Falls the Shadow: A Novel by Sharon Kay Penman

Author:Sharon Kay Penman [Penman, Sharon Kay]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Historical, Retail, Kings and Rulers, Llewelyn Ap Iorwerth, Wales - History - 1063-1284, Biographical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Great Britain - History - Plantagenets; 1154-1399, Plantagenet
ISBN: 9781429922951
Google: ykVgZGqPqEgC
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 2008-08-19T04:00:00+00:00

22

________

Beddgelert Priory North Wales

June 1255

________

They’d been roused from sleep, and they stumbled, yawning, into Llewelyn’s bedchamber, blinking at the sudden flaring of torch-light. Llewelyn stood motionless in the shadows, listening in silence as his scout told them what he already knew—that his brothers, Owain and Davydd, were leading an invading army into his lands.

He watched them intently, saw their faces change, their sleepiness vanish. Only his cousin Tegwared seemed truly startled; Tegwared inhaled optimism as naturally as he did air. Gruffydd and Goronwy ab Ednyved had followed in their father’s footsteps, wielding their swords in the service of Gwynedd’s Prince. Like Ednyved, they were shrewd, cynical, and utterly unsentimental, not to be surprised by a brother’s betrayal. His uncle Einion showed no surprise, either, only dismay. Llewelyn understood, and felt honor-bound to offer a reprieve.

“This is no quarrel of yours, Uncle, not when you’d find kinsmen on both sides of the battlefield.”

“Ah, but that is the Welsh way, lad.” That was too true for humor, though; only Einion smiled. He was greatly tempted to take advantage of Llewelyn’s generosity. It would be no pleasant task, explaining to Senena that he’d backed the wrong son. Moreover, he sympathized with Davydd’s claim, for in his heart he believed that Gwynedd ought to be divided equally amongst all of Gruffydd’s sons, as the ancient Welsh laws decreed. But his affections ran contrary to common sense, and he heard himself saying, “It is an easier choice than you think, Llewelyn. I have never liked Owain.”

This time Llewelyn did smile. “Neither have I,” he said, no more than that, but Einion needed no more. He returned his nephew’s smile and for the moment, at least, his sister, Senena, was forgotten.

Llewelyn moved into the light. “Mayhap it was inevitable that Owain and I would have a day of reckoning. Now that it has come so be it. But I want our men to understand this, that Davydd is not to be harmed.”

Tegwared and Einion nodded approvingly, but Llewelyn caught the skeptical look that passed between Ednyved’s sons, and he could not keep a defensive note from creeping into his voice. “As young as Davydd is, he does not fully comprehend the consequences of what he’s done.”

Goronwy carefully avoided his brother’s eye. He’d have wagered that Davydd was no innocent; even as a lad, he had been one for poking sticks into hornets’ nests. But he knew better than to argue. Instead, he said, “What mean you to do, Llewelyn?”

Llewelyn crossed to the table. The map was crudely drawn, but that didn’t matter. He’d had twenty-seven years to learn the lay of his land, knew the depths of every river, the twistings of every mountain trail.

“They circled around Cricieth Castle, are now heading north. To get from Eiffionydd into Arfon, they’ll use the Bwlch Mawr Pass.” He gestured toward the map, then said grimly, “And there they will find us waiting for them.”

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