Tales of Annwn by Karen Myers

Author:Karen Myers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Contemporary, Heroic, Arthurian, Myths & Legends, Folk Tales, Short Story
ISBN: 1629620106
Publisher: Perkunas Press
Published: 2013-08-01T04:00:00+00:00

CARIAD

This story takes place between The Ways of Winter and King of the May.

Benitoe busied himself with rechecking the girth on Halwyn, off to the side of the inn yard, and kept his eye on the side door of the main building. Two of the tall fae rode in and dismounted, chatting together. A groom came out of the stable to take their horses, a lutin in red like many of the staff at the inn, a foot shorter than the fae, or more, like Benitoe himself, though Benitoe wore his dark green hunt livery instead of the traditional red. The groom looked over and gave Benitoe a wave. “We’ve got his pony tacked up. Are you still planning to return tonight?”

“Shouldn’t be any problem with that, it’s just a few miles on horseback, through the ways, and the weather’s clear. Do you have enough space ready?”

“Luhedoc told us to expect eight, and we can just manage it.”

Benitoe took in all the construction that was still underway as the Golden Cockerel was being hurriedly restored to use. He’d seen the newest interior repairs last night after he rode in, but now, in daylight, the extent of the work was much more obvious. The stables had been in complete collapse when he’d last seen them, a few weeks ago. Maëlys had latched onto the first stone masons and carpenters to become available as the barriers dropped around Edgewood and set them to work, rightly anticipating that the reviving town would need a working inn as its dwellers came back to life, recovering from the curse that had buried them in a sort of half-life for so long.

The side door to the inn opened, and Luhedoc came out, dressed for a ride on a cold day. He walked down a couple of steps and Maëlys stopped him, pressing a leather bag into his hands. She spotted Benitoe, and smiled at him over Luhedoc’s head. “Food for the ride,” she called.

“Thanks, auntie.” It had only been a few weeks since she had adopted him into her clan, reviving a very old custom. It warmed him still, whenever he thought of it, and he lost no opportunity to call her by the title that relationship conferred.

Luhedoc looked away into the yard as the groom brought his brown pony out of the stable aisle. “Sorry to leave while there’s still so much to do, but it’s as good a day as any to start bringing the horses, while they’re in demand. Do you think they’ll finish the laundry boilers for you today?”

“Oh, I imagine they’ll come close,” she said, absently. She was watching Benitoe as she spoke, and her expression made an appeal to him, as if to ask for help. She looked back at Luhedoc, but he avoided her glance.

“I’ll bring back as many as I can.” He turned away to check his pony, and she stood on the top step for a moment, irresolute, then walked back in and shut the door.

Luhedoc finished his inspection and fastened their lunch behind his saddle, then mounted up.

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