A Wounded Realm by Ashman K. M

Author:Ashman, K. M. [Ashman, K. M.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781503948433
Published: 2016-01-12T08:00:00+00:00

‘Defend yourself, heathens,’ shouted Cynwrig, waving one of the toy swords in the air, ‘for I am a hideous ogre and love to eat the children of kings.’ With an almighty roar he jumped down from a wall and chased the squealing children around the garden. Adele laughed at their antics, touched to see the children happy again after such a long journey. Gruffydd walked up beside her and she turned to curtsey.

‘My lord,’ she said in greeting.

‘Adele,’ said Gruffydd, ‘it is good to see you again. I thought you were to stay in Ireland?’

‘It was going to be that way, my lord, but alas my husband died several months ago – he fell from his horse. I have no other family so when Lady Angharad invited me along, I was only too happy to accept. That is of course, if you are agreeable.’

‘My condolences about your husband, Adele,’ he replied, ‘and as for whether I am agreeable or not, I think it is one of the best things she has done. She sees you as a friend, rather than a servant and truth be told, I am sometimes quite envious of the trust between you.’

‘You underestimate her love for you, my lord,’ said Adele, ‘and no matter what advice I may give her, she always knows her own mind.’

‘And have you ever advised her to leave me?’ asked Gruffydd with a twinkle in his eye.

‘On many, many occasions, my lord,’ said Adele with a wicked smile.

Gruffydd smiled back and looked over at his children.

‘They seem happy,’ he said.

‘They are wonderful children,’ said Adele, ‘but will benefit from spending time with their father.’

‘A father who perhaps needs some lessons in how to play,’ said Gruffydd thoughtfully, as he watched Cynwrig pretend to die upon the grass.

‘It’s not that hard,’ said Adele with a smile, ‘all you need is one of these.’

Gruffydd looked down at Adele’s hand and with a smile he took the toy sword.

‘Truly, a weapon fit for a king,’ he said, and turning away from the servant, strode out into the garden, holding the wooden sword above his head.

‘I am King Gruffydd of Gwynedd,’ he roared across the gardens, ‘and I have been told there is an ogre to be slain.’

The children squealed in delight as their father joined the fray and as battle ensued, Adele left the games to walk back to the manor.

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