Excalibur - Bernard Cornwell by Bernard Cornwell

Author:Bernard Cornwell [Cornwell, Bernard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ePub Bud (www.epubbud.com)
Published: 2011-07-26T04:00:00+00:00

ou `They're still here,' he said, `good.' Cuneglas had joined me and overheard Arthur's previous words. `You want us to put a cross on our shields?' he asked. `I can demand nothing of you, Lord King,' Arthur said, `but if you would place a cross on your shield, and on your men's shields, I would be grateful.' `Why?' Cuneglas demanded fiercely. He was famous for his opposition to the new religion. `Because,' Arthur said, still gazing down at the enemy, `the cross is the price we pay for Gwent's army.' Cuneglas stared at Arthur as though he hardly dared believe his ears. `Meurig is coming?' I asked. `No,' Arthur said, turning to us, `not Meurig. King Tewdric is coming. Good Tewdric.' Tewdric was Meurig's father, the king who had given up his throne to become a monk, and Arthur had ridden to Gwent to plead with the old man. `I knew it was possible,' Arthur told me, `because Galahad and I have been talking to Tewdric all winter.' At first, Arthur said, the old King had been reluctant to give up his pious, scrimped life, but other men in Gwent had added their voices to Arthur and Galahad's pleadings and, after nights spent praying in his small chapel, Tewdric had reluctantly declared he would temporarily take back his throne and lead Gwent's army south. Meurig had fought the decision, which he rightly saw as a reproof and a humiliation, but Gwent's army had supported their old King and so now they were marching south. `There was a price,' Arthur admitted. `I had to bow my knee to their God and promise to ascribe victory to Him, but I'll ascribe victory to any God Tewdric wants so long as he brings his spearmen.' `And the rest of the price?' Cuneglas asked shrewdly. Arthur made a wry face. `They want you to let Meurig's missionaries into Powys.' `Just that?' Cuneglas asked. `I might have given the impression,' Arthur admitted, `that you would welcome them. I'm sorry, Lord King. The demand was only sprung on me two days ago, and it was Meurig's idea, and Meurig's face has to be saved.' Cuneglas grimaced. He had done his best to keep Christianity from his kingdom, reckoning that Powys did not need the acrimony that always followed the new faith, but he made no protest to Arthur. Better Christians in Powys, he must have decided, than Saxons. `Is that all you promised Tewdric, Lord?' I asked Arthur suspiciously. I was remembering Meurig's demand to be given Dumnonia's throne and Arthur's longing to be rid of that responsibility. `These treaties always have a few details that aren't worth bothering about,' Arthur responded airily, `but I did promise to release Sansum. He is now the Bishop of Dumnonia! And a royal counsellor again. Tewdric insisted on it. Every time I knock our good Bishop down he bobs up again.' He laughed. `Is that all you promised, Lord?' I asked again, still suspicious. `I promised enough, Derfel, to

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