and Ellirri exchanged glances. Urien shrugged and Ellirri turned back to Gwydion.
“As you wish, Gwydion, dear,” she said calmly. “He will be there.”
“So,” Urien said, turning to Gwydion, “you’ve looked in Prydyn for this Rhiannon. And now here. Sorry we can’t help you. Where next?”
“I thought I’d go to Dinmael and talk to Queen Olwen.”
Ellirri and Urien exchanged a quick glance. Softly, Ellirri said, “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea, Gwydion.”
Gwydion was startled. “Why not?” He was pretty sure that Olwen would never actually like him, but he thought she had gotten over what happened between them long ago.
“Well, you see—” Ellirri broke off, blushing hotly.
“What my wife’s trying to say is that you won’t be welcomed there,” Urien said bluntly. “Because Olwen’s a dumb, stubborn bitch.”
“What my husband’s trying to say, Gwydion, is that Queen Olwen is a bit angry with you,” Ellirri broke in.
Gwydion sighed. Getting the story out of these two was like pulling teeth. Again, he asked, “But why?”
“Kilwch’s death,” Urien said succinctly.
Kilwch had been Queen Olwen’s husband and Urien’s brother. He had died while swimming in the ocean two years ago when a treacherous undertow had swept him away.
Gwydion gritted his teeth. “And still, I am in the dark. What have I got to do with Kilwch’s death? Surely she doesn’t think that I had anything to do with it?”
“That’s just the problem,” Urien rumbled. “She’s angry because you let it happen. She says you must have dreamed of it, but did nothing. She says you wanted Kilwch to die, because you were jealous. She says you perch yourself in Caer Dathyl like some poisonous spider and spin your webs all over Kymru. She says—”
“I think Gwydion gets the gist of it, dear,” Ellirri interrupted.
“But, but, that’s ridiculous,” Gwydion sputtered. “Even if I had dreamed Kilwch’s death I couldn’t have prevented it, no matter what I did. Surely she knows that.”
“Hard to tell what she really knows, Gwydion,” Urien said. “I tell you Olwen’s become unhinged by my brother’s death. She’s a cold, hard woman—like her sister, Ygraine—who never forgets an injury. At least, that’s what I say. Ellirri here, though, says it’s more complicated than that. She’s probably right. She knows things like that.”