diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:41:39 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:41:39 -0700 |
| commit | fce80e88756ef90be7269ac124ff2da1044c164d (patch) | |
| tree | 8e530b63922349a72d8d467f6416d6d958c8b36b | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 13227-0.txt | 5756 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 13227-h/13227-h.htm | 5330 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/13227-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 130460 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/13227-h/13227-h.htm | 5737 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/13227.txt | 6139 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/13227.zip | bin | 0 -> 128855 bytes |
9 files changed, 22978 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/13227-0.txt b/13227-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..875efbc --- /dev/null +++ b/13227-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5756 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13227 *** + + THE LORD OF DYNEVOR: + +A Tale of the Times of Edward the First + +by Evelyn Everett-Green. + + + + CHAPTER I. DYNEVOR CASTLE. + + +"La-ha-hoo! la-ha-hoo!" + +Far down the widening valley, and up the wild, picturesque ravine, rang +the strange but not unmusical call. It awoke the slumbering echoes of +the still place, and a hundred voices seemed to take up the cry, and +pass it on as from mouth to mouth. But the boy's quick ears were not to +be deceived by the mocking voices of the spirits of solitude, and +presently the call rang out again with greater clearness than before: + +"La-ha-hoo!" + +The boy stood with his head thrown back, his fair curls floating in the +mountain breeze, his blue eyes, clear and bright and keen as those of a +wild eaglet, fixed upon a craggy ridge on the opposite side of the +gorge, whilst his left hand was placed upon the collar of a huge +wolfhound who stood beside him, sniffing the wind and showing by every +tremulous movement his longing to be off and away, were it not for the +detaining hand of his young master. + +The lad was very simply dressed in a tunic of soft, well-dressed +leather, upon the breast of which was stamped some device which might +have been the badge of his house. His active limbs were encased in the +same strong, yielding material, and the only thing about him which +seemed to indicate rank or birth was a belt with a richly-chased gold +clasp and a poniard with a jewelled hilt. + +Perhaps the noble bearing of the boy was his best proof of right to the +noble name he bore. One of the last of the royal house of Dynevor, he +looked every inch a prince, as he stood bare-headed in the sunlight +amidst the everlasting hills of his well-loved home, too young to see +the clouds which were settling so darkly and so surely upon the bright +horizon of his life -- his dreams still of glory and triumph, +culminating in the complete emancipation of his well-loved country from +the hated English yoke. + +The dog strained and whined against the detaining clasp upon his neck, +but the boy held him fast. + +"Nay, Gelert, we are not going a-hunting," he said. "Hark! is not that +the sound of a horn? Are they not even now returning? Over yon fell they +come. Let me but hear their hail, and thou and I will be off to meet +them. I would they heard the news first from my lips. My mother bid me +warn them. I wot she fears what Llewelyn and Howel might say or do were +they to find English guests in our hall and they all unwarned." + +Once more the boy raised his voice in the wild call which had awakened +the echoes before, and this time his practised ear distinguished amongst +the multitudinous replies an answering shout from human lips. Releasing +Gelert, who dashed forward with a bay of delight, the lad commenced +springing from rock to rock up the narrowing gorge, until he reached a +spot where the dwindling stream could be crossed by a bound; from which +spot a wild path, more like a goat track than one intended for the foot +of man, led upwards towards the higher portions of the wild fell. + +The boy sped onwards with the fleetness and agility of a born +mountaineer. The hound bounded at his side; and before either had +traversed the path far, voices ahead of them became distinctly audible, +and a little group might be seen approaching, laden with the spoils of +the chase. + +In the van of the little party were three lads, one of whom bore so +striking a resemblance to the youth who now hastened to meet them, that +the relationship could not be for a moment doubted. As a matter of fact +the four were brothers; but they followed two distinct types -- Wendot +and Griffeth being fair and bright haired, whilst Llewelyn and Howel +(who were twins) were dark as night, with black hair and brows, swarthy +skins, and something of the wildness of aspect which often accompanies +such traits. + +Wendot, the eldest of the four, a well-grown youth of fifteen, who was +walking slightly in advance of his brothers, greeted Griffeth's approach +with a bright smile. + +"Ha, lad, thou shouldst have been with us! We have had rare sport today. +The good fellows behind can scarce carry the booty home. Thou must see +the noble stag that my bolt brought down. We will have his head to adorn +the hall -- his antlers are worth looking at, I warrant thee. But what +brings thee out so far from home? and why didst thou hail us as if we +were wanted?" + +"You are wanted," answered Griffeth, speaking so that all the brothers +might hear his words. "The mother herself bid me go in search of you, +and it is well you come home laden with meat, for we shall need to make +merry tonight. There are guests come to the castle today. Wenwynwyn was +stringing his harp even as I came away, to let them hear his skill in +music. They are to be lodged for so long as they will stay; but the +manner of their errand I know not." + +"Guests!" echoed all three brothers in a breath, and very eagerly; "why, +that is good hearing, for perchance we may now learn some news. Come +these strangers from the north? Perchance we shall hear somewhat of our +noble Prince Llewelyn, who is standing out so boldly for the rights of +our nation. Say they not that the English tyrant is on our borders now, +summoning him to pay the homage he repudiates with scorn? Oh, I would +that this were a message summoning all true Welshmen to take up arms in +his quarrel! Would not I fly to his standard, boy though I be! And would +I not shed the last drop of my blood in the glorious cause of liberty!" + +Llewelyn was the speaker, and his black eyes were glowing fiercely under +their straight bushy brows. His face was the least boyish of any of the +four, and his supple, sinewy frame had much of the strength of manhood +in it. The free, open-air life that all these lads had lived, and the +training they had received in all martial and hardy exercises, had given +them strength and height beyond their years. It was no idle boast on the +part of Llewelyn to speak of his readiness to fight. He would have +marched against the foe with the stoutest of his father's men-at-arms, +and doubtless have acquitted himself as well as any; for what the lads +lacked in strength they made up in their marvellous quickness and agility. + +The love of fighting seemed born in all these hardy sons of Wales, and +something of warfare was known to them even now, from the never-ending +struggles between themselves, and their resistance of the authority, +real or assumed, of the Lords of the Marches. But petty forays and +private feuds with hostile kinsmen was not the kind of fighting these +brothers longed to see and share. They had their own ideas and +aspirations, and eager glances were turned upon Griffeth, lest he might +be the bearer of some glorious piece of news that would mean open +warfare with England. + +But the boy's face was unresponsive and even a little downcast. He gave +a quick glance into the fierce, glowing face of Llewelyn, and then his +eyes turned upon Wendot. + +"There is no news like that," he said slowly. "The guests who have come +to Dynevor are English themselves." + +"English!" echoed Llewelyn fiercely, and he turned away with a smothered +word which sounded like an imprecation upon all the race of foreigners; +whilst Howel asked with quick indignation: + +"What right have English guests at Dynevor? Why were they received? Why +did not our good fellows fall upon them with the sword or drive them +back the way they came? Oh, if we had but been there --" + +"Tush, brother!" said young Griffeth quickly; "is not our father lord of +Dynevor? Dost think that thou canst usurp his authority? And when did +ever bold Welshmen fall upon unarmed strangers to smite with the sword? +Do we make war upon harmless travellers -- women and children? Fie upon +thee! it were a base thought. Let not our parents hear thee speak such +words." + +Howel looked a little discomfited by his younger brother's rebuke, +though he read nothing but sympathy and mute approbation in Llewelyn's +sullen face and gloomy eyes. He dropped a pace or so behind and joined +his twin, whilst Wendot and Griffeth led the way in front. + +"Who are these folks?" asked Wendot; "and whence come they? And why have +they thus presented themselves unarmed at Dynevor? Is it an errand of +peace? And why speakest thou of women and children?" + +"Why, brother, because the traveller has his little daughter with him, +and her woman is in their train of servants. I know not what has brought +them hither, but I gather they have lost their road, and lighted by +chance on Dynevor. Methinks they are on a visit to the Abbey of Strata +Florida; but at least they come as simple, unarmed strangers, and it is +the boast of Wales that even unarmed foes may travel through the breadth +and length of the land and meet no harm from its sons. For my part I +would have it always so. I would not wage war on all alike. Doubtless +there are those, even amongst the English, who are men of bravery and +honour." + +"I doubt it not," answered Wendot, with a gravity rather beyond his +years. "If all our mother teaches us be true, we Welshmen have been +worse enemies to one another than ever the English have been. I would +not let Llewelyn or Howel hear me say so, and I would fain believe it +not. But when we see how this fair land has been torn and rent by the +struggles after land and power, and how our own kinsman, Meredith ap +Res, is toying with Edward, and striving to take from us the lands we +hold yet -- so greatly diminished from the old portion claimed by the +lords of Dynevor -- we cannot call the English our only or even our +greatest foes. Ah, if Wales would but throw aside all her petty feuds, +and join as brothers fighting shoulder to shoulder for her independence, +then might there be some hope! But now --" + +Griffeth was looking with wide-open, wondering eyes into his brother's +face. He loved and reverenced Wendot in a fashion that was remarkable, +seeing that the elder brother was but two years and a half his senior. +But Wendot had always been grave and thoughtful beyond his years, and +had been taken much into the counsels of his parents, so that questions +which were almost new to the younger lad had been thought much of by the +eldest, the heir of the house of Dynevor. + +"Why, brother, thou talkest like a veritable monk for learning," he +said. "I knew not thou hadst the gift of such eloquent speech. Methought +it was the duty of every free-born son of Wales to hate the English tyrant." + +"Ay, and so I do when I think of his monstrous claims," cried Wendot +with flashing eyes. "Who is the King of England that he should lay claim +to our lands, our homage, our submission? My blood boils in my veins +when I think of things thus. And yet there are moments when it seems the +lesser ill to yield such homage to one whom the world praises as +statesman and soldier, than to see our land torn and distracted by petty +feuds, and split up into a hundred hostile factions. But let us not talk +further of this; it cuts me to the heart to think of it. Tell me more of +these same travellers. How did our parents receive them? And how long +purpose they to stay?" + +"Nay, that I have not heard. I was away over yon fell with Gelert when I +saw the company approach the castle, and ere I could find entrance the +strangers had been received and welcomed. The father of the maiden is an +English earl, Lord Montacute they call him. He is tall and soldier-like, +with an air of command like unto our father's. The damsel is a +fair-faced maiden, who scarce opens her lips; but she keeps close to our +mother's side, and seems loath to leave her for a moment. I heard her +father say that she had no mother of her own. Her name, they say, is +Lady Gertrude." + +"A damsel at Dynevor," said Wendot, with a smile; "methinks that will +please the mother well." + +"Come and see," cried Griffeth eagerly. "Let us hasten down to the +castle together." + +It was easy work for the brothers to traverse the rocky pathway. +Dangerous as the descent looked to others, they were as surefooted as +young chamois, and sprang from rock to rock with the utmost confidence. +The long summer sunlight came streaming up the valley in level rays of +shimmering gold, bathing the loftier crags in lambent fire, and filling +the lower lands with layers of soft shadow flecked here and there with +gold. A sudden turn in the narrow gorge, through which ran a brawling +tributary of the wider Towy, brought the brothers full in sight of their +ancestral home, and for a few seconds they paused breathless, gazing +with an unspeakable and ardent love upon the fair scene before them. + +The castle of Dynevor (or Dinas Vawr = Great Palace) stood in a +commanding position upon a rocky plateau overlooking the river Towy. +From its size and splendour -- as splendour went in those days -- it had +long been a favourite residence with the princes of South Wales; and in +a recent readjustment of disputed lands, consequent upon the perpetual +petty strife that was ruining the land, Res Vychan, the present Lord of +Dynevor, had made some considerable sacrifice in order to keep in his +own hands the fair palace of his fathers. + +The majestic pile stood out boldly from the mountain side, and was +approached by a winding road from the valley. A mere glance showed how +strong was the position it occupied, and how difficult such a place +would be to capture. On two sides the rock fell away almost sheer from +the castle walls, whilst on the other two a deep moat had been dug, +which was fed by small mountain rivulets that never ran dry; and the +entrance was commanded by a drawbridge, whose frowning portcullis was +kept by a grim warder looking fully equal to the office allotted to him. + +Lovely views were commanded from the narrow windows of the castle, and +from the battlements and the terraced walk that ran along two sides of +the building. And rough and rude as were the manners and customs of the +period, and partially uncivilized as the country was in those far-off +days, there was a strong vein of poetry lying latent in its sons and +daughters, and an ardent love for the beautiful in nature and for the +country they called their own, which went far to redeem their natures +from mere savagery and brute ferocity. + +This passionate love for their home was strong in all the brothers of +the house of Dynevor, and was deepened and intensified by the sense of +uncertainty now pervading the whole country with regard to foreign +aggression and the ever-increasing claims upon Welsh lands by the +English invaders. A sense as of coming doom hung over the fair +landscape, and Wendot's eyes grew dreamy as he stood gazing on the +familiar scene, and Griffeth had to touch his arm and hurry him down to +the castle. + +"Mother will be wanting us," he said. "What is the matter, Wendot? +Methinks I see the tears in thine eyes." + +"Nay, nay; tears are for women," answered Wendot with glowing cheeks, as +he dashed his hand across his eyes. "It is for us men to fight for our +rightful inheritance, that the women may not have to weep for their +desolated homes." + +Griffeth gave him a quick look, and then his eyes travelled lovingly +over the wide, fair scene, to the purple shadows and curling mists of +the valley, the dark mysterious woods in front, the clear, vivid +sunlight on the mountain tops, and the serried battlements of the +castle, now rising into larger proportions as the boys dropped down the +hillside towards the postern door, which led out upon the wild fell. +There was something of mute wistfulness in his own gaze as he did so. + +"Brother," he said thoughtfully, "I think I know what those feelings are +which bring tears to the eyes of men -- tears of which they need feel no +shame. Fear not to share with me all thy inmost thoughts. Have we not +ever been brothers in all things?" + +"Ay, truly have we; and I would keep nothing back, only I scarce know +how to frame my lips to give utterance to the thoughts which come +crowding into my brain. But see, we have no time for communing now. Go +on up the path to the postern; it is too narrow for company." + +Indeed, so narrow was the track, so steep the uncertain steps worn in +the face of the rock, so deep the fall if one false step were made, that +few save the brothers and wilder mountaineers ever sought admission by +the postern door. But Wendot and Griffeth had no fears, and quickly +scaled the steps and reached the entrance, passing through which they +found themselves in a narrow vaulted passage, very dark, which led, with +many twists and turns, and several ascending stairs, to the great hall +of the castle, where the members of the household were accustomed for +the most part to assemble. + +A door deeply set in an embrasure gave access to this place, and the +moment it was opened the sound of a harp became audible, and the +brothers paused in the deep shadow to observe what was going on in the +hall before they advanced further. + +A scene that would be strange and picturesque to our eyes, but was in +the main familiar to theirs, greeted them as they stood thus. The castle +hall was a huge place, large enough to contain a muster of armed men. A +great stone staircase wound upwards from it to a gallery above. There +was little furniture to be seen, and that was of a rude kind, though not +lacking in a certain massiveness and richness in the matter of carving, +which gave something baronial to the air of the place. The walls were +adorned with trophies of all sorts, some composed of arms, others of the +spoil of fell and forest. The skins of many savage beasts lay upon the +cold stone flooring of the place, imparting warmth and harmony by the +rich tints of the furs. Light was admitted through a row of narrow +windows both above and below; but the vast place would have been dim and +dark at this hour had it not been that the huge double doors with their +rude massive bolts stood wide open to the summer air, and the last beams +of the westering sun came shining in, lying level and warm upon the +group at the upper end of the hall, which had gathered around the +white-haired, white-bearded bard, who, with head thrown backwards, and +eyes alight with strange passions and feelings, was singing in a deep +and musical voice to the sound of his instrument. + +Old Wenwynwyn was a study in himself; his flowing hair, his fiery eyes, +his picturesque garb and free, untrammelled gestures giving him a weird +individuality of his own. But it was not upon him that the eyes of the +brothers dwelt, nor even upon the soldier-like figure of their stalwart +father leaning against the wall with folded arms, and eyes shining with +the patriotic fervour of his race. The attention of the lads was +enchained by another and more sumptuous figure --that of a fine-looking +man, approaching to middle life, who was seated at a little distance +from the minstrel, and was smiling with pleasure and appreciation at the +wild sweetness of the stream of melody poured forth. + +One glance at the dress of the stranger would have been enough to tell +the brothers his nationality. His under tunic, which reached almost to +the feet, was of the finest cloth, and was embroidered along the lower +border with gold thread. The sur-tunic was also richly embroidered; and +the heavy mantle clasped upon the shoulder with a rare jewel was of some +rich texture almost unknown to the boys. The make and set of his +garments, and the jewelled and plumed cap which he held upon his knee, +alike proclaimed him to be English; yet as he gazed upon the noble face, +and looked into the clear depths of the calm and fearless eyes, Wendot +felt no hostility towards the representative of the hostile race, but +rather a sort of reluctant admiration. + +"In faith he looks born to command," he whispered to Griffeth. "If all +were like unto him --" + +But the lad did not complete the sentence, for he had suddenly caught +sight of another figure, another face, and he stopped short in a sort of +bewildered amaze. + +In Dynevor Castle there had never been a girl child to share the honours +with her brothers. No sister had played in its halls, or tyrannized over +the lads or their parents. And now when Wendot's glance fell for the +first time upon this little fairy-like creature, this lovely little +golden-haired, blue-eyed maiden, he felt a new sensation enter his life, +and gazed as wonderingly at the apparition as if the child had been a ghost. + +And the soft shy eyes, with their fringe of dark lashes, were looking +straight at him. As he gazed the child suddenly rose, and darted towards +the brothers as if she had wings on her feet. + +"Oh, you have come back!" she said, looking from one to the other, and +for a moment seeming puzzled by the likeness; "and -- why, there are two +of you," and the child broke into the merriest and silveriest of laughs. +"Oh, I am so glad! I do like boys so much, and I never have any to play +with at home. I am so tired of this old man and his harp. Please let me +go somewhere with you," and she thrust her soft little hand confidingly +into Wendot's, looking up saucily into his face as she added, "You are +the biggest; I like you the best." + +Wendot's face glowed; but on the whole he was flattered by the attention +and the preference of the little maiden. He understood her soft English +speech perfectly, for all the Dynevor brothers had been instructed in +the English tongue by an English monk who had long lived at the castle. +Res Vychan, the present Lord of Dynevor, foresaw, and had foreseen many +years, the gradual usurpation of the English, and had considered that a +knowledge of that tongue would in all probability be an advantage to +those who were likely to be involved in the coming struggle. The boys +all possessed the quick musical ear of their race, and found no +difficulty in mastering the language; but neither Llewelyn nor Howel +would ever speak a single word of the hated tongue if they could help +it, though Wendot and Griffeth conversed often with the old monk right +willingly. + +So as Wendot looked down into the bright little upturned face, he was +able to reply readily and smilingly: + +"Where would you like to go, little lady, and what would you like me to +show you?" + +"Oh, everything -- all out there," said the little girl, with a wave of +her hand towards the front door. "I want to go and see the sun. I am +tired of it in here." + +Wendot led the child through the hall, and out upon the great terrace +which overlooked the steep descent to the valley and away to the glowing +west. Griffeth followed, glad that his elder brother had been preferred +before himself by the little maiden, yet half fascinated by her nameless +charm. Wendot lifted her up in his strong arms to see over the wide +stone balustrade, and she made him set her down there and perch himself +by her side; for she seemed loath to go back to the hall again, and the +boys were as willing as she to remain out in the open air. + +"It is pretty here," said the child graciously; "I think I should like +to live here sometimes, if it was always summer. Tell me your name, big +boy. I hope it is not very hard. Some people here have names I cannot +speak right." + +"They call me Res Wendot," answered the lad; "generally Wendot at home +here. This is Griffeth, my youngest brother. Those are not hard names, +are they?" + +"No, not very. And how old are you, Wendot?" + +"I am fifteen." + +"Oh, how big you are!" said the little lady, opening her eyes wide; "I +thought you must be much older than that. I am twelve, and you can lift +me up in your arms. But then I always was so little -- they all say so." + +"Yet you travel about with your father," said Wendot. + +"I never did before; but this time I begged, and he took me. Sometimes +he says he shall have to put me in a nunnery, because he has nobody to +take care of me when he has to travel about. But I don't think I should +like that; I would rather stay here." + +Wendot and Griffeth laughed; but the child was not at all disconcerted. +She was remarkably self possessed for her years, even if she was small +of stature and infantile in appearance. + +"What is your name?" asked Wendot; and the little maid answered, with +becoming gravity and importance: + +"I am called Lady Gertrude Cherleton; but you may call me Gertrude if +you like, because you are kind and I like you. Are there any more of +you? Have you any sisters?" + +"No; only two brothers." + +"More brothers! and what are their names?" + +"Llewelyn and Howel." + +"Llewelyn? Why, that is the name of the Prince of North Wales that the +king is going to fight against and conquer. Do you think when he has +done so that he will come here and conquer you, too?" + +Wendot's cheek burned a sudden red; but he made no reply, for at that +moment a head suddenly appeared round an angle of the wall, and a heavy +grip was laid upon the shoulder of the child. A wild face and a pair of +flashing black eyes were brought into close proximity with hers, and a +smothered voice spoke in fierce, low accents. + + + + CHAPTER II. THE BROTHERS + + +"What is that you dare to say?" + +The voice was harsh, the words were spoken with a rough accent, unlike +the gentler tones of Wendot and Griffeth. The child uttered a little cry +and shrank back away from the grip of the strong hand, and might have +been in some danger of losing her balance and of falling over the +balustrade, had not Wendot thrown a protecting arm round her, whilst +pushing back with the other hand that of the rude interloper. + +"Llewelyn! for shame!" he said in his own tongue. "Art thou a man, and +claimest the blood of princes, and yet canst stoop to frighten an +inoffensive child?" + +"She spoke of conquest -- the conquest of our country," cried Llewelyn +fiercely, in the hated English tongue, scowling darkly at the little +girl as he spoke. "Thinkest thou that I will stand patiently by and hear +such words? What right hath she or any one besides to speak of that +tyrant and usurper in such tones?" + +"He is not a tyrant, he is not a usurper!" cried the little Lady +Gertrude, recovering herself quickly, and, whilst still holding Wendot +by the hand, turning fearlessly upon the dark-faced lad who had startled +and terrified her at the first. "I know of whom you are speaking -- it +is of our great and noble King Edward. You do not know him -- you cannot +know how great and good he is. I will not hear you speak against him. I +love him next best to my own father. He is kind and good to everybody. +If you would all give your homage to him you would be happy and safe, +and he would protect you, and --" + +But Llewelyn's patience was exhausted; he would listen no more. With a +fierce gesture of hatred that made the child shrink back again he turned +upon her, and it seemed for a moment almost as though he would have +struck her, despite Wendot's sturdy protecting arm, had not his own +shoulder been suddenly grasped by an iron hand, and he himself +confronted by the stern countenance of his father. + +"What means this, boy?" asked Res Vychan severely. "Art thou daring to +raise thine arm against a child, a lady, and thy father's guest? For +shame! I blush for thee. Ask pardon instantly of the lady and of her +father. I will have no such dealings in mine house. Thou shouldst be +well assured of that." + +The black-browed boy was crimson with rage and shame, but there was no +yielding in the haughty face. He confronted his father with flashing +eyes, and as he did so he met the keen, grave glance of the stranger's +fixed upon him with a calm scrutiny which aroused his fiercest rage. + +"I will not ask pardon," he shouted. "I will not degrade my tongue by +uttering such words. I will not --" + +The father's hand descended heavily upon his son's head, in a blow which +would have stunned a lad less hardy and hard-headed. Res Vychan was not +one to be defied with impunity by his own sons, and he had had hard +encounters of will before now with Llewelyn. + +"Choose, boy," he said with brief sternness. "Either do my will and obey +me, or thou wilt remain a close prisoner till thou hast come to thy +senses. My guests shall not be insulted by thy forward tongue. Barbarous +and wild as the English love to call us, they shall find that Res Vychan +is not ignorant of those laws which govern the world in which they live +and move. Ask pardon of the lady, or to the dungeon thou goest." + +Llewelyn glanced up into his father's face, and saw no yielding there. +Howel was making vehement signs to him which he and he alone could +interpret. His other brothers were eagerly gazing at him, and Griffeth +even went so for as to murmur into his ear some words of entreaty. + +It seemed as though the silence which followed Res Vychan's words would +never be broken, but at last the culprit spoke, and spoke in a low, +sullen tone. + +"I meant no harm. I would not have hurt her." + +"Ask her pardon then, boy, and tell her so." + +"Nay, force him no more," said the little lady, who was regarding this +curious scene with lively interest, and who began to feel sorry for the +dark wild boy who had frightened her by his vehemence before; "I was to +blame myself. I should not have spoken as I did. + +"Father, tell them how my tongue is always running away with me. Hast +not thou told me a hundred times that it would get me into trouble one +of these days? It is right that he should love his country. Do not think +ill of him for that." + +"Ay, let the lad go now, good friend," quoth Lord Montacute. "No doubt +this little witch of mine was at the bottom of the mischief. Her tongue, +as she truly says, is a restless and mischievous possession. She has +found a stanch protector at least, and will come to no harm amongst thy +stalwart lads. I could envy thee such a double brace of boys. I would it +had pleased Providence to send me a son." + +"Nay, father, say not so," cried little Lady Gertrude coaxingly. "I +would not have a brother for all the world. Thou wouldst love him so +well, if thou hadst him, that thou wouldst have none to spare for thy +maid. I have seen how it ever is. I love to have all thy heart for mine +own." + +The father smiled, but Res Vychan's face was still severe, and he had +not loosed his clasp upon Llewelyn's arm. + +"Say that thou art sorry ere I let thee go," he said, in low but very +stern tones; and after a moment's hesitation, Llewelyn spoke in audible +tones. + +"I am sorry," he said slowly; "I am sorry." + +And then as his father's clasp upon his arm relaxed he darted away like +an arrow from the bow, and plunged with Howel through a dark and gloomy +doorway which led up a winding turret stair to a narrow circular +chamber, which the brothers shared together. + +"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" he panted fiercely; "ay, that indeed I am. Sorry +that I did not wring her neck as the fowler wrings the neck of the bird +his shaft hath brought down; sorry I did not cast her headlong down the +steep precipice, that there might be one less of the hated race +contaminating the air of our pure Wales with their poisonous breath. +Sorry! ay, that I am! I would my hand had done a deed which should have +set proud Edward's forces in battle array against us. I would that this +tampering with traitors were at an end, and that we warriors of South +Wales might stand shoulder to shoulder, firmly banded against the +foreign foe. I would plunge a dagger in the false heart of yon proud +Englishman as he lies sleeping in his bed tonight, if by doing so I +could set light to the smouldering flame of national hatred. + +"What sayest thou? Can we do nought to bring upon us an open war, which +is a thousand times better than this treacherous, hollow peace? Our +father and mother are half won over to the cause of slavery. They --" + +Llewelyn paused, choking back the fierce tide of passion which went far +to unman him. He had not forgotten the humiliation placed upon him so +recently, when his father had compelled him to sue for pardon to an +English maiden. His heart was burning, his soul was stirred to its +depths. He had to stop short lest his passion should carry him away. + +Howel seemed to understand him without the medium of words. The links +which bound the twin brothers together were very subtle and very strong. +If Llewelyn were the more violent and headstrong, Howel was more than +his equal in diplomacy. He shared every feeling of his brother's heart, +but he was less outspoken and less rash. + +"I know what thou wouldst do," he said thoughtfully: "thou wouldst force +upon our father a step which shall make a rupture with the English +inevitable. Thou wouldst do a thing which should bring upon us the wrath +of the mighty Edward, and force both ourselves and our neighbours to +take arms against him. Is not that so?" + +"Ay, truly; and could such a thing be, gladly would I lay down my life +in the cause of liberty and freedom." + +Howel was pondering deeply. + +"Perchance it might be done," he said. + +Llewelyn eagerly raised his head. + +"Thinkest thou so? How?" + +"I know not yet, but we shall have time for thought. Knowest thou that +the maid will remain here beneath our mother's charge for a while, +whilst our father goes forward as far as the Abbey of Strata Florida +with yon stranger, to guide him on his way? The maid will remain here +until her father's return." + +"How knowest thou that?" + +"I had it from Wenwynwyn's lips. He heard the discussion in the hall, +and it seems that this Lord Montacute would be glad to be free of the +care of the child for a while. Our mother delights in the charge of a +little maid, and thus it will be as I have said." + +A strange fire gleamed in Llewelyn's eyes. The brothers looked at each +other a good while in silence. + +"And thou thinkest --" said Llewelyn at last. + +Howel was some time in replying, and his answer was a little +indeterminate, although sufficiently significant. + +"Why, the maid will be left here; but when her father returns to claim +her, perchance she will not be found. If that were so, thinkest thou not +that nought but open war would lie before us?" + +Llewelyn's eyes glowed. He said not a word, and the darkness gathered +round the boys in the narrow chamber. They thought not of descending or +of asking for food, even after their day's hunting in the hills. They +were hardy, and seasoned to abstemious ways, and had no room for +thoughts of such a kind. Silence was settling down upon the castle, and +they had no intention of leaving their room again that night. Dark +thoughts were their companions as they undressed and made ready for bed; +and hardly were they settled there before the door opened, and the old +bard Wenwynwyn entered. + +This old man was almost like a father to these boys, and Llewelyn and +Howel were particularly attached to him and he to them. He shared to the +full their ardent love for their country and their untempered hatred of +the English race. He saw, as they did, nothing but ill in the +temporizing attitude now to be found amongst the smaller Welsh +chieftains with regard to the claims made by the English monarch; and +much of the fierce hostility to be found in the boys had been the result +of the lessons instilled into their mind by the wild-eyed, passionate +old bard, one of the last of a doomed race. + +"Wenwynwyn, is it thou?" + +"Ay, boys, it is I. You did well to abstain from sitting at meat with +the stranger tonight. The meat went nigh to choke me that was swallowed +in his presence." + +"How long stays he, contaminating our pure air?" + +"He himself is off by sunrise tomorrow, and Res Vychan goes with him. He +leaves behind the little maid in the care of thy mother." + +A strange smile crossed the face of the old man, invisible in the darkness. + +"Strange for the parent bird to leave the dove in the nest of the hawk +-- the eyry of the eagle." + +"Ha!" quoth Llewelyn quickly, "that thought hath likewise come to thee, +good Wenwynwyn." + +The old man made no direct response, but went on speaking in low even tones. + +"The maid has dwelt in the household of the great king. She has played +with his children, been the companion of the young princesses. She is +beloved of them and of the monarch and his wife. Let them but hear that +she is lost in the fastness of Dynevor, and the royal Edward will march +in person to her rescue. All the country will rise in arms to defend +itself. The north will join with the south, and Wales will shake off the +hated foreign yoke banded as one man against the foreign foe." + +The boys listened spellbound. They had often talked together of some +step which might kindle the conflagration, but had never yet seen the +occasion. Hot-headed, rash, reckless as were the youths; wild, tameless, +and fearless as was the ancient bard; they had still been unable to hit +upon any device which might set a light to the train. Discontent and +resentment were rife all over the country, but it was the fashion rather +to temporize with the invader than to defy him. There was a strong party +gathering in the country whose policy was that of paying homage to +Edward and retaining their lands under his protection and countenance, +as being more truly patriotic and farsighted than continuing the old +struggle for supremacy among themselves. This was a policy utterly +incomprehensible both to the boys and the old man, and stirred the blood +of the lads to boiling pitch. + +"What can we do?" asked Llewelyn hoarsely. + +"I will tell you," whispered the old man, approaching close to the bed +whereon the brothers lay wide-eyed and broad awake. "This very night I +leave the castle by the postern door, and in the moonlight I make my way +to the commot of Llanymddyvri, where dwells that bold patriot Maelgon ap +Caradoc. To him I tell all, and he will risk everything in the cause. It +will be very simply done. You boys must feign a while -- must feign +friendship for the maid thus left behind. Your brothers have won her +heart already; you must not be behind them. The dove must have no fear +of the young eaglets. She has a high courage of her own; she loves +adventure and frolic; she will long to stretch her wings, and wander +amid the mountain heights, under the stanch protection of her comrades +of Dynevor. + +"Then listen, boys. The day will come when the thing is to be done. In +some of the wild fastnesses of the upper Towy will be lurking the bold +bands of Maelgon ap Caradoc. Thither you must lead the unsuspicious +maid, first by some device getting rid of your brothers, who might try +to thwart the scheme. These bold fellows will carry off the maid to the +safe keeping of Maelgon, and once let her be his prisoner, there is no +fear of her escaping from his hands. Edward himself and all his forces +at his back will scarce wrest away the prize, and the whole country will +be united and in arms ere it suffer the tyrant to march through our fair +vales." + +Whilst within this upper turret chamber this plot was being concocted +against the innocent child by two passionate, hot-headed boys and one of +the ancient race of bards, the little maiden was herself sleeping +soundly and peacefully within a small inner closet, close to the room +where Gladys, the lady of the castle, reposed; and with the earliest +streak of dawn, when the child opened her eyes upon the strange bare +walls of the Welsh stronghold, the first thing that met her eyes was the +sweet and gentle face of the chatelaine bending tenderly over her. + +Although the present lady of Dynevor was the sister of the bold and +fierce Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales, who gave more trouble to the +King of England than did anybody else, she was herself of a gentle and +thoughtful disposition, more inclined to advocate peace than war, and +more far-seeing, temperate, and well-informed than most persons of her +time, and especially than the women, who for the most part had but very +vague ideas as to what was going on in the country. + +She had had many thoughts herself during the still hours of this summer +night, and when she bent over the sleeping child and wakened her by a +kiss, she felt a strange tenderness towards her, which seemed to be +reciprocated by the little one, who suddenly flung her arms about her +neck and kissed her passionately. + +"Is my father gone?" she asked, recollection coming back. + +"Not gone, but going soon," answered the Lady of Dynevor, smiling; "that +is why I have come to waken thee early, little Gertrude, that thou +mayest receive his farewell kiss and see him ride away. Thou wilt not be +grieved to be left with us for a while, little one? Thou wilt not pine +in his absence?" + +"Not if I have you to take care of me," answered the child confidingly +-- "you and Wendot and Griffeth. I am weary of always travelling on +rough roads. I will gladly stay here a while with you." + +There was the bustle of preparation going on in the hall when the lady +descended with the child hanging on to her hand. Gertrude broke away and +ran to her father, who was sitting at the board, with Wendot standing +beside him listening eagerly to his talk. The boy's handsome face was +alight, and he seemed full of eager interest in what was being said. +Lord Montacute frequently raised his head and gave the lad a look of +keen scrutiny. Even whilst caressing his little daughter his interest +seemed to be centred in Wendot, and when at parting the lad held his +stirrup for him, and gently restrained little Gertrude, who was in +danger of being trampled on by the pawing charger, Lord Montacute looked +for a moment very intently at the pair, and then let his glance wander +for a moment over the grand fortress of Dynevor and the beautiful valley +it commanded. + +Then he turned once more to Wendot with a kindly though penetrating smile. + +"In the absence of your father, Wendot, you are the master and guardian +of this castle, its occupants and its treasures. I render my little +daughter into your safe keeping. Of your hands I shall ask her back when +I return in a week's time." + +Wendot flushed with pleasure and gratification. What boy does not like +the thought of being looked upon as his father's substitute? He raised +his head with a gesture of pride, and clasped the little soft hand of +Gertrude more closely in his. + +"I will take the trust, Lord Montacute," he said. "I will hold myself +responsible for the safety of Lady Gertrude. At my hands demand her when +you return. If she is not safe and well, take my life as the forfeit." + +Lord Montacute smiled slightly at the manly words and bearing of the +lad, but he did not like him the less for either. As for little +Gertrude, she gazed up into the bold bright face of Wendot, and clasping +his hand in hers, she said: + +"Am I to belong to you now? I think I shall like that, you are so brave +and so kind to me." + +The father gave the pair another of his keen looks, and rode off in the +bright morning sunshine, promising not to be very long away. + +"I shan't fret, now that I have you and the Lady of Dynevor," said the +child confidingly to Wendot. "I've often been left for a long time at +the palace with the ladies Eleanor and Joanna, and with Alphonso and +Britton, but I shall like this much better. There is no governess here, +and we can do as we like. I want to know everything you do, and go +everywhere with you." + +Wendot promised to show the little lady everything she wanted, and led +her in to breakfast, which was a very important meal in those days. All +the four brothers were gathered at the board, and the child looked +rather shyly at the dark-browed twins, whom she hardly knew one from the +other, and whom she regarded with a certain amount of awe. But there was +nothing hostile in the manner of any of the party. Llewelyn was silent, +but when he did speak it was in very different tones from those of last +night; and Howel was almost brilliant in his sallies, and evoked many a +peal of laughter from the lighthearted little maiden. Partings with her +father were of too common occurrence to cause her much distress, and she +was too well used to strange places to feel lost in these new +surroundings, and she had her own nurse and attendant left with her. + +Full of natural curiosity, the child was eager to see everything of +interest near her temporary home, and the brothers were her very devoted +servants, taking her everywhere she wished to go, helping her over every +difficult place, and teaching her to have such confidence in them, and +such trust in their guidance, that she soon ceased to feel fear however +wild was the ascent or descent, however lonely the region in which she +found herself. + +Although Wendot continued her favourite, and Griffeth stood next, owing +to his likeness to his eldest brother, the twins soon won her favour +also. They were in some respects more interesting, as they were less +easily understood, wilder and stranger in their ways, and always full of +stories of adventure and warfare, which fascinated her imagination even +when she knew that they spoke of the strife between England and Wales. +She had a high spirit and a love of adventure, which association with +these stalwart boys rapidly developed. + +One thing about Llewelyn and Howel gratified her childlike vanity, and +gave her considerable pleasure. They would praise her agility and +courage, and urge her on to make trial of her strength and nerve, when +the more careful Wendot would beg her to be careful and not risk herself +by too great recklessness. A few days spent in this pure, free air +seemed to infuse new life into her frame, and the colour in her cheeks +and the light in her eyes deepened day by day, to the motherly +satisfaction of the Lady of Dynevor and the pride of Wendot, who +regarded the child as his especial charge. + +But in his father's absence many duties fell upon Wendot, and there came +a bright evening when he and Griffeth were occupied about the castle, +and only Llewelyn and Howel had leisure to wander with the little guest +to her favourite spot to see the red sun set. + +Llewelyn was full of talk that evening, and spoke with a rude eloquence +and fire that always riveted the attention of the child. He told of the +wild, lonely beauty of a certain mountain peak which he pointed out up +the valley, of the weird charm of the road thither, and above all of the +eagle's nest which was to be found there, and the young eaglets being +now reared therein, which he and Howel meant to capture and keep as +their own, and which they purposed to visit the very next day to see if +they were fit yet to leave the nest. + +Gertrude sat entranced as the boy talked, and when she heard of the +eagle's nest she gave a little cry of delight. + +"O Llewelyn, take me with you. Let me see the eagle's nest and the +little eaglets." + +But the boy shook his head doubtfully. + +"You could not get as far. It is a long way, and a very rough walk." + +The child shook back her curling hair defiantly. + +"I could do it! I know I could. I could go half the way on my palfrey, +and walk the rest. You would help me. You know how well I can climb. Oh, +do take me -- do take me! I should so love to see an eagle's nest." + +But still Llewelyn shook his head. + +"Wendot would not let you go; he would say it was too dangerous." + +Again came the little defiant toss. + +"I am not Wendot's slave; I can do as I choose." + +"If he finds out he will stop you." + +"But we need not tell him, need we?" + +"I thought you always told him everything." + +The child stamped her little foot. + +"I tell him things generally, but I can keep a secret. If he would stop +us from going, we will not tell him, nor Griffeth either. We will get up +very early and go by ourselves. We could do that, could we not, and come +back with the young eaglets in our hands? O let us go! let us do it +soon, and take me with you, kind Llewelyn! Indeed I shall not be in your +way. I will be very good. And you know you have taught me to climb so +well. I know I can go where you can go. You said so yourself once." + +Llewelyn turned his head away to conceal a smile half of triumph, half +of contempt. A strange flash was in his eyes as he looked up the valley +towards the crag upon which he had told the child the eyry of the eagles +hung. She thought he was hesitating still, and laid a soft little hand +upon his arm. + +"Please say that I may go." + +He turned quickly and looked at her. For a moment she shrank back from +the strange glow in his eyes; but her spirit rose again, and she said +rather haughtily: "You need not be angry with me. If you don't wish me +to come I will stay at home with Wendot. I do not choose to ask favours +of anybody if they will not give them readily." + +"I should like to take you if it would be safe," answered Llewelyn, +speaking as if ashamed of his petulance or reluctance. + +"Howel, could she climb to the crag where we can look down upon the eyry +if we helped her up the worst places?" + +"I think she could." + +The child's face flushed; she clasped her hands together and listened +eagerly whilst the brothers discussed the plan which in the end was +agreed to -- a very early start secretly from the castle before the day +dawned, the chief point to be observed beforehand being absolute +secrecy, so that the projected expedition should not reach the ears +either of Wendot, his mother, or Griffeth. It was to be carried out +entirely by the twins themselves, with Gertrude as their companion. + + + + CHAPTER III. THE EAGLE'S CRAG. + + +"Where is the maid, mother?" + +"Nay, I know not, my son. I thought she was with thee." + +"I have not seen her anywhere. I have been busy with the men." + +"Where are the other boys?" + +"That I know not either. I have seen none since I rose this morning. I +have been busy." + +"The maid had risen and dressed herself, and had slipped out betimes," +said the Lady of Dynevor, as she took her place at the board. "Methought +she would be with thee. She is a veritable sprite for flitting hither +and thither after thee. Doubtless she is with some of the others. Who +knows where the boys have gone this morning? They are not wont to be +absent at the breakfast hour." + +This last question was addressed to the servants who were at the lower +end of the board, and one of them spoke up in reply. By what he said it +appeared that Griffeth had started off early to fly a new falcon of his, +and it seemed probable that his brothers and little Lady Gertrude had +accompanied him; for whilst he had been discussing with the falconer the +best place for making the proposed trial, Llewelyn had been to the +stables and had saddled and led out the palfrey upon which their little +guest habitually rode, and there seemed no reason to doubt that all the +party had gone somewhere up upon the highlands to watch the maiden essay +of the bird. + +"She would be sure to long to see the trial," said Wendot, attacking the +viands before him with a hearty appetite. "She always loves to go with +us when there is anything to see or hear. I marvel that she spoke not of +it to me, but perchance it slipped her memory." + +The early risers were late at the meal, but no one was anxious about +them. When anything so engrossing as the flying of a young falcon was in +the wind, it was natural that so sublunary a matter as breakfast should +be forgotten. The servants had finished their meal, and had left the +table before there was any sign of the return of the wanderers, and then +it was only Griffeth who came bounding in, his face flushed and his eyes +shining as he caressed the hooded bird upon his wrist. + +"He is a beauty, Wendot. I would thou hadst been there to see. I took +him up to --" + +"Ay, tell us all that when thou hast had something to eat," said Wendot. +"And where is Gertrude? she must be well-nigh famished by this time." + +"Gertrude? Nay, I know not. I have not seen her. I would not have +wearied her with such a tramp through the heavy dews." + +"But she had her palfrey; Llewelyn led it away ere it was well light. +Were you not all together?" + +"Nay, I was all alone. Llewelyn and Howel were off and away before I was +ready; for when I sought them to ask if they would come, they were +nowhere to be found. As for the maid, I never thought of her. Where can +they have taken her so early?" + +A sudden look of anxiety crossed Wendot's face; but he repressed any +exclamation of dismay, and glanced at his mother to see if by any chance +she shared his feeling. But her face was calm and placid, and she said +composedly: + +"If she is with Llewelyn and Howel she will be safe. They have taken her +on some expedition in secret, but none will harm her with two such stout +protectors as they." + +And then the lady moved away to commence her round of household duties, +which in those days was no sinecure; whilst Wendot stood in the midst of +the great hall with a strange shadow upon his face. Griffeth, who was +eagerly discussing his breakfast, looked wonderingly at him. + +"Brother, what ails thee?" he said at length; "thou seemest ill at ease." + +"I am ill at ease," answered Wendot, and with a quick glance round him +to assure himself that there was no one by to hear, he approached +Griffeth with hasty steps and sat down beside him, speaking in a low, +rapid way and in English, "Griffeth, tell me, didst thou hear aught last +night ere thou fell asleep?" + +"Ay, I heard Wenwynwyn singing to his harp in his own chamber, but +nought beside." + +"I heard that too," said Wendot, "and for his singing I could not sleep; +so when it ceased not, I rose and stole to his room to ask him to +forbear, yet so wild and strange was the song he sang that at the door I +paused to listen; and what thinkest thou was the burden that he sang?" + +"Nay, I know not; tell me." + +"He sang a strange song that I have never heard before, of how a dove +was borne from safe shelter -- a young dove in the absence of the father +bird; not the mother bird, but the father -- and carried away to the +eagle's nest by two fierce young eaglets untamed and untamable, there to +be left till the kites come down to carry off the prize. + +"Ha! thou startest and changest colour! What is it thou fearest? Where +are Llewelyn and Howell and what have they done with the maid? What +kuowest thou, Griffeth?" + +"I know nought," answered Griffeth, "save that Wenwynwyn has been up to +the commot of Llanymddyvri, and thou knowest what all they of that place +feel towards the English. Then Llewelyn and Howel have been talking of +late of the eagle's nest on the crag halfway thither, and if they had +named it to Gertrude she would have been wild to go and see it. We know +when Wenwynwyn sings his songs how he ever calls Maelgon ap Caradoc the +kite, and the lords of Dynevor the eagles. But, Wendot, it could not be +-- a child -- a maid -- and our father's guest. I cannot believe it of +our own brothers." + +"I know not what to think, but my heart misgives me. Thou knowest what +Llewelyn ever was, and Howel is but his shadow. I have mistrusted this +strange friendship before now, remembering what chanced that first day, +and that Llewelyn never forgives or forgets; but I would not have +dreamed of such a thing as this. Yet, Griffeth, if the thing is so, +there is no time to lose. I am off for the crag this very minute. Thou +must quietly collect and arm a few of our stanchest men, together with +the English servants left here with their young mistress. Let all be +done secretly and quietly, and come after me with all speed. It may be +that we are on a fool's errand, and that our fears are groundless. But +truly it may be that our brothers are about to betray our guest into the +hands of one of England's most bitter foes. + +"Oh, methinks were her father to return, and I had her not safe to +deliver back to him, I would not for very shame live to see the day when +I must avow to him what had befallen his child at the hands of my brethren!" + +Griffeth was fully alive to the possible peril menacing the child, and +eagerly took his orders from his elder brother. It would not be +difficult to summon some dozen of the armed men on the place to +accompany him quietly and secretly. They would follow upon Wendot's +fleet steps with as little delay as might be, and would at least track +the fugitive and her guides, whether they succeeded in effecting a +rescue that day or not. + +Wendot waited for nothing but to give a few directions to his brother. +Scarce ten minutes had elapsed from the moment when the first +illumination of mind had come to him respecting some plot against the +life of an innocent child, before he had armed himself, and unleashed +two of the fleetest, strongest, fiercest of the hounds, and was speeding +up across the moor and fell towards the lonely crag of the eagle's nest, +which lay halfway between the castle of Dynevor and the abode of Maelgon +ap Caradoc. + +There was one advantage Wendot possessed over his brothers, and that was +that he could take the wild-deer tracks which led straight onward and +upward, whilst they with their charge would have to keep to the winding +mule track, which trebled the distance. The maiden's palfrey was none +too clever or surefooted upon these rough hillsides, and their progress +would be but slow. + +Wendot moved as if he had wings to his feet, and although the hot summer +sun began to beat down upon his head, and his breath came in deep, +laboured gasps, he felt neither heat nor fatigue, but pressed as eagerly +onwards and upwards as the strong, fleet hounds at his side. + +He knew he was on the right track; for ever and anon his path would +cross that which had been trodden by the feet of the boys and the horse +earlier in the day, and his own quick eyes and the deep baying of the +hounds told him at once whenever this was the case. Upwards and onwards, +onwards and upwards, sprang the brave lad with the untiring energy of a +strong and righteous purpose. He might be going to danger, he might be +going to his death; for if he came into open collision with the wild and +savage retainers of Maelgon, intent upon obtaining their prey, he knew +that they would think little of stabbing him to the heart rather than be +balked. There was no feud so far between Llanymddyvri and Dynevor, but +Wendot knew that his father was suspected of leaning towards the English +cause, and that it would take little to provoke some hostile +demonstration on the part of his wild and reckless neighbour. The whole +country was torn and rent by internecine strife, and there was a chronic +state of semi-warfare kept up between half the nobles of the country +against the other half. + +But of personal danger Wendot thought nothing. His own honour and that +of his father were at stake. If the little child left in their care were +treacherously given up to the foes of the English, the boy felt that he +should never lift up his head again. He must save her -- he would. Far +rather would he die in her defence than face her father with the story +of the base treachery of his brothers. + +The path grew wilder and steeper; the vegetation became more scant. The +heat of the sun was tempered by the cold of the upper air. It was easier +to climb, and the boy felt that his muscles were made of steel. + +Suddenly a new sound struck upon his ear. It was like the whinny of a +horse, only that there was in it a note of distress. Glancing sharply +about him, Wendot saw Lady Gertrude's small white palfrey standing +precariously on a ledge of rock, and looking pitifully about him, unable +to move either up or down. The creature had plainly been turned loose +and abandoned, and in trying to find his way home had stranded upon this +ledge, and was frightened to move a step. Wendot was fond of all +animals, and could not leave the pretty creature in such a predicament. + +"Besides, Gertrude may want him again for the descent," he said; and +although every moment was precious, he contrived to get the horse up the +steep bank and on to better ground, and then tethered him on a small +grassy plateau, where he could feed and take his ease in safety for an +hour or two to come. + +That matter accomplished, the lad was up and off again. He had now to +trust to the hounds to direct him, for he did not know what track his +brothers would have taken, and the hard rocks gave no indications which +he could follow. But the dogs were well used to their work, and with +their noses to the ground followed the trail unceasingly, indicating +from time to time by a deep bay that they were absolutely certain of +their direction. + +High overhead loomed the apex of the great crag. Wendot knew that he had +not much farther to go. He was able to distinguish the cairn of stones +which he and his brothers had once erected on the top in honour of their +having made the ascent in a marvellously short space of time. Wendot had +beaten that record today, he knew; but his eyes were full of anxiety +instead of triumph. He was scanning every track and every inch of +distance for traces of the foe he felt certain were somewhere at hand. +Had they been here already, and had they carried off the prey? Or were +they only on their way, and had he come in time to thwart their purpose yet? + +Ha! what was that? + +Wendot had reached the shoulder of the mountain; he could see across the +valley -- could see the narrow winding track which led to the stronghold +of Maelgon. The Eagle's Crag, as it was called, fell away precipitously +on the other side. No one could scale it on that face. The path from the +upper valley wound round circuitously towards it; and along this path, +in the brilliant sunshine, Wendot saw distinctly the approach of a small +band of armed men. Yes: they were approaching, they were not retreating. +Then they had not already taken their prey; they were coming to claim +it. The boy could have shouted aloud in his triumph and joy; but he held +his peace, for who could tell what peril might not lie in the way? + +The next moment he had scaled the steep, slippery rock which led to the +precipitous edge of the crag. Not a sign could he see of his brothers or +the child, but the hounds led right on to the very verge of the +precipice, and for a moment the boy's heart stood still. What if they +had grown afraid of the consequences of their own act, and had resolved +to get rid of the child in a sure and safe fashion! + +For a moment Wendot's blood ran cold. He recalled the traits of fierce +cruelty which had sometimes shown themselves in Llewelyn from childhood, +his well-known hatred of the English, his outburst of passion with +Gertrude, so quickly followed by a strange appearance of friendship. +Wendot knew his countrymen and his nation's characteristics, and knew +that fierce acts of treachery were often truly charged upon them. What +if -- But the thought was too repellent to be seriously pursued, and +shaking it off by an effort, he raised his voice and called his brothers +by name. + +And then, almost as it seemed from beneath his very feet, there came an +answering call; but the voice was not that of his brothers, but the cry +of a terrified child. + +"Oh, who are you? Do, please, come to me. I am so frightened. I know I +shall fall. I know I shall be killed. Do come to me quickly. I don't +know where Llewelyn and Howel have gone." + +"I am coming -- I am Wendot," cried the boy, his heart giving a sudden +bound. "You are not hurt, you are safe?" + +"Yes; only so giddy and frightened, and the sun is so hot and burning, +and yet it is cold, too. It is such a narrow place, and I cannot get up +or down. I can't see the eagle's nest, and they have been such a long +time going after it. They said they would bring the nest and the young +eagles up to me, but they have never come back. I'm afraid they are +killed or hurt. Oh, if you would only help me up, then we would go and +look for them together! Oh, I am so glad that you have come!" + +Wendot could not see the child, though every word she spoke was +distinctly audible. He certainly could not reach her from the place +where he now stood; but the hounds had been following the tracks of the +quarry they had been scenting all this way, and stood baying at a +certain spot some fifty yards away, and a little lower down than the +apex of the crag. It was long since Wendot had visited this spot, his +brothers knew it better than he; but when he got to the place indicated +by the dogs, he saw that there was a little precipitous path along the +face of the cliff, which, although very narrow and not a little +dangerous, did give foothold to an experienced mountaineer. How the +child had ever had the nerve to tread it he could not imagine, but +undoubtedly she was there, and he must get her back, if possible, and +down the mountainside, before those armed men from the upper valley +could reach them. + +But could he do this? He cast an apprehensive glance over his shoulder, +and saw to his dismay how quickly they were approaching. From their +quickened pace he fancied that his own movements had been observed. +Certainly there was not a moment to lose, and leaving the dogs to keep +guard at the entrance, he set his foot upon the perilous path and +carefully pursued his way. + +The face of the cliff jutted outwards for some yards, and then made a +sharp turn round an angle. At the spot where this turn occurred, a sort +of natural arch had formed itself over the narrow ledge which formed the +path, and immediately behind the arch there was a small plateau which +gave space to stand and move with some freedom, although a step over the +edge would plunge the unwary victim into the deep gulf beneath. The +cliff then fell away once again, but the ledge wound round it still, +until it ended in a shallow alcove some eight feet deep, which lay just +beneath the highest part of the crag, which overhung it by many yards. + +And it was crouched up against the cliff in this little alcove that +Wendot found Gertrude; cowering, white-faced, against the hard rock, +faint from want of food, terrified at the loneliness and at her own +fears for the safety of her companions, and so overwrought by the +tension of nerve she had undergone, that when Wendot did stand beside +her she could only cling to him sobbing passionately, and it was long +before he could even induce her to let him go, or to attempt to eat the +contents of a small package he had had the forethought to bring in his +wallet. + +He heard her tale as she sobbed in his arms. They had come here after +the eagle's nest. Llewelyn and Howel had been so kind! They had not +minded her being so slow, but had brought her all the way; and when she +wanted to follow them along the ledge to get a better view of the nest, +they had blindfolded her that she might not get giddy, and had put a +rope round her and brought her safely along the narrow ledge till she +had got to this place. But the nest could not be seen even from there, +and they had left her to see where it really was. They said they would +soon be back, but they had not come, and she had got first anxious and +then terrified about them, and then fearful for her own safety. At last +when faintness and giddiness had come upon her, and she could get no +answer to her repeated shouts, her spirit had altogether given way; and +unless Wendot had really come to her rescue, she was certain she should +have fallen down the precipice. She did not know now how she should ever +get back along the narrow ridge, she was so frightened and giddy. But if +Llewelyn and Howel would come, perhaps she might. + +Did Wendot know where they were? Would he take care of her now, and +bring her safe home? + +"I will if I can," answered the boy, with a strange light in his blue +eyes. "Griffeth is on his way with plenty of help. He will be here soon. +Do you think you could walk along the ridge now, if I were to hold you +up and help you? We should get home sooner if you could." + +But the child shrank back and put her hand before her eyes. + +"Oh, let us wait till Griffeth comes. I am so giddy still, and I am so +afraid I should fall. Hark! I'm sure I hear voices. They are coming +already. Oh, I am so glad! I do want to get home. Wendot, why do you +look like that? Why do you get out that thing? You are not going to fight?" + +"Lady Gertrude," said Wendot, speaking in a grave, manly way that at +once riveted the child's attention, "I am afraid that those voices do +not belong to our friends, but to a band of men who are coming to try +and take you prisoner to a castle up the valley there. No: do not be +frightened; I will save you from them if I can. There is help coming for +us, and I think I can hold this path against them for some time to come. +You must try and keep up heart and not be frightened. You may see some +hard blows struck, but you can shut your eyes and not think about it. If +they do kill me and carry you off, do not give up hope, for Griffeth and +our own men will be after you to rescue you. Now let me go, and try not +to be afraid. I think we can hold them at bay till we are more equally +matched." + +The child's eyes dilated with horror. She caught Wendot by the hand. + +"Give me up," she said firmly. "I will not have you killed for me. I +would rather go with them. Give me up, I say!" + +"No, Gertrude; I will not give you up," answered Wendot very quietly, +but with an inflexibility of tone which made his voice seem like that of +another person. "Your father placed you in my hands; to him I must +answer for your safety. What is life to a man without honour? Would you +have me stain my name for the sake of saving my life? I think not that +that is the English code of honour." + +Child as she was, little Gertrude understood well what was implied in +those words, and a new light flashed into her eyes. Something of the +soldier spirit awoke within her, and she snatched at a small dagger +Wendot carried in his belt, and drawing her small figure to its full +height, she said: + +"We will both fight, Wendot; we will both fight, and both die rather +than let them take us." + +He smiled, and just for a moment laid his hand upon her head; then he +drew on his mailed gloves and looked well to the buckles of the stout +leathern jerkin, almost as impervious to the stabs of his foes as a suit +of mail itself. The temper of his weapon he well knew; he had no fear +that it would play him false. He had not the headpiece of mail; he had +started in too great a hurry to arm himself completely, and speed was +too much an object for him to willingly encumber himself needlessly. But +as he skirted the narrow ledge, and placed himself beneath the +protecting arch, he smiled grimly to himself, and thought that the stone +would be as good a guard, and that here was a place where a man could +sell his life dear, and send many a foe to his account before striking +his own colours. + +Scarcely had he well established himself in the commanding position he +had resolved upon, when the sound of voices became more distinct. The +party had plainly arrived at the appointed place, and Wendot could hear +them discussing who was best fitted for the task of traversing the +dangerous ledge to bring back the captive who was to be found there. The +wild Welsh was unintelligible to Gertrude, or she would have known at +once what dark treachery had been planned and carried out by her trusted +companions; but Wendot's cheek glowed with shame, and he set his teeth +hard, resolved to redeem the honour of his father's name to the last +drop of his blood if he should be called upon to shed it in the cause. + +He heard the slow and cautious steps approaching along the path, and he +gripped his weapon more tightly in his hand. The red light of battle was +in his eyes, and the moment he caught sight of the form of the stalwart +soldier threading his perilous way along the path he sprang upon him +with a cry of fury, and hurled him into the gulf beneath. + +Down fell the man, utterly unprepared for such an attack, and his sharp +cry of terror was echoed from above by a dozen loud voices. + +Cries and shouts and questions assailed Wendot, but he answered never a +word. Those above knew not if it had been an accident, or if an ambushed +foe had hurled their comrade to destruction. Again came a long pause for +consideration -- and every moment wasted was all in favour of the pair +upon the ledge -- and then it became plain that some course of action +had been determined upon, and Wendot heard the cautious approach of +another foe. This man crept on his way much more cautiously, and the +youth held himself ready for a yet more determined spring. Luckily for +him, he could remain hidden until his opponent was close to him; and so +soon as he was certain from the sound that the man was reaching the +angle of the rock, he made another dash, and brought down his sword with +all the strength of his arm upon the head of the assailant. + +Once again into the heart of the abyss crashed the body of the +unfortunate soldier; but a sharp thrill of pain ran through Wendot's +frame, and a barbed arrow, well aimed at the joint of his leather +jerkin, plunged into his neck and stuck fast. + +The first assailant whom he had disposed of was but one of a close line, +following each other in rapid succession. As his face became visible to +the man now foremost a shout of surprise and anger rose up. + +"It is Res Wendot! It is one of the sons of the house of Dynevor! + +"Wendot, thou art mad! We are the friends of thy house. We are here at +the instigation of thine own kindred. Give us the maid, and thou shalt +go free. We would not harm thee." + +"Stir but one step nearer, and I slay thee as I have slain thy two +comrades," cried Wendot, in a voice which all might hear. "I deal not in +treachery towards those that trust us. I will answer for the safety of +the maid with mine own life. Of my hand her father will demand her when +he comes again. Shall we men of Wales give right cause to the English to +call us murderers, traitors, cowards? Take my life if you will, take it +a thousand times over if you will, it is only over my dead body that you +will reach that child." + +"Down with him -- traitor to the cause! He is sold to the English! He is +no countryman of ours! Spare him not! He is worthy of death! Down with +every Welshman who bands not with those who would uphold his country's +cause!" + +Such were the shouts which rent the air as the meaning of Wendot's words +made itself understood. As for the brave lad himself, he had plucked the +arrow from his neck, and now stood boldly on guard, resolved to husband +his strength and keep on the defensive only, hoping thus to gain time +until Griffeth and the armed men should arrive. + +He had all the advantage of the position; but his foes were strong men, +and came on thick and fast one after another, till it seemed as if the +lad might be forced backwards by sheer weight and pressure. But Wendot +was no novice at the use of arms: as his third foe fell upon him with +heavy blows of his weighted axe, he stepped backwards a pace, and let +the blows descend harmlessly upon the solid rock of the arch; until the +man, disgusted at the non-success of his endeavours to tempt his +adversary out of his defended position, threw away his blunted axe, and +was about to draw his sword for a thrust, when the boy sprang like +lightning upon him, and buried his poniard in his heart. + +Over went the man like a log, almost dragging Wendot with him as he +fell, and before the youth had had time to recover himself, he had +received a deep gash in his sword arm from the foe who pressed on next, +and who made a quick dash to try to get possession of the vantage ground +of the arch. + +But Wendot staggered back as if with weakness, let his adversary dash +through the arch after him; and then, hurling himself upon him as he +passed through, pushed him sheer off the ledge on the other side into +the yawning gulf beneath. + +The comrades of this last victim, who had just sent up a shout of +triumph, now changed their note, and it became a yell of rage. Wendot +was back in his old vantage ground, wounded by several arrows, spent by +blows, and growing faint from loss of blood, but dauntless and resolute +as ever, determined to sell his life dearly, and hold out as long as he +had breath left in him, sooner than let the helpless child fall into the +clutches of these fierce men, goaded now to madness by the opposition +they had met with. + +Hark! what was that? It was a shout, a hail, and then the familiar call +of the Dynevor brothers rang through the still air. + +"La-ha-boo!" + +It was Griffeth's voice. He had come at last. It was plain that the foe +had heard, and had paused; for if they were menaced from another +quarter, it was time to think of their own safety. + +Summoning up all his strength, Wendot sent back an answering hail, and +the next moment there was the sound of fierce voices and the clashing of +weapons overhead on the summit of the cliff; and in quick, urgent +accents Wendot's foes were ordered to retreat, as there was treachery +somewhere, and they had been betrayed. + +Wendot saw his antagonists lower their weapons, and return the way they +had come, with fearful backward glances, lest their boy foe should be +following them. But he had no wish to do that. He was spent and +exhausted and maimed. He turned backwards towards the safer shelter of +the little alcove, and sank down beside the trembling child, panting, +bleeding, and almost unconscious. + + + + CHAPTER IV. WENDOT'S REWARD. + + +"Father, father, father!" + +The shrill, glad cry broke from the lips of little Gertrude almost at +the same moment as Wendot sank at her feet, spent and fainting; and the +lad, making a great effort, opened his dim eyes to see the tall form of +the English noble stooping over his little daughter, gathering her in +his arms with a gesture of passionate endearment. + +Wendot fancied he must be dreaming; perhaps it was all a strange, +terrible dream: everything was swimming before his eyes in a sort of +blood-coloured mist. He gave up the effort to try to disentangle the +maze in which he seemed to be moving, and was sinking into +unconsciousness again when a sharp cry from his brother aroused him. + +"Wendot, Wendot! -- O father, see --they have killed him!" + +"Nay, lad, not that. Here, let me get to him. + +"Griffeth, run thou and tell the fellows to let down ropes from above to +draw him up. He cannot return along that narrow ledge. He and the child +had best be drawn up by those above. Tell them to lose no time. The boy +must be taken home to his mother's care. This narrow ledge is growing +like an oven. Bid one of the men run to the brook for a draught of water." + +Wendot's lips framed themselves to the word "water" as he heard it +spoken. If he had but a draught of water, perhaps he could speak again +and understand what was passing. As it was, he only heard the sound of a +confusion of voices, the clear tones of little Gertrude being the most +continuous and the most distinct. She seemed to be pouring some tale +into the ears of her listeners, and Wendot was certain, from the quick, +sudden movements of his father, who was supporting him as he lay, that +the story heard was exciting in him feelings of indignation and +amazement, although the boy's brain was too much confused to tell him +the reason for this displeasure. + +But the sense of rest and safety inspired by his father's presence was +very comforting; and when the wounded lad had been drawn to the summit +of the cliff by the strong, willing arms of the retainers, and his hurts +rudely dressed by kindly hands, and his parched throat refreshed by deep +draughts of cold water, he began to shake off the sense of unreality +which had made him feel like one in a dream, and to marvel at the +unexpected appearance on the lonely fell of his father and Lord Montacute. + +A sure-footed mountain pony was bearing him gently down the steep slope, +and his questioning look called Griffeth to his side. + +"What means all this, Griffeth?" he whispered. "Whence came they? and +what do they know? And Llewelyn and Howel, where are they? Can it be +that they --" + +He could not frame his lips to speak the words, but Griffeth understood +him without, and his cheek flushed. + +"I fear me it is indeed as we thought. She went with them, and they left +her alone on the ledge, where once the eagle's eyry used to be. +Maelgon's men came to carry her off thence. Had it not been for thee, +Wendot, she would have been in their hands ere now. I would I had stood +beside thee, brother. I would I had shared thy perils and thy hurts." + +"Thou didst better than that," answered Wendot, faintly smiling, "for +thou broughtest aid in the very nick of time. And how came it that our +father and our guest were with thee? Methought it must surely be a dream +when I saw them." + +"Ay, we met them journeying towards the castle when we had but made a +short mile from it. They would have reached last night but for an +accident to one of the beasts, which detained them on the road; but they +had started ere the sun rose, and were hard by when we encountered them. +Hearing our errand, some went forward as before, but others joined our +party. It was well we were thus reinforced, for Maelgon's men fight like +veritable wolves." + +"What knoweth our father of the matter? Spakest thou to him of Llewelyn +and Howel?" + +"I had perforce to do so, they questioned me so closely. I know not what +they thought. Our guest's face is not one that may be read like a book, +and our father only set his lips in his stern fashion, as though he +would never open them again. I trow he is sore displeased that sons of +his should thus act; but perchance it may not be so bad as we think." + +Wendot made no reply. He was growing too spent and weary to have words +or thoughts to spare. It seemed as if the long and weary descent would +never be accomplished; and the beat of the sun beating down upon them +mercilessly as they reached the lower ground turned him sick and faint. +Little Gertrude, mounted now upon her palfrey, was chattering +ceaselessly to her father, as he strode on beside her down the hillside; +but Lord Montacute was grave and silent; and as for the face of Res +Vychan, it looked as if carved out of marble, as he planted himself by +the side of the sturdy pony who carried his son, and placed his arm +round the lad to support him during that long and weary ride. + +It was plain that the thoughts of both men were of a very serious +complexion, and gave them food for much reflection and consideration. + +Griffeth bounded on a little ahead of the cavalcade, excited by the +events of the day, anxious for his brother, yet intensely proud of him, +envying him the chance of thus displaying his heroic qualities, yet only +wishing to have shared them -- not that anything should be detracted +from the halo which encircled Wendot. He had reached a turn in the path, +and for a moment was alone and out of sight of the company that +followed, when the hounds who had accompanied Wendot, and were now +returning with them, uttered a deep bay as of welcome, and the next +moment two dark and swarthy heads appeared from behind the shelter of +some great boulders, and the faces of Llewelyn and Howel looked +cautiously forth. + +In a moment Griffeth was by their side, various emotions struggling in +his face for mastery; but the tie of brotherhood was a strong one, and +his first words were those of warning. + +"It is all known -- our father knows, and hers. I know not what your +punishment will be. I have never seen our father look so stern. Do as +you will about returning home, but I wot not how you will be received." + +Llewelyn and Howel exchanged glances; and the former asked eagerly, "And +the maid?" + +"Is safe with her father and ours. Wendot risked his life to save her +from Maelgon's men. Nay, linger not to hear the tale, if you would fly +from the anger of those who know that you sought to betray her. It will +be no easy thing to make peace with our father. You know his thoughts +upon the sacredness of hospitality." + +But even as he spoke Griffeth saw the change that came over his +brothers' faces as they looked past him to something behind; then as he +himself turned quickly to see what it was, he beheld their father and +two of the servants approaching; and Res Vychan pointed sternly to the +two dark-leaded boys, now involuntarily quailing beneath the fiery +indignation in his eyes, and said: + +"Bind them hand and foot and carry them to the castle. They shall be +dealt with there as their offence shall warrant." + +Then turning on his heel, he rejoined the company; whilst Llewelyn and +Howel were brought captive to the paternal halls of Dynevor. + +Wendot knew very little of the occurrences of the next few days. He was +carried to the chamber that he shared with Griffeth, and there he lay +for several days and nights in a dreamy, semi-conscious state, tended by +his mother with all the skill and tenderness she possessed, and, save +when the pain of his wounds made him restless and feverish, sleeping +much, and troubling his head little about what went on within or without +the castle. He was dimly aware that little Gertrude came in and out of +his room sometimes, holding to his mother's hands, and that her gentle +prattle and little caressing gestures were very soothing and pleasant. +But he did not trouble his head to wonder how it was he was lying there, +nor what event had crippled him so; and only in the fevered visions of +the night did he see himself once again standing upon the narrow ledge +of the Eagle's Crag, with a host of foes bearing down upon him to +overpower and slay both him and his charge. + +But after a few days of feverish lassitude and drowsiness the lad's +magnificent constitution triumphed -- the fever left him; and though he +now lay weak and white upon his narrow bed, his mind was perfectly +clear, and he was eager and anxious to know what had happened whilst he +had been shut out from the life of the castle. + +His mother was naturally the one to whom he turned for information. He +saw that she was unwontedly pale and grave and thoughtful. As she sat +beside his bed with some needlework in her hands one bright afternoon, +when the sunlight was streaming into the chamber, and the air floating +in through the narrow casement was full of scent and song, his eyes +fixed themselves upon her face with more of purpose and reflection, and +he begged her to tell him all that had passed. + +"For I know that our guests are still here. Gertrude comes daily to see +me. But where are Llewelyn and Howel? I have not seen them once. Is my +father angry with them still? or have they been punished and forgiven?" + +"Your brothers are still close prisoners," answered the mother with a +sigh. "They have been chastised with more severity than any son of ours +has needed to be chastised before; but they still remain sullen and +obdurate and revengeful, and thy father will not permit them to come out +from their retirement so long as our guests remain. Perchance it is best +so, for it would but cause trouble in the house for them to meet. I +would that they could see matters differently; and yet there are many +amongst our people who would say that the true patriotism was theirs." + +"And our guests, mother -- why linger they still? Methought they Would +leave so soon as Lord Montacute returned." + +"So they purposed once; but he has wished to remain till thou art sound +once more, my son. He hath a very warm feeling towards thee, and would +speak to thee of something that is in his heart ere he quits Dynevor. He +has spoken of it to thy father and to me, but he wishes thee to hear it +from his own lips." + +Wendot's interest was aroused. Something in his mother's expression told +him that the thing of which she spoke was a matter of some importance. +As an eldest son and forward for his years, and of a reflective and +thoughtful turn, he had often been consulted by his parents, and +particularly by his mother, in matters rather beyond his comprehension, +and had shared in discussions which many youths of his age would have +shunned and despised. Now, therefore, he looked eagerly at his mother +and said: + +"What is it he wishes to say Canst thou not tell me thyself?" + +The Lady of Dynevor paused awhile in thought; and when she spoke, it did +not appear to be in direct reply to her son's question. + +"Wendot," she said gravely, "thou hast heard much talk of the troubled +state of these times and of the nation's affairs. Thou hast lived long +enough to see how hopeless some amongst us feel it ever to hope for +unity amongst ourselves. We are torn and distracted by faction and feud. +Families are banded together against families, and brothers strive with +brothers for the inheritance each claims as his own. Each lord of some +small territory tries to wrest from his weaker neighbour that which +belongs to him; and if for a moment at some great crisis petty feuds are +forgotten, and a blow is struck for national liberty, scarce has peace +been proclaimed again before the old strife breaks out once more, and +our fair land is desolated by a more grievous war than ever the English +wage." + +Wendot bent his head in voiceless assent. He knew something of his +country's history, and that his mother spoke only the sad truth. + +"My son," continued she after a pause, "it chances sometimes in this +troubled life of ours that we are called upon to make choice, not +between good and evil, but between two courses, both of which are beset +with difficulties and obstacles, both of which mingle together evil and +good, for which and against which much may be argued on both sides, and +many things that are true be said for and against both. To some such +choice as this has our poor country now come. Experience has taught us +that she is incapable of uniting all her forces and of making of herself +one compact, united kingdom. That course, and that alone, would be her +true salvation; but that course she will not take, and failing that, she +has to choose between being torn and rent by faction till she is an easy +prey to the English king, who will then divide her territories amongst +his own hungry and rapacious barons, or for the princes to submit to pay +him the homage for their lands which he (possibly with injustice) +demands, but which if paid will make of him their friend and protector, +and will enable the country to live in peace and prosperity, assured +that the king will support those who acknowledge him, and that he will +not deprive of their ancestral rights any who will bring their homage to +him, and hold their territory as it were from him. Understandest thou +thus much?" + +"Ay, mother, I understand it well; and though there is something in the +thought that stirs my blood and sets it coursing through my veins in +indignation -- for I see not by what right the English king lays claim +to our fair lands -- still I know that conquest gives to the conqueror a +right, and that if he chose to march against us with his armies, he +might well find us too much weakened by our petty feuds to resist his +strong veterans. And the English are not all bad. I have learned that +these many days whilst our guests have been with us. I have thought at +times that they would be true friends and allies, and that we might do +well to copy them in many ways. In truth, if the choice lies betwixt +being rent in pieces by each other and giving homage to the great +Edward, who can be merciful and just, I would rather choose the latter. +For there must be something grand and noble about him by what our little +maid says; and to pay homage is no such hard thing. Why, does not he +himself pay homage to the King of France for the lands he holds in his +kingdom?" + +A look of relief crossed the face of the mother as she heard these words +from her first-born son. She took his hand in hers and said earnestly: + +"Wendot, I am glad to hear thee speak thus, for thou art the heir of +Dynevor, and upon thee much may fall some day. Thou knowest what thy +brothers are -- I speak of Llewelyn and Howel. I cannot but fear for +them -- unless, indeed, the rapacious greed I sometimes see in Llewelyn +proves stronger than his fierce hatred to the English, and he prefers to +do homage for his lands rather than lose them. But thou art the head of +the family, and the chief power will rest with thee when thy father is +gone. I counsel thee, if the time comes when thou must make thy choice, +be not led away by blind hatred of the English. They may prove less +cruel foes than thine own countrymen are to one another. If Wales may +not be united under one native king, let her think well ere she rejects +the grace held out to all who will yield fealty to the English monarch. +That is what I wished to say to thee. Remember that the English are not +always cruel, always rapacious. There are generous, noble, honourable +men amongst them, of whom I am sure our guest is one." + +"Ay, he has a grand face," said Wendot. "A face one can both love and +trust. And all that the little one tells me of the king and his family +inclines my heart towards him and his. I will remember what you have +said, mother, and will ponder your words. Methinks it is no lovely thing +to hate as Llewelyn and Howel hate; it makes men act rather as fiends +than as honourable soldiers should." + +The conversation ended there, and was not renewed; but the very next day +Lord Montacute sought Wendot's room, when the lad was lying alone, +wearying somewhat of his own company, and the light sprang into his eyes +as he saw the guest approach, for in his own boyish way he had a great +admiration for this man. + +"Well, lad, I am glad to see thee looking something more substantial and +like thine own self," said Lord Montacute, seating himself upon the edge +of the bed and taking Wendot's hand in his. "This hand has done good +service to me and mine -- good service, indeed, to the King of England, +who would have been forced to chastise with some severity the outrage +planned upon a subject of his, and one dear to him from association with +his children. Tell me, boy, what can I do for thee when I tell this tale +to my lord of England? What boon hast thou to ask of him or of me? For +thou needest not fear; whatever it be it shall be granted." + +"Nay, I have no boon," answered Wendot, his cheek flushing. "I did but +do my duty by any guest beneath my father's roof. I was responsible for +the safety of the maid. I had taken that duty on myself. I want nothing; +she is safe, and that is enough. Only if you would speak to my father +for my brothers Llewelyn and Howel. I know they have merited deep +displeasure; yet they are but lads, and doubtless they were led away by +evil counsels. He would hear pleading better from you than from me." + +"It shall be done," said Lord Montacute, still regarding Wendot +steadily; "and now, boy, I would speak to thee seriously and gravely as +man to man, for thou hast proved thyself to be a man in action, in +courage, and in foresight. And thy parents tell me that thou art +acquainted with the burning questions of the day, and that thy brothers' +headstrong hatreds and prejudices do not blind thee." + +Wendot made no reply, but fixed his bright eyes steadily on Lord +Montacute's face. He on his side, after a brief silence, began again in +clear, terse phrases: + +"Lad, if thou livest thou wilt some day be Lord of Dynevor -- master of +this fair heritage, the fairest, perhaps, in all South Wales. Thou hast +noble blood in thy veins -- the blood of princes and kings; thou hast +much that men covet to call their own; but thou art surrounded by foes +who are jealous of thee, and by kinsmen who have already cast covetous +eyes on thy possessions." + +"Ay, that traitorous Meredith ap Res, whose mother is English, and who +would -- But pardon me. I would not willingly speak against your nation. +Indeed, I feel not bitter as others do; only --" + +"Boy, thou art right to be loyal and true. I like thee none the less for +the patriotic fervour which breaks out in thee. But I am glad that thou +shouldest see both sides of this matter, that thou shouldest see the +peril menacing thy brothers from thine own kinsman, who has strengthened +himself by an English alliance. It is useless to blind thine eyes to +what is coming. They tell me thou art not blind; and I come to thee, +lad, because I think well of thee, to ask if it would please thee to +strengthen thy position in thine own land and in Edward's sight by an +alliance with an English maiden of noble birth. Hast thou ever thought +of such a thing?" + +Wendot's wide-open eyes gave answer enough. Lord Montacute smiled +slightly as he said: + +"Ah, thou art full young for such thoughts; and thou livest not in the +atmosphere of courts, where babes are given in marriage almost from +their cradles. But listen, Res Wendot; I speak not in jest, I am a man +of my word. Thou hast risked thy life to save my little maid. Thou art a +noble youth, and I honour both thee and thy parents. The maid has told +me that she loves thee well, and would be well pleased to wed thee when +she is of the age to do so. These are but childish words, yet they may +prove themselves true in days to come. It is in the interests of all +those who have the peace and prosperity of this land at heart to +strengthen themselves in every way they can. My little daughter will +have an ample dower to bring her husband; and I will keep her for thee +if thou wilt be willing to claim her in days to come. I should like well +to see her ruling in these fair halls; and thou hast proved already that +thou art a knightly youth, whose hand she may well take with confidence +and pride. + +"Thy parents are willing; it waits only for thee to say. What thinkest +thou of a troth plight with the little maid?" + +Wendot's face glowed with a sort of boyish shame, not unmingled with +pride; but the idea was altogether too strange and new to him to be +readily grasped. + +"I have never thought of such things," he said shyly, "and I am too +young to wed. Perchance I may grow into some rough, uncouth fellow, who +may please not the maiden when she reaches years of discretion. Methinks +it would scarce be fair to plight her now, at least not with such a +plight as might not be broken. If our nations meet in fierce conflict, +as they yet may, it would be a cruel thing to have linked her hand with +that of a rebel, for such we are called by the English monarch, they +say, when we rise to fight for our liberties bequeathed by our ancestors. + +"Nay, noble lord, frown not on me. There be moments when methinks two +spirits strive within me, and I am fearful of trusting even myself. I +would not that grief or sorrow should touch her through me. Let me come +and claim her anon, when I have grown to man's estate, and can bring her +lands and revenues. But bind her not to one whose fate may be beset with +perils and shadows. There be those amongst our bards who see into the +future; and they tell us that a dark fate hangs over the house of +Dynevor, and that we four shall be the last to bear the name." + +Lord Montacute was looking grave and earnest. There was something in his +face which indicated disappointment, but also something that spoke of +relief. Possibly he himself had offered this troth plight with something +of hesitation, offered it out of gratitude to the noble lad, and out of +respect to his parents, who, as he saw, would prove valuable allies to +the English cause, could they but be induced to give their allegiance to +it. Yet there was another side to the picture, too; and Wendot was too +young for any one to predict with certainty what would be his course in +the future. The hot blood of his race ran in his veins; and though his +judgment was cool, and he saw things in a reasonable and manly light, it +would be rash to predict what the future might have in store for him. + +"Well, lad, thou hast spoken bravely and well," said the Englishman, +after a pause for thought. "Perchance thy words are right; perchance it +will be well to let matters rest as they are for the present. We will +have no solemn troth plight betwixt ye twain; but the maid shall be +promised to none other these next four years, so that if thou carest to +claim her ere she reaches woman's estate, thou shalt find her waiting +for thee. And now I must say thee farewell, for tomorrow we ride away +the way we came. I trust to see thee at the king's court one of these +days, and to make known to his royal majesty the noble youth of Dynevor." + +Wendot was left alone then for some time, pondering the strange offer +made to him, and wondering whether he had been foolish to refuse the +promised reward. He had never seriously thought of marriage, although in +those days wedlock was entered upon very young if there were any +advantage to be gained from it. A lad of fifteen is seldom sentimental; +but Wendot was conscious of a very warm spot in his heart for little +Gertrude, and he knew that he should miss her sorely when she went, and +think of her much. Would it have been a sweet or a bitter thing to have +felt himself pledged to a daughter of England? He felt that he could not +tell; but at least the decision was made now, and his words could not be +recalled. + +Just ere the sun set that summer's day there came down the stone +corridor which led to his room the patter of little feet, and he leaned +up on his elbow with brightening eyes as the door opened and little +Gertrude came dancing in. + +"I thought I was to have been married to you, Wendot, before we went +away," she said, looking into his face with the most trusting expression +in her soft dark eyes; "but father says you will come to marry me some +day at the king's court. Perhaps that will be better, for I should like +Eleanor and Joanna to see you. They would like you so, and you would +like them. But do come soon, Wendot. I do so like you; and I shall want +to show you to them all. And I have broken my gold coin in two -- the +one the king gave me once. I got the armourer to do it, and to make a +hole in each half. You must wear one half round your neck, and I will +wear the other. And that will be almost the same as being married, will +it not? And you will never forget me, will you?" + +Wendot let her hang the half of the coin round his neck by a silken +thread, strange new thoughts crowding into his mind as he felt her soft +little hands about him. Suddenly he clasped them in both of his and +pressed warm kisses upon them. Gertrude threw her arms about his neck in +a childish paroxysm of affection, saying as she did so between her kisses: + +"Now, it's just like being husband and wife; and we shall never forget +one another -- never." + + + + CHAPTER V. THE KING'S CHILDREN. + + +"Dynevor --did you say Dynevor? O Eleanor, it must be he!" + +A tall, slim, fair-faced maiden, with a very regal mien, looked up +quickly from an embroidery frame over which she was bending, and glanced +from the eager, flushed face of the younger girl who stood beside her to +that of a tall and stalwart English youth, who appeared to be the bearer +of a piece of news, and asked in her unconsciously queenly way: + +"What is it, Sir Godfrey, that you have told this impetuous child, to +have set her in such a quiver of excitement?" + +"Only this, gracious lady, that certain youthful chieftains from the +south have come hither to Rhuddlan to pay their homage to your royal +father. In his absence at Chester they have been lodged within the +castle walls, as becomes their station. It has been told me that amongst +them are four sons of one Res Vychan, lately dead, and that he was Lord +of Dynevor, which honour has descended to his eldest son. I was telling +what I knew to Lady Gertrude when she broke away to speak to you." + +"Eleanor, it must be he -- it must be they!" cried Gertrude, with +flushing cheek and kindling eye -- "Res Vychan, Lord of Dynevor, and his +four sons. It could be none else than they. O Eleanor, sweet Eleanor, +bid them be brought hither to see us! Thou hast heard the story of how +we went thither, my father and I, two years agone now, and of what +befell me there. I have never heard a word of Wendot since, and I have +thought of him so oft. Thou art mistress here now; they all heed thy +lightest word. Bid that the brothers be brought hither to us. I do so +long to see them again!" + +Gertrude was fairly trembling with excitement; but that was no unusual +thing for her, as she was an ardent, excitable little mortal, and ever +in a fever of some kind or another. The young knight who had brought the +news looked at her with unmistakable admiration and pleasure, and seemed +as though he would gladly have obeyed any behest of hers; but he was +fain to wait for the decision of the stately Eleanor, the king's eldest +and much-beloved child, who in the temporary absence of her parents +occupied a position of no little importance in the household, and whose +will, in the royal apartments at any rate, was law. + +But there were other listeners to Gertrude's eager words. At the far end +of the long gallery, which was occupied by the royal children as their +private apartment, a group of three young things had been at play, but +the urgency of Gertrude's tones had arrested their attention, and they +had drawn near to hear her last words. One of these younger children was +a black-eyed girl, with a very handsome face and an imperious manner, +which gave to onlookers the idea that she was older than her years. +Quick tempered, generous, hasty, and self willed was the Lady Joanna, +the second daughter of the king; but her warm affections caused all who +knew her to love her; and her romantic temperament was always stirred to +its depths by any story that savoured of chivalry or heroism. + +"What!" she cried; "is Wendot here -- Wendot of Dynevor, who held the +Eagle's Crag against half a hundred foemen to save thee, sweetest +Gertrude, from captivity or death? -- Eleanor, thou knowest the story; +thou must bid him hither at once! Why, I would thank him with my own +lips for his heroism. For is not Gertrude as our own sister in love?" + +"Ay, Eleanor, bid him come," pleaded Alphonso, a fragile-looking boy a +year younger than Joanna, whose violet-blue eyes and fair skin were in +marked contrast to her gipsy-like darkness of complexion; and this +request was echoed eagerly by another boy, a fine, bold-looking lad, +somewhat older than Alphonso, by name Britten, who was brought up with +the king's children, and treated in every way like them, as the wardrobe +rolls of the period show, though what his rank and parentage were cannot +now be established, as no mention of him occurs in any other documents +of that time. + +The Princess Eleanor, as she would now be called, although in those +far-back days the title of Lady was generally all that was bestowed upon +the children of the king, did not attempt to resist the combined +entreaties of her younger playfellows. Indeed, although somewhat mature +both in mind and appearance for her years, she was by no means devoid of +childish or feminine curiosity, and was as willing to see the hero of +Gertrude's oft-told tale as her more youthful companions could be. +Moreover, it was her father's policy and pleasure to be generous and +gracious towards all those who submitted themselves to his feudal +sovereignty; and to the young he ever showed himself friendly and even +paternal. The stern soldier-king was a particularly tender and loving +father, and his wife the best of mothers, so that the family tie in +their household was a very strong and beautiful thing. When the monarch +was called away from his own royal residences to quell sedition or +rebellion in this turbulent country of Wales, his wife and children +accompanied him thither; and so it happened that in this rather gloomy +fastness in North Wales, when the rebellion of the warlike Llewelyn had +but just been crushed, the king's children were to be found assembled +within its walls, by their bright presence and laughter-loving ways +making the place gay and bright, and bringing even into political +matters something of the leniency and good fellowship which seems to be +the prerogative of childhood. + +Thus it was that one powerful and turbulent noble, Einon ap Cadwalader, +had left as hostage of his good faith his only child, the Lady Arthyn, +to be the companion of the king's daughters. She had been received with +open arms by the warm-hearted Joanna, and the two were fast friends +already, although the Welsh girl was several years the elder of the +pair. But Joanna, who had been educated in Spain by her grandmother and +namesake, and who had only recently come to be with her own parents, had +enjoyed abroad a liberty and importance which had developed her rapidly, +and her mind was as quick and forward as her body was active and energetic. + +Intercourse with Arthyn, too, had given to the younger princess a great +sympathy with the vanquished Welsh, and she was generously eager that +those who came to pay homage to her father should not feel themselves in +a position that was humiliating or galling. The gentle Eleanor shared +this feeling to the full, and was glad to give to the young knight Sir +Godfrey Challoner, who was one of her own gentlemen-in-waiting, a +gracious message for the young Lord of Dynevor to the effect that she +would be glad to receive him and his brothers in her father's absence, +and to give them places at the royal table for the evening meal shortly +to be served. + +Great was the delight of Gertrude when the message was despatched. Her +companions crowded round her to hear again the story of her adventure on +the Eagle's Crag. Gertrude never knew how she had been betrayed by +Wendot's brothers. She believed that they had been accidentally hindered +from coming to her rescue by the difficulties of the climb after the +eagle's nest. There was a faint, uncomfortable misgiving in her mind +with regard to the black-browed twins, but it did not amount to actual +suspicion, far less to any certainty of their enmity; and although +Eleanor had heard the whole story from her parents, she had not +explained the matter more fully to Gertrude. + +An invitation from royalty was equal to a command, and the eager +children were not kept waiting long. The double doors at the end of the +long gallery, which had closed behind the retiring form of Godfrey, +opened once again to admit him, and closely in his wake there followed +two manly youths -- two, not four -- upon whose faces every eye was +instantly fixed in frank and kindly scrutiny. + +Wendot had developed rapidly during these two last years, although he +retained all his old marked characteristics. The waving hair was still +bright and sunny, the open face, with its rather square features, was +resolute, alert, manly, and strong. The fearless blue eyes had not lost +their far-away dreaminess, as though the possessor were looking onward +and outward beyond the surroundings visible to others; and beneath the +calm determination of the expression was an underlying sweetness, which +shone out from time to time in the sunny smile which always won the +heart of the beholder. The figure was rather that of a man than a lad -- +tall, strongly knit, full of grace and power; and a faint yellow +moustache upon the upper lip showed the dawn of manhood in the youth. +There was something in his look which seemed to tell that he had known +sorrow, trial, and anxiety; but this in no way detracted from the power +or attractiveness of the countenance, but rather gave it an added charm. + +Griffeth retained his marked likeness to his brother, and was almost his +equal in height; but his cheek was pale and hollow, while Wendot's was +brown and healthy, his hands were slim and white, and there was an air +of languor and ill-health about him which could not fail to make itself +observed. He looked much younger than his brother, despite his tall +stature, and he blushed like a boy as he saw the eyes of the ladies +fixed upon them as they came forward, bowing with no ungraceful deference. + +"Wendot, Wendot. don't you know me?" + +The young man started and raised his eyes towards the speaker. So far, +he had only been aware that there were a number of persons collected at +the upper end of the long gallery. Now he found himself confronted by a +pair of eager, dancing eyes, as soft and dark as those of a forest deer, +whilst two slim hands were held out to him, and a silvery voice cried +softly and playfully: + +"O Wendot, Wendot, to think you have forgotten!" + +"Lady Gertrude!" + +"Ah, I am glad you have not forgotten, though methinks I have changed +more than you these past years. I should have known you anywhere. But +come, Wendot; I would present you to my friends and companions, who +would fain be acquainted with you. They know how you saved my life that +day, I have told the tale so oft. + +"Let me present you first to our sweetest Lady Eleanor, our great king's +eldest daughter. You will love her, I know -- none can help it. And she +lets me call myself her sister." + +Young things have a wonderful faculty of growing intimate in a very +brief space, and the formalities of those simpler times were not +excessive, especially away from the trammels of the court. In ten +minutes' time Wendot and his brother had grasped the names and rank of +all those to whom they had been presented, and were joining in the eager +talk with ease and with enjoyment. Joanna stood beside Wendot, +listening, with unfeigned interest, to his answers respecting himself +and those near and dear to him; whilst Alphonso had drawn Griffeth to +the embrasure of a window, and was looking up into his face as they +compared notes and exchanged ideas. It seemed from the first as though a +strong link formed itself between those two. + +"Your brothers would not come. Was that fear or shame or pride?" asked +Joanna, with a laughing look into Wendot's flushed face. "Nay, think not +that we would compel any to visit us who do it not willingly. Gertrude +has prepared us to find your brothers different from you. Methinks she +marvelled somewhat that they had come hither at all with their submission." + +Wendot hesitated, and the flush deepened on his face; but he was too +young to have learned the lesson of reticence, and there was something +in the free atmosphere of this place which prompted him to frankness. + +"I myself was surprised at it," he said. "Llewelyn and Howel have not +been friendly in their dealings with the English so far, and we knew +they aided Llewelyn of North Wales in the revolt which has been lately +quelled. But since our parents died we have seen but little of them. +They became joint owners of the commot of Iscennen, and removed from +Dynevor to the castle of Carregcennen in their own territory, and until +we met them some days since in company with our kinsman Meredith ap Hes, +coming to tender their homage, as we ourselves are about to do, we knew +not what to think of them or what action they would take." + +"Are both your parents dead, then?" asked Gertrude, with sympathy in her +eyes. "I heard that Res Vychan was no longer living, but I knew not that +the gentle Lady of Dynevor had passed away also." + +Wendot's face changed slightly as he answered: + +"They both died within a few days of each other the winter after you had +been with us, Lady Gertrude. We were visited by a terrible sickness that +year, and our people sickened and died in great numbers. Our parents did +all they could for them, and first my father fell ill and died, and +scarce had the grave closed over him before our mother was stricken, and +followed him ere a week had passed. Griffeth was also lying at the point +of death, and we despaired of his life also; but he battled through, and +came back to us from the very gates of the grave, and yet methinks +sometimes that he has never been the same since. He shoots up in height, +but he cannot do the things he did when he was two years younger. + +"What think you of him, sweet Lady Gertrude? Is he changed from what he +was when last you saw him, ere the sickness had fastened upon him?" + +Several eyes were turned towards the slim, tall figure of the Welsh lad +leaning against the embrasure of the window. The sunlight fell full upon +his face, showing the sharpness of its outlines, the delicate hectic +colouring, the tracery of the blue veins beneath the transparent skin. +And just the same transparent look was visible in the countenance of the +young Prince Alphonso, who was talking with the stranger youth, and more +hearts than that of Wendot felt a pang as their owners' eyes were turned +upon the pair beside the sunny window. But Wendot pressed for no answer +to his question, nor did Gertrude volunteer it; she only asked quickly: + +"Then Griffeth and you live yet at Dynevor, beautiful Dynevor, and +Llewelyn and Howel elsewhere?" + +"Ay, at Carregcennen. We have our respective lands, though we are minors +yet; and our kinsman Meredith ap Res is our guardian, though it is +little we see of him." + +"Meredith ap Res! I know him well," cried a girlish voice, in accents +which betrayed her Welsh origin. "He has ever been a traitor to his +country, a traitor to all who trust him; a covetous, grasping man, who +will clutch at what he can get, and never cease scheming after lands and +titles so long as the breath remains in him." + +They all turned to see who had spoken, and Arthyn -- the headstrong, +passionate, patriotic Arthyn, who, despite her love for her present +companions, bitterly resented being left a hostage in the hands of the +English king -- stood out before them, and spoke in the fearless fashion +which nobody present resented. + +"Wendot of Dynevor, if you are he, beware of that man, and bid your +brothers beware of him, too. I know him; I have heard much of him. Be +sure he has an eye on your fair lands, and he will embroil you yet with +the English king if he can, that he may lay claim to your patrimony. He +brings you here to the court to make your peace, to pay your homage. If +I mistake not the man, you will not all of you return whence you came. +He will poison the king's mind. Some traitorous practices will be +alleged against you. Your lands will be withheld. You will be fed with +promises which will never be fulfilled. And the kinsman who has sold +himself body and soul to the English alliance will rule your lands, in +your names firstly perchance, until his power is secure, and he can +claim them boldly as his own. See if it be not so." + +"It shall not be so," cried Alphonso, suddenly advancing a step forward +and planting himself in the midst of the group. + +His cheek was crimson now, there was fire in his eyes. He had all the +regal look of his royal father as he glanced up into Wendot's face and +spoke with an authority beyond his years. + +"I, the king's son, give you my word of honour that this thing shall not +be. You are rightful Lord of Dynevor. You took not up arms against my +father in the late rebellion; you come at his command to pay your homage +to him. Therefore, whatever may be his dealings with your brothers who +have assisted the rebels, I pledge my princely word that you shall +return in peace to your own possessions. My father is a just and +righteous king, and I will be his surety that he will do all that is +right and just by you, Wendot of Dynevor." + +"Well spoken, Alphonso!" cried Joanna and Britton in a breath, whilst +Wendot took the hand extended to him, and bent over it with a feeling of +loyal gratitude and respect. + +There was something very lovable in the fragile young prince, and he +seemed to win the hearts of all who came within the charm of his +personal presence. He combined his father's fearless nobility with his +mother's sweetness of disposition. Had he lived to ascend the throne of +England, one of the darkest pages of its annals might never have been +written. + +But this hot discussion was brought to an end by the appearance of the +servants, who carried in the supper, laying it upon a long table at the +far end of the gallery. No great state was observed even in the royal +household, when the family was far away from the atmosphere of the court +as it was held at Westminster or Windsor. + +A certain number of servants were in attendance. There were a few +formalities gone through in the matter of tasting of dishes served to +the royal children, but they sat round the table without ceremony; and +when the chaplain had pronounced a blessing, which was listened to +reverently by the young people, who were all very devout and responsive +to religious influences, the unconstrained chatter began again almost at +once, and the Welsh lads lost all sense of strangeness as they sat at +the table of the king's children. + +"Our father and mother will not return for several days yet," said +Joanna to Wendot, whom she had placed between herself and Gertrude; "but +we have liberty to do what we wish and to go where we like. + +"Say, Gertrude, shall we tell Wendot on what we have set our hearts? It +may be he would help us to our end." + +"I would do anything you bid me, gracious lady," answered Wendot with +boyish chivalry. + +The girls were eying each other with flushed faces, their voices were +lowered so that they should not reach the ears of the Lady Edeline, +Joanna's governess, who was seated at the board, although she seldom +spoke unless directly addressed by Eleanor, who seemed to be on friendly +terms with her. + +"Wendot," whispered Joanna cautiously, "have you ever hunted a wolf in +your mountains?" + +"Ay, many a time, though they be more seldom seen now. But we never rid +ourselves altogether of them, do as we will." + +"And have you killed one yourself?" + +"Yes, I have done that, too." + +"And is it very dangerous?" + +"I scarce know; I never thought about it. I think not, if one is well +armed and has dogs trained to their duties." + +Joanna's eyes were alight with excitement; her hands were locked +together tightly. Her animated face was set in lines of the greatest +determination and happiest anticipation. + +"Wendot," she said, "there is a wolf up yonder in that wild valley we +can see from yon window, as you look towards the heights of Snowdon. +Some of our people have seen and tracked it, but they say it is an old +and wily one, and no one has got near it yet. Wendot, we have set our +hearts on having a wolf hunt of our very own. We do not want all the men +and dogs and the stir and fuss which they would make if we were known to +be going. I know what that means. We are kept far away behind everybody, +and only see the dead animal after it has been killed miles away from +us. We want to be in the hunt ourselves -- Britten, Alphonso, Arthyn, +Gertrude, and I. Godfrey would perhaps be won over if Gertrude begged +him, and I know Raoul Latimer would -- he is always ready for what turns +up -- but that would not be enough. O Wendot, if you and your brothers +would but come, we should be safe without anybody else. Raoul has dogs, +and we could all be armed, and we would promise to be very careful. We +could get away early, as Gertrude did that day she slipped off to the +Eagle's Crag. + +"Wendot, do answer -- do say you will come. You understand all about +hunting, even hunting wolves. You are not afraid?" + +Wendot smiled at the notion. He did not entirely understand that he was +requested to take part in a bit of defiant frolic which the young +princes and princesses were well aware would not have been permitted by +their parents. All he grasped was that the Lady Joanna requested his +assistance in a hunt which she had planned, and with the details of +which he was perfectly familiar, and he agreed willingly to her request, +not sorry, either for his own sake or for that of his more discontented +brothers, that the monotony of the days spent in waiting the return of +the king should be beguiled by anything so attractive and exciting as a +wolf hunt. + +The Dynevor brothers had often hunted wolves before, and saw no special +peril in the sport; and Joanna and Gertrude felt that not even the most +nervous guardian could hesitate to let them go with such a stout protector. + +"I do like him, Gertrude," said Joanna, when Wendot and his brother had +retired. "I hope if I ever have to marry, as people generally do, +especially if they are king's daughters, that I shall find somebody as +brave and handsome and knightly as your Wendot of Dynevor." + +For Gertrude and Joanna both took the view that the breaking of the +king's gold coin between them was equivalent to the most solemn of troth +plights. + + + + CHAPTER VI. WELSH WOLVES. + + +The Princess Joanna was accustomed to a great deal of her own way. She +had been born at Acre, whilst her parents had been absent upon Edward's +Crusade, and for many years she had remained in Castile with her +grandmother-godmother, who had treated her with unwise distinction, and +had taught her to regard herself almost as a little queen. The +high-spirited and self-willed girl had thus acquired habits of +independence and commanding ways which were perhaps hardly suited to her +tender years; but nevertheless there was something in her bright +vivacity and generous impetuosity which always won the hearts of those +about her, and there were few who willingly thwarted her when her heart +was set upon any particular thing. + +There were in attendance upon the king and his children a number of +gallant youths, sons of his nobles, who were admitted to pleasant and +easy intercourse with the royal family; so that when Joanna and Alphonso +set their hearts upon a private escapade of their own, in the shape of a +wolf hunt, it was not difficult to enlist many brave champions in the +cause quite as eager for the danger and the sport as the royal children +themselves. Joanna was admitted to be a privileged person, and Alphonso, +as the only son of the king, had a certain authority of his own. + +The graver and more responsible guardians of the young prince and +princesses might have hesitated before letting them have their way in +this matter; but Joanna took counsel of the younger and more ardent +spirits by whom she was surrounded, and a secret expedition to a +neighbouring rocky fastness was soon planned, which expedition, by a +little diplomacy and management, could be carried out without exciting +much remark. + +The king and queen encouraged their family in hardy exercises and early +hours. If the royal children planned an early ride through the fresh +morning air, none would hinder their departure, and they could easily +shake off their slower attendants when the time came, and join the +bolder comrades who would be waiting for them with all the needful +accoutrements for the hunt on which their minds were bent. + +One or two of the more youthful and adventurous attendants might come +with them, but the soberer custodians might either be dismissed or +outridden. They were accustomed to the vagaries of the Lady Joanna, and +would not be greatly astonished at any freak on her part. + +And thus it came about that one clear, cold, exhilarating morning in +May, when the world was just waking from its dewy sleep of night, that +Joanna and Alphonso, together with Gertrude and Arthyn, and young Sir +Godfrey and another gentleman in attendance, drew rein laughingly, after +a breathless ride across a piece of wild moorland, at the appointed +spot, where a small but well-equipped company was awaiting them with the +spears, the dogs, and the long, murderous-looking hunting knives needed +by those who follow the tracks of the wild creatures of the mountains. + +This little band numbered in its ranks the four Dynevor brothers; a +tall, rather haughty-looking youth, by name Raoul Latimer; and one or +two more with whose names we have no concern. Britten, who accompanied +the royal party, sprang forward with a cry of delight at seeing the +muster, and began eagerly questioning Raoul as to the capabilities of +the dogs he had brought, and the possible dangers to be encountered in +the day's sport. + +Gertrude and Joanna rode up to Wendot and greeted him warmly. They had +seen him only once since the first evening after his arrival, and both +girls stole curious glances at the dark faces of the two brothers +unknown as yet to them. They were almost surprised that the twins had +come at all, as they were not disposed to be friendly towards the +English amongst whom they were now mingling; but here they were, and +Gertrude greeted both with her pretty grace, and they answered her words +of welcome with more courtesy than she had expected to find in them. + +Llewelyn and Howel were submitting themselves to the inevitable with +what grace they could, but with very indignant and hostile feelings +hidden deep in their hearts. Their old hatred towards the English +remained unaltered. They would have fought the foe tooth and nail to the +last had they been able to find allies ready to stand by them. But when +their uncle of North Wales had submitted, and all the smaller chieftains +were crowding to the court to pay homage, and when they knew that +nothing but their own nominal subjection would save them from being +deprived of their lands, which would go to enrich the rapacious Meredith +ap Res, then indeed did resistance at that time seem hopeless; and +sooner than see themselves thus despoiled by one who was no better than +a vassal of England, they had resolved to take the hated step, and do +homage to Edward for their lands. Indeed, these brothers had to do even +more; for, having been concerned in the late rebellion, they had +forfeited their claim upon their property, only that it was Edward's +policy to restore all lands the owners of which submitted themselves to +his authority. The brothers felt no doubt as to the result of their +submission, but the humiliation involved was great, and it was hard work +to keep their hatred of the English in check. Those wild spirits had not +been used to exercising self-control, and the lesson came hard now that +they were springing up towards man's estate, with all the untempered +recklessness and heat of youth still in their veins. + +Perhaps there was something in the expression of those two dark faces +that told its tale to one silent spectator of the meeting between the +Welsh and English; for as the party united forces and pushed onwards and +upwards towards the wild ravine where the haunt of the wolf lay, the +twin brothers heard themselves addressed in their own language, and +though the tones were sweet and silvery, the words had a ring of +passionate earnestness in them which went straight to their hearts. + +"Methinks I am not mistaken in you, sons of Dynevor. You have not +willingly left your mountain eyry for these halls where the proud foeman +holds his court and sits in judgment upon those who by rights are free +as air. I have heard of you before, Llewelyn and Howel ap Res Vychan. +You are not here, like your brethren, half won over to the cause of the +foe; you would fight with the last drop of your blood for the liberty of +our country." + +Turning with a start, the brothers beheld the form of a slight and +graceful maiden, who was pushing her palfrey up beside them. She +appeared to be about their own age, and was very beautiful to look upon, +with a clear, dark skin, large, bright eyes, now glowing with the +enthusiasm so soon kindled in the breast of the children of an oppressed +people -- a people thrilling with the strange, deep poetry of their +race, which made much amends for their lack of culture in other points. + +Llewelyn and Howel, learning caution by experience, scarce knew how to +respond to this appeal; but the girl met their inquiring glances by a +vivid smile, and said: + +"Nay, fear me not. I am one of yourselves -- one of our country's own +children. Think not that I am here of my own free will. I deny not that +I have learned to love some amongst our conqueror's children and +subjects, but that does not make me forget who I am nor whence I have +come. Let us talk together of our country and of the slender hopes which +yet remain that she may gird herself up and make common cause against +the foe. Oh, would that I might live to see the day, even though my life +might pay the forfeit of my father's patriotism. Let Edward slay me -- +ay, and every hostage he holds in his hand -- so that our country shakes +off the foreign yoke, and unites under one head as one nation once again." + +These words kindled in the breast of the twin brothers such a glow of +joy and fervour as they had not known for many a weary day. They made +room for Arthyn to ride between them, and eager were the confidences +exchanged between the youthful patriots as they pursued their way +upwards. Little they heeded the black looks cast upon them by Raoul +Latimer, as he saw Arthyn's eager animation, and understood how close +was the bond which had thus quickly been established between them and +the proud, silent girl whose favours he had been sedulously trying to +win this many a day. + +Raoul Latimer was a youth with a decided eye to the main chance. He knew +that Arthyn was her father's heiress, and that she would succeed at his +death to some of the richest lands in Wales. Possibly her father might +be deprived of these lands in his lifetime, as he was a turbulent +chieftain, by no means submissive to Edward's rule. If that were the +case, and if his daughter had wedded a loyal Englishman of +unquestionable fidelity, there would be an excellent chance for that +husband of succeeding to the broad lands of Einon ap Cadwalader before +many years had passed. Therefore young Raoul paid open court to the +proud Welsh maiden, and was somewhat discomfited at the small progress +he had made. + +But he was a hot-headed youth, and had no intention of being thrown into +the shade by any beggarly Welshmen, be they sons of Dynevor or no, so +that when the party were forced by the character of the ground to +dismount from their horses and take to their own feet, he pressed up to +Arthyn and said banteringly: + +"Sweet lady, why burden yourself with the entertainment of these wild, +uncivilized loons? Surely those who can but speak the language of beasts +deserve the treatment of beasts. It is not for you to be thus --" + +But the sentence was never finished. Perhaps the flash from Arthyn's eye +warned him he had gone too far in thus designating the youths, who were, +after all, her countrymen; but there was a better reason still for this +sudden pause, for Llewelyn's strong right hand had flown out straight +from the shoulder, and Raoul had received on the mouth a stinging blow +which had brought the red blood upon his lips and the crimson tide of +fury into his cheeks. + +With an inarticulate cry of rage he drew his dagger and sprang upon the +young Welshman. Swords were drawn in those days only too readily, and in +this case there had been provocation enough on both sides to warrant +bloodshed. The youths were locked at once in fierce conflict, striking +madly at each other with their shining blades, before those who stood by +well knew what had occurred. + +It was only too common at such times that there should be collision +between the sons of England and Wales; and the suffering and the penalty +almost invariably fell upon the latter. This fact was well known to the +children of the king, and possibly prompted the young Alphonso to his +next act. + +Drawing the small sword he always carried at his side, he threw himself +between the combatants, and striking up their blades he cried in tones +of such authority as only those can assume who feel the right is theirs: + +"Put up your weapons, gentlemen; I command you in the king's name. + +"Raoul, this is your doing, I warrant. Shame on you for thus falling +upon my father's guest in his absence, and he a stranger and an alien! +Shame on you, I say!" + +But scarce had these words been uttered before a shrill cry broke from +several of the girls, who were watching the strange scene with tremulous +excitement. For young Llewelyn, maddened and blinded by the heat of his +passion, and not knowing either who Alphonso was or by what right he +interposed betwixt him and his foe, turned furiously upon him, and +before any one could interpose, a deep red gash in the boy's wrist +showed what the Welsh lad's blade had done. + +Wendot, Griffeth, and Godfrey flung themselves upon the mad youth, and +held him back by main force. In Raoul's eyes there was an evil light of +triumph and exultation. + +"Llewelyn, Llewelyn, art mad? It is the king's son," cried Wendot in +their native tongue; whilst Joanna sprang towards her brother and +commenced binding up the gash, the lad never for a moment losing his +presence of mind, or forgetting in the smart of the hurt the dignity of +his position. + +Llewelyn's fierce burst of passion had spent itself, and the sense of +Wendot's words had come home to him. He stood shamefaced and sullen, but +secretly somewhat afraid; whilst Arthyn trembled in every limb, and if +looks would have annihilated, Raoul would not have existed as a +corporate being a moment longer. + +"Gentlemen," said Alphonso, turning to those about him, and holding up +his bandaged hand, "this is the result of accident -- pure accident. +Remember that, if it ever comes to the ears of my father. This youth +knew not what he did. The fault was mine for exposing myself thus +hastily. As you value the goodwill in which I hold you all, keep this +matter to yourselves. We are not prince or subject today, but comrades +bent on sport together. Remember and obey my behest. It is not often I +lay my commands upon you." + +These words were listened to with gratitude and relief by all the party +save one, and his brow gloomed darker than before. Arthyn saw it, and +sprang towards Alphonso, who was smiling at his sister in response to +her quick words of praise. + +"It was his fault -- his," she cried, pointing to the scowling Raoul, +who looked ill-pleased at having his lips thus sealed. "He insulted him +-- he insulted me. No man worthy the name would stand still and listen. +It is the way with these fine gallants of England. They are ever +stirring up strife, and my countrymen bear the blame, the punishment, +the odium --" + +But Alphonso took her hand with a gesture of boyish chivalry. + +"None shall injure thee or thine whilst I am by, sweet Arthyn. The +nation is dear to me for thy sake, and thy countrymen shall be as our +honoured guests and brothers. Have we not learned to love them for thy +sake and their own? Trouble not thy head more over this mischance, and +let it not cloud our day's sport. + +"Raoul," he added, with some sternness, "thou art a turbulent spirit, +and thou lackest the gentle courtesy of a true knight towards those +whose position is trying and difficult. Thou wilt not win thy spurs if +thou mendest not thy ways. Give thy hand now, before my eyes, to the +youth thou didst provoke. If thou marrest the day's pleasure again, I +shall have more to say to thee yet." + +It was not often that the gentle Alphonso spoke in such tones, and +therefore his words were the more heeded. Raoul, inwardly consumed with +rage at being thus singled out for rebuke, dared not withstand the order +given him, and grudgingly held out his hand. It was not with much +greater alacrity that Llewelyn took it, for there was much stubborn +sullenness in his disposition, and his passion, though quickly aroused, +did not quickly abate; but there was a compulsion in the glance of the +royal boy which enforced obedience; and harmony being thus nominally +restored, the party once more breathed freely. + +"And now upwards and onwards for the lair of the wolf," cried Alphonso; +"we have lost time enough already. Who knows the way to his favourite +haunts? Methinks they cannot be very far away now." + +"I should have thought we had had enough of Welsh wolves for one day," +muttered Raoul sullenly to Godfrey; but the latter gave him a warning +glance, and he forbore to speak more on the subject. + +Gertrude had watched the whole scene with dilated eyes, and a feeling of +sympathy and repulsion she was perfectly unable to analyze. When the +party moved on again she stole up to Wendot's side, and said as she +glanced into his troubled face: + +"He did not mean it? he will not do it again?" + +Wendot glanced down at her with a start, and shook his head. + +"He knew not that it was the king's son -- that I verily believe; but I +know not what Llewelyn may say or do at any time. He never speaks to me +of what is in his head. Lady Gertrude, you know the king and his ways. +Will he visit this rash deed upon my brother's head? Will Llewelyn +suffer for what he did in an impulse of mad rage, provoked to it by yon +haughty youth, whose words and bearing are hard for any of us to brook?" + +"Not if Alphonso can but get his ear; not if this thing is kept secret, +as he desires, as he has commanded. But I fear what Raoul may say and +do. He is treacherous, selfish, designing. The king thinks well of him, +but we love him not. I trust all will yet be well." + +"But you fear it may not," added Wendot, completing the sentence as she +had not the heart to do. "I fear the same thing myself. But tell me +again, Lady Gertrude, what would be the penalty of such an act? Will +they --" + +"Alphonso has great influence with his father," answered Gertrude +quickly. "He will stand your brother's friend through all; perchance he +may be detained in some sort of captivity; perchance he may not have his +lands restored if this thing comes to the king's ears. But his person +will be safe. Fear not for that. Methinks Alphonso would sooner lay down +his own life than that harm should befall from what chanced upon a day +of sport planned by him and Joanna." + +And Gertrude, seeing that a load lay upon the heart of the young Lord of +Dynevor, set herself to chase the cloud from his brow, and had so far +succeeded that he looked himself again by the time a warning shout from +those in advance showed that some tracks of the wild creature of whom +they were in pursuit had been discovered in the path. + +"Do not run into danger," pleaded Gertrude, laying a hand on Wendot's +arm as he moved quickly forward to the front. "You are so brave you +never think of yourself; but do not let us have more bloodshed today, +save the blood of the ravenous beast if it must be. I could find it in +my heart to wish that we had not come forth on this errand. The +brightness of the day has been clouded over." + +Wendot answered by a responsive glance. There was something soothing to +him in the unsolicited sympathy of Gertrude. He had thought little since +they parted two years before of that childish pledge given and received, +although he always wore her talisman about his neck, and sometimes +looked at it with a smile. He had no serious thoughts of trying to mate +with an English noble's daughter. He had had no leisure to spare for +thoughts of wedlock at all. But something in the trustful glance of +those dark eyes looking confidingly up to him sent a quick thrill +through his pulses, which was perhaps the first dawning life of the love +of a brave heart. + +But there was an impatient call from the front, and Wendot sprang +forward, the huntsman awakening within him at the sight of the slot of +the quarry. He looked intently at the tracks in the soft earth, and then +pointed downwards in the direction of a deep gully or cavernous opening +in the hillside, which looked very dark and gloomy to the party who +stood in the sunshine of the open. + +"The beast has gone that way," he said; "and by his tracks and these +bloodstains, he has prey in his mouth. Likely his mate may have her lair +in yon dark spot, and they may be rearing their young in that safe +retreat. See how the dogs strain and pant! They smell the prey, and are +eager to be off. We must be alert and wary, for wolves with young ones +to guard are fierce beyond their wont." + +He looked doubtfully at the girls, whose faces were full of mingled +terror and excitement. Godfrey read his meaning, and suggested that the +ladies should remain in this vantage ground whilst some of the rest went +forward to reconnoitre. + +But Joanna, ever bold and impetuous, would have none of that. + +"We will go on together," she said. "We shall be safest so. No wolf, +however fierce, will attack a number like ourselves. They will fly if +they can, and if they are brought to bay we need not go near them. But +why have we come so far to give up all the peril and the sport at the +last moment?" + +"She speaks truth," said Wendot, to whom she seemed to look. "At this +season of the year wolves have meat in plenty, and will not attack man +save in self defence. If we track them silently to their lair, we may +surprise and kill the brood; but we are many, and can leave force enough +to defend the ladies whilst the rest fight the battle with the creatures +at bay." + +Nobody really wished to be left behind, and there was a pleasant feeling +of safety in numbers. Slowly and cautiously they all followed the track +of the wolf downwards into the gloomy ravine, which seemed to shut out +all light of the sun between walls of solid rock. + +It was a curious freak in which nature had indulged in the formation of +this miniature crevasse between the hillsides. At the base ran a dark +turbid stream, which had hollowed out for itself a sort of cavernous +opening, and the walls of rock rose almost precipitately on three sides, +only leaving one track by which the ravine could be entered. The stream +came bubbling out from the rock, passing through some underground +passage; and within the gloomy cavern thus produced the savage beasts +had plainly made their lair, for there were traces of blood and bones +upon the little rocky platform, and the trained ear of Wendot, who was +foremost, detected the sound of subdued and angry growling proceeding +from the natural cave they were approaching. + +"The beasts are in there," he said, pausing, and the next moment Raoul +had loosed the dogs, who darted like arrows from bows along the narrow +track; and immediately a great he wolf had sprung out with a cry of +almost human rage, and had fastened upon one of the assailants, whose +piercing yell made the girls shrink back and almost wish they had not come. + +But Wendot was not far behind. He was not one of the huntsmen who give +all the peril to the dogs and keep out of the fray themselves. Drawing +his long hunting knife, and shouting to his brothers to follow him, he +sprang down upon the rocky platform himself, and Llewelyn and Howel were +at his side in a moment. Godfrey would fain have followed, but his duty +obliged him to remain by the side of the princess; and he kept a firm +though respectful grasp upon Alphonso's arm, feeling that he must not by +any means permit the heir of England to adventure himself into the fray. +And indeed the boy's gashed hand hindered him from the use of his +weapon, and he could only look on with the most intense interest whilst +the conflict between the two fierce beasts and their angry cubs was +waged by the fearless lads, who had been through many such encounters +before, and showed such skill, such address, such intrepidity in their +attack, that the young prince shouted aloud in admiration, and even the +girls lost their first sense of terror in the certainty of victory on +the side of the Welsh youths. + +As for Raoul Latimer, he stood at a safe distance cheering on his dogs, +but not adventuring himself within reach of the murderous fangs of the +wolves. He occupied a position halfway between the spot upon which the +fray was taking place and the vantage ground occupied by the royal party +in full sight of the strife. + +Arthyn had passed several scornful comments upon the care the young +gallant was taking of himself, when suddenly there was a cry from the +spectators; for one of the cubs, escaping from the melee, ran full tilt +towards Raoul, blind as it seemed with terror; and as it came within +reach of his weapon, the sharp blade gleamed in the air, and the little +creature gave one yell and rolled over in its death agony. But that cry +seemed to pierce the heart of the mother wolf, and suddenly, with almost +preternatural strength and activity, she bounded clean over the forms of +men and dogs, and dashed straight at Raoul with all the ferocity of an +animal at bay, and of a mother robbed of her young. + +The young man saw the attack; but his weapon was buried in the body of +the cub, and he had no time to disengage it. Turning with a sharp cry of +terror, he attempted to fly up the rocky path; but the beast was upon +him. She made a wild dash and fastened upon his back, her fangs crushing +one shoulder and her hot breath seeming to scorch his cheek. With a wild +yell of agony and terror Raoul threw himself face downwards upon the +ground, whilst his cry was shrilly echoed by the girls -- all but +Arthyn, who stood rigidly as if turned to stone, a strange, fierce light +blazing in her eyes. + +But help was close at hand. Wendot had seen the spring, and had followed +close upon the charge of the maddened brute. Flinging himself fearlessly +upon the struggling pair, he plunged his knife into the neck of the +wolf, causing her to relax her hold of her first foe and turn upon him. +Had he stabbed her to the heart she might have inflicted worse injury +upon Raoul in her mortal struggle; as it was, there was fierce fight +left in her still. But Wendot was kneeling upon the wildly struggling +body with all his strength, and had locked his hands fast round her throat. + +"Quick, Llewelyn -- the knife!" he cried, and his brother was beside him +in an instant. + +The merciful death stroke was given, and the three youths rose from +their crouching posture and looked each other in the eyes, whilst the +wolf lay still and dead by the side of her cub. + +"Methinks we have had something too much of Welsh wolves," was the only +comment of Raoul, as he joined the royal party without a word to the +brothers who had saved his life. + + + + CHAPTER VII. THE KING'S JUDGMENT. + + +The great King Edward had been sitting enthroned in the state apartment +of the castle, receiving the homage of those amongst the Welsh lords and +chieftains who had been summoned to pay their homage to him and had +obeyed this summons. + +It was an imposing sight, and one not likely to be forgotten by any who +witnessed it for the first time. The courageous but gentle Queen +Eleanor, who was seldom absent from her lord's side be the times +peaceful or warlike, was seated beside him for the ceremony, with her +two elder daughters beside her. The young Alphonso stood at the right +hand of the king, his face bright with interest and sympathy; and if +ever the act of homage seemed to be paid with effort by some rugged +chieftain, or he saw a look of gloom or pain upon the face of such a +one, he was ever ready with some graceful speech or small act of +courtesy, which generally acted like a charm. And the father regarded +his son with a fond pride, and let him take his own way with these +haughty, untamable spirits, feeling perhaps that the tact of the royal +boy would do more to conciliate and win hearts than any word or deed of +his own. + +Edward has been often harshly condemned for his cruelty and treachery +towards the vanquished Welsh; but it must be remembered with regard to +the first charge that the days were rude and cruel, that the spirit of +the age was fierce and headstrong, and that the barons and nobles who +were scheming for the fair lands of Wales were guilty of many of the +unjust and oppressive acts for which Edward has since been held +responsible. The Welsh were themselves a very wild race, in some parts +of the country barely civilized; and there can be no denying that a vein +of fierce treachery ran through their composition, and that they often +provoked their adversaries to cruel retaliation. As for the king +himself, his policy was on the whole a merciful and just one, if the one +point of his feudal supremacy were conceded. To those who came to him +with their act of homage he confirmed their possession of ancestral +estates, and treated them with kindness and consideration. He was too +keen a statesman and too just a man to desire anything but a +conciliatory policy so far as it was possible. Only when really roused +to anger and resolved upon war did the fiercer side of his nature show +itself, and then, indeed, he could show himself terrible and lion-like +in his wrath. + +The brothers of Dynevor were the last of those who came to pay their act +of homage. The day had waned, and the last light of sunset was streaming +into that long room as the fair-haired Wendot bent his knee in response +to the summons of the herald. The king's eyes seemed to rest upon him +with interest, and he spoke kindly to the youth; but it was noted by +some in the company that his brow darkened when Llewelyn followed his +brother's example, Howel attending him as Griffeth had supported Wendot; +and there was none of the gracious urbanity in the royal countenance now +that had characterized it during the past hour. + +Several faces amongst those in immediate attendance upon the king and +his family watched this closing scene with unwonted interest. Gertrude +stood with Joanna's hand clasped in hers, quivering with excitement, and +ever and anon casting quick looks towards her brother, who stood behind +the chair of state observant and watchful, but without betraying his +feelings either by word or look. Raoul Latimer was there, a sneer upon +his lips, a malevolent light in his eyes, which deepened as they rested +upon Llewelyn, whilst Arthyn watched the twin brothers with a strange +look in her glowing eyes, her lips parted, her white teeth just showing +between, her whole expression one of tense expectancy and sympathy. Once +Llewelyn glanced up and met the look she bent on him. A dusky flush +overspread his cheek, and his fingers clenched themselves in an +unconscious movement understood only by himself. + +The homage paid, there was a little stir at the lower end of the hall as +the doors were flung open for the royal party to take their departure. +Edward bent a searching look upon the four brothers, who had fallen back +somewhat, and were clustered together not far from the royal group, and +the next minute an attendant whispered to them that it was the king's +pleasure they should follow in his personal retinue, as he had somewhat +to say to them in private. + +Wendot's heart beat rather faster than its wont. He had had some +foreboding of evil ever since that unlucky expedition, some days back +now, on which Llewelyn's sword had been drawn upon an English subject, +and had injured the king's son likewise. Raoul had for very shame +affected a sort of condescending friendliness towards the brothers after +they had been instrumental in saving him from the fangs of the she wolf; +but it was pretty evident to them that his friendship was but skin deep; +whilst every word that passed between Arthyn and Llewelyn or his brother +-- and these were many -- was ranked as a dire offence. + +Had Wendot been more conversant with the intrigues of courts, he would +have seen plainly that Raoul was paying his addresses to the Welsh +heiress, who plainly detested and abhorred him. The ambitious and clever +young man, who was well thought of by the king, and had many friends +amongst the nobles and barons, had a plan of his own for securing to +himself some of the richest territory in the country, and was leaving no +stone unturned in order to achieve that object. A marriage with Arthyn +would give him the hold he wanted upon a very large estate. But +indifferent as he was to the feelings of the lady, he was wise enough to +see that whilst she remained in her present mood, and was the confidante +and friend of the princesses, he should not gain the king's consent to +prosecuting his nuptials by force, as he would gladly have done. +Whereupon a new scheme had entered his busy brain, as a second string to +his bow, and with the help of a kinsman high in favour with the king, he +had great hopes of gaining his point, which would at once gratify his +ambition and inflict vengeance upon a hated rival. + +Raoul had hated the Dynevor brothers ever since he had detected in +Arthyn an interest in and sympathy for them, ever since he had found her +in close talk in their own tongue with the dark-browed twins, whose +antagonism to the English was scarcely disguised. He had done all he +knew to stir the hot blood in Llewelyn and Howel, and that with some +success. The lads were looked upon as dangerous and treacherous by many +of those in the castle; and from the sneering look of coming triumph +upon the face of young Latimer as the party moved off towards the +private apartments of the royal family, it was plain that he anticipated +a victory for himself and a profound humiliation for his foes. + +Supper was the first business of the hour, and the Dynevor brothers sat +at the lower table with the attendants of the king. The meal was +well-served and plentiful, but they bad small appetite for it. Wendot +felt as though a shadow hung upon them; and the chief comfort he +received was in stealing glances at the sweet, sensitive face of +Gertrude, who generally responded to his glance by one of her flashing +smiles. + +Wendot wondered how it was that Lord Montacute had never sought him out +to speak to him. Little as the lad had thought of their parting +interview at Dynevor during the past two years, it all came back with +the greatest vividness as he looked upon the fine calm face of the +English noble. Was it possible he had forgotten the half-pledge once +given him? Or did he regret it, now that his daughter was shooting up +from a child into a sweet and gracious maiden whom he felt disposed to +worship with reverential awe? Wendot did not think he was in love -- he +would scarce have known the meaning of the phrase and he as little +understood the feelings which had lately awakened within him; but he did +feel conscious that a new element had entered into his life, and with it +a far less bitter sense of antagonism to the English than he had +experienced in previous years. + +After the supper was ended the royal family withdrew into an inner room, +and presently the four brothers were bidden to enter, as the king had +somewhat to say to them. The greater number of the courtiers and +attendants remained in the outer room, but Sir Godfrey Challoner, Raoul +Latimer, and one or two other gentlemen were present in the smaller +apartment. The queen and royal children were also there, and their +playfellows and companions, Gertrude holding her father by the hand, and +watching with intense interest the approach of the brothers and the +faces of the king and his son. + +Edward was seated before a table on which certain parchments lay. +Alphonso stood beside him, and Wendot fancied that he had only just +ended some earnest appeal, his parted lips and flushed cheeks seeming to +tell of recent eager speech. The king looked keenly at the brothers as +they made their obeisance to him, and singling out Wendot, bid him by a +gesture to approach nearer. + +There was a kindliness in the royal countenance which encouraged the +youth, and few could approach the great soldier king without +experiencing something of the fascination which his powerful +individuality exercised over all his subjects. + +"Come hither, boy," he said; "we have heard nought but good of thee. +Thou hast an eloquent advocate in yon maiden of Lord Montacute's, and +mine own son and daughters praise thy gallantry in no measured terms. We +have made careful examination into these parchments here, containing +reports of the late rebellion, and cannot find that thou hast had part +or lot in it. Thou hast paid thy homage without dallying or delay; +wherefore it is our pleasure to confirm to thee thy possession of thy +castle of Dynevor and its territory. We only caution thee to remain +loyal to him thou hast owned as king, and we will establish thee in thy +rights if in time to come they be disputed by others, or thou stirrest +up foes by thy loyalty to us." + +Wendot bowed low. If there was something bitter in having his father's +rightful inheritance granted to him as something of a boon, at least +there was much to sweeten the draught in the kindly and gracious bearing +of the king, and in Alphonso's friendly words and looks. He had no +father to look to in time of need, and felt a great distrust of the +kinsman who exercised some guardianship over him; so that there was +considerable relief for the youth in feeling that the great King of +England was his friend, and that he would keep him from the aggression +of foes. + +He stood aside as Edward's glance passed on to Llewelyn and Howel, and +it was plain that the monarch's face changed and hardened as he fixed +his eye upon the twins. + +"Llewelyn -- Howel," he said, "joint lords of Iscennen, we wish that we +had received the same good report of you that we have done of your +brethren. But it is not so. There be dark records in your past which +give little hope for the future. Nevertheless you are yet young. Wisdom +may come with the advance of years. But the hot blood in you requires +taming and curbing. You have proved yourselves unfit for the place +hitherto occupied as lords of the broad lands bequeathed you by Res +Vychan, your father. For the present those lands are forfeit. You must +win the right to call them yours again by loyalty in the cause which +every true Welshman should have at heart, because it is the cause which +alone can bring peace and safety to your harassed country. It is not +willingly that we wrest from any man the lands that are his birthright. +Less willingly do we do this when homage, however unwilling and +reluctant, has been paid. But we have our duties to ourselves and to our +submitted subjects to consider, and it is not meet to send firebrands +alight into the world, when a spark may raise so fierce a conflagration, +and when hundreds of lives have to pay the penalty of one mad act of +headstrong youth. It is your youth that shall be your excuse from the +charge of graver offence, but those who are too young to govern +themselves are not fit to govern others." + +Whilst the king had been speaking he had been closely studying the faces +of the twin brothers, who stood before him with their eyes on the +ground. These two lads, although by their stature and appearance almost +men, had not attained more than their sixteenth year, and had by no +means learned that control of feature which is one of nature's hardest +lessons. As the king's words made themselves understood, their brows had +darkened and their faces had contracted with a fierce anger and rage, +which betrayed itself also in their clenched hands and heaving chests; +and although they remained speechless -- for the awe inspired by +Edward's presence could not but make itself felt even by them -- it was +plain that only the strongest efforts put upon themselves hindered them +from some outbreak of great violence. + +Edward's eye rested sternly upon them for a moment, and then he +addressed himself once again to Wendot. + +"To thee, Res Wendot," he said, "we give the charge of these two +turbulent brothers of thine. Had not the Prince Alphonso spoken for +them, we had kept them under our own care here in our fortress of +Rhuddlan. But he has pleaded for them that they have their liberty, +therefore into thy charge do we give them. Take them back with thee to +Dynevor, and strive to make them like unto thyself and thy shadow there, +who is, they tell me, thy youngest brother, and as well disposed as thyself. + +"Say, young man, wilt thou accept this charge, and be surety for these +haughty youths? If their own next-of-kin will not take this office, we +must look elsewhere for a sterner guardian." + +For a moment Wendot hesitated, He knew well the untamable spirit of his +brothers, and the small influence he was likely to have upon them, and +for a moment his heart shrank from the task. But again he bethought what +his refusal must mean to them -- captivity of a more or less irksome +kind, harsh treatment perhaps, resulting in actual imprisonment, and a +sure loss of favour with any guardian who had the least love for the +English cause. At Dynevor they would at least be free. + +Surely, knowing all, they would not make his task too hard. The tie of +kindred was very close. Wendot remembered words spoken by the dying bed +of his parents, and his mind was quickly made up. + +"I will be surety for them," he said briefly. "If they offend again, let +my life, my lands, be the forfeit." + +The monarch gave him a searching glance. Perhaps some of the effort with +which he had spoken made itself audible in his tones. He looked full at +Wendot for a brief minute, and then turned to the black-browed twins. + +"You hear your brother's pledge," he said in low, stern tones. "If you +have the feelings of men of honour, you will respect the motive which +prompts him to give it, and add no difficulties to the task he has +imposed upon himself. Be loyal to him, and loyal to the cause he has +embraced, and perchance a day may come when you may so have redeemed +your past youthful follies as to claim and receive at our hands the +lands we now withhold. In the meantime they will be administered by +Raoul Latimer, who will draw the revenues and maintain order there. He +has proved his loyalty in many ways ere this, and he is to be trusted, +as one day I hope you twain may be." + +Llewelyn started as if he had been stung as these words crossed the +king's lips. His black eyes flashed fire, and as he lifted his head and +met the mocking glance of Raoul, it seemed for a moment as if actually +in the presence of the king he would have flown at his antagonist's +throat; but Wendot's hand was on his arm, and even Howel had the +self-command to whisper a word of caution. Alphonso sprang gaily between +the angry youth and his father's keen glance, and began talking eagerly +of Dynevor, asking how the brothers would spend their time, now that +they were all to live there once more; whilst Arthyn, coming forward, +drew Llewelyn gently backward, casting at Raoul a look of such bitter +scorn and hatred that he involuntarily shrank before it. + +"Thou hast taken a heavy burden upon thy young shoulders, lad," said a +well-remembered voice in Wendot's ear, and looking up, he met the calm +gaze of Lord Montacute bent upon him; whilst Gertrude, flushing and +sparkling, stood close beside her father. "Thinkest thou that such +tempers as those will be easily controlled?" + +Wendot's face was grave, and looked manly in its noble thoughtfulness. + +"I know not what to say; but, in truth, I could have given no other +answer. Could I leave my own brethren to languish in captivity, however +honourable, when a word from me would free them? Methinks, sir, thou +scarce knowest what freedom is to us wild sons of Wales, or how the very +thought of any hindrance to perfect liberty chafes our spirit and frets +us past the limit of endurance. Sooner than be fettered by bonds, +however slack, I would spring from yonder casement and dash myself to +pieces upon the stones below. To give my brothers up into unfriendly +hands would be giving them up to certain death. If my spirit could not +brook such control, how much less could theirs?" + +Gertrude's soft eyes gave eloquent and sympathetic response. Wendot had +unconsciously addressed his justification to her rather than to her +father. Her quick sympathy gave him heart and hope. She laid her hand +upon his arm and said: + +"I think thou art very noble, Wendot; it was like thee to do it. I was +almost grieved when I heard thee take the charge upon thyself, for I +fear it may be one of peril to thee. But I love thee the more for thy +generosity. Thou wilt be a true and brave knight ere thou winnest thy +spurs in battle." + +Wendot's face flushed with shy happiness at hearing such frank and +unqualified praise from one he was beginning to hold so dear. Lord +Montacute laid his hand smilingly on his daughter's mouth, as if to +check her ready speech, and then bidding her join the Lady Joanna, who +was making signals to her from the other side of the room, he drew +Wendot a little away into an embrasure, and spoke to him in tones of +considerable gravity. + +"Young man," he said, "I know not if thou hast any memory left of the +words I spake to thee when last we met at Dynevor?" + +Wendot's colour again rose, but his glance did not waver. + +"I remember right well," he answered simply. "I spoke words then of +which I have often thought since -- words that I have not repented till +today, nor indeed till I heard thee pass that pledge which makes thee +surety for thy turbulent brothers." + +A quick, troubled look crossed Wendot's face, but he did not speak, and +Lord Montacute continued -- "I greatly fear that thou hast undertaken +more than thou canst accomplish; and that, instead of drawing thy +brothers from the paths of peril, thou wilt rather be led by them into +treacherous waters, which may at last overwhelm thee. You are all young +together, and many dangers beset the steps of youth. Thou art true and +loyal hearted, that I know well; but thou art a Welshman, and --" + +He paused and stopped short, and Wendot answered, not without pride: + +"I truly am a Welshman -- it is my boast to call myself that. If you +fear to give your daughter to one of that despised race, so be it. I +would not drag her down to degradation; I love her too well for that. +Keep her to thyself. I give thee back thy pledge." + +Lord Montacute smiled as he laid his hand upon the young man's shoulder. + +"So hot and hasty, Wendot, as hasty as those black-haired twins. Yet, +boy, I like thee for thy outspoken candour, and I would not have thee +change it for the smooth treachery of courtly intrigue. If I had nought +else to think of, I would plight my daughter's hand to thee, an ye both +were willing, more gladly than to any man I know. But, Wendot, she is +mine only child, and very dear to me. There are others who would fain +win her smiles, others who would be proud to do her lightest behest. She +is yet but a child. Perchance she has not seriously considered these +matters. Still there will come a time when she will do so, and --" + +"Then let her choose where she will," cried Wendot, proudly and hotly. +"Think you I would wed one whose heart was given elsewhere? Take back +your pledge -- think of it no more. If the day comes when I may come to +her free and unfettered, and see if she has any regard for me, good. I +will come. But so long as you hold that peril menaces my path, I will +not ask her even to think of me. Let her forget. I will not bind her by +a word. It shall be as if those words had never passed betwixt us." + +Lord Montacute scarce knew if regret, relief, or admiration were the +feeling uppermost in his mind, as the youth he believed so worthy of his +fair daughter, and perhaps not entirely indifferent to her dawning +charms, thus frankly withdrew his claim upon her hand. It seems strange +to us that any one should be talking and thinking so seriously of +matrimony when the girl was but fourteen and the youth three years her +senior; but in those days marriages were not only planned but +consummated at an absurdly early age according to our modern notions, +and brides of fifteen and sixteen were considered almost mature. Many +young men of Wendot's age would be seriously seeking a wife, and +although no such thought had entered his head until he had seen Gertrude +again, it cannot be denied that the idea had taken some hold upon him +now, or that he did not feel a qualm of pain and sorrow at thus yielding +up one bright hope just when the task he had taken upon himself seemed +to be clouding his life with anxiety and peril. + +"Boy," said Lord Montacute, "I cannot forget what thou hast done nor +what she owes to thee. I love thee well, and would fain welcome thee as +a son; but my love for her bids me wait till we see what is the result +of this office thou hast taken on thyself. Thou hast acted rightly and +nobly, but in this world trouble often seems to follow the steps of +those who strive most after the right. If thine own life, thine own +possessions, are to pay the forfeit if thy brethren fall away into +rebellion -- and Edward, though a just man and kind, can be stern to +exact the uttermost penalty when he is angered or defied -- then +standest thou in sore peril, peril from which I would shield my maid. +Wherefore --" + +"Nay, say no more -- say no more. I comprehend it all too well," replied +Wendot, not without a natural though only momentary feeling of +bitterness at the thought of what this pledge was already costing him, +but his native generosity and sweetness of temper soon triumphed over +all besides, and he said with his peculiarly bright and steadfast smile, +"You have judged rightly and well for us both, my lord. Did I but drag +her down to sorrow and shame, it would be the bitterest drop in a bitter +cup. A man placed as I am is better without ties." + +"Also the days will soon pass by, and the time will come when this +charge ceases. Then if the Lady Gertrude be still mistress of her hand +and heart, and if the Lord of Dynevor comes to try his fate, methinks, +by what I have seen and heard, that he may chance to get no unkindly +answer to his wooing." + +Wendot made no reply, but only blushed deeply as he moved away. He +scarce knew whether he were glad or sorry that Gertrude came out to meet +him, and drew him towards the little group which had gathered in a deep +embrasure of the window. Joanna, Alphonso, and Griffeth were there. They +had been eagerly questioning the younger lad about life at Dynevor, and +what they would do when they were at home all together. Joanna was +longing to travel that way and lodge a night there; and Gertrude was +eloquent in praise of the castle, and looked almost wistfully at Wendot +to induce him to add his voice to the general testimony. But he was +unwontedly grave and silent, and her soft eyes filled with tears. She +knew that he was heavy hearted, and it cut her to the quick; but he did +not speak of his trouble, and only Alphonso ventured to allude to it, +and that was by one quick sentence as he was taking his departure at +bedtime. + +"Wendot," he said earnestly, "I will ever be thy friend. Fear not. My +father denies me nothing. Thy trial may be a hard one, but thou wilt +come nobly forth from it. I will see that harm to thee comes not from +thy generosity. Only be true to us, and thou shalt not suffer." + +Wendot made no reply, but the words were like a gleam of sunshine +breaking through the clouds; and one more such gleam was in store for +him on the morrow, when he bid a final adieu to Gertrude before the +general departure for Dynevor. + +"I have my half gold coin, Wendot. I shall look at it every day and +think of thee. I am so happy that we have seen each other once again. +Thou wilt not forget me, Wendot?" + +"Never so long as I live," he answered with sudden fervour, raising the +small hand he held to his lips. "And some day, perchance, Lady Gertrude, +I will come to thee again." + +"I shall be waiting for thee," she answered, with a mixture of arch +sweetness and playfulness that he scarce knew whether to call childlike +confidence or maiden trust. But the look in her eyes went to his heart, +and was treasured there, like the memory of a sunbeam, for many long +days to come. + + + + CHAPTER VIII. TURBULENT SPIRITS. + + +The four sons of Res Vychan went back to Dynevor together, there to +settle down, outwardly at least, to a quiet and uneventful life, chiefly +diversified by hunting and fishing, and such adventures as are +inseparable from those pastimes in which eager lads are engrossed. + +Wendot both looked and felt older for his experiences in the castle of +Rhuddlan. His face had lost much of its boyishness, and had taken a +thoughtfulness beyond his years. Sometimes he appeared considerably +oppressed by the weight of the responsibility with which he had charged +himself, and would watch the movements and listen to the talk of the +twins with but slightly concealed uneasiness. + +Yet as days merged into weeks, and weeks lengthened into months, and +still there had been nothing to alarm him unduly, he began, as the +inclement winter drew on, to breathe more freely; for in the winter +months all hostilities of necessity ceased, for the mountain passes were +always blocked with snow, and both travelling and fighting were +practically out of the question for a considerable time. + +Wendot, too, had matters enough to occupy his mind quite apart from the +charge of his two haughty brothers. He had his own estates to administer +-- no light task for a youth not yet eighteen -- and his large household +to order; and though Griffeth gave him every help, Llewelyn and Howel +stood sullenly aloof, and would not appear to take the least interest in +anything that appertained to Dynevor, although they gave no reason for +their conduct, and were not in other ways unfriendly to their brothers. + +The country was for the time being quiet and at peace. Exhausted by its +own internal struggles and by the late disastrous campaign against the +English, the land was, as it were, resting and recruiting itself, in +preparation, perhaps, for another outbreak later on. In the meantime, +sanguine spirits like those of Wendot and Griffeth began to cherish +hopes that the long and weary struggle was over at last, and that the +nation, as a nation, would begin to realize the wisdom and the advantage +of making a friend and ally of the powerful monarch of England, instead +of provoking him to acts of tyranny and retaliation by perpetual and +fruitless rebellions against a will far too strong to be successfully +resisted. + +But Llewelyn and Howel never spoke of the English without words and +looks indicative of the deepest hatred; and the smouldering fire in +their breasts was kept glowing and burning by the wild words and the +wilder songs of the old bard Wenwynwyn, who spent the best part of his +time shut up in his own bare room, with his harp for his companion, in +which room Llewelyn and Howel spent much of their time during the dark +winter days, when they could be less and less out of doors. + +Since that adventure of the Eagle's Crag, Wendot had distrusted the old +minstrel, and was uneasy at the influence he exercised upon the twins; +but the idea of sending him from Dynevor was one which never for a +moment entered his head. Had not Wenwynwyn grown old in his father's +service? Had he not been born and bred at Dynevor? The young lord +himself seemed to have a scarce more assured right to his place there +than the ancient bard. Be he friend or be he foe, at Dynevor he must +remain so long as the breath remained in his body. + +The bard was, by hereditary instinct, attached to all the boys, but of +late there had been but little community of thought between him and his +young chieftain. Wendot well knew the reason. The old man hated the +English with the bitter, unreasoning, deadly hatred of his wild, +untutored nature. Had he not sprung from a race whose lives had been +spent in rousing in the breasts of all who heard them the most fervent +and unbounded patriotic enthusiasm? And was it to be marvelled at that +he could not see or understand the changes of the times or the +hopelessness of the long struggle, now that half the Welsh nobles were +growing cool in the national cause, and the civilization and wealth of +the sister country were beginning to show them that their own condition +left much to be desired, and that there was something better and higher +to be achieved than a so-called liberty, only maintained at the cost of +perpetual bloodshed? or a series of petty feuds for supremacy, which +went far to keep the land in a state of semi-barbarism? + +So the old bard sang his wild songs, and Llewelyn and Howel sat by the +glowing fire of logs that blazed in the long winter evenings upon his +hearth, listening to his fierce words, and hardening their hearts and +bracing their wills against any kind of submission to a foreign yoke. A +burning hatred against the English king also consumed them. Had they +not, at the cost of most bitter humiliation, gone to him as vassals, +trusting to his promise that all who did homage for their lands should +be confirmed in peaceful possession of the same? And how had he treated +this act of painful submission? Was it greatly to be wondered at that +their hearts burned with an unquenchable hatred? To them Edward stood as +the type of all that was cruel and treacherous and grasping. They +brooded over their wrongs by day and by night; they carried their dark +looks with them when they stirred abroad or when they rested at home. +Wenwynwyn sympathized as none besides seemed to do, and he became their +great solace and chief counsellor. + +Wendot might uneasily wonder what passed in that quiet room of the old +man's, but he never knew or guessed. He would better have liked to hear +Llewelyn burst forth into the old passionate invective. He was uneasy at +this chronic state of gloom and sullen silence on the vexed question of +English supremacy. But seldom a word passed the lips of either twin. +They kept their secret -- if secret they had -- locked away in their own +breasts. And days and weeks and months passed by, and Wendot and +Griffeth seemed almost as much alone at Dynevor as they had been after +their father's death, when Llewelyn and Howel had betaken themselves to +their castle of Carregcennen. + +But at least, if silent and sullen, they did not appear to entertain any +plan likely to raise anxiety in Wendot's mind as to the pledge he had +given to the king. They kept at home, and never spoke of Iscennen, and +as the winter passed away and the spring began to awaken the world from +her long white sleep, they betook themselves with zest to their pastime +of hunting, and went long expeditions that sometimes lasted many days, +returning laden with spoil, and apparently in better spirits from the +bracing nature of their pursuits. + +Griffeth, who had felt the cold somewhat keenly, and had been drooping +and languid all the winter, picked up strength and spirit as the days +grew longer and warmer, and began to enjoy open-air life once more. + +Wendot was much wrapped up in this young brother of his, who had always +been dearer to him than any being in the world besides. + +Since he had been at death's door with the fever, Griffeth had never +recovered the robustness of health which had hitherto been the +characteristic of the Dynevor brothers all their lives. He was active +and energetic when the fit was on him, but he wearied soon of any active +sport. He could no longer bound up the mountain paths with the fleetness +and elasticity of a mountain deer, and in the keen air of the higher +peaks it was difficult for him to breathe. + +Still in the summer days he was almost his former self again, or so +Wendot hoped; and although Griffeth's lack of rude health hindered both +from joining the long expeditions planned and carried out by the twins, +it never occurred to Wendot to suspect that there was an ulterior motive +for these, or to realize how unwelcome his presence would have been had +he volunteered it, in lieu of staying behind with Griffeth, and +contenting himself with less adventurous sports. + +Spring turned to summer, and summer to autumn, and life at Dynevor +seemed to move quietly enough. Griffeth took a fancy to book learning -- +a rare enough accomplishment in those days -- and a monk from the Abbey +of Strata Florida was procured to give him instruction in the obscure +science of reading and writing. Wendot, who had a natural love of study, +and who had been taught something of these mysteries by his mother -- +she being for the age she lived in a very cultivated woman -- shared his +brother's studies, and delighted in the acquirement of learning. + +But this new development on the part of the Lord of Dynevor and his +brother seemed to divide them still more from the two remaining sons of +Res Vychan; and the old bard would solemnly shake his head and predict +certain ruin to the house when its master laid aside sword for pen, and +looked for counsel to the monk and missal instead of to his good right +hand and his faithful band of armed retainers. + +Wendot and Griffeth would smile at these dark sayings, and loved their +studies none the less because they opened out before them some better +understanding of the blessings of peace and culture upon a world harried +and exhausted with perpetual, aimless strife; but their more enlightened +opinions seemed but to widen the breach between them and their brothers, +and soon they began to be almost strangers to each other. + +Wendot and Griffeth regretted this without seeing how to mend matters. +They felt sorry for Llewelyn and Howel, deprived of the employments and +authority they had enjoyed of late, and would have gladly given them a +share of authority in Dynevor; but this they would not accept, drawing +more and more away into themselves, and sharing their confidences with +no one except Wenwynwyn. + +The summer was now on the wane, and the blustering winds of the equinox +had begun to moan about the castle walls. The men were busy getting in +the last of the fruits of the earth and storing them up against the +winter need, whilst the huntsmen brought in day by day stores of venison +and game, which the women salted down for consumption during the long +dreary days when snow should shut them within their own walls, and no +fresh meat would be obtainable. + +It was a busy season, and Wendot had time and mind alike full. He heeded +little the movements of his brothers, whom he thought engrossed in the +pleasures of the chase. He was not even aware that old Wenwynwyn was +absent for several days from the castle, for since the estrangement +between him and the old man he was often days at a time without +encountering him. + +Llewelyn and Howel were visibly restless just now. They did not go far +from the castle, nor did they seem interested in the spoil the hunters +brought home. But they spent many long hours in the great gallery where +the arms of the retainers were laid up, and their heads were often to be +seen close together in deep discussion, although if any person came near +to disturb them they would spring asunder, or begin loudly discussing +some indifferent theme. + +They were in this vast, gloomy place, sitting together in the deep +embrasure of one of the narrow windows as the daylight began to fail, +when suddenly they beheld Wenwynwyn stalking through the long gallery as +if in search of them, and they sprang forward to greet him with +unconcealed eagerness. + +"Thou hast returned." + +"Ay, my sons, I have returned, and am the bearer of good news. But this +is not the place to speak. Stones have ears, and traitors abound even in +these hoary walls which have echoed to the songs of the bard for more +years than man can count. Ah, woe the day; ah, woe the falling off! That +I should live to see the sons of Dynevor thus fall away -- the young +eaglets leaving their high estate to grovel with the carrion vulture and +the coward crow! Ah! in old days it was not so. But there are yet those +of the degenerate race in whom the spirit of their fathers burns. Come, +my sons -- come hither with me. I bring you a message from Iscennen that +will gladden your hearts to hear." + +The boys pressed after him up the narrow, winding stair that led to the +room the bard called his own. It was remote from the rest of the castle, +and words spoken within its walls could be heard by none outside. It was +a place that had heard much plotting and planning ere now, and what was +to be spoken tonight was but the sequel of what had gone before. + +"Speak, Wenwynwyn, speak!" cried the twins in a breath. "Has he returned +thither?" + +"Ay, my sons; he has come back in person to receive his 'dues,' and to +look into all that has passed in his absence. These eyes have seen the +false, smiling face of the usurper, who sits in the halls which have +rung to the sound of yon harp in days when the accursed foot of the +stranger would have been driven with blows from the door. He is there, +and --" + +"And they hate and despise and contemn him," cried Llewelyn in wild +excitement. "Every man of Iscennen is his foe. Do not I know it? Have we +not proved it? There is no one but will rise at the sound of my trumpet, +to follow me to victory or death. + +"Wenwynwyn, speak! thou hast bid us wait till the hour has come till all +things be ripe for action. Tell us, has not that hour come? Hast thou +not come to bid us draw the sword, and wrest our rightful inheritance +from the hand of the spoiler and alien?" + +"Ay, verily, that hour has come," cried the old bard, with a wild +gesture. "The spoiler is there, lurking in his den. His eyes are roving +round in hungry greed to spoil the poor man of his goods, to wrest the +weapon from the strong. He is fearful in the midst of his state -- +fearful of those he calls his vassals -- those he would crush with his +iron glove, and wring dry even as a sponge is wrung. Ay, the hour is +come. The loyal patriots have looked upon your faces, my sons, and see +in you their liberators. Go now, when the traitor whose life you saved +is gloating over his spoil in his castle walls. Go and show him what it +is to rob the young lions of their prey; show him what it is to strive +with eagles, when only the blood of the painted jay runs in his craven +veins. Saw I not fear, distrust, and hatred in every line of that smooth +face? Think you that he is happy in the possession of what he sold his +soul to gain? Go, and the victory will be yours. Go; all Iscennen will +be with you. Wenwynwyn has not sung his songs in vain amongst those +hardy people! He has prepared the way. Go! victory lies before you." + +The boys' hearts swelled within them at these words. It was not for +nothing that they, with their own faithful followers, sworn to secrecy, +had absented themselves again and again from Dynevor Castle on the +pretence of long hunting expeditions. It was true that they had hunted +game, that they had brought home abundance of spoil with them; but +little had Llewelyn or Howel to do with the taking of that prey. They +had been at Iscennen; they had travelled the familiar tracks once again, +and had found nothing but the most enthusiastic welcome from their own +people, the greatest hatred for the foreign lordling, who had been +foisted upon them by edict of the king. + +Truly Raoul Latimer had won but a barren triumph in gaining for himself +the lands of Iscennen. A very short residence there had proved enough +for him, and he had withdrawn, in fear that if he did not do so some +fatal mischance would befall him. He had reigned there as an absentee +ever since, not less cursed and hated for the oppressive measures taken +in his name than when he had been the active agent. + +Matters were ripe for revolt. There only wanted the time and the +occasion. The leader was already to hand -- the old lord, young in +years, Llewelyn ap Res Vychan, and Howel his brother. With the twins at +their head, Iscennen would rise to a man; and then let Raoul Latimer +look to himself! For the Welsh, when once aroused to strike, struck +hard; and it cannot be denied that they ofttimes struck treacherously +beside. + +Small wonder if, as Wenwynwyn declared, young Raoul had found but small +satisfaction in his visit to his new estate, and lived upon it in terror +of his very life, though surrounded by the solid walls of his own castle. + +The hour had come. Llewelyn and Howel were about to taste the keen joy +of revenging themselves upon a foe they hated and abhorred, about to +take at least one step towards reinstating themselves in their ancestral +halls. But the second object was really less dear to them than the +first. If the hated Raoul could be slain, or made to fly in ignominy and +disgrace, they cared little who reigned in his place. Their own tenure +at Carregcennen under existing circumstances they knew to be most +insecure, and although they had organized and were to lead the attack, +they were to do so disguised, and those who knew the share they were to +take were pledged not to betray it. + +Loose as had grown the bond between the brothers of late, the twins were +not devoid of a certain rude code of honour of their own, and had no +wish to involve Wendot in ruin and disgrace. He was surety for their +good behaviour, and if it became known to Edward that they had led the +attack on one of his English subjects, Dynevor itself might pay the +forfeit of his displeasure, and Wendot might have to answer with his +life, as he had offered to do, for his brothers. Thus, though this +consideration was not strong enough to keep the twins from indulging +their ungovernable hatred to their foe, it made them cautious about +openly appearing in the matter themselves; and when, upon a wild, +blustering night not many days later, a little band of hardy Welshmen, +all armed to the teeth, crept with the silent caution of wild beasts +along a rocky pathway which led by a subterranean way, known only to +Llewelyn and Howel, into the keep of the castle itself; none would have +recognized in the blackened faces of the two leaders, covered, as they +appeared to be, with a tangled growth of hair and beard, the +countenances of the sons of Res Vychan; whilst the stalwart, muscular +figures seemed rather to belong to men than lads, and assisted the +disguise not a little. + +The hot-headed but by no means intrepid young Englishman, who had not +had the courage to remain long in the possessions he had coveted, and +who was fervently wishing that this second visit was safely over, was +aroused from his slumbers by the clash of arms, and by the terrified +cries of the guard he always placed about him. + +"The Welsh wolves are upon us!" he heard a voice cry out in the +darkness. "We are undone -- betrayed! Every man for himself! They are +murdering every soul they meet." + +In a passion of rage and terror Raoul sprang from his bed, and commenced +hurrying into his clothes as fast as his trembling hands would allow +him. In vain he called to his servants; they had every man of them fled. +Below he heard the clash of arms, and the terrible guttural cries with +which the Welsh always rushed into battle, and which echoed through the +halls of Carregcennen like the trump of doom. + +It was a terrible moment for the young Englishman, alone, half-armed, +and at the mercy of a merciless foe. He looked wildly round for some +means of escape. The tread of many feet was on the stairs. To attempt +resistance was hopeless. Flight was the only resource left him, and in a +mad impulse of terror he flung himself on the floor, and crept beneath +the bed, the arras of which concealed him from sight. There he lay +panting and trembling, whilst the door was burst open and armed men came +flocking in. + +"Ha, flown already!" cried a voice which did not seem entirely +unfamiliar to the shivering youth, though he could not have said exactly +to whom it belonged, and was in no mood to cudgel his brains on the subject. + +He understood too little of the Welsh tongue to follow what was said, +but with unspeakable relief he heard steps pass from the room; for even +his foes did not credit him with the cowardice which would drive a man +to perish like a rat in a hole rather than sword in hand like a knight +and a soldier. + +The men had dashed out, hot in pursuit, believing him to be attempting +escape through some of the many outlets of the castle; and Raoul, still +shivering and craven, was just creeping out from his hiding place, +resolved to try to find his way to the outer world, when he uttered a +gasp and stood or rather crouched spellbound where he was; for, standing +beside a table on which the dim light of a night candle burned, binding +up a gash in his arm with a scarf belonging to the Englishman, was a +tall, stalwart, soldierly figure, that turned quickly at the sound made +by the wretched Raoul. + +"Spare me, spare me!" cried the miserable youth, as the man with a quick +movement grasped his weapon and advanced towards him. + +He did not know if his English would be understood, but it appeared to +be, for the reply was spoken in the same tongue, though the words had +strong Welsh accent. + +"And wherefore should I spare you? What have you done that we of +Iscennen should look upon you as other than a bitter foe? By what right +are you here wringing our life blood from us? Why should I not stamp the +miserable life out of you as you lie grovelling at my feet? Wales were +well quit of such craven hounds as you." + +"Spare me, and I renounce my claim. I swear by all that is holy that if +you will but grant me my life I will repair to the king's court without +delay, and I will yield up to him every claim which I have on these +lands. I swear it by all that is holy in heaven and earth." + +"And what good shall we reap from that? We shall but have another +English tyrant set over us. Better kill thee outright, as a warning to +all who may come after." + +But Raoul clasped the knees of his foe, and lifted his voice again in +passionate appeal. + +"Kill me not; what good would that do you or your cause? I tell you it +would but raise Edward's ire, and he would come with fire and sword to +devastate these lands as I have never done. Listen, and I will tell you +what I will do. Spare but my life, and I will entreat the king to +restore these lands to your feudal lords, Llewelyn and Howel ap Res +Vychan. It was by my doing that they were wrested from them. I confess +it freely now. Grant me but my life, and I will undo the work I have +done. I will restore to you your youthful chiefs. Again I swear it; and +I have the ear of his Grace. If thou hast thy country's cause at heart +thou wilt hear me in this thing. I will give you back the lords you all +love. I will trouble you no more myself. I would I had never seen this +evil place. It has been nought but a curse to me from the day it was +bestowed." + +The man uttered a harsh laugh, and stood as if considering. Raoul, whose +eyes never left the shining blade his foe held suspended in his hand, +pleaded yet more and more eloquently, and, as it seemed, with some +effect, for the soldier presently sheathed his weapon, and bid the +wretched youth rise and follow him. Raoul obeying, soon found himself in +the presence of a wild crew of Welsh kerns, who were holding high +revelry in the banqueting hall, whilst his own English servants -- +those, at least, who had not effected their escape -- lay dead upon the +ground, the presence of bleeding corpses at their very feet doing +nothing to check the savage mirth and revelry of the victors, who had +been joined by the whole of the Welsh garrison, only too glad of an +excuse for rising against the usurper. + +A silence fell upon the company as the dark-bearded soldier marched his +captive into the hall, the yell of triumph being hushed by commanding +gesture from the captor. A long and unintelligible debate followed, +Raoul only gathering from the faces of those present what were their +feelings towards him. He stood cowering and quaking before that fierce +assembly -- a pitiful object for all eyes. But at length his captor +briefly informed him that his terms were accepted: that if he would +write his request to the king and obtain its fulfilment, he should go +free with a whole skin; but that, pending the negotiation, which could +be carried on by the fathers of the Abbey of Strata Florida, he would +remain a close prisoner, and his ransom would be the king's consent. + +These were the best terms the unhappy Raoul could obtain for himself, +and he was forced to abide by them. The fathers of the abbey were honest +and trustworthy, and carried his letters to the king as soon as they had +penned them for him. Raoul was clever in diplomatic matters, and was so +anxious for his own safety that he took good care not to drop a hint as +to the evil conduct of the people of Iscennen, which might draw upon +them the royal wrath and upon him instant death. He simply represented +that he was weary of his charge of this barren estate, that he preferred +life in England and at the court, and found the revenues very barren and +unprofitable. As the former owners had redeemed their character by quiet +conduct during the past year and a half, his gracious Majesty, he +hinted, might be willing to gratify them and their people by reinstating +them. + +And when Edward read this report, and heard the opinion of the father +who had brought it -- a wily and a patriotic Welshman, who knew how to +plead his cause well -- he made no trouble about restoring to Llewelyn +and Howel their lands, only desiring that Wendot should renew his pledge +for their loyalty and good conduct, and still hold himself responsible +for his brothers to the king. + +And so Llewelyn and Howel went back to Carregcennen, and Wendot and +Griffeth remained at Dynevor, hoping with a fond hope that this act of +clemency and justice on the part of Edward would overcome in the mind of +the twins the deeply-seated hatred they had cherished so long. + + + + CHAPTER IX. THE RED FLAME OF WAR. + + +"Wendot, Wendot, it is our country's call! Thou canst not hang back. +United we stand; divided we fall. Will the Prince of Dynevor be the man +to bring ruin upon a noble cause, by banding with the alien oppressor +against his own brethren? I will not believe it of thee. Wendot, speak +-- say that thou wilt go with us!" + +Wendot was standing in his own hall at Dynevor. In the background was a +crowd of retainers and soldiers, so eagerly discussing some matter of +vital interest that the brothers stepped outside upon the battlemented +terrace to be out of hearing of the noise of their eager voices. + +There was a deep gravity on Wendot's face, which was no longer the face +of a boy, but of a youth of two-and-twenty summers, and one upon whom +the cares and responsibilities of life had sat somewhat heavily. The +tall, well-knit frame had taken upon it the stature and developed grace +of manhood; the sun-browned face was lined with traces of thought and +care, though the blue eyes sparkled with their old bright and ready +smile, and the stern lines of the lips were shaded and hidden by the +drooping moustache of golden brown. There were majesty, power, and +intellect stamped upon the face of the young Lord of Dynevor, and it was +very plain to all who observed his relations with those about him that +he was master of his own possession, and that though he was greatly +beloved by all who came in contact with him, he was respected and +obeyed, and in some things feared. + +By his side stood Griffeth, almost as much his shadow as of yore. To a +casual observer the likeness between the brothers was very remarkable, +but a closer survey showed many points of dissimilarity. Griffeth's +figure was slight to spareness, and save in moments of excitement there +was something of languor in his movements. The colour in his cheeks was +not the healthy brown of exposure to sun and wind, but the fleeting +hectic flush of long-standing insidious disease, and his eyes had a +far-away look -- dreamy and absorbed; whilst those of his brother +expressed rather watchful observation of what went on around him, and +resolution to mould those about him to his will. + +Facing this fair-haired pair were the twin Lords of Iscennen, +considerably changed from the sullen-looking lads of old days, but still +with many of their characteristics unchanged. They were taller and more +stoutly built than Wendot and Griffeth, and their dark skins and +coal-black hair gave something of ferocity and wildness to their +appearance, which look was borne out by the style of dress adopted, +whilst the young Lords of Dynevor affected something of the refinement +and richness of apparel introduced by the English. + +For the past years a friendly intercourse had been kept up between +Dynevor and Carregcennen. The country had been at peace -- such peace as +internal dissensions would allow it -- and no one had disturbed the sons +of Res Vychan in the possession of their ancestral rights. The tie +between the brothers had therefore been more closely drawn, and Wendot's +responsibility for the submissive behaviour of the turbulent twins had +made him keep a constant eye upon them, and had withheld them on their +side from attempting to foment the small and fruitless struggles against +English authority which were from time to time arising between the +border-land chief and the Lords of the Marches. + +But now something very different was in the wind. After almost five +years of peace with England, revolt had broken out in North Wales. +David, the brother of Llewelyn, had commenced it, and the prince had +followed the example thus set him. He had broken out into open +rebellion, and had summoned the whole nation to stand by him in one +united and gallant effort to free the country from the foreign foe, and +unite it once again as an undivided province beneath the rule of one +sovereign. + +The call was enthusiastically responded to. North Wales rose as one man, +and flocked to the banners of the prince and his brother. South Wales +was feeling the contagion of coming strife, and the pulse of the nation +beat wildly at the thought that they might win liberty by the overthrow +of the foe. One after another the petty chiefs, who had sworn fealty to +Edward, renounced their allegiance, and mustered their forces to join +those of Llewelyn and David. The whole country was in a wild ferment of +patriotic excitement. The hour seemed to them to have arrived when all +could once again band together in triumphant vindication of their +national rights. + +Llewelyn and Howel ap Res Vychan were amongst the first to tender their +allegiance to the cause, and, having sent on a compact band of armed men +to announce their coming in person, had themselves hurried to Dynevor to +persuade their brothers there to join the national cause. + +And they found Wendot less indisposed than they had feared. The five +years which had passed over his head since he had fallen under the spell +of the English king's regal sway had a good deal weakened the impression +then made upon him. Edward had not visited the country in person since +that day, and the conduct of the English Lords of the Marches, and of +those who held lands in the subjected country, was not such as to endear +their cause to the hearts of the sons of Wales. Heart-burnings and +jealousies were frequent, and Wendot had often had his spirit stirred +within him at some tale of outrage and wrong. The upright justice of the +king was not observed by his subjects, and the hatred to any kind of +foreign yoke was inherently strong in these sons of the mountains. In +the studies the Dynevor brothers had prosecuted together they had +imbibed many noble thoughts and many lofty aspirations, and these, +mingling with the patriotic instinct so strongly bound up in the hearts +of Cambria's sons, had taught them a distrust of princes and an intense +love for freedom's cause, as well as a strong conviction that right must +ever triumph over might. + +So when the news arrived that the north was in open revolt, it struck a +chord in the hearts of both brothers; and when the dark-browed twins +came with the news that they had openly joined the standard of Llewelyn, +they did not encounter the opposition they had expected, and it was with +an eager hopefulness that they urged upon the Lord of Dynevor to lend +the strength of his arm to the national cause. + +"Wendot, bethink thee. When was not Dynevor in the van when her country +called on her? If thou wilt go with us, we shall carry all the south +with us; but hang thou back, and the cause may be lost. Brother, why +dost thou hesitate? why dost thou falter? It is the voice of thy country +calling thee. Wilt thou not heed that call? O Wendot, thou knowest that +when our parents lived -- when they bid us not look upon the foe with +too great bitterness -- it was only because a divided Wales could not +stand, and that submission to England was better than the rending of the +kingdom by internal strife. But if she would have stood united against +the foreign foe, thinkest thou they would ever have held back? Nay; Res +Vychan, our father, would have been foremost in the strife. Are we not +near in blood to Llewelyn of Wales, prince of the north? Doth not the +tie of blood as well as the call of loyalty urge us to his side? Why +dost thou ponder still? Why dost thou hesitate? Throw to the wind all +idle scruples, and come. Think what a glorious future may lie before our +country if we will but stand together now!" + +Wendot's cheek flushed, his eye kindled. He did indeed believe that were +his father living he would be one of the first to hasten to his +kinsman's side. If indeed the united country could be strong enough to +throw off the yoke, what a victory it would be! Was not every son of +Wales bound to his country's cause at such a time? + +There was but one thing that made him hesitate. Was his word of honour +in any wise pledged to Edward? He had paid him homage for his lands: did +that act bind him to obedience at all costs? + +But such refinements of honour were in advance of the thought of the +time, incomprehensible to the wilder spirits by whom he was surrounded. +Llewelyn answered the brief objection by a flood of rude eloquence, and +Howel struck in with another argument not without its weight. + +"Wendot, whatever course thou takest thou art damned in Edward's eyes. +Thou hast held thyself surety for us, and nought but death will hold us +back from the cry of our country in her need. Envious eyes are cast +already by the rapacious English upon these fair lands of thine, which +these years of peace have given thee opportunity to enrich and beautify. +Let the king once hear that we have rebelled, and his nobles will claim +thy lands, thy life, thy liberty, and thou must either yield all in +ignominious flight or take up arms to defend thyself and thine own. I +trow that no son of Res Vychan will stand calmly by to see himself thus +despoiled; and if thou must fight, fight now, forestall the foe, and +come out sword in hand at thy country's call, and let us fight shoulder +to shoulder and hand to hand, as our forefathers have done before us. +Thou knowest somewhat of English rule, now that thou hast lived beneath +it these past years. Say, wilt thou still keep thy neck beneath the +yoke, or wilt thou do battle like a warrior for liberty and +independence? By our act thou art lost -- yet not even that thought can +hold us back -- then why not stand or fall as a soldier, sword in hand, +than be trapped like a rat in a hole in inglorious inaction? For +methinks whatever else betided thou wouldst not raise thy hand against +thy countrymen, even if thy feudal lord should demand it of thee." + +"Never!" cried Wendot fiercely, and his quick mind revolved the +situation thus thrust upon him whilst Howel was yet speaking. + +He saw at once that a course of neutrality would be impossible to him. +Fight he must, either as Edward's vassal or his foe. The first was +impossible; the second was fraught with a keen joy and secret sense of +exultation. It was true what Howel said: he would be held responsible +for his brothers' revolt. The English harpies would make every endeavour +to poison the king's mind, so that they might wrest from him his +inheritance. He would be required to take up arms against his brothers, +and his refusal to do so would be his death warrant. Disgrace and ruin +lay before him should he abide by such a course. The other promised at +least glory and renown, and perhaps a soldier's death, or, better still, +the independence of his country -- the final throwing off of the +tyrant's yoke. + +His heart swelled within him; his eyes shone with a strange fire. Only +one thought checked the immediate utterance of his decision, and that +was the vision of a pair of dark soft eyes, and a child's face in which +something of dawning womanhood was visible, smiling upon him in complete +and loving trust. + +Yes, Wendot had not forgotten Gertrude; but time had done its work, and +the image of the fair face was somewhat dim and hazy. He yet wore about +his neck the half of the gold coin she had given him; but if he +sometimes sighed as he looked upon it, it was a sigh without much real +bitterness or regret. He had a tender spot in his memory for the little +maid he had saved at the risk of his own life, but it amounted to little +more than a pleasant memory. He had no doubt that she had long ago been +wedded to some English noble, whose estates outshone those of Dynevor in +her father's eyes. + +During the first years after his return home he had wondered somewhat +whether the earl and his daughter would find their way again to the rich +valley of the Towy; but the years passed by and they came not, and the +brief dream of Wendot's dawning youth soon ceased to have any real hold +upon him. If her father had had any thoughts of mating her with the Lord +of Dynevor, he would have taken steps for bringing the young people +together. + +The last doubt fled as Wendot thought this over; and whilst his brothers +yet spoke, pointing to the rich stretch of country that lay before their +eyes in all the glory of its autumn dress, and asking if that were not +an inheritance worthy to be fought for, Wendot suddenly held out his +hand, and said in clear, ringing tones: + +"Brothers, I go with you. I too will give my life and my all for the +liberty of our land. The Lord of Dynevor shall not be slack to respond +to his country's call. Methinks indeed the hour has come. I will follow +our kinsman whithersoever he shall bid." + +Llewelyn and Howel grasped the outstretched hand, and from within the +castle walls there burst forth the strains of wild melody from the harp +of old Wenwynwyn. It seemed almost as though he must have heard the +words that bound Wendot to the national cause, so exultant and +triumphant were the strains which awoke beneath his hands. + +It was but a few days later that the four brothers rode forth from +beneath the arched gateway of Dynevor, all armed to the teeth, and with +a goodly following of armed attendants. Wendot and Griffeth paused at a +short distance from the castle to look back, whilst a rush of strange +and unwonted emotion brought the tears to Griffeth's eyes which he +trusted none saw beside. + +There stood the grand old castle, his home from childhood -- the place +around which all the associations of a lifetime gathered. It was to him +the ideal of all that was beautiful and strong and even holy -- the +massive walls of the fortress rising grandly from the rocky platform, +with the dark background of trees now burning with the rich hues of +autumn. The fair valley stretched before their eyes, every winding of +which was familiar to them, as was also every individual tree or crag or +stretch of moorland fell as far as eye could see. The very heart strings +of Wendot and Griffeth seemed bound round these homelike and familiar +things; and there was something strangely wistful in the glances thrown +around him by the young Lord of Dynevor as he reined in his horse, and +motioning to the armed followers to pass him, stood with Griffeth for a +few brief moments alone and silent, whilst the cavalcade was lost to +sight in the windings of the road. + +"Is it a last farewell?" murmured the younger of the brothers beneath +his breath. "Shall I ever see this fair scene again?" + +And Wendot answered not, for he had no words in which to do so. He had +been fully occupied all these last days -- too much occupied to have had +time for regretful thought; but Griffeth had been visiting every haunt +of his boyhood with strange feelings of impending trouble, and his cheek +was pale with the stress of his emotion, and his voice was husky with +the intensity of the strain he was putting upon himself. + +"Griffeth, Griffeth!" cried Wendot suddenly, "have I done wrong in this +thing? I asked not thy gentle counsel, yet thou didst not bid me hold +back. But tell me, have I been wrong? Could I have done other than I have?" + +"I think not that thou couldst. This seems like a call from our country, +to which no son of hers may be deaf. And it is true that our brothers +have undone thee, and that even wert thou not willing to take up arms +against them and thy countrymen, the rupture with Edward is inevitable. +No, I am with thee in what thou hast done. The Lord of Dynevor must show +himself strong in defence of his country's rights. + +"Yet my heart is heavy as I look around me. For we are going forth to +danger and death, and who knows what may betide ere we see these fair +lands again, or whether we may ever return to see them more?" + +Wendot would fain have replied with cheerful assurance, but a strange +rush of emotion came over him as he gazed at his childhood's home, +together with a sudden strong presentiment that there was something +prophetic in his brother's words. He gazed upon the gray battlements and +the brawling river with a passionate ardour in his glance, and then +turning quickly upon Griffeth, he said: + +"Brother, why shouldst thou leave it? thou art more fit for the safe +shelter of home than for the strife of a winter war. Why shouldst thou +come forth with us? Let us leave thee here in safety --" + +"Wendot!" + +It was but one word, but the volume of reproach compressed into it +brought Wendot to a sudden stop. They looked into each other's eyes a +moment, and then Griffeth said, with his sweet, meaning smile: + +"We have never been separated yet, my Wendot; in sorrow and joy we have +ever been together. It is too late to change all that now. I will be by +thy side to the end. Be it for life or for death we will ride forth +together." + +And so with one hard hand clasp that spoke volumes, and with one more +long, lingering look at the familiar towers of the old home, Wendot and +Griffeth, the Lords of Dynevor, rode forth to meet their fate at the +hands of the mighty English king. + +Of that sudden, fierce, and partially successful revolt the history +books of the age give account. Llewelyn and his brother David, joined by +the whole strength of the North, and by much able assistance from the +South, drove back the English across the border; and when Edward, +hurrying to the spot, marched against them, his army was utterly routed +near the Menai Straits, and the triumphant Welsh believed for a few +brief months that they were victors indeed, and that the power of the +foe was hopelessly broken. + +Llewelyn with his army retired to the fastnesses of Snowdon, where the +English durst not pursue them, and these less hardy soldiers suffered so +terribly in the winter cold that the mortality in their ranks caused the +triumphant mountaineers to prophesy that their work would be done for +them without any more exertion on their part. + +But the lion-hearted King of England was not of the stuff that easily +submits to defeat. He knew well that Wales was in his power, and that he +had but to exercise patience and resolution, and the final victory would +be his. + +Permitting no relaxation of his efforts in the North, even when the +winter's bitter cold was causing untold sufferings amongst his soldiers, +he commenced a muster of troops in the South, from which country most of +the disaffected nobles had drawn away to join the insurgents under the +Prince of Wales, as Llewelyn was called. It was a shock of no small +magnitude to that prince to hear that his foe was thus employing +himself; and leaving the fastnesses of Snowdon with a picked band of his +hardiest men, amongst whom he numbered Llewelyn and Howel, he marched +southward himself, hoping to overthrow this new force before it had +gathered power sufficient to be dangerous. + +Wendot would gladly have been of the number, for inaction, and the rude +barbarism he saw around him, were inexpressibly galling to him; and the +more he saw of the savage spirits by whom he was surrounded the less he +was able to hope for any permanent advantage as the result of this +rising. The jealousies of the respective chiefs were hardly held in +check even in the face of a common peril. It was impossible not to +foresee that the termination of a war with England would only be the +signal for an outbreak of innumerable petty animosities and hostile feuds. + +So Wendot would have been thankful to escape from this irksome +inactivity, and to join the band going south; but the condition of +Griffeth withheld him, for the youth was very ill, and he often felt +that this winter of hardship up in the mountain air was killing him by +inches, although he never complained. + +It was out of the question for Griffeth to march or to fight. He lay +most of the day beside a little fire of peat, in a cabin that Wendot and +his men had constructed with their own hands, beneath the shelter of a +rock which broke the force of the north wind, and formed some protection +against the deep snow. Griffeth had borne his share gallantly in the +earlier part of the campaign, but a slight wound had laid him aside; and +since the intense cold had come, he had only grown more white and wasted +and feeble day by day. Now that the sun was gaining a little more power, +and that the melting of the snow bespoke that spring was at hand, Wendot +began to hope the worst was over; but to leave his brother in such a +state was out of the question, and he saw Llewelyn and Howel depart +without attempting to join them. + +Days and weeks had passed, and no news had been received by those up in +the mountains of the result of Llewelyn's expedition. It was reported by +scouts that Edward was at Carnarvon Castle in person, making hostile +demonstrations of a determined kind, which, in the absence of their +chief, the wild Welsh kerns knew not how to repel. They were safe where +they were, and awaited the return of their leader; but a terrible stroke +had yet to fall upon them, which proved the final blow to all their +hopes and ambitions. + +It was a wild, windy night. Wendot had piled the fire high, and was +sitting with Griffeth talking of past days, and gazing with an +unconscious wistfulness into the glowing embers, which seemed to him to +take the semblance of those familiar towers and rocks which he sometimes +felt as though he should never see again. Griffeth paused in the midst +of something he was saying, and looked round with a start. It seemed to +both brothers as though a hand was fumbling at the latch. Wendot rose +and opened the door, and a tall, gaunt figure staggered rather than +walked into the room, and sank down as if perfectly exhausted beside the +glowing fire. + +Griffeth uttered a startled exclamation. + +"Llewelyn!" he cried sharply; and Wendot, barring the door, and coming +forward like one in a dream, asked with the calmness of one who reads +dire disaster: + +"Where is Howel?" + +"Dead," came the answer in a hollow voice, as though the speaker was +exhausted past words -- "dead by the side of Llewelyn our prince. Would +that I too lay beside them!" + +Wendot, too stunned to say another word at that moment, busied himself +in getting his brother food and wine, of which he plainly stood sorely +in need. He ate ravenously and in perfect silence; and his brothers +watched him without having the heart to put another question. Indeed +they knew the worst: their prince dead; the flower of their army slain +-- their own brother among the number -- the rest dispersed; the +remaining forces without a leader, without a rallying point, without a +hope. What need of farther words? + +Presently Llewelyn spoke again, this time with more strength, but still +with the sullenness of despair: + +"It was a mere skirmish on the banks of the Wye. We were in advance of +the main body, and a party of English fell upon us. We did our best to +sell our lives dearly. I thought I had sold mine when my time came, but +I awoke and found myself beside the stream. Howel was lying upon me, +stark and dead, and our prince a few yards away, with his own men round +him. I do not think the foe knew whom they had slain, or they would have +taken at least his head away as a trophy. I know not who took the news +to our comrades, but they learned it, and dispersed to the four winds. I +was forced to remain for some days in a shepherd's hut till my wounds +were somewhat healed, and since then I have been struggling back here, +not knowing what had befallen our camp in these mountains. Am I the +first to bear the, news, or has it been known before?" + +"You are the first," answered Wendot in a strange, blank voice. "We have +heard nothing; we have been living in hopes of some triumph, some +victory. We will let our fellows rest in peace one night longer. +Tomorrow we must tell all, and decide what our action must be." + +"There is nothing more to hope for," said Llewelyn darkly. "Our hope is +dead, our last prince lies in a nameless grave. There is but one choice +open to us now. Let those who will submit themselves to the proud +usurper, and let us, who cannot so demean the name we bear, go forth +sword in hand, and die fighting to the last for the country we may not +live to deliver." + +It seemed, indeed, as if Llewelyn's words were to prove themselves true; +for no sooner did the news of the disaster on the banks of the Wye +become known than the army began to melt away, like the snow in the +increasing power of the sun. The chiefs, without a head, without a cause +or a champion, either retired to their own wild solitudes or hastened to +make their peace with their offended king; and only those who put honour +before safety or life itself stood forth sword in hand to die, if it +might be, with face to foe in defence of a cause which they knew was +hopelessly lost. + +And amongst this gallant but reckless little band were the three +brothers of Dynevor, who, having once taken up the sword against Edward, +were determined not to lay it down until the hand of death was cold upon +each heart. + + + + CHAPTER X. CARNARVON CASTLE. + + +"There has been a battle -- desperate fighting. They are bringing the +prisoners into the guardroom," cried Britton, bursting into the royal +apartments with small ceremony in his excitement. "Come, Alphonso; come, +Joanna -- let us go and see them. Our fellows say they made a gallant +stand, and fought like veritable tigers. In sooth, I would I had been +there. Methinks it is the last of the fighting these parts will see for +many a long year." + +Alphonso sprang up at the word of his comrade, eager to go and see the +prisoners, his humane and kindly nature prompting him to ascertain that +no undue harshness was displayed towards them by the rude soldiers. But +Joanna, although her face was full of interest and eagerness, shook her +head with a little grimace and a glance in the direction of her +governess, Lady Edeline; for during the years that had elapsed between +the visit of the royal children to Rhuddlan and this present visit to +Carnarvon, Joanna had grown from a child to a woman, and was no longer +able to run about with her brothers at will, though she still retained +her old fearless, independent spirit and impulsive generosity of +temperament, and was a universal favourite, despite the fact that she +gave more trouble than any of her younger sisters. + +The royal family had been for some time in Wales. They had wintered at +Rhuddlan, where the little Princess Elizabeth had been born the previous +year, just prior to the outbreak of the rebellion. Now they were at +Carnarvon for greater security, the king considering that fortress the +stronger of the two. The rebellion was practically at an end, but there +was much to look into and arrange with regard to the rebels and their +affairs, and there was the prospect of a considerable sojourn at the castle. + +At this moment Edward was himself absent, though not far away. It had +been rumoured that there had been sharp, irregular fighting all about +the region of Snowdon, where the rebels had had their headquarters. +Considerable excitement had prevailed for some time in the English +ranks, and there was still complete uncertainty as to the fate of +Llewelyn, Prince of Wales; for although a rumour was rife that he had +fallen in fight, it had never been corroborated by trustworthy +testimony, and so long as that turbulent prince remained alive there was +no security for the peace or submission of the country. + +Thus it was that the news of a victory and the capture of prisoners was +exceedingly exciting to those within the castle. Alphonso, who was +looking somewhat stronger for his sojourn in the bracing air of Wales, +sprang up to go with Britton to make inspection, and again Joanna +secretly bewailed her fate at being a girl, unable to take an equal +share with her brother in such matters. + +The guardroom at the castle was a vast and really fine apartment, with a +vaulted roof and majestic pillars, that gave the idea of much rude +strength of construction. Just at this moment it was the scene of an +animated picture, and the boys paused at the door by which they had +entered to look about them with eager curiosity. + +The hall was full of soldiers, most of whom wore the English king's +badge, and were known by sight to them as being attached to the castle; +but mingled with these were other men, some in the English dress, but +many others wearing the wild garb of the sons of the mountains, and +these last had, for the most part, fetters on their wrists, or were +bound two and two together and guarded by the English, whilst many of +them were drooping under the effect of ghastly wounds, and several forms +lay stretched along the ground indifferent to, or insensible of, their +surroundings. + +Desperate fighting there had been, indeed, to judge from appearances, +and Alphonso's gentle spirit was stirred within him as he caught the +sound of deep groans mingling with the loud voices of the soldiers. He +had inherited the gentle spirit of his mother, and the generosity which +always takes the part of the weak and oppressed. It mattered not that +these men had been taken with swords drawn against his royal father; +they were prisoners now, they had lost their all; and if rebels from the +English standpoint, had been striving to free their country from what +appeared to them as the unjust inroads of a foreign foe. + +Alphonso, himself sinking into an early grave, and fully aware of his +own state, saw life somewhat differently from his soldier sire, and felt +little sympathy for that lust of conquest which was to the great Edward +as the elixir of life. The lad's thoughts were more of that eternal +crown laid up in the bright land where the sword comes not, and where +the trump of war may never be heard. The glory of an earthly diadem was +as nothing to him, and he had all that deep love for his fellow men +which often characterizes those who know that their time on earth is short. + +Stepping forward, therefore, with the air of quiet authority which he +knew so well how to assume, he enforced silence by a gesture; and as the +soldiers respectfully fell back before him, he walked through the groups +of prisoners, speaking friendly words to them in their own tongue, and +finally gave strict command to the captain of the guardroom to remove +the fetters from those who were wounded, and see that they had all due +tendance and care, whilst the rest were to be guarded with as little +rigour as possible, and shut up together, where they would have at least +the consolation of companionship in their misfortune. + +The captain gave respectful heed to these words, and was by no means +loath to carry out his instructions. He was a humane man himself, though +inured to the horrors of war, and he, in common with all who came into +contact with the young prince, felt towards him a great love and +reverence; for there was something unearthly at times in the radiant +beauty of the young Alphonso's face, and the growing conviction that he +was not long for this world increased the loving loyalty shown to him by +all. + +"Your Grace's behests shall be obeyed," answered the man readily; "I +myself will see that the wounded receive due and fitting care. They are +brave fellows, be they rebels or no, and verily I believe there is not a +man of them but would have laid down his life a hundred times to save +that of the two young leaders who led them on to the last desperate +sally. Such gallant feats of arms I have seldom beheld, and it was sore +trouble to capture without killing them, so fiercely did they fight. But +I bid the men take them alive, if possible, as they seemed too gallant +and noble to fall in that vain struggle. Methinks, could they be tamed +to serve the king as valiantly as they fought for that forlorn hope, +they might be well worth the saving. I am always loath to see a brave +life flung away, be it of friend or foe." + +"Right, good Poleyn; thy words do thee credit. And where are these +gallant leaders? Show me them, for I would fain speak a kindly word to +them. I would not that they feared my father's wrath too much. Stern he +may be, but cruel never, and it would please me well to bid them submit +themselves to him, that he might the more readily forgive them. Tell me +which they be." + +"They are not here," answered the captain; "I had them removed for +greater comfort and security to mine own lodging. One of them is so sore +wounded that I feared he would not live to make submission to the king +unless he had prompt and skilful tendance; whilst the other, although +his hurts be fewer and less severe, looks as if some mortal sickness +were upon him. It may be nought but the feebleness that follows loss of +blood and hard fighting; but I left them both to the care of my wife, +who is the best tender of the sick that I have ever known. They came +under her hands last night, brought on by our mounted fellows in advance +of the rest. Today they are somewhat recovered; but I have had scarce +time to think of them. I have been occupied since dawn with these other +prisoners." + +"I would fain see these youths; said you not they were but youths, +Poleyn?" said Alphonso, whose interest was aroused by the tale he had +heard. "I will go to your lodging and request admittance. Your worthy +wife will not refuse me, I trow?" + +The man smiled, and said that his wife would be proud indeed to be so +visited. Alphonso, to whom the intricacies of the castle were well +known, lost no time in finding the lodging of the captain of the guard, +and quickly obtained admittance to the presence of the wounded youths, +who occupied a comfortable chamber over the gateway, and had plainly +been well looked to by the capable and kindly woman who called Poleyn +her lord and master. + +The bright light of day was excluded from the sickroom, and as the +prince stood in the doorway his eyes only took in the general appearance +of two recumbent figures, one lying upon a couch beside a glowing fire +of wood, and the other extended motionless upon a bed in an attitude +that bespoke slumber, his face bandaged in such a way that in no case +would it have been recognizable. + +But as Alphonso's eyes grew used to the darkness, and fixed themselves +upon the face of the other youth, who was dressed and lying on the +couch, he suddenly gave a great start, and advanced with quick steps to +his side. + +"Griffeth!" he cried suddenly. + +The figure on the couch gave a start, a pair of hollow eyes flashed +open, there was a quick attempt to rise, checked by the prince himself, +and Griffeth exclaimed in the utmost astonishment: + +"Prince Alphonso!" + +"Yes, Griffeth, it is I indeed;" and then the prince sat down on the +edge of the couch and gazed intently at the wasted features of the +youth, towards whom in days gone by he had felt such a strong attachment. + +There was something of sorrow and reproach in his glance as he said gently: + +"Griffeth, can it really be thou? I had not thought to have seen thee in +the ranks of our foes, fighting desperately against my father's +soldiers. Whence has come this bitter change in thy feelings? and what +is Wendot doing, who was to act as guardian toward his younger brethren? +Hast thou broken away from his controlling hand? O Griffeth, I grieve to +see thee here and in such plight." + +But Griffeth's sad glance met that of the young prince unfalteringly and +without shame, although there was something in it of deep and settled +sorrow. He made a gesture as though he would have put out his hand, and +Alphonso, who saw it, grasped it warmly, generous even when he felt that +he and his father had been somewhat wronged. + +"Think not that we took up arms willingly, Wendot and I," he said +faintly, yet with clearness and decision. "Ay, it is Wendot who lies +there, sore wounded, and sleeping soundly after a night of fever and +pain. We shall not disturb him, he is fast in dreamland; and if you +would listen to my tale, gentle prince, I trow you would think something +less hardly of us, who have lost our all, and have failed to win the +soldier's death that we went forth to seek, knowing that it alone could +make atonement for what must seem to your royal father an act of +treachery and breach of faith." + +And then Griffeth told all his tale -- told of the wrongs inflicted on +hapless Wales in Edward's absence by the rapacious nobles he had left +behind him to preserve order, of the ever-increasing discontent amongst +the people, the wild hope, infused by David's sudden rising, of uniting +once and for all to throw off the foreign yoke and become an independent +nation again. He told of the action taken by their twin brothers, of the +pressure brought to bear upon Wendot, of the vigilant hostility of their +rapacious kinsman Res ap Meredith, son of the old foe Meredith ap Res, +now an English knight, and eager to lay his hands upon the broad lands +of Dynevor. It was made plain to the prince how desperate would have +been Wendot's condition, thus beset with foes and held responsible for +his brothers' acts. Almost against his will had he been persuaded, and +at least he had played the man in his country's hour of need, instead of +trying to steer his way by a cold neutrality, which would have ruined +him with friend and foe alike. + +Griffeth told of the hardships of that campaign amongst the mountains; +of the death of Llewelyn the prince, and of his brother Howel; and of +the resolve of the gallant little band, thus bereft of their hope, to go +out and die sword in hand, and so end the miserable struggle that had +ceased to be aught but a mockery of war. It was plainly a bitter thought +even to the gentle Griffeth that they had not met the death they craved, +but had fallen alive into the hands of the foe. + +Alphonso gently chid him, and comforted him with brave and kindly words; +and then he asked what had befallen his brother Llewelyn, and if he had +likewise fallen in the fight. + +"Nay; he was not with us when we made that last rally. He commenced the +march with us, but his wound broke out again, and we were forced to +leave him behind. He and a handful of faithful servants from Iscennen +and Dynevor were to try and push on to the stronghold of Einon ap +Cadwalader, and ask counsel and assistance from him. In old days he and +our father were friends. Although he was one of the few who did not join +Llewelyn in this rising, he has ever been well-disposed towards his +countrymen. So we hoped our brother would find shelter and help there. +If he had tried to march with us, he must assuredly have died." + +"Ha!" said Alphonso smilingly, "methinks Llewelyn will have no trouble +in gaining entrance there. Rememberest thou the Lady Arthyn, who was +with us at Rhuddlan when thou wast there before? She hath left us of +late to return to her father, whose loyalty has been proved, and whose +request for his child was listened to graciously. But we shall be seeing +them soon again, for my father betrothed Arthyn's hand to Raoul Latimer, +whom doubtless thou rememberest as a somewhat haughty and quarrelsome +lad. Time has softened down some of his rude tempers, and he has ever +been eager for the match. My father has promised her hand in troth +plight to him, and we await the coming of her and her father for the +ceremony of betrothal. + +"If I remember rightly, she was always a friend to thy brother. If so, +he will find a ready welcome at her father's house, for my Lady Arthyn +always had a soft spot in her heart for those we called rebels. She was +a true daughter of Wales, albeit she loved us well, and she will like +thy brother none the less that his sword has been unsheathed against the +English usurper." + +And then the prince and the rebel subject both laughed, and that laugh +did more to bring them back to their old familiar relations than all +that had gone before. + +Griffeth was easily led on to tell the story of the life at Dynevor +these past years; and Alphonso better understood from his unconscious +self-betrayal than from his previous explanation how the fire of +patriotic love burned in the hearts of these brothers. He thought that +had he been one of them he would have acted even as they had done, and +there was no anger but only a pitying affection in his heart towards one +whose life was overshadowed by a cloud so like the one which hung upon +the horizon of his own sky. + +For it was plain to him that Griffeth's hold on life was very slight; +that he was suffering from the same insidious disease which was sapping +away his own health and strength. He had suspected it years before, and +this supposition had made a link between them then; now he was certain +of it, and certain, too, that the end could not be very far off. The +fine constitution of the young Welshman had been undermined by the +rigours of the past winter, and there was little hope that the coming +summer would restore to him any of the fictitious strength which had +long buoyed up Wendot with the hope that his brother would yet live to +grow to man's estate. + +"For myself I do not think I wish it," said Griffeth, with one of his +luminous glances at Alphonso; "life is very hard, and there seems +nothing left to live for. I know not how I could live away from the +woods and rocks of Dynevor. But there is Wendot -- my dear, kind, most +loving brother. It cuts me to the heart to think of leaving him alone. +Prince Alphonso, you are the king's son; will you pardon Wendot his +trespass, and stand his friend with your royal father? I have no right +to ask it. We have grievously offended, but he is my brother --" + +A violent fit of coughing came on, and the sentence was never completed. +Alphonso raised the wasted form in his arms, and soothed the painful +paroxysm as one who knows just what will best relieve the sufferer. The +sound roused Wendot, who had been sleeping for many hours, and although +he had been brought in last night in an apparently almost dying state, +his vigorous constitution was such that even these few hours' quiet +rest, and the nourishment administered to him by the good woman who +waited on him, had infused new life into his frame, so that he had +strength to sit up in bed, and to push aside the bandage which had +fallen over his eyes, as he anxiously asked his brother what was amiss. + +Then Alphonso came towards him, and, holding his hand in a friendly +clasp, told him that he had heard all the story, and that he was still +their friend, and would plead for them with his father. Wendot, +bewildered and astonished and ashamed, could scarce believe his senses, +and asked, with a proud independence which raised a smile in Alphonso's +eyes, that he might be led out to speedy death -- the death by the +headsman's axe, which was all he had now to hope for. Life had no longer +any charms for him, he said; if only his young brother might be +pardoned, he himself would gladly pay the forfeit for both. + +But Alphonso, upon whose generous spirit bravery and self devotion, even +in a foe, were never thrown away, replied kindly that he would see if +peace could not be made with his offended sire, and that meantime Wendot +must get well fast, and regain his health and strength, so as to be fit +to appear before the king in person if he should be presently summoned. + +But though the young prince left lighter hearts behind him in the room +where the two eagles of Dynevor were imprisoned, he found that the task +he had set himself with his father was a more difficult one than he had +anticipated. Edward was very greatly incensed by this fierce and futile +rebellion that had cost him so many hundreds of brave lives, and had +inflicted such sufferings on his loyal troops. The disaster at Menai +still rankled in his breast, and it was with a very stern brow and a +face of resolute determination that he returned to Carnarvon to look +into matters, and to settle upon the fate of the many prisoners and +vassals who had once mere placed themselves or their lands in his sole +power through the act which had rendered them forfeit. + +Nor was Alphonso's task rendered less difficult from the fact that Sir +Res ap Meredith had been before him, poisoning the king's mind against +many of the Welsh nobles, and particularly against the sons of Res +Vychan, in whose possession were the province and castle of Dynevor. +Upon that fair territory he had long cast covetous eyes. He cared little +in comparison for the more barren and turbulent region of Iscennen, and +it was upon Wendot and Griffeth, but particularly upon Wendot, that the +full bitterness of his invective was poured. He had so imbued the king +with the idea that the youth was dangerous, turbulent, and treacherous +(charges that his conduct certainly seemed to bear out), that it was +small wonder if Edward, remembering his own former goodwill towards the +youth, should feel greatly incensed against him. And although he +listened to Alphonso's pleadings, and the lad told his story with much +simple eloquence and fervour, the stern lines of his brow did not relax, +and his lips set themselves into an ominous curve which the prince liked +little to see. + +"Boy," he said, with an impatience that boded ill for the success of the +cause, "I verily believe wert thou in the place of king, thou wouldst +give to every rebel chief his lands again, and be not contented until +thine own throne came tottering about thine ears. Mercy must temper +justice, but if it take the place of justice it becomes mere weakness. I +trusted Wendot ap Res Vychan once, and laid no hand upon his lands. Thou +hast seen how this trust has been rewarded. To reinstate him now would +be madness. No. I have in Sir Res ap Meredith a loyal and true servant, +and his claims upon his traitorous kinsman's lands may not be +disregarded. Dynevor will pass away from Wendot. It is throwing words +away to plead with me. My mind is made up. I trust not a traitor twice." + +There was something in his father's tone that warned Alphonso to press +the matter no more. He knew that when Edward thus spoke his word was +final and irrevocable; and all he ventured now to ask was, "What will +become of Wendot and his brother? You will not take their lives, sweet +sire?" + +"Their lives I give to thee, my son," answered Edward, with a gesture +towards his boy which betrayed a deep love, and showed that although he +had denied him sternly he did not do so willingly. "As thou hast pleaded +for them, I will not sentence them to death; but they remain my +prisoners, and regain not their liberty. I know the turbulent race from +which they spring. Sir Res will have small peace in his new possessions +if any of the former princes of Dynevor are at large in the country. +Wendot and Griffeth remain my prisoners." + +"Nay, father; let them be my prisoners, I pray," cried Alphonso, with +unwonted energy and animation. "Thou hast granted me their lives; grant +me the keeping of their persons too. Nay, think not that I will connive +at their escape. Give whatsoever charge thou wilt concerning the safety +of their persons to those who guard us in our daily life, but let me +have them as gentlemen of mine own. Call them prisoners an you will, but +let their imprisonment be light -- let me enjoy their company. Thou +knowest that Britton is fretting for a freer life, and that I see little +of him now. I have often longed for a companion to share my solitary +hours. Give me Griffeth and Wendot. They have the royal blood of Wales +flowing in their veins, and methinks they love me even as I love them. +And, father, Griffeth has not many months, methinks, to live; and I know +so well all he suffers that my heart goes out to him. He has the love of +books that I have, and we have so many thoughts which none seem to +understand save our two selves. And he and Wendot are as one. It would +be cruelty such as thou wouldst not inflict to separate them whilst one +has so short a time to live. Give me them for mine own attendants, and +bid the servants guard them as best pleaseth thee. Sweet father, I have +not asked many boons of thee. Grant me this one, I pray thee, for my +heart is verily set on it." + +There was something in this appeal, something in the look upon +Alphonso's face, something in the very words he had used, that made it +impossible to his father to refuse him. Blind his eyes as he would to +the truth, he was haunted by a terrible fear that the life of his only +son was surely slipping away. Alphonso did not often speak of his +health, and the hint just dropped struck chill upon the father's heart. +Passing his hand across his face to conceal the sudden spasm of pain +that contracted it, he rose hastily from his chair, and said: + +"Give thine own orders concerning these youths. I leave them in thy +hands. Make of them what it pleaseth thee. Only let them understand that +charge will be given to the custodians of the castle, and of whatever +place they visit in the future, that they are prisoners at the king's +pleasure, and that any attempt at escape will be punished with instant +and rigorous captivity." + +"So be it," answered Alphonso, with brightening eyes. "I thank thee, +father, for the boon. Thou shalt never have cause to repent it." + + + + CHAPTER XI. THE KING'S CLEMENCY. + + +"Unhand me, sir. How dare you thus insult me? Let go my hand, or I +summon help instantly. I am come to seek the king. Will you raise a +tumult within hearing of his private apartments? Unhand me, I say," and +Arthyn's cheeks flamed dangerously, whilst her eyes flashed fire. + +But Raoul Latimer, though a craven before the face of an armed foe, +could be resolute enough when he had only an unprotected woman to deal +with, and was quite disposed to show his valour by pressing his +unwelcome salutations upon the cheek of the girl he regarded as his +future wife. His surprise at encountering Arthyn, whom he believed far +away in her father's castle, hastening alone down one of the long +corridors of Carnarvon Castle, had been very great. He could not imagine +what had thus brought her, and was eager to claim from her the greeting +he felt was his due. + +But Arthyn had never lacked for spirit, and had always confessedly +abhorred Raoul, nor had absence seemed to make the heart grow fonder, at +least in her case. She repulsed him with such hearty goodwill that his +cowardly fury was aroused, and had not the girl cried aloud in her anger +and fear, he might have done her some mischief. But even as she lifted +her voice a door in the corridor was flung open, and the king himself +strode forth, not, as it chanced, in response to the call, which had not +reached his ears, but upon an errand of his own. Now when he saw that at +the doors of his own private apartments one of his own gentlemen had +dared to lay rude hands upon a woman, his kingly wrath was stirred, and +one blow from his strong arm sent Raoul reeling across the corridor till +the wall stopped his farther progress. + +"How now, malapert boy?" cried Edward in deep displeasure. "Is it thus +you disgrace your manhood by falling upon the defenceless, and by +brawling even within hearing of your sovereign? You are not so wondrous +valiant in battle, Raoul Latimer, that you can afford to blast the small +reputation you have. + +"Sweet lady, be not afraid; thy king will protect thee from farther insult. + +"Ha, Arthyn, is it thou, my child? Nay, kneel not in such humbly +suppliant fashion; rise and kiss me, little one, for thou art only less +dear to me than mine own children. Come hither, maiden, and speak to me. +What has brought thee here alone and unannounced? And what has raised +this storm betwixt ye twain?" + +"Sire -- my king -- hear me," cried Arthyn in a choked voice; "and bid +that wicked youth, whom I have ever hated, leave us. Let me speak to you +alone and in private. It is to you, gracious lord, that I have come. +Grant me, I pray you, the boon of but a few words alone and in private. +I have somewhat to tell your grace -- your royal pardon to ask." + +"Pardon? tush, maiden! thou canst not have offended greatly. But come +hither; what thou hast to say thou shalt say before the queen and +Eleanor. They have ever been as mother and sister to thee. Thou hast no +secrets for me which they may not hear?" + +"Ah no; I would gladly speak all before them," answered Arthyn eagerly, +knowing that in the gentle Eleanor of Castile and her daughter she would +find the most sympathizing of friends. + +Intensely patriotic as the girl had ever been, loving her country above +all else, and throwing heart and soul into that country's cause, she had +yet learned a deep love and reverence for the family of the English +king, amongst whom so many years of her young life had been spent. She +was able to do full justice to the kindly and domestic side of the +soldier king's nature, and, whilst she regarded him as a foe to Wales, +looked upon him personally as a friend and protector. + +Edward's gentleness and affection in his private life equalled his +stern, unbending policy in matters of state. It was very tenderly and +kindly that he led the girl to the private apartments of the queen; and +when once Arthyn found herself face to face with one who had given to +her more of mother love than any other being in the world, she flung +herself into the arms opened to receive her, and out came the whole +story which had brought her on this secret mission to Carnarvon. + +"Sweet lady, O most gracious madam, listen and plead for me with the +king. He is kind and good, and he knows what true love is. Lady, it is +as a wedded wife I come to you, craving pardon for what I have done. But +I ever hated that wicked Raoul Latimer, my country's foe, and would have +died rather than plight my troth to him. And when he came to us -- he, +my love, my life, he whom I loved long years ago when we met as boy and +girl, and whom I have never forgotten -- what could I do? How could I +resist? + +"And my father approved. He gave my hand in wedlock. And now I am come +to pray your pardon for myself and for him whom I love. Oh, do not turn +a deaf ear to me! As you have loved when you were young, pardon those +who have done likewise." + +King and queen exchanged glances, half of amusement, half of +astonishment, but there was no anger in either face. Raoul was no +favourite in the royal circle, and his visible cowardice in the recent +campaign had brought him into open disfavour with the lion-hearted +Edward. He loved Arthyn dearly, and this proof of her independence of +spirit, together with her artless confidence in his kindliness of heart, +pleased him not a little. He had been forced during these past days to +act a stern part towards many of the Welsh nobles who had been brought +before him. He was glad enough, this thankless task accomplished, to +allow the softer and more kindly side of his nature to assert itself. +And perhaps the sympathetic glances of his son Alphonso, who had just +entered the room, helped to settle his resolve that Arthyn at least +should receive full and free forgiveness. + +Eleanor had drawn her former playmate towards her, and was eagerly +questioning her as to the name of him to whom her heart and hand were +now given, and the answer sent a thrill of surprise through the whole +company. + +"It is one whom you all know, sweet Eleanor -- Llewelyn, the son of Res +Vychan, Lord of Dynevor. Thou knowest, Eleanor, how he came amongst us +at Rhuddlan years agone now, and perchance thou sawest even then how we +loved one another, albeit it was but the love of children. But we never +have forgotten, and when he came to my father's castle, wounded and +weary and despairing after the disaster which robbed Wales of her last +native prince, what could we do but receive and tend him? It was thus it +came about, and love did the rest." + +"And so thou hast wed a rebel, maiden?" quoth Edward, in tones that +seemed to be stern by effort rather than by the will of the speaker, +whilst the kindly light in the eyes belied his assumed harshness; "and +having done so thou hast the hardihood to come and tell us of it thine +own self. Fie upon thee for a saucy wench! What better dost thou expect +for thyself and thy lord than a lodging in the lowest dungeon of the keep?" + +"I know that we ought to expect nothing better," answered Arthyn, with +her brightest smile, as she turned fearlessly upon the king. "But do as +you will with us, noble king, and we will not rebel or complain, so that +we may be together. And my dear lord bid me give you this. He took it +with his own hands from the dead hand of Llewelyn, Prince of Wales, and +he charged me to place it in your hands as a pledge and token that your +enemy ceased to live. Report has told him that men say Llewelyn escaped +that day, and that he yet lives to rise against you again. By this +signet you may know that he lies dead and cold, and that with him has +perished the last hope of Wales ever to be ruled by a prince of her own." + +Edward put forth his hand eagerly, and examined the signet ring, which +was one he himself had given to Llewelyn on the occasion of his last +submission. And as he looked upon it a great weight seemed to be rolled +from off him, for it was the first decided intimation he had had that +his foe was actually slain. Rumour had been rife with reports of his +escape, and although there had not been lacking testimony to the effect +that the prince had fallen in battle, the fact had never been adequately +established. A few quick questions to Arthyn appeared to establish this +beyond all doubt, and in the expansion of the moment Edward was ready +not only to forgive the bearer of such welcome tidings, but to forget +that he had ever been an offender. One of the sons of Res Vychan had +paid the price of his breach of faith with his life; two more were +prisoners at his royal pleasure. Surely the family had suffered enough +without harsher vengeance being taken. Surely he might give to Arthyn +the liberty and possibly even the lands of her lord in return for the +welcome intelligence she had brought. + +Alphonso, ever on the side of mercy, joined with the queen and Eleanor +in persuading the king to forgive and forget, and Arthyn was sent home +the day following laden with presents and good wishes, bearing a full +pardon to her lord from the English king, as well as a half promise that +when the country became somewhat more settled he might make request for +his commot of Iscennen with reasonable chance of being heard. + +Wendot and Griffeth both saw their new sister before her return, and +charged her with all sorts of friendly messages for Llewelyn. If Wendot +thought it hard that the brother who had always been England's bitterest +foe should be pardoned and rewarded, whilst he himself should be left to +pine in captivity, at least he made no sign, and never let a word of +bitterness pass his lips. Indeed he was too ill greatly to trouble +himself over his own condition or the future that lay before him. Fever +and ague had supervened upon the wounds he had received, and whilst +Griffeth was rapidly recovering such measure of health and strength as +he ever could boast, Wendot lay helpless and feeble, scarce able to lift +his head from the pillow, and only just equal to the task of speaking to +Arthyn and comprehending the good news with which she came charged. + +The brothers had now been removed to better apartments, near to those +occupied by the prince, whose servants they nominally were. Griffeth had +begun to enter upon some of his duties towards his royal patron, and the +friendship begun in boyhood was rapidly ripening to an intimacy which +surprised them both. Such perfect mutual understanding and sympathy was +rare and precious; and Griffeth did not even look back with longing to +the old life, so entirely had his heart gone out to the youthful prince, +whose days on earth, like his own, were plainly numbered. + +Lady Gertrude Cherleton was still an inmate of the royal household. She +was now a ward of Edward's, her father having died a year or two +previously. She was not considered a minor any longer, having attained +the age of eighteen some time before, and the management of her estates +was left partially to her. But she remained by choice the companion of +Eleanor and Joanna, and would probably continue to do so until she +married. It was a source of wonder to the court why she did not make +choice of a husband amongst the many suitors for her hand; but she had +hitherto turned a deaf ear to the pleadings of all. Sir Godfrey +Challoner had long been sighing at her feet, but she would have none of +him, and appeared to be proof against all the shafts of the blind god of +love. + +But her intense excitement when she heard of the arrival at Carnarvon of +the two brothers from Dynevor told its own tale to the Princess Joanna, +who had ever been the girl's confidante in this matter, and who had +known from childhood how Gertrude had always believed herself pledged. +It was a charming secret for them to cherish between them; and now that +Wendot was once more beneath the castle roof, the impulsive Joanna would +launch out into extravagant pictures of future happiness and prosperity. +Her ardent temperament, having no personal romance to feed upon -- for +though her hand had once been plighted, her future lord had been drowned +the previous year in a boating accident, and she was again free -- +delighted to throw itself into the concerns of her friend, and the sense +of power which had been so early implanted within her made her confident +of being able to overcome obstacles and attain the object of her wishes, +be the difficulties and dangers in their path never so great. + +"You shall be united, Gertrude, an he loves thee," cried the generous +Joanna, flinging her arms round the neck of her companion, and kissing +her again and again. "His life, his liberty, shall be obtained, and thou +and he shall be happy together. I have said it, and I will do it." + +Whatever was known to Joanna was known to Alphonso, who shared all her +feelings, and was most tenderly beloved by her. He was as ardent in the +cause as his sister could be; but he saw more of the difficulties that +beset their path, and knew better his father's iron temperament, and how +deeply Wendot had offended. Doubtless much was due to the +misrepresentations of Sir Res ap Meredith, who had now secured for +himself the coveted lands of Dynevor; but whatever the cause, the eldest +son of the house of Dynevor was the object of the king's severe +displeasure, and it was not likely he would relax his vigilance or +depart from his word, not even for the prayers of his children or the +tears of his favourite Gertrude. He had pardoned Llewelyn at the +instance of Arthyn; if the same game were to be played over again by +another of his daughters' companions, he would not unnaturally believe +that he was being cajoled and trifled with. + +"If it were only Griffeth it would be easy," said Alphonso thoughtfully. +"But Wendot --" + +And there he stopped and shook his head. + +It was some days before the king saw the new attendant of his sons; but +coming into Alphonso's private apartment one day suddenly, he found +several of the royal children gathered there, and with them a +fair-haired youth, who was reading to the prince out of an illuminated +missal. Alphonso was lying on a couch, and his look of fragile weakness +struck cold to the father's heart. Of late the lad's strength had been +failing rapidly, but Edward had tried to blind his eyes to the truth. +Now he took a hasty step towards the couch, and Griffeth rose quickly +from his seat and bent the knee before the king. + +"Ha, Wendot," said Edward, with a grave but not unkindly glance, "I have +not seen you at these new duties before. So you are a student as well as +a soldier? Well, the arts of peace will better become you for the +future. I remember your face well, young man. I would it had not been my +duty to place you under restraint; but you have broken faith with me, +and that grievously. How then can it be possible to trust you in the +future? You, as the head of the house, should have set your brothers an +example of honour and fealty. As it is, it has been far otherwise, and +now you will have to bear the burden of that breach of trust and honour." + +Twice Griffeth had opened his lips as if to speak, but Alphonso laid his +hand upon his arm with a warning touch, which said as plainly as words +could do, "Be silent." + +So the youth held his peace, and only bent his head in submission; and +Edward, after a moment's pause, added more kindly: + +"And how fares it with your brother, Wendot? I hear that his state is +something precarious. I hope he has the best tendance the castle can +afford, for I would not that any member of my son's household should +suffer from lack of care." + +"He has all that he needs, I thank you, sire," answered Griffeth. "He +lies sorely sick at this present time, but I trust he will amend ere long." + +And then the king turned to his son, and spoke with him on some message +of the state, and departed without heeding the excited glances of Joanna +or the restless way in which she kept looking first at Alphonso and then +at Gertrude. + +But scarcely had the door closed behind the retiring form of the king +before the excitable girl had bounded to her brother's side. + +"O Alphonso," she cried, "did you do it on purpose? Tell me what you +have in your head." + +Alphonso sat up and pushed the hair out of his eyes. Griffeth was simply +looking on in surprise and bewilderment. The prince laid a hand upon his +arm and spoke very earnestly. + +"Griffeth," he said, "it seems to me that through this error of my +father's we may yet find means to compass the deliverance of Wendot. +There are none of those save ourselves who know which of you twain is +the first-born and which the youngest. In your faces there is little to +mark you one from the other. Griffeth, if thou wilt be willing to be +called Wendot-- if Wendot will consent to be Griffeth -- then we may +perchance make his way plain to depart and live in liberty once more; +for it is Wendot, and not Griffeth, who has so roused my father's anger. +Griffeth he might easily consent to pardon; but Wendot he will keep as a +hostage in his own hands possibly for life itself." + +Griffeth listened, and a strange look crept into his face. His cheek +flushed, and his breath came thick and fast. He knew Alphonso's motive +in suggesting this change of identity. The lads, so closely drawn +together in bonds of more than brotherly love, had not opened to each +other their innermost souls for nought. Alphonso knew that no freedom, +no liberty, would give to the true Griffeth any extension of his brief +span of life. His days were as assuredly numbered as those of the royal +lad himself, and life had ceased to have attractions for the pair, whose +spirits were almost on the wing, who had set their hopes and aspirations +higher than anything which earth could give, and whose chiefest wish now +was to remain together until death should call them home. + +Griffeth's only trouble had been the thought of leaving his brother, and +it was when he had realized from Alphonso's words that the king was +deeply offended with Wendot, and that it was almost hopeless to think of +his obtaining his liberty again, that the heart of the lad sank in +despondency and sorrow. + +For one of the young eagles of Dynevor thus to be caged -- to be left to +pine away in hopeless captivity, his brother gone from him as well as +the prince who would stand his friend; possibly incarcerated at last in +some dreary fortress, there to linger out his days in hopeless misery +and inaction -- the thought had been so terrible to Griffeth that there +had been moments when he had almost longed to hear that the leeches gave +up hope of saving his brother's life. + +But Wendot was mending now; there was no doubt of ultimate recovery. He +would rise from his sickbed to find -- what? Griffeth had not dared to +ask himself this question before; but now a great hope possessed him +suddenly. He looked into Alphonso's eyes, and the two instantly +understood one another; as did also Gertrude and Joanna, who stood by +flushed and quivering. + +"Let it be so," said Griffeth, in a voice which trembled a little, +although the words were firm and emphatic. "I take the name the king has +given me. I am Wendot, whom he believes the traitor and the foe. +Griffeth lies yonder, sick and helpless, a victim to the influence of +the first-born son of Res Vychan. It may be, when the king hears more of +him, he will in his clemency release and pardon him. + +"Ah, if I could but be the means of saving my brother -- the brother +dearer to me than life -- from the fate which others have brought upon +him, that I could lay down my life without a wish ungratified! It has +been the only thought of bitterness in my cup that I must leave him +alone -- and a prisoner." + +Gertrude's face had flushed a deep red; she put out her hand and clasped +that of Griffeth hard; there was a little sob in her voice as she said: + +"Oh, if you will but save him -- if you will but save him!" + +Griffeth looked into her sweet face, with its sensitive features and +soft eyes shining through a mist of tears, and he understood something +which had hitherto been a puzzle to him. + +There had been days when the intermittent fever from which Wendot +suffered left him entirely for hours together, sometimes for a whole +day; and Griffeth had been sure that on some of these days, in the hours +of his own attendance on the prince, his brother had received visits +from others in the castle: for flowers had appeared to brighten the sick +room, and there had been a wonderful new look of happiness in the +patient's eyes, although he had said nothing to his brother as to what +had befallen him. + +And in truth Wendot was half disposed to believe himself the victim of +some sweet hallucination, and was almost afraid to speak of the fancies +that floated from time to time before his eyes, lest he should be told +that his mind was wandering, and that he was the victim of delusion. + +Not once alone, but many times, during the hours of his tardy +convalescence, when he had been lying alone, crushed by the sense of +weariness and oppression which illness brings to one so little +accustomed to it, he had been roused by the sound of light footfalls in +his room; he had seen a graceful form flitting about, bringing lightness +and beauty in her wake, and leaving it behind when she left. The vision +of a sweet, small face, and the lustrous dark eyes which had haunted him +at intervals through the long years of his young manhood, appeared again +before him, and sometimes his name was spoken in the gentle tones which +had never been forgotten, although the memory was growing dim. + +Weak and dazed and feeble, both in body and mind, from the exhausting +and wasting illness that had followed the severe winter's campaign, +Wendot knew not if this vision was but the figment of his own brain, or +whether the passionate love he felt rising up in his heart was lavished +upon a mere phantom. But so long as she flitted about him he was content +to lie and watch her, with the light of a great happiness in his eyes; +and once when he had called her name -- the never forgotten name of +Gertrude -- he had thought that she had come and taken his hand and had +bent over him with a wonderful light in her eyes, but the very effort he +made to rise up and grasp her hands, and learn if indeed it were a +creature of flesh and blood, had resulted in a lapse back into +unconsciousness, and he was silent as to the vision even to Griffeth, +lest perchance he should have to learn that it was but a fevered dream, +and that there was no Gertrude within the castle walls at all. + +But Gertrude knew all; it was no dream to her. She saw the love light in +the eyes dearest to her in the world. She had heard her name called; she +had seen that the love she had cherished for the hero of her childhood +had not been cherished in vain. Perhaps Wendot had betrayed more in his +sickness and weakness than he would have allowed himself to do in his +strength, knowing himself a helpless, landless prisoner in the hands of +the stern monarch who occupied England's throne. But be that as it may, +Gertrude had read his secret and was happy, though with such a chastened +happiness as alone was possible to one who knew the peril in which her +lover lay, and how hopeless even Alphonso thought it to obtain for him +the king's pardon. + +"My father would have betrothed us as children," said Gertrude, her face +glowing, but her voice steady and soft, for why should she be ashamed of +the faithful love of a lifetime? + +"When we saw each other again he would have plighted us, but for the +fear of what Llewelyn and Howel would do. But think you I love him less +for his love to his country? Think you that I have aught to reproach him +with, when I know how he was forced into rebellion by others? I care not +what he has done. I love him, and I know that he loves me. Sooner would +I share a prison with him than a palace with any man beside; yet I fear +that in prison walls he will pine and die, even as a caged eagle, and it +is that fear which breaks my heart. + +"O Griffeth, Griffeth, if you can save him, how we will bless you from, +our hearts! Give him to me, and I will guard and cherish him. I have +wealth and lands for us both. Only his liberty is lacking --" + +"And that we will strive to compass yet," said Alphonso gently. "Fear +not, sweet Gertrude, and betray not thyself. Only remember from this +time forward that Wendot is my friend and companion here, and that thy +lover Griffeth lieth in yon chamber, sick and stricken." + +"I will remember," she answered resolutely; and so the change of +identity was accomplished, with the result that the old chroniclers aver +that Wendot, eldest son of Res Vychan, died in the king's prison in +England, whilst all that is known of the fate of Griffeth is that he was +with his brother in captivity in England in the year 1283, after which +his name completely disappears, and no more is known of him, good or bad. + +That night there were commotion and distress in Carnarvon Castle, for +the young Alphonso broke a blood vessel in a violent fit of coughing, +and for some hours his life was in the utmost danger. + +The skill of the leeches, however, combined with the tender care of his +mother and sisters, averted for a time fatal consequences, and in a few +days the prince was reported to be out of immediate danger. But the +doctors all agreed that it would not be wise for him to remain longer in +the colder air of north Wales, and advised an immediate removal to +Windsor, where more comforts could be obtained, and where the climate +was milder and more genial. + +Edward's work in Wales was done. The country was quiet, and he had no +longer any fear of serious rebellion. The first thought in his mind was +the precarious condition of his son, and immediate steps were taken to +convey the invalid southward by slow and gentle stages. + +A horse litter was prepared for him, and by his own special request this +easy conveyance was shared by him with the two Welsh youths, to whom, as +his father and mother thought, he had taken one of those strange sick +fancies not uncommon to those in his state of health. + +Wendot, as he called the younger brother, had been his most devoted +nurse during the days of peril, and his quick understanding of the +unspoken wishes of the prince had evoked a real and true gratitude from +the royal parents. + +The real Wendot was by this time so far recovered as to be able to bear +the journey, and illness had so wasted him that he looked no older than +Griffeth; and though still perplexed at being called Griffeth, and by no +means understanding his brother's earnest request that he would continue +to answer to the name, he was too weak to trouble his head much about +the matter; and the two Welsh brothers were regarded by the English +attendants as too insignificant to be worthy of much notice. The +prince's freak to have them as travelling-companions was humoured by his +parents' wish; but they little knew how much he was wrapped up in the +brothers, nor how completely his heart was set upon seeing the +accomplishment of his plan before he died. + +Alphonso had all his senses about him, and the wistful look on +Griffeth's face, as the mountains of his beloved Wales grew dim in the +distance, was not lost upon him. Wendot was sleeping restlessly in the +litter, and Alphonso stretched out his hand, and laid it gently upon +Griffeth's. + +"Art regretting that thou leavest all for me?" he asked gently; and the +answer was such a look of love as went to his very heart. + +"Nay; I would leave far more than that for thee, sweet prince, but it is +my last look at home. I shall see these grand, wild hills no more." + +"No, nor yet I," answered the prince, his own eyes growing somewhat dim; +"and I, too, have loved them well, though not as thou lovest, my friend. +But be content; there are fairer things, sweeter scenes than even these, +in store for us somewhere. Shall we repine at leaving the beauties of +earth, when the pearly gates of Paradise are opening before our very eyes? + +"O Griffeth, it is a wondrous thought how soon we may be soaring above +the very stars! And methinks it may well be given to thee to wing thy +way to thine own home for one last look ere thou departest for the holy +land whence we can never wish to return." + +Griffeth gave him a bright, eager look. + +"I will think that myself -- I will believe it. This is not my last +farewell." + + + + CHAPTER XII. A STRANGE BRIDAL. + + +"My prince, tempt me not. It is hard to refuse; but there are some +things no man may do with honour, and, believe me, honour is dearer to +me than life, dearer even than liberty; though Heaven alone knows how +dear that is to every free-born son of Cambria. I to leave my brother to +wear away his days in captivity whilst I escape under his name! Prince +Alphonso, I know not what you think my heart is made of. Am I to live in +freedom, whilst he whom I love best in the world bears the burden of my +fault, and lingers out his young life within the walls of the king's +prison?" + +Alphonso looked searchingly in Wendot's face, and realized for the first +time the youth's absolute ignorance of his brother's state. No wonder he +refused with scorn the proffered boon! Yet it would be a hard task to +break the sad tidings to one who so deeply loved his gentle younger +brother, from childhood his chosen comrade. + +Alphonso was lying on a couch in one of the smaller state apartments of +Windsor Castle, and the window, close to which he had bidden his +attendants wheel him, overlooked the beautiful valley of the Thames. The +first of the autumn tints were gilding the rich stretches of woodland, +whilst a faint blue haze hung over the distance, and the river ran like +a silver thread, glinting here and there into golden brightness as some +brighter ray of sunlight fell upon it. + +Alphonso loved the view commanded by this window. He and Griffeth spent +many long happy hours here, looking out on the fair prospect, and +exchanging whispered thoughts and bright aspirations with regard to some +land even fairer than the one they now beheld. + +But Wendot never looked at the beautiful valley without experiencing a +strange oppression of spirit. It reminded him of that wilder valley of +the Towy, and his eyes would grow dim and his heart sick with the +fruitless longing after home, which grew harder and harder to hear with +every week of captivity, now that his bodily health was restored. +Captivity was telling upon him, and he was pining as an eagle pines when +caught and shut up by man even in a gilded cage. He looked pale and wan +and wistful. Often he felt stifled by the warm, close air of the valley, +and felt that he must die did he not escape to the freer air of the +mountains. + +But he seldom spoke of these feelings even to Griffeth, and strangely +enough his illness and these homesick longings produced upon his outer +man an effect which was wonderfully favourable to the plan fermenting in +the brains of the royal children and their immediate companions. + +Wendot had lost the sturdiness of figure, the brown colouring, and the +strength of limb which had distinguished him in old days from Griffeth. +A striking likeness had always existed between the brothers, whose +features were almost identical, and whose height and contours were the +same. Now that illness had sharpened the outlines of Wendot's face, had +reduced his fine proportions, and had given to him something of the +hollow-eyed wistfulness of expression which Griffeth had so long worn, +this likeness became so remarkable that few in the castle knew one +brother from the other. Knowing this, they both answered indifferently +to the name of either, and any change of personality would be managed +without exciting the smallest fear of remark. + +Wendot had been perplexed at times by the persistence with which he had +been addressed as Griffeth, even when he was certain that the speaker +was one of the few who knew him and his brother apart; but he had not +troubled his head much over the matter until this day, when Alphonso had +openly spoken to him of the plan that was in their minds, and had bidden +him prepare for a secret flight from the castle, promising that there +should be no ardent search after him, as Wendot, and not Griffeth, was +the culprit who had fallen under the royal displeasure, and the king +would care little for the escape of the younger brother so long as he +held the ex-Lord of Dynevor in his own safe keeping. + +Wendot's indignant refusal to leave his brother and make good his own +escape showed Alphonso how little he realized Griffeth's condition, and +with gentle sympathy, but with candour and frankness, he explained to +the elder brother how short would be the period of Griffeth's captivity +-- how soon and how complete the release for which he was patiently and +happily waiting. + +Wendot gave a great start as the meaning of Alphonso's words first broke +upon him, and then he buried his face in his hands, and sat motionless, +neither answering nor moving. Alphonso looked at him, and by-and-by put +out his own wasted hand and laid it upon Wendot's knee. + +"Does it seem a sad thing to thee, Wendot? Believe me, there is no +sadness for Griffeth in the thought. Nay, is it not a blessed thing to +know that soon, very soon, we shall be free of this weary burden of pain +and sickness and weakness, and laying all aside will pass away to the +land of which the seer of old foretold that 'the wicked cease from +troubling, and the weary are at rest.' Thou knowest not, perhaps, the +sweetness of those words, but I know it well, and Griffeth likewise. + +"Nay, Wendot, thou must learn not to grudge him the rest and the bliss +of yon bright land. In this world he could look for nothing save wearing +weakness and lingering pain. Thou shouldst be glad that the fiat has +gone forth, and that the end may not be far off -- the end of trouble +and sorrow; for of the glory that shall follow there shall be no end." + +But Wendot broke in hoarsely and impetuously. + +"If he must die, let him at least die in freedom, with the old hills +around him; let him be laid to rest beneath their shadow. You say that +he might well escape; that no cry would be made after him so long as I +were in the king's safe keeping. Let him then fly. Let him fly to +Llewelyn and Arthyn. They will give him tendance and a home. He shall +not die in prison, away from all that he holds dear. I cannot brook the +thought!" + +"Nay, Wendot," answered Alphonso with a kindling smile, "thou needest +not grieve for thy brother because that he is here. Ask him -- take it +not from my lips; but I will tell thee this, that where thou art and +where I am is the place where Griffeth would fain end his days. Ah! thou +canst not understand, good youth, how when the great and wonderful call +comes for the human soul, how lightly press the fetters of the flesh; +how small these things of time and place appear that erst have been of +such moment. Griffeth and I are treading the same path at the same time, +and I think not even the offer of a free pardon and unfettered liberty +would draw him from my side. + +"Moreover, Wendot, he could not take the journey of which thou speakest. +The keen autumn air, which will give thee strength and vigour, would but +lay him low on the bed from which he would never rise. His heart is here +with me. Think not that thou art wronging him in taking his name. The +one load lying now upon his heart is the thought that he is leaving thee +in captivity. Let him but know that thou art free -- that he has been +thy helper in thy flight -- and he will have nought left to wish for in +this world. His soul will be at peace." + +Wendot rose and paced through the chamber, and then returned to the side +of the prince. His face betrayed many conflicting emotions. He spoke +with bitterness and impetuosity. + +"And what good is life to me if I take you at your word and fly this +spot? Have I not lost all that makes life worth living? My lands given +to my traitorous kinsman; the brother who has been more to me than life +lying in a foreign grave. What use is life to one so lonely and bereft? +Where should I fly? what should I do? I have never lived alone. I have +always had another to live for and to love. Methinks death would be the +better thing than such a loveless life." + +"And why should thy life be loveless, Wendot?" asked Alphonso, with +kindling eyes and a brightening smile. "Dost not thou know? -- does not +thine own heart tell thee that one faithful heart beats for thee and +thee alone? Have I not seen thee with her times and again? Have not your +eyes told eloquent secrets -- though I know not what your lips have said --" + +Wendot's face was all in a glow, but he broke in hastily: + +"Prince, prince, speak not of her. If I have been beguiled, if I have +betrayed the feelings which I cannot help, but which I must hold sternly +in check -- be not thou the one to taunt me with my weakness. There is +none like her in the world. I have known it for long. But even because I +know it so well I may not even dream of her. It is not with me as of +old, when her father spoke to me of troth plight. I am a beggar, an +outcast, a prisoner. She is rich, honoured, courted. She is the +brightest star of the court --" + +"And she loveth thee, Wendot," interposed Alphonso firmly. "She has +loved thee from childhood with a faithful and true love which merits +better things than to be cast aside as if it were but dross. What are +lands and gold to a woman if her lover share them not? Is it meet that +she should suffer so cruelly simply because her father has left her well +endowed? Wendot, on Lord Montacute's dying bed this daughter of his +avowed her love for thee, and he gave her his blessing and bade her act +as she would. Art thou, then, to be the one to break her heart, ay, and +thine own, too, because thou art too proud to take more than thou canst +give? + +"Fie, man! the world is wide and thou art young. Thou hast time to win +thy spurs and bring home noble spoil to lay at thy lady's feet. Only let +not pride stand in the way of her happiness and thine own. Thou hast +said that life is dark and drear unless it be shared with some loved +one. Then how canst thou hold back, when thou hast confessed thine own +love and learned that hers is thine? Take it, and be grateful for the +treasure thou hast won, and fear not but that thou wilt bring as much as +thou wilt receive. There are strange chances in the fate of each one of +us. Who knows but that thou and she will not yet reign again in the +halls of Dynevor?" + +Wendot started and flushed, and again paced down the whole length of the +room. When he returned to the window Alphonso had gone, and in his place +stood Gertrude herself, her sweet face dyed rosy red with blushes, her +hands half stretched out towards him, her lips quivering with the +intensity of her emotion. + +He paused just one moment looking at her, and then holding out his arms, +he said: + +"Gertrude!" + +Next moment she was clasped in his close embrace, and was shedding happy +tears upon his shoulder. + +"Oh!" said Gertrude at last, in a soft whisper, "it was worth waiting +for this. I never thought I could have been so happy." + +"Joanna -- Alphonso, it is all settled. He will leave the castle with +me. He will help me now in the care of my lands. But he will not move +whilst Griffeth lives. And I think he is right. They have so loved each +other, and he will not leave his brother to die amongst strangers in +captivity." + +"It is like him," said Joanna eagerly. "Gertrude, thou hast found a very +proper knight, as we told thee from the first, when he was but a lad, +and held the Eagle's Crag against a score of men. But ye must be wedded +soon, that there be no delay when once the poor boy be gone. Every day +he looks more shadowy and frail. Methinks that our softer air ill suits +him, for he hath dwindled to a mere shadow since he came. You will not +have to wait long." + +"Joanna speaks the truth," said Alphonso, half sadly, half smilingly. +"He will not be with us long. But it is very true that this marriage +must be privately celebrated, and that without delay, that when the day +comes when 'Griffeth' flies from the castle, he and his wife may go +together." + +"Ay, and my chaplain will make them man and wife, and breathe not a word +to any man," cried Joanna, who, now that she was older, had her own +retinue of servants, equal in number to those of her sister, by whom she +was dearly loved for her generosity and frankness, so that she could +always command ready and willing obedience to any expressed wish of hers. + +"You think he will? O Joanna, when shall it be?" + +"It shall be at midnight in the chapel," said the girl, with the prompt +decision which characterized her. "Not tonight, but three nights from +this. Leave all things in my hands, sweet Gertrude; I will see that +nought is lacking to bind thee lawfully to thy lord. My chaplain is a +good and holy man from the west country. He loveth those poor Welsh who +are prisoners here, and spends much of his time in ministering to them. +He loves thy future lord and his dying brother, and he knows somewhat of +our plan, for I have revealed it in the confessional, and he has not +chided me for it. + +"Oh, I can answer for him. He will be glad that thou shouldst find so +proper a knight; and he is kind of heart, and stanch to my service. Fear +not, sweet Gertrude: ere three days have gone by thou shalt be a wedded +wife; and when the time comes thou mayest steal away with him thy +plighted lord, and trust thy sister Joanna to make thy peace with the +king, if he be in any way angered or grieved." + +Gertrude threw herself into Joanna's arms and kissed her a hundred +times; and Joanna laughed, and said she deserved much credit for +plotting to rid herself of her dearest friend, but was none the less +loyal to the cause because Gertrude's gain would be her loss. + +So there came a strange night, never to be forgotten by those who +witnessed the proceedings, when Wendot ap Res Vychan and the Lady +Gertrude Cherleton stood at midnight before the altar in the small +private chapel of the castle, whilst the chaplain of the Princess +Joanna's private suite made them man and wife according to the law of +the Church. And of the few spectators who witnessed the ceremony two +were of royal blood -- Alphonso and Joanna -- and beside them were only +one or two attendants, sworn to secrecy, and in full sympathy with the +youthful lovers thus plighting their troth and being united in wedlock +at one and the same time. + +Griffeth was not of the number who was present to witness this ceremony. +He was unable to rise from his bed, a sudden access of illness having +overtaken him, possibly as the result of the excitement of hearing what +was about to take place. + +When the solemn words had been spoken, and the bride was led away by her +proud and happy spouse -- happy even in the midst of so much peril and +sorrow in the thought of the treasure he had won -- she paused at the +door of her apartments, whither he would have left her (for so long as +they remained within the walls of the castle they would observe the same +manner of life as before), and glancing into his face said softly: + +"May I not go with thee to tell the news to Griffeth?" + +"Ay, well bethought," said Alphonso, who was leaning on Wendot's other +arm, the distance through the long passages being somewhat fatiguing to +him. "Let us go and show to him thy wife. None will rejoice more than he +to know that she is thine in very truth, and that none can take her from +thee." + +Griffeth's room was nigh at hand, and thither Wendot led his bride. A +taper was burning beside the bed, and the sick youth lay propped up with +pillows, his breath coming in laboured gasps, though his eyes were +bright and full of comprehension as Wendot led the slim, white-robed +figure to his side. + +But the elder brother was startled at the change he saw in his patient +since he had left him last. There was something in his look that struck +chill upon his heart. He came forward and took the feeble hand in his. +It was deadly cold, and the unearthly radiance upon the lad's face was +as significant in its own way. Had not their mother looked at them with +just such a smile when she had slipped away into another world, whilst +they were trying to persuade themselves that she was better? + +"My sister Gertrude," whispered Griffeth. "Oh, I am so happy! You will +be good to him -- you will comfort him. + +"Wendot -- Gertrude --" he made a faint effort, and joined their hands +together; and then, as if his last earthly task was accomplished, he +seemed to look right on beyond them, whilst a strange expression of awe +and wonder shone from his closing eyes. + +"Howel," he whispered -- "father -- mother -- oh, I am coming! Take me +with you." + +Then the head fell backwards, the light vanished from the eyes, the cold +hand fell nervelessly from Wendot's grasp, and they knew that Griffeth +was the king's prisoner no longer. + +Three days later the Lady Gertrude Cherleton said farewell to her royal +companions, and started forth for her own estates in Derbyshire, which +she had purposed for some time to visit. Perhaps had the minds of those +in the castle been free to wonder at anything so trivial as the +movements of the young heiress, they would have felt surprise at her +selecting this time to betake herself to a solitary and independent +existence, away from all her friends and playmates; but the mortal +illness of the Prince Alphonso occupied the whole attention of the +castle. The remains of the so-called Wendot, late of Dynevor, had been +laid to rest with little ceremony and no pomp, and the very existence of +the other brother was almost forgotten in the general dismay and grief +which permeated through all ranks of people both within and without the +castle walls. + +The lady had a small but sufficient retinue; but it was considered +rather strange that she should not start until the dusk had begun to +gather round the castle, so that the confusion of the start was a good +deal increased from the darkness which was stealing upon the place. Had +there been much time or attention free, it might have been noted by a +keen observer that Lady Gertrude had added to her personal attendants +one who looked like a tall and stout woman, though her hood was so +closely drawn that her face was seen by none of the warders, who, +however, let her pass unchallenged: for she rode beside her mistress, +and was evidently in the position of a trusted companion; for the lady +was speaking to her as they passed out through the gate, and there could +certainly be no reason for offering any obstruction to any servant of hers. + +If there were any fear or excitement in Gertrude's breast as she and her +husband passed out of the gate and rode quickly along the path which led +through the town, she did not betray it by look or gesture. Her +eagerness was mainly showed by a desire to push on northward as fast as +possible, and the light of a full harvest moon made travelling almost as +easy as by day. On they rode, by sleeping hamlets and dreaming pastures, +until the lights of Windsor lay twinkling in the dim, hazy distance +miles away. + +Then Gertrude suddenly threw back her hood, and leaning towards her +companion -- they two had outridden their followers some time before -- +cried in a strange, tense voice: + +"O Wendot husband, thou art free! Tomorrow will see us safe within those +halls of which thou art rightful lord. Captivity, trouble, peril is at +an end. Nothing can greatly hurt us now, for are we not one in bonds +that no man may dissever?" + +"My noble, true-hearted wife," said Wendot, in accents of intense +feeling; and then he leaned forward and kissed her in the whispering +wood, and they rode forward through the glades of silvery moonlight +towards the new life that was awaiting them beyond. + +"Hills, wild rocks, woods, and water!" cried Wendot, with a sudden +kindling gleam in his eyes. "O Gertrude, thou didst not tell me the +half! I never guessed that England had aught so like home as this. Truly +it might be Dynevor itself -- that brawling torrent, those craggy fells, +and these gray stone walls. And to be free -- free to breathe the fresh +wind, to go where the fancy prompts, to be loosed from all control save +the sweet bonds that thou boldest me in, dearest! Ah, my wife, thou +knowest not what thou hast done for me. How shall I thank thee for the +boon?" + +"Why, by being thine old self again, Vychan," said Gertrude, who was +standing by her husband's side on a natural terrace of rock above the +Hall which was to be their home. She had brought him out early in the +morning to see the sun rise upon their home, and the rapture of his +face, the passionate joy she saw written there, was more than she had +hoped for. + +"Thou hast grown old and worn of late, too saddened, too grave for thy +years. Thou must grow young again, and be the bright-faced youth to whom +I gave my heart. Thy youth is not left so far behind but what thou canst +recall it ere it be too late." + +"In sooth I shall grow young again here, sweetheart," quoth Wendot, or +Vychan, as we must call him now. He had an equal right to that name with +his father, though for convenience he had always been addressed by the +other; and now that Lady Gertrude had brought her husband home, he was +to be known as Res Vychan, one of the descendants of the last princes of +South Wales, who had taken his wife's name also, as he was now the ruler +of her land; so, according to the fashion of the English people, he +would henceforth be known as Vychan Cherleton. His brother's name he +could not bear to hear applied to himself, and it was left to Joanna to +explain matters to the king and queen when the chance should arrive. +None else need ever know that the husband of the Lady Gertrude had ever +been a captive of Edward's; and the name of Griffeth ap Res Vychan +disappears from the ken of the chroniclers as if it had never been known +that he was once a prisoner in England. + +There was no pursuit made after the missing Welshman. The king and queen +had other matters to think of, and the fondness of their son for the +youth would have been protection enough even if he had not begged with +his dying breath that his father would forgive and forget. Lady Gertrude +and her husband did not come to court for very many years; and by the +time they did so, Vychan Cherleton's loyalty and service to the English +cause were too well established for any one to raise a question as to +his birth or race. + +If the king and queen ever knew they had been outwitted by their +children, they did not resent that this had been so, nor that an act of +mercy had been contrived greater than they might have felt justified in +ratifying. + +But all this was yet in the future. As Vychan and his wife stood on that +high plateau overlooking the fair valley of the Derwent, it seemed to +Gertrude as though during the past three days her husband had undergone +some subtle change. There was a new light in his eyes; his frame had +lost its drooping air of languor; he had stood the long days of rough +riding without the smallest fatigue. It really seemed as if the old +Wendot had come back again, and she smilingly asked him how it was that +he had gained such strength in so short a time. + +"Ah, that question is soon answered, sweet wife. It is freedom that is +the elixir of life to us sons of Cambria. I know not if your +English-born men can brook the sense of fetter and constraint, but it is +death to us. + +"Let us not think of it more. That page has closed for ever; and never +shall it reopen, for sooner will I die than fall alive into the hands of +a foe. Nay, sweetest Gertrude, look not so reproachfully at me. Thou +shalt soon see that I mean not to die, but to live for thee. Here in +this fair, free spot we begin our new life together. It may be even yet +-- for see, is not that bright sky, illumined by those quivering shafts +of light athwart our path, an omen of good? -- that as thou showest me +this fair spot with which thou hast endowed me, I may one day show thee +again and endow thee with the broad lands of Dynevor." + + + + CHAPTER XIII. THE NEW LORD OF DYNEVOR. + + +"Vychan, Vychan, the hour has come! That false traitor Sir Res has risen +in revolt against England's king. Loyal men are called upon to put down +the rebellion, and such as do so will be rewarded with the lands reft +from the traitor. Vychan, Vychan, lose not a moment; arm and take the +men, and fly to Dynevor! Now is the time to strike the blow! And I will +to Edward's court, to plead with him for the lands and castle of Dynevor +as my husband's guerdon for his services. O Vychan, Vychan, have not I +always said that thou shouldest live to call thyself Lord of Dynevor again?" + +Gertrude came flying to her husband with these words, looking scarce +less young and certainly none less bright and happy than she had done +four years back, when she and her husband had first stood within the +walls of her ancestral home. A beautiful, sturdy boy hung upon her hand, +keeping pace gallantly even with her flying steps, and the joy of +motherhood had given something of added lustre to the soft beauty of her +dark eyes; otherwise she was scarce changed from the Gertrude of past +days. As for Vychan, he still retained the eagle glance, the almost +boyish freshness of colouring, and the soldier-like bearing which +distinguished his race, and the gold of his hair had not tarnished or +faded, though he had developed from the youth to the man, and was a +noble specimen of manhood in the zenith of its strength and beauty. + +Rising hastily at his wife's approach, he gazed at her with parted lips +and glowing eyes, whilst she once more told him the news, brought by a +special messenger from the Princess Joanna, brought thus, as both knew, +with a special meaning which they well understood. Four years of +peaceful prosperity in England had in no whit weakened Vychan's love for +his own land or blunted the soldier-like instincts of his race. There +was something of the light of battle and of conquest in his eye as he +gazed at his wife, and his voice rang out clear and trumpet-like as he +gathered the sense of the message she brought. + +"Take up arms against that false traitor-kinsman of mine? ay, verily, +that I will. False first to his kindred and his country, then false to +the king who has trusted and rewarded him so nobly. Res ap Meredith, +methinks thine hour is come! Thou didst plot and contrive to wrest from +me the fair lands my father bequeathed me; but I trow the day has dawned +when the false lord shall be cast forth, even as he has cast forth +others, and when there shall be a lord of the old race ruling at +Dynevor, albeit he rule beneath a new name." + +"Heaven grant it may be so!" cried Gertrude, the tears of excitement +sparkling in her eyes; whilst little Griffeth, catching some of the +sense of his father's words, and understanding with the quick instinct +of childhood that there was something unwonted going on, shook his +little fist in the air, and cried: + +"Dynevor, Dynevor! me fight for Dynevor, too." + +The father picked up his son and held him in a close embrace. + +"Ay, Griffeth, my man, thou shalt reign at Dynevor one of these days, +please God to give us victory over false friends and traitorous allies." + +And even as the parents stood looking smilingly at the brave child, the +blast from the warder's trumpet gave notice that strangers were +approaching the Hall; and hurrying to the entrance gate to be ready to +receive the guests, Vychan and his wife beheld a little troop of +horsemen winding their way up the valley, headed by a pair who appeared +to be man and wife, and to hold some exalted position, for the trappings +of their steeds and the richness of their own dress marked them as of no +humble rank. + +Visitors were sufficiently rare at this lonely place for this sight to +cause some stir in the Hall; and Gertrude, shading her eyes with her +hand, gazed eagerly at the two figures in advance. Suddenly she gave a +little cry of rapture, and bounded forward through the gateway. + +"It is Arthyn -- Arthyn and Llewelyn! Vychan, thy brother and his wife +are here. Oh, they have come to bid thee to the fray! They bring +tidings, and are come to summon thee to the fight. + +"Arthyn, sweetest sister, ten thousand welcomes to our home! Nay, I can +scarce believe this is not a dream. How I have longed to see thee here!" + +Vychan was at his brother's side, as Arthyn, flinging herself from her +saddle, flew into Gertrude's arms. For some moments nothing could be +distinguished but the glad clamour of welcome, and scarce had that +subsided before it recommenced in the eager salutations of the Welsh +retainers, who saw in Vychan another of the sons of their well-loved +Lord, Res Vychan, the former Lord of Dynevor and Iscennen, whose wise +and merciful rule had never been forgotten. + +Vychan was touched, indeed, to see how well he was remembered, and the +sound of the familiar tongue sent thrills of strange emotion through +him. It was some time before he could free himself from the throng of +servants who pressed round him; and when he could do so he followed his +wife and guests into the banqueting hall, where the noonday repast was +spread, giving charge to his seneschal for the hospitable entertainment +of the retinue his brother had brought and their lodgment within the +walls of the Hall. + +When he reached the inner hall he found the servants spreading the best +viands of the house upon the table; whilst Gertrude, Arthyn, and +Llewelyn were gathered together in the embrasure of a window in eager +discussion. Gertrude broke away and came quickly towards him, her face +deeply flushed and her eyes very bright. + +"Vychan, it is even as we have heard. That false traitor is in open +revolt, and he has been even more false than we knew. What think you of +this? -- he professed to be sorry for his revolt, and sent a letter of +urgent pleading to Llewelyn and Arthyn begging them to use their +influence with the king to obtain his pardon. Believing him to be +sincere, Llewelyn set out for England not more than two short weeks +back, taking with him, on account of the unsettled state of the country, +the pick of the men from Carregcennen. And when this double-dyed traitor +knows that Arthyn is alone and unprotected in the castle, what does he +do but send a strong band of his soldiers, himself at their head, who +obtain entrance by the subterranean passage, slay the guard, and take +possession of the fortress. Arthyn has but bare time to escape with a +handful of men, and by hard riding to join her husband on the road to +England. + +"So now have they turned aside to tell the tale to us, and to summon +thee to come with thy men and fight in the king's quarrel against this +wicked man. And whilst ye lead your soldiers into Wales, Arthyn and I +will to the court, to lay the story before the royal Edward, and to gain +from him the full and free grants of the castles of Dynevor and +Carregcennen for our husbands, who have responded to his call, and have +flown to wrest from the traitor the possession he has so unrighteously +grasped." + +"Thy wife speaketh wise words, Vychan," said Llewelyn, whose dark brows +wore a threatening look, and who had the appearance of a man deeply +stirred to wrath, as indeed he well might be; "and it were well that we +lost no time in dallying here. How many men canst thou summon to thy +banner, and when can we be on the march for the south? The Earl of +Cornwall has been called upon to quell this revolt, and he has summoned +to his aid all loyal subjects of the king who hold dear the peace and +prosperity of their land. + +"The days are gone by in which I should despise that call and join the +standard of revolt. The experience of the past has taught me that in the +English alliance is Wales's only hope of tranquillity and true +independence and civilization. When such men as this Res ap Meredith +break into revolt against Edward, it is time for us to rally round his +standard. What would our lives, our lands, our liberties be worth were +such a double-distilled traitor as he transformed into a prince, as is +his fond ambition?" + +"True, Llewelyn, true. The race of kings has vanished from Wales, and +methinks there is no humiliation in owning as sovereign lord the +lion-hearted King of England. Moreover, has he not given us a prince of +our own, born upon Welsh soil, sprung of a kingly race? We will rally +round the standard of father and son, and trust that in the future a +brighter day will dawn for our long-distracted country." + +So forthwith there sped messengers through the wild valleys and wilder +fells of Derbyshire, and many a sturdy son of the mountains came gladly +and willingly at the call of the feudal lord whose wise and kindly rule +had made him greatly beloved. The fighting instinct of the age and of +the race was speedily aroused by this call to arms, and the surrounding +gentlemen and yeomen of the county likewise pressed their services upon +Vychan, glad to be able to strike a blow to uphold the authority of a +king whose wise and brave rule had already made him the idol of the nation. + +It was a goodly sight to see the brothers of Dynevor (as their wives +could not but call them once again) ride forth at the head of this +well-equipped following. Llewelyn marvelled at the discipline displayed +by the recruits -- a discipline decidedly in advance of anything his own +ruder followers could boast. But Welsh and English for once were in +brotherly accord, and rode shoulder to shoulder in all good fellowship; +and the English knew that their ruder comrades from Cambria, if less +well trained and drilled, would be able to show them a lesson in fierce +and desperate fighting, to which they were far more inured than their +more peaceable neighbours from the sister country. + +And fighting there was for all; but the struggle, if fierce, was brief. +Sir Res was a coward at heart, as it is the wont of a traitor to be, and +finding himself opposed by foes as relentless and energetic as Vychan +and Llewelyn, he was speedily driven from fortress to fortress, till at +length he was forced to surrender himself a prisoner to the Earl of +Gloucester; who, out of kindness to his wife, Auda de Hastings, connived +at his escape to Ireland. + +There he lived in seclusion for some time; but the spirit of rebellion +was still alive within him, and two years later he returned to Wales, +and succeeded in collecting an army of four thousand turbulent spirits +about him, at the head of which force he fought a pitched battle with +the king's justiciary, Robert de Tibetot. His army was cut to pieces. He +was taken prisoner himself, and met a cruel death at York as the reward +of his many acts of treasonable rebellion. + +But the halls of Dynevor saw him no more from the moment when Res +Vychan, with a swelling heart, first drove him forth, and planted his +own foot once again upon the soil dearer to him than any other spot on +earth. As he stood upon the familiar terrace, looking over the wide, +fair valley of the Towy, his heart swelled with thankfulness and joy; +and if a slow, unwonted tear found its way to his eye, it was scarce a +tear of sorrow, for he felt assured that his brother Griffeth was +sharing in the joy of this restoration to the old home, and that his +loving and gentle spirit was not very far from him at this supreme hour +of his life. + +"Father, father, father!" + +Vychan turned with a start at the sound of the joyous call, and the next +moment was clasping wife and son to his breast. + +"Sweetheart! come so quickly? How couldst thou?" + +"Ay, Vychan, love hath ever wings, and neither I nor Arthyn could keep +away, our business at the court once accomplished. Vychan, husband, thou +standest here Lord of Dynevor in thine own right. Thou hast won back +thine ancestral home, the boy's inheritance. + +"Seest thou this deed? Knowest thou the king's seal? Take it, for it +secureth all to thee under thy name of Vychan Cherleton. And if in times +to come those who come after know not that it was the son of Res Vychan +who thus reclaimed his patrimony, and if our worthy chroniclers set down +that Dynevor and its lands passed to the keeping of the English, what +matters it? We know the truth, and those who have loved thee and thy +father know who thou art and whence thou hast come. Let that be +sufficient for thee and for me. + +"Griffeth, little son, kiss thy father, and bid him welcome to his own +halls again -- the halls of Dynevor." + +Vychan could not speak. He pressed one passionate kiss upon the lips of +his wife, and another upon the brow of his noble boy, who looked every +inch a Dynevor, with the true Dynevor features, and the bold, fearless +mien so like his father's. + +Then commanding himself by an effort, he opened the king's parchment and +quickly mastered its contents, after which he took his wife's hand and +held out the other to his son. + +"My faithful fellows are mustering in the hall to bid me welcome once +more to Dynevor. Come, sweet wife; I must show to them their lady and +their future lord. + +"Arthyn -- where is she? Has she gone on to Iscennen to meet Llewelyn +there?" + +"Ay, verily: she was as hungry for him as I for thee; and she hath a +similar mandate for him regarding his rights to Carregcennen. + +"O Vychan, dearest husband, I can scarce believe it is not all a dream." + +Indeed, to Vychan it seemed almost as though he dreamed, as in the old +familiar hall he stood, a little raised from the crowd of armed +retainers upon the steps of the wide oak staircase, as he addressed to +them a speech eloquent with that thrilling eloquence which is the gift +of all who speak from the heart, and speak to hearts beating in deep and +true response. Vychan thanked all those who had so bravely fought for +him, explained to all assembled there his new position and his new name, +bid them not think him less a Welshman and a Dynevor because he bore his +wife's arms and called himself the servant of the English king, and held +up before their eyes the mandate of that English king confirming to him +the lands and halls of Dynevor. + +A wild, ringing cheer broke from all who heard him as he thus proved to +their own satisfaction that the royal Edward was their best friend, and +as the new Lord of Dynevor held up his child for them to see, and to own +as future lord in the time-honoured fashion, such a shout went up from +the throats of all as made the vaulted roof ring again. Blades were +unsheathed and waved in wild enthusiasm, and Gertrude's dark eyes +glistened through a mist of proud and happy tears. + +Suddenly from some dim recess in the old ball there issued a strain of +wild music -- the sound of a harp played by no unskilled hand; whilst +mingling with the twang of the strings was the voice of the ancient +bard, cracked through age, yet still retaining the old power and some of +the old sweetness. And harp and voice were raised alike in one of those +triumph songs that have ever been as the elixir of life to the strong, +rude, sensitive sons of wild Cambria. + +"It is Wenwynwyn," quoth Vychan. "He is yet alive. I little thought to +see him more. + +"Griffeth, boy, run to yon old man and bid him give thee his blessing, +and tell him that there is a son of Dynevor come back to rule as Lord of +Dynevor once again." + +POSTSCRIPT. + +The story of the sons of Res Vychan is very intricate and difficult to +follow, owing to the lack of contemporaneous documents; but the main +facts of their story as related in the foregoing pages are true, though +a certain license has been taken for purposes of fiction. + +They have been represented as somewhat younger than they were at the +time of these events, whilst the children of Edward the First have been +made some few years older than their true ages. + +There is no actual historical warrant for the change of identity between +Wendot and Griffeth, and for the escape and reinstatement of the former +in the halls of Dynevor; but there are traditions which point to a +possibility that he did escape from prison, in spite of the affirmation +of the chroniclers, as there have been those who claim descent from him, +which they would hardly have done if such had not been the case, for +there is no record that he was married before he was taken prisoner to +England. + +The children of the English king were not really at Rhuddlan Castle in +1277, as represented here, as they were at that time too young to +accompany their father on his expeditions. If, however, they had been as +old as represented in these pages, there is little doubt they would have +accompanied him, as the monarch was a most affectionate father, and +loved to have wife and children about him. + +Arthyn is a fictitious character; as is also Gertrude. There is no +record that any of the sons of Res Vychan married or left descendants, +except the tradition alluded to above. + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Lord of Dynevor, by Evelyn Everett-Green + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13227 *** diff --git a/13227-h/13227-h.htm b/13227-h/13227-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..981bd66 --- /dev/null +++ b/13227-h/13227-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5330 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> +<title>THE LORD OF DYNEVOR</title> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13227 ***</div> + +<h1>THE LORD OF DYNEVOR:</h1> +<p>A Tale of the Times of Edward the First</p> +<p>by Evelyn Everett-Green.</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a>. DYNEVOR CASTLE.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a>. THE BROTHERS</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a>. THE EAGLE'S CRAG.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a>. WENDOT'S REWARD.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a>. THE KING'S CHILDREN.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a>. WELSH WOLVES.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a>. THE KING'S JUDGMENT.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a>. TURBULENT SPIRITS.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a>. THE RED FLAME OF WAR.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a>. CARNARVON CASTLE.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a>. THE KING'S CLEMENCY.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a>. A STRANGE BRIDAL.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a>. THE NEW LORD OF DYNEVOR.</h3> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a>. DYNEVOR CASTLE.</h2> +<p>"La-ha-hoo! la-ha-hoo!"</p> +<p>Far down the widening valley, and up the wild, picturesque +ravine, rang the strange but not unmusical call. It awoke the +slumbering echoes of the still place, and a hundred voices seemed +to take up the cry, and pass it on as from mouth to mouth. But the +boy's quick ears were not to be deceived by the mocking voices of +the spirits of solitude, and presently the call rang out again with +greater clearness than before:</p> +<p>"La-ha-hoo!"</p> +<p>The boy stood with his head thrown back, his fair curls floating +in the mountain breeze, his blue eyes, clear and bright and keen as +those of a wild eaglet, fixed upon a craggy ridge on the opposite +side of the gorge, whilst his left hand was placed upon the collar +of a huge wolfhound who stood beside him, sniffing the wind and +showing by every tremulous movement his longing to be off and away, +were it not for the detaining hand of his young master.</p> +<p>The lad was very simply dressed in a tunic of soft, well-dressed +leather, upon the breast of which was stamped some device which +might have been the badge of his house. His active limbs were +encased in the same strong, yielding material, and the only thing +about him which seemed to indicate rank or birth was a belt with a +richly-chased gold clasp and a poniard with a jewelled hilt.</p> +<p>Perhaps the noble bearing of the boy was his best proof of right +to the noble name he bore. One of the last of the royal house of +Dynevor, he looked every inch a prince, as he stood bare-headed in +the sunlight amidst the everlasting hills of his well-loved home, +too young to see the clouds which were settling so darkly and so +surely upon the bright horizon of his life -- his dreams still of +glory and triumph, culminating in the complete emancipation of his +well-loved country from the hated English yoke.</p> +<p>The dog strained and whined against the detaining clasp upon his +neck, but the boy held him fast.</p> +<p>"Nay, Gelert, we are not going a-hunting," he said. "Hark! is +not that the sound of a horn? Are they not even now returning? Over +yon fell they come. Let me but hear their hail, and thou and I will +be off to meet them. I would they heard the news first from my +lips. My mother bid me warn them. I wot she fears what Llewelyn and +Howel might say or do were they to find English guests in our hall +and they all unwarned."</p> +<p>Once more the boy raised his voice in the wild call which had +awakened the echoes before, and this time his practised ear +distinguished amongst the multitudinous replies an answering shout +from human lips. Releasing Gelert, who dashed forward with a bay of +delight, the lad commenced springing from rock to rock up the +narrowing gorge, until he reached a spot where the dwindling stream +could be crossed by a bound; from which spot a wild path, more like +a goat track than one intended for the foot of man, led upwards +towards the higher portions of the wild fell.</p> +<p>The boy sped onwards with the fleetness and agility of a born +mountaineer. The hound bounded at his side; and before either had +traversed the path far, voices ahead of them became distinctly +audible, and a little group might be seen approaching, laden with +the spoils of the chase.</p> +<p>In the van of the little party were three lads, one of whom bore +so striking a resemblance to the youth who now hastened to meet +them, that the relationship could not be for a moment doubted. As a +matter of fact the four were brothers; but they followed two +distinct types -- Wendot and Griffeth being fair and bright haired, +whilst Llewelyn and Howel (who were twins) were dark as night, with +black hair and brows, swarthy skins, and something of the wildness +of aspect which often accompanies such traits.</p> +<p>Wendot, the eldest of the four, a well-grown youth of fifteen, +who was walking slightly in advance of his brothers, greeted +Griffeth's approach with a bright smile.</p> +<p>"Ha, lad, thou shouldst have been with us! We have had rare +sport today. The good fellows behind can scarce carry the booty +home. Thou must see the noble stag that my bolt brought down. We +will have his head to adorn the hall -- his antlers are worth +looking at, I warrant thee. But what brings thee out so far from +home? and why didst thou hail us as if we were wanted?"</p> +<p>"You are wanted," answered Griffeth, speaking so that all the +brothers might hear his words. "The mother herself bid me go in +search of you, and it is well you come home laden with meat, for we +shall need to make merry tonight. There are guests come to the +castle today. Wenwynwyn was stringing his harp even as I came away, +to let them hear his skill in music. They are to be lodged for so +long as they will stay; but the manner of their errand I know +not."</p> +<p>"Guests!" echoed all three brothers in a breath, and very +eagerly; "why, that is good hearing, for perchance we may now learn +some news. Come these strangers from the north? Perchance we shall +hear somewhat of our noble Prince Llewelyn, who is standing out so +boldly for the rights of our nation. Say they not that the English +tyrant is on our borders now, summoning him to pay the homage he +repudiates with scorn? Oh, I would that this were a message +summoning all true Welshmen to take up arms in his quarrel! Would +not I fly to his standard, boy though I be! And would I not shed +the last drop of my blood in the glorious cause of liberty!"</p> +<p>Llewelyn was the speaker, and his black eyes were glowing +fiercely under their straight bushy brows. His face was the least +boyish of any of the four, and his supple, sinewy frame had much of +the strength of manhood in it. The free, open-air life that all +these lads had lived, and the training they had received in all +martial and hardy exercises, had given them strength and height +beyond their years. It was no idle boast on the part of Llewelyn to +speak of his readiness to fight. He would have marched against the +foe with the stoutest of his father's men-at-arms, and doubtless +have acquitted himself as well as any; for what the lads lacked in +strength they made up in their marvellous quickness and +agility.</p> +<p>The love of fighting seemed born in all these hardy sons of +Wales, and something of warfare was known to them even now, from +the never-ending struggles between themselves, and their resistance +of the authority, real or assumed, of the Lords of the Marches. But +petty forays and private feuds with hostile kinsmen was not the +kind of fighting these brothers longed to see and share. They had +their own ideas and aspirations, and eager glances were turned upon +Griffeth, lest he might be the bearer of some glorious piece of +news that would mean open warfare with England.</p> +<p>But the boy's face was unresponsive and even a little downcast. +He gave a quick glance into the fierce, glowing face of Llewelyn, +and then his eyes turned upon Wendot.</p> +<p>"There is no news like that," he said slowly. "The guests who +have come to Dynevor are English themselves."</p> +<p>"English!" echoed Llewelyn fiercely, and he turned away with a +smothered word which sounded like an imprecation upon all the race +of foreigners; whilst Howel asked with quick indignation:</p> +<p>"What right have English guests at Dynevor? Why were they +received? Why did not our good fellows fall upon them with the +sword or drive them back the way they came? Oh, if we had but been +there --"</p> +<p>"Tush, brother!" said young Griffeth quickly; "is not our father +lord of Dynevor? Dost think that thou canst usurp his authority? +And when did ever bold Welshmen fall upon unarmed strangers to +smite with the sword? Do we make war upon harmless travellers -- +women and children? Fie upon thee! it were a base thought. Let not +our parents hear thee speak such words."</p> +<p>Howel looked a little discomfited by his younger brother's +rebuke, though he read nothing but sympathy and mute approbation in +Llewelyn's sullen face and gloomy eyes. He dropped a pace or so +behind and joined his twin, whilst Wendot and Griffeth led the way +in front.</p> +<p>"Who are these folks?" asked Wendot; "and whence come they? And +why have they thus presented themselves unarmed at Dynevor? Is it +an errand of peace? And why speakest thou of women and +children?"</p> +<p>"Why, brother, because the traveller has his little daughter +with him, and her woman is in their train of servants. I know not +what has brought them hither, but I gather they have lost their +road, and lighted by chance on Dynevor. Methinks they are on a +visit to the Abbey of Strata Florida; but at least they come as +simple, unarmed strangers, and it is the boast of Wales that even +unarmed foes may travel through the breadth and length of the land +and meet no harm from its sons. For my part I would have it always +so. I would not wage war on all alike. Doubtless there are those, +even amongst the English, who are men of bravery and honour."</p> +<p>"I doubt it not," answered Wendot, with a gravity rather beyond +his years. "If all our mother teaches us be true, we Welshmen have +been worse enemies to one another than ever the English have been. +I would not let Llewelyn or Howel hear me say so, and I would fain +believe it not. But when we see how this fair land has been torn +and rent by the struggles after land and power, and how our own +kinsman, Meredith ap Res, is toying with Edward, and striving to +take from us the lands we hold yet -- so greatly diminished from +the old portion claimed by the lords of Dynevor -- we cannot call +the English our only or even our greatest foes. Ah, if Wales would +but throw aside all her petty feuds, and join as brothers fighting +shoulder to shoulder for her independence, then might there be some +hope! But now --"</p> +<p>Griffeth was looking with wide-open, wondering eyes into his +brother's face. He loved and reverenced Wendot in a fashion that +was remarkable, seeing that the elder brother was but two years and +a half his senior. But Wendot had always been grave and thoughtful +beyond his years, and had been taken much into the counsels of his +parents, so that questions which were almost new to the younger lad +had been thought much of by the eldest, the heir of the house of +Dynevor.</p> +<p>"Why, brother, thou talkest like a veritable monk for learning," +he said. "I knew not thou hadst the gift of such eloquent speech. +Methought it was the duty of every free-born son of Wales to hate +the English tyrant."</p> +<p>"Ay, and so I do when I think of his monstrous claims," cried +Wendot with flashing eyes. "Who is the King of England that he +should lay claim to our lands, our homage, our submission? My blood +boils in my veins when I think of things thus. And yet there are +moments when it seems the lesser ill to yield such homage to one +whom the world praises as statesman and soldier, than to see our +land torn and distracted by petty feuds, and split up into a +hundred hostile factions. But let us not talk further of this; it +cuts me to the heart to think of it. Tell me more of these same +travellers. How did our parents receive them? And how long purpose +they to stay?"</p> +<p>"Nay, that I have not heard. I was away over yon fell with +Gelert when I saw the company approach the castle, and ere I could +find entrance the strangers had been received and welcomed. The +father of the maiden is an English earl, Lord Montacute they call +him. He is tall and soldier-like, with an air of command like unto +our father's. The damsel is a fair-faced maiden, who scarce opens +her lips; but she keeps close to our mother's side, and seems loath +to leave her for a moment. I heard her father say that she had no +mother of her own. Her name, they say, is Lady Gertrude."</p> +<p>"A damsel at Dynevor," said Wendot, with a smile; "methinks that +will please the mother well."</p> +<p>"Come and see," cried Griffeth eagerly. "Let us hasten down to +the castle together."</p> +<p>It was easy work for the brothers to traverse the rocky pathway. +Dangerous as the descent looked to others, they were as surefooted +as young chamois, and sprang from rock to rock with the utmost +confidence. The long summer sunlight came streaming up the valley +in level rays of shimmering gold, bathing the loftier crags in +lambent fire, and filling the lower lands with layers of soft +shadow flecked here and there with gold. A sudden turn in the +narrow gorge, through which ran a brawling tributary of the wider +Towy, brought the brothers full in sight of their ancestral home, +and for a few seconds they paused breathless, gazing with an +unspeakable and ardent love upon the fair scene before them.</p> +<p>The castle of Dynevor (or Dinas Vawr = Great Palace) stood in a +commanding position upon a rocky plateau overlooking the river +Towy. From its size and splendour -- as splendour went in those +days -- it had long been a favourite residence with the princes of +South Wales; and in a recent readjustment of disputed lands, +consequent upon the perpetual petty strife that was ruining the +land, Res Vychan, the present Lord of Dynevor, had made some +considerable sacrifice in order to keep in his own hands the fair +palace of his fathers.</p> +<p>The majestic pile stood out boldly from the mountain side, and +was approached by a winding road from the valley. A mere glance +showed how strong was the position it occupied, and how difficult +such a place would be to capture. On two sides the rock fell away +almost sheer from the castle walls, whilst on the other two a deep +moat had been dug, which was fed by small mountain rivulets that +never ran dry; and the entrance was commanded by a drawbridge, +whose frowning portcullis was kept by a grim warder looking fully +equal to the office allotted to him.</p> +<p>Lovely views were commanded from the narrow windows of the +castle, and from the battlements and the terraced walk that ran +along two sides of the building. And rough and rude as were the +manners and customs of the period, and partially uncivilized as the +country was in those far-off days, there was a strong vein of +poetry lying latent in its sons and daughters, and an ardent love +for the beautiful in nature and for the country they called their +own, which went far to redeem their natures from mere savagery and +brute ferocity.</p> +<p>This passionate love for their home was strong in all the +brothers of the house of Dynevor, and was deepened and intensified +by the sense of uncertainty now pervading the whole country with +regard to foreign aggression and the ever-increasing claims upon +Welsh lands by the English invaders. A sense as of coming doom hung +over the fair landscape, and Wendot's eyes grew dreamy as he stood +gazing on the familiar scene, and Griffeth had to touch his arm and +hurry him down to the castle.</p> +<p>"Mother will be wanting us," he said. "What is the matter, +Wendot? Methinks I see the tears in thine eyes."</p> +<p>"Nay, nay; tears are for women," answered Wendot with glowing +cheeks, as he dashed his hand across his eyes. "It is for us men to +fight for our rightful inheritance, that the women may not have to +weep for their desolated homes."</p> +<p>Griffeth gave him a quick look, and then his eyes travelled +lovingly over the wide, fair scene, to the purple shadows and +curling mists of the valley, the dark mysterious woods in front, +the clear, vivid sunlight on the mountain tops, and the serried +battlements of the castle, now rising into larger proportions as +the boys dropped down the hillside towards the postern door, which +led out upon the wild fell. There was something of mute wistfulness +in his own gaze as he did so.</p> +<p>"Brother," he said thoughtfully, "I think I know what those +feelings are which bring tears to the eyes of men -- tears of which +they need feel no shame. Fear not to share with me all thy inmost +thoughts. Have we not ever been brothers in all things?"</p> +<p>"Ay, truly have we; and I would keep nothing back, only I scarce +know how to frame my lips to give utterance to the thoughts which +come crowding into my brain. But see, we have no time for communing +now. Go on up the path to the postern; it is too narrow for +company."</p> +<p>Indeed, so narrow was the track, so steep the uncertain steps +worn in the face of the rock, so deep the fall if one false step +were made, that few save the brothers and wilder mountaineers ever +sought admission by the postern door. But Wendot and Griffeth had +no fears, and quickly scaled the steps and reached the entrance, +passing through which they found themselves in a narrow vaulted +passage, very dark, which led, with many twists and turns, and +several ascending stairs, to the great hall of the castle, where +the members of the household were accustomed for the most part to +assemble.</p> +<p>A door deeply set in an embrasure gave access to this place, and +the moment it was opened the sound of a harp became audible, and +the brothers paused in the deep shadow to observe what was going on +in the hall before they advanced further.</p> +<p>A scene that would be strange and picturesque to our eyes, but +was in the main familiar to theirs, greeted them as they stood +thus. The castle hall was a huge place, large enough to contain a +muster of armed men. A great stone staircase wound upwards from it +to a gallery above. There was little furniture to be seen, and that +was of a rude kind, though not lacking in a certain massiveness and +richness in the matter of carving, which gave something baronial to +the air of the place. The walls were adorned with trophies of all +sorts, some composed of arms, others of the spoil of fell and +forest. The skins of many savage beasts lay upon the cold stone +flooring of the place, imparting warmth and harmony by the rich +tints of the furs. Light was admitted through a row of narrow +windows both above and below; but the vast place would have been +dim and dark at this hour had it not been that the huge double +doors with their rude massive bolts stood wide open to the summer +air, and the last beams of the westering sun came shining in, lying +level and warm upon the group at the upper end of the hall, which +had gathered around the white-haired, white-bearded bard, who, with +head thrown backwards, and eyes alight with strange passions and +feelings, was singing in a deep and musical voice to the sound of +his instrument.</p> +<p>Old Wenwynwyn was a study in himself; his flowing hair, his +fiery eyes, his picturesque garb and free, untrammelled gestures +giving him a weird individuality of his own. But it was not upon +him that the eyes of the brothers dwelt, nor even upon the +soldier-like figure of their stalwart father leaning against the +wall with folded arms, and eyes shining with the patriotic fervour +of his race. The attention of the lads was enchained by another and +more sumptuous figure --that of a fine-looking man, approaching to +middle life, who was seated at a little distance from the minstrel, +and was smiling with pleasure and appreciation at the wild +sweetness of the stream of melody poured forth.</p> +<p>One glance at the dress of the stranger would have been enough +to tell the brothers his nationality. His under tunic, which +reached almost to the feet, was of the finest cloth, and was +embroidered along the lower border with gold thread. The sur-tunic +was also richly embroidered; and the heavy mantle clasped upon the +shoulder with a rare jewel was of some rich texture almost unknown +to the boys. The make and set of his garments, and the jewelled and +plumed cap which he held upon his knee, alike proclaimed him to be +English; yet as he gazed upon the noble face, and looked into the +clear depths of the calm and fearless eyes, Wendot felt no +hostility towards the representative of the hostile race, but +rather a sort of reluctant admiration.</p> +<p>"In faith he looks born to command," he whispered to Griffeth. +"If all were like unto him --"</p> +<p>But the lad did not complete the sentence, for he had suddenly +caught sight of another figure, another face, and he stopped short +in a sort of bewildered amaze.</p> +<p>In Dynevor Castle there had never been a girl child to share the +honours with her brothers. No sister had played in its halls, or +tyrannized over the lads or their parents. And now when Wendot's +glance fell for the first time upon this little fairy-like +creature, this lovely little golden-haired, blue-eyed maiden, he +felt a new sensation enter his life, and gazed as wonderingly at +the apparition as if the child had been a ghost.</p> +<p>And the soft shy eyes, with their fringe of dark lashes, were +looking straight at him. As he gazed the child suddenly rose, and +darted towards the brothers as if she had wings on her feet.</p> +<p>"Oh, you have come back!" she said, looking from one to the +other, and for a moment seeming puzzled by the likeness; "and -- +why, there are two of you," and the child broke into the merriest +and silveriest of laughs. "Oh, I am so glad! I do like boys so +much, and I never have any to play with at home. I am so tired of +this old man and his harp. Please let me go somewhere with you," +and she thrust her soft little hand confidingly into Wendot's, +looking up saucily into his face as she added, "You are the +biggest; I like you the best."</p> +<p>Wendot's face glowed; but on the whole he was flattered by the +attention and the preference of the little maiden. He understood +her soft English speech perfectly, for all the Dynevor brothers had +been instructed in the English tongue by an English monk who had +long lived at the castle. Res Vychan, the present Lord of Dynevor, +foresaw, and had foreseen many years, the gradual usurpation of the +English, and had considered that a knowledge of that tongue would +in all probability be an advantage to those who were likely to be +involved in the coming struggle. The boys all possessed the quick +musical ear of their race, and found no difficulty in mastering the +language; but neither Llewelyn nor Howel would ever speak a single +word of the hated tongue if they could help it, though Wendot and +Griffeth conversed often with the old monk right willingly.</p> +<p>So as Wendot looked down into the bright little upturned face, +he was able to reply readily and smilingly:</p> +<p>"Where would you like to go, little lady, and what would you +like me to show you?"</p> +<p>"Oh, everything -- all out there," said the little girl, with a +wave of her hand towards the front door. "I want to go and see the +sun. I am tired of it in here."</p> +<p>Wendot led the child through the hall, and out upon the great +terrace which overlooked the steep descent to the valley and away +to the glowing west. Griffeth followed, glad that his elder brother +had been preferred before himself by the little maiden, yet half +fascinated by her nameless charm. Wendot lifted her up in his +strong arms to see over the wide stone balustrade, and she made him +set her down there and perch himself by her side; for she seemed +loath to go back to the hall again, and the boys were as willing as +she to remain out in the open air.</p> +<p>"It is pretty here," said the child graciously; "I think I +should like to live here sometimes, if it was always summer. Tell +me your name, big boy. I hope it is not very hard. Some people here +have names I cannot speak right."</p> +<p>"They call me Res Wendot," answered the lad; "generally Wendot +at home here. This is Griffeth, my youngest brother. Those are not +hard names, are they?"</p> +<p>"No, not very. And how old are you, Wendot?"</p> +<p>"I am fifteen."</p> +<p>"Oh, how big you are!" said the little lady, opening her eyes +wide; "I thought you must be much older than that. I am twelve, and +you can lift me up in your arms. But then I always was so little -- +they all say so."</p> +<p>"Yet you travel about with your father," said Wendot.</p> +<p>"I never did before; but this time I begged, and he took me. +Sometimes he says he shall have to put me in a nunnery, because he +has nobody to take care of me when he has to travel about. But I +don't think I should like that; I would rather stay here."</p> +<p>Wendot and Griffeth laughed; but the child was not at all +disconcerted. She was remarkably self possessed for her years, even +if she was small of stature and infantile in appearance.</p> +<p>"What is your name?" asked Wendot; and the little maid answered, +with becoming gravity and importance:</p> +<p>"I am called Lady Gertrude Cherleton; but you may call me +Gertrude if you like, because you are kind and I like you. Are +there any more of you? Have you any sisters?"</p> +<p>"No; only two brothers."</p> +<p>"More brothers! and what are their names?"</p> +<p>"Llewelyn and Howel."</p> +<p>"Llewelyn? Why, that is the name of the Prince of North Wales +that the king is going to fight against and conquer. Do you think +when he has done so that he will come here and conquer you, +too?"</p> +<p>Wendot's cheek burned a sudden red; but he made no reply, for at +that moment a head suddenly appeared round an angle of the wall, +and a heavy grip was laid upon the shoulder of the child. A wild +face and a pair of flashing black eyes were brought into close +proximity with hers, and a smothered voice spoke in fierce, low +accents.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a>. THE BROTHERS</h2> +<p>"What is that you dare to say?"</p> +<p>The voice was harsh, the words were spoken with a rough accent, +unlike the gentler tones of Wendot and Griffeth. The child uttered +a little cry and shrank back away from the grip of the strong hand, +and might have been in some danger of losing her balance and of +falling over the balustrade, had not Wendot thrown a protecting arm +round her, whilst pushing back with the other hand that of the rude +interloper.</p> +<p>"Llewelyn! for shame!" he said in his own tongue. "Art thou a +man, and claimest the blood of princes, and yet canst stoop to +frighten an inoffensive child?"</p> +<p>"She spoke of conquest -- the conquest of our country," cried +Llewelyn fiercely, in the hated English tongue, scowling darkly at +the little girl as he spoke. "Thinkest thou that I will stand +patiently by and hear such words? What right hath she or any one +besides to speak of that tyrant and usurper in such tones?"</p> +<p>"He is not a tyrant, he is not a usurper!" cried the little Lady +Gertrude, recovering herself quickly, and, whilst still holding +Wendot by the hand, turning fearlessly upon the dark-faced lad who +had startled and terrified her at the first. "I know of whom you +are speaking -- it is of our great and noble King Edward. You do +not know him -- you cannot know how great and good he is. I will +not hear you speak against him. I love him next best to my own +father. He is kind and good to everybody. If you would all give +your homage to him you would be happy and safe, and he would +protect you, and --"</p> +<p>But Llewelyn's patience was exhausted; he would listen no more. +With a fierce gesture of hatred that made the child shrink back +again he turned upon her, and it seemed for a moment almost as +though he would have struck her, despite Wendot's sturdy protecting +arm, had not his own shoulder been suddenly grasped by an iron +hand, and he himself confronted by the stern countenance of his +father.</p> +<p>"What means this, boy?" asked Res Vychan severely. "Art thou +daring to raise thine arm against a child, a lady, and thy father's +guest? For shame! I blush for thee. Ask pardon instantly of the +lady and of her father. I will have no such dealings in mine house. +Thou shouldst be well assured of that."</p> +<p>The black-browed boy was crimson with rage and shame, but there +was no yielding in the haughty face. He confronted his father with +flashing eyes, and as he did so he met the keen, grave glance of +the stranger's fixed upon him with a calm scrutiny which aroused +his fiercest rage.</p> +<p>"I will not ask pardon," he shouted. "I will not degrade my +tongue by uttering such words. I will not --"</p> +<p>The father's hand descended heavily upon his son's head, in a +blow which would have stunned a lad less hardy and hard-headed. Res +Vychan was not one to be defied with impunity by his own sons, and +he had had hard encounters of will before now with Llewelyn.</p> +<p>"Choose, boy," he said with brief sternness. "Either do my will +and obey me, or thou wilt remain a close prisoner till thou hast +come to thy senses. My guests shall not be insulted by thy forward +tongue. Barbarous and wild as the English love to call us, they +shall find that Res Vychan is not ignorant of those laws which +govern the world in which they live and move. Ask pardon of the +lady, or to the dungeon thou goest."</p> +<p>Llewelyn glanced up into his father's face, and saw no yielding +there. Howel was making vehement signs to him which he and he alone +could interpret. His other brothers were eagerly gazing at him, and +Griffeth even went so for as to murmur into his ear some words of +entreaty.</p> +<p>It seemed as though the silence which followed Res Vychan's +words would never be broken, but at last the culprit spoke, and +spoke in a low, sullen tone.</p> +<p>"I meant no harm. I would not have hurt her."</p> +<p>"Ask her pardon then, boy, and tell her so."</p> +<p>"Nay, force him no more," said the little lady, who was +regarding this curious scene with lively interest, and who began to +feel sorry for the dark wild boy who had frightened her by his +vehemence before; "I was to blame myself. I should not have spoken +as I did.</p> +<p>"Father, tell them how my tongue is always running away with me. +Hast not thou told me a hundred times that it would get me into +trouble one of these days? It is right that he should love his +country. Do not think ill of him for that."</p> +<p>"Ay, let the lad go now, good friend," quoth Lord Montacute. "No +doubt this little witch of mine was at the bottom of the mischief. +Her tongue, as she truly says, is a restless and mischievous +possession. She has found a stanch protector at least, and will +come to no harm amongst thy stalwart lads. I could envy thee such a +double brace of boys. I would it had pleased Providence to send me +a son."</p> +<p>"Nay, father, say not so," cried little Lady Gertrude coaxingly. +"I would not have a brother for all the world. Thou wouldst love +him so well, if thou hadst him, that thou wouldst have none to +spare for thy maid. I have seen how it ever is. I love to have all +thy heart for mine own."</p> +<p>The father smiled, but Res Vychan's face was still severe, and +he had not loosed his clasp upon Llewelyn's arm.</p> +<p>"Say that thou art sorry ere I let thee go," he said, in low but +very stern tones; and after a moment's hesitation, Llewelyn spoke +in audible tones.</p> +<p>"I am sorry," he said slowly; "I am sorry."</p> +<p>And then as his father's clasp upon his arm relaxed he darted +away like an arrow from the bow, and plunged with Howel through a +dark and gloomy doorway which led up a winding turret stair to a +narrow circular chamber, which the brothers shared together.</p> +<p>"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" he panted fiercely; "ay, that indeed I +am. Sorry that I did not wring her neck as the fowler wrings the +neck of the bird his shaft hath brought down; sorry I did not cast +her headlong down the steep precipice, that there might be one less +of the hated race contaminating the air of our pure Wales with +their poisonous breath. Sorry! ay, that I am! I would my hand had +done a deed which should have set proud Edward's forces in battle +array against us. I would that this tampering with traitors were at +an end, and that we warriors of South Wales might stand shoulder to +shoulder, firmly banded against the foreign foe. I would plunge a +dagger in the false heart of yon proud Englishman as he lies +sleeping in his bed tonight, if by doing so I could set light to +the smouldering flame of national hatred.</p> +<p>"What sayest thou? Can we do nought to bring upon us an open +war, which is a thousand times better than this treacherous, hollow +peace? Our father and mother are half won over to the cause of +slavery. They --"</p> +<p>Llewelyn paused, choking back the fierce tide of passion which +went far to unman him. He had not forgotten the humiliation placed +upon him so recently, when his father had compelled him to sue for +pardon to an English maiden. His heart was burning, his soul was +stirred to its depths. He had to stop short lest his passion should +carry him away.</p> +<p>Howel seemed to understand him without the medium of words. The +links which bound the twin brothers together were very subtle and +very strong. If Llewelyn were the more violent and headstrong, +Howel was more than his equal in diplomacy. He shared every feeling +of his brother's heart, but he was less outspoken and less +rash.</p> +<p>"I know what thou wouldst do," he said thoughtfully: "thou +wouldst force upon our father a step which shall make a rupture +with the English inevitable. Thou wouldst do a thing which should +bring upon us the wrath of the mighty Edward, and force both +ourselves and our neighbours to take arms against him. Is not that +so?"</p> +<p>"Ay, truly; and could such a thing be, gladly would I lay down +my life in the cause of liberty and freedom."</p> +<p>Howel was pondering deeply.</p> +<p>"Perchance it might be done," he said.</p> +<p>Llewelyn eagerly raised his head.</p> +<p>"Thinkest thou so? How?"</p> +<p>"I know not yet, but we shall have time for thought. Knowest +thou that the maid will remain here beneath our mother's charge for +a while, whilst our father goes forward as far as the Abbey of +Strata Florida with yon stranger, to guide him on his way? The maid +will remain here until her father's return."</p> +<p>"How knowest thou that?"</p> +<p>"I had it from Wenwynwyn's lips. He heard the discussion in the +hall, and it seems that this Lord Montacute would be glad to be +free of the care of the child for a while. Our mother delights in +the charge of a little maid, and thus it will be as I have +said."</p> +<p>A strange fire gleamed in Llewelyn's eyes. The brothers looked +at each other a good while in silence.</p> +<p>"And thou thinkest --" said Llewelyn at last.</p> +<p>Howel was some time in replying, and his answer was a little +indeterminate, although sufficiently significant.</p> +<p>"Why, the maid will be left here; but when her father returns to +claim her, perchance she will not be found. If that were so, +thinkest thou not that nought but open war would lie before +us?"</p> +<p>Llewelyn's eyes glowed. He said not a word, and the darkness +gathered round the boys in the narrow chamber. They thought not of +descending or of asking for food, even after their day's hunting in +the hills. They were hardy, and seasoned to abstemious ways, and +had no room for thoughts of such a kind. Silence was settling down +upon the castle, and they had no intention of leaving their room +again that night. Dark thoughts were their companions as they +undressed and made ready for bed; and hardly were they settled +there before the door opened, and the old bard Wenwynwyn +entered.</p> +<p>This old man was almost like a father to these boys, and +Llewelyn and Howel were particularly attached to him and he to +them. He shared to the full their ardent love for their country and +their untempered hatred of the English race. He saw, as they did, +nothing but ill in the temporizing attitude now to be found amongst +the smaller Welsh chieftains with regard to the claims made by the +English monarch; and much of the fierce hostility to be found in +the boys had been the result of the lessons instilled into their +mind by the wild-eyed, passionate old bard, one of the last of a +doomed race.</p> +<p>"Wenwynwyn, is it thou?"</p> +<p>"Ay, boys, it is I. You did well to abstain from sitting at meat +with the stranger tonight. The meat went nigh to choke me that was +swallowed in his presence."</p> +<p>"How long stays he, contaminating our pure air?"</p> +<p>"He himself is off by sunrise tomorrow, and Res Vychan goes with +him. He leaves behind the little maid in the care of thy +mother."</p> +<p>A strange smile crossed the face of the old man, invisible in +the darkness.</p> +<p>"Strange for the parent bird to leave the dove in the nest of +the hawk -- the eyry of the eagle."</p> +<p>"Ha!" quoth Llewelyn quickly, "that thought hath likewise come +to thee, good Wenwynwyn."</p> +<p>The old man made no direct response, but went on speaking in low +even tones.</p> +<p>"The maid has dwelt in the household of the great king. She has +played with his children, been the companion of the young +princesses. She is beloved of them and of the monarch and his wife. +Let them but hear that she is lost in the fastness of Dynevor, and +the royal Edward will march in person to her rescue. All the +country will rise in arms to defend itself. The north will join +with the south, and Wales will shake off the hated foreign yoke +banded as one man against the foreign foe."</p> +<p>The boys listened spellbound. They had often talked together of +some step which might kindle the conflagration, but had never yet +seen the occasion. Hot-headed, rash, reckless as were the youths; +wild, tameless, and fearless as was the ancient bard; they had +still been unable to hit upon any device which might set a light to +the train. Discontent and resentment were rife all over the +country, but it was the fashion rather to temporize with the +invader than to defy him. There was a strong party gathering in the +country whose policy was that of paying homage to Edward and +retaining their lands under his protection and countenance, as +being more truly patriotic and farsighted than continuing the old +struggle for supremacy among themselves. This was a policy utterly +incomprehensible both to the boys and the old man, and stirred the +blood of the lads to boiling pitch.</p> +<p>"What can we do?" asked Llewelyn hoarsely.</p> +<p>"I will tell you," whispered the old man, approaching close to +the bed whereon the brothers lay wide-eyed and broad awake. "This +very night I leave the castle by the postern door, and in the +moonlight I make my way to the commot of Llanymddyvri, where dwells +that bold patriot Maelgon ap Caradoc. To him I tell all, and he +will risk everything in the cause. It will be very simply done. You +boys must feign a while -- must feign friendship for the maid thus +left behind. Your brothers have won her heart already; you must not +be behind them. The dove must have no fear of the young eaglets. +She has a high courage of her own; she loves adventure and frolic; +she will long to stretch her wings, and wander amid the mountain +heights, under the stanch protection of her comrades of +Dynevor.</p> +<p>"Then listen, boys. The day will come when the thing is to be +done. In some of the wild fastnesses of the upper Towy will be +lurking the bold bands of Maelgon ap Caradoc. Thither you must lead +the unsuspicious maid, first by some device getting rid of your +brothers, who might try to thwart the scheme. These bold fellows +will carry off the maid to the safe keeping of Maelgon, and once +let her be his prisoner, there is no fear of her escaping from his +hands. Edward himself and all his forces at his back will scarce +wrest away the prize, and the whole country will be united and in +arms ere it suffer the tyrant to march through our fair vales."</p> +<p>Whilst within this upper turret chamber this plot was being +concocted against the innocent child by two passionate, hot-headed +boys and one of the ancient race of bards, the little maiden was +herself sleeping soundly and peacefully within a small inner +closet, close to the room where Gladys, the lady of the castle, +reposed; and with the earliest streak of dawn, when the child +opened her eyes upon the strange bare walls of the Welsh +stronghold, the first thing that met her eyes was the sweet and +gentle face of the chatelaine bending tenderly over her.</p> +<p>Although the present lady of Dynevor was the sister of the bold +and fierce Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales, who gave more trouble +to the King of England than did anybody else, she was herself of a +gentle and thoughtful disposition, more inclined to advocate peace +than war, and more far-seeing, temperate, and well-informed than +most persons of her time, and especially than the women, who for +the most part had but very vague ideas as to what was going on in +the country.</p> +<p>She had had many thoughts herself during the still hours of this +summer night, and when she bent over the sleeping child and wakened +her by a kiss, she felt a strange tenderness towards her, which +seemed to be reciprocated by the little one, who suddenly flung her +arms about her neck and kissed her passionately.</p> +<p>"Is my father gone?" she asked, recollection coming back.</p> +<p>"Not gone, but going soon," answered the Lady of Dynevor, +smiling; "that is why I have come to waken thee early, little +Gertrude, that thou mayest receive his farewell kiss and see him +ride away. Thou wilt not be grieved to be left with us for a while, +little one? Thou wilt not pine in his absence?"</p> +<p>"Not if I have you to take care of me," answered the child +confidingly -- "you and Wendot and Griffeth. I am weary of always +travelling on rough roads. I will gladly stay here a while with +you."</p> +<p>There was the bustle of preparation going on in the hall when +the lady descended with the child hanging on to her hand. Gertrude +broke away and ran to her father, who was sitting at the board, +with Wendot standing beside him listening eagerly to his talk. The +boy's handsome face was alight, and he seemed full of eager +interest in what was being said. Lord Montacute frequently raised +his head and gave the lad a look of keen scrutiny. Even whilst +caressing his little daughter his interest seemed to be centred in +Wendot, and when at parting the lad held his stirrup for him, and +gently restrained little Gertrude, who was in danger of being +trampled on by the pawing charger, Lord Montacute looked for a +moment very intently at the pair, and then let his glance wander +for a moment over the grand fortress of Dynevor and the beautiful +valley it commanded.</p> +<p>Then he turned once more to Wendot with a kindly though +penetrating smile.</p> +<p>"In the absence of your father, Wendot, you are the master and +guardian of this castle, its occupants and its treasures. I render +my little daughter into your safe keeping. Of your hands I shall +ask her back when I return in a week's time."</p> +<p>Wendot flushed with pleasure and gratification. What boy does +not like the thought of being looked upon as his father's +substitute? He raised his head with a gesture of pride, and clasped +the little soft hand of Gertrude more closely in his.</p> +<p>"I will take the trust, Lord Montacute," he said. "I will hold +myself responsible for the safety of Lady Gertrude. At my hands +demand her when you return. If she is not safe and well, take my +life as the forfeit."</p> +<p>Lord Montacute smiled slightly at the manly words and bearing of +the lad, but he did not like him the less for either. As for little +Gertrude, she gazed up into the bold bright face of Wendot, and +clasping his hand in hers, she said:</p> +<p>"Am I to belong to you now? I think I shall like that, you are +so brave and so kind to me."</p> +<p>The father gave the pair another of his keen looks, and rode off +in the bright morning sunshine, promising not to be very long +away.</p> +<p>"I shan't fret, now that I have you and the Lady of Dynevor," +said the child confidingly to Wendot. "I've often been left for a +long time at the palace with the ladies Eleanor and Joanna, and +with Alphonso and Britton, but I shall like this much better. There +is no governess here, and we can do as we like. I want to know +everything you do, and go everywhere with you."</p> +<p>Wendot promised to show the little lady everything she wanted, +and led her in to breakfast, which was a very important meal in +those days. All the four brothers were gathered at the board, and +the child looked rather shyly at the dark-browed twins, whom she +hardly knew one from the other, and whom she regarded with a +certain amount of awe. But there was nothing hostile in the manner +of any of the party. Llewelyn was silent, but when he did speak it +was in very different tones from those of last night; and Howel was +almost brilliant in his sallies, and evoked many a peal of laughter +from the lighthearted little maiden. Partings with her father were +of too common occurrence to cause her much distress, and she was +too well used to strange places to feel lost in these new +surroundings, and she had her own nurse and attendant left with +her.</p> +<p>Full of natural curiosity, the child was eager to see everything +of interest near her temporary home, and the brothers were her very +devoted servants, taking her everywhere she wished to go, helping +her over every difficult place, and teaching her to have such +confidence in them, and such trust in their guidance, that she soon +ceased to feel fear however wild was the ascent or descent, however +lonely the region in which she found herself.</p> +<p>Although Wendot continued her favourite, and Griffeth stood +next, owing to his likeness to his eldest brother, the twins soon +won her favour also. They were in some respects more interesting, +as they were less easily understood, wilder and stranger in their +ways, and always full of stories of adventure and warfare, which +fascinated her imagination even when she knew that they spoke of +the strife between England and Wales. She had a high spirit and a +love of adventure, which association with these stalwart boys +rapidly developed.</p> +<p>One thing about Llewelyn and Howel gratified her childlike +vanity, and gave her considerable pleasure. They would praise her +agility and courage, and urge her on to make trial of her strength +and nerve, when the more careful Wendot would beg her to be careful +and not risk herself by too great recklessness. A few days spent in +this pure, free air seemed to infuse new life into her frame, and +the colour in her cheeks and the light in her eyes deepened day by +day, to the motherly satisfaction of the Lady of Dynevor and the +pride of Wendot, who regarded the child as his especial charge.</p> +<p>But in his father's absence many duties fell upon Wendot, and +there came a bright evening when he and Griffeth were occupied +about the castle, and only Llewelyn and Howel had leisure to wander +with the little guest to her favourite spot to see the red sun +set.</p> +<p>Llewelyn was full of talk that evening, and spoke with a rude +eloquence and fire that always riveted the attention of the child. +He told of the wild, lonely beauty of a certain mountain peak which +he pointed out up the valley, of the weird charm of the road +thither, and above all of the eagle's nest which was to be found +there, and the young eaglets being now reared therein, which he and +Howel meant to capture and keep as their own, and which they +purposed to visit the very next day to see if they were fit yet to +leave the nest.</p> +<p>Gertrude sat entranced as the boy talked, and when she heard of +the eagle's nest she gave a little cry of delight.</p> +<p>"O Llewelyn, take me with you. Let me see the eagle's nest and +the little eaglets."</p> +<p>But the boy shook his head doubtfully.</p> +<p>"You could not get as far. It is a long way, and a very rough +walk."</p> +<p>The child shook back her curling hair defiantly.</p> +<p>"I could do it! I know I could. I could go half the way on my +palfrey, and walk the rest. You would help me. You know how well I +can climb. Oh, do take me -- do take me! I should so love to see an +eagle's nest."</p> +<p>But still Llewelyn shook his head.</p> +<p>"Wendot would not let you go; he would say it was too +dangerous."</p> +<p>Again came the little defiant toss.</p> +<p>"I am not Wendot's slave; I can do as I choose."</p> +<p>"If he finds out he will stop you."</p> +<p>"But we need not tell him, need we?"</p> +<p>"I thought you always told him everything."</p> +<p>The child stamped her little foot.</p> +<p>"I tell him things generally, but I can keep a secret. If he +would stop us from going, we will not tell him, nor Griffeth +either. We will get up very early and go by ourselves. We could do +that, could we not, and come back with the young eaglets in our +hands? O let us go! let us do it soon, and take me with you, kind +Llewelyn! Indeed I shall not be in your way. I will be very good. +And you know you have taught me to climb so well. I know I can go +where you can go. You said so yourself once."</p> +<p>Llewelyn turned his head away to conceal a smile half of +triumph, half of contempt. A strange flash was in his eyes as he +looked up the valley towards the crag upon which he had told the +child the eyry of the eagles hung. She thought he was hesitating +still, and laid a soft little hand upon his arm.</p> +<p>"Please say that I may go."</p> +<p>He turned quickly and looked at her. For a moment she shrank +back from the strange glow in his eyes; but her spirit rose again, +and she said rather haughtily: "You need not be angry with me. If +you don't wish me to come I will stay at home with Wendot. I do not +choose to ask favours of anybody if they will not give them +readily."</p> +<p>"I should like to take you if it would be safe," answered +Llewelyn, speaking as if ashamed of his petulance or +reluctance.</p> +<p>"Howel, could she climb to the crag where we can look down upon +the eyry if we helped her up the worst places?"</p> +<p>"I think she could."</p> +<p>The child's face flushed; she clasped her hands together and +listened eagerly whilst the brothers discussed the plan which in +the end was agreed to -- a very early start secretly from the +castle before the day dawned, the chief point to be observed +beforehand being absolute secrecy, so that the projected expedition +should not reach the ears either of Wendot, his mother, or +Griffeth. It was to be carried out entirely by the twins +themselves, with Gertrude as their companion.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a>. THE EAGLE'S CRAG.</h2> +<p>"Where is the maid, mother?"</p> +<p>"Nay, I know not, my son. I thought she was with thee."</p> +<p>"I have not seen her anywhere. I have been busy with the +men."</p> +<p>"Where are the other boys?"</p> +<p>"That I know not either. I have seen none since I rose this +morning. I have been busy."</p> +<p>"The maid had risen and dressed herself, and had slipped out +betimes," said the Lady of Dynevor, as she took her place at the +board. "Methought she would be with thee. She is a veritable sprite +for flitting hither and thither after thee. Doubtless she is with +some of the others. Who knows where the boys have gone this +morning? They are not wont to be absent at the breakfast hour."</p> +<p>This last question was addressed to the servants who were at the +lower end of the board, and one of them spoke up in reply. By what +he said it appeared that Griffeth had started off early to fly a +new falcon of his, and it seemed probable that his brothers and +little Lady Gertrude had accompanied him; for whilst he had been +discussing with the falconer the best place for making the proposed +trial, Llewelyn had been to the stables and had saddled and led out +the palfrey upon which their little guest habitually rode, and +there seemed no reason to doubt that all the party had gone +somewhere up upon the highlands to watch the maiden essay of the +bird.</p> +<p>"She would be sure to long to see the trial," said Wendot, +attacking the viands before him with a hearty appetite. "She always +loves to go with us when there is anything to see or hear. I marvel +that she spoke not of it to me, but perchance it slipped her +memory."</p> +<p>The early risers were late at the meal, but no one was anxious +about them. When anything so engrossing as the flying of a young +falcon was in the wind, it was natural that so sublunary a matter +as breakfast should be forgotten. The servants had finished their +meal, and had left the table before there was any sign of the +return of the wanderers, and then it was only Griffeth who came +bounding in, his face flushed and his eyes shining as he caressed +the hooded bird upon his wrist.</p> +<p>"He is a beauty, Wendot. I would thou hadst been there to see. I +took him up to --"</p> +<p>"Ay, tell us all that when thou hast had something to eat," said +Wendot. "And where is Gertrude? she must be well-nigh famished by +this time."</p> +<p>"Gertrude? Nay, I know not. I have not seen her. I would not +have wearied her with such a tramp through the heavy dews."</p> +<p>"But she had her palfrey; Llewelyn led it away ere it was well +light. Were you not all together?"</p> +<p>"Nay, I was all alone. Llewelyn and Howel were off and away +before I was ready; for when I sought them to ask if they would +come, they were nowhere to be found. As for the maid, I never +thought of her. Where can they have taken her so early?"</p> +<p>A sudden look of anxiety crossed Wendot's face; but he repressed +any exclamation of dismay, and glanced at his mother to see if by +any chance she shared his feeling. But her face was calm and +placid, and she said composedly:</p> +<p>"If she is with Llewelyn and Howel she will be safe. They have +taken her on some expedition in secret, but none will harm her with +two such stout protectors as they."</p> +<p>And then the lady moved away to commence her round of household +duties, which in those days was no sinecure; whilst Wendot stood in +the midst of the great hall with a strange shadow upon his face. +Griffeth, who was eagerly discussing his breakfast, looked +wonderingly at him.</p> +<p>"Brother, what ails thee?" he said at length; "thou seemest ill +at ease."</p> +<p>"I am ill at ease," answered Wendot, and with a quick glance +round him to assure himself that there was no one by to hear, he +approached Griffeth with hasty steps and sat down beside him, +speaking in a low, rapid way and in English, "Griffeth, tell me, +didst thou hear aught last night ere thou fell asleep?"</p> +<p>"Ay, I heard Wenwynwyn singing to his harp in his own chamber, +but nought beside."</p> +<p>"I heard that too," said Wendot, "and for his singing I could +not sleep; so when it ceased not, I rose and stole to his room to +ask him to forbear, yet so wild and strange was the song he sang +that at the door I paused to listen; and what thinkest thou was the +burden that he sang?"</p> +<p>"Nay, I know not; tell me."</p> +<p>"He sang a strange song that I have never heard before, of how a +dove was borne from safe shelter -- a young dove in the absence of +the father bird; not the mother bird, but the father -- and carried +away to the eagle's nest by two fierce young eaglets untamed and +untamable, there to be left till the kites come down to carry off +the prize.</p> +<p>"Ha! thou startest and changest colour! What is it thou fearest? +Where are Llewelyn and Howell and what have they done with the +maid? What kuowest thou, Griffeth?"</p> +<p>"I know nought," answered Griffeth, "save that Wenwynwyn has +been up to the commot of Llanymddyvri, and thou knowest what all +they of that place feel towards the English. Then Llewelyn and +Howel have been talking of late of the eagle's nest on the crag +halfway thither, and if they had named it to Gertrude she would +have been wild to go and see it. We know when Wenwynwyn sings his +songs how he ever calls Maelgon ap Caradoc the kite, and the lords +of Dynevor the eagles. But, Wendot, it could not be -- a child -- a +maid -- and our father's guest. I cannot believe it of our own +brothers."</p> +<p>"I know not what to think, but my heart misgives me. Thou +knowest what Llewelyn ever was, and Howel is but his shadow. I have +mistrusted this strange friendship before now, remembering what +chanced that first day, and that Llewelyn never forgives or +forgets; but I would not have dreamed of such a thing as this. Yet, +Griffeth, if the thing is so, there is no time to lose. I am off +for the crag this very minute. Thou must quietly collect and arm a +few of our stanchest men, together with the English servants left +here with their young mistress. Let all be done secretly and +quietly, and come after me with all speed. It may be that we are on +a fool's errand, and that our fears are groundless. But truly it +may be that our brothers are about to betray our guest into the +hands of one of England's most bitter foes.</p> +<p>"Oh, methinks were her father to return, and I had her not safe +to deliver back to him, I would not for very shame live to see the +day when I must avow to him what had befallen his child at the +hands of my brethren!"</p> +<p>Griffeth was fully alive to the possible peril menacing the +child, and eagerly took his orders from his elder brother. It would +not be difficult to summon some dozen of the armed men on the place +to accompany him quietly and secretly. They would follow upon +Wendot's fleet steps with as little delay as might be, and would at +least track the fugitive and her guides, whether they succeeded in +effecting a rescue that day or not.</p> +<p>Wendot waited for nothing but to give a few directions to his +brother. Scarce ten minutes had elapsed from the moment when the +first illumination of mind had come to him respecting some plot +against the life of an innocent child, before he had armed himself, +and unleashed two of the fleetest, strongest, fiercest of the +hounds, and was speeding up across the moor and fell towards the +lonely crag of the eagle's nest, which lay halfway between the +castle of Dynevor and the abode of Maelgon ap Caradoc.</p> +<p>There was one advantage Wendot possessed over his brothers, and +that was that he could take the wild-deer tracks which led straight +onward and upward, whilst they with their charge would have to keep +to the winding mule track, which trebled the distance. The maiden's +palfrey was none too clever or surefooted upon these rough +hillsides, and their progress would be but slow.</p> +<p>Wendot moved as if he had wings to his feet, and although the +hot summer sun began to beat down upon his head, and his breath +came in deep, laboured gasps, he felt neither heat nor fatigue, but +pressed as eagerly onwards and upwards as the strong, fleet hounds +at his side.</p> +<p>He knew he was on the right track; for ever and anon his path +would cross that which had been trodden by the feet of the boys and +the horse earlier in the day, and his own quick eyes and the deep +baying of the hounds told him at once whenever this was the case. +Upwards and onwards, onwards and upwards, sprang the brave lad with +the untiring energy of a strong and righteous purpose. He might be +going to danger, he might be going to his death; for if he came +into open collision with the wild and savage retainers of Maelgon, +intent upon obtaining their prey, he knew that they would think +little of stabbing him to the heart rather than be balked. There +was no feud so far between Llanymddyvri and Dynevor, but Wendot +knew that his father was suspected of leaning towards the English +cause, and that it would take little to provoke some hostile +demonstration on the part of his wild and reckless neighbour. The +whole country was torn and rent by internecine strife, and there +was a chronic state of semi-warfare kept up between half the nobles +of the country against the other half.</p> +<p>But of personal danger Wendot thought nothing. His own honour +and that of his father were at stake. If the little child left in +their care were treacherously given up to the foes of the English, +the boy felt that he should never lift up his head again. He must +save her -- he would. Far rather would he die in her defence than +face her father with the story of the base treachery of his +brothers.</p> +<p>The path grew wilder and steeper; the vegetation became more +scant. The heat of the sun was tempered by the cold of the upper +air. It was easier to climb, and the boy felt that his muscles were +made of steel.</p> +<p>Suddenly a new sound struck upon his ear. It was like the whinny +of a horse, only that there was in it a note of distress. Glancing +sharply about him, Wendot saw Lady Gertrude's small white palfrey +standing precariously on a ledge of rock, and looking pitifully +about him, unable to move either up or down. The creature had +plainly been turned loose and abandoned, and in trying to find his +way home had stranded upon this ledge, and was frightened to move a +step. Wendot was fond of all animals, and could not leave the +pretty creature in such a predicament.</p> +<p>"Besides, Gertrude may want him again for the descent," he said; +and although every moment was precious, he contrived to get the +horse up the steep bank and on to better ground, and then tethered +him on a small grassy plateau, where he could feed and take his +ease in safety for an hour or two to come.</p> +<p>That matter accomplished, the lad was up and off again. He had +now to trust to the hounds to direct him, for he did not know what +track his brothers would have taken, and the hard rocks gave no +indications which he could follow. But the dogs were well used to +their work, and with their noses to the ground followed the trail +unceasingly, indicating from time to time by a deep bay that they +were absolutely certain of their direction.</p> +<p>High overhead loomed the apex of the great crag. Wendot knew +that he had not much farther to go. He was able to distinguish the +cairn of stones which he and his brothers had once erected on the +top in honour of their having made the ascent in a marvellously +short space of time. Wendot had beaten that record today, he knew; +but his eyes were full of anxiety instead of triumph. He was +scanning every track and every inch of distance for traces of the +foe he felt certain were somewhere at hand. Had they been here +already, and had they carried off the prey? Or were they only on +their way, and had he come in time to thwart their purpose yet?</p> +<p>Ha! what was that?</p> +<p>Wendot had reached the shoulder of the mountain; he could see +across the valley -- could see the narrow winding track which led +to the stronghold of Maelgon. The Eagle's Crag, as it was called, +fell away precipitously on the other side. No one could scale it on +that face. The path from the upper valley wound round circuitously +towards it; and along this path, in the brilliant sunshine, Wendot +saw distinctly the approach of a small band of armed men. Yes: they +were approaching, they were not retreating. Then they had not +already taken their prey; they were coming to claim it. The boy +could have shouted aloud in his triumph and joy; but he held his +peace, for who could tell what peril might not lie in the way?</p> +<p>The next moment he had scaled the steep, slippery rock which led +to the precipitous edge of the crag. Not a sign could he see of his +brothers or the child, but the hounds led right on to the very +verge of the precipice, and for a moment the boy's heart stood +still. What if they had grown afraid of the consequences of their +own act, and had resolved to get rid of the child in a sure and +safe fashion!</p> +<p>For a moment Wendot's blood ran cold. He recalled the traits of +fierce cruelty which had sometimes shown themselves in Llewelyn +from childhood, his well-known hatred of the English, his outburst +of passion with Gertrude, so quickly followed by a strange +appearance of friendship. Wendot knew his countrymen and his +nation's characteristics, and knew that fierce acts of treachery +were often truly charged upon them. What if -- But the thought was +too repellent to be seriously pursued, and shaking it off by an +effort, he raised his voice and called his brothers by name.</p> +<p>And then, almost as it seemed from beneath his very feet, there +came an answering call; but the voice was not that of his brothers, +but the cry of a terrified child.</p> +<p>"Oh, who are you? Do, please, come to me. I am so frightened. I +know I shall fall. I know I shall be killed. Do come to me quickly. +I don't know where Llewelyn and Howel have gone."</p> +<p>"I am coming -- I am Wendot," cried the boy, his heart giving a +sudden bound. "You are not hurt, you are safe?"</p> +<p>"Yes; only so giddy and frightened, and the sun is so hot and +burning, and yet it is cold, too. It is such a narrow place, and I +cannot get up or down. I can't see the eagle's nest, and they have +been such a long time going after it. They said they would bring +the nest and the young eagles up to me, but they have never come +back. I'm afraid they are killed or hurt. Oh, if you would only +help me up, then we would go and look for them together! Oh, I am +so glad that you have come!"</p> +<p>Wendot could not see the child, though every word she spoke was +distinctly audible. He certainly could not reach her from the place +where he now stood; but the hounds had been following the tracks of +the quarry they had been scenting all this way, and stood baying at +a certain spot some fifty yards away, and a little lower down than +the apex of the crag. It was long since Wendot had visited this +spot, his brothers knew it better than he; but when he got to the +place indicated by the dogs, he saw that there was a little +precipitous path along the face of the cliff, which, although very +narrow and not a little dangerous, did give foothold to an +experienced mountaineer. How the child had ever had the nerve to +tread it he could not imagine, but undoubtedly she was there, and +he must get her back, if possible, and down the mountainside, +before those armed men from the upper valley could reach them.</p> +<p>But could he do this? He cast an apprehensive glance over his +shoulder, and saw to his dismay how quickly they were approaching. +From their quickened pace he fancied that his own movements had +been observed. Certainly there was not a moment to lose, and +leaving the dogs to keep guard at the entrance, he set his foot +upon the perilous path and carefully pursued his way.</p> +<p>The face of the cliff jutted outwards for some yards, and then +made a sharp turn round an angle. At the spot where this turn +occurred, a sort of natural arch had formed itself over the narrow +ledge which formed the path, and immediately behind the arch there +was a small plateau which gave space to stand and move with some +freedom, although a step over the edge would plunge the unwary +victim into the deep gulf beneath. The cliff then fell away once +again, but the ledge wound round it still, until it ended in a +shallow alcove some eight feet deep, which lay just beneath the +highest part of the crag, which overhung it by many yards.</p> +<p>And it was crouched up against the cliff in this little alcove +that Wendot found Gertrude; cowering, white-faced, against the hard +rock, faint from want of food, terrified at the loneliness and at +her own fears for the safety of her companions, and so overwrought +by the tension of nerve she had undergone, that when Wendot did +stand beside her she could only cling to him sobbing passionately, +and it was long before he could even induce her to let him go, or +to attempt to eat the contents of a small package he had had the +forethought to bring in his wallet.</p> +<p>He heard her tale as she sobbed in his arms. They had come here +after the eagle's nest. Llewelyn and Howel had been so kind! They +had not minded her being so slow, but had brought her all the way; +and when she wanted to follow them along the ledge to get a better +view of the nest, they had blindfolded her that she might not get +giddy, and had put a rope round her and brought her safely along +the narrow ledge till she had got to this place. But the nest could +not be seen even from there, and they had left her to see where it +really was. They said they would soon be back, but they had not +come, and she had got first anxious and then terrified about them, +and then fearful for her own safety. At last when faintness and +giddiness had come upon her, and she could get no answer to her +repeated shouts, her spirit had altogether given way; and unless +Wendot had really come to her rescue, she was certain she should +have fallen down the precipice. She did not know now how she should +ever get back along the narrow ridge, she was so frightened and +giddy. But if Llewelyn and Howel would come, perhaps she might.</p> +<p>Did Wendot know where they were? Would he take care of her now, +and bring her safe home?</p> +<p>"I will if I can," answered the boy, with a strange light in his +blue eyes. "Griffeth is on his way with plenty of help. He will be +here soon. Do you think you could walk along the ridge now, if I +were to hold you up and help you? We should get home sooner if you +could."</p> +<p>But the child shrank back and put her hand before her eyes.</p> +<p>"Oh, let us wait till Griffeth comes. I am so giddy still, and I +am so afraid I should fall. Hark! I'm sure I hear voices. They are +coming already. Oh, I am so glad! I do want to get home. Wendot, +why do you look like that? Why do you get out that thing? You are +not going to fight?"</p> +<p>"Lady Gertrude," said Wendot, speaking in a grave, manly way +that at once riveted the child's attention, "I am afraid that those +voices do not belong to our friends, but to a band of men who are +coming to try and take you prisoner to a castle up the valley +there. No: do not be frightened; I will save you from them if I +can. There is help coming for us, and I think I can hold this path +against them for some time to come. You must try and keep up heart +and not be frightened. You may see some hard blows struck, but you +can shut your eyes and not think about it. If they do kill me and +carry you off, do not give up hope, for Griffeth and our own men +will be after you to rescue you. Now let me go, and try not to be +afraid. I think we can hold them at bay till we are more equally +matched."</p> +<p>The child's eyes dilated with horror. She caught Wendot by the +hand.</p> +<p>"Give me up," she said firmly. "I will not have you killed for +me. I would rather go with them. Give me up, I say!"</p> +<p>"No, Gertrude; I will not give you up," answered Wendot very +quietly, but with an inflexibility of tone which made his voice +seem like that of another person. "Your father placed you in my +hands; to him I must answer for your safety. What is life to a man +without honour? Would you have me stain my name for the sake of +saving my life? I think not that that is the English code of +honour."</p> +<p>Child as she was, little Gertrude understood well what was +implied in those words, and a new light flashed into her eyes. +Something of the soldier spirit awoke within her, and she snatched +at a small dagger Wendot carried in his belt, and drawing her small +figure to its full height, she said:</p> +<p>"We will both fight, Wendot; we will both fight, and both die +rather than let them take us."</p> +<p>He smiled, and just for a moment laid his hand upon her head; +then he drew on his mailed gloves and looked well to the buckles of +the stout leathern jerkin, almost as impervious to the stabs of his +foes as a suit of mail itself. The temper of his weapon he well +knew; he had no fear that it would play him false. He had not the +headpiece of mail; he had started in too great a hurry to arm +himself completely, and speed was too much an object for him to +willingly encumber himself needlessly. But as he skirted the narrow +ledge, and placed himself beneath the protecting arch, he smiled +grimly to himself, and thought that the stone would be as good a +guard, and that here was a place where a man could sell his life +dear, and send many a foe to his account before striking his own +colours.</p> +<p>Scarcely had he well established himself in the commanding +position he had resolved upon, when the sound of voices became more +distinct. The party had plainly arrived at the appointed place, and +Wendot could hear them discussing who was best fitted for the task +of traversing the dangerous ledge to bring back the captive who was +to be found there. The wild Welsh was unintelligible to Gertrude, +or she would have known at once what dark treachery had been +planned and carried out by her trusted companions; but Wendot's +cheek glowed with shame, and he set his teeth hard, resolved to +redeem the honour of his father's name to the last drop of his +blood if he should be called upon to shed it in the cause.</p> +<p>He heard the slow and cautious steps approaching along the path, +and he gripped his weapon more tightly in his hand. The red light +of battle was in his eyes, and the moment he caught sight of the +form of the stalwart soldier threading his perilous way along the +path he sprang upon him with a cry of fury, and hurled him into the +gulf beneath.</p> +<p>Down fell the man, utterly unprepared for such an attack, and +his sharp cry of terror was echoed from above by a dozen loud +voices.</p> +<p>Cries and shouts and questions assailed Wendot, but he answered +never a word. Those above knew not if it had been an accident, or +if an ambushed foe had hurled their comrade to destruction. Again +came a long pause for consideration -- and every moment wasted was +all in favour of the pair upon the ledge -- and then it became +plain that some course of action had been determined upon, and +Wendot heard the cautious approach of another foe. This man crept +on his way much more cautiously, and the youth held himself ready +for a yet more determined spring. Luckily for him, he could remain +hidden until his opponent was close to him; and so soon as he was +certain from the sound that the man was reaching the angle of the +rock, he made another dash, and brought down his sword with all the +strength of his arm upon the head of the assailant.</p> +<p>Once again into the heart of the abyss crashed the body of the +unfortunate soldier; but a sharp thrill of pain ran through +Wendot's frame, and a barbed arrow, well aimed at the joint of his +leather jerkin, plunged into his neck and stuck fast.</p> +<p>The first assailant whom he had disposed of was but one of a +close line, following each other in rapid succession. As his face +became visible to the man now foremost a shout of surprise and +anger rose up.</p> +<p>"It is Res Wendot! It is one of the sons of the house of +Dynevor!</p> +<p>"Wendot, thou art mad! We are the friends of thy house. We are +here at the instigation of thine own kindred. Give us the maid, and +thou shalt go free. We would not harm thee."</p> +<p>"Stir but one step nearer, and I slay thee as I have slain thy +two comrades," cried Wendot, in a voice which all might hear. "I +deal not in treachery towards those that trust us. I will answer +for the safety of the maid with mine own life. Of my hand her +father will demand her when he comes again. Shall we men of Wales +give right cause to the English to call us murderers, traitors, +cowards? Take my life if you will, take it a thousand times over if +you will, it is only over my dead body that you will reach that +child."</p> +<p>"Down with him -- traitor to the cause! He is sold to the +English! He is no countryman of ours! Spare him not! He is worthy +of death! Down with every Welshman who bands not with those who +would uphold his country's cause!"</p> +<p>Such were the shouts which rent the air as the meaning of +Wendot's words made itself understood. As for the brave lad +himself, he had plucked the arrow from his neck, and now stood +boldly on guard, resolved to husband his strength and keep on the +defensive only, hoping thus to gain time until Griffeth and the +armed men should arrive.</p> +<p>He had all the advantage of the position; but his foes were +strong men, and came on thick and fast one after another, till it +seemed as if the lad might be forced backwards by sheer weight and +pressure. But Wendot was no novice at the use of arms: as his third +foe fell upon him with heavy blows of his weighted axe, he stepped +backwards a pace, and let the blows descend harmlessly upon the +solid rock of the arch; until the man, disgusted at the non-success +of his endeavours to tempt his adversary out of his defended +position, threw away his blunted axe, and was about to draw his +sword for a thrust, when the boy sprang like lightning upon him, +and buried his poniard in his heart.</p> +<p>Over went the man like a log, almost dragging Wendot with him as +he fell, and before the youth had had time to recover himself, he +had received a deep gash in his sword arm from the foe who pressed +on next, and who made a quick dash to try to get possession of the +vantage ground of the arch.</p> +<p>But Wendot staggered back as if with weakness, let his adversary +dash through the arch after him; and then, hurling himself upon him +as he passed through, pushed him sheer off the ledge on the other +side into the yawning gulf beneath.</p> +<p>The comrades of this last victim, who had just sent up a shout +of triumph, now changed their note, and it became a yell of rage. +Wendot was back in his old vantage ground, wounded by several +arrows, spent by blows, and growing faint from loss of blood, but +dauntless and resolute as ever, determined to sell his life dearly, +and hold out as long as he had breath left in him, sooner than let +the helpless child fall into the clutches of these fierce men, +goaded now to madness by the opposition they had met with.</p> +<p>Hark! what was that? It was a shout, a hail, and then the +familiar call of the Dynevor brothers rang through the still +air.</p> +<p>"La-ha-boo!"</p> +<p>It was Griffeth's voice. He had come at last. It was plain that +the foe had heard, and had paused; for if they were menaced from +another quarter, it was time to think of their own safety.</p> +<p>Summoning up all his strength, Wendot sent back an answering +hail, and the next moment there was the sound of fierce voices and +the clashing of weapons overhead on the summit of the cliff; and in +quick, urgent accents Wendot's foes were ordered to retreat, as +there was treachery somewhere, and they had been betrayed.</p> +<p>Wendot saw his antagonists lower their weapons, and return the +way they had come, with fearful backward glances, lest their boy +foe should be following them. But he had no wish to do that. He was +spent and exhausted and maimed. He turned backwards towards the +safer shelter of the little alcove, and sank down beside the +trembling child, panting, bleeding, and almost unconscious.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a>. WENDOT'S REWARD.</h2> +<p>"Father, father, father!"</p> +<p>The shrill, glad cry broke from the lips of little Gertrude +almost at the same moment as Wendot sank at her feet, spent and +fainting; and the lad, making a great effort, opened his dim eyes +to see the tall form of the English noble stooping over his little +daughter, gathering her in his arms with a gesture of passionate +endearment.</p> +<p>Wendot fancied he must be dreaming; perhaps it was all a +strange, terrible dream: everything was swimming before his eyes in +a sort of blood-coloured mist. He gave up the effort to try to +disentangle the maze in which he seemed to be moving, and was +sinking into unconsciousness again when a sharp cry from his +brother aroused him.</p> +<p>"Wendot, Wendot! -- O father, see --they have killed him!"</p> +<p>"Nay, lad, not that. Here, let me get to him.</p> +<p>"Griffeth, run thou and tell the fellows to let down ropes from +above to draw him up. He cannot return along that narrow ledge. He +and the child had best be drawn up by those above. Tell them to +lose no time. The boy must be taken home to his mother's care. This +narrow ledge is growing like an oven. Bid one of the men run to the +brook for a draught of water."</p> +<p>Wendot's lips framed themselves to the word "water" as he heard +it spoken. If he had but a draught of water, perhaps he could speak +again and understand what was passing. As it was, he only heard the +sound of a confusion of voices, the clear tones of little Gertrude +being the most continuous and the most distinct. She seemed to be +pouring some tale into the ears of her listeners, and Wendot was +certain, from the quick, sudden movements of his father, who was +supporting him as he lay, that the story heard was exciting in him +feelings of indignation and amazement, although the boy's brain was +too much confused to tell him the reason for this displeasure.</p> +<p>But the sense of rest and safety inspired by his father's +presence was very comforting; and when the wounded lad had been +drawn to the summit of the cliff by the strong, willing arms of the +retainers, and his hurts rudely dressed by kindly hands, and his +parched throat refreshed by deep draughts of cold water, he began +to shake off the sense of unreality which had made him feel like +one in a dream, and to marvel at the unexpected appearance on the +lonely fell of his father and Lord Montacute.</p> +<p>A sure-footed mountain pony was bearing him gently down the +steep slope, and his questioning look called Griffeth to his +side.</p> +<p>"What means all this, Griffeth?" he whispered. "Whence came +they? and what do they know? And Llewelyn and Howel, where are +they? Can it be that they --"</p> +<p>He could not frame his lips to speak the words, but Griffeth +understood him without, and his cheek flushed.</p> +<p>"I fear me it is indeed as we thought. She went with them, and +they left her alone on the ledge, where once the eagle's eyry used +to be. Maelgon's men came to carry her off thence. Had it not been +for thee, Wendot, she would have been in their hands ere now. I +would I had stood beside thee, brother. I would I had shared thy +perils and thy hurts."</p> +<p>"Thou didst better than that," answered Wendot, faintly smiling, +"for thou broughtest aid in the very nick of time. And how came it +that our father and our guest were with thee? Methought it must +surely be a dream when I saw them."</p> +<p>"Ay, we met them journeying towards the castle when we had but +made a short mile from it. They would have reached last night but +for an accident to one of the beasts, which detained them on the +road; but they had started ere the sun rose, and were hard by when +we encountered them. Hearing our errand, some went forward as +before, but others joined our party. It was well we were thus +reinforced, for Maelgon's men fight like veritable wolves."</p> +<p>"What knoweth our father of the matter? Spakest thou to him of +Llewelyn and Howel?"</p> +<p>"I had perforce to do so, they questioned me so closely. I know +not what they thought. Our guest's face is not one that may be read +like a book, and our father only set his lips in his stern fashion, +as though he would never open them again. I trow he is sore +displeased that sons of his should thus act; but perchance it may +not be so bad as we think."</p> +<p>Wendot made no reply. He was growing too spent and weary to have +words or thoughts to spare. It seemed as if the long and weary +descent would never be accomplished; and the beat of the sun +beating down upon them mercilessly as they reached the lower ground +turned him sick and faint. Little Gertrude, mounted now upon her +palfrey, was chattering ceaselessly to her father, as he strode on +beside her down the hillside; but Lord Montacute was grave and +silent; and as for the face of Res Vychan, it looked as if carved +out of marble, as he planted himself by the side of the sturdy pony +who carried his son, and placed his arm round the lad to support +him during that long and weary ride.</p> +<p>It was plain that the thoughts of both men were of a very +serious complexion, and gave them food for much reflection and +consideration.</p> +<p>Griffeth bounded on a little ahead of the cavalcade, excited by +the events of the day, anxious for his brother, yet intensely proud +of him, envying him the chance of thus displaying his heroic +qualities, yet only wishing to have shared them -- not that +anything should be detracted from the halo which encircled Wendot. +He had reached a turn in the path, and for a moment was alone and +out of sight of the company that followed, when the hounds who had +accompanied Wendot, and were now returning with them, uttered a +deep bay as of welcome, and the next moment two dark and swarthy +heads appeared from behind the shelter of some great boulders, and +the faces of Llewelyn and Howel looked cautiously forth.</p> +<p>In a moment Griffeth was by their side, various emotions +struggling in his face for mastery; but the tie of brotherhood was +a strong one, and his first words were those of warning.</p> +<p>"It is all known -- our father knows, and hers. I know not what +your punishment will be. I have never seen our father look so +stern. Do as you will about returning home, but I wot not how you +will be received."</p> +<p>Llewelyn and Howel exchanged glances; and the former asked +eagerly, "And the maid?"</p> +<p>"Is safe with her father and ours. Wendot risked his life to +save her from Maelgon's men. Nay, linger not to hear the tale, if +you would fly from the anger of those who know that you sought to +betray her. It will be no easy thing to make peace with our father. +You know his thoughts upon the sacredness of hospitality."</p> +<p>But even as he spoke Griffeth saw the change that came over his +brothers' faces as they looked past him to something behind; then +as he himself turned quickly to see what it was, he beheld their +father and two of the servants approaching; and Res Vychan pointed +sternly to the two dark-leaded boys, now involuntarily quailing +beneath the fiery indignation in his eyes, and said:</p> +<p>"Bind them hand and foot and carry them to the castle. They +shall be dealt with there as their offence shall warrant."</p> +<p>Then turning on his heel, he rejoined the company; whilst +Llewelyn and Howel were brought captive to the paternal halls of +Dynevor.</p> +<p>Wendot knew very little of the occurrences of the next few days. +He was carried to the chamber that he shared with Griffeth, and +there he lay for several days and nights in a dreamy, +semi-conscious state, tended by his mother with all the skill and +tenderness she possessed, and, save when the pain of his wounds +made him restless and feverish, sleeping much, and troubling his +head little about what went on within or without the castle. He was +dimly aware that little Gertrude came in and out of his room +sometimes, holding to his mother's hands, and that her gentle +prattle and little caressing gestures were very soothing and +pleasant. But he did not trouble his head to wonder how it was he +was lying there, nor what event had crippled him so; and only in +the fevered visions of the night did he see himself once again +standing upon the narrow ledge of the Eagle's Crag, with a host of +foes bearing down upon him to overpower and slay both him and his +charge.</p> +<p>But after a few days of feverish lassitude and drowsiness the +lad's magnificent constitution triumphed -- the fever left him; and +though he now lay weak and white upon his narrow bed, his mind was +perfectly clear, and he was eager and anxious to know what had +happened whilst he had been shut out from the life of the +castle.</p> +<p>His mother was naturally the one to whom he turned for +information. He saw that she was unwontedly pale and grave and +thoughtful. As she sat beside his bed with some needlework in her +hands one bright afternoon, when the sunlight was streaming into +the chamber, and the air floating in through the narrow casement +was full of scent and song, his eyes fixed themselves upon her face +with more of purpose and reflection, and he begged her to tell him +all that had passed.</p> +<p>"For I know that our guests are still here. Gertrude comes daily +to see me. But where are Llewelyn and Howel? I have not seen them +once. Is my father angry with them still? or have they been +punished and forgiven?"</p> +<p>"Your brothers are still close prisoners," answered the mother +with a sigh. "They have been chastised with more severity than any +son of ours has needed to be chastised before; but they still +remain sullen and obdurate and revengeful, and thy father will not +permit them to come out from their retirement so long as our guests +remain. Perchance it is best so, for it would but cause trouble in +the house for them to meet. I would that they could see matters +differently; and yet there are many amongst our people who would +say that the true patriotism was theirs."</p> +<p>"And our guests, mother -- why linger they still? Methought they +Would leave so soon as Lord Montacute returned."</p> +<p>"So they purposed once; but he has wished to remain till thou +art sound once more, my son. He hath a very warm feeling towards +thee, and would speak to thee of something that is in his heart ere +he quits Dynevor. He has spoken of it to thy father and to me, but +he wishes thee to hear it from his own lips."</p> +<p>Wendot's interest was aroused. Something in his mother's +expression told him that the thing of which she spoke was a matter +of some importance. As an eldest son and forward for his years, and +of a reflective and thoughtful turn, he had often been consulted by +his parents, and particularly by his mother, in matters rather +beyond his comprehension, and had shared in discussions which many +youths of his age would have shunned and despised. Now, therefore, +he looked eagerly at his mother and said:</p> +<p>"What is it he wishes to say Canst thou not tell me +thyself?"</p> +<p>The Lady of Dynevor paused awhile in thought; and when she +spoke, it did not appear to be in direct reply to her son's +question.</p> +<p>"Wendot," she said gravely, "thou hast heard much talk of the +troubled state of these times and of the nation's affairs. Thou +hast lived long enough to see how hopeless some amongst us feel it +ever to hope for unity amongst ourselves. We are torn and +distracted by faction and feud. Families are banded together +against families, and brothers strive with brothers for the +inheritance each claims as his own. Each lord of some small +territory tries to wrest from his weaker neighbour that which +belongs to him; and if for a moment at some great crisis petty +feuds are forgotten, and a blow is struck for national liberty, +scarce has peace been proclaimed again before the old strife breaks +out once more, and our fair land is desolated by a more grievous +war than ever the English wage."</p> +<p>Wendot bent his head in voiceless assent. He knew something of +his country's history, and that his mother spoke only the sad +truth.</p> +<p>"My son," continued she after a pause, "it chances sometimes in +this troubled life of ours that we are called upon to make choice, +not between good and evil, but between two courses, both of which +are beset with difficulties and obstacles, both of which mingle +together evil and good, for which and against which much may be +argued on both sides, and many things that are true be said for and +against both. To some such choice as this has our poor country now +come. Experience has taught us that she is incapable of uniting all +her forces and of making of herself one compact, united kingdom. +That course, and that alone, would be her true salvation; but that +course she will not take, and failing that, she has to choose +between being torn and rent by faction till she is an easy prey to +the English king, who will then divide her territories amongst his +own hungry and rapacious barons, or for the princes to submit to +pay him the homage for their lands which he (possibly with +injustice) demands, but which if paid will make of him their friend +and protector, and will enable the country to live in peace and +prosperity, assured that the king will support those who +acknowledge him, and that he will not deprive of their ancestral +rights any who will bring their homage to him, and hold their +territory as it were from him. Understandest thou thus much?"</p> +<p>"Ay, mother, I understand it well; and though there is something +in the thought that stirs my blood and sets it coursing through my +veins in indignation -- for I see not by what right the English +king lays claim to our fair lands -- still I know that conquest +gives to the conqueror a right, and that if he chose to march +against us with his armies, he might well find us too much weakened +by our petty feuds to resist his strong veterans. And the English +are not all bad. I have learned that these many days whilst our +guests have been with us. I have thought at times that they would +be true friends and allies, and that we might do well to copy them +in many ways. In truth, if the choice lies betwixt being rent in +pieces by each other and giving homage to the great Edward, who can +be merciful and just, I would rather choose the latter. For there +must be something grand and noble about him by what our little maid +says; and to pay homage is no such hard thing. Why, does not he +himself pay homage to the King of France for the lands he holds in +his kingdom?"</p> +<p>A look of relief crossed the face of the mother as she heard +these words from her first-born son. She took his hand in hers and +said earnestly:</p> +<p>"Wendot, I am glad to hear thee speak thus, for thou art the +heir of Dynevor, and upon thee much may fall some day. Thou knowest +what thy brothers are -- I speak of Llewelyn and Howel. I cannot +but fear for them -- unless, indeed, the rapacious greed I +sometimes see in Llewelyn proves stronger than his fierce hatred to +the English, and he prefers to do homage for his lands rather than +lose them. But thou art the head of the family, and the chief power +will rest with thee when thy father is gone. I counsel thee, if the +time comes when thou must make thy choice, be not led away by blind +hatred of the English. They may prove less cruel foes than thine +own countrymen are to one another. If Wales may not be united under +one native king, let her think well ere she rejects the grace held +out to all who will yield fealty to the English monarch. That is +what I wished to say to thee. Remember that the English are not +always cruel, always rapacious. There are generous, noble, +honourable men amongst them, of whom I am sure our guest is +one."</p> +<p>"Ay, he has a grand face," said Wendot. "A face one can both +love and trust. And all that the little one tells me of the king +and his family inclines my heart towards him and his. I will +remember what you have said, mother, and will ponder your words. +Methinks it is no lovely thing to hate as Llewelyn and Howel hate; +it makes men act rather as fiends than as honourable soldiers +should."</p> +<p>The conversation ended there, and was not renewed; but the very +next day Lord Montacute sought Wendot's room, when the lad was +lying alone, wearying somewhat of his own company, and the light +sprang into his eyes as he saw the guest approach, for in his own +boyish way he had a great admiration for this man.</p> +<p>"Well, lad, I am glad to see thee looking something more +substantial and like thine own self," said Lord Montacute, seating +himself upon the edge of the bed and taking Wendot's hand in his. +"This hand has done good service to me and mine -- good service, +indeed, to the King of England, who would have been forced to +chastise with some severity the outrage planned upon a subject of +his, and one dear to him from association with his children. Tell +me, boy, what can I do for thee when I tell this tale to my lord of +England? What boon hast thou to ask of him or of me? For thou +needest not fear; whatever it be it shall be granted."</p> +<p>"Nay, I have no boon," answered Wendot, his cheek flushing. "I +did but do my duty by any guest beneath my father's roof. I was +responsible for the safety of the maid. I had taken that duty on +myself. I want nothing; she is safe, and that is enough. Only if +you would speak to my father for my brothers Llewelyn and Howel. I +know they have merited deep displeasure; yet they are but lads, and +doubtless they were led away by evil counsels. He would hear +pleading better from you than from me."</p> +<p>"It shall be done," said Lord Montacute, still regarding Wendot +steadily; "and now, boy, I would speak to thee seriously and +gravely as man to man, for thou hast proved thyself to be a man in +action, in courage, and in foresight. And thy parents tell me that +thou art acquainted with the burning questions of the day, and that +thy brothers' headstrong hatreds and prejudices do not blind +thee."</p> +<p>Wendot made no reply, but fixed his bright eyes steadily on Lord +Montacute's face. He on his side, after a brief silence, began +again in clear, terse phrases:</p> +<p>"Lad, if thou livest thou wilt some day be Lord of Dynevor -- +master of this fair heritage, the fairest, perhaps, in all South +Wales. Thou hast noble blood in thy veins -- the blood of princes +and kings; thou hast much that men covet to call their own; but +thou art surrounded by foes who are jealous of thee, and by kinsmen +who have already cast covetous eyes on thy possessions."</p> +<p>"Ay, that traitorous Meredith ap Res, whose mother is English, +and who would -- But pardon me. I would not willingly speak against +your nation. Indeed, I feel not bitter as others do; only --"</p> +<p>"Boy, thou art right to be loyal and true. I like thee none the +less for the patriotic fervour which breaks out in thee. But I am +glad that thou shouldest see both sides of this matter, that thou +shouldest see the peril menacing thy brothers from thine own +kinsman, who has strengthened himself by an English alliance. It is +useless to blind thine eyes to what is coming. They tell me thou +art not blind; and I come to thee, lad, because I think well of +thee, to ask if it would please thee to strengthen thy position in +thine own land and in Edward's sight by an alliance with an English +maiden of noble birth. Hast thou ever thought of such a thing?"</p> +<p>Wendot's wide-open eyes gave answer enough. Lord Montacute +smiled slightly as he said:</p> +<p>"Ah, thou art full young for such thoughts; and thou livest not +in the atmosphere of courts, where babes are given in marriage +almost from their cradles. But listen, Res Wendot; I speak not in +jest, I am a man of my word. Thou hast risked thy life to save my +little maid. Thou art a noble youth, and I honour both thee and thy +parents. The maid has told me that she loves thee well, and would +be well pleased to wed thee when she is of the age to do so. These +are but childish words, yet they may prove themselves true in days +to come. It is in the interests of all those who have the peace and +prosperity of this land at heart to strengthen themselves in every +way they can. My little daughter will have an ample dower to bring +her husband; and I will keep her for thee if thou wilt be willing +to claim her in days to come. I should like well to see her ruling +in these fair halls; and thou hast proved already that thou art a +knightly youth, whose hand she may well take with confidence and +pride.</p> +<p>"Thy parents are willing; it waits only for thee to say. What +thinkest thou of a troth plight with the little maid?"</p> +<p>Wendot's face glowed with a sort of boyish shame, not unmingled +with pride; but the idea was altogether too strange and new to him +to be readily grasped.</p> +<p>"I have never thought of such things," he said shyly, "and I am +too young to wed. Perchance I may grow into some rough, uncouth +fellow, who may please not the maiden when she reaches years of +discretion. Methinks it would scarce be fair to plight her now, at +least not with such a plight as might not be broken. If our nations +meet in fierce conflict, as they yet may, it would be a cruel thing +to have linked her hand with that of a rebel, for such we are +called by the English monarch, they say, when we rise to fight for +our liberties bequeathed by our ancestors.</p> +<p>"Nay, noble lord, frown not on me. There be moments when +methinks two spirits strive within me, and I am fearful of trusting +even myself. I would not that grief or sorrow should touch her +through me. Let me come and claim her anon, when I have grown to +man's estate, and can bring her lands and revenues. But bind her +not to one whose fate may be beset with perils and shadows. There +be those amongst our bards who see into the future; and they tell +us that a dark fate hangs over the house of Dynevor, and that we +four shall be the last to bear the name."</p> +<p>Lord Montacute was looking grave and earnest. There was +something in his face which indicated disappointment, but also +something that spoke of relief. Possibly he himself had offered +this troth plight with something of hesitation, offered it out of +gratitude to the noble lad, and out of respect to his parents, who, +as he saw, would prove valuable allies to the English cause, could +they but be induced to give their allegiance to it. Yet there was +another side to the picture, too; and Wendot was too young for any +one to predict with certainty what would be his course in the +future. The hot blood of his race ran in his veins; and though his +judgment was cool, and he saw things in a reasonable and manly +light, it would be rash to predict what the future might have in +store for him.</p> +<p>"Well, lad, thou hast spoken bravely and well," said the +Englishman, after a pause for thought. "Perchance thy words are +right; perchance it will be well to let matters rest as they are +for the present. We will have no solemn troth plight betwixt ye +twain; but the maid shall be promised to none other these next four +years, so that if thou carest to claim her ere she reaches woman's +estate, thou shalt find her waiting for thee. And now I must say +thee farewell, for tomorrow we ride away the way we came. I trust +to see thee at the king's court one of these days, and to make +known to his royal majesty the noble youth of Dynevor."</p> +<p>Wendot was left alone then for some time, pondering the strange +offer made to him, and wondering whether he had been foolish to +refuse the promised reward. He had never seriously thought of +marriage, although in those days wedlock was entered upon very +young if there were any advantage to be gained from it. A lad of +fifteen is seldom sentimental; but Wendot was conscious of a very +warm spot in his heart for little Gertrude, and he knew that he +should miss her sorely when she went, and think of her much. Would +it have been a sweet or a bitter thing to have felt himself pledged +to a daughter of England? He felt that he could not tell; but at +least the decision was made now, and his words could not be +recalled.</p> +<p>Just ere the sun set that summer's day there came down the stone +corridor which led to his room the patter of little feet, and he +leaned up on his elbow with brightening eyes as the door opened and +little Gertrude came dancing in.</p> +<p>"I thought I was to have been married to you, Wendot, before we +went away," she said, looking into his face with the most trusting +expression in her soft dark eyes; "but father says you will come to +marry me some day at the king's court. Perhaps that will be better, +for I should like Eleanor and Joanna to see you. They would like +you so, and you would like them. But do come soon, Wendot. I do so +like you; and I shall want to show you to them all. And I have +broken my gold coin in two -- the one the king gave me once. I got +the armourer to do it, and to make a hole in each half. You must +wear one half round your neck, and I will wear the other. And that +will be almost the same as being married, will it not? And you will +never forget me, will you?"</p> +<p>Wendot let her hang the half of the coin round his neck by a +silken thread, strange new thoughts crowding into his mind as he +felt her soft little hands about him. Suddenly he clasped them in +both of his and pressed warm kisses upon them. Gertrude threw her +arms about his neck in a childish paroxysm of affection, saying as +she did so between her kisses:</p> +<p>"Now, it's just like being husband and wife; and we shall never +forget one another -- never."</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a>. THE KING'S CHILDREN.</h2> +<p>"Dynevor --did you say Dynevor? O Eleanor, it must be he!"</p> +<p>A tall, slim, fair-faced maiden, with a very regal mien, looked +up quickly from an embroidery frame over which she was bending, and +glanced from the eager, flushed face of the younger girl who stood +beside her to that of a tall and stalwart English youth, who +appeared to be the bearer of a piece of news, and asked in her +unconsciously queenly way:</p> +<p>"What is it, Sir Godfrey, that you have told this impetuous +child, to have set her in such a quiver of excitement?"</p> +<p>"Only this, gracious lady, that certain youthful chieftains from +the south have come hither to Rhuddlan to pay their homage to your +royal father. In his absence at Chester they have been lodged +within the castle walls, as becomes their station. It has been told +me that amongst them are four sons of one Res Vychan, lately dead, +and that he was Lord of Dynevor, which honour has descended to his +eldest son. I was telling what I knew to Lady Gertrude when she +broke away to speak to you."</p> +<p>"Eleanor, it must be he -- it must be they!" cried Gertrude, +with flushing cheek and kindling eye -- "Res Vychan, Lord of +Dynevor, and his four sons. It could be none else than they. O +Eleanor, sweet Eleanor, bid them be brought hither to see us! Thou +hast heard the story of how we went thither, my father and I, two +years agone now, and of what befell me there. I have never heard a +word of Wendot since, and I have thought of him so oft. Thou art +mistress here now; they all heed thy lightest word. Bid that the +brothers be brought hither to us. I do so long to see them +again!"</p> +<p>Gertrude was fairly trembling with excitement; but that was no +unusual thing for her, as she was an ardent, excitable little +mortal, and ever in a fever of some kind or another. The young +knight who had brought the news looked at her with unmistakable +admiration and pleasure, and seemed as though he would gladly have +obeyed any behest of hers; but he was fain to wait for the decision +of the stately Eleanor, the king's eldest and much-beloved child, +who in the temporary absence of her parents occupied a position of +no little importance in the household, and whose will, in the royal +apartments at any rate, was law.</p> +<p>But there were other listeners to Gertrude's eager words. At the +far end of the long gallery, which was occupied by the royal +children as their private apartment, a group of three young things +had been at play, but the urgency of Gertrude's tones had arrested +their attention, and they had drawn near to hear her last words. +One of these younger children was a black-eyed girl, with a very +handsome face and an imperious manner, which gave to onlookers the +idea that she was older than her years. Quick tempered, generous, +hasty, and self willed was the Lady Joanna, the second daughter of +the king; but her warm affections caused all who knew her to love +her; and her romantic temperament was always stirred to its depths +by any story that savoured of chivalry or heroism.</p> +<p>"What!" she cried; "is Wendot here -- Wendot of Dynevor, who +held the Eagle's Crag against half a hundred foemen to save thee, +sweetest Gertrude, from captivity or death? -- Eleanor, thou +knowest the story; thou must bid him hither at once! Why, I would +thank him with my own lips for his heroism. For is not Gertrude as +our own sister in love?"</p> +<p>"Ay, Eleanor, bid him come," pleaded Alphonso, a fragile-looking +boy a year younger than Joanna, whose violet-blue eyes and fair +skin were in marked contrast to her gipsy-like darkness of +complexion; and this request was echoed eagerly by another boy, a +fine, bold-looking lad, somewhat older than Alphonso, by name +Britten, who was brought up with the king's children, and treated +in every way like them, as the wardrobe rolls of the period show, +though what his rank and parentage were cannot now be established, +as no mention of him occurs in any other documents of that +time.</p> +<p>The Princess Eleanor, as she would now be called, although in +those far-back days the title of Lady was generally all that was +bestowed upon the children of the king, did not attempt to resist +the combined entreaties of her younger playfellows. Indeed, +although somewhat mature both in mind and appearance for her years, +she was by no means devoid of childish or feminine curiosity, and +was as willing to see the hero of Gertrude's oft-told tale as her +more youthful companions could be. Moreover, it was her father's +policy and pleasure to be generous and gracious towards all those +who submitted themselves to his feudal sovereignty; and to the +young he ever showed himself friendly and even paternal. The stern +soldier-king was a particularly tender and loving father, and his +wife the best of mothers, so that the family tie in their household +was a very strong and beautiful thing. When the monarch was called +away from his own royal residences to quell sedition or rebellion +in this turbulent country of Wales, his wife and children +accompanied him thither; and so it happened that in this rather +gloomy fastness in North Wales, when the rebellion of the warlike +Llewelyn had but just been crushed, the king's children were to be +found assembled within its walls, by their bright presence and +laughter-loving ways making the place gay and bright, and bringing +even into political matters something of the leniency and good +fellowship which seems to be the prerogative of childhood.</p> +<p>Thus it was that one powerful and turbulent noble, Einon ap +Cadwalader, had left as hostage of his good faith his only child, +the Lady Arthyn, to be the companion of the king's daughters. She +had been received with open arms by the warm-hearted Joanna, and +the two were fast friends already, although the Welsh girl was +several years the elder of the pair. But Joanna, who had been +educated in Spain by her grandmother and namesake, and who had only +recently come to be with her own parents, had enjoyed abroad a +liberty and importance which had developed her rapidly, and her +mind was as quick and forward as her body was active and +energetic.</p> +<p>Intercourse with Arthyn, too, had given to the younger princess +a great sympathy with the vanquished Welsh, and she was generously +eager that those who came to pay homage to her father should not +feel themselves in a position that was humiliating or galling. The +gentle Eleanor shared this feeling to the full, and was glad to +give to the young knight Sir Godfrey Challoner, who was one of her +own gentlemen-in-waiting, a gracious message for the young Lord of +Dynevor to the effect that she would be glad to receive him and his +brothers in her father's absence, and to give them places at the +royal table for the evening meal shortly to be served.</p> +<p>Great was the delight of Gertrude when the message was +despatched. Her companions crowded round her to hear again the +story of her adventure on the Eagle's Crag. Gertrude never knew how +she had been betrayed by Wendot's brothers. She believed that they +had been accidentally hindered from coming to her rescue by the +difficulties of the climb after the eagle's nest. There was a +faint, uncomfortable misgiving in her mind with regard to the +black-browed twins, but it did not amount to actual suspicion, far +less to any certainty of their enmity; and although Eleanor had +heard the whole story from her parents, she had not explained the +matter more fully to Gertrude.</p> +<p>An invitation from royalty was equal to a command, and the eager +children were not kept waiting long. The double doors at the end of +the long gallery, which had closed behind the retiring form of +Godfrey, opened once again to admit him, and closely in his wake +there followed two manly youths -- two, not four -- upon whose +faces every eye was instantly fixed in frank and kindly +scrutiny.</p> +<p>Wendot had developed rapidly during these two last years, +although he retained all his old marked characteristics. The waving +hair was still bright and sunny, the open face, with its rather +square features, was resolute, alert, manly, and strong. The +fearless blue eyes had not lost their far-away dreaminess, as +though the possessor were looking onward and outward beyond the +surroundings visible to others; and beneath the calm determination +of the expression was an underlying sweetness, which shone out from +time to time in the sunny smile which always won the heart of the +beholder. The figure was rather that of a man than a lad -- tall, +strongly knit, full of grace and power; and a faint yellow +moustache upon the upper lip showed the dawn of manhood in the +youth. There was something in his look which seemed to tell that he +had known sorrow, trial, and anxiety; but this in no way detracted +from the power or attractiveness of the countenance, but rather +gave it an added charm.</p> +<p>Griffeth retained his marked likeness to his brother, and was +almost his equal in height; but his cheek was pale and hollow, +while Wendot's was brown and healthy, his hands were slim and +white, and there was an air of languor and ill-health about him +which could not fail to make itself observed. He looked much +younger than his brother, despite his tall stature, and he blushed +like a boy as he saw the eyes of the ladies fixed upon them as they +came forward, bowing with no ungraceful deference.</p> +<p>"Wendot, Wendot. don't you know me?"</p> +<p>The young man started and raised his eyes towards the speaker. +So far, he had only been aware that there were a number of persons +collected at the upper end of the long gallery. Now he found +himself confronted by a pair of eager, dancing eyes, as soft and +dark as those of a forest deer, whilst two slim hands were held out +to him, and a silvery voice cried softly and playfully:</p> +<p>"O Wendot, Wendot, to think you have forgotten!"</p> +<p>"Lady Gertrude!"</p> +<p>"Ah, I am glad you have not forgotten, though methinks I have +changed more than you these past years. I should have known you +anywhere. But come, Wendot; I would present you to my friends and +companions, who would fain be acquainted with you. They know how +you saved my life that day, I have told the tale so oft.</p> +<p>"Let me present you first to our sweetest Lady Eleanor, our +great king's eldest daughter. You will love her, I know -- none can +help it. And she lets me call myself her sister."</p> +<p>Young things have a wonderful faculty of growing intimate in a +very brief space, and the formalities of those simpler times were +not excessive, especially away from the trammels of the court. In +ten minutes' time Wendot and his brother had grasped the names and +rank of all those to whom they had been presented, and were joining +in the eager talk with ease and with enjoyment. Joanna stood beside +Wendot, listening, with unfeigned interest, to his answers +respecting himself and those near and dear to him; whilst Alphonso +had drawn Griffeth to the embrasure of a window, and was looking up +into his face as they compared notes and exchanged ideas. It seemed +from the first as though a strong link formed itself between those +two.</p> +<p>"Your brothers would not come. Was that fear or shame or pride?" +asked Joanna, with a laughing look into Wendot's flushed face. +"Nay, think not that we would compel any to visit us who do it not +willingly. Gertrude has prepared us to find your brothers different +from you. Methinks she marvelled somewhat that they had come hither +at all with their submission."</p> +<p>Wendot hesitated, and the flush deepened on his face; but he was +too young to have learned the lesson of reticence, and there was +something in the free atmosphere of this place which prompted him +to frankness.</p> +<p>"I myself was surprised at it," he said. "Llewelyn and Howel +have not been friendly in their dealings with the English so far, +and we knew they aided Llewelyn of North Wales in the revolt which +has been lately quelled. But since our parents died we have seen +but little of them. They became joint owners of the commot of +Iscennen, and removed from Dynevor to the castle of Carregcennen in +their own territory, and until we met them some days since in +company with our kinsman Meredith ap Hes, coming to tender their +homage, as we ourselves are about to do, we knew not what to think +of them or what action they would take."</p> +<p>"Are both your parents dead, then?" asked Gertrude, with +sympathy in her eyes. "I heard that Res Vychan was no longer +living, but I knew not that the gentle Lady of Dynevor had passed +away also."</p> +<p>Wendot's face changed slightly as he answered:</p> +<p>"They both died within a few days of each other the winter after +you had been with us, Lady Gertrude. We were visited by a terrible +sickness that year, and our people sickened and died in great +numbers. Our parents did all they could for them, and first my +father fell ill and died, and scarce had the grave closed over him +before our mother was stricken, and followed him ere a week had +passed. Griffeth was also lying at the point of death, and we +despaired of his life also; but he battled through, and came back +to us from the very gates of the grave, and yet methinks sometimes +that he has never been the same since. He shoots up in height, but +he cannot do the things he did when he was two years younger.</p> +<p>"What think you of him, sweet Lady Gertrude? Is he changed from +what he was when last you saw him, ere the sickness had fastened +upon him?"</p> +<p>Several eyes were turned towards the slim, tall figure of the +Welsh lad leaning against the embrasure of the window. The sunlight +fell full upon his face, showing the sharpness of its outlines, the +delicate hectic colouring, the tracery of the blue veins beneath +the transparent skin. And just the same transparent look was +visible in the countenance of the young Prince Alphonso, who was +talking with the stranger youth, and more hearts than that of +Wendot felt a pang as their owners' eyes were turned upon the pair +beside the sunny window. But Wendot pressed for no answer to his +question, nor did Gertrude volunteer it; she only asked +quickly:</p> +<p>"Then Griffeth and you live yet at Dynevor, beautiful Dynevor, +and Llewelyn and Howel elsewhere?"</p> +<p>"Ay, at Carregcennen. We have our respective lands, though we +are minors yet; and our kinsman Meredith ap Res is our guardian, +though it is little we see of him."</p> +<p>"Meredith ap Res! I know him well," cried a girlish voice, in +accents which betrayed her Welsh origin. "He has ever been a +traitor to his country, a traitor to all who trust him; a covetous, +grasping man, who will clutch at what he can get, and never cease +scheming after lands and titles so long as the breath remains in +him."</p> +<p>They all turned to see who had spoken, and Arthyn -- the +headstrong, passionate, patriotic Arthyn, who, despite her love for +her present companions, bitterly resented being left a hostage in +the hands of the English king -- stood out before them, and spoke +in the fearless fashion which nobody present resented.</p> +<p>"Wendot of Dynevor, if you are he, beware of that man, and bid +your brothers beware of him, too. I know him; I have heard much of +him. Be sure he has an eye on your fair lands, and he will embroil +you yet with the English king if he can, that he may lay claim to +your patrimony. He brings you here to the court to make your peace, +to pay your homage. If I mistake not the man, you will not all of +you return whence you came. He will poison the king's mind. Some +traitorous practices will be alleged against you. Your lands will +be withheld. You will be fed with promises which will never be +fulfilled. And the kinsman who has sold himself body and soul to +the English alliance will rule your lands, in your names firstly +perchance, until his power is secure, and he can claim them boldly +as his own. See if it be not so."</p> +<p>"It shall not be so," cried Alphonso, suddenly advancing a step +forward and planting himself in the midst of the group.</p> +<p>His cheek was crimson now, there was fire in his eyes. He had +all the regal look of his royal father as he glanced up into +Wendot's face and spoke with an authority beyond his years.</p> +<p>"I, the king's son, give you my word of honour that this thing +shall not be. You are rightful Lord of Dynevor. You took not up +arms against my father in the late rebellion; you come at his +command to pay your homage to him. Therefore, whatever may be his +dealings with your brothers who have assisted the rebels, I pledge +my princely word that you shall return in peace to your own +possessions. My father is a just and righteous king, and I will be +his surety that he will do all that is right and just by you, +Wendot of Dynevor."</p> +<p>"Well spoken, Alphonso!" cried Joanna and Britton in a breath, +whilst Wendot took the hand extended to him, and bent over it with +a feeling of loyal gratitude and respect.</p> +<p>There was something very lovable in the fragile young prince, +and he seemed to win the hearts of all who came within the charm of +his personal presence. He combined his father's fearless nobility +with his mother's sweetness of disposition. Had he lived to ascend +the throne of England, one of the darkest pages of its annals might +never have been written.</p> +<p>But this hot discussion was brought to an end by the appearance +of the servants, who carried in the supper, laying it upon a long +table at the far end of the gallery. No great state was observed +even in the royal household, when the family was far away from the +atmosphere of the court as it was held at Westminster or +Windsor.</p> +<p>A certain number of servants were in attendance. There were a +few formalities gone through in the matter of tasting of dishes +served to the royal children, but they sat round the table without +ceremony; and when the chaplain had pronounced a blessing, which +was listened to reverently by the young people, who were all very +devout and responsive to religious influences, the unconstrained +chatter began again almost at once, and the Welsh lads lost all +sense of strangeness as they sat at the table of the king's +children.</p> +<p>"Our father and mother will not return for several days yet," +said Joanna to Wendot, whom she had placed between herself and +Gertrude; "but we have liberty to do what we wish and to go where +we like.</p> +<p>"Say, Gertrude, shall we tell Wendot on what we have set our +hearts? It may be he would help us to our end."</p> +<p>"I would do anything you bid me, gracious lady," answered Wendot +with boyish chivalry.</p> +<p>The girls were eying each other with flushed faces, their voices +were lowered so that they should not reach the ears of the Lady +Edeline, Joanna's governess, who was seated at the board, although +she seldom spoke unless directly addressed by Eleanor, who seemed +to be on friendly terms with her.</p> +<p>"Wendot," whispered Joanna cautiously, "have you ever hunted a +wolf in your mountains?"</p> +<p>"Ay, many a time, though they be more seldom seen now. But we +never rid ourselves altogether of them, do as we will."</p> +<p>"And have you killed one yourself?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I have done that, too."</p> +<p>"And is it very dangerous?"</p> +<p>"I scarce know; I never thought about it. I think not, if one is +well armed and has dogs trained to their duties."</p> +<p>Joanna's eyes were alight with excitement; her hands were locked +together tightly. Her animated face was set in lines of the +greatest determination and happiest anticipation.</p> +<p>"Wendot," she said, "there is a wolf up yonder in that wild +valley we can see from yon window, as you look towards the heights +of Snowdon. Some of our people have seen and tracked it, but they +say it is an old and wily one, and no one has got near it yet. +Wendot, we have set our hearts on having a wolf hunt of our very +own. We do not want all the men and dogs and the stir and fuss +which they would make if we were known to be going. I know what +that means. We are kept far away behind everybody, and only see the +dead animal after it has been killed miles away from us. We want to +be in the hunt ourselves -- Britten, Alphonso, Arthyn, Gertrude, +and I. Godfrey would perhaps be won over if Gertrude begged him, +and I know Raoul Latimer would -- he is always ready for what turns +up -- but that would not be enough. O Wendot, if you and your +brothers would but come, we should be safe without anybody else. +Raoul has dogs, and we could all be armed, and we would promise to +be very careful. We could get away early, as Gertrude did that day +she slipped off to the Eagle's Crag.</p> +<p>"Wendot, do answer -- do say you will come. You understand all +about hunting, even hunting wolves. You are not afraid?"</p> +<p>Wendot smiled at the notion. He did not entirely understand that +he was requested to take part in a bit of defiant frolic which the +young princes and princesses were well aware would not have been +permitted by their parents. All he grasped was that the Lady Joanna +requested his assistance in a hunt which she had planned, and with +the details of which he was perfectly familiar, and he agreed +willingly to her request, not sorry, either for his own sake or for +that of his more discontented brothers, that the monotony of the +days spent in waiting the return of the king should be beguiled by +anything so attractive and exciting as a wolf hunt.</p> +<p>The Dynevor brothers had often hunted wolves before, and saw no +special peril in the sport; and Joanna and Gertrude felt that not +even the most nervous guardian could hesitate to let them go with +such a stout protector.</p> +<p>"I do like him, Gertrude," said Joanna, when Wendot and his +brother had retired. "I hope if I ever have to marry, as people +generally do, especially if they are king's daughters, that I shall +find somebody as brave and handsome and knightly as your Wendot of +Dynevor."</p> +<p>For Gertrude and Joanna both took the view that the breaking of +the king's gold coin between them was equivalent to the most solemn +of troth plights.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a>. WELSH WOLVES.</h2> +<p>The Princess Joanna was accustomed to a great deal of her own +way. She had been born at Acre, whilst her parents had been absent +upon Edward's Crusade, and for many years she had remained in +Castile with her grandmother-godmother, who had treated her with +unwise distinction, and had taught her to regard herself almost as +a little queen. The high-spirited and self-willed girl had thus +acquired habits of independence and commanding ways which were +perhaps hardly suited to her tender years; but nevertheless there +was something in her bright vivacity and generous impetuosity which +always won the hearts of those about her, and there were few who +willingly thwarted her when her heart was set upon any particular +thing.</p> +<p>There were in attendance upon the king and his children a number +of gallant youths, sons of his nobles, who were admitted to +pleasant and easy intercourse with the royal family; so that when +Joanna and Alphonso set their hearts upon a private escapade of +their own, in the shape of a wolf hunt, it was not difficult to +enlist many brave champions in the cause quite as eager for the +danger and the sport as the royal children themselves. Joanna was +admitted to be a privileged person, and Alphonso, as the only son +of the king, had a certain authority of his own.</p> +<p>The graver and more responsible guardians of the young prince +and princesses might have hesitated before letting them have their +way in this matter; but Joanna took counsel of the younger and more +ardent spirits by whom she was surrounded, and a secret expedition +to a neighbouring rocky fastness was soon planned, which +expedition, by a little diplomacy and management, could be carried +out without exciting much remark.</p> +<p>The king and queen encouraged their family in hardy exercises +and early hours. If the royal children planned an early ride +through the fresh morning air, none would hinder their departure, +and they could easily shake off their slower attendants when the +time came, and join the bolder comrades who would be waiting for +them with all the needful accoutrements for the hunt on which their +minds were bent.</p> +<p>One or two of the more youthful and adventurous attendants might +come with them, but the soberer custodians might either be +dismissed or outridden. They were accustomed to the vagaries of the +Lady Joanna, and would not be greatly astonished at any freak on +her part.</p> +<p>And thus it came about that one clear, cold, exhilarating +morning in May, when the world was just waking from its dewy sleep +of night, that Joanna and Alphonso, together with Gertrude and +Arthyn, and young Sir Godfrey and another gentleman in attendance, +drew rein laughingly, after a breathless ride across a piece of +wild moorland, at the appointed spot, where a small but +well-equipped company was awaiting them with the spears, the dogs, +and the long, murderous-looking hunting knives needed by those who +follow the tracks of the wild creatures of the mountains.</p> +<p>This little band numbered in its ranks the four Dynevor +brothers; a tall, rather haughty-looking youth, by name Raoul +Latimer; and one or two more with whose names we have no concern. +Britten, who accompanied the royal party, sprang forward with a cry +of delight at seeing the muster, and began eagerly questioning +Raoul as to the capabilities of the dogs he had brought, and the +possible dangers to be encountered in the day's sport.</p> +<p>Gertrude and Joanna rode up to Wendot and greeted him warmly. +They had seen him only once since the first evening after his +arrival, and both girls stole curious glances at the dark faces of +the two brothers unknown as yet to them. They were almost surprised +that the twins had come at all, as they were not disposed to be +friendly towards the English amongst whom they were now mingling; +but here they were, and Gertrude greeted both with her pretty +grace, and they answered her words of welcome with more courtesy +than she had expected to find in them.</p> +<p>Llewelyn and Howel were submitting themselves to the inevitable +with what grace they could, but with very indignant and hostile +feelings hidden deep in their hearts. Their old hatred towards the +English remained unaltered. They would have fought the foe tooth +and nail to the last had they been able to find allies ready to +stand by them. But when their uncle of North Wales had submitted, +and all the smaller chieftains were crowding to the court to pay +homage, and when they knew that nothing but their own nominal +subjection would save them from being deprived of their lands, +which would go to enrich the rapacious Meredith ap Res, then indeed +did resistance at that time seem hopeless; and sooner than see +themselves thus despoiled by one who was no better than a vassal of +England, they had resolved to take the hated step, and do homage to +Edward for their lands. Indeed, these brothers had to do even more; +for, having been concerned in the late rebellion, they had +forfeited their claim upon their property, only that it was +Edward's policy to restore all lands the owners of which submitted +themselves to his authority. The brothers felt no doubt as to the +result of their submission, but the humiliation involved was great, +and it was hard work to keep their hatred of the English in check. +Those wild spirits had not been used to exercising self-control, +and the lesson came hard now that they were springing up towards +man's estate, with all the untempered recklessness and heat of +youth still in their veins.</p> +<p>Perhaps there was something in the expression of those two dark +faces that told its tale to one silent spectator of the meeting +between the Welsh and English; for as the party united forces and +pushed onwards and upwards towards the wild ravine where the haunt +of the wolf lay, the twin brothers heard themselves addressed in +their own language, and though the tones were sweet and silvery, +the words had a ring of passionate earnestness in them which went +straight to their hearts.</p> +<p>"Methinks I am not mistaken in you, sons of Dynevor. You have +not willingly left your mountain eyry for these halls where the +proud foeman holds his court and sits in judgment upon those who by +rights are free as air. I have heard of you before, Llewelyn and +Howel ap Res Vychan. You are not here, like your brethren, half won +over to the cause of the foe; you would fight with the last drop of +your blood for the liberty of our country."</p> +<p>Turning with a start, the brothers beheld the form of a slight +and graceful maiden, who was pushing her palfrey up beside them. +She appeared to be about their own age, and was very beautiful to +look upon, with a clear, dark skin, large, bright eyes, now glowing +with the enthusiasm so soon kindled in the breast of the children +of an oppressed people -- a people thrilling with the strange, deep +poetry of their race, which made much amends for their lack of +culture in other points.</p> +<p>Llewelyn and Howel, learning caution by experience, scarce knew +how to respond to this appeal; but the girl met their inquiring +glances by a vivid smile, and said:</p> +<p>"Nay, fear me not. I am one of yourselves -- one of our +country's own children. Think not that I am here of my own free +will. I deny not that I have learned to love some amongst our +conqueror's children and subjects, but that does not make me forget +who I am nor whence I have come. Let us talk together of our +country and of the slender hopes which yet remain that she may gird +herself up and make common cause against the foe. Oh, would that I +might live to see the day, even though my life might pay the +forfeit of my father's patriotism. Let Edward slay me -- ay, and +every hostage he holds in his hand -- so that our country shakes +off the foreign yoke, and unites under one head as one nation once +again."</p> +<p>These words kindled in the breast of the twin brothers such a +glow of joy and fervour as they had not known for many a weary day. +They made room for Arthyn to ride between them, and eager were the +confidences exchanged between the youthful patriots as they pursued +their way upwards. Little they heeded the black looks cast upon +them by Raoul Latimer, as he saw Arthyn's eager animation, and +understood how close was the bond which had thus quickly been +established between them and the proud, silent girl whose favours +he had been sedulously trying to win this many a day.</p> +<p>Raoul Latimer was a youth with a decided eye to the main chance. +He knew that Arthyn was her father's heiress, and that she would +succeed at his death to some of the richest lands in Wales. +Possibly her father might be deprived of these lands in his +lifetime, as he was a turbulent chieftain, by no means submissive +to Edward's rule. If that were the case, and if his daughter had +wedded a loyal Englishman of unquestionable fidelity, there would +be an excellent chance for that husband of succeeding to the broad +lands of Einon ap Cadwalader before many years had passed. +Therefore young Raoul paid open court to the proud Welsh maiden, +and was somewhat discomfited at the small progress he had made.</p> +<p>But he was a hot-headed youth, and had no intention of being +thrown into the shade by any beggarly Welshmen, be they sons of +Dynevor or no, so that when the party were forced by the character +of the ground to dismount from their horses and take to their own +feet, he pressed up to Arthyn and said banteringly:</p> +<p>"Sweet lady, why burden yourself with the entertainment of these +wild, uncivilized loons? Surely those who can but speak the +language of beasts deserve the treatment of beasts. It is not for +you to be thus --"</p> +<p>But the sentence was never finished. Perhaps the flash from +Arthyn's eye warned him he had gone too far in thus designating the +youths, who were, after all, her countrymen; but there was a better +reason still for this sudden pause, for Llewelyn's strong right +hand had flown out straight from the shoulder, and Raoul had +received on the mouth a stinging blow which had brought the red +blood upon his lips and the crimson tide of fury into his +cheeks.</p> +<p>With an inarticulate cry of rage he drew his dagger and sprang +upon the young Welshman. Swords were drawn in those days only too +readily, and in this case there had been provocation enough on both +sides to warrant bloodshed. The youths were locked at once in +fierce conflict, striking madly at each other with their shining +blades, before those who stood by well knew what had occurred.</p> +<p>It was only too common at such times that there should be +collision between the sons of England and Wales; and the suffering +and the penalty almost invariably fell upon the latter. This fact +was well known to the children of the king, and possibly prompted +the young Alphonso to his next act.</p> +<p>Drawing the small sword he always carried at his side, he threw +himself between the combatants, and striking up their blades he +cried in tones of such authority as only those can assume who feel +the right is theirs:</p> +<p>"Put up your weapons, gentlemen; I command you in the king's +name.</p> +<p>"Raoul, this is your doing, I warrant. Shame on you for thus +falling upon my father's guest in his absence, and he a stranger +and an alien! Shame on you, I say!"</p> +<p>But scarce had these words been uttered before a shrill cry +broke from several of the girls, who were watching the strange +scene with tremulous excitement. For young Llewelyn, maddened and +blinded by the heat of his passion, and not knowing either who +Alphonso was or by what right he interposed betwixt him and his +foe, turned furiously upon him, and before any one could interpose, +a deep red gash in the boy's wrist showed what the Welsh lad's +blade had done.</p> +<p>Wendot, Griffeth, and Godfrey flung themselves upon the mad +youth, and held him back by main force. In Raoul's eyes there was +an evil light of triumph and exultation.</p> +<p>"Llewelyn, Llewelyn, art mad? It is the king's son," cried +Wendot in their native tongue; whilst Joanna sprang towards her +brother and commenced binding up the gash, the lad never for a +moment losing his presence of mind, or forgetting in the smart of +the hurt the dignity of his position.</p> +<p>Llewelyn's fierce burst of passion had spent itself, and the +sense of Wendot's words had come home to him. He stood shamefaced +and sullen, but secretly somewhat afraid; whilst Arthyn trembled in +every limb, and if looks would have annihilated, Raoul would not +have existed as a corporate being a moment longer.</p> +<p>"Gentlemen," said Alphonso, turning to those about him, and +holding up his bandaged hand, "this is the result of accident -- +pure accident. Remember that, if it ever comes to the ears of my +father. This youth knew not what he did. The fault was mine for +exposing myself thus hastily. As you value the goodwill in which I +hold you all, keep this matter to yourselves. We are not prince or +subject today, but comrades bent on sport together. Remember and +obey my behest. It is not often I lay my commands upon you."</p> +<p>These words were listened to with gratitude and relief by all +the party save one, and his brow gloomed darker than before. Arthyn +saw it, and sprang towards Alphonso, who was smiling at his sister +in response to her quick words of praise.</p> +<p>"It was his fault -- his," she cried, pointing to the scowling +Raoul, who looked ill-pleased at having his lips thus sealed. "He +insulted him -- he insulted me. No man worthy the name would stand +still and listen. It is the way with these fine gallants of +England. They are ever stirring up strife, and my countrymen bear +the blame, the punishment, the odium --"</p> +<p>But Alphonso took her hand with a gesture of boyish +chivalry.</p> +<p>"None shall injure thee or thine whilst I am by, sweet Arthyn. +The nation is dear to me for thy sake, and thy countrymen shall be +as our honoured guests and brothers. Have we not learned to love +them for thy sake and their own? Trouble not thy head more over +this mischance, and let it not cloud our day's sport.</p> +<p>"Raoul," he added, with some sternness, "thou art a turbulent +spirit, and thou lackest the gentle courtesy of a true knight +towards those whose position is trying and difficult. Thou wilt not +win thy spurs if thou mendest not thy ways. Give thy hand now, +before my eyes, to the youth thou didst provoke. If thou marrest +the day's pleasure again, I shall have more to say to thee +yet."</p> +<p>It was not often that the gentle Alphonso spoke in such tones, +and therefore his words were the more heeded. Raoul, inwardly +consumed with rage at being thus singled out for rebuke, dared not +withstand the order given him, and grudgingly held out his hand. It +was not with much greater alacrity that Llewelyn took it, for there +was much stubborn sullenness in his disposition, and his passion, +though quickly aroused, did not quickly abate; but there was a +compulsion in the glance of the royal boy which enforced obedience; +and harmony being thus nominally restored, the party once more +breathed freely.</p> +<p>"And now upwards and onwards for the lair of the wolf," cried +Alphonso; "we have lost time enough already. Who knows the way to +his favourite haunts? Methinks they cannot be very far away +now."</p> +<p>"I should have thought we had had enough of Welsh wolves for one +day," muttered Raoul sullenly to Godfrey; but the latter gave him a +warning glance, and he forbore to speak more on the subject.</p> +<p>Gertrude had watched the whole scene with dilated eyes, and a +feeling of sympathy and repulsion she was perfectly unable to +analyze. When the party moved on again she stole up to Wendot's +side, and said as she glanced into his troubled face:</p> +<p>"He did not mean it? he will not do it again?"</p> +<p>Wendot glanced down at her with a start, and shook his head.</p> +<p>"He knew not that it was the king's son -- that I verily +believe; but I know not what Llewelyn may say or do at any time. He +never speaks to me of what is in his head. Lady Gertrude, you know +the king and his ways. Will he visit this rash deed upon my +brother's head? Will Llewelyn suffer for what he did in an impulse +of mad rage, provoked to it by yon haughty youth, whose words and +bearing are hard for any of us to brook?"</p> +<p>"Not if Alphonso can but get his ear; not if this thing is kept +secret, as he desires, as he has commanded. But I fear what Raoul +may say and do. He is treacherous, selfish, designing. The king +thinks well of him, but we love him not. I trust all will yet be +well."</p> +<p>"But you fear it may not," added Wendot, completing the sentence +as she had not the heart to do. "I fear the same thing myself. But +tell me again, Lady Gertrude, what would be the penalty of such an +act? Will they --"</p> +<p>"Alphonso has great influence with his father," answered +Gertrude quickly. "He will stand your brother's friend through all; +perchance he may be detained in some sort of captivity; perchance +he may not have his lands restored if this thing comes to the +king's ears. But his person will be safe. Fear not for that. +Methinks Alphonso would sooner lay down his own life than that harm +should befall from what chanced upon a day of sport planned by him +and Joanna."</p> +<p>And Gertrude, seeing that a load lay upon the heart of the young +Lord of Dynevor, set herself to chase the cloud from his brow, and +had so far succeeded that he looked himself again by the time a +warning shout from those in advance showed that some tracks of the +wild creature of whom they were in pursuit had been discovered in +the path.</p> +<p>"Do not run into danger," pleaded Gertrude, laying a hand on +Wendot's arm as he moved quickly forward to the front. "You are so +brave you never think of yourself; but do not let us have more +bloodshed today, save the blood of the ravenous beast if it must +be. I could find it in my heart to wish that we had not come forth +on this errand. The brightness of the day has been clouded +over."</p> +<p>Wendot answered by a responsive glance. There was something +soothing to him in the unsolicited sympathy of Gertrude. He had +thought little since they parted two years before of that childish +pledge given and received, although he always wore her talisman +about his neck, and sometimes looked at it with a smile. He had no +serious thoughts of trying to mate with an English noble's +daughter. He had had no leisure to spare for thoughts of wedlock at +all. But something in the trustful glance of those dark eyes +looking confidingly up to him sent a quick thrill through his +pulses, which was perhaps the first dawning life of the love of a +brave heart.</p> +<p>But there was an impatient call from the front, and Wendot +sprang forward, the huntsman awakening within him at the sight of +the slot of the quarry. He looked intently at the tracks in the +soft earth, and then pointed downwards in the direction of a deep +gully or cavernous opening in the hillside, which looked very dark +and gloomy to the party who stood in the sunshine of the open.</p> +<p>"The beast has gone that way," he said; "and by his tracks and +these bloodstains, he has prey in his mouth. Likely his mate may +have her lair in yon dark spot, and they may be rearing their young +in that safe retreat. See how the dogs strain and pant! They smell +the prey, and are eager to be off. We must be alert and wary, for +wolves with young ones to guard are fierce beyond their wont."</p> +<p>He looked doubtfully at the girls, whose faces were full of +mingled terror and excitement. Godfrey read his meaning, and +suggested that the ladies should remain in this vantage ground +whilst some of the rest went forward to reconnoitre.</p> +<p>But Joanna, ever bold and impetuous, would have none of +that.</p> +<p>"We will go on together," she said. "We shall be safest so. No +wolf, however fierce, will attack a number like ourselves. They +will fly if they can, and if they are brought to bay we need not go +near them. But why have we come so far to give up all the peril and +the sport at the last moment?"</p> +<p>"She speaks truth," said Wendot, to whom she seemed to look. "At +this season of the year wolves have meat in plenty, and will not +attack man save in self defence. If we track them silently to their +lair, we may surprise and kill the brood; but we are many, and can +leave force enough to defend the ladies whilst the rest fight the +battle with the creatures at bay."</p> +<p>Nobody really wished to be left behind, and there was a pleasant +feeling of safety in numbers. Slowly and cautiously they all +followed the track of the wolf downwards into the gloomy ravine, +which seemed to shut out all light of the sun between walls of +solid rock.</p> +<p>It was a curious freak in which nature had indulged in the +formation of this miniature crevasse between the hillsides. At the +base ran a dark turbid stream, which had hollowed out for itself a +sort of cavernous opening, and the walls of rock rose almost +precipitately on three sides, only leaving one track by which the +ravine could be entered. The stream came bubbling out from the +rock, passing through some underground passage; and within the +gloomy cavern thus produced the savage beasts had plainly made +their lair, for there were traces of blood and bones upon the +little rocky platform, and the trained ear of Wendot, who was +foremost, detected the sound of subdued and angry growling +proceeding from the natural cave they were approaching.</p> +<p>"The beasts are in there," he said, pausing, and the next moment +Raoul had loosed the dogs, who darted like arrows from bows along +the narrow track; and immediately a great he wolf had sprung out +with a cry of almost human rage, and had fastened upon one of the +assailants, whose piercing yell made the girls shrink back and +almost wish they had not come.</p> +<p>But Wendot was not far behind. He was not one of the huntsmen +who give all the peril to the dogs and keep out of the fray +themselves. Drawing his long hunting knife, and shouting to his +brothers to follow him, he sprang down upon the rocky platform +himself, and Llewelyn and Howel were at his side in a moment. +Godfrey would fain have followed, but his duty obliged him to +remain by the side of the princess; and he kept a firm though +respectful grasp upon Alphonso's arm, feeling that he must not by +any means permit the heir of England to adventure himself into the +fray. And indeed the boy's gashed hand hindered him from the use of +his weapon, and he could only look on with the most intense +interest whilst the conflict between the two fierce beasts and +their angry cubs was waged by the fearless lads, who had been +through many such encounters before, and showed such skill, such +address, such intrepidity in their attack, that the young prince +shouted aloud in admiration, and even the girls lost their first +sense of terror in the certainty of victory on the side of the +Welsh youths.</p> +<p>As for Raoul Latimer, he stood at a safe distance cheering on +his dogs, but not adventuring himself within reach of the murderous +fangs of the wolves. He occupied a position halfway between the +spot upon which the fray was taking place and the vantage ground +occupied by the royal party in full sight of the strife.</p> +<p>Arthyn had passed several scornful comments upon the care the +young gallant was taking of himself, when suddenly there was a cry +from the spectators; for one of the cubs, escaping from the melee, +ran full tilt towards Raoul, blind as it seemed with terror; and as +it came within reach of his weapon, the sharp blade gleamed in the +air, and the little creature gave one yell and rolled over in its +death agony. But that cry seemed to pierce the heart of the mother +wolf, and suddenly, with almost preternatural strength and +activity, she bounded clean over the forms of men and dogs, and +dashed straight at Raoul with all the ferocity of an animal at bay, +and of a mother robbed of her young.</p> +<p>The young man saw the attack; but his weapon was buried in the +body of the cub, and he had no time to disengage it. Turning with a +sharp cry of terror, he attempted to fly up the rocky path; but the +beast was upon him. She made a wild dash and fastened upon his +back, her fangs crushing one shoulder and her hot breath seeming to +scorch his cheek. With a wild yell of agony and terror Raoul threw +himself face downwards upon the ground, whilst his cry was shrilly +echoed by the girls -- all but Arthyn, who stood rigidly as if +turned to stone, a strange, fierce light blazing in her eyes.</p> +<p>But help was close at hand. Wendot had seen the spring, and had +followed close upon the charge of the maddened brute. Flinging +himself fearlessly upon the struggling pair, he plunged his knife +into the neck of the wolf, causing her to relax her hold of her +first foe and turn upon him. Had he stabbed her to the heart she +might have inflicted worse injury upon Raoul in her mortal +struggle; as it was, there was fierce fight left in her still. But +Wendot was kneeling upon the wildly struggling body with all his +strength, and had locked his hands fast round her throat.</p> +<p>"Quick, Llewelyn -- the knife!" he cried, and his brother was +beside him in an instant.</p> +<p>The merciful death stroke was given, and the three youths rose +from their crouching posture and looked each other in the eyes, +whilst the wolf lay still and dead by the side of her cub.</p> +<p>"Methinks we have had something too much of Welsh wolves," was +the only comment of Raoul, as he joined the royal party without a +word to the brothers who had saved his life.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a>. THE KING'S +JUDGMENT.</h2> +<p>The great King Edward had been sitting enthroned in the state +apartment of the castle, receiving the homage of those amongst the +Welsh lords and chieftains who had been summoned to pay their +homage to him and had obeyed this summons.</p> +<p>It was an imposing sight, and one not likely to be forgotten by +any who witnessed it for the first time. The courageous but gentle +Queen Eleanor, who was seldom absent from her lord's side be the +times peaceful or warlike, was seated beside him for the ceremony, +with her two elder daughters beside her. The young Alphonso stood +at the right hand of the king, his face bright with interest and +sympathy; and if ever the act of homage seemed to be paid with +effort by some rugged chieftain, or he saw a look of gloom or pain +upon the face of such a one, he was ever ready with some graceful +speech or small act of courtesy, which generally acted like a +charm. And the father regarded his son with a fond pride, and let +him take his own way with these haughty, untamable spirits, feeling +perhaps that the tact of the royal boy would do more to conciliate +and win hearts than any word or deed of his own.</p> +<p>Edward has been often harshly condemned for his cruelty and +treachery towards the vanquished Welsh; but it must be remembered +with regard to the first charge that the days were rude and cruel, +that the spirit of the age was fierce and headstrong, and that the +barons and nobles who were scheming for the fair lands of Wales +were guilty of many of the unjust and oppressive acts for which +Edward has since been held responsible. The Welsh were themselves a +very wild race, in some parts of the country barely civilized; and +there can be no denying that a vein of fierce treachery ran through +their composition, and that they often provoked their adversaries +to cruel retaliation. As for the king himself, his policy was on +the whole a merciful and just one, if the one point of his feudal +supremacy were conceded. To those who came to him with their act of +homage he confirmed their possession of ancestral estates, and +treated them with kindness and consideration. He was too keen a +statesman and too just a man to desire anything but a conciliatory +policy so far as it was possible. Only when really roused to anger +and resolved upon war did the fiercer side of his nature show +itself, and then, indeed, he could show himself terrible and +lion-like in his wrath.</p> +<p>The brothers of Dynevor were the last of those who came to pay +their act of homage. The day had waned, and the last light of +sunset was streaming into that long room as the fair-haired Wendot +bent his knee in response to the summons of the herald. The king's +eyes seemed to rest upon him with interest, and he spoke kindly to +the youth; but it was noted by some in the company that his brow +darkened when Llewelyn followed his brother's example, Howel +attending him as Griffeth had supported Wendot; and there was none +of the gracious urbanity in the royal countenance now that had +characterized it during the past hour.</p> +<p>Several faces amongst those in immediate attendance upon the +king and his family watched this closing scene with unwonted +interest. Gertrude stood with Joanna's hand clasped in hers, +quivering with excitement, and ever and anon casting quick looks +towards her brother, who stood behind the chair of state observant +and watchful, but without betraying his feelings either by word or +look. Raoul Latimer was there, a sneer upon his lips, a malevolent +light in his eyes, which deepened as they rested upon Llewelyn, +whilst Arthyn watched the twin brothers with a strange look in her +glowing eyes, her lips parted, her white teeth just showing +between, her whole expression one of tense expectancy and sympathy. +Once Llewelyn glanced up and met the look she bent on him. A dusky +flush overspread his cheek, and his fingers clenched themselves in +an unconscious movement understood only by himself.</p> +<p>The homage paid, there was a little stir at the lower end of the +hall as the doors were flung open for the royal party to take their +departure. Edward bent a searching look upon the four brothers, who +had fallen back somewhat, and were clustered together not far from +the royal group, and the next minute an attendant whispered to them +that it was the king's pleasure they should follow in his personal +retinue, as he had somewhat to say to them in private.</p> +<p>Wendot's heart beat rather faster than its wont. He had had some +foreboding of evil ever since that unlucky expedition, some days +back now, on which Llewelyn's sword had been drawn upon an English +subject, and had injured the king's son likewise. Raoul had for +very shame affected a sort of condescending friendliness towards +the brothers after they had been instrumental in saving him from +the fangs of the she wolf; but it was pretty evident to them that +his friendship was but skin deep; whilst every word that passed +between Arthyn and Llewelyn or his brother -- and these were many +-- was ranked as a dire offence.</p> +<p>Had Wendot been more conversant with the intrigues of courts, he +would have seen plainly that Raoul was paying his addresses to the +Welsh heiress, who plainly detested and abhorred him. The ambitious +and clever young man, who was well thought of by the king, and had +many friends amongst the nobles and barons, had a plan of his own +for securing to himself some of the richest territory in the +country, and was leaving no stone unturned in order to achieve that +object. A marriage with Arthyn would give him the hold he wanted +upon a very large estate. But indifferent as he was to the feelings +of the lady, he was wise enough to see that whilst she remained in +her present mood, and was the confidante and friend of the +princesses, he should not gain the king's consent to prosecuting +his nuptials by force, as he would gladly have done. Whereupon a +new scheme had entered his busy brain, as a second string to his +bow, and with the help of a kinsman high in favour with the king, +he had great hopes of gaining his point, which would at once +gratify his ambition and inflict vengeance upon a hated rival.</p> +<p>Raoul had hated the Dynevor brothers ever since he had detected +in Arthyn an interest in and sympathy for them, ever since he had +found her in close talk in their own tongue with the dark-browed +twins, whose antagonism to the English was scarcely disguised. He +had done all he knew to stir the hot blood in Llewelyn and Howel, +and that with some success. The lads were looked upon as dangerous +and treacherous by many of those in the castle; and from the +sneering look of coming triumph upon the face of young Latimer as +the party moved off towards the private apartments of the royal +family, it was plain that he anticipated a victory for himself and +a profound humiliation for his foes.</p> +<p>Supper was the first business of the hour, and the Dynevor +brothers sat at the lower table with the attendants of the king. +The meal was well-served and plentiful, but they bad small appetite +for it. Wendot felt as though a shadow hung upon them; and the +chief comfort he received was in stealing glances at the sweet, +sensitive face of Gertrude, who generally responded to his glance +by one of her flashing smiles.</p> +<p>Wendot wondered how it was that Lord Montacute had never sought +him out to speak to him. Little as the lad had thought of their +parting interview at Dynevor during the past two years, it all came +back with the greatest vividness as he looked upon the fine calm +face of the English noble. Was it possible he had forgotten the +half-pledge once given him? Or did he regret it, now that his +daughter was shooting up from a child into a sweet and gracious +maiden whom he felt disposed to worship with reverential awe? +Wendot did not think he was in love -- he would scarce have known +the meaning of the phrase and he as little understood the feelings +which had lately awakened within him; but he did feel conscious +that a new element had entered into his life, and with it a far +less bitter sense of antagonism to the English than he had +experienced in previous years.</p> +<p>After the supper was ended the royal family withdrew into an +inner room, and presently the four brothers were bidden to enter, +as the king had somewhat to say to them. The greater number of the +courtiers and attendants remained in the outer room, but Sir +Godfrey Challoner, Raoul Latimer, and one or two other gentlemen +were present in the smaller apartment. The queen and royal children +were also there, and their playfellows and companions, Gertrude +holding her father by the hand, and watching with intense interest +the approach of the brothers and the faces of the king and his +son.</p> +<p>Edward was seated before a table on which certain parchments +lay. Alphonso stood beside him, and Wendot fancied that he had only +just ended some earnest appeal, his parted lips and flushed cheeks +seeming to tell of recent eager speech. The king looked keenly at +the brothers as they made their obeisance to him, and singling out +Wendot, bid him by a gesture to approach nearer.</p> +<p>There was a kindliness in the royal countenance which encouraged +the youth, and few could approach the great soldier king without +experiencing something of the fascination which his powerful +individuality exercised over all his subjects.</p> +<p>"Come hither, boy," he said; "we have heard nought but good of +thee. Thou hast an eloquent advocate in yon maiden of Lord +Montacute's, and mine own son and daughters praise thy gallantry in +no measured terms. We have made careful examination into these +parchments here, containing reports of the late rebellion, and +cannot find that thou hast had part or lot in it. Thou hast paid +thy homage without dallying or delay; wherefore it is our pleasure +to confirm to thee thy possession of thy castle of Dynevor and its +territory. We only caution thee to remain loyal to him thou hast +owned as king, and we will establish thee in thy rights if in time +to come they be disputed by others, or thou stirrest up foes by thy +loyalty to us."</p> +<p>Wendot bowed low. If there was something bitter in having his +father's rightful inheritance granted to him as something of a +boon, at least there was much to sweeten the draught in the kindly +and gracious bearing of the king, and in Alphonso's friendly words +and looks. He had no father to look to in time of need, and felt a +great distrust of the kinsman who exercised some guardianship over +him; so that there was considerable relief for the youth in feeling +that the great King of England was his friend, and that he would +keep him from the aggression of foes.</p> +<p>He stood aside as Edward's glance passed on to Llewelyn and +Howel, and it was plain that the monarch's face changed and +hardened as he fixed his eye upon the twins.</p> +<p>"Llewelyn -- Howel," he said, "joint lords of Iscennen, we wish +that we had received the same good report of you that we have done +of your brethren. But it is not so. There be dark records in your +past which give little hope for the future. Nevertheless you are +yet young. Wisdom may come with the advance of years. But the hot +blood in you requires taming and curbing. You have proved +yourselves unfit for the place hitherto occupied as lords of the +broad lands bequeathed you by Res Vychan, your father. For the +present those lands are forfeit. You must win the right to call +them yours again by loyalty in the cause which every true Welshman +should have at heart, because it is the cause which alone can bring +peace and safety to your harassed country. It is not willingly that +we wrest from any man the lands that are his birthright. Less +willingly do we do this when homage, however unwilling and +reluctant, has been paid. But we have our duties to ourselves and +to our submitted subjects to consider, and it is not meet to send +firebrands alight into the world, when a spark may raise so fierce +a conflagration, and when hundreds of lives have to pay the penalty +of one mad act of headstrong youth. It is your youth that shall be +your excuse from the charge of graver offence, but those who are +too young to govern themselves are not fit to govern others."</p> +<p>Whilst the king had been speaking he had been closely studying +the faces of the twin brothers, who stood before him with their +eyes on the ground. These two lads, although by their stature and +appearance almost men, had not attained more than their sixteenth +year, and had by no means learned that control of feature which is +one of nature's hardest lessons. As the king's words made +themselves understood, their brows had darkened and their faces had +contracted with a fierce anger and rage, which betrayed itself also +in their clenched hands and heaving chests; and although they +remained speechless -- for the awe inspired by Edward's presence +could not but make itself felt even by them -- it was plain that +only the strongest efforts put upon themselves hindered them from +some outbreak of great violence.</p> +<p>Edward's eye rested sternly upon them for a moment, and then he +addressed himself once again to Wendot.</p> +<p>"To thee, Res Wendot," he said, "we give the charge of these two +turbulent brothers of thine. Had not the Prince Alphonso spoken for +them, we had kept them under our own care here in our fortress of +Rhuddlan. But he has pleaded for them that they have their liberty, +therefore into thy charge do we give them. Take them back with thee +to Dynevor, and strive to make them like unto thyself and thy +shadow there, who is, they tell me, thy youngest brother, and as +well disposed as thyself.</p> +<p>"Say, young man, wilt thou accept this charge, and be surety for +these haughty youths? If their own next-of-kin will not take this +office, we must look elsewhere for a sterner guardian."</p> +<p>For a moment Wendot hesitated, He knew well the untamable spirit +of his brothers, and the small influence he was likely to have upon +them, and for a moment his heart shrank from the task. But again he +bethought what his refusal must mean to them -- captivity of a more +or less irksome kind, harsh treatment perhaps, resulting in actual +imprisonment, and a sure loss of favour with any guardian who had +the least love for the English cause. At Dynevor they would at +least be free.</p> +<p>Surely, knowing all, they would not make his task too hard. The +tie of kindred was very close. Wendot remembered words spoken by +the dying bed of his parents, and his mind was quickly made up.</p> +<p>"I will be surety for them," he said briefly. "If they offend +again, let my life, my lands, be the forfeit."</p> +<p>The monarch gave him a searching glance. Perhaps some of the +effort with which he had spoken made itself audible in his tones. +He looked full at Wendot for a brief minute, and then turned to the +black-browed twins.</p> +<p>"You hear your brother's pledge," he said in low, stern tones. +"If you have the feelings of men of honour, you will respect the +motive which prompts him to give it, and add no difficulties to the +task he has imposed upon himself. Be loyal to him, and loyal to the +cause he has embraced, and perchance a day may come when you may so +have redeemed your past youthful follies as to claim and receive at +our hands the lands we now withhold. In the meantime they will be +administered by Raoul Latimer, who will draw the revenues and +maintain order there. He has proved his loyalty in many ways ere +this, and he is to be trusted, as one day I hope you twain may +be."</p> +<p>Llewelyn started as if he had been stung as these words crossed +the king's lips. His black eyes flashed fire, and as he lifted his +head and met the mocking glance of Raoul, it seemed for a moment as +if actually in the presence of the king he would have flown at his +antagonist's throat; but Wendot's hand was on his arm, and even +Howel had the self-command to whisper a word of caution. Alphonso +sprang gaily between the angry youth and his father's keen glance, +and began talking eagerly of Dynevor, asking how the brothers would +spend their time, now that they were all to live there once more; +whilst Arthyn, coming forward, drew Llewelyn gently backward, +casting at Raoul a look of such bitter scorn and hatred that he +involuntarily shrank before it.</p> +<p>"Thou hast taken a heavy burden upon thy young shoulders, lad," +said a well-remembered voice in Wendot's ear, and looking up, he +met the calm gaze of Lord Montacute bent upon him; whilst Gertrude, +flushing and sparkling, stood close beside her father. "Thinkest +thou that such tempers as those will be easily controlled?"</p> +<p>Wendot's face was grave, and looked manly in its noble +thoughtfulness.</p> +<p>"I know not what to say; but, in truth, I could have given no +other answer. Could I leave my own brethren to languish in +captivity, however honourable, when a word from me would free them? +Methinks, sir, thou scarce knowest what freedom is to us wild sons +of Wales, or how the very thought of any hindrance to perfect +liberty chafes our spirit and frets us past the limit of endurance. +Sooner than be fettered by bonds, however slack, I would spring +from yonder casement and dash myself to pieces upon the stones +below. To give my brothers up into unfriendly hands would be giving +them up to certain death. If my spirit could not brook such +control, how much less could theirs?"</p> +<p>Gertrude's soft eyes gave eloquent and sympathetic response. +Wendot had unconsciously addressed his justification to her rather +than to her father. Her quick sympathy gave him heart and hope. She +laid her hand upon his arm and said:</p> +<p>"I think thou art very noble, Wendot; it was like thee to do it. +I was almost grieved when I heard thee take the charge upon +thyself, for I fear it may be one of peril to thee. But I love thee +the more for thy generosity. Thou wilt be a true and brave knight +ere thou winnest thy spurs in battle."</p> +<p>Wendot's face flushed with shy happiness at hearing such frank +and unqualified praise from one he was beginning to hold so dear. +Lord Montacute laid his hand smilingly on his daughter's mouth, as +if to check her ready speech, and then bidding her join the Lady +Joanna, who was making signals to her from the other side of the +room, he drew Wendot a little away into an embrasure, and spoke to +him in tones of considerable gravity.</p> +<p>"Young man," he said, "I know not if thou hast any memory left +of the words I spake to thee when last we met at Dynevor?"</p> +<p>Wendot's colour again rose, but his glance did not waver.</p> +<p>"I remember right well," he answered simply. "I spoke words then +of which I have often thought since -- words that I have not +repented till today, nor indeed till I heard thee pass that pledge +which makes thee surety for thy turbulent brothers."</p> +<p>A quick, troubled look crossed Wendot's face, but he did not +speak, and Lord Montacute continued -- "I greatly fear that thou +hast undertaken more than thou canst accomplish; and that, instead +of drawing thy brothers from the paths of peril, thou wilt rather +be led by them into treacherous waters, which may at last overwhelm +thee. You are all young together, and many dangers beset the steps +of youth. Thou art true and loyal hearted, that I know well; but +thou art a Welshman, and --"</p> +<p>He paused and stopped short, and Wendot answered, not without +pride:</p> +<p>"I truly am a Welshman -- it is my boast to call myself that. If +you fear to give your daughter to one of that despised race, so be +it. I would not drag her down to degradation; I love her too well +for that. Keep her to thyself. I give thee back thy pledge."</p> +<p>Lord Montacute smiled as he laid his hand upon the young man's +shoulder.</p> +<p>"So hot and hasty, Wendot, as hasty as those black-haired twins. +Yet, boy, I like thee for thy outspoken candour, and I would not +have thee change it for the smooth treachery of courtly intrigue. +If I had nought else to think of, I would plight my daughter's hand +to thee, an ye both were willing, more gladly than to any man I +know. But, Wendot, she is mine only child, and very dear to me. +There are others who would fain win her smiles, others who would be +proud to do her lightest behest. She is yet but a child. Perchance +she has not seriously considered these matters. Still there will +come a time when she will do so, and --"</p> +<p>"Then let her choose where she will," cried Wendot, proudly and +hotly. "Think you I would wed one whose heart was given elsewhere? +Take back your pledge -- think of it no more. If the day comes when +I may come to her free and unfettered, and see if she has any +regard for me, good. I will come. But so long as you hold that +peril menaces my path, I will not ask her even to think of me. Let +her forget. I will not bind her by a word. It shall be as if those +words had never passed betwixt us."</p> +<p>Lord Montacute scarce knew if regret, relief, or admiration were +the feeling uppermost in his mind, as the youth he believed so +worthy of his fair daughter, and perhaps not entirely indifferent +to her dawning charms, thus frankly withdrew his claim upon her +hand. It seems strange to us that any one should be talking and +thinking so seriously of matrimony when the girl was but fourteen +and the youth three years her senior; but in those days marriages +were not only planned but consummated at an absurdly early age +according to our modern notions, and brides of fifteen and sixteen +were considered almost mature. Many young men of Wendot's age would +be seriously seeking a wife, and although no such thought had +entered his head until he had seen Gertrude again, it cannot be +denied that the idea had taken some hold upon him now, or that he +did not feel a qualm of pain and sorrow at thus yielding up one +bright hope just when the task he had taken upon himself seemed to +be clouding his life with anxiety and peril.</p> +<p>"Boy," said Lord Montacute, "I cannot forget what thou hast done +nor what she owes to thee. I love thee well, and would fain welcome +thee as a son; but my love for her bids me wait till we see what is +the result of this office thou hast taken on thyself. Thou hast +acted rightly and nobly, but in this world trouble often seems to +follow the steps of those who strive most after the right. If thine +own life, thine own possessions, are to pay the forfeit if thy +brethren fall away into rebellion -- and Edward, though a just man +and kind, can be stern to exact the uttermost penalty when he is +angered or defied -- then standest thou in sore peril, peril from +which I would shield my maid. Wherefore --"</p> +<p>"Nay, say no more -- say no more. I comprehend it all too well," +replied Wendot, not without a natural though only momentary feeling +of bitterness at the thought of what this pledge was already +costing him, but his native generosity and sweetness of temper soon +triumphed over all besides, and he said with his peculiarly bright +and steadfast smile, "You have judged rightly and well for us both, +my lord. Did I but drag her down to sorrow and shame, it would be +the bitterest drop in a bitter cup. A man placed as I am is better +without ties."</p> +<p>"Also the days will soon pass by, and the time will come when +this charge ceases. Then if the Lady Gertrude be still mistress of +her hand and heart, and if the Lord of Dynevor comes to try his +fate, methinks, by what I have seen and heard, that he may chance +to get no unkindly answer to his wooing."</p> +<p>Wendot made no reply, but only blushed deeply as he moved away. +He scarce knew whether he were glad or sorry that Gertrude came out +to meet him, and drew him towards the little group which had +gathered in a deep embrasure of the window. Joanna, Alphonso, and +Griffeth were there. They had been eagerly questioning the younger +lad about life at Dynevor, and what they would do when they were at +home all together. Joanna was longing to travel that way and lodge +a night there; and Gertrude was eloquent in praise of the castle, +and looked almost wistfully at Wendot to induce him to add his +voice to the general testimony. But he was unwontedly grave and +silent, and her soft eyes filled with tears. She knew that he was +heavy hearted, and it cut her to the quick; but he did not speak of +his trouble, and only Alphonso ventured to allude to it, and that +was by one quick sentence as he was taking his departure at +bedtime.</p> +<p>"Wendot," he said earnestly, "I will ever be thy friend. Fear +not. My father denies me nothing. Thy trial may be a hard one, but +thou wilt come nobly forth from it. I will see that harm to thee +comes not from thy generosity. Only be true to us, and thou shalt +not suffer."</p> +<p>Wendot made no reply, but the words were like a gleam of +sunshine breaking through the clouds; and one more such gleam was +in store for him on the morrow, when he bid a final adieu to +Gertrude before the general departure for Dynevor.</p> +<p>"I have my half gold coin, Wendot. I shall look at it every day +and think of thee. I am so happy that we have seen each other once +again. Thou wilt not forget me, Wendot?"</p> +<p>"Never so long as I live," he answered with sudden fervour, +raising the small hand he held to his lips. "And some day, +perchance, Lady Gertrude, I will come to thee again."</p> +<p>"I shall be waiting for thee," she answered, with a mixture of +arch sweetness and playfulness that he scarce knew whether to call +childlike confidence or maiden trust. But the look in her eyes went +to his heart, and was treasured there, like the memory of a +sunbeam, for many long days to come.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a>. TURBULENT +SPIRITS.</h2> +<p>The four sons of Res Vychan went back to Dynevor together, there +to settle down, outwardly at least, to a quiet and uneventful life, +chiefly diversified by hunting and fishing, and such adventures as +are inseparable from those pastimes in which eager lads are +engrossed.</p> +<p>Wendot both looked and felt older for his experiences in the +castle of Rhuddlan. His face had lost much of its boyishness, and +had taken a thoughtfulness beyond his years. Sometimes he appeared +considerably oppressed by the weight of the responsibility with +which he had charged himself, and would watch the movements and +listen to the talk of the twins with but slightly concealed +uneasiness.</p> +<p>Yet as days merged into weeks, and weeks lengthened into months, +and still there had been nothing to alarm him unduly, he began, as +the inclement winter drew on, to breathe more freely; for in the +winter months all hostilities of necessity ceased, for the mountain +passes were always blocked with snow, and both travelling and +fighting were practically out of the question for a considerable +time.</p> +<p>Wendot, too, had matters enough to occupy his mind quite apart +from the charge of his two haughty brothers. He had his own estates +to administer -- no light task for a youth not yet eighteen -- and +his large household to order; and though Griffeth gave him every +help, Llewelyn and Howel stood sullenly aloof, and would not appear +to take the least interest in anything that appertained to Dynevor, +although they gave no reason for their conduct, and were not in +other ways unfriendly to their brothers.</p> +<p>The country was for the time being quiet and at peace. Exhausted +by its own internal struggles and by the late disastrous campaign +against the English, the land was, as it were, resting and +recruiting itself, in preparation, perhaps, for another outbreak +later on. In the meantime, sanguine spirits like those of Wendot +and Griffeth began to cherish hopes that the long and weary +struggle was over at last, and that the nation, as a nation, would +begin to realize the wisdom and the advantage of making a friend +and ally of the powerful monarch of England, instead of provoking +him to acts of tyranny and retaliation by perpetual and fruitless +rebellions against a will far too strong to be successfully +resisted.</p> +<p>But Llewelyn and Howel never spoke of the English without words +and looks indicative of the deepest hatred; and the smouldering +fire in their breasts was kept glowing and burning by the wild +words and the wilder songs of the old bard Wenwynwyn, who spent the +best part of his time shut up in his own bare room, with his harp +for his companion, in which room Llewelyn and Howel spent much of +their time during the dark winter days, when they could be less and +less out of doors.</p> +<p>Since that adventure of the Eagle's Crag, Wendot had distrusted +the old minstrel, and was uneasy at the influence he exercised upon +the twins; but the idea of sending him from Dynevor was one which +never for a moment entered his head. Had not Wenwynwyn grown old in +his father's service? Had he not been born and bred at Dynevor? The +young lord himself seemed to have a scarce more assured right to +his place there than the ancient bard. Be he friend or be he foe, +at Dynevor he must remain so long as the breath remained in his +body.</p> +<p>The bard was, by hereditary instinct, attached to all the boys, +but of late there had been but little community of thought between +him and his young chieftain. Wendot well knew the reason. The old +man hated the English with the bitter, unreasoning, deadly hatred +of his wild, untutored nature. Had he not sprung from a race whose +lives had been spent in rousing in the breasts of all who heard +them the most fervent and unbounded patriotic enthusiasm? And was +it to be marvelled at that he could not see or understand the +changes of the times or the hopelessness of the long struggle, now +that half the Welsh nobles were growing cool in the national cause, +and the civilization and wealth of the sister country were +beginning to show them that their own condition left much to be +desired, and that there was something better and higher to be +achieved than a so-called liberty, only maintained at the cost of +perpetual bloodshed? or a series of petty feuds for supremacy, +which went far to keep the land in a state of semi-barbarism?</p> +<p>So the old bard sang his wild songs, and Llewelyn and Howel sat +by the glowing fire of logs that blazed in the long winter evenings +upon his hearth, listening to his fierce words, and hardening their +hearts and bracing their wills against any kind of submission to a +foreign yoke. A burning hatred against the English king also +consumed them. Had they not, at the cost of most bitter +humiliation, gone to him as vassals, trusting to his promise that +all who did homage for their lands should be confirmed in peaceful +possession of the same? And how had he treated this act of painful +submission? Was it greatly to be wondered at that their hearts +burned with an unquenchable hatred? To them Edward stood as the +type of all that was cruel and treacherous and grasping. They +brooded over their wrongs by day and by night; they carried their +dark looks with them when they stirred abroad or when they rested +at home. Wenwynwyn sympathized as none besides seemed to do, and he +became their great solace and chief counsellor.</p> +<p>Wendot might uneasily wonder what passed in that quiet room of +the old man's, but he never knew or guessed. He would better have +liked to hear Llewelyn burst forth into the old passionate +invective. He was uneasy at this chronic state of gloom and sullen +silence on the vexed question of English supremacy. But seldom a +word passed the lips of either twin. They kept their secret -- if +secret they had -- locked away in their own breasts. And days and +weeks and months passed by, and Wendot and Griffeth seemed almost +as much alone at Dynevor as they had been after their father's +death, when Llewelyn and Howel had betaken themselves to their +castle of Carregcennen.</p> +<p>But at least, if silent and sullen, they did not appear to +entertain any plan likely to raise anxiety in Wendot's mind as to +the pledge he had given to the king. They kept at home, and never +spoke of Iscennen, and as the winter passed away and the spring +began to awaken the world from her long white sleep, they betook +themselves with zest to their pastime of hunting, and went long +expeditions that sometimes lasted many days, returning laden with +spoil, and apparently in better spirits from the bracing nature of +their pursuits.</p> +<p>Griffeth, who had felt the cold somewhat keenly, and had been +drooping and languid all the winter, picked up strength and spirit +as the days grew longer and warmer, and began to enjoy open-air +life once more.</p> +<p>Wendot was much wrapped up in this young brother of his, who had +always been dearer to him than any being in the world besides.</p> +<p>Since he had been at death's door with the fever, Griffeth had +never recovered the robustness of health which had hitherto been +the characteristic of the Dynevor brothers all their lives. He was +active and energetic when the fit was on him, but he wearied soon +of any active sport. He could no longer bound up the mountain paths +with the fleetness and elasticity of a mountain deer, and in the +keen air of the higher peaks it was difficult for him to +breathe.</p> +<p>Still in the summer days he was almost his former self again, or +so Wendot hoped; and although Griffeth's lack of rude health +hindered both from joining the long expeditions planned and carried +out by the twins, it never occurred to Wendot to suspect that there +was an ulterior motive for these, or to realize how unwelcome his +presence would have been had he volunteered it, in lieu of staying +behind with Griffeth, and contenting himself with less adventurous +sports.</p> +<p>Spring turned to summer, and summer to autumn, and life at +Dynevor seemed to move quietly enough. Griffeth took a fancy to +book learning -- a rare enough accomplishment in those days -- and +a monk from the Abbey of Strata Florida was procured to give him +instruction in the obscure science of reading and writing. Wendot, +who had a natural love of study, and who had been taught something +of these mysteries by his mother -- she being for the age she lived +in a very cultivated woman -- shared his brother's studies, and +delighted in the acquirement of learning.</p> +<p>But this new development on the part of the Lord of Dynevor and +his brother seemed to divide them still more from the two remaining +sons of Res Vychan; and the old bard would solemnly shake his head +and predict certain ruin to the house when its master laid aside +sword for pen, and looked for counsel to the monk and missal +instead of to his good right hand and his faithful band of armed +retainers.</p> +<p>Wendot and Griffeth would smile at these dark sayings, and loved +their studies none the less because they opened out before them +some better understanding of the blessings of peace and culture +upon a world harried and exhausted with perpetual, aimless strife; +but their more enlightened opinions seemed but to widen the breach +between them and their brothers, and soon they began to be almost +strangers to each other.</p> +<p>Wendot and Griffeth regretted this without seeing how to mend +matters. They felt sorry for Llewelyn and Howel, deprived of the +employments and authority they had enjoyed of late, and would have +gladly given them a share of authority in Dynevor; but this they +would not accept, drawing more and more away into themselves, and +sharing their confidences with no one except Wenwynwyn.</p> +<p>The summer was now on the wane, and the blustering winds of the +equinox had begun to moan about the castle walls. The men were busy +getting in the last of the fruits of the earth and storing them up +against the winter need, whilst the huntsmen brought in day by day +stores of venison and game, which the women salted down for +consumption during the long dreary days when snow should shut them +within their own walls, and no fresh meat would be obtainable.</p> +<p>It was a busy season, and Wendot had time and mind alike full. +He heeded little the movements of his brothers, whom he thought +engrossed in the pleasures of the chase. He was not even aware that +old Wenwynwyn was absent for several days from the castle, for +since the estrangement between him and the old man he was often +days at a time without encountering him.</p> +<p>Llewelyn and Howel were visibly restless just now. They did not +go far from the castle, nor did they seem interested in the spoil +the hunters brought home. But they spent many long hours in the +great gallery where the arms of the retainers were laid up, and +their heads were often to be seen close together in deep +discussion, although if any person came near to disturb them they +would spring asunder, or begin loudly discussing some indifferent +theme.</p> +<p>They were in this vast, gloomy place, sitting together in the +deep embrasure of one of the narrow windows as the daylight began +to fail, when suddenly they beheld Wenwynwyn stalking through the +long gallery as if in search of them, and they sprang forward to +greet him with unconcealed eagerness.</p> +<p>"Thou hast returned."</p> +<p>"Ay, my sons, I have returned, and am the bearer of good news. +But this is not the place to speak. Stones have ears, and traitors +abound even in these hoary walls which have echoed to the songs of +the bard for more years than man can count. Ah, woe the day; ah, +woe the falling off! That I should live to see the sons of Dynevor +thus fall away -- the young eaglets leaving their high estate to +grovel with the carrion vulture and the coward crow! Ah! in old +days it was not so. But there are yet those of the degenerate race +in whom the spirit of their fathers burns. Come, my sons -- come +hither with me. I bring you a message from Iscennen that will +gladden your hearts to hear."</p> +<p>The boys pressed after him up the narrow, winding stair that led +to the room the bard called his own. It was remote from the rest of +the castle, and words spoken within its walls could be heard by +none outside. It was a place that had heard much plotting and +planning ere now, and what was to be spoken tonight was but the +sequel of what had gone before.</p> +<p>"Speak, Wenwynwyn, speak!" cried the twins in a breath. "Has he +returned thither?"</p> +<p>"Ay, my sons; he has come back in person to receive his 'dues,' +and to look into all that has passed in his absence. These eyes +have seen the false, smiling face of the usurper, who sits in the +halls which have rung to the sound of yon harp in days when the +accursed foot of the stranger would have been driven with blows +from the door. He is there, and --"</p> +<p>"And they hate and despise and contemn him," cried Llewelyn in +wild excitement. "Every man of Iscennen is his foe. Do not I know +it? Have we not proved it? There is no one but will rise at the +sound of my trumpet, to follow me to victory or death.</p> +<p>"Wenwynwyn, speak! thou hast bid us wait till the hour has come +till all things be ripe for action. Tell us, has not that hour +come? Hast thou not come to bid us draw the sword, and wrest our +rightful inheritance from the hand of the spoiler and alien?"</p> +<p>"Ay, verily, that hour has come," cried the old bard, with a +wild gesture. "The spoiler is there, lurking in his den. His eyes +are roving round in hungry greed to spoil the poor man of his +goods, to wrest the weapon from the strong. He is fearful in the +midst of his state -- fearful of those he calls his vassals -- +those he would crush with his iron glove, and wring dry even as a +sponge is wrung. Ay, the hour is come. The loyal patriots have +looked upon your faces, my sons, and see in you their liberators. +Go now, when the traitor whose life you saved is gloating over his +spoil in his castle walls. Go and show him what it is to rob the +young lions of their prey; show him what it is to strive with +eagles, when only the blood of the painted jay runs in his craven +veins. Saw I not fear, distrust, and hatred in every line of that +smooth face? Think you that he is happy in the possession of what +he sold his soul to gain? Go, and the victory will be yours. Go; +all Iscennen will be with you. Wenwynwyn has not sung his songs in +vain amongst those hardy people! He has prepared the way. Go! +victory lies before you."</p> +<p>The boys' hearts swelled within them at these words. It was not +for nothing that they, with their own faithful followers, sworn to +secrecy, had absented themselves again and again from Dynevor +Castle on the pretence of long hunting expeditions. It was true +that they had hunted game, that they had brought home abundance of +spoil with them; but little had Llewelyn or Howel to do with the +taking of that prey. They had been at Iscennen; they had travelled +the familiar tracks once again, and had found nothing but the most +enthusiastic welcome from their own people, the greatest hatred for +the foreign lordling, who had been foisted upon them by edict of +the king.</p> +<p>Truly Raoul Latimer had won but a barren triumph in gaining for +himself the lands of Iscennen. A very short residence there had +proved enough for him, and he had withdrawn, in fear that if he did +not do so some fatal mischance would befall him. He had reigned +there as an absentee ever since, not less cursed and hated for the +oppressive measures taken in his name than when he had been the +active agent.</p> +<p>Matters were ripe for revolt. There only wanted the time and the +occasion. The leader was already to hand -- the old lord, young in +years, Llewelyn ap Res Vychan, and Howel his brother. With the +twins at their head, Iscennen would rise to a man; and then let +Raoul Latimer look to himself! For the Welsh, when once aroused to +strike, struck hard; and it cannot be denied that they ofttimes +struck treacherously beside.</p> +<p>Small wonder if, as Wenwynwyn declared, young Raoul had found +but small satisfaction in his visit to his new estate, and lived +upon it in terror of his very life, though surrounded by the solid +walls of his own castle.</p> +<p>The hour had come. Llewelyn and Howel were about to taste the +keen joy of revenging themselves upon a foe they hated and +abhorred, about to take at least one step towards reinstating +themselves in their ancestral halls. But the second object was +really less dear to them than the first. If the hated Raoul could +be slain, or made to fly in ignominy and disgrace, they cared +little who reigned in his place. Their own tenure at Carregcennen +under existing circumstances they knew to be most insecure, and +although they had organized and were to lead the attack, they were +to do so disguised, and those who knew the share they were to take +were pledged not to betray it.</p> +<p>Loose as had grown the bond between the brothers of late, the +twins were not devoid of a certain rude code of honour of their +own, and had no wish to involve Wendot in ruin and disgrace. He was +surety for their good behaviour, and if it became known to Edward +that they had led the attack on one of his English subjects, +Dynevor itself might pay the forfeit of his displeasure, and Wendot +might have to answer with his life, as he had offered to do, for +his brothers. Thus, though this consideration was not strong enough +to keep the twins from indulging their ungovernable hatred to their +foe, it made them cautious about openly appearing in the matter +themselves; and when, upon a wild, blustering night not many days +later, a little band of hardy Welshmen, all armed to the teeth, +crept with the silent caution of wild beasts along a rocky pathway +which led by a subterranean way, known only to Llewelyn and Howel, +into the keep of the castle itself; none would have recognized in +the blackened faces of the two leaders, covered, as they appeared +to be, with a tangled growth of hair and beard, the countenances of +the sons of Res Vychan; whilst the stalwart, muscular figures +seemed rather to belong to men than lads, and assisted the disguise +not a little.</p> +<p>The hot-headed but by no means intrepid young Englishman, who +had not had the courage to remain long in the possessions he had +coveted, and who was fervently wishing that this second visit was +safely over, was aroused from his slumbers by the clash of arms, +and by the terrified cries of the guard he always placed about +him.</p> +<p>"The Welsh wolves are upon us!" he heard a voice cry out in the +darkness. "We are undone -- betrayed! Every man for himself! They +are murdering every soul they meet."</p> +<p>In a passion of rage and terror Raoul sprang from his bed, and +commenced hurrying into his clothes as fast as his trembling hands +would allow him. In vain he called to his servants; they had every +man of them fled. Below he heard the clash of arms, and the +terrible guttural cries with which the Welsh always rushed into +battle, and which echoed through the halls of Carregcennen like the +trump of doom.</p> +<p>It was a terrible moment for the young Englishman, alone, +half-armed, and at the mercy of a merciless foe. He looked wildly +round for some means of escape. The tread of many feet was on the +stairs. To attempt resistance was hopeless. Flight was the only +resource left him, and in a mad impulse of terror he flung himself +on the floor, and crept beneath the bed, the arras of which +concealed him from sight. There he lay panting and trembling, +whilst the door was burst open and armed men came flocking in.</p> +<p>"Ha, flown already!" cried a voice which did not seem entirely +unfamiliar to the shivering youth, though he could not have said +exactly to whom it belonged, and was in no mood to cudgel his +brains on the subject.</p> +<p>He understood too little of the Welsh tongue to follow what was +said, but with unspeakable relief he heard steps pass from the +room; for even his foes did not credit him with the cowardice which +would drive a man to perish like a rat in a hole rather than sword +in hand like a knight and a soldier.</p> +<p>The men had dashed out, hot in pursuit, believing him to be +attempting escape through some of the many outlets of the castle; +and Raoul, still shivering and craven, was just creeping out from +his hiding place, resolved to try to find his way to the outer +world, when he uttered a gasp and stood or rather crouched +spellbound where he was; for, standing beside a table on which the +dim light of a night candle burned, binding up a gash in his arm +with a scarf belonging to the Englishman, was a tall, stalwart, +soldierly figure, that turned quickly at the sound made by the +wretched Raoul.</p> +<p>"Spare me, spare me!" cried the miserable youth, as the man with +a quick movement grasped his weapon and advanced towards him.</p> +<p>He did not know if his English would be understood, but it +appeared to be, for the reply was spoken in the same tongue, though +the words had strong Welsh accent.</p> +<p>"And wherefore should I spare you? What have you done that we of +Iscennen should look upon you as other than a bitter foe? By what +right are you here wringing our life blood from us? Why should I +not stamp the miserable life out of you as you lie grovelling at my +feet? Wales were well quit of such craven hounds as you."</p> +<p>"Spare me, and I renounce my claim. I swear by all that is holy +that if you will but grant me my life I will repair to the king's +court without delay, and I will yield up to him every claim which I +have on these lands. I swear it by all that is holy in heaven and +earth."</p> +<p>"And what good shall we reap from that? We shall but have +another English tyrant set over us. Better kill thee outright, as a +warning to all who may come after."</p> +<p>But Raoul clasped the knees of his foe, and lifted his voice +again in passionate appeal.</p> +<p>"Kill me not; what good would that do you or your cause? I tell +you it would but raise Edward's ire, and he would come with fire +and sword to devastate these lands as I have never done. Listen, +and I will tell you what I will do. Spare but my life, and I will +entreat the king to restore these lands to your feudal lords, +Llewelyn and Howel ap Res Vychan. It was by my doing that they were +wrested from them. I confess it freely now. Grant me but my life, +and I will undo the work I have done. I will restore to you your +youthful chiefs. Again I swear it; and I have the ear of his Grace. +If thou hast thy country's cause at heart thou wilt hear me in this +thing. I will give you back the lords you all love. I will trouble +you no more myself. I would I had never seen this evil place. It +has been nought but a curse to me from the day it was +bestowed."</p> +<p>The man uttered a harsh laugh, and stood as if considering. +Raoul, whose eyes never left the shining blade his foe held +suspended in his hand, pleaded yet more and more eloquently, and, +as it seemed, with some effect, for the soldier presently sheathed +his weapon, and bid the wretched youth rise and follow him. Raoul +obeying, soon found himself in the presence of a wild crew of Welsh +kerns, who were holding high revelry in the banqueting hall, whilst +his own English servants -- those, at least, who had not effected +their escape -- lay dead upon the ground, the presence of bleeding +corpses at their very feet doing nothing to check the savage mirth +and revelry of the victors, who had been joined by the whole of the +Welsh garrison, only too glad of an excuse for rising against the +usurper.</p> +<p>A silence fell upon the company as the dark-bearded soldier +marched his captive into the hall, the yell of triumph being hushed +by commanding gesture from the captor. A long and unintelligible +debate followed, Raoul only gathering from the faces of those +present what were their feelings towards him. He stood cowering and +quaking before that fierce assembly -- a pitiful object for all +eyes. But at length his captor briefly informed him that his terms +were accepted: that if he would write his request to the king and +obtain its fulfilment, he should go free with a whole skin; but +that, pending the negotiation, which could be carried on by the +fathers of the Abbey of Strata Florida, he would remain a close +prisoner, and his ransom would be the king's consent.</p> +<p>These were the best terms the unhappy Raoul could obtain for +himself, and he was forced to abide by them. The fathers of the +abbey were honest and trustworthy, and carried his letters to the +king as soon as they had penned them for him. Raoul was clever in +diplomatic matters, and was so anxious for his own safety that he +took good care not to drop a hint as to the evil conduct of the +people of Iscennen, which might draw upon them the royal wrath and +upon him instant death. He simply represented that he was weary of +his charge of this barren estate, that he preferred life in England +and at the court, and found the revenues very barren and +unprofitable. As the former owners had redeemed their character by +quiet conduct during the past year and a half, his gracious +Majesty, he hinted, might be willing to gratify them and their +people by reinstating them.</p> +<p>And when Edward read this report, and heard the opinion of the +father who had brought it -- a wily and a patriotic Welshman, who +knew how to plead his cause well -- he made no trouble about +restoring to Llewelyn and Howel their lands, only desiring that +Wendot should renew his pledge for their loyalty and good conduct, +and still hold himself responsible for his brothers to the +king.</p> +<p>And so Llewelyn and Howel went back to Carregcennen, and Wendot +and Griffeth remained at Dynevor, hoping with a fond hope that this +act of clemency and justice on the part of Edward would overcome in +the mind of the twins the deeply-seated hatred they had cherished +so long.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a>. THE RED FLAME OF WAR.</h2> +<p>"Wendot, Wendot, it is our country's call! Thou canst not hang +back. United we stand; divided we fall. Will the Prince of Dynevor +be the man to bring ruin upon a noble cause, by banding with the +alien oppressor against his own brethren? I will not believe it of +thee. Wendot, speak -- say that thou wilt go with us!"</p> +<p>Wendot was standing in his own hall at Dynevor. In the +background was a crowd of retainers and soldiers, so eagerly +discussing some matter of vital interest that the brothers stepped +outside upon the battlemented terrace to be out of hearing of the +noise of their eager voices.</p> +<p>There was a deep gravity on Wendot's face, which was no longer +the face of a boy, but of a youth of two-and-twenty summers, and +one upon whom the cares and responsibilities of life had sat +somewhat heavily. The tall, well-knit frame had taken upon it the +stature and developed grace of manhood; the sun-browned face was +lined with traces of thought and care, though the blue eyes +sparkled with their old bright and ready smile, and the stern lines +of the lips were shaded and hidden by the drooping moustache of +golden brown. There were majesty, power, and intellect stamped upon +the face of the young Lord of Dynevor, and it was very plain to all +who observed his relations with those about him that he was master +of his own possession, and that though he was greatly beloved by +all who came in contact with him, he was respected and obeyed, and +in some things feared.</p> +<p>By his side stood Griffeth, almost as much his shadow as of +yore. To a casual observer the likeness between the brothers was +very remarkable, but a closer survey showed many points of +dissimilarity. Griffeth's figure was slight to spareness, and save +in moments of excitement there was something of languor in his +movements. The colour in his cheeks was not the healthy brown of +exposure to sun and wind, but the fleeting hectic flush of +long-standing insidious disease, and his eyes had a far-away look +-- dreamy and absorbed; whilst those of his brother expressed +rather watchful observation of what went on around him, and +resolution to mould those about him to his will.</p> +<p>Facing this fair-haired pair were the twin Lords of Iscennen, +considerably changed from the sullen-looking lads of old days, but +still with many of their characteristics unchanged. They were +taller and more stoutly built than Wendot and Griffeth, and their +dark skins and coal-black hair gave something of ferocity and +wildness to their appearance, which look was borne out by the style +of dress adopted, whilst the young Lords of Dynevor affected +something of the refinement and richness of apparel introduced by +the English.</p> +<p>For the past years a friendly intercourse had been kept up +between Dynevor and Carregcennen. The country had been at peace -- +such peace as internal dissensions would allow it -- and no one had +disturbed the sons of Res Vychan in the possession of their +ancestral rights. The tie between the brothers had therefore been +more closely drawn, and Wendot's responsibility for the submissive +behaviour of the turbulent twins had made him keep a constant eye +upon them, and had withheld them on their side from attempting to +foment the small and fruitless struggles against English authority +which were from time to time arising between the border-land chief +and the Lords of the Marches.</p> +<p>But now something very different was in the wind. After almost +five years of peace with England, revolt had broken out in North +Wales. David, the brother of Llewelyn, had commenced it, and the +prince had followed the example thus set him. He had broken out +into open rebellion, and had summoned the whole nation to stand by +him in one united and gallant effort to free the country from the +foreign foe, and unite it once again as an undivided province +beneath the rule of one sovereign.</p> +<p>The call was enthusiastically responded to. North Wales rose as +one man, and flocked to the banners of the prince and his brother. +South Wales was feeling the contagion of coming strife, and the +pulse of the nation beat wildly at the thought that they might win +liberty by the overthrow of the foe. One after another the petty +chiefs, who had sworn fealty to Edward, renounced their allegiance, +and mustered their forces to join those of Llewelyn and David. The +whole country was in a wild ferment of patriotic excitement. The +hour seemed to them to have arrived when all could once again band +together in triumphant vindication of their national rights.</p> +<p>Llewelyn and Howel ap Res Vychan were amongst the first to +tender their allegiance to the cause, and, having sent on a compact +band of armed men to announce their coming in person, had +themselves hurried to Dynevor to persuade their brothers there to +join the national cause.</p> +<p>And they found Wendot less indisposed than they had feared. The +five years which had passed over his head since he had fallen under +the spell of the English king's regal sway had a good deal weakened +the impression then made upon him. Edward had not visited the +country in person since that day, and the conduct of the English +Lords of the Marches, and of those who held lands in the subjected +country, was not such as to endear their cause to the hearts of the +sons of Wales. Heart-burnings and jealousies were frequent, and +Wendot had often had his spirit stirred within him at some tale of +outrage and wrong. The upright justice of the king was not observed +by his subjects, and the hatred to any kind of foreign yoke was +inherently strong in these sons of the mountains. In the studies +the Dynevor brothers had prosecuted together they had imbibed many +noble thoughts and many lofty aspirations, and these, mingling with +the patriotic instinct so strongly bound up in the hearts of +Cambria's sons, had taught them a distrust of princes and an +intense love for freedom's cause, as well as a strong conviction +that right must ever triumph over might.</p> +<p>So when the news arrived that the north was in open revolt, it +struck a chord in the hearts of both brothers; and when the +dark-browed twins came with the news that they had openly joined +the standard of Llewelyn, they did not encounter the opposition +they had expected, and it was with an eager hopefulness that they +urged upon the Lord of Dynevor to lend the strength of his arm to +the national cause.</p> +<p>"Wendot, bethink thee. When was not Dynevor in the van when her +country called on her? If thou wilt go with us, we shall carry all +the south with us; but hang thou back, and the cause may be lost. +Brother, why dost thou hesitate? why dost thou falter? It is the +voice of thy country calling thee. Wilt thou not heed that call? O +Wendot, thou knowest that when our parents lived -- when they bid +us not look upon the foe with too great bitterness -- it was only +because a divided Wales could not stand, and that submission to +England was better than the rending of the kingdom by internal +strife. But if she would have stood united against the foreign foe, +thinkest thou they would ever have held back? Nay; Res Vychan, our +father, would have been foremost in the strife. Are we not near in +blood to Llewelyn of Wales, prince of the north? Doth not the tie +of blood as well as the call of loyalty urge us to his side? Why +dost thou ponder still? Why dost thou hesitate? Throw to the wind +all idle scruples, and come. Think what a glorious future may lie +before our country if we will but stand together now!"</p> +<p>Wendot's cheek flushed, his eye kindled. He did indeed believe +that were his father living he would be one of the first to hasten +to his kinsman's side. If indeed the united country could be strong +enough to throw off the yoke, what a victory it would be! Was not +every son of Wales bound to his country's cause at such a time?</p> +<p>There was but one thing that made him hesitate. Was his word of +honour in any wise pledged to Edward? He had paid him homage for +his lands: did that act bind him to obedience at all costs?</p> +<p>But such refinements of honour were in advance of the thought of +the time, incomprehensible to the wilder spirits by whom he was +surrounded. Llewelyn answered the brief objection by a flood of +rude eloquence, and Howel struck in with another argument not +without its weight.</p> +<p>"Wendot, whatever course thou takest thou art damned in Edward's +eyes. Thou hast held thyself surety for us, and nought but death +will hold us back from the cry of our country in her need. Envious +eyes are cast already by the rapacious English upon these fair +lands of thine, which these years of peace have given thee +opportunity to enrich and beautify. Let the king once hear that we +have rebelled, and his nobles will claim thy lands, thy life, thy +liberty, and thou must either yield all in ignominious flight or +take up arms to defend thyself and thine own. I trow that no son of +Res Vychan will stand calmly by to see himself thus despoiled; and +if thou must fight, fight now, forestall the foe, and come out +sword in hand at thy country's call, and let us fight shoulder to +shoulder and hand to hand, as our forefathers have done before us. +Thou knowest somewhat of English rule, now that thou hast lived +beneath it these past years. Say, wilt thou still keep thy neck +beneath the yoke, or wilt thou do battle like a warrior for liberty +and independence? By our act thou art lost -- yet not even that +thought can hold us back -- then why not stand or fall as a +soldier, sword in hand, than be trapped like a rat in a hole in +inglorious inaction? For methinks whatever else betided thou +wouldst not raise thy hand against thy countrymen, even if thy +feudal lord should demand it of thee."</p> +<p>"Never!" cried Wendot fiercely, and his quick mind revolved the +situation thus thrust upon him whilst Howel was yet speaking.</p> +<p>He saw at once that a course of neutrality would be impossible +to him. Fight he must, either as Edward's vassal or his foe. The +first was impossible; the second was fraught with a keen joy and +secret sense of exultation. It was true what Howel said: he would +be held responsible for his brothers' revolt. The English harpies +would make every endeavour to poison the king's mind, so that they +might wrest from him his inheritance. He would be required to take +up arms against his brothers, and his refusal to do so would be his +death warrant. Disgrace and ruin lay before him should he abide by +such a course. The other promised at least glory and renown, and +perhaps a soldier's death, or, better still, the independence of +his country -- the final throwing off of the tyrant's yoke.</p> +<p>His heart swelled within him; his eyes shone with a strange +fire. Only one thought checked the immediate utterance of his +decision, and that was the vision of a pair of dark soft eyes, and +a child's face in which something of dawning womanhood was visible, +smiling upon him in complete and loving trust.</p> +<p>Yes, Wendot had not forgotten Gertrude; but time had done its +work, and the image of the fair face was somewhat dim and hazy. He +yet wore about his neck the half of the gold coin she had given +him; but if he sometimes sighed as he looked upon it, it was a sigh +without much real bitterness or regret. He had a tender spot in his +memory for the little maid he had saved at the risk of his own +life, but it amounted to little more than a pleasant memory. He had +no doubt that she had long ago been wedded to some English noble, +whose estates outshone those of Dynevor in her father's eyes.</p> +<p>During the first years after his return home he had wondered +somewhat whether the earl and his daughter would find their way +again to the rich valley of the Towy; but the years passed by and +they came not, and the brief dream of Wendot's dawning youth soon +ceased to have any real hold upon him. If her father had had any +thoughts of mating her with the Lord of Dynevor, he would have +taken steps for bringing the young people together.</p> +<p>The last doubt fled as Wendot thought this over; and whilst his +brothers yet spoke, pointing to the rich stretch of country that +lay before their eyes in all the glory of its autumn dress, and +asking if that were not an inheritance worthy to be fought for, +Wendot suddenly held out his hand, and said in clear, ringing +tones:</p> +<p>"Brothers, I go with you. I too will give my life and my all for +the liberty of our land. The Lord of Dynevor shall not be slack to +respond to his country's call. Methinks indeed the hour has come. I +will follow our kinsman whithersoever he shall bid."</p> +<p>Llewelyn and Howel grasped the outstretched hand, and from +within the castle walls there burst forth the strains of wild +melody from the harp of old Wenwynwyn. It seemed almost as though +he must have heard the words that bound Wendot to the national +cause, so exultant and triumphant were the strains which awoke +beneath his hands.</p> +<p>It was but a few days later that the four brothers rode forth +from beneath the arched gateway of Dynevor, all armed to the teeth, +and with a goodly following of armed attendants. Wendot and +Griffeth paused at a short distance from the castle to look back, +whilst a rush of strange and unwonted emotion brought the tears to +Griffeth's eyes which he trusted none saw beside.</p> +<p>There stood the grand old castle, his home from childhood -- the +place around which all the associations of a lifetime gathered. It +was to him the ideal of all that was beautiful and strong and even +holy -- the massive walls of the fortress rising grandly from the +rocky platform, with the dark background of trees now burning with +the rich hues of autumn. The fair valley stretched before their +eyes, every winding of which was familiar to them, as was also +every individual tree or crag or stretch of moorland fell as far as +eye could see. The very heart strings of Wendot and Griffeth seemed +bound round these homelike and familiar things; and there was +something strangely wistful in the glances thrown around him by the +young Lord of Dynevor as he reined in his horse, and motioning to +the armed followers to pass him, stood with Griffeth for a few +brief moments alone and silent, whilst the cavalcade was lost to +sight in the windings of the road.</p> +<p>"Is it a last farewell?" murmured the younger of the brothers +beneath his breath. "Shall I ever see this fair scene again?"</p> +<p>And Wendot answered not, for he had no words in which to do so. +He had been fully occupied all these last days -- too much occupied +to have had time for regretful thought; but Griffeth had been +visiting every haunt of his boyhood with strange feelings of +impending trouble, and his cheek was pale with the stress of his +emotion, and his voice was husky with the intensity of the strain +he was putting upon himself.</p> +<p>"Griffeth, Griffeth!" cried Wendot suddenly, "have I done wrong +in this thing? I asked not thy gentle counsel, yet thou didst not +bid me hold back. But tell me, have I been wrong? Could I have done +other than I have?"</p> +<p>"I think not that thou couldst. This seems like a call from our +country, to which no son of hers may be deaf. And it is true that +our brothers have undone thee, and that even wert thou not willing +to take up arms against them and thy countrymen, the rupture with +Edward is inevitable. No, I am with thee in what thou hast done. +The Lord of Dynevor must show himself strong in defence of his +country's rights.</p> +<p>"Yet my heart is heavy as I look around me. For we are going +forth to danger and death, and who knows what may betide ere we see +these fair lands again, or whether we may ever return to see them +more?"</p> +<p>Wendot would fain have replied with cheerful assurance, but a +strange rush of emotion came over him as he gazed at his +childhood's home, together with a sudden strong presentiment that +there was something prophetic in his brother's words. He gazed upon +the gray battlements and the brawling river with a passionate +ardour in his glance, and then turning quickly upon Griffeth, he +said:</p> +<p>"Brother, why shouldst thou leave it? thou art more fit for the +safe shelter of home than for the strife of a winter war. Why +shouldst thou come forth with us? Let us leave thee here in safety +--"</p> +<p>"Wendot!"</p> +<p>It was but one word, but the volume of reproach compressed into +it brought Wendot to a sudden stop. They looked into each other's +eyes a moment, and then Griffeth said, with his sweet, meaning +smile:</p> +<p>"We have never been separated yet, my Wendot; in sorrow and joy +we have ever been together. It is too late to change all that now. +I will be by thy side to the end. Be it for life or for death we +will ride forth together."</p> +<p>And so with one hard hand clasp that spoke volumes, and with one +more long, lingering look at the familiar towers of the old home, +Wendot and Griffeth, the Lords of Dynevor, rode forth to meet their +fate at the hands of the mighty English king.</p> +<p>Of that sudden, fierce, and partially successful revolt the +history books of the age give account. Llewelyn and his brother +David, joined by the whole strength of the North, and by much able +assistance from the South, drove back the English across the +border; and when Edward, hurrying to the spot, marched against +them, his army was utterly routed near the Menai Straits, and the +triumphant Welsh believed for a few brief months that they were +victors indeed, and that the power of the foe was hopelessly +broken.</p> +<p>Llewelyn with his army retired to the fastnesses of Snowdon, +where the English durst not pursue them, and these less hardy +soldiers suffered so terribly in the winter cold that the mortality +in their ranks caused the triumphant mountaineers to prophesy that +their work would be done for them without any more exertion on +their part.</p> +<p>But the lion-hearted King of England was not of the stuff that +easily submits to defeat. He knew well that Wales was in his power, +and that he had but to exercise patience and resolution, and the +final victory would be his.</p> +<p>Permitting no relaxation of his efforts in the North, even when +the winter's bitter cold was causing untold sufferings amongst his +soldiers, he commenced a muster of troops in the South, from which +country most of the disaffected nobles had drawn away to join the +insurgents under the Prince of Wales, as Llewelyn was called. It +was a shock of no small magnitude to that prince to hear that his +foe was thus employing himself; and leaving the fastnesses of +Snowdon with a picked band of his hardiest men, amongst whom he +numbered Llewelyn and Howel, he marched southward himself, hoping +to overthrow this new force before it had gathered power sufficient +to be dangerous.</p> +<p>Wendot would gladly have been of the number, for inaction, and +the rude barbarism he saw around him, were inexpressibly galling to +him; and the more he saw of the savage spirits by whom he was +surrounded the less he was able to hope for any permanent advantage +as the result of this rising. The jealousies of the respective +chiefs were hardly held in check even in the face of a common +peril. It was impossible not to foresee that the termination of a +war with England would only be the signal for an outbreak of +innumerable petty animosities and hostile feuds.</p> +<p>So Wendot would have been thankful to escape from this irksome +inactivity, and to join the band going south; but the condition of +Griffeth withheld him, for the youth was very ill, and he often +felt that this winter of hardship up in the mountain air was +killing him by inches, although he never complained.</p> +<p>It was out of the question for Griffeth to march or to fight. He +lay most of the day beside a little fire of peat, in a cabin that +Wendot and his men had constructed with their own hands, beneath +the shelter of a rock which broke the force of the north wind, and +formed some protection against the deep snow. Griffeth had borne +his share gallantly in the earlier part of the campaign, but a +slight wound had laid him aside; and since the intense cold had +come, he had only grown more white and wasted and feeble day by +day. Now that the sun was gaining a little more power, and that the +melting of the snow bespoke that spring was at hand, Wendot began +to hope the worst was over; but to leave his brother in such a +state was out of the question, and he saw Llewelyn and Howel depart +without attempting to join them.</p> +<p>Days and weeks had passed, and no news had been received by +those up in the mountains of the result of Llewelyn's expedition. +It was reported by scouts that Edward was at Carnarvon Castle in +person, making hostile demonstrations of a determined kind, which, +in the absence of their chief, the wild Welsh kerns knew not how to +repel. They were safe where they were, and awaited the return of +their leader; but a terrible stroke had yet to fall upon them, +which proved the final blow to all their hopes and ambitions.</p> +<p>It was a wild, windy night. Wendot had piled the fire high, and +was sitting with Griffeth talking of past days, and gazing with an +unconscious wistfulness into the glowing embers, which seemed to +him to take the semblance of those familiar towers and rocks which +he sometimes felt as though he should never see again. Griffeth +paused in the midst of something he was saying, and looked round +with a start. It seemed to both brothers as though a hand was +fumbling at the latch. Wendot rose and opened the door, and a tall, +gaunt figure staggered rather than walked into the room, and sank +down as if perfectly exhausted beside the glowing fire.</p> +<p>Griffeth uttered a startled exclamation.</p> +<p>"Llewelyn!" he cried sharply; and Wendot, barring the door, and +coming forward like one in a dream, asked with the calmness of one +who reads dire disaster:</p> +<p>"Where is Howel?"</p> +<p>"Dead," came the answer in a hollow voice, as though the speaker +was exhausted past words -- "dead by the side of Llewelyn our +prince. Would that I too lay beside them!"</p> +<p>Wendot, too stunned to say another word at that moment, busied +himself in getting his brother food and wine, of which he plainly +stood sorely in need. He ate ravenously and in perfect silence; and +his brothers watched him without having the heart to put another +question. Indeed they knew the worst: their prince dead; the flower +of their army slain -- their own brother among the number -- the +rest dispersed; the remaining forces without a leader, without a +rallying point, without a hope. What need of farther words?</p> +<p>Presently Llewelyn spoke again, this time with more strength, +but still with the sullenness of despair:</p> +<p>"It was a mere skirmish on the banks of the Wye. We were in +advance of the main body, and a party of English fell upon us. We +did our best to sell our lives dearly. I thought I had sold mine +when my time came, but I awoke and found myself beside the stream. +Howel was lying upon me, stark and dead, and our prince a few yards +away, with his own men round him. I do not think the foe knew whom +they had slain, or they would have taken at least his head away as +a trophy. I know not who took the news to our comrades, but they +learned it, and dispersed to the four winds. I was forced to remain +for some days in a shepherd's hut till my wounds were somewhat +healed, and since then I have been struggling back here, not +knowing what had befallen our camp in these mountains. Am I the +first to bear the, news, or has it been known before?"</p> +<p>"You are the first," answered Wendot in a strange, blank voice. +"We have heard nothing; we have been living in hopes of some +triumph, some victory. We will let our fellows rest in peace one +night longer. Tomorrow we must tell all, and decide what our action +must be."</p> +<p>"There is nothing more to hope for," said Llewelyn darkly. "Our +hope is dead, our last prince lies in a nameless grave. There is +but one choice open to us now. Let those who will submit themselves +to the proud usurper, and let us, who cannot so demean the name we +bear, go forth sword in hand, and die fighting to the last for the +country we may not live to deliver."</p> +<p>It seemed, indeed, as if Llewelyn's words were to prove +themselves true; for no sooner did the news of the disaster on the +banks of the Wye become known than the army began to melt away, +like the snow in the increasing power of the sun. The chiefs, +without a head, without a cause or a champion, either retired to +their own wild solitudes or hastened to make their peace with their +offended king; and only those who put honour before safety or life +itself stood forth sword in hand to die, if it might be, with face +to foe in defence of a cause which they knew was hopelessly +lost.</p> +<p>And amongst this gallant but reckless little band were the three +brothers of Dynevor, who, having once taken up the sword against +Edward, were determined not to lay it down until the hand of death +was cold upon each heart.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a>. CARNARVON CASTLE.</h2> +<p>"There has been a battle -- desperate fighting. They are +bringing the prisoners into the guardroom," cried Britton, bursting +into the royal apartments with small ceremony in his excitement. +"Come, Alphonso; come, Joanna -- let us go and see them. Our +fellows say they made a gallant stand, and fought like veritable +tigers. In sooth, I would I had been there. Methinks it is the last +of the fighting these parts will see for many a long year."</p> +<p>Alphonso sprang up at the word of his comrade, eager to go and +see the prisoners, his humane and kindly nature prompting him to +ascertain that no undue harshness was displayed towards them by the +rude soldiers. But Joanna, although her face was full of interest +and eagerness, shook her head with a little grimace and a glance in +the direction of her governess, Lady Edeline; for during the years +that had elapsed between the visit of the royal children to +Rhuddlan and this present visit to Carnarvon, Joanna had grown from +a child to a woman, and was no longer able to run about with her +brothers at will, though she still retained her old fearless, +independent spirit and impulsive generosity of temperament, and was +a universal favourite, despite the fact that she gave more trouble +than any of her younger sisters.</p> +<p>The royal family had been for some time in Wales. They had +wintered at Rhuddlan, where the little Princess Elizabeth had been +born the previous year, just prior to the outbreak of the +rebellion. Now they were at Carnarvon for greater security, the +king considering that fortress the stronger of the two. The +rebellion was practically at an end, but there was much to look +into and arrange with regard to the rebels and their affairs, and +there was the prospect of a considerable sojourn at the castle.</p> +<p>At this moment Edward was himself absent, though not far away. +It had been rumoured that there had been sharp, irregular fighting +all about the region of Snowdon, where the rebels had had their +headquarters. Considerable excitement had prevailed for some time +in the English ranks, and there was still complete uncertainty as +to the fate of Llewelyn, Prince of Wales; for although a rumour was +rife that he had fallen in fight, it had never been corroborated by +trustworthy testimony, and so long as that turbulent prince +remained alive there was no security for the peace or submission of +the country.</p> +<p>Thus it was that the news of a victory and the capture of +prisoners was exceedingly exciting to those within the castle. +Alphonso, who was looking somewhat stronger for his sojourn in the +bracing air of Wales, sprang up to go with Britton to make +inspection, and again Joanna secretly bewailed her fate at being a +girl, unable to take an equal share with her brother in such +matters.</p> +<p>The guardroom at the castle was a vast and really fine +apartment, with a vaulted roof and majestic pillars, that gave the +idea of much rude strength of construction. Just at this moment it +was the scene of an animated picture, and the boys paused at the +door by which they had entered to look about them with eager +curiosity.</p> +<p>The hall was full of soldiers, most of whom wore the English +king's badge, and were known by sight to them as being attached to +the castle; but mingled with these were other men, some in the +English dress, but many others wearing the wild garb of the sons of +the mountains, and these last had, for the most part, fetters on +their wrists, or were bound two and two together and guarded by the +English, whilst many of them were drooping under the effect of +ghastly wounds, and several forms lay stretched along the ground +indifferent to, or insensible of, their surroundings.</p> +<p>Desperate fighting there had been, indeed, to judge from +appearances, and Alphonso's gentle spirit was stirred within him as +he caught the sound of deep groans mingling with the loud voices of +the soldiers. He had inherited the gentle spirit of his mother, and +the generosity which always takes the part of the weak and +oppressed. It mattered not that these men had been taken with +swords drawn against his royal father; they were prisoners now, +they had lost their all; and if rebels from the English standpoint, +had been striving to free their country from what appeared to them +as the unjust inroads of a foreign foe.</p> +<p>Alphonso, himself sinking into an early grave, and fully aware +of his own state, saw life somewhat differently from his soldier +sire, and felt little sympathy for that lust of conquest which was +to the great Edward as the elixir of life. The lad's thoughts were +more of that eternal crown laid up in the bright land where the +sword comes not, and where the trump of war may never be heard. The +glory of an earthly diadem was as nothing to him, and he had all +that deep love for his fellow men which often characterizes those +who know that their time on earth is short.</p> +<p>Stepping forward, therefore, with the air of quiet authority +which he knew so well how to assume, he enforced silence by a +gesture; and as the soldiers respectfully fell back before him, he +walked through the groups of prisoners, speaking friendly words to +them in their own tongue, and finally gave strict command to the +captain of the guardroom to remove the fetters from those who were +wounded, and see that they had all due tendance and care, whilst +the rest were to be guarded with as little rigour as possible, and +shut up together, where they would have at least the consolation of +companionship in their misfortune.</p> +<p>The captain gave respectful heed to these words, and was by no +means loath to carry out his instructions. He was a humane man +himself, though inured to the horrors of war, and he, in common +with all who came into contact with the young prince, felt towards +him a great love and reverence; for there was something unearthly +at times in the radiant beauty of the young Alphonso's face, and +the growing conviction that he was not long for this world +increased the loving loyalty shown to him by all.</p> +<p>"Your Grace's behests shall be obeyed," answered the man +readily; "I myself will see that the wounded receive due and +fitting care. They are brave fellows, be they rebels or no, and +verily I believe there is not a man of them but would have laid +down his life a hundred times to save that of the two young leaders +who led them on to the last desperate sally. Such gallant feats of +arms I have seldom beheld, and it was sore trouble to capture +without killing them, so fiercely did they fight. But I bid the men +take them alive, if possible, as they seemed too gallant and noble +to fall in that vain struggle. Methinks, could they be tamed to +serve the king as valiantly as they fought for that forlorn hope, +they might be well worth the saving. I am always loath to see a +brave life flung away, be it of friend or foe."</p> +<p>"Right, good Poleyn; thy words do thee credit. And where are +these gallant leaders? Show me them, for I would fain speak a +kindly word to them. I would not that they feared my father's wrath +too much. Stern he may be, but cruel never, and it would please me +well to bid them submit themselves to him, that he might the more +readily forgive them. Tell me which they be."</p> +<p>"They are not here," answered the captain; "I had them removed +for greater comfort and security to mine own lodging. One of them +is so sore wounded that I feared he would not live to make +submission to the king unless he had prompt and skilful tendance; +whilst the other, although his hurts be fewer and less severe, +looks as if some mortal sickness were upon him. It may be nought +but the feebleness that follows loss of blood and hard fighting; +but I left them both to the care of my wife, who is the best tender +of the sick that I have ever known. They came under her hands last +night, brought on by our mounted fellows in advance of the rest. +Today they are somewhat recovered; but I have had scarce time to +think of them. I have been occupied since dawn with these other +prisoners."</p> +<p>"I would fain see these youths; said you not they were but +youths, Poleyn?" said Alphonso, whose interest was aroused by the +tale he had heard. "I will go to your lodging and request +admittance. Your worthy wife will not refuse me, I trow?"</p> +<p>The man smiled, and said that his wife would be proud indeed to +be so visited. Alphonso, to whom the intricacies of the castle were +well known, lost no time in finding the lodging of the captain of +the guard, and quickly obtained admittance to the presence of the +wounded youths, who occupied a comfortable chamber over the +gateway, and had plainly been well looked to by the capable and +kindly woman who called Poleyn her lord and master.</p> +<p>The bright light of day was excluded from the sickroom, and as +the prince stood in the doorway his eyes only took in the general +appearance of two recumbent figures, one lying upon a couch beside +a glowing fire of wood, and the other extended motionless upon a +bed in an attitude that bespoke slumber, his face bandaged in such +a way that in no case would it have been recognizable.</p> +<p>But as Alphonso's eyes grew used to the darkness, and fixed +themselves upon the face of the other youth, who was dressed and +lying on the couch, he suddenly gave a great start, and advanced +with quick steps to his side.</p> +<p>"Griffeth!" he cried suddenly.</p> +<p>The figure on the couch gave a start, a pair of hollow eyes +flashed open, there was a quick attempt to rise, checked by the +prince himself, and Griffeth exclaimed in the utmost +astonishment:</p> +<p>"Prince Alphonso!"</p> +<p>"Yes, Griffeth, it is I indeed;" and then the prince sat down on +the edge of the couch and gazed intently at the wasted features of +the youth, towards whom in days gone by he had felt such a strong +attachment.</p> +<p>There was something of sorrow and reproach in his glance as he +said gently:</p> +<p>"Griffeth, can it really be thou? I had not thought to have seen +thee in the ranks of our foes, fighting desperately against my +father's soldiers. Whence has come this bitter change in thy +feelings? and what is Wendot doing, who was to act as guardian +toward his younger brethren? Hast thou broken away from his +controlling hand? O Griffeth, I grieve to see thee here and in such +plight."</p> +<p>But Griffeth's sad glance met that of the young prince +unfalteringly and without shame, although there was something in it +of deep and settled sorrow. He made a gesture as though he would +have put out his hand, and Alphonso, who saw it, grasped it warmly, +generous even when he felt that he and his father had been somewhat +wronged.</p> +<p>"Think not that we took up arms willingly, Wendot and I," he +said faintly, yet with clearness and decision. "Ay, it is Wendot +who lies there, sore wounded, and sleeping soundly after a night of +fever and pain. We shall not disturb him, he is fast in dreamland; +and if you would listen to my tale, gentle prince, I trow you would +think something less hardly of us, who have lost our all, and have +failed to win the soldier's death that we went forth to seek, +knowing that it alone could make atonement for what must seem to +your royal father an act of treachery and breach of faith."</p> +<p>And then Griffeth told all his tale -- told of the wrongs +inflicted on hapless Wales in Edward's absence by the rapacious +nobles he had left behind him to preserve order, of the +ever-increasing discontent amongst the people, the wild hope, +infused by David's sudden rising, of uniting once and for all to +throw off the foreign yoke and become an independent nation again. +He told of the action taken by their twin brothers, of the pressure +brought to bear upon Wendot, of the vigilant hostility of their +rapacious kinsman Res ap Meredith, son of the old foe Meredith ap +Res, now an English knight, and eager to lay his hands upon the +broad lands of Dynevor. It was made plain to the prince how +desperate would have been Wendot's condition, thus beset with foes +and held responsible for his brothers' acts. Almost against his +will had he been persuaded, and at least he had played the man in +his country's hour of need, instead of trying to steer his way by a +cold neutrality, which would have ruined him with friend and foe +alike.</p> +<p>Griffeth told of the hardships of that campaign amongst the +mountains; of the death of Llewelyn the prince, and of his brother +Howel; and of the resolve of the gallant little band, thus bereft +of their hope, to go out and die sword in hand, and so end the +miserable struggle that had ceased to be aught but a mockery of +war. It was plainly a bitter thought even to the gentle Griffeth +that they had not met the death they craved, but had fallen alive +into the hands of the foe.</p> +<p>Alphonso gently chid him, and comforted him with brave and +kindly words; and then he asked what had befallen his brother +Llewelyn, and if he had likewise fallen in the fight.</p> +<p>"Nay; he was not with us when we made that last rally. He +commenced the march with us, but his wound broke out again, and we +were forced to leave him behind. He and a handful of faithful +servants from Iscennen and Dynevor were to try and push on to the +stronghold of Einon ap Cadwalader, and ask counsel and assistance +from him. In old days he and our father were friends. Although he +was one of the few who did not join Llewelyn in this rising, he has +ever been well-disposed towards his countrymen. So we hoped our +brother would find shelter and help there. If he had tried to march +with us, he must assuredly have died."</p> +<p>"Ha!" said Alphonso smilingly, "methinks Llewelyn will have no +trouble in gaining entrance there. Rememberest thou the Lady +Arthyn, who was with us at Rhuddlan when thou wast there before? +She hath left us of late to return to her father, whose loyalty has +been proved, and whose request for his child was listened to +graciously. But we shall be seeing them soon again, for my father +betrothed Arthyn's hand to Raoul Latimer, whom doubtless thou +rememberest as a somewhat haughty and quarrelsome lad. Time has +softened down some of his rude tempers, and he has ever been eager +for the match. My father has promised her hand in troth plight to +him, and we await the coming of her and her father for the ceremony +of betrothal.</p> +<p>"If I remember rightly, she was always a friend to thy brother. +If so, he will find a ready welcome at her father's house, for my +Lady Arthyn always had a soft spot in her heart for those we called +rebels. She was a true daughter of Wales, albeit she loved us well, +and she will like thy brother none the less that his sword has been +unsheathed against the English usurper."</p> +<p>And then the prince and the rebel subject both laughed, and that +laugh did more to bring them back to their old familiar relations +than all that had gone before.</p> +<p>Griffeth was easily led on to tell the story of the life at +Dynevor these past years; and Alphonso better understood from his +unconscious self-betrayal than from his previous explanation how +the fire of patriotic love burned in the hearts of these brothers. +He thought that had he been one of them he would have acted even as +they had done, and there was no anger but only a pitying affection +in his heart towards one whose life was overshadowed by a cloud so +like the one which hung upon the horizon of his own sky.</p> +<p>For it was plain to him that Griffeth's hold on life was very +slight; that he was suffering from the same insidious disease which +was sapping away his own health and strength. He had suspected it +years before, and this supposition had made a link between them +then; now he was certain of it, and certain, too, that the end +could not be very far off. The fine constitution of the young +Welshman had been undermined by the rigours of the past winter, and +there was little hope that the coming summer would restore to him +any of the fictitious strength which had long buoyed up Wendot with +the hope that his brother would yet live to grow to man's +estate.</p> +<p>"For myself I do not think I wish it," said Griffeth, with one +of his luminous glances at Alphonso; "life is very hard, and there +seems nothing left to live for. I know not how I could live away +from the woods and rocks of Dynevor. But there is Wendot -- my +dear, kind, most loving brother. It cuts me to the heart to think +of leaving him alone. Prince Alphonso, you are the king's son; will +you pardon Wendot his trespass, and stand his friend with your +royal father? I have no right to ask it. We have grievously +offended, but he is my brother --"</p> +<p>A violent fit of coughing came on, and the sentence was never +completed. Alphonso raised the wasted form in his arms, and soothed +the painful paroxysm as one who knows just what will best relieve +the sufferer. The sound roused Wendot, who had been sleeping for +many hours, and although he had been brought in last night in an +apparently almost dying state, his vigorous constitution was such +that even these few hours' quiet rest, and the nourishment +administered to him by the good woman who waited on him, had +infused new life into his frame, so that he had strength to sit up +in bed, and to push aside the bandage which had fallen over his +eyes, as he anxiously asked his brother what was amiss.</p> +<p>Then Alphonso came towards him, and, holding his hand in a +friendly clasp, told him that he had heard all the story, and that +he was still their friend, and would plead for them with his +father. Wendot, bewildered and astonished and ashamed, could scarce +believe his senses, and asked, with a proud independence which +raised a smile in Alphonso's eyes, that he might be led out to +speedy death -- the death by the headsman's axe, which was all he +had now to hope for. Life had no longer any charms for him, he +said; if only his young brother might be pardoned, he himself would +gladly pay the forfeit for both.</p> +<p>But Alphonso, upon whose generous spirit bravery and self +devotion, even in a foe, were never thrown away, replied kindly +that he would see if peace could not be made with his offended +sire, and that meantime Wendot must get well fast, and regain his +health and strength, so as to be fit to appear before the king in +person if he should be presently summoned.</p> +<p>But though the young prince left lighter hearts behind him in +the room where the two eagles of Dynevor were imprisoned, he found +that the task he had set himself with his father was a more +difficult one than he had anticipated. Edward was very greatly +incensed by this fierce and futile rebellion that had cost him so +many hundreds of brave lives, and had inflicted such sufferings on +his loyal troops. The disaster at Menai still rankled in his +breast, and it was with a very stern brow and a face of resolute +determination that he returned to Carnarvon to look into matters, +and to settle upon the fate of the many prisoners and vassals who +had once mere placed themselves or their lands in his sole power +through the act which had rendered them forfeit.</p> +<p>Nor was Alphonso's task rendered less difficult from the fact +that Sir Res ap Meredith had been before him, poisoning the king's +mind against many of the Welsh nobles, and particularly against the +sons of Res Vychan, in whose possession were the province and +castle of Dynevor. Upon that fair territory he had long cast +covetous eyes. He cared little in comparison for the more barren +and turbulent region of Iscennen, and it was upon Wendot and +Griffeth, but particularly upon Wendot, that the full bitterness of +his invective was poured. He had so imbued the king with the idea +that the youth was dangerous, turbulent, and treacherous (charges +that his conduct certainly seemed to bear out), that it was small +wonder if Edward, remembering his own former goodwill towards the +youth, should feel greatly incensed against him. And although he +listened to Alphonso's pleadings, and the lad told his story with +much simple eloquence and fervour, the stern lines of his brow did +not relax, and his lips set themselves into an ominous curve which +the prince liked little to see.</p> +<p>"Boy," he said, with an impatience that boded ill for the +success of the cause, "I verily believe wert thou in the place of +king, thou wouldst give to every rebel chief his lands again, and +be not contented until thine own throne came tottering about thine +ears. Mercy must temper justice, but if it take the place of +justice it becomes mere weakness. I trusted Wendot ap Res Vychan +once, and laid no hand upon his lands. Thou hast seen how this +trust has been rewarded. To reinstate him now would be madness. No. +I have in Sir Res ap Meredith a loyal and true servant, and his +claims upon his traitorous kinsman's lands may not be disregarded. +Dynevor will pass away from Wendot. It is throwing words away to +plead with me. My mind is made up. I trust not a traitor +twice."</p> +<p>There was something in his father's tone that warned Alphonso to +press the matter no more. He knew that when Edward thus spoke his +word was final and irrevocable; and all he ventured now to ask was, +"What will become of Wendot and his brother? You will not take +their lives, sweet sire?"</p> +<p>"Their lives I give to thee, my son," answered Edward, with a +gesture towards his boy which betrayed a deep love, and showed that +although he had denied him sternly he did not do so willingly. "As +thou hast pleaded for them, I will not sentence them to death; but +they remain my prisoners, and regain not their liberty. I know the +turbulent race from which they spring. Sir Res will have small +peace in his new possessions if any of the former princes of +Dynevor are at large in the country. Wendot and Griffeth remain my +prisoners."</p> +<p>"Nay, father; let them be my prisoners, I pray," cried Alphonso, +with unwonted energy and animation. "Thou hast granted me their +lives; grant me the keeping of their persons too. Nay, think not +that I will connive at their escape. Give whatsoever charge thou +wilt concerning the safety of their persons to those who guard us +in our daily life, but let me have them as gentlemen of mine own. +Call them prisoners an you will, but let their imprisonment be +light -- let me enjoy their company. Thou knowest that Britton is +fretting for a freer life, and that I see little of him now. I have +often longed for a companion to share my solitary hours. Give me +Griffeth and Wendot. They have the royal blood of Wales flowing in +their veins, and methinks they love me even as I love them. And, +father, Griffeth has not many months, methinks, to live; and I know +so well all he suffers that my heart goes out to him. He has the +love of books that I have, and we have so many thoughts which none +seem to understand save our two selves. And he and Wendot are as +one. It would be cruelty such as thou wouldst not inflict to +separate them whilst one has so short a time to live. Give me them +for mine own attendants, and bid the servants guard them as best +pleaseth thee. Sweet father, I have not asked many boons of thee. +Grant me this one, I pray thee, for my heart is verily set on +it."</p> +<p>There was something in this appeal, something in the look upon +Alphonso's face, something in the very words he had used, that made +it impossible to his father to refuse him. Blind his eyes as he +would to the truth, he was haunted by a terrible fear that the life +of his only son was surely slipping away. Alphonso did not often +speak of his health, and the hint just dropped struck chill upon +the father's heart. Passing his hand across his face to conceal the +sudden spasm of pain that contracted it, he rose hastily from his +chair, and said:</p> +<p>"Give thine own orders concerning these youths. I leave them in +thy hands. Make of them what it pleaseth thee. Only let them +understand that charge will be given to the custodians of the +castle, and of whatever place they visit in the future, that they +are prisoners at the king's pleasure, and that any attempt at +escape will be punished with instant and rigorous captivity."</p> +<p>"So be it," answered Alphonso, with brightening eyes. "I thank +thee, father, for the boon. Thou shalt never have cause to repent +it."</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a>. THE KING'S CLEMENCY.</h2> +<p>"Unhand me, sir. How dare you thus insult me? Let go my hand, or +I summon help instantly. I am come to seek the king. Will you raise +a tumult within hearing of his private apartments? Unhand me, I +say," and Arthyn's cheeks flamed dangerously, whilst her eyes +flashed fire.</p> +<p>But Raoul Latimer, though a craven before the face of an armed +foe, could be resolute enough when he had only an unprotected woman +to deal with, and was quite disposed to show his valour by pressing +his unwelcome salutations upon the cheek of the girl he regarded as +his future wife. His surprise at encountering Arthyn, whom he +believed far away in her father's castle, hastening alone down one +of the long corridors of Carnarvon Castle, had been very great. He +could not imagine what had thus brought her, and was eager to claim +from her the greeting he felt was his due.</p> +<p>But Arthyn had never lacked for spirit, and had always +confessedly abhorred Raoul, nor had absence seemed to make the +heart grow fonder, at least in her case. She repulsed him with such +hearty goodwill that his cowardly fury was aroused, and had not the +girl cried aloud in her anger and fear, he might have done her some +mischief. But even as she lifted her voice a door in the corridor +was flung open, and the king himself strode forth, not, as it +chanced, in response to the call, which had not reached his ears, +but upon an errand of his own. Now when he saw that at the doors of +his own private apartments one of his own gentlemen had dared to +lay rude hands upon a woman, his kingly wrath was stirred, and one +blow from his strong arm sent Raoul reeling across the corridor +till the wall stopped his farther progress.</p> +<p>"How now, malapert boy?" cried Edward in deep displeasure. "Is +it thus you disgrace your manhood by falling upon the defenceless, +and by brawling even within hearing of your sovereign? You are not +so wondrous valiant in battle, Raoul Latimer, that you can afford +to blast the small reputation you have.</p> +<p>"Sweet lady, be not afraid; thy king will protect thee from +farther insult.</p> +<p>"Ha, Arthyn, is it thou, my child? Nay, kneel not in such humbly +suppliant fashion; rise and kiss me, little one, for thou art only +less dear to me than mine own children. Come hither, maiden, and +speak to me. What has brought thee here alone and unannounced? And +what has raised this storm betwixt ye twain?"</p> +<p>"Sire -- my king -- hear me," cried Arthyn in a choked voice; +"and bid that wicked youth, whom I have ever hated, leave us. Let +me speak to you alone and in private. It is to you, gracious lord, +that I have come. Grant me, I pray you, the boon of but a few words +alone and in private. I have somewhat to tell your grace -- your +royal pardon to ask."</p> +<p>"Pardon? tush, maiden! thou canst not have offended greatly. But +come hither; what thou hast to say thou shalt say before the queen +and Eleanor. They have ever been as mother and sister to thee. Thou +hast no secrets for me which they may not hear?"</p> +<p>"Ah no; I would gladly speak all before them," answered Arthyn +eagerly, knowing that in the gentle Eleanor of Castile and her +daughter she would find the most sympathizing of friends.</p> +<p>Intensely patriotic as the girl had ever been, loving her +country above all else, and throwing heart and soul into that +country's cause, she had yet learned a deep love and reverence for +the family of the English king, amongst whom so many years of her +young life had been spent. She was able to do full justice to the +kindly and domestic side of the soldier king's nature, and, whilst +she regarded him as a foe to Wales, looked upon him personally as a +friend and protector.</p> +<p>Edward's gentleness and affection in his private life equalled +his stern, unbending policy in matters of state. It was very +tenderly and kindly that he led the girl to the private apartments +of the queen; and when once Arthyn found herself face to face with +one who had given to her more of mother love than any other being +in the world, she flung herself into the arms opened to receive +her, and out came the whole story which had brought her on this +secret mission to Carnarvon.</p> +<p>"Sweet lady, O most gracious madam, listen and plead for me with +the king. He is kind and good, and he knows what true love is. +Lady, it is as a wedded wife I come to you, craving pardon for what +I have done. But I ever hated that wicked Raoul Latimer, my +country's foe, and would have died rather than plight my troth to +him. And when he came to us -- he, my love, my life, he whom I +loved long years ago when we met as boy and girl, and whom I have +never forgotten -- what could I do? How could I resist?</p> +<p>"And my father approved. He gave my hand in wedlock. And now I +am come to pray your pardon for myself and for him whom I love. Oh, +do not turn a deaf ear to me! As you have loved when you were +young, pardon those who have done likewise."</p> +<p>King and queen exchanged glances, half of amusement, half of +astonishment, but there was no anger in either face. Raoul was no +favourite in the royal circle, and his visible cowardice in the +recent campaign had brought him into open disfavour with the +lion-hearted Edward. He loved Arthyn dearly, and this proof of her +independence of spirit, together with her artless confidence in his +kindliness of heart, pleased him not a little. He had been forced +during these past days to act a stern part towards many of the +Welsh nobles who had been brought before him. He was glad enough, +this thankless task accomplished, to allow the softer and more +kindly side of his nature to assert itself. And perhaps the +sympathetic glances of his son Alphonso, who had just entered the +room, helped to settle his resolve that Arthyn at least should +receive full and free forgiveness.</p> +<p>Eleanor had drawn her former playmate towards her, and was +eagerly questioning her as to the name of him to whom her heart and +hand were now given, and the answer sent a thrill of surprise +through the whole company.</p> +<p>"It is one whom you all know, sweet Eleanor -- Llewelyn, the son +of Res Vychan, Lord of Dynevor. Thou knowest, Eleanor, how he came +amongst us at Rhuddlan years agone now, and perchance thou sawest +even then how we loved one another, albeit it was but the love of +children. But we never have forgotten, and when he came to my +father's castle, wounded and weary and despairing after the +disaster which robbed Wales of her last native prince, what could +we do but receive and tend him? It was thus it came about, and love +did the rest."</p> +<p>"And so thou hast wed a rebel, maiden?" quoth Edward, in tones +that seemed to be stern by effort rather than by the will of the +speaker, whilst the kindly light in the eyes belied his assumed +harshness; "and having done so thou hast the hardihood to come and +tell us of it thine own self. Fie upon thee for a saucy wench! What +better dost thou expect for thyself and thy lord than a lodging in +the lowest dungeon of the keep?"</p> +<p>"I know that we ought to expect nothing better," answered +Arthyn, with her brightest smile, as she turned fearlessly upon the +king. "But do as you will with us, noble king, and we will not +rebel or complain, so that we may be together. And my dear lord bid +me give you this. He took it with his own hands from the dead hand +of Llewelyn, Prince of Wales, and he charged me to place it in your +hands as a pledge and token that your enemy ceased to live. Report +has told him that men say Llewelyn escaped that day, and that he +yet lives to rise against you again. By this signet you may know +that he lies dead and cold, and that with him has perished the last +hope of Wales ever to be ruled by a prince of her own."</p> +<p>Edward put forth his hand eagerly, and examined the signet ring, +which was one he himself had given to Llewelyn on the occasion of +his last submission. And as he looked upon it a great weight seemed +to be rolled from off him, for it was the first decided intimation +he had had that his foe was actually slain. Rumour had been rife +with reports of his escape, and although there had not been lacking +testimony to the effect that the prince had fallen in battle, the +fact had never been adequately established. A few quick questions +to Arthyn appeared to establish this beyond all doubt, and in the +expansion of the moment Edward was ready not only to forgive the +bearer of such welcome tidings, but to forget that he had ever been +an offender. One of the sons of Res Vychan had paid the price of +his breach of faith with his life; two more were prisoners at his +royal pleasure. Surely the family had suffered enough without +harsher vengeance being taken. Surely he might give to Arthyn the +liberty and possibly even the lands of her lord in return for the +welcome intelligence she had brought.</p> +<p>Alphonso, ever on the side of mercy, joined with the queen and +Eleanor in persuading the king to forgive and forget, and Arthyn +was sent home the day following laden with presents and good +wishes, bearing a full pardon to her lord from the English king, as +well as a half promise that when the country became somewhat more +settled he might make request for his commot of Iscennen with +reasonable chance of being heard.</p> +<p>Wendot and Griffeth both saw their new sister before her return, +and charged her with all sorts of friendly messages for Llewelyn. +If Wendot thought it hard that the brother who had always been +England's bitterest foe should be pardoned and rewarded, whilst he +himself should be left to pine in captivity, at least he made no +sign, and never let a word of bitterness pass his lips. Indeed he +was too ill greatly to trouble himself over his own condition or +the future that lay before him. Fever and ague had supervened upon +the wounds he had received, and whilst Griffeth was rapidly +recovering such measure of health and strength as he ever could +boast, Wendot lay helpless and feeble, scarce able to lift his head +from the pillow, and only just equal to the task of speaking to +Arthyn and comprehending the good news with which she came +charged.</p> +<p>The brothers had now been removed to better apartments, near to +those occupied by the prince, whose servants they nominally were. +Griffeth had begun to enter upon some of his duties towards his +royal patron, and the friendship begun in boyhood was rapidly +ripening to an intimacy which surprised them both. Such perfect +mutual understanding and sympathy was rare and precious; and +Griffeth did not even look back with longing to the old life, so +entirely had his heart gone out to the youthful prince, whose days +on earth, like his own, were plainly numbered.</p> +<p>Lady Gertrude Cherleton was still an inmate of the royal +household. She was now a ward of Edward's, her father having died a +year or two previously. She was not considered a minor any longer, +having attained the age of eighteen some time before, and the +management of her estates was left partially to her. But she +remained by choice the companion of Eleanor and Joanna, and would +probably continue to do so until she married. It was a source of +wonder to the court why she did not make choice of a husband +amongst the many suitors for her hand; but she had hitherto turned +a deaf ear to the pleadings of all. Sir Godfrey Challoner had long +been sighing at her feet, but she would have none of him, and +appeared to be proof against all the shafts of the blind god of +love.</p> +<p>But her intense excitement when she heard of the arrival at +Carnarvon of the two brothers from Dynevor told its own tale to the +Princess Joanna, who had ever been the girl's confidante in this +matter, and who had known from childhood how Gertrude had always +believed herself pledged. It was a charming secret for them to +cherish between them; and now that Wendot was once more beneath the +castle roof, the impulsive Joanna would launch out into extravagant +pictures of future happiness and prosperity. Her ardent +temperament, having no personal romance to feed upon -- for though +her hand had once been plighted, her future lord had been drowned +the previous year in a boating accident, and she was again free -- +delighted to throw itself into the concerns of her friend, and the +sense of power which had been so early implanted within her made +her confident of being able to overcome obstacles and attain the +object of her wishes, be the difficulties and dangers in their path +never so great.</p> +<p>"You shall be united, Gertrude, an he loves thee," cried the +generous Joanna, flinging her arms round the neck of her companion, +and kissing her again and again. "His life, his liberty, shall be +obtained, and thou and he shall be happy together. I have said it, +and I will do it."</p> +<p>Whatever was known to Joanna was known to Alphonso, who shared +all her feelings, and was most tenderly beloved by her. He was as +ardent in the cause as his sister could be; but he saw more of the +difficulties that beset their path, and knew better his father's +iron temperament, and how deeply Wendot had offended. Doubtless +much was due to the misrepresentations of Sir Res ap Meredith, who +had now secured for himself the coveted lands of Dynevor; but +whatever the cause, the eldest son of the house of Dynevor was the +object of the king's severe displeasure, and it was not likely he +would relax his vigilance or depart from his word, not even for the +prayers of his children or the tears of his favourite Gertrude. He +had pardoned Llewelyn at the instance of Arthyn; if the same game +were to be played over again by another of his daughters' +companions, he would not unnaturally believe that he was being +cajoled and trifled with.</p> +<p>"If it were only Griffeth it would be easy," said Alphonso +thoughtfully. "But Wendot --"</p> +<p>And there he stopped and shook his head.</p> +<p>It was some days before the king saw the new attendant of his +sons; but coming into Alphonso's private apartment one day +suddenly, he found several of the royal children gathered there, +and with them a fair-haired youth, who was reading to the prince +out of an illuminated missal. Alphonso was lying on a couch, and +his look of fragile weakness struck cold to the father's heart. Of +late the lad's strength had been failing rapidly, but Edward had +tried to blind his eyes to the truth. Now he took a hasty step +towards the couch, and Griffeth rose quickly from his seat and bent +the knee before the king.</p> +<p>"Ha, Wendot," said Edward, with a grave but not unkindly glance, +"I have not seen you at these new duties before. So you are a +student as well as a soldier? Well, the arts of peace will better +become you for the future. I remember your face well, young man. I +would it had not been my duty to place you under restraint; but you +have broken faith with me, and that grievously. How then can it be +possible to trust you in the future? You, as the head of the house, +should have set your brothers an example of honour and fealty. As +it is, it has been far otherwise, and now you will have to bear the +burden of that breach of trust and honour."</p> +<p>Twice Griffeth had opened his lips as if to speak, but Alphonso +laid his hand upon his arm with a warning touch, which said as +plainly as words could do, "Be silent."</p> +<p>So the youth held his peace, and only bent his head in +submission; and Edward, after a moment's pause, added more +kindly:</p> +<p>"And how fares it with your brother, Wendot? I hear that his +state is something precarious. I hope he has the best tendance the +castle can afford, for I would not that any member of my son's +household should suffer from lack of care."</p> +<p>"He has all that he needs, I thank you, sire," answered +Griffeth. "He lies sorely sick at this present time, but I trust he +will amend ere long."</p> +<p>And then the king turned to his son, and spoke with him on some +message of the state, and departed without heeding the excited +glances of Joanna or the restless way in which she kept looking +first at Alphonso and then at Gertrude.</p> +<p>But scarcely had the door closed behind the retiring form of the +king before the excitable girl had bounded to her brother's +side.</p> +<p>"O Alphonso," she cried, "did you do it on purpose? Tell me what +you have in your head."</p> +<p>Alphonso sat up and pushed the hair out of his eyes. Griffeth +was simply looking on in surprise and bewilderment. The prince laid +a hand upon his arm and spoke very earnestly.</p> +<p>"Griffeth," he said, "it seems to me that through this error of +my father's we may yet find means to compass the deliverance of +Wendot. There are none of those save ourselves who know which of +you twain is the first-born and which the youngest. In your faces +there is little to mark you one from the other. Griffeth, if thou +wilt be willing to be called Wendot-- if Wendot will consent to be +Griffeth -- then we may perchance make his way plain to depart and +live in liberty once more; for it is Wendot, and not Griffeth, who +has so roused my father's anger. Griffeth he might easily consent +to pardon; but Wendot he will keep as a hostage in his own hands +possibly for life itself."</p> +<p>Griffeth listened, and a strange look crept into his face. His +cheek flushed, and his breath came thick and fast. He knew +Alphonso's motive in suggesting this change of identity. The lads, +so closely drawn together in bonds of more than brotherly love, had +not opened to each other their innermost souls for nought. Alphonso +knew that no freedom, no liberty, would give to the true Griffeth +any extension of his brief span of life. His days were as assuredly +numbered as those of the royal lad himself, and life had ceased to +have attractions for the pair, whose spirits were almost on the +wing, who had set their hopes and aspirations higher than anything +which earth could give, and whose chiefest wish now was to remain +together until death should call them home.</p> +<p>Griffeth's only trouble had been the thought of leaving his +brother, and it was when he had realized from Alphonso's words that +the king was deeply offended with Wendot, and that it was almost +hopeless to think of his obtaining his liberty again, that the +heart of the lad sank in despondency and sorrow.</p> +<p>For one of the young eagles of Dynevor thus to be caged -- to be +left to pine away in hopeless captivity, his brother gone from him +as well as the prince who would stand his friend; possibly +incarcerated at last in some dreary fortress, there to linger out +his days in hopeless misery and inaction -- the thought had been so +terrible to Griffeth that there had been moments when he had almost +longed to hear that the leeches gave up hope of saving his +brother's life.</p> +<p>But Wendot was mending now; there was no doubt of ultimate +recovery. He would rise from his sickbed to find -- what? Griffeth +had not dared to ask himself this question before; but now a great +hope possessed him suddenly. He looked into Alphonso's eyes, and +the two instantly understood one another; as did also Gertrude and +Joanna, who stood by flushed and quivering.</p> +<p>"Let it be so," said Griffeth, in a voice which trembled a +little, although the words were firm and emphatic. "I take the name +the king has given me. I am Wendot, whom he believes the traitor +and the foe. Griffeth lies yonder, sick and helpless, a victim to +the influence of the first-born son of Res Vychan. It may be, when +the king hears more of him, he will in his clemency release and +pardon him.</p> +<p>"Ah, if I could but be the means of saving my brother -- the +brother dearer to me than life -- from the fate which others have +brought upon him, that I could lay down my life without a wish +ungratified! It has been the only thought of bitterness in my cup +that I must leave him alone -- and a prisoner."</p> +<p>Gertrude's face had flushed a deep red; she put out her hand and +clasped that of Griffeth hard; there was a little sob in her voice +as she said:</p> +<p>"Oh, if you will but save him -- if you will but save him!"</p> +<p>Griffeth looked into her sweet face, with its sensitive features +and soft eyes shining through a mist of tears, and he understood +something which had hitherto been a puzzle to him.</p> +<p>There had been days when the intermittent fever from which +Wendot suffered left him entirely for hours together, sometimes for +a whole day; and Griffeth had been sure that on some of these days, +in the hours of his own attendance on the prince, his brother had +received visits from others in the castle: for flowers had appeared +to brighten the sick room, and there had been a wonderful new look +of happiness in the patient's eyes, although he had said nothing to +his brother as to what had befallen him.</p> +<p>And in truth Wendot was half disposed to believe himself the +victim of some sweet hallucination, and was almost afraid to speak +of the fancies that floated from time to time before his eyes, lest +he should be told that his mind was wandering, and that he was the +victim of delusion.</p> +<p>Not once alone, but many times, during the hours of his tardy +convalescence, when he had been lying alone, crushed by the sense +of weariness and oppression which illness brings to one so little +accustomed to it, he had been roused by the sound of light +footfalls in his room; he had seen a graceful form flitting about, +bringing lightness and beauty in her wake, and leaving it behind +when she left. The vision of a sweet, small face, and the lustrous +dark eyes which had haunted him at intervals through the long years +of his young manhood, appeared again before him, and sometimes his +name was spoken in the gentle tones which had never been forgotten, +although the memory was growing dim.</p> +<p>Weak and dazed and feeble, both in body and mind, from the +exhausting and wasting illness that had followed the severe +winter's campaign, Wendot knew not if this vision was but the +figment of his own brain, or whether the passionate love he felt +rising up in his heart was lavished upon a mere phantom. But so +long as she flitted about him he was content to lie and watch her, +with the light of a great happiness in his eyes; and once when he +had called her name -- the never forgotten name of Gertrude -- he +had thought that she had come and taken his hand and had bent over +him with a wonderful light in her eyes, but the very effort he made +to rise up and grasp her hands, and learn if indeed it were a +creature of flesh and blood, had resulted in a lapse back into +unconsciousness, and he was silent as to the vision even to +Griffeth, lest perchance he should have to learn that it was but a +fevered dream, and that there was no Gertrude within the castle +walls at all.</p> +<p>But Gertrude knew all; it was no dream to her. She saw the love +light in the eyes dearest to her in the world. She had heard her +name called; she had seen that the love she had cherished for the +hero of her childhood had not been cherished in vain. Perhaps +Wendot had betrayed more in his sickness and weakness than he would +have allowed himself to do in his strength, knowing himself a +helpless, landless prisoner in the hands of the stern monarch who +occupied England's throne. But be that as it may, Gertrude had read +his secret and was happy, though with such a chastened happiness as +alone was possible to one who knew the peril in which her lover +lay, and how hopeless even Alphonso thought it to obtain for him +the king's pardon.</p> +<p>"My father would have betrothed us as children," said Gertrude, +her face glowing, but her voice steady and soft, for why should she +be ashamed of the faithful love of a lifetime?</p> +<p>"When we saw each other again he would have plighted us, but for +the fear of what Llewelyn and Howel would do. But think you I love +him less for his love to his country? Think you that I have aught +to reproach him with, when I know how he was forced into rebellion +by others? I care not what he has done. I love him, and I know that +he loves me. Sooner would I share a prison with him than a palace +with any man beside; yet I fear that in prison walls he will pine +and die, even as a caged eagle, and it is that fear which breaks my +heart.</p> +<p>"O Griffeth, Griffeth, if you can save him, how we will bless +you from, our hearts! Give him to me, and I will guard and cherish +him. I have wealth and lands for us both. Only his liberty is +lacking --"</p> +<p>"And that we will strive to compass yet," said Alphonso gently. +"Fear not, sweet Gertrude, and betray not thyself. Only remember +from this time forward that Wendot is my friend and companion here, +and that thy lover Griffeth lieth in yon chamber, sick and +stricken."</p> +<p>"I will remember," she answered resolutely; and so the change of +identity was accomplished, with the result that the old chroniclers +aver that Wendot, eldest son of Res Vychan, died in the king's +prison in England, whilst all that is known of the fate of Griffeth +is that he was with his brother in captivity in England in the year +1283, after which his name completely disappears, and no more is +known of him, good or bad.</p> +<p>That night there were commotion and distress in Carnarvon +Castle, for the young Alphonso broke a blood vessel in a violent +fit of coughing, and for some hours his life was in the utmost +danger.</p> +<p>The skill of the leeches, however, combined with the tender care +of his mother and sisters, averted for a time fatal consequences, +and in a few days the prince was reported to be out of immediate +danger. But the doctors all agreed that it would not be wise for +him to remain longer in the colder air of north Wales, and advised +an immediate removal to Windsor, where more comforts could be +obtained, and where the climate was milder and more genial.</p> +<p>Edward's work in Wales was done. The country was quiet, and he +had no longer any fear of serious rebellion. The first thought in +his mind was the precarious condition of his son, and immediate +steps were taken to convey the invalid southward by slow and gentle +stages.</p> +<p>A horse litter was prepared for him, and by his own special +request this easy conveyance was shared by him with the two Welsh +youths, to whom, as his father and mother thought, he had taken one +of those strange sick fancies not uncommon to those in his state of +health.</p> +<p>Wendot, as he called the younger brother, had been his most +devoted nurse during the days of peril, and his quick understanding +of the unspoken wishes of the prince had evoked a real and true +gratitude from the royal parents.</p> +<p>The real Wendot was by this time so far recovered as to be able +to bear the journey, and illness had so wasted him that he looked +no older than Griffeth; and though still perplexed at being called +Griffeth, and by no means understanding his brother's earnest +request that he would continue to answer to the name, he was too +weak to trouble his head much about the matter; and the two Welsh +brothers were regarded by the English attendants as too +insignificant to be worthy of much notice. The prince's freak to +have them as travelling-companions was humoured by his parents' +wish; but they little knew how much he was wrapped up in the +brothers, nor how completely his heart was set upon seeing the +accomplishment of his plan before he died.</p> +<p>Alphonso had all his senses about him, and the wistful look on +Griffeth's face, as the mountains of his beloved Wales grew dim in +the distance, was not lost upon him. Wendot was sleeping restlessly +in the litter, and Alphonso stretched out his hand, and laid it +gently upon Griffeth's.</p> +<p>"Art regretting that thou leavest all for me?" he asked gently; +and the answer was such a look of love as went to his very +heart.</p> +<p>"Nay; I would leave far more than that for thee, sweet prince, +but it is my last look at home. I shall see these grand, wild hills +no more."</p> +<p>"No, nor yet I," answered the prince, his own eyes growing +somewhat dim; "and I, too, have loved them well, though not as thou +lovest, my friend. But be content; there are fairer things, sweeter +scenes than even these, in store for us somewhere. Shall we repine +at leaving the beauties of earth, when the pearly gates of Paradise +are opening before our very eyes?</p> +<p>"O Griffeth, it is a wondrous thought how soon we may be soaring +above the very stars! And methinks it may well be given to thee to +wing thy way to thine own home for one last look ere thou departest +for the holy land whence we can never wish to return."</p> +<p>Griffeth gave him a bright, eager look.</p> +<p>"I will think that myself -- I will believe it. This is not my +last farewell."</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a>. A STRANGE BRIDAL.</h2> +<p>"My prince, tempt me not. It is hard to refuse; but there are +some things no man may do with honour, and, believe me, honour is +dearer to me than life, dearer even than liberty; though Heaven +alone knows how dear that is to every free-born son of Cambria. I +to leave my brother to wear away his days in captivity whilst I +escape under his name! Prince Alphonso, I know not what you think +my heart is made of. Am I to live in freedom, whilst he whom I love +best in the world bears the burden of my fault, and lingers out his +young life within the walls of the king's prison?"</p> +<p>Alphonso looked searchingly in Wendot's face, and realized for +the first time the youth's absolute ignorance of his brother's +state. No wonder he refused with scorn the proffered boon! Yet it +would be a hard task to break the sad tidings to one who so deeply +loved his gentle younger brother, from childhood his chosen +comrade.</p> +<p>Alphonso was lying on a couch in one of the smaller state +apartments of Windsor Castle, and the window, close to which he had +bidden his attendants wheel him, overlooked the beautiful valley of +the Thames. The first of the autumn tints were gilding the rich +stretches of woodland, whilst a faint blue haze hung over the +distance, and the river ran like a silver thread, glinting here and +there into golden brightness as some brighter ray of sunlight fell +upon it.</p> +<p>Alphonso loved the view commanded by this window. He and +Griffeth spent many long happy hours here, looking out on the fair +prospect, and exchanging whispered thoughts and bright aspirations +with regard to some land even fairer than the one they now +beheld.</p> +<p>But Wendot never looked at the beautiful valley without +experiencing a strange oppression of spirit. It reminded him of +that wilder valley of the Towy, and his eyes would grow dim and his +heart sick with the fruitless longing after home, which grew harder +and harder to hear with every week of captivity, now that his +bodily health was restored. Captivity was telling upon him, and he +was pining as an eagle pines when caught and shut up by man even in +a gilded cage. He looked pale and wan and wistful. Often he felt +stifled by the warm, close air of the valley, and felt that he must +die did he not escape to the freer air of the mountains.</p> +<p>But he seldom spoke of these feelings even to Griffeth, and +strangely enough his illness and these homesick longings produced +upon his outer man an effect which was wonderfully favourable to +the plan fermenting in the brains of the royal children and their +immediate companions.</p> +<p>Wendot had lost the sturdiness of figure, the brown colouring, +and the strength of limb which had distinguished him in old days +from Griffeth. A striking likeness had always existed between the +brothers, whose features were almost identical, and whose height +and contours were the same. Now that illness had sharpened the +outlines of Wendot's face, had reduced his fine proportions, and +had given to him something of the hollow-eyed wistfulness of +expression which Griffeth had so long worn, this likeness became so +remarkable that few in the castle knew one brother from the other. +Knowing this, they both answered indifferently to the name of +either, and any change of personality would be managed without +exciting the smallest fear of remark.</p> +<p>Wendot had been perplexed at times by the persistence with which +he had been addressed as Griffeth, even when he was certain that +the speaker was one of the few who knew him and his brother apart; +but he had not troubled his head much over the matter until this +day, when Alphonso had openly spoken to him of the plan that was in +their minds, and had bidden him prepare for a secret flight from +the castle, promising that there should be no ardent search after +him, as Wendot, and not Griffeth, was the culprit who had fallen +under the royal displeasure, and the king would care little for the +escape of the younger brother so long as he held the ex-Lord of +Dynevor in his own safe keeping.</p> +<p>Wendot's indignant refusal to leave his brother and make good +his own escape showed Alphonso how little he realized Griffeth's +condition, and with gentle sympathy, but with candour and +frankness, he explained to the elder brother how short would be the +period of Griffeth's captivity -- how soon and how complete the +release for which he was patiently and happily waiting.</p> +<p>Wendot gave a great start as the meaning of Alphonso's words +first broke upon him, and then he buried his face in his hands, and +sat motionless, neither answering nor moving. Alphonso looked at +him, and by-and-by put out his own wasted hand and laid it upon +Wendot's knee.</p> +<p>"Does it seem a sad thing to thee, Wendot? Believe me, there is +no sadness for Griffeth in the thought. Nay, is it not a blessed +thing to know that soon, very soon, we shall be free of this weary +burden of pain and sickness and weakness, and laying all aside will +pass away to the land of which the seer of old foretold that 'the +wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.' Thou +knowest not, perhaps, the sweetness of those words, but I know it +well, and Griffeth likewise.</p> +<p>"Nay, Wendot, thou must learn not to grudge him the rest and the +bliss of yon bright land. In this world he could look for nothing +save wearing weakness and lingering pain. Thou shouldst be glad +that the fiat has gone forth, and that the end may not be far off +-- the end of trouble and sorrow; for of the glory that shall +follow there shall be no end."</p> +<p>But Wendot broke in hoarsely and impetuously.</p> +<p>"If he must die, let him at least die in freedom, with the old +hills around him; let him be laid to rest beneath their shadow. You +say that he might well escape; that no cry would be made after him +so long as I were in the king's safe keeping. Let him then fly. Let +him fly to Llewelyn and Arthyn. They will give him tendance and a +home. He shall not die in prison, away from all that he holds dear. +I cannot brook the thought!"</p> +<p>"Nay, Wendot," answered Alphonso with a kindling smile, "thou +needest not grieve for thy brother because that he is here. Ask him +-- take it not from my lips; but I will tell thee this, that where +thou art and where I am is the place where Griffeth would fain end +his days. Ah! thou canst not understand, good youth, how when the +great and wonderful call comes for the human soul, how lightly +press the fetters of the flesh; how small these things of time and +place appear that erst have been of such moment. Griffeth and I are +treading the same path at the same time, and I think not even the +offer of a free pardon and unfettered liberty would draw him from +my side.</p> +<p>"Moreover, Wendot, he could not take the journey of which thou +speakest. The keen autumn air, which will give thee strength and +vigour, would but lay him low on the bed from which he would never +rise. His heart is here with me. Think not that thou art wronging +him in taking his name. The one load lying now upon his heart is +the thought that he is leaving thee in captivity. Let him but know +that thou art free -- that he has been thy helper in thy flight -- +and he will have nought left to wish for in this world. His soul +will be at peace."</p> +<p>Wendot rose and paced through the chamber, and then returned to +the side of the prince. His face betrayed many conflicting +emotions. He spoke with bitterness and impetuosity.</p> +<p>"And what good is life to me if I take you at your word and fly +this spot? Have I not lost all that makes life worth living? My +lands given to my traitorous kinsman; the brother who has been more +to me than life lying in a foreign grave. What use is life to one +so lonely and bereft? Where should I fly? what should I do? I have +never lived alone. I have always had another to live for and to +love. Methinks death would be the better thing than such a loveless +life."</p> +<p>"And why should thy life be loveless, Wendot?" asked Alphonso, +with kindling eyes and a brightening smile. "Dost not thou know? -- +does not thine own heart tell thee that one faithful heart beats +for thee and thee alone? Have I not seen thee with her times and +again? Have not your eyes told eloquent secrets -- though I know +not what your lips have said --"</p> +<p>Wendot's face was all in a glow, but he broke in hastily:</p> +<p>"Prince, prince, speak not of her. If I have been beguiled, if I +have betrayed the feelings which I cannot help, but which I must +hold sternly in check -- be not thou the one to taunt me with my +weakness. There is none like her in the world. I have known it for +long. But even because I know it so well I may not even dream of +her. It is not with me as of old, when her father spoke to me of +troth plight. I am a beggar, an outcast, a prisoner. She is rich, +honoured, courted. She is the brightest star of the court --"</p> +<p>"And she loveth thee, Wendot," interposed Alphonso firmly. "She +has loved thee from childhood with a faithful and true love which +merits better things than to be cast aside as if it were but dross. +What are lands and gold to a woman if her lover share them not? Is +it meet that she should suffer so cruelly simply because her father +has left her well endowed? Wendot, on Lord Montacute's dying bed +this daughter of his avowed her love for thee, and he gave her his +blessing and bade her act as she would. Art thou, then, to be the +one to break her heart, ay, and thine own, too, because thou art +too proud to take more than thou canst give?</p> +<p>"Fie, man! the world is wide and thou art young. Thou hast time +to win thy spurs and bring home noble spoil to lay at thy lady's +feet. Only let not pride stand in the way of her happiness and +thine own. Thou hast said that life is dark and drear unless it be +shared with some loved one. Then how canst thou hold back, when +thou hast confessed thine own love and learned that hers is thine? +Take it, and be grateful for the treasure thou hast won, and fear +not but that thou wilt bring as much as thou wilt receive. There +are strange chances in the fate of each one of us. Who knows but +that thou and she will not yet reign again in the halls of +Dynevor?"</p> +<p>Wendot started and flushed, and again paced down the whole +length of the room. When he returned to the window Alphonso had +gone, and in his place stood Gertrude herself, her sweet face dyed +rosy red with blushes, her hands half stretched out towards him, +her lips quivering with the intensity of her emotion.</p> +<p>He paused just one moment looking at her, and then holding out +his arms, he said:</p> +<p>"Gertrude!"</p> +<p>Next moment she was clasped in his close embrace, and was +shedding happy tears upon his shoulder.</p> +<p>"Oh!" said Gertrude at last, in a soft whisper, "it was worth +waiting for this. I never thought I could have been so happy."</p> +<p>"Joanna -- Alphonso, it is all settled. He will leave the castle +with me. He will help me now in the care of my lands. But he will +not move whilst Griffeth lives. And I think he is right. They have +so loved each other, and he will not leave his brother to die +amongst strangers in captivity."</p> +<p>"It is like him," said Joanna eagerly. "Gertrude, thou hast +found a very proper knight, as we told thee from the first, when he +was but a lad, and held the Eagle's Crag against a score of men. +But ye must be wedded soon, that there be no delay when once the +poor boy be gone. Every day he looks more shadowy and frail. +Methinks that our softer air ill suits him, for he hath dwindled to +a mere shadow since he came. You will not have to wait long."</p> +<p>"Joanna speaks the truth," said Alphonso, half sadly, half +smilingly. "He will not be with us long. But it is very true that +this marriage must be privately celebrated, and that without delay, +that when the day comes when 'Griffeth' flies from the castle, he +and his wife may go together."</p> +<p>"Ay, and my chaplain will make them man and wife, and breathe +not a word to any man," cried Joanna, who, now that she was older, +had her own retinue of servants, equal in number to those of her +sister, by whom she was dearly loved for her generosity and +frankness, so that she could always command ready and willing +obedience to any expressed wish of hers.</p> +<p>"You think he will? O Joanna, when shall it be?"</p> +<p>"It shall be at midnight in the chapel," said the girl, with the +prompt decision which characterized her. "Not tonight, but three +nights from this. Leave all things in my hands, sweet Gertrude; I +will see that nought is lacking to bind thee lawfully to thy lord. +My chaplain is a good and holy man from the west country. He loveth +those poor Welsh who are prisoners here, and spends much of his +time in ministering to them. He loves thy future lord and his dying +brother, and he knows somewhat of our plan, for I have revealed it +in the confessional, and he has not chided me for it.</p> +<p>"Oh, I can answer for him. He will be glad that thou shouldst +find so proper a knight; and he is kind of heart, and stanch to my +service. Fear not, sweet Gertrude: ere three days have gone by thou +shalt be a wedded wife; and when the time comes thou mayest steal +away with him thy plighted lord, and trust thy sister Joanna to +make thy peace with the king, if he be in any way angered or +grieved."</p> +<p>Gertrude threw herself into Joanna's arms and kissed her a +hundred times; and Joanna laughed, and said she deserved much +credit for plotting to rid herself of her dearest friend, but was +none the less loyal to the cause because Gertrude's gain would be +her loss.</p> +<p>So there came a strange night, never to be forgotten by those +who witnessed the proceedings, when Wendot ap Res Vychan and the +Lady Gertrude Cherleton stood at midnight before the altar in the +small private chapel of the castle, whilst the chaplain of the +Princess Joanna's private suite made them man and wife according to +the law of the Church. And of the few spectators who witnessed the +ceremony two were of royal blood -- Alphonso and Joanna -- and +beside them were only one or two attendants, sworn to secrecy, and +in full sympathy with the youthful lovers thus plighting their +troth and being united in wedlock at one and the same time.</p> +<p>Griffeth was not of the number who was present to witness this +ceremony. He was unable to rise from his bed, a sudden access of +illness having overtaken him, possibly as the result of the +excitement of hearing what was about to take place.</p> +<p>When the solemn words had been spoken, and the bride was led +away by her proud and happy spouse -- happy even in the midst of so +much peril and sorrow in the thought of the treasure he had won -- +she paused at the door of her apartments, whither he would have +left her (for so long as they remained within the walls of the +castle they would observe the same manner of life as before), and +glancing into his face said softly:</p> +<p>"May I not go with thee to tell the news to Griffeth?"</p> +<p>"Ay, well bethought," said Alphonso, who was leaning on Wendot's +other arm, the distance through the long passages being somewhat +fatiguing to him. "Let us go and show to him thy wife. None will +rejoice more than he to know that she is thine in very truth, and +that none can take her from thee."</p> +<p>Griffeth's room was nigh at hand, and thither Wendot led his +bride. A taper was burning beside the bed, and the sick youth lay +propped up with pillows, his breath coming in laboured gasps, +though his eyes were bright and full of comprehension as Wendot led +the slim, white-robed figure to his side.</p> +<p>But the elder brother was startled at the change he saw in his +patient since he had left him last. There was something in his look +that struck chill upon his heart. He came forward and took the +feeble hand in his. It was deadly cold, and the unearthly radiance +upon the lad's face was as significant in its own way. Had not +their mother looked at them with just such a smile when she had +slipped away into another world, whilst they were trying to +persuade themselves that she was better?</p> +<p>"My sister Gertrude," whispered Griffeth. "Oh, I am so happy! +You will be good to him -- you will comfort him.</p> +<p>"Wendot -- Gertrude --" he made a faint effort, and joined their +hands together; and then, as if his last earthly task was +accomplished, he seemed to look right on beyond them, whilst a +strange expression of awe and wonder shone from his closing +eyes.</p> +<p>"Howel," he whispered -- "father -- mother -- oh, I am coming! +Take me with you."</p> +<p>Then the head fell backwards, the light vanished from the eyes, +the cold hand fell nervelessly from Wendot's grasp, and they knew +that Griffeth was the king's prisoner no longer.</p> +<p>Three days later the Lady Gertrude Cherleton said farewell to +her royal companions, and started forth for her own estates in +Derbyshire, which she had purposed for some time to visit. Perhaps +had the minds of those in the castle been free to wonder at +anything so trivial as the movements of the young heiress, they +would have felt surprise at her selecting this time to betake +herself to a solitary and independent existence, away from all her +friends and playmates; but the mortal illness of the Prince +Alphonso occupied the whole attention of the castle. The remains of +the so-called Wendot, late of Dynevor, had been laid to rest with +little ceremony and no pomp, and the very existence of the other +brother was almost forgotten in the general dismay and grief which +permeated through all ranks of people both within and without the +castle walls.</p> +<p>The lady had a small but sufficient retinue; but it was +considered rather strange that she should not start until the dusk +had begun to gather round the castle, so that the confusion of the +start was a good deal increased from the darkness which was +stealing upon the place. Had there been much time or attention +free, it might have been noted by a keen observer that Lady +Gertrude had added to her personal attendants one who looked like a +tall and stout woman, though her hood was so closely drawn that her +face was seen by none of the warders, who, however, let her pass +unchallenged: for she rode beside her mistress, and was evidently +in the position of a trusted companion; for the lady was speaking +to her as they passed out through the gate, and there could +certainly be no reason for offering any obstruction to any servant +of hers.</p> +<p>If there were any fear or excitement in Gertrude's breast as she +and her husband passed out of the gate and rode quickly along the +path which led through the town, she did not betray it by look or +gesture. Her eagerness was mainly showed by a desire to push on +northward as fast as possible, and the light of a full harvest moon +made travelling almost as easy as by day. On they rode, by sleeping +hamlets and dreaming pastures, until the lights of Windsor lay +twinkling in the dim, hazy distance miles away.</p> +<p>Then Gertrude suddenly threw back her hood, and leaning towards +her companion -- they two had outridden their followers some time +before -- cried in a strange, tense voice:</p> +<p>"O Wendot husband, thou art free! Tomorrow will see us safe +within those halls of which thou art rightful lord. Captivity, +trouble, peril is at an end. Nothing can greatly hurt us now, for +are we not one in bonds that no man may dissever?"</p> +<p>"My noble, true-hearted wife," said Wendot, in accents of +intense feeling; and then he leaned forward and kissed her in the +whispering wood, and they rode forward through the glades of +silvery moonlight towards the new life that was awaiting them +beyond.</p> +<p>"Hills, wild rocks, woods, and water!" cried Wendot, with a +sudden kindling gleam in his eyes. "O Gertrude, thou didst not tell +me the half! I never guessed that England had aught so like home as +this. Truly it might be Dynevor itself -- that brawling torrent, +those craggy fells, and these gray stone walls. And to be free -- +free to breathe the fresh wind, to go where the fancy prompts, to +be loosed from all control save the sweet bonds that thou boldest +me in, dearest! Ah, my wife, thou knowest not what thou hast done +for me. How shall I thank thee for the boon?"</p> +<p>"Why, by being thine old self again, Vychan," said Gertrude, who +was standing by her husband's side on a natural terrace of rock +above the Hall which was to be their home. She had brought him out +early in the morning to see the sun rise upon their home, and the +rapture of his face, the passionate joy she saw written there, was +more than she had hoped for.</p> +<p>"Thou hast grown old and worn of late, too saddened, too grave +for thy years. Thou must grow young again, and be the bright-faced +youth to whom I gave my heart. Thy youth is not left so far behind +but what thou canst recall it ere it be too late."</p> +<p>"In sooth I shall grow young again here, sweetheart," quoth +Wendot, or Vychan, as we must call him now. He had an equal right +to that name with his father, though for convenience he had always +been addressed by the other; and now that Lady Gertrude had brought +her husband home, he was to be known as Res Vychan, one of the +descendants of the last princes of South Wales, who had taken his +wife's name also, as he was now the ruler of her land; so, +according to the fashion of the English people, he would henceforth +be known as Vychan Cherleton. His brother's name he could not bear +to hear applied to himself, and it was left to Joanna to explain +matters to the king and queen when the chance should arrive. None +else need ever know that the husband of the Lady Gertrude had ever +been a captive of Edward's; and the name of Griffeth ap Res Vychan +disappears from the ken of the chroniclers as if it had never been +known that he was once a prisoner in England.</p> +<p>There was no pursuit made after the missing Welshman. The king +and queen had other matters to think of, and the fondness of their +son for the youth would have been protection enough even if he had +not begged with his dying breath that his father would forgive and +forget. Lady Gertrude and her husband did not come to court for +very many years; and by the time they did so, Vychan Cherleton's +loyalty and service to the English cause were too well established +for any one to raise a question as to his birth or race.</p> +<p>If the king and queen ever knew they had been outwitted by their +children, they did not resent that this had been so, nor that an +act of mercy had been contrived greater than they might have felt +justified in ratifying.</p> +<p>But all this was yet in the future. As Vychan and his wife stood +on that high plateau overlooking the fair valley of the Derwent, it +seemed to Gertrude as though during the past three days her husband +had undergone some subtle change. There was a new light in his +eyes; his frame had lost its drooping air of languor; he had stood +the long days of rough riding without the smallest fatigue. It +really seemed as if the old Wendot had come back again, and she +smilingly asked him how it was that he had gained such strength in +so short a time.</p> +<p>"Ah, that question is soon answered, sweet wife. It is freedom +that is the elixir of life to us sons of Cambria. I know not if +your English-born men can brook the sense of fetter and constraint, +but it is death to us.</p> +<p>"Let us not think of it more. That page has closed for ever; and +never shall it reopen, for sooner will I die than fall alive into +the hands of a foe. Nay, sweetest Gertrude, look not so +reproachfully at me. Thou shalt soon see that I mean not to die, +but to live for thee. Here in this fair, free spot we begin our new +life together. It may be even yet -- for see, is not that bright +sky, illumined by those quivering shafts of light athwart our path, +an omen of good? -- that as thou showest me this fair spot with +which thou hast endowed me, I may one day show thee again and endow +thee with the broad lands of Dynevor."</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a>. THE NEW LORD OF +DYNEVOR.</h2> +<p>"Vychan, Vychan, the hour has come! That false traitor Sir Res +has risen in revolt against England's king. Loyal men are called +upon to put down the rebellion, and such as do so will be rewarded +with the lands reft from the traitor. Vychan, Vychan, lose not a +moment; arm and take the men, and fly to Dynevor! Now is the time +to strike the blow! And I will to Edward's court, to plead with him +for the lands and castle of Dynevor as my husband's guerdon for his +services. O Vychan, Vychan, have not I always said that thou +shouldest live to call thyself Lord of Dynevor again?"</p> +<p>Gertrude came flying to her husband with these words, looking +scarce less young and certainly none less bright and happy than she +had done four years back, when she and her husband had first stood +within the walls of her ancestral home. A beautiful, sturdy boy +hung upon her hand, keeping pace gallantly even with her flying +steps, and the joy of motherhood had given something of added +lustre to the soft beauty of her dark eyes; otherwise she was +scarce changed from the Gertrude of past days. As for Vychan, he +still retained the eagle glance, the almost boyish freshness of +colouring, and the soldier-like bearing which distinguished his +race, and the gold of his hair had not tarnished or faded, though +he had developed from the youth to the man, and was a noble +specimen of manhood in the zenith of its strength and beauty.</p> +<p>Rising hastily at his wife's approach, he gazed at her with +parted lips and glowing eyes, whilst she once more told him the +news, brought by a special messenger from the Princess Joanna, +brought thus, as both knew, with a special meaning which they well +understood. Four years of peaceful prosperity in England had in no +whit weakened Vychan's love for his own land or blunted the +soldier-like instincts of his race. There was something of the +light of battle and of conquest in his eye as he gazed at his wife, +and his voice rang out clear and trumpet-like as he gathered the +sense of the message she brought.</p> +<p>"Take up arms against that false traitor-kinsman of mine? ay, +verily, that I will. False first to his kindred and his country, +then false to the king who has trusted and rewarded him so nobly. +Res ap Meredith, methinks thine hour is come! Thou didst plot and +contrive to wrest from me the fair lands my father bequeathed me; +but I trow the day has dawned when the false lord shall be cast +forth, even as he has cast forth others, and when there shall be a +lord of the old race ruling at Dynevor, albeit he rule beneath a +new name."</p> +<p>"Heaven grant it may be so!" cried Gertrude, the tears of +excitement sparkling in her eyes; whilst little Griffeth, catching +some of the sense of his father's words, and understanding with the +quick instinct of childhood that there was something unwonted going +on, shook his little fist in the air, and cried:</p> +<p>"Dynevor, Dynevor! me fight for Dynevor, too."</p> +<p>The father picked up his son and held him in a close +embrace.</p> +<p>"Ay, Griffeth, my man, thou shalt reign at Dynevor one of these +days, please God to give us victory over false friends and +traitorous allies."</p> +<p>And even as the parents stood looking smilingly at the brave +child, the blast from the warder's trumpet gave notice that +strangers were approaching the Hall; and hurrying to the entrance +gate to be ready to receive the guests, Vychan and his wife beheld +a little troop of horsemen winding their way up the valley, headed +by a pair who appeared to be man and wife, and to hold some exalted +position, for the trappings of their steeds and the richness of +their own dress marked them as of no humble rank.</p> +<p>Visitors were sufficiently rare at this lonely place for this +sight to cause some stir in the Hall; and Gertrude, shading her +eyes with her hand, gazed eagerly at the two figures in advance. +Suddenly she gave a little cry of rapture, and bounded forward +through the gateway.</p> +<p>"It is Arthyn -- Arthyn and Llewelyn! Vychan, thy brother and +his wife are here. Oh, they have come to bid thee to the fray! They +bring tidings, and are come to summon thee to the fight.</p> +<p>"Arthyn, sweetest sister, ten thousand welcomes to our home! +Nay, I can scarce believe this is not a dream. How I have longed to +see thee here!"</p> +<p>Vychan was at his brother's side, as Arthyn, flinging herself +from her saddle, flew into Gertrude's arms. For some moments +nothing could be distinguished but the glad clamour of welcome, and +scarce had that subsided before it recommenced in the eager +salutations of the Welsh retainers, who saw in Vychan another of +the sons of their well-loved Lord, Res Vychan, the former Lord of +Dynevor and Iscennen, whose wise and merciful rule had never been +forgotten.</p> +<p>Vychan was touched, indeed, to see how well he was remembered, +and the sound of the familiar tongue sent thrills of strange +emotion through him. It was some time before he could free himself +from the throng of servants who pressed round him; and when he +could do so he followed his wife and guests into the banqueting +hall, where the noonday repast was spread, giving charge to his +seneschal for the hospitable entertainment of the retinue his +brother had brought and their lodgment within the walls of the +Hall.</p> +<p>When he reached the inner hall he found the servants spreading +the best viands of the house upon the table; whilst Gertrude, +Arthyn, and Llewelyn were gathered together in the embrasure of a +window in eager discussion. Gertrude broke away and came quickly +towards him, her face deeply flushed and her eyes very bright.</p> +<p>"Vychan, it is even as we have heard. That false traitor is in +open revolt, and he has been even more false than we knew. What +think you of this? -- he professed to be sorry for his revolt, and +sent a letter of urgent pleading to Llewelyn and Arthyn begging +them to use their influence with the king to obtain his pardon. +Believing him to be sincere, Llewelyn set out for England not more +than two short weeks back, taking with him, on account of the +unsettled state of the country, the pick of the men from +Carregcennen. And when this double-dyed traitor knows that Arthyn +is alone and unprotected in the castle, what does he do but send a +strong band of his soldiers, himself at their head, who obtain +entrance by the subterranean passage, slay the guard, and take +possession of the fortress. Arthyn has but bare time to escape with +a handful of men, and by hard riding to join her husband on the +road to England.</p> +<p>"So now have they turned aside to tell the tale to us, and to +summon thee to come with thy men and fight in the king's quarrel +against this wicked man. And whilst ye lead your soldiers into +Wales, Arthyn and I will to the court, to lay the story before the +royal Edward, and to gain from him the full and free grants of the +castles of Dynevor and Carregcennen for our husbands, who have +responded to his call, and have flown to wrest from the traitor the +possession he has so unrighteously grasped."</p> +<p>"Thy wife speaketh wise words, Vychan," said Llewelyn, whose +dark brows wore a threatening look, and who had the appearance of a +man deeply stirred to wrath, as indeed he well might be; "and it +were well that we lost no time in dallying here. How many men canst +thou summon to thy banner, and when can we be on the march for the +south? The Earl of Cornwall has been called upon to quell this +revolt, and he has summoned to his aid all loyal subjects of the +king who hold dear the peace and prosperity of their land.</p> +<p>"The days are gone by in which I should despise that call and +join the standard of revolt. The experience of the past has taught +me that in the English alliance is Wales's only hope of +tranquillity and true independence and civilization. When such men +as this Res ap Meredith break into revolt against Edward, it is +time for us to rally round his standard. What would our lives, our +lands, our liberties be worth were such a double-distilled traitor +as he transformed into a prince, as is his fond ambition?"</p> +<p>"True, Llewelyn, true. The race of kings has vanished from +Wales, and methinks there is no humiliation in owning as sovereign +lord the lion-hearted King of England. Moreover, has he not given +us a prince of our own, born upon Welsh soil, sprung of a kingly +race? We will rally round the standard of father and son, and trust +that in the future a brighter day will dawn for our long-distracted +country."</p> +<p>So forthwith there sped messengers through the wild valleys and +wilder fells of Derbyshire, and many a sturdy son of the mountains +came gladly and willingly at the call of the feudal lord whose wise +and kindly rule had made him greatly beloved. The fighting instinct +of the age and of the race was speedily aroused by this call to +arms, and the surrounding gentlemen and yeomen of the county +likewise pressed their services upon Vychan, glad to be able to +strike a blow to uphold the authority of a king whose wise and +brave rule had already made him the idol of the nation.</p> +<p>It was a goodly sight to see the brothers of Dynevor (as their +wives could not but call them once again) ride forth at the head of +this well-equipped following. Llewelyn marvelled at the discipline +displayed by the recruits -- a discipline decidedly in advance of +anything his own ruder followers could boast. But Welsh and English +for once were in brotherly accord, and rode shoulder to shoulder in +all good fellowship; and the English knew that their ruder comrades +from Cambria, if less well trained and drilled, would be able to +show them a lesson in fierce and desperate fighting, to which they +were far more inured than their more peaceable neighbours from the +sister country.</p> +<p>And fighting there was for all; but the struggle, if fierce, was +brief. Sir Res was a coward at heart, as it is the wont of a +traitor to be, and finding himself opposed by foes as relentless +and energetic as Vychan and Llewelyn, he was speedily driven from +fortress to fortress, till at length he was forced to surrender +himself a prisoner to the Earl of Gloucester; who, out of kindness +to his wife, Auda de Hastings, connived at his escape to +Ireland.</p> +<p>There he lived in seclusion for some time; but the spirit of +rebellion was still alive within him, and two years later he +returned to Wales, and succeeded in collecting an army of four +thousand turbulent spirits about him, at the head of which force he +fought a pitched battle with the king's justiciary, Robert de +Tibetot. His army was cut to pieces. He was taken prisoner himself, +and met a cruel death at York as the reward of his many acts of +treasonable rebellion.</p> +<p>But the halls of Dynevor saw him no more from the moment when +Res Vychan, with a swelling heart, first drove him forth, and +planted his own foot once again upon the soil dearer to him than +any other spot on earth. As he stood upon the familiar terrace, +looking over the wide, fair valley of the Towy, his heart swelled +with thankfulness and joy; and if a slow, unwonted tear found its +way to his eye, it was scarce a tear of sorrow, for he felt assured +that his brother Griffeth was sharing in the joy of this +restoration to the old home, and that his loving and gentle spirit +was not very far from him at this supreme hour of his life.</p> +<p>"Father, father, father!"</p> +<p>Vychan turned with a start at the sound of the joyous call, and +the next moment was clasping wife and son to his breast.</p> +<p>"Sweetheart! come so quickly? How couldst thou?"</p> +<p>"Ay, Vychan, love hath ever wings, and neither I nor Arthyn +could keep away, our business at the court once accomplished. +Vychan, husband, thou standest here Lord of Dynevor in thine own +right. Thou hast won back thine ancestral home, the boy's +inheritance.</p> +<p>"Seest thou this deed? Knowest thou the king's seal? Take it, +for it secureth all to thee under thy name of Vychan Cherleton. And +if in times to come those who come after know not that it was the +son of Res Vychan who thus reclaimed his patrimony, and if our +worthy chroniclers set down that Dynevor and its lands passed to +the keeping of the English, what matters it? We know the truth, and +those who have loved thee and thy father know who thou art and +whence thou hast come. Let that be sufficient for thee and for +me.</p> +<p>"Griffeth, little son, kiss thy father, and bid him welcome to +his own halls again -- the halls of Dynevor."</p> +<p>Vychan could not speak. He pressed one passionate kiss upon the +lips of his wife, and another upon the brow of his noble boy, who +looked every inch a Dynevor, with the true Dynevor features, and +the bold, fearless mien so like his father's.</p> +<p>Then commanding himself by an effort, he opened the king's +parchment and quickly mastered its contents, after which he took +his wife's hand and held out the other to his son.</p> +<p>"My faithful fellows are mustering in the hall to bid me welcome +once more to Dynevor. Come, sweet wife; I must show to them their +lady and their future lord.</p> +<p>"Arthyn -- where is she? Has she gone on to Iscennen to meet +Llewelyn there?"</p> +<p>"Ay, verily: she was as hungry for him as I for thee; and she +hath a similar mandate for him regarding his rights to +Carregcennen.</p> +<p>"O Vychan, dearest husband, I can scarce believe it is not all a +dream."</p> +<p>Indeed, to Vychan it seemed almost as though he dreamed, as in +the old familiar hall he stood, a little raised from the crowd of +armed retainers upon the steps of the wide oak staircase, as he +addressed to them a speech eloquent with that thrilling eloquence +which is the gift of all who speak from the heart, and speak to +hearts beating in deep and true response. Vychan thanked all those +who had so bravely fought for him, explained to all assembled there +his new position and his new name, bid them not think him less a +Welshman and a Dynevor because he bore his wife's arms and called +himself the servant of the English king, and held up before their +eyes the mandate of that English king confirming to him the lands +and halls of Dynevor.</p> +<p>A wild, ringing cheer broke from all who heard him as he thus +proved to their own satisfaction that the royal Edward was their +best friend, and as the new Lord of Dynevor held up his child for +them to see, and to own as future lord in the time-honoured +fashion, such a shout went up from the throats of all as made the +vaulted roof ring again. Blades were unsheathed and waved in wild +enthusiasm, and Gertrude's dark eyes glistened through a mist of +proud and happy tears.</p> +<p>Suddenly from some dim recess in the old ball there issued a +strain of wild music -- the sound of a harp played by no unskilled +hand; whilst mingling with the twang of the strings was the voice +of the ancient bard, cracked through age, yet still retaining the +old power and some of the old sweetness. And harp and voice were +raised alike in one of those triumph songs that have ever been as +the elixir of life to the strong, rude, sensitive sons of wild +Cambria.</p> +<p>"It is Wenwynwyn," quoth Vychan. "He is yet alive. I little +thought to see him more.</p> +<p>"Griffeth, boy, run to yon old man and bid him give thee his +blessing, and tell him that there is a son of Dynevor come back to +rule as Lord of Dynevor once again."</p> +<p>POSTSCRIPT.</p> +<p>The story of the sons of Res Vychan is very intricate and +difficult to follow, owing to the lack of contemporaneous +documents; but the main facts of their story as related in the +foregoing pages are true, though a certain license has been taken +for purposes of fiction.</p> +<p>They have been represented as somewhat younger than they were at +the time of these events, whilst the children of Edward the First +have been made some few years older than their true ages.</p> +<p>There is no actual historical warrant for the change of identity +between Wendot and Griffeth, and for the escape and reinstatement +of the former in the halls of Dynevor; but there are traditions +which point to a possibility that he did escape from prison, in +spite of the affirmation of the chroniclers, as there have been +those who claim descent from him, which they would hardly have done +if such had not been the case, for there is no record that he was +married before he was taken prisoner to England.</p> +<p>The children of the English king were not really at Rhuddlan +Castle in 1277, as represented here, as they were at that time too +young to accompany their father on his expeditions. If, however, +they had been as old as represented in these pages, there is little +doubt they would have accompanied him, as the monarch was a most +affectionate father, and loved to have wife and children about +him.</p> +<p>Arthyn is a fictitious character; as is also Gertrude. There is +no record that any of the sons of Res Vychan married or left +descendants, except the tradition alluded to above.</p> +<p>THE END.</p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13227 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e7e2d24 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #13227 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13227) diff --git a/old/13227-h.zip b/old/13227-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bd1b053 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13227-h.zip diff --git a/old/13227-h/13227-h.htm b/old/13227-h/13227-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4a43995 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13227-h/13227-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5737 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> +<title>THE LORD OF DYNEVOR</title> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lord of Dynevor, by Evelyn Everett-Green + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lord of Dynevor + +Author: Evelyn Everett-Green + +Release Date: August 20, 2004 [EBook #13227] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LORD OF DYNEVOR *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + + +</pre> + +<h1>THE LORD OF DYNEVOR:</h1> +<p>A Tale of the Times of Edward the First</p> +<p>by Evelyn Everett-Green.</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a>. DYNEVOR CASTLE.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a>. THE BROTHERS</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a>. THE EAGLE'S CRAG.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a>. WENDOT'S REWARD.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a>. THE KING'S CHILDREN.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a>. WELSH WOLVES.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a>. THE KING'S JUDGMENT.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a>. TURBULENT SPIRITS.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a>. THE RED FLAME OF WAR.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a>. CARNARVON CASTLE.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a>. THE KING'S CLEMENCY.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a>. A STRANGE BRIDAL.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a>. THE NEW LORD OF DYNEVOR.</h3> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a>. DYNEVOR CASTLE.</h2> +<p>"La-ha-hoo! la-ha-hoo!"</p> +<p>Far down the widening valley, and up the wild, picturesque +ravine, rang the strange but not unmusical call. It awoke the +slumbering echoes of the still place, and a hundred voices seemed +to take up the cry, and pass it on as from mouth to mouth. But the +boy's quick ears were not to be deceived by the mocking voices of +the spirits of solitude, and presently the call rang out again with +greater clearness than before:</p> +<p>"La-ha-hoo!"</p> +<p>The boy stood with his head thrown back, his fair curls floating +in the mountain breeze, his blue eyes, clear and bright and keen as +those of a wild eaglet, fixed upon a craggy ridge on the opposite +side of the gorge, whilst his left hand was placed upon the collar +of a huge wolfhound who stood beside him, sniffing the wind and +showing by every tremulous movement his longing to be off and away, +were it not for the detaining hand of his young master.</p> +<p>The lad was very simply dressed in a tunic of soft, well-dressed +leather, upon the breast of which was stamped some device which +might have been the badge of his house. His active limbs were +encased in the same strong, yielding material, and the only thing +about him which seemed to indicate rank or birth was a belt with a +richly-chased gold clasp and a poniard with a jewelled hilt.</p> +<p>Perhaps the noble bearing of the boy was his best proof of right +to the noble name he bore. One of the last of the royal house of +Dynevor, he looked every inch a prince, as he stood bare-headed in +the sunlight amidst the everlasting hills of his well-loved home, +too young to see the clouds which were settling so darkly and so +surely upon the bright horizon of his life -- his dreams still of +glory and triumph, culminating in the complete emancipation of his +well-loved country from the hated English yoke.</p> +<p>The dog strained and whined against the detaining clasp upon his +neck, but the boy held him fast.</p> +<p>"Nay, Gelert, we are not going a-hunting," he said. "Hark! is +not that the sound of a horn? Are they not even now returning? Over +yon fell they come. Let me but hear their hail, and thou and I will +be off to meet them. I would they heard the news first from my +lips. My mother bid me warn them. I wot she fears what Llewelyn and +Howel might say or do were they to find English guests in our hall +and they all unwarned."</p> +<p>Once more the boy raised his voice in the wild call which had +awakened the echoes before, and this time his practised ear +distinguished amongst the multitudinous replies an answering shout +from human lips. Releasing Gelert, who dashed forward with a bay of +delight, the lad commenced springing from rock to rock up the +narrowing gorge, until he reached a spot where the dwindling stream +could be crossed by a bound; from which spot a wild path, more like +a goat track than one intended for the foot of man, led upwards +towards the higher portions of the wild fell.</p> +<p>The boy sped onwards with the fleetness and agility of a born +mountaineer. The hound bounded at his side; and before either had +traversed the path far, voices ahead of them became distinctly +audible, and a little group might be seen approaching, laden with +the spoils of the chase.</p> +<p>In the van of the little party were three lads, one of whom bore +so striking a resemblance to the youth who now hastened to meet +them, that the relationship could not be for a moment doubted. As a +matter of fact the four were brothers; but they followed two +distinct types -- Wendot and Griffeth being fair and bright haired, +whilst Llewelyn and Howel (who were twins) were dark as night, with +black hair and brows, swarthy skins, and something of the wildness +of aspect which often accompanies such traits.</p> +<p>Wendot, the eldest of the four, a well-grown youth of fifteen, +who was walking slightly in advance of his brothers, greeted +Griffeth's approach with a bright smile.</p> +<p>"Ha, lad, thou shouldst have been with us! We have had rare +sport today. The good fellows behind can scarce carry the booty +home. Thou must see the noble stag that my bolt brought down. We +will have his head to adorn the hall -- his antlers are worth +looking at, I warrant thee. But what brings thee out so far from +home? and why didst thou hail us as if we were wanted?"</p> +<p>"You are wanted," answered Griffeth, speaking so that all the +brothers might hear his words. "The mother herself bid me go in +search of you, and it is well you come home laden with meat, for we +shall need to make merry tonight. There are guests come to the +castle today. Wenwynwyn was stringing his harp even as I came away, +to let them hear his skill in music. They are to be lodged for so +long as they will stay; but the manner of their errand I know +not."</p> +<p>"Guests!" echoed all three brothers in a breath, and very +eagerly; "why, that is good hearing, for perchance we may now learn +some news. Come these strangers from the north? Perchance we shall +hear somewhat of our noble Prince Llewelyn, who is standing out so +boldly for the rights of our nation. Say they not that the English +tyrant is on our borders now, summoning him to pay the homage he +repudiates with scorn? Oh, I would that this were a message +summoning all true Welshmen to take up arms in his quarrel! Would +not I fly to his standard, boy though I be! And would I not shed +the last drop of my blood in the glorious cause of liberty!"</p> +<p>Llewelyn was the speaker, and his black eyes were glowing +fiercely under their straight bushy brows. His face was the least +boyish of any of the four, and his supple, sinewy frame had much of +the strength of manhood in it. The free, open-air life that all +these lads had lived, and the training they had received in all +martial and hardy exercises, had given them strength and height +beyond their years. It was no idle boast on the part of Llewelyn to +speak of his readiness to fight. He would have marched against the +foe with the stoutest of his father's men-at-arms, and doubtless +have acquitted himself as well as any; for what the lads lacked in +strength they made up in their marvellous quickness and +agility.</p> +<p>The love of fighting seemed born in all these hardy sons of +Wales, and something of warfare was known to them even now, from +the never-ending struggles between themselves, and their resistance +of the authority, real or assumed, of the Lords of the Marches. But +petty forays and private feuds with hostile kinsmen was not the +kind of fighting these brothers longed to see and share. They had +their own ideas and aspirations, and eager glances were turned upon +Griffeth, lest he might be the bearer of some glorious piece of +news that would mean open warfare with England.</p> +<p>But the boy's face was unresponsive and even a little downcast. +He gave a quick glance into the fierce, glowing face of Llewelyn, +and then his eyes turned upon Wendot.</p> +<p>"There is no news like that," he said slowly. "The guests who +have come to Dynevor are English themselves."</p> +<p>"English!" echoed Llewelyn fiercely, and he turned away with a +smothered word which sounded like an imprecation upon all the race +of foreigners; whilst Howel asked with quick indignation:</p> +<p>"What right have English guests at Dynevor? Why were they +received? Why did not our good fellows fall upon them with the +sword or drive them back the way they came? Oh, if we had but been +there --"</p> +<p>"Tush, brother!" said young Griffeth quickly; "is not our father +lord of Dynevor? Dost think that thou canst usurp his authority? +And when did ever bold Welshmen fall upon unarmed strangers to +smite with the sword? Do we make war upon harmless travellers -- +women and children? Fie upon thee! it were a base thought. Let not +our parents hear thee speak such words."</p> +<p>Howel looked a little discomfited by his younger brother's +rebuke, though he read nothing but sympathy and mute approbation in +Llewelyn's sullen face and gloomy eyes. He dropped a pace or so +behind and joined his twin, whilst Wendot and Griffeth led the way +in front.</p> +<p>"Who are these folks?" asked Wendot; "and whence come they? And +why have they thus presented themselves unarmed at Dynevor? Is it +an errand of peace? And why speakest thou of women and +children?"</p> +<p>"Why, brother, because the traveller has his little daughter +with him, and her woman is in their train of servants. I know not +what has brought them hither, but I gather they have lost their +road, and lighted by chance on Dynevor. Methinks they are on a +visit to the Abbey of Strata Florida; but at least they come as +simple, unarmed strangers, and it is the boast of Wales that even +unarmed foes may travel through the breadth and length of the land +and meet no harm from its sons. For my part I would have it always +so. I would not wage war on all alike. Doubtless there are those, +even amongst the English, who are men of bravery and honour."</p> +<p>"I doubt it not," answered Wendot, with a gravity rather beyond +his years. "If all our mother teaches us be true, we Welshmen have +been worse enemies to one another than ever the English have been. +I would not let Llewelyn or Howel hear me say so, and I would fain +believe it not. But when we see how this fair land has been torn +and rent by the struggles after land and power, and how our own +kinsman, Meredith ap Res, is toying with Edward, and striving to +take from us the lands we hold yet -- so greatly diminished from +the old portion claimed by the lords of Dynevor -- we cannot call +the English our only or even our greatest foes. Ah, if Wales would +but throw aside all her petty feuds, and join as brothers fighting +shoulder to shoulder for her independence, then might there be some +hope! But now --"</p> +<p>Griffeth was looking with wide-open, wondering eyes into his +brother's face. He loved and reverenced Wendot in a fashion that +was remarkable, seeing that the elder brother was but two years and +a half his senior. But Wendot had always been grave and thoughtful +beyond his years, and had been taken much into the counsels of his +parents, so that questions which were almost new to the younger lad +had been thought much of by the eldest, the heir of the house of +Dynevor.</p> +<p>"Why, brother, thou talkest like a veritable monk for learning," +he said. "I knew not thou hadst the gift of such eloquent speech. +Methought it was the duty of every free-born son of Wales to hate +the English tyrant."</p> +<p>"Ay, and so I do when I think of his monstrous claims," cried +Wendot with flashing eyes. "Who is the King of England that he +should lay claim to our lands, our homage, our submission? My blood +boils in my veins when I think of things thus. And yet there are +moments when it seems the lesser ill to yield such homage to one +whom the world praises as statesman and soldier, than to see our +land torn and distracted by petty feuds, and split up into a +hundred hostile factions. But let us not talk further of this; it +cuts me to the heart to think of it. Tell me more of these same +travellers. How did our parents receive them? And how long purpose +they to stay?"</p> +<p>"Nay, that I have not heard. I was away over yon fell with +Gelert when I saw the company approach the castle, and ere I could +find entrance the strangers had been received and welcomed. The +father of the maiden is an English earl, Lord Montacute they call +him. He is tall and soldier-like, with an air of command like unto +our father's. The damsel is a fair-faced maiden, who scarce opens +her lips; but she keeps close to our mother's side, and seems loath +to leave her for a moment. I heard her father say that she had no +mother of her own. Her name, they say, is Lady Gertrude."</p> +<p>"A damsel at Dynevor," said Wendot, with a smile; "methinks that +will please the mother well."</p> +<p>"Come and see," cried Griffeth eagerly. "Let us hasten down to +the castle together."</p> +<p>It was easy work for the brothers to traverse the rocky pathway. +Dangerous as the descent looked to others, they were as surefooted +as young chamois, and sprang from rock to rock with the utmost +confidence. The long summer sunlight came streaming up the valley +in level rays of shimmering gold, bathing the loftier crags in +lambent fire, and filling the lower lands with layers of soft +shadow flecked here and there with gold. A sudden turn in the +narrow gorge, through which ran a brawling tributary of the wider +Towy, brought the brothers full in sight of their ancestral home, +and for a few seconds they paused breathless, gazing with an +unspeakable and ardent love upon the fair scene before them.</p> +<p>The castle of Dynevor (or Dinas Vawr = Great Palace) stood in a +commanding position upon a rocky plateau overlooking the river +Towy. From its size and splendour -- as splendour went in those +days -- it had long been a favourite residence with the princes of +South Wales; and in a recent readjustment of disputed lands, +consequent upon the perpetual petty strife that was ruining the +land, Res Vychan, the present Lord of Dynevor, had made some +considerable sacrifice in order to keep in his own hands the fair +palace of his fathers.</p> +<p>The majestic pile stood out boldly from the mountain side, and +was approached by a winding road from the valley. A mere glance +showed how strong was the position it occupied, and how difficult +such a place would be to capture. On two sides the rock fell away +almost sheer from the castle walls, whilst on the other two a deep +moat had been dug, which was fed by small mountain rivulets that +never ran dry; and the entrance was commanded by a drawbridge, +whose frowning portcullis was kept by a grim warder looking fully +equal to the office allotted to him.</p> +<p>Lovely views were commanded from the narrow windows of the +castle, and from the battlements and the terraced walk that ran +along two sides of the building. And rough and rude as were the +manners and customs of the period, and partially uncivilized as the +country was in those far-off days, there was a strong vein of +poetry lying latent in its sons and daughters, and an ardent love +for the beautiful in nature and for the country they called their +own, which went far to redeem their natures from mere savagery and +brute ferocity.</p> +<p>This passionate love for their home was strong in all the +brothers of the house of Dynevor, and was deepened and intensified +by the sense of uncertainty now pervading the whole country with +regard to foreign aggression and the ever-increasing claims upon +Welsh lands by the English invaders. A sense as of coming doom hung +over the fair landscape, and Wendot's eyes grew dreamy as he stood +gazing on the familiar scene, and Griffeth had to touch his arm and +hurry him down to the castle.</p> +<p>"Mother will be wanting us," he said. "What is the matter, +Wendot? Methinks I see the tears in thine eyes."</p> +<p>"Nay, nay; tears are for women," answered Wendot with glowing +cheeks, as he dashed his hand across his eyes. "It is for us men to +fight for our rightful inheritance, that the women may not have to +weep for their desolated homes."</p> +<p>Griffeth gave him a quick look, and then his eyes travelled +lovingly over the wide, fair scene, to the purple shadows and +curling mists of the valley, the dark mysterious woods in front, +the clear, vivid sunlight on the mountain tops, and the serried +battlements of the castle, now rising into larger proportions as +the boys dropped down the hillside towards the postern door, which +led out upon the wild fell. There was something of mute wistfulness +in his own gaze as he did so.</p> +<p>"Brother," he said thoughtfully, "I think I know what those +feelings are which bring tears to the eyes of men -- tears of which +they need feel no shame. Fear not to share with me all thy inmost +thoughts. Have we not ever been brothers in all things?"</p> +<p>"Ay, truly have we; and I would keep nothing back, only I scarce +know how to frame my lips to give utterance to the thoughts which +come crowding into my brain. But see, we have no time for communing +now. Go on up the path to the postern; it is too narrow for +company."</p> +<p>Indeed, so narrow was the track, so steep the uncertain steps +worn in the face of the rock, so deep the fall if one false step +were made, that few save the brothers and wilder mountaineers ever +sought admission by the postern door. But Wendot and Griffeth had +no fears, and quickly scaled the steps and reached the entrance, +passing through which they found themselves in a narrow vaulted +passage, very dark, which led, with many twists and turns, and +several ascending stairs, to the great hall of the castle, where +the members of the household were accustomed for the most part to +assemble.</p> +<p>A door deeply set in an embrasure gave access to this place, and +the moment it was opened the sound of a harp became audible, and +the brothers paused in the deep shadow to observe what was going on +in the hall before they advanced further.</p> +<p>A scene that would be strange and picturesque to our eyes, but +was in the main familiar to theirs, greeted them as they stood +thus. The castle hall was a huge place, large enough to contain a +muster of armed men. A great stone staircase wound upwards from it +to a gallery above. There was little furniture to be seen, and that +was of a rude kind, though not lacking in a certain massiveness and +richness in the matter of carving, which gave something baronial to +the air of the place. The walls were adorned with trophies of all +sorts, some composed of arms, others of the spoil of fell and +forest. The skins of many savage beasts lay upon the cold stone +flooring of the place, imparting warmth and harmony by the rich +tints of the furs. Light was admitted through a row of narrow +windows both above and below; but the vast place would have been +dim and dark at this hour had it not been that the huge double +doors with their rude massive bolts stood wide open to the summer +air, and the last beams of the westering sun came shining in, lying +level and warm upon the group at the upper end of the hall, which +had gathered around the white-haired, white-bearded bard, who, with +head thrown backwards, and eyes alight with strange passions and +feelings, was singing in a deep and musical voice to the sound of +his instrument.</p> +<p>Old Wenwynwyn was a study in himself; his flowing hair, his +fiery eyes, his picturesque garb and free, untrammelled gestures +giving him a weird individuality of his own. But it was not upon +him that the eyes of the brothers dwelt, nor even upon the +soldier-like figure of their stalwart father leaning against the +wall with folded arms, and eyes shining with the patriotic fervour +of his race. The attention of the lads was enchained by another and +more sumptuous figure --that of a fine-looking man, approaching to +middle life, who was seated at a little distance from the minstrel, +and was smiling with pleasure and appreciation at the wild +sweetness of the stream of melody poured forth.</p> +<p>One glance at the dress of the stranger would have been enough +to tell the brothers his nationality. His under tunic, which +reached almost to the feet, was of the finest cloth, and was +embroidered along the lower border with gold thread. The sur-tunic +was also richly embroidered; and the heavy mantle clasped upon the +shoulder with a rare jewel was of some rich texture almost unknown +to the boys. The make and set of his garments, and the jewelled and +plumed cap which he held upon his knee, alike proclaimed him to be +English; yet as he gazed upon the noble face, and looked into the +clear depths of the calm and fearless eyes, Wendot felt no +hostility towards the representative of the hostile race, but +rather a sort of reluctant admiration.</p> +<p>"In faith he looks born to command," he whispered to Griffeth. +"If all were like unto him --"</p> +<p>But the lad did not complete the sentence, for he had suddenly +caught sight of another figure, another face, and he stopped short +in a sort of bewildered amaze.</p> +<p>In Dynevor Castle there had never been a girl child to share the +honours with her brothers. No sister had played in its halls, or +tyrannized over the lads or their parents. And now when Wendot's +glance fell for the first time upon this little fairy-like +creature, this lovely little golden-haired, blue-eyed maiden, he +felt a new sensation enter his life, and gazed as wonderingly at +the apparition as if the child had been a ghost.</p> +<p>And the soft shy eyes, with their fringe of dark lashes, were +looking straight at him. As he gazed the child suddenly rose, and +darted towards the brothers as if she had wings on her feet.</p> +<p>"Oh, you have come back!" she said, looking from one to the +other, and for a moment seeming puzzled by the likeness; "and -- +why, there are two of you," and the child broke into the merriest +and silveriest of laughs. "Oh, I am so glad! I do like boys so +much, and I never have any to play with at home. I am so tired of +this old man and his harp. Please let me go somewhere with you," +and she thrust her soft little hand confidingly into Wendot's, +looking up saucily into his face as she added, "You are the +biggest; I like you the best."</p> +<p>Wendot's face glowed; but on the whole he was flattered by the +attention and the preference of the little maiden. He understood +her soft English speech perfectly, for all the Dynevor brothers had +been instructed in the English tongue by an English monk who had +long lived at the castle. Res Vychan, the present Lord of Dynevor, +foresaw, and had foreseen many years, the gradual usurpation of the +English, and had considered that a knowledge of that tongue would +in all probability be an advantage to those who were likely to be +involved in the coming struggle. The boys all possessed the quick +musical ear of their race, and found no difficulty in mastering the +language; but neither Llewelyn nor Howel would ever speak a single +word of the hated tongue if they could help it, though Wendot and +Griffeth conversed often with the old monk right willingly.</p> +<p>So as Wendot looked down into the bright little upturned face, +he was able to reply readily and smilingly:</p> +<p>"Where would you like to go, little lady, and what would you +like me to show you?"</p> +<p>"Oh, everything -- all out there," said the little girl, with a +wave of her hand towards the front door. "I want to go and see the +sun. I am tired of it in here."</p> +<p>Wendot led the child through the hall, and out upon the great +terrace which overlooked the steep descent to the valley and away +to the glowing west. Griffeth followed, glad that his elder brother +had been preferred before himself by the little maiden, yet half +fascinated by her nameless charm. Wendot lifted her up in his +strong arms to see over the wide stone balustrade, and she made him +set her down there and perch himself by her side; for she seemed +loath to go back to the hall again, and the boys were as willing as +she to remain out in the open air.</p> +<p>"It is pretty here," said the child graciously; "I think I +should like to live here sometimes, if it was always summer. Tell +me your name, big boy. I hope it is not very hard. Some people here +have names I cannot speak right."</p> +<p>"They call me Res Wendot," answered the lad; "generally Wendot +at home here. This is Griffeth, my youngest brother. Those are not +hard names, are they?"</p> +<p>"No, not very. And how old are you, Wendot?"</p> +<p>"I am fifteen."</p> +<p>"Oh, how big you are!" said the little lady, opening her eyes +wide; "I thought you must be much older than that. I am twelve, and +you can lift me up in your arms. But then I always was so little -- +they all say so."</p> +<p>"Yet you travel about with your father," said Wendot.</p> +<p>"I never did before; but this time I begged, and he took me. +Sometimes he says he shall have to put me in a nunnery, because he +has nobody to take care of me when he has to travel about. But I +don't think I should like that; I would rather stay here."</p> +<p>Wendot and Griffeth laughed; but the child was not at all +disconcerted. She was remarkably self possessed for her years, even +if she was small of stature and infantile in appearance.</p> +<p>"What is your name?" asked Wendot; and the little maid answered, +with becoming gravity and importance:</p> +<p>"I am called Lady Gertrude Cherleton; but you may call me +Gertrude if you like, because you are kind and I like you. Are +there any more of you? Have you any sisters?"</p> +<p>"No; only two brothers."</p> +<p>"More brothers! and what are their names?"</p> +<p>"Llewelyn and Howel."</p> +<p>"Llewelyn? Why, that is the name of the Prince of North Wales +that the king is going to fight against and conquer. Do you think +when he has done so that he will come here and conquer you, +too?"</p> +<p>Wendot's cheek burned a sudden red; but he made no reply, for at +that moment a head suddenly appeared round an angle of the wall, +and a heavy grip was laid upon the shoulder of the child. A wild +face and a pair of flashing black eyes were brought into close +proximity with hers, and a smothered voice spoke in fierce, low +accents.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a>. THE BROTHERS</h2> +<p>"What is that you dare to say?"</p> +<p>The voice was harsh, the words were spoken with a rough accent, +unlike the gentler tones of Wendot and Griffeth. The child uttered +a little cry and shrank back away from the grip of the strong hand, +and might have been in some danger of losing her balance and of +falling over the balustrade, had not Wendot thrown a protecting arm +round her, whilst pushing back with the other hand that of the rude +interloper.</p> +<p>"Llewelyn! for shame!" he said in his own tongue. "Art thou a +man, and claimest the blood of princes, and yet canst stoop to +frighten an inoffensive child?"</p> +<p>"She spoke of conquest -- the conquest of our country," cried +Llewelyn fiercely, in the hated English tongue, scowling darkly at +the little girl as he spoke. "Thinkest thou that I will stand +patiently by and hear such words? What right hath she or any one +besides to speak of that tyrant and usurper in such tones?"</p> +<p>"He is not a tyrant, he is not a usurper!" cried the little Lady +Gertrude, recovering herself quickly, and, whilst still holding +Wendot by the hand, turning fearlessly upon the dark-faced lad who +had startled and terrified her at the first. "I know of whom you +are speaking -- it is of our great and noble King Edward. You do +not know him -- you cannot know how great and good he is. I will +not hear you speak against him. I love him next best to my own +father. He is kind and good to everybody. If you would all give +your homage to him you would be happy and safe, and he would +protect you, and --"</p> +<p>But Llewelyn's patience was exhausted; he would listen no more. +With a fierce gesture of hatred that made the child shrink back +again he turned upon her, and it seemed for a moment almost as +though he would have struck her, despite Wendot's sturdy protecting +arm, had not his own shoulder been suddenly grasped by an iron +hand, and he himself confronted by the stern countenance of his +father.</p> +<p>"What means this, boy?" asked Res Vychan severely. "Art thou +daring to raise thine arm against a child, a lady, and thy father's +guest? For shame! I blush for thee. Ask pardon instantly of the +lady and of her father. I will have no such dealings in mine house. +Thou shouldst be well assured of that."</p> +<p>The black-browed boy was crimson with rage and shame, but there +was no yielding in the haughty face. He confronted his father with +flashing eyes, and as he did so he met the keen, grave glance of +the stranger's fixed upon him with a calm scrutiny which aroused +his fiercest rage.</p> +<p>"I will not ask pardon," he shouted. "I will not degrade my +tongue by uttering such words. I will not --"</p> +<p>The father's hand descended heavily upon his son's head, in a +blow which would have stunned a lad less hardy and hard-headed. Res +Vychan was not one to be defied with impunity by his own sons, and +he had had hard encounters of will before now with Llewelyn.</p> +<p>"Choose, boy," he said with brief sternness. "Either do my will +and obey me, or thou wilt remain a close prisoner till thou hast +come to thy senses. My guests shall not be insulted by thy forward +tongue. Barbarous and wild as the English love to call us, they +shall find that Res Vychan is not ignorant of those laws which +govern the world in which they live and move. Ask pardon of the +lady, or to the dungeon thou goest."</p> +<p>Llewelyn glanced up into his father's face, and saw no yielding +there. Howel was making vehement signs to him which he and he alone +could interpret. His other brothers were eagerly gazing at him, and +Griffeth even went so for as to murmur into his ear some words of +entreaty.</p> +<p>It seemed as though the silence which followed Res Vychan's +words would never be broken, but at last the culprit spoke, and +spoke in a low, sullen tone.</p> +<p>"I meant no harm. I would not have hurt her."</p> +<p>"Ask her pardon then, boy, and tell her so."</p> +<p>"Nay, force him no more," said the little lady, who was +regarding this curious scene with lively interest, and who began to +feel sorry for the dark wild boy who had frightened her by his +vehemence before; "I was to blame myself. I should not have spoken +as I did.</p> +<p>"Father, tell them how my tongue is always running away with me. +Hast not thou told me a hundred times that it would get me into +trouble one of these days? It is right that he should love his +country. Do not think ill of him for that."</p> +<p>"Ay, let the lad go now, good friend," quoth Lord Montacute. "No +doubt this little witch of mine was at the bottom of the mischief. +Her tongue, as she truly says, is a restless and mischievous +possession. She has found a stanch protector at least, and will +come to no harm amongst thy stalwart lads. I could envy thee such a +double brace of boys. I would it had pleased Providence to send me +a son."</p> +<p>"Nay, father, say not so," cried little Lady Gertrude coaxingly. +"I would not have a brother for all the world. Thou wouldst love +him so well, if thou hadst him, that thou wouldst have none to +spare for thy maid. I have seen how it ever is. I love to have all +thy heart for mine own."</p> +<p>The father smiled, but Res Vychan's face was still severe, and +he had not loosed his clasp upon Llewelyn's arm.</p> +<p>"Say that thou art sorry ere I let thee go," he said, in low but +very stern tones; and after a moment's hesitation, Llewelyn spoke +in audible tones.</p> +<p>"I am sorry," he said slowly; "I am sorry."</p> +<p>And then as his father's clasp upon his arm relaxed he darted +away like an arrow from the bow, and plunged with Howel through a +dark and gloomy doorway which led up a winding turret stair to a +narrow circular chamber, which the brothers shared together.</p> +<p>"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" he panted fiercely; "ay, that indeed I +am. Sorry that I did not wring her neck as the fowler wrings the +neck of the bird his shaft hath brought down; sorry I did not cast +her headlong down the steep precipice, that there might be one less +of the hated race contaminating the air of our pure Wales with +their poisonous breath. Sorry! ay, that I am! I would my hand had +done a deed which should have set proud Edward's forces in battle +array against us. I would that this tampering with traitors were at +an end, and that we warriors of South Wales might stand shoulder to +shoulder, firmly banded against the foreign foe. I would plunge a +dagger in the false heart of yon proud Englishman as he lies +sleeping in his bed tonight, if by doing so I could set light to +the smouldering flame of national hatred.</p> +<p>"What sayest thou? Can we do nought to bring upon us an open +war, which is a thousand times better than this treacherous, hollow +peace? Our father and mother are half won over to the cause of +slavery. They --"</p> +<p>Llewelyn paused, choking back the fierce tide of passion which +went far to unman him. He had not forgotten the humiliation placed +upon him so recently, when his father had compelled him to sue for +pardon to an English maiden. His heart was burning, his soul was +stirred to its depths. He had to stop short lest his passion should +carry him away.</p> +<p>Howel seemed to understand him without the medium of words. The +links which bound the twin brothers together were very subtle and +very strong. If Llewelyn were the more violent and headstrong, +Howel was more than his equal in diplomacy. He shared every feeling +of his brother's heart, but he was less outspoken and less +rash.</p> +<p>"I know what thou wouldst do," he said thoughtfully: "thou +wouldst force upon our father a step which shall make a rupture +with the English inevitable. Thou wouldst do a thing which should +bring upon us the wrath of the mighty Edward, and force both +ourselves and our neighbours to take arms against him. Is not that +so?"</p> +<p>"Ay, truly; and could such a thing be, gladly would I lay down +my life in the cause of liberty and freedom."</p> +<p>Howel was pondering deeply.</p> +<p>"Perchance it might be done," he said.</p> +<p>Llewelyn eagerly raised his head.</p> +<p>"Thinkest thou so? How?"</p> +<p>"I know not yet, but we shall have time for thought. Knowest +thou that the maid will remain here beneath our mother's charge for +a while, whilst our father goes forward as far as the Abbey of +Strata Florida with yon stranger, to guide him on his way? The maid +will remain here until her father's return."</p> +<p>"How knowest thou that?"</p> +<p>"I had it from Wenwynwyn's lips. He heard the discussion in the +hall, and it seems that this Lord Montacute would be glad to be +free of the care of the child for a while. Our mother delights in +the charge of a little maid, and thus it will be as I have +said."</p> +<p>A strange fire gleamed in Llewelyn's eyes. The brothers looked +at each other a good while in silence.</p> +<p>"And thou thinkest --" said Llewelyn at last.</p> +<p>Howel was some time in replying, and his answer was a little +indeterminate, although sufficiently significant.</p> +<p>"Why, the maid will be left here; but when her father returns to +claim her, perchance she will not be found. If that were so, +thinkest thou not that nought but open war would lie before +us?"</p> +<p>Llewelyn's eyes glowed. He said not a word, and the darkness +gathered round the boys in the narrow chamber. They thought not of +descending or of asking for food, even after their day's hunting in +the hills. They were hardy, and seasoned to abstemious ways, and +had no room for thoughts of such a kind. Silence was settling down +upon the castle, and they had no intention of leaving their room +again that night. Dark thoughts were their companions as they +undressed and made ready for bed; and hardly were they settled +there before the door opened, and the old bard Wenwynwyn +entered.</p> +<p>This old man was almost like a father to these boys, and +Llewelyn and Howel were particularly attached to him and he to +them. He shared to the full their ardent love for their country and +their untempered hatred of the English race. He saw, as they did, +nothing but ill in the temporizing attitude now to be found amongst +the smaller Welsh chieftains with regard to the claims made by the +English monarch; and much of the fierce hostility to be found in +the boys had been the result of the lessons instilled into their +mind by the wild-eyed, passionate old bard, one of the last of a +doomed race.</p> +<p>"Wenwynwyn, is it thou?"</p> +<p>"Ay, boys, it is I. You did well to abstain from sitting at meat +with the stranger tonight. The meat went nigh to choke me that was +swallowed in his presence."</p> +<p>"How long stays he, contaminating our pure air?"</p> +<p>"He himself is off by sunrise tomorrow, and Res Vychan goes with +him. He leaves behind the little maid in the care of thy +mother."</p> +<p>A strange smile crossed the face of the old man, invisible in +the darkness.</p> +<p>"Strange for the parent bird to leave the dove in the nest of +the hawk -- the eyry of the eagle."</p> +<p>"Ha!" quoth Llewelyn quickly, "that thought hath likewise come +to thee, good Wenwynwyn."</p> +<p>The old man made no direct response, but went on speaking in low +even tones.</p> +<p>"The maid has dwelt in the household of the great king. She has +played with his children, been the companion of the young +princesses. She is beloved of them and of the monarch and his wife. +Let them but hear that she is lost in the fastness of Dynevor, and +the royal Edward will march in person to her rescue. All the +country will rise in arms to defend itself. The north will join +with the south, and Wales will shake off the hated foreign yoke +banded as one man against the foreign foe."</p> +<p>The boys listened spellbound. They had often talked together of +some step which might kindle the conflagration, but had never yet +seen the occasion. Hot-headed, rash, reckless as were the youths; +wild, tameless, and fearless as was the ancient bard; they had +still been unable to hit upon any device which might set a light to +the train. Discontent and resentment were rife all over the +country, but it was the fashion rather to temporize with the +invader than to defy him. There was a strong party gathering in the +country whose policy was that of paying homage to Edward and +retaining their lands under his protection and countenance, as +being more truly patriotic and farsighted than continuing the old +struggle for supremacy among themselves. This was a policy utterly +incomprehensible both to the boys and the old man, and stirred the +blood of the lads to boiling pitch.</p> +<p>"What can we do?" asked Llewelyn hoarsely.</p> +<p>"I will tell you," whispered the old man, approaching close to +the bed whereon the brothers lay wide-eyed and broad awake. "This +very night I leave the castle by the postern door, and in the +moonlight I make my way to the commot of Llanymddyvri, where dwells +that bold patriot Maelgon ap Caradoc. To him I tell all, and he +will risk everything in the cause. It will be very simply done. You +boys must feign a while -- must feign friendship for the maid thus +left behind. Your brothers have won her heart already; you must not +be behind them. The dove must have no fear of the young eaglets. +She has a high courage of her own; she loves adventure and frolic; +she will long to stretch her wings, and wander amid the mountain +heights, under the stanch protection of her comrades of +Dynevor.</p> +<p>"Then listen, boys. The day will come when the thing is to be +done. In some of the wild fastnesses of the upper Towy will be +lurking the bold bands of Maelgon ap Caradoc. Thither you must lead +the unsuspicious maid, first by some device getting rid of your +brothers, who might try to thwart the scheme. These bold fellows +will carry off the maid to the safe keeping of Maelgon, and once +let her be his prisoner, there is no fear of her escaping from his +hands. Edward himself and all his forces at his back will scarce +wrest away the prize, and the whole country will be united and in +arms ere it suffer the tyrant to march through our fair vales."</p> +<p>Whilst within this upper turret chamber this plot was being +concocted against the innocent child by two passionate, hot-headed +boys and one of the ancient race of bards, the little maiden was +herself sleeping soundly and peacefully within a small inner +closet, close to the room where Gladys, the lady of the castle, +reposed; and with the earliest streak of dawn, when the child +opened her eyes upon the strange bare walls of the Welsh +stronghold, the first thing that met her eyes was the sweet and +gentle face of the chatelaine bending tenderly over her.</p> +<p>Although the present lady of Dynevor was the sister of the bold +and fierce Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales, who gave more trouble +to the King of England than did anybody else, she was herself of a +gentle and thoughtful disposition, more inclined to advocate peace +than war, and more far-seeing, temperate, and well-informed than +most persons of her time, and especially than the women, who for +the most part had but very vague ideas as to what was going on in +the country.</p> +<p>She had had many thoughts herself during the still hours of this +summer night, and when she bent over the sleeping child and wakened +her by a kiss, she felt a strange tenderness towards her, which +seemed to be reciprocated by the little one, who suddenly flung her +arms about her neck and kissed her passionately.</p> +<p>"Is my father gone?" she asked, recollection coming back.</p> +<p>"Not gone, but going soon," answered the Lady of Dynevor, +smiling; "that is why I have come to waken thee early, little +Gertrude, that thou mayest receive his farewell kiss and see him +ride away. Thou wilt not be grieved to be left with us for a while, +little one? Thou wilt not pine in his absence?"</p> +<p>"Not if I have you to take care of me," answered the child +confidingly -- "you and Wendot and Griffeth. I am weary of always +travelling on rough roads. I will gladly stay here a while with +you."</p> +<p>There was the bustle of preparation going on in the hall when +the lady descended with the child hanging on to her hand. Gertrude +broke away and ran to her father, who was sitting at the board, +with Wendot standing beside him listening eagerly to his talk. The +boy's handsome face was alight, and he seemed full of eager +interest in what was being said. Lord Montacute frequently raised +his head and gave the lad a look of keen scrutiny. Even whilst +caressing his little daughter his interest seemed to be centred in +Wendot, and when at parting the lad held his stirrup for him, and +gently restrained little Gertrude, who was in danger of being +trampled on by the pawing charger, Lord Montacute looked for a +moment very intently at the pair, and then let his glance wander +for a moment over the grand fortress of Dynevor and the beautiful +valley it commanded.</p> +<p>Then he turned once more to Wendot with a kindly though +penetrating smile.</p> +<p>"In the absence of your father, Wendot, you are the master and +guardian of this castle, its occupants and its treasures. I render +my little daughter into your safe keeping. Of your hands I shall +ask her back when I return in a week's time."</p> +<p>Wendot flushed with pleasure and gratification. What boy does +not like the thought of being looked upon as his father's +substitute? He raised his head with a gesture of pride, and clasped +the little soft hand of Gertrude more closely in his.</p> +<p>"I will take the trust, Lord Montacute," he said. "I will hold +myself responsible for the safety of Lady Gertrude. At my hands +demand her when you return. If she is not safe and well, take my +life as the forfeit."</p> +<p>Lord Montacute smiled slightly at the manly words and bearing of +the lad, but he did not like him the less for either. As for little +Gertrude, she gazed up into the bold bright face of Wendot, and +clasping his hand in hers, she said:</p> +<p>"Am I to belong to you now? I think I shall like that, you are +so brave and so kind to me."</p> +<p>The father gave the pair another of his keen looks, and rode off +in the bright morning sunshine, promising not to be very long +away.</p> +<p>"I shan't fret, now that I have you and the Lady of Dynevor," +said the child confidingly to Wendot. "I've often been left for a +long time at the palace with the ladies Eleanor and Joanna, and +with Alphonso and Britton, but I shall like this much better. There +is no governess here, and we can do as we like. I want to know +everything you do, and go everywhere with you."</p> +<p>Wendot promised to show the little lady everything she wanted, +and led her in to breakfast, which was a very important meal in +those days. All the four brothers were gathered at the board, and +the child looked rather shyly at the dark-browed twins, whom she +hardly knew one from the other, and whom she regarded with a +certain amount of awe. But there was nothing hostile in the manner +of any of the party. Llewelyn was silent, but when he did speak it +was in very different tones from those of last night; and Howel was +almost brilliant in his sallies, and evoked many a peal of laughter +from the lighthearted little maiden. Partings with her father were +of too common occurrence to cause her much distress, and she was +too well used to strange places to feel lost in these new +surroundings, and she had her own nurse and attendant left with +her.</p> +<p>Full of natural curiosity, the child was eager to see everything +of interest near her temporary home, and the brothers were her very +devoted servants, taking her everywhere she wished to go, helping +her over every difficult place, and teaching her to have such +confidence in them, and such trust in their guidance, that she soon +ceased to feel fear however wild was the ascent or descent, however +lonely the region in which she found herself.</p> +<p>Although Wendot continued her favourite, and Griffeth stood +next, owing to his likeness to his eldest brother, the twins soon +won her favour also. They were in some respects more interesting, +as they were less easily understood, wilder and stranger in their +ways, and always full of stories of adventure and warfare, which +fascinated her imagination even when she knew that they spoke of +the strife between England and Wales. She had a high spirit and a +love of adventure, which association with these stalwart boys +rapidly developed.</p> +<p>One thing about Llewelyn and Howel gratified her childlike +vanity, and gave her considerable pleasure. They would praise her +agility and courage, and urge her on to make trial of her strength +and nerve, when the more careful Wendot would beg her to be careful +and not risk herself by too great recklessness. A few days spent in +this pure, free air seemed to infuse new life into her frame, and +the colour in her cheeks and the light in her eyes deepened day by +day, to the motherly satisfaction of the Lady of Dynevor and the +pride of Wendot, who regarded the child as his especial charge.</p> +<p>But in his father's absence many duties fell upon Wendot, and +there came a bright evening when he and Griffeth were occupied +about the castle, and only Llewelyn and Howel had leisure to wander +with the little guest to her favourite spot to see the red sun +set.</p> +<p>Llewelyn was full of talk that evening, and spoke with a rude +eloquence and fire that always riveted the attention of the child. +He told of the wild, lonely beauty of a certain mountain peak which +he pointed out up the valley, of the weird charm of the road +thither, and above all of the eagle's nest which was to be found +there, and the young eaglets being now reared therein, which he and +Howel meant to capture and keep as their own, and which they +purposed to visit the very next day to see if they were fit yet to +leave the nest.</p> +<p>Gertrude sat entranced as the boy talked, and when she heard of +the eagle's nest she gave a little cry of delight.</p> +<p>"O Llewelyn, take me with you. Let me see the eagle's nest and +the little eaglets."</p> +<p>But the boy shook his head doubtfully.</p> +<p>"You could not get as far. It is a long way, and a very rough +walk."</p> +<p>The child shook back her curling hair defiantly.</p> +<p>"I could do it! I know I could. I could go half the way on my +palfrey, and walk the rest. You would help me. You know how well I +can climb. Oh, do take me -- do take me! I should so love to see an +eagle's nest."</p> +<p>But still Llewelyn shook his head.</p> +<p>"Wendot would not let you go; he would say it was too +dangerous."</p> +<p>Again came the little defiant toss.</p> +<p>"I am not Wendot's slave; I can do as I choose."</p> +<p>"If he finds out he will stop you."</p> +<p>"But we need not tell him, need we?"</p> +<p>"I thought you always told him everything."</p> +<p>The child stamped her little foot.</p> +<p>"I tell him things generally, but I can keep a secret. If he +would stop us from going, we will not tell him, nor Griffeth +either. We will get up very early and go by ourselves. We could do +that, could we not, and come back with the young eaglets in our +hands? O let us go! let us do it soon, and take me with you, kind +Llewelyn! Indeed I shall not be in your way. I will be very good. +And you know you have taught me to climb so well. I know I can go +where you can go. You said so yourself once."</p> +<p>Llewelyn turned his head away to conceal a smile half of +triumph, half of contempt. A strange flash was in his eyes as he +looked up the valley towards the crag upon which he had told the +child the eyry of the eagles hung. She thought he was hesitating +still, and laid a soft little hand upon his arm.</p> +<p>"Please say that I may go."</p> +<p>He turned quickly and looked at her. For a moment she shrank +back from the strange glow in his eyes; but her spirit rose again, +and she said rather haughtily: "You need not be angry with me. If +you don't wish me to come I will stay at home with Wendot. I do not +choose to ask favours of anybody if they will not give them +readily."</p> +<p>"I should like to take you if it would be safe," answered +Llewelyn, speaking as if ashamed of his petulance or +reluctance.</p> +<p>"Howel, could she climb to the crag where we can look down upon +the eyry if we helped her up the worst places?"</p> +<p>"I think she could."</p> +<p>The child's face flushed; she clasped her hands together and +listened eagerly whilst the brothers discussed the plan which in +the end was agreed to -- a very early start secretly from the +castle before the day dawned, the chief point to be observed +beforehand being absolute secrecy, so that the projected expedition +should not reach the ears either of Wendot, his mother, or +Griffeth. It was to be carried out entirely by the twins +themselves, with Gertrude as their companion.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a>. THE EAGLE'S CRAG.</h2> +<p>"Where is the maid, mother?"</p> +<p>"Nay, I know not, my son. I thought she was with thee."</p> +<p>"I have not seen her anywhere. I have been busy with the +men."</p> +<p>"Where are the other boys?"</p> +<p>"That I know not either. I have seen none since I rose this +morning. I have been busy."</p> +<p>"The maid had risen and dressed herself, and had slipped out +betimes," said the Lady of Dynevor, as she took her place at the +board. "Methought she would be with thee. She is a veritable sprite +for flitting hither and thither after thee. Doubtless she is with +some of the others. Who knows where the boys have gone this +morning? They are not wont to be absent at the breakfast hour."</p> +<p>This last question was addressed to the servants who were at the +lower end of the board, and one of them spoke up in reply. By what +he said it appeared that Griffeth had started off early to fly a +new falcon of his, and it seemed probable that his brothers and +little Lady Gertrude had accompanied him; for whilst he had been +discussing with the falconer the best place for making the proposed +trial, Llewelyn had been to the stables and had saddled and led out +the palfrey upon which their little guest habitually rode, and +there seemed no reason to doubt that all the party had gone +somewhere up upon the highlands to watch the maiden essay of the +bird.</p> +<p>"She would be sure to long to see the trial," said Wendot, +attacking the viands before him with a hearty appetite. "She always +loves to go with us when there is anything to see or hear. I marvel +that she spoke not of it to me, but perchance it slipped her +memory."</p> +<p>The early risers were late at the meal, but no one was anxious +about them. When anything so engrossing as the flying of a young +falcon was in the wind, it was natural that so sublunary a matter +as breakfast should be forgotten. The servants had finished their +meal, and had left the table before there was any sign of the +return of the wanderers, and then it was only Griffeth who came +bounding in, his face flushed and his eyes shining as he caressed +the hooded bird upon his wrist.</p> +<p>"He is a beauty, Wendot. I would thou hadst been there to see. I +took him up to --"</p> +<p>"Ay, tell us all that when thou hast had something to eat," said +Wendot. "And where is Gertrude? she must be well-nigh famished by +this time."</p> +<p>"Gertrude? Nay, I know not. I have not seen her. I would not +have wearied her with such a tramp through the heavy dews."</p> +<p>"But she had her palfrey; Llewelyn led it away ere it was well +light. Were you not all together?"</p> +<p>"Nay, I was all alone. Llewelyn and Howel were off and away +before I was ready; for when I sought them to ask if they would +come, they were nowhere to be found. As for the maid, I never +thought of her. Where can they have taken her so early?"</p> +<p>A sudden look of anxiety crossed Wendot's face; but he repressed +any exclamation of dismay, and glanced at his mother to see if by +any chance she shared his feeling. But her face was calm and +placid, and she said composedly:</p> +<p>"If she is with Llewelyn and Howel she will be safe. They have +taken her on some expedition in secret, but none will harm her with +two such stout protectors as they."</p> +<p>And then the lady moved away to commence her round of household +duties, which in those days was no sinecure; whilst Wendot stood in +the midst of the great hall with a strange shadow upon his face. +Griffeth, who was eagerly discussing his breakfast, looked +wonderingly at him.</p> +<p>"Brother, what ails thee?" he said at length; "thou seemest ill +at ease."</p> +<p>"I am ill at ease," answered Wendot, and with a quick glance +round him to assure himself that there was no one by to hear, he +approached Griffeth with hasty steps and sat down beside him, +speaking in a low, rapid way and in English, "Griffeth, tell me, +didst thou hear aught last night ere thou fell asleep?"</p> +<p>"Ay, I heard Wenwynwyn singing to his harp in his own chamber, +but nought beside."</p> +<p>"I heard that too," said Wendot, "and for his singing I could +not sleep; so when it ceased not, I rose and stole to his room to +ask him to forbear, yet so wild and strange was the song he sang +that at the door I paused to listen; and what thinkest thou was the +burden that he sang?"</p> +<p>"Nay, I know not; tell me."</p> +<p>"He sang a strange song that I have never heard before, of how a +dove was borne from safe shelter -- a young dove in the absence of +the father bird; not the mother bird, but the father -- and carried +away to the eagle's nest by two fierce young eaglets untamed and +untamable, there to be left till the kites come down to carry off +the prize.</p> +<p>"Ha! thou startest and changest colour! What is it thou fearest? +Where are Llewelyn and Howell and what have they done with the +maid? What kuowest thou, Griffeth?"</p> +<p>"I know nought," answered Griffeth, "save that Wenwynwyn has +been up to the commot of Llanymddyvri, and thou knowest what all +they of that place feel towards the English. Then Llewelyn and +Howel have been talking of late of the eagle's nest on the crag +halfway thither, and if they had named it to Gertrude she would +have been wild to go and see it. We know when Wenwynwyn sings his +songs how he ever calls Maelgon ap Caradoc the kite, and the lords +of Dynevor the eagles. But, Wendot, it could not be -- a child -- a +maid -- and our father's guest. I cannot believe it of our own +brothers."</p> +<p>"I know not what to think, but my heart misgives me. Thou +knowest what Llewelyn ever was, and Howel is but his shadow. I have +mistrusted this strange friendship before now, remembering what +chanced that first day, and that Llewelyn never forgives or +forgets; but I would not have dreamed of such a thing as this. Yet, +Griffeth, if the thing is so, there is no time to lose. I am off +for the crag this very minute. Thou must quietly collect and arm a +few of our stanchest men, together with the English servants left +here with their young mistress. Let all be done secretly and +quietly, and come after me with all speed. It may be that we are on +a fool's errand, and that our fears are groundless. But truly it +may be that our brothers are about to betray our guest into the +hands of one of England's most bitter foes.</p> +<p>"Oh, methinks were her father to return, and I had her not safe +to deliver back to him, I would not for very shame live to see the +day when I must avow to him what had befallen his child at the +hands of my brethren!"</p> +<p>Griffeth was fully alive to the possible peril menacing the +child, and eagerly took his orders from his elder brother. It would +not be difficult to summon some dozen of the armed men on the place +to accompany him quietly and secretly. They would follow upon +Wendot's fleet steps with as little delay as might be, and would at +least track the fugitive and her guides, whether they succeeded in +effecting a rescue that day or not.</p> +<p>Wendot waited for nothing but to give a few directions to his +brother. Scarce ten minutes had elapsed from the moment when the +first illumination of mind had come to him respecting some plot +against the life of an innocent child, before he had armed himself, +and unleashed two of the fleetest, strongest, fiercest of the +hounds, and was speeding up across the moor and fell towards the +lonely crag of the eagle's nest, which lay halfway between the +castle of Dynevor and the abode of Maelgon ap Caradoc.</p> +<p>There was one advantage Wendot possessed over his brothers, and +that was that he could take the wild-deer tracks which led straight +onward and upward, whilst they with their charge would have to keep +to the winding mule track, which trebled the distance. The maiden's +palfrey was none too clever or surefooted upon these rough +hillsides, and their progress would be but slow.</p> +<p>Wendot moved as if he had wings to his feet, and although the +hot summer sun began to beat down upon his head, and his breath +came in deep, laboured gasps, he felt neither heat nor fatigue, but +pressed as eagerly onwards and upwards as the strong, fleet hounds +at his side.</p> +<p>He knew he was on the right track; for ever and anon his path +would cross that which had been trodden by the feet of the boys and +the horse earlier in the day, and his own quick eyes and the deep +baying of the hounds told him at once whenever this was the case. +Upwards and onwards, onwards and upwards, sprang the brave lad with +the untiring energy of a strong and righteous purpose. He might be +going to danger, he might be going to his death; for if he came +into open collision with the wild and savage retainers of Maelgon, +intent upon obtaining their prey, he knew that they would think +little of stabbing him to the heart rather than be balked. There +was no feud so far between Llanymddyvri and Dynevor, but Wendot +knew that his father was suspected of leaning towards the English +cause, and that it would take little to provoke some hostile +demonstration on the part of his wild and reckless neighbour. The +whole country was torn and rent by internecine strife, and there +was a chronic state of semi-warfare kept up between half the nobles +of the country against the other half.</p> +<p>But of personal danger Wendot thought nothing. His own honour +and that of his father were at stake. If the little child left in +their care were treacherously given up to the foes of the English, +the boy felt that he should never lift up his head again. He must +save her -- he would. Far rather would he die in her defence than +face her father with the story of the base treachery of his +brothers.</p> +<p>The path grew wilder and steeper; the vegetation became more +scant. The heat of the sun was tempered by the cold of the upper +air. It was easier to climb, and the boy felt that his muscles were +made of steel.</p> +<p>Suddenly a new sound struck upon his ear. It was like the whinny +of a horse, only that there was in it a note of distress. Glancing +sharply about him, Wendot saw Lady Gertrude's small white palfrey +standing precariously on a ledge of rock, and looking pitifully +about him, unable to move either up or down. The creature had +plainly been turned loose and abandoned, and in trying to find his +way home had stranded upon this ledge, and was frightened to move a +step. Wendot was fond of all animals, and could not leave the +pretty creature in such a predicament.</p> +<p>"Besides, Gertrude may want him again for the descent," he said; +and although every moment was precious, he contrived to get the +horse up the steep bank and on to better ground, and then tethered +him on a small grassy plateau, where he could feed and take his +ease in safety for an hour or two to come.</p> +<p>That matter accomplished, the lad was up and off again. He had +now to trust to the hounds to direct him, for he did not know what +track his brothers would have taken, and the hard rocks gave no +indications which he could follow. But the dogs were well used to +their work, and with their noses to the ground followed the trail +unceasingly, indicating from time to time by a deep bay that they +were absolutely certain of their direction.</p> +<p>High overhead loomed the apex of the great crag. Wendot knew +that he had not much farther to go. He was able to distinguish the +cairn of stones which he and his brothers had once erected on the +top in honour of their having made the ascent in a marvellously +short space of time. Wendot had beaten that record today, he knew; +but his eyes were full of anxiety instead of triumph. He was +scanning every track and every inch of distance for traces of the +foe he felt certain were somewhere at hand. Had they been here +already, and had they carried off the prey? Or were they only on +their way, and had he come in time to thwart their purpose yet?</p> +<p>Ha! what was that?</p> +<p>Wendot had reached the shoulder of the mountain; he could see +across the valley -- could see the narrow winding track which led +to the stronghold of Maelgon. The Eagle's Crag, as it was called, +fell away precipitously on the other side. No one could scale it on +that face. The path from the upper valley wound round circuitously +towards it; and along this path, in the brilliant sunshine, Wendot +saw distinctly the approach of a small band of armed men. Yes: they +were approaching, they were not retreating. Then they had not +already taken their prey; they were coming to claim it. The boy +could have shouted aloud in his triumph and joy; but he held his +peace, for who could tell what peril might not lie in the way?</p> +<p>The next moment he had scaled the steep, slippery rock which led +to the precipitous edge of the crag. Not a sign could he see of his +brothers or the child, but the hounds led right on to the very +verge of the precipice, and for a moment the boy's heart stood +still. What if they had grown afraid of the consequences of their +own act, and had resolved to get rid of the child in a sure and +safe fashion!</p> +<p>For a moment Wendot's blood ran cold. He recalled the traits of +fierce cruelty which had sometimes shown themselves in Llewelyn +from childhood, his well-known hatred of the English, his outburst +of passion with Gertrude, so quickly followed by a strange +appearance of friendship. Wendot knew his countrymen and his +nation's characteristics, and knew that fierce acts of treachery +were often truly charged upon them. What if -- But the thought was +too repellent to be seriously pursued, and shaking it off by an +effort, he raised his voice and called his brothers by name.</p> +<p>And then, almost as it seemed from beneath his very feet, there +came an answering call; but the voice was not that of his brothers, +but the cry of a terrified child.</p> +<p>"Oh, who are you? Do, please, come to me. I am so frightened. I +know I shall fall. I know I shall be killed. Do come to me quickly. +I don't know where Llewelyn and Howel have gone."</p> +<p>"I am coming -- I am Wendot," cried the boy, his heart giving a +sudden bound. "You are not hurt, you are safe?"</p> +<p>"Yes; only so giddy and frightened, and the sun is so hot and +burning, and yet it is cold, too. It is such a narrow place, and I +cannot get up or down. I can't see the eagle's nest, and they have +been such a long time going after it. They said they would bring +the nest and the young eagles up to me, but they have never come +back. I'm afraid they are killed or hurt. Oh, if you would only +help me up, then we would go and look for them together! Oh, I am +so glad that you have come!"</p> +<p>Wendot could not see the child, though every word she spoke was +distinctly audible. He certainly could not reach her from the place +where he now stood; but the hounds had been following the tracks of +the quarry they had been scenting all this way, and stood baying at +a certain spot some fifty yards away, and a little lower down than +the apex of the crag. It was long since Wendot had visited this +spot, his brothers knew it better than he; but when he got to the +place indicated by the dogs, he saw that there was a little +precipitous path along the face of the cliff, which, although very +narrow and not a little dangerous, did give foothold to an +experienced mountaineer. How the child had ever had the nerve to +tread it he could not imagine, but undoubtedly she was there, and +he must get her back, if possible, and down the mountainside, +before those armed men from the upper valley could reach them.</p> +<p>But could he do this? He cast an apprehensive glance over his +shoulder, and saw to his dismay how quickly they were approaching. +From their quickened pace he fancied that his own movements had +been observed. Certainly there was not a moment to lose, and +leaving the dogs to keep guard at the entrance, he set his foot +upon the perilous path and carefully pursued his way.</p> +<p>The face of the cliff jutted outwards for some yards, and then +made a sharp turn round an angle. At the spot where this turn +occurred, a sort of natural arch had formed itself over the narrow +ledge which formed the path, and immediately behind the arch there +was a small plateau which gave space to stand and move with some +freedom, although a step over the edge would plunge the unwary +victim into the deep gulf beneath. The cliff then fell away once +again, but the ledge wound round it still, until it ended in a +shallow alcove some eight feet deep, which lay just beneath the +highest part of the crag, which overhung it by many yards.</p> +<p>And it was crouched up against the cliff in this little alcove +that Wendot found Gertrude; cowering, white-faced, against the hard +rock, faint from want of food, terrified at the loneliness and at +her own fears for the safety of her companions, and so overwrought +by the tension of nerve she had undergone, that when Wendot did +stand beside her she could only cling to him sobbing passionately, +and it was long before he could even induce her to let him go, or +to attempt to eat the contents of a small package he had had the +forethought to bring in his wallet.</p> +<p>He heard her tale as she sobbed in his arms. They had come here +after the eagle's nest. Llewelyn and Howel had been so kind! They +had not minded her being so slow, but had brought her all the way; +and when she wanted to follow them along the ledge to get a better +view of the nest, they had blindfolded her that she might not get +giddy, and had put a rope round her and brought her safely along +the narrow ledge till she had got to this place. But the nest could +not be seen even from there, and they had left her to see where it +really was. They said they would soon be back, but they had not +come, and she had got first anxious and then terrified about them, +and then fearful for her own safety. At last when faintness and +giddiness had come upon her, and she could get no answer to her +repeated shouts, her spirit had altogether given way; and unless +Wendot had really come to her rescue, she was certain she should +have fallen down the precipice. She did not know now how she should +ever get back along the narrow ridge, she was so frightened and +giddy. But if Llewelyn and Howel would come, perhaps she might.</p> +<p>Did Wendot know where they were? Would he take care of her now, +and bring her safe home?</p> +<p>"I will if I can," answered the boy, with a strange light in his +blue eyes. "Griffeth is on his way with plenty of help. He will be +here soon. Do you think you could walk along the ridge now, if I +were to hold you up and help you? We should get home sooner if you +could."</p> +<p>But the child shrank back and put her hand before her eyes.</p> +<p>"Oh, let us wait till Griffeth comes. I am so giddy still, and I +am so afraid I should fall. Hark! I'm sure I hear voices. They are +coming already. Oh, I am so glad! I do want to get home. Wendot, +why do you look like that? Why do you get out that thing? You are +not going to fight?"</p> +<p>"Lady Gertrude," said Wendot, speaking in a grave, manly way +that at once riveted the child's attention, "I am afraid that those +voices do not belong to our friends, but to a band of men who are +coming to try and take you prisoner to a castle up the valley +there. No: do not be frightened; I will save you from them if I +can. There is help coming for us, and I think I can hold this path +against them for some time to come. You must try and keep up heart +and not be frightened. You may see some hard blows struck, but you +can shut your eyes and not think about it. If they do kill me and +carry you off, do not give up hope, for Griffeth and our own men +will be after you to rescue you. Now let me go, and try not to be +afraid. I think we can hold them at bay till we are more equally +matched."</p> +<p>The child's eyes dilated with horror. She caught Wendot by the +hand.</p> +<p>"Give me up," she said firmly. "I will not have you killed for +me. I would rather go with them. Give me up, I say!"</p> +<p>"No, Gertrude; I will not give you up," answered Wendot very +quietly, but with an inflexibility of tone which made his voice +seem like that of another person. "Your father placed you in my +hands; to him I must answer for your safety. What is life to a man +without honour? Would you have me stain my name for the sake of +saving my life? I think not that that is the English code of +honour."</p> +<p>Child as she was, little Gertrude understood well what was +implied in those words, and a new light flashed into her eyes. +Something of the soldier spirit awoke within her, and she snatched +at a small dagger Wendot carried in his belt, and drawing her small +figure to its full height, she said:</p> +<p>"We will both fight, Wendot; we will both fight, and both die +rather than let them take us."</p> +<p>He smiled, and just for a moment laid his hand upon her head; +then he drew on his mailed gloves and looked well to the buckles of +the stout leathern jerkin, almost as impervious to the stabs of his +foes as a suit of mail itself. The temper of his weapon he well +knew; he had no fear that it would play him false. He had not the +headpiece of mail; he had started in too great a hurry to arm +himself completely, and speed was too much an object for him to +willingly encumber himself needlessly. But as he skirted the narrow +ledge, and placed himself beneath the protecting arch, he smiled +grimly to himself, and thought that the stone would be as good a +guard, and that here was a place where a man could sell his life +dear, and send many a foe to his account before striking his own +colours.</p> +<p>Scarcely had he well established himself in the commanding +position he had resolved upon, when the sound of voices became more +distinct. The party had plainly arrived at the appointed place, and +Wendot could hear them discussing who was best fitted for the task +of traversing the dangerous ledge to bring back the captive who was +to be found there. The wild Welsh was unintelligible to Gertrude, +or she would have known at once what dark treachery had been +planned and carried out by her trusted companions; but Wendot's +cheek glowed with shame, and he set his teeth hard, resolved to +redeem the honour of his father's name to the last drop of his +blood if he should be called upon to shed it in the cause.</p> +<p>He heard the slow and cautious steps approaching along the path, +and he gripped his weapon more tightly in his hand. The red light +of battle was in his eyes, and the moment he caught sight of the +form of the stalwart soldier threading his perilous way along the +path he sprang upon him with a cry of fury, and hurled him into the +gulf beneath.</p> +<p>Down fell the man, utterly unprepared for such an attack, and +his sharp cry of terror was echoed from above by a dozen loud +voices.</p> +<p>Cries and shouts and questions assailed Wendot, but he answered +never a word. Those above knew not if it had been an accident, or +if an ambushed foe had hurled their comrade to destruction. Again +came a long pause for consideration -- and every moment wasted was +all in favour of the pair upon the ledge -- and then it became +plain that some course of action had been determined upon, and +Wendot heard the cautious approach of another foe. This man crept +on his way much more cautiously, and the youth held himself ready +for a yet more determined spring. Luckily for him, he could remain +hidden until his opponent was close to him; and so soon as he was +certain from the sound that the man was reaching the angle of the +rock, he made another dash, and brought down his sword with all the +strength of his arm upon the head of the assailant.</p> +<p>Once again into the heart of the abyss crashed the body of the +unfortunate soldier; but a sharp thrill of pain ran through +Wendot's frame, and a barbed arrow, well aimed at the joint of his +leather jerkin, plunged into his neck and stuck fast.</p> +<p>The first assailant whom he had disposed of was but one of a +close line, following each other in rapid succession. As his face +became visible to the man now foremost a shout of surprise and +anger rose up.</p> +<p>"It is Res Wendot! It is one of the sons of the house of +Dynevor!</p> +<p>"Wendot, thou art mad! We are the friends of thy house. We are +here at the instigation of thine own kindred. Give us the maid, and +thou shalt go free. We would not harm thee."</p> +<p>"Stir but one step nearer, and I slay thee as I have slain thy +two comrades," cried Wendot, in a voice which all might hear. "I +deal not in treachery towards those that trust us. I will answer +for the safety of the maid with mine own life. Of my hand her +father will demand her when he comes again. Shall we men of Wales +give right cause to the English to call us murderers, traitors, +cowards? Take my life if you will, take it a thousand times over if +you will, it is only over my dead body that you will reach that +child."</p> +<p>"Down with him -- traitor to the cause! He is sold to the +English! He is no countryman of ours! Spare him not! He is worthy +of death! Down with every Welshman who bands not with those who +would uphold his country's cause!"</p> +<p>Such were the shouts which rent the air as the meaning of +Wendot's words made itself understood. As for the brave lad +himself, he had plucked the arrow from his neck, and now stood +boldly on guard, resolved to husband his strength and keep on the +defensive only, hoping thus to gain time until Griffeth and the +armed men should arrive.</p> +<p>He had all the advantage of the position; but his foes were +strong men, and came on thick and fast one after another, till it +seemed as if the lad might be forced backwards by sheer weight and +pressure. But Wendot was no novice at the use of arms: as his third +foe fell upon him with heavy blows of his weighted axe, he stepped +backwards a pace, and let the blows descend harmlessly upon the +solid rock of the arch; until the man, disgusted at the non-success +of his endeavours to tempt his adversary out of his defended +position, threw away his blunted axe, and was about to draw his +sword for a thrust, when the boy sprang like lightning upon him, +and buried his poniard in his heart.</p> +<p>Over went the man like a log, almost dragging Wendot with him as +he fell, and before the youth had had time to recover himself, he +had received a deep gash in his sword arm from the foe who pressed +on next, and who made a quick dash to try to get possession of the +vantage ground of the arch.</p> +<p>But Wendot staggered back as if with weakness, let his adversary +dash through the arch after him; and then, hurling himself upon him +as he passed through, pushed him sheer off the ledge on the other +side into the yawning gulf beneath.</p> +<p>The comrades of this last victim, who had just sent up a shout +of triumph, now changed their note, and it became a yell of rage. +Wendot was back in his old vantage ground, wounded by several +arrows, spent by blows, and growing faint from loss of blood, but +dauntless and resolute as ever, determined to sell his life dearly, +and hold out as long as he had breath left in him, sooner than let +the helpless child fall into the clutches of these fierce men, +goaded now to madness by the opposition they had met with.</p> +<p>Hark! what was that? It was a shout, a hail, and then the +familiar call of the Dynevor brothers rang through the still +air.</p> +<p>"La-ha-boo!"</p> +<p>It was Griffeth's voice. He had come at last. It was plain that +the foe had heard, and had paused; for if they were menaced from +another quarter, it was time to think of their own safety.</p> +<p>Summoning up all his strength, Wendot sent back an answering +hail, and the next moment there was the sound of fierce voices and +the clashing of weapons overhead on the summit of the cliff; and in +quick, urgent accents Wendot's foes were ordered to retreat, as +there was treachery somewhere, and they had been betrayed.</p> +<p>Wendot saw his antagonists lower their weapons, and return the +way they had come, with fearful backward glances, lest their boy +foe should be following them. But he had no wish to do that. He was +spent and exhausted and maimed. He turned backwards towards the +safer shelter of the little alcove, and sank down beside the +trembling child, panting, bleeding, and almost unconscious.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a>. WENDOT'S REWARD.</h2> +<p>"Father, father, father!"</p> +<p>The shrill, glad cry broke from the lips of little Gertrude +almost at the same moment as Wendot sank at her feet, spent and +fainting; and the lad, making a great effort, opened his dim eyes +to see the tall form of the English noble stooping over his little +daughter, gathering her in his arms with a gesture of passionate +endearment.</p> +<p>Wendot fancied he must be dreaming; perhaps it was all a +strange, terrible dream: everything was swimming before his eyes in +a sort of blood-coloured mist. He gave up the effort to try to +disentangle the maze in which he seemed to be moving, and was +sinking into unconsciousness again when a sharp cry from his +brother aroused him.</p> +<p>"Wendot, Wendot! -- O father, see --they have killed him!"</p> +<p>"Nay, lad, not that. Here, let me get to him.</p> +<p>"Griffeth, run thou and tell the fellows to let down ropes from +above to draw him up. He cannot return along that narrow ledge. He +and the child had best be drawn up by those above. Tell them to +lose no time. The boy must be taken home to his mother's care. This +narrow ledge is growing like an oven. Bid one of the men run to the +brook for a draught of water."</p> +<p>Wendot's lips framed themselves to the word "water" as he heard +it spoken. If he had but a draught of water, perhaps he could speak +again and understand what was passing. As it was, he only heard the +sound of a confusion of voices, the clear tones of little Gertrude +being the most continuous and the most distinct. She seemed to be +pouring some tale into the ears of her listeners, and Wendot was +certain, from the quick, sudden movements of his father, who was +supporting him as he lay, that the story heard was exciting in him +feelings of indignation and amazement, although the boy's brain was +too much confused to tell him the reason for this displeasure.</p> +<p>But the sense of rest and safety inspired by his father's +presence was very comforting; and when the wounded lad had been +drawn to the summit of the cliff by the strong, willing arms of the +retainers, and his hurts rudely dressed by kindly hands, and his +parched throat refreshed by deep draughts of cold water, he began +to shake off the sense of unreality which had made him feel like +one in a dream, and to marvel at the unexpected appearance on the +lonely fell of his father and Lord Montacute.</p> +<p>A sure-footed mountain pony was bearing him gently down the +steep slope, and his questioning look called Griffeth to his +side.</p> +<p>"What means all this, Griffeth?" he whispered. "Whence came +they? and what do they know? And Llewelyn and Howel, where are +they? Can it be that they --"</p> +<p>He could not frame his lips to speak the words, but Griffeth +understood him without, and his cheek flushed.</p> +<p>"I fear me it is indeed as we thought. She went with them, and +they left her alone on the ledge, where once the eagle's eyry used +to be. Maelgon's men came to carry her off thence. Had it not been +for thee, Wendot, she would have been in their hands ere now. I +would I had stood beside thee, brother. I would I had shared thy +perils and thy hurts."</p> +<p>"Thou didst better than that," answered Wendot, faintly smiling, +"for thou broughtest aid in the very nick of time. And how came it +that our father and our guest were with thee? Methought it must +surely be a dream when I saw them."</p> +<p>"Ay, we met them journeying towards the castle when we had but +made a short mile from it. They would have reached last night but +for an accident to one of the beasts, which detained them on the +road; but they had started ere the sun rose, and were hard by when +we encountered them. Hearing our errand, some went forward as +before, but others joined our party. It was well we were thus +reinforced, for Maelgon's men fight like veritable wolves."</p> +<p>"What knoweth our father of the matter? Spakest thou to him of +Llewelyn and Howel?"</p> +<p>"I had perforce to do so, they questioned me so closely. I know +not what they thought. Our guest's face is not one that may be read +like a book, and our father only set his lips in his stern fashion, +as though he would never open them again. I trow he is sore +displeased that sons of his should thus act; but perchance it may +not be so bad as we think."</p> +<p>Wendot made no reply. He was growing too spent and weary to have +words or thoughts to spare. It seemed as if the long and weary +descent would never be accomplished; and the beat of the sun +beating down upon them mercilessly as they reached the lower ground +turned him sick and faint. Little Gertrude, mounted now upon her +palfrey, was chattering ceaselessly to her father, as he strode on +beside her down the hillside; but Lord Montacute was grave and +silent; and as for the face of Res Vychan, it looked as if carved +out of marble, as he planted himself by the side of the sturdy pony +who carried his son, and placed his arm round the lad to support +him during that long and weary ride.</p> +<p>It was plain that the thoughts of both men were of a very +serious complexion, and gave them food for much reflection and +consideration.</p> +<p>Griffeth bounded on a little ahead of the cavalcade, excited by +the events of the day, anxious for his brother, yet intensely proud +of him, envying him the chance of thus displaying his heroic +qualities, yet only wishing to have shared them -- not that +anything should be detracted from the halo which encircled Wendot. +He had reached a turn in the path, and for a moment was alone and +out of sight of the company that followed, when the hounds who had +accompanied Wendot, and were now returning with them, uttered a +deep bay as of welcome, and the next moment two dark and swarthy +heads appeared from behind the shelter of some great boulders, and +the faces of Llewelyn and Howel looked cautiously forth.</p> +<p>In a moment Griffeth was by their side, various emotions +struggling in his face for mastery; but the tie of brotherhood was +a strong one, and his first words were those of warning.</p> +<p>"It is all known -- our father knows, and hers. I know not what +your punishment will be. I have never seen our father look so +stern. Do as you will about returning home, but I wot not how you +will be received."</p> +<p>Llewelyn and Howel exchanged glances; and the former asked +eagerly, "And the maid?"</p> +<p>"Is safe with her father and ours. Wendot risked his life to +save her from Maelgon's men. Nay, linger not to hear the tale, if +you would fly from the anger of those who know that you sought to +betray her. It will be no easy thing to make peace with our father. +You know his thoughts upon the sacredness of hospitality."</p> +<p>But even as he spoke Griffeth saw the change that came over his +brothers' faces as they looked past him to something behind; then +as he himself turned quickly to see what it was, he beheld their +father and two of the servants approaching; and Res Vychan pointed +sternly to the two dark-leaded boys, now involuntarily quailing +beneath the fiery indignation in his eyes, and said:</p> +<p>"Bind them hand and foot and carry them to the castle. They +shall be dealt with there as their offence shall warrant."</p> +<p>Then turning on his heel, he rejoined the company; whilst +Llewelyn and Howel were brought captive to the paternal halls of +Dynevor.</p> +<p>Wendot knew very little of the occurrences of the next few days. +He was carried to the chamber that he shared with Griffeth, and +there he lay for several days and nights in a dreamy, +semi-conscious state, tended by his mother with all the skill and +tenderness she possessed, and, save when the pain of his wounds +made him restless and feverish, sleeping much, and troubling his +head little about what went on within or without the castle. He was +dimly aware that little Gertrude came in and out of his room +sometimes, holding to his mother's hands, and that her gentle +prattle and little caressing gestures were very soothing and +pleasant. But he did not trouble his head to wonder how it was he +was lying there, nor what event had crippled him so; and only in +the fevered visions of the night did he see himself once again +standing upon the narrow ledge of the Eagle's Crag, with a host of +foes bearing down upon him to overpower and slay both him and his +charge.</p> +<p>But after a few days of feverish lassitude and drowsiness the +lad's magnificent constitution triumphed -- the fever left him; and +though he now lay weak and white upon his narrow bed, his mind was +perfectly clear, and he was eager and anxious to know what had +happened whilst he had been shut out from the life of the +castle.</p> +<p>His mother was naturally the one to whom he turned for +information. He saw that she was unwontedly pale and grave and +thoughtful. As she sat beside his bed with some needlework in her +hands one bright afternoon, when the sunlight was streaming into +the chamber, and the air floating in through the narrow casement +was full of scent and song, his eyes fixed themselves upon her face +with more of purpose and reflection, and he begged her to tell him +all that had passed.</p> +<p>"For I know that our guests are still here. Gertrude comes daily +to see me. But where are Llewelyn and Howel? I have not seen them +once. Is my father angry with them still? or have they been +punished and forgiven?"</p> +<p>"Your brothers are still close prisoners," answered the mother +with a sigh. "They have been chastised with more severity than any +son of ours has needed to be chastised before; but they still +remain sullen and obdurate and revengeful, and thy father will not +permit them to come out from their retirement so long as our guests +remain. Perchance it is best so, for it would but cause trouble in +the house for them to meet. I would that they could see matters +differently; and yet there are many amongst our people who would +say that the true patriotism was theirs."</p> +<p>"And our guests, mother -- why linger they still? Methought they +Would leave so soon as Lord Montacute returned."</p> +<p>"So they purposed once; but he has wished to remain till thou +art sound once more, my son. He hath a very warm feeling towards +thee, and would speak to thee of something that is in his heart ere +he quits Dynevor. He has spoken of it to thy father and to me, but +he wishes thee to hear it from his own lips."</p> +<p>Wendot's interest was aroused. Something in his mother's +expression told him that the thing of which she spoke was a matter +of some importance. As an eldest son and forward for his years, and +of a reflective and thoughtful turn, he had often been consulted by +his parents, and particularly by his mother, in matters rather +beyond his comprehension, and had shared in discussions which many +youths of his age would have shunned and despised. Now, therefore, +he looked eagerly at his mother and said:</p> +<p>"What is it he wishes to say Canst thou not tell me +thyself?"</p> +<p>The Lady of Dynevor paused awhile in thought; and when she +spoke, it did not appear to be in direct reply to her son's +question.</p> +<p>"Wendot," she said gravely, "thou hast heard much talk of the +troubled state of these times and of the nation's affairs. Thou +hast lived long enough to see how hopeless some amongst us feel it +ever to hope for unity amongst ourselves. We are torn and +distracted by faction and feud. Families are banded together +against families, and brothers strive with brothers for the +inheritance each claims as his own. Each lord of some small +territory tries to wrest from his weaker neighbour that which +belongs to him; and if for a moment at some great crisis petty +feuds are forgotten, and a blow is struck for national liberty, +scarce has peace been proclaimed again before the old strife breaks +out once more, and our fair land is desolated by a more grievous +war than ever the English wage."</p> +<p>Wendot bent his head in voiceless assent. He knew something of +his country's history, and that his mother spoke only the sad +truth.</p> +<p>"My son," continued she after a pause, "it chances sometimes in +this troubled life of ours that we are called upon to make choice, +not between good and evil, but between two courses, both of which +are beset with difficulties and obstacles, both of which mingle +together evil and good, for which and against which much may be +argued on both sides, and many things that are true be said for and +against both. To some such choice as this has our poor country now +come. Experience has taught us that she is incapable of uniting all +her forces and of making of herself one compact, united kingdom. +That course, and that alone, would be her true salvation; but that +course she will not take, and failing that, she has to choose +between being torn and rent by faction till she is an easy prey to +the English king, who will then divide her territories amongst his +own hungry and rapacious barons, or for the princes to submit to +pay him the homage for their lands which he (possibly with +injustice) demands, but which if paid will make of him their friend +and protector, and will enable the country to live in peace and +prosperity, assured that the king will support those who +acknowledge him, and that he will not deprive of their ancestral +rights any who will bring their homage to him, and hold their +territory as it were from him. Understandest thou thus much?"</p> +<p>"Ay, mother, I understand it well; and though there is something +in the thought that stirs my blood and sets it coursing through my +veins in indignation -- for I see not by what right the English +king lays claim to our fair lands -- still I know that conquest +gives to the conqueror a right, and that if he chose to march +against us with his armies, he might well find us too much weakened +by our petty feuds to resist his strong veterans. And the English +are not all bad. I have learned that these many days whilst our +guests have been with us. I have thought at times that they would +be true friends and allies, and that we might do well to copy them +in many ways. In truth, if the choice lies betwixt being rent in +pieces by each other and giving homage to the great Edward, who can +be merciful and just, I would rather choose the latter. For there +must be something grand and noble about him by what our little maid +says; and to pay homage is no such hard thing. Why, does not he +himself pay homage to the King of France for the lands he holds in +his kingdom?"</p> +<p>A look of relief crossed the face of the mother as she heard +these words from her first-born son. She took his hand in hers and +said earnestly:</p> +<p>"Wendot, I am glad to hear thee speak thus, for thou art the +heir of Dynevor, and upon thee much may fall some day. Thou knowest +what thy brothers are -- I speak of Llewelyn and Howel. I cannot +but fear for them -- unless, indeed, the rapacious greed I +sometimes see in Llewelyn proves stronger than his fierce hatred to +the English, and he prefers to do homage for his lands rather than +lose them. But thou art the head of the family, and the chief power +will rest with thee when thy father is gone. I counsel thee, if the +time comes when thou must make thy choice, be not led away by blind +hatred of the English. They may prove less cruel foes than thine +own countrymen are to one another. If Wales may not be united under +one native king, let her think well ere she rejects the grace held +out to all who will yield fealty to the English monarch. That is +what I wished to say to thee. Remember that the English are not +always cruel, always rapacious. There are generous, noble, +honourable men amongst them, of whom I am sure our guest is +one."</p> +<p>"Ay, he has a grand face," said Wendot. "A face one can both +love and trust. And all that the little one tells me of the king +and his family inclines my heart towards him and his. I will +remember what you have said, mother, and will ponder your words. +Methinks it is no lovely thing to hate as Llewelyn and Howel hate; +it makes men act rather as fiends than as honourable soldiers +should."</p> +<p>The conversation ended there, and was not renewed; but the very +next day Lord Montacute sought Wendot's room, when the lad was +lying alone, wearying somewhat of his own company, and the light +sprang into his eyes as he saw the guest approach, for in his own +boyish way he had a great admiration for this man.</p> +<p>"Well, lad, I am glad to see thee looking something more +substantial and like thine own self," said Lord Montacute, seating +himself upon the edge of the bed and taking Wendot's hand in his. +"This hand has done good service to me and mine -- good service, +indeed, to the King of England, who would have been forced to +chastise with some severity the outrage planned upon a subject of +his, and one dear to him from association with his children. Tell +me, boy, what can I do for thee when I tell this tale to my lord of +England? What boon hast thou to ask of him or of me? For thou +needest not fear; whatever it be it shall be granted."</p> +<p>"Nay, I have no boon," answered Wendot, his cheek flushing. "I +did but do my duty by any guest beneath my father's roof. I was +responsible for the safety of the maid. I had taken that duty on +myself. I want nothing; she is safe, and that is enough. Only if +you would speak to my father for my brothers Llewelyn and Howel. I +know they have merited deep displeasure; yet they are but lads, and +doubtless they were led away by evil counsels. He would hear +pleading better from you than from me."</p> +<p>"It shall be done," said Lord Montacute, still regarding Wendot +steadily; "and now, boy, I would speak to thee seriously and +gravely as man to man, for thou hast proved thyself to be a man in +action, in courage, and in foresight. And thy parents tell me that +thou art acquainted with the burning questions of the day, and that +thy brothers' headstrong hatreds and prejudices do not blind +thee."</p> +<p>Wendot made no reply, but fixed his bright eyes steadily on Lord +Montacute's face. He on his side, after a brief silence, began +again in clear, terse phrases:</p> +<p>"Lad, if thou livest thou wilt some day be Lord of Dynevor -- +master of this fair heritage, the fairest, perhaps, in all South +Wales. Thou hast noble blood in thy veins -- the blood of princes +and kings; thou hast much that men covet to call their own; but +thou art surrounded by foes who are jealous of thee, and by kinsmen +who have already cast covetous eyes on thy possessions."</p> +<p>"Ay, that traitorous Meredith ap Res, whose mother is English, +and who would -- But pardon me. I would not willingly speak against +your nation. Indeed, I feel not bitter as others do; only --"</p> +<p>"Boy, thou art right to be loyal and true. I like thee none the +less for the patriotic fervour which breaks out in thee. But I am +glad that thou shouldest see both sides of this matter, that thou +shouldest see the peril menacing thy brothers from thine own +kinsman, who has strengthened himself by an English alliance. It is +useless to blind thine eyes to what is coming. They tell me thou +art not blind; and I come to thee, lad, because I think well of +thee, to ask if it would please thee to strengthen thy position in +thine own land and in Edward's sight by an alliance with an English +maiden of noble birth. Hast thou ever thought of such a thing?"</p> +<p>Wendot's wide-open eyes gave answer enough. Lord Montacute +smiled slightly as he said:</p> +<p>"Ah, thou art full young for such thoughts; and thou livest not +in the atmosphere of courts, where babes are given in marriage +almost from their cradles. But listen, Res Wendot; I speak not in +jest, I am a man of my word. Thou hast risked thy life to save my +little maid. Thou art a noble youth, and I honour both thee and thy +parents. The maid has told me that she loves thee well, and would +be well pleased to wed thee when she is of the age to do so. These +are but childish words, yet they may prove themselves true in days +to come. It is in the interests of all those who have the peace and +prosperity of this land at heart to strengthen themselves in every +way they can. My little daughter will have an ample dower to bring +her husband; and I will keep her for thee if thou wilt be willing +to claim her in days to come. I should like well to see her ruling +in these fair halls; and thou hast proved already that thou art a +knightly youth, whose hand she may well take with confidence and +pride.</p> +<p>"Thy parents are willing; it waits only for thee to say. What +thinkest thou of a troth plight with the little maid?"</p> +<p>Wendot's face glowed with a sort of boyish shame, not unmingled +with pride; but the idea was altogether too strange and new to him +to be readily grasped.</p> +<p>"I have never thought of such things," he said shyly, "and I am +too young to wed. Perchance I may grow into some rough, uncouth +fellow, who may please not the maiden when she reaches years of +discretion. Methinks it would scarce be fair to plight her now, at +least not with such a plight as might not be broken. If our nations +meet in fierce conflict, as they yet may, it would be a cruel thing +to have linked her hand with that of a rebel, for such we are +called by the English monarch, they say, when we rise to fight for +our liberties bequeathed by our ancestors.</p> +<p>"Nay, noble lord, frown not on me. There be moments when +methinks two spirits strive within me, and I am fearful of trusting +even myself. I would not that grief or sorrow should touch her +through me. Let me come and claim her anon, when I have grown to +man's estate, and can bring her lands and revenues. But bind her +not to one whose fate may be beset with perils and shadows. There +be those amongst our bards who see into the future; and they tell +us that a dark fate hangs over the house of Dynevor, and that we +four shall be the last to bear the name."</p> +<p>Lord Montacute was looking grave and earnest. There was +something in his face which indicated disappointment, but also +something that spoke of relief. Possibly he himself had offered +this troth plight with something of hesitation, offered it out of +gratitude to the noble lad, and out of respect to his parents, who, +as he saw, would prove valuable allies to the English cause, could +they but be induced to give their allegiance to it. Yet there was +another side to the picture, too; and Wendot was too young for any +one to predict with certainty what would be his course in the +future. The hot blood of his race ran in his veins; and though his +judgment was cool, and he saw things in a reasonable and manly +light, it would be rash to predict what the future might have in +store for him.</p> +<p>"Well, lad, thou hast spoken bravely and well," said the +Englishman, after a pause for thought. "Perchance thy words are +right; perchance it will be well to let matters rest as they are +for the present. We will have no solemn troth plight betwixt ye +twain; but the maid shall be promised to none other these next four +years, so that if thou carest to claim her ere she reaches woman's +estate, thou shalt find her waiting for thee. And now I must say +thee farewell, for tomorrow we ride away the way we came. I trust +to see thee at the king's court one of these days, and to make +known to his royal majesty the noble youth of Dynevor."</p> +<p>Wendot was left alone then for some time, pondering the strange +offer made to him, and wondering whether he had been foolish to +refuse the promised reward. He had never seriously thought of +marriage, although in those days wedlock was entered upon very +young if there were any advantage to be gained from it. A lad of +fifteen is seldom sentimental; but Wendot was conscious of a very +warm spot in his heart for little Gertrude, and he knew that he +should miss her sorely when she went, and think of her much. Would +it have been a sweet or a bitter thing to have felt himself pledged +to a daughter of England? He felt that he could not tell; but at +least the decision was made now, and his words could not be +recalled.</p> +<p>Just ere the sun set that summer's day there came down the stone +corridor which led to his room the patter of little feet, and he +leaned up on his elbow with brightening eyes as the door opened and +little Gertrude came dancing in.</p> +<p>"I thought I was to have been married to you, Wendot, before we +went away," she said, looking into his face with the most trusting +expression in her soft dark eyes; "but father says you will come to +marry me some day at the king's court. Perhaps that will be better, +for I should like Eleanor and Joanna to see you. They would like +you so, and you would like them. But do come soon, Wendot. I do so +like you; and I shall want to show you to them all. And I have +broken my gold coin in two -- the one the king gave me once. I got +the armourer to do it, and to make a hole in each half. You must +wear one half round your neck, and I will wear the other. And that +will be almost the same as being married, will it not? And you will +never forget me, will you?"</p> +<p>Wendot let her hang the half of the coin round his neck by a +silken thread, strange new thoughts crowding into his mind as he +felt her soft little hands about him. Suddenly he clasped them in +both of his and pressed warm kisses upon them. Gertrude threw her +arms about his neck in a childish paroxysm of affection, saying as +she did so between her kisses:</p> +<p>"Now, it's just like being husband and wife; and we shall never +forget one another -- never."</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a>. THE KING'S CHILDREN.</h2> +<p>"Dynevor --did you say Dynevor? O Eleanor, it must be he!"</p> +<p>A tall, slim, fair-faced maiden, with a very regal mien, looked +up quickly from an embroidery frame over which she was bending, and +glanced from the eager, flushed face of the younger girl who stood +beside her to that of a tall and stalwart English youth, who +appeared to be the bearer of a piece of news, and asked in her +unconsciously queenly way:</p> +<p>"What is it, Sir Godfrey, that you have told this impetuous +child, to have set her in such a quiver of excitement?"</p> +<p>"Only this, gracious lady, that certain youthful chieftains from +the south have come hither to Rhuddlan to pay their homage to your +royal father. In his absence at Chester they have been lodged +within the castle walls, as becomes their station. It has been told +me that amongst them are four sons of one Res Vychan, lately dead, +and that he was Lord of Dynevor, which honour has descended to his +eldest son. I was telling what I knew to Lady Gertrude when she +broke away to speak to you."</p> +<p>"Eleanor, it must be he -- it must be they!" cried Gertrude, +with flushing cheek and kindling eye -- "Res Vychan, Lord of +Dynevor, and his four sons. It could be none else than they. O +Eleanor, sweet Eleanor, bid them be brought hither to see us! Thou +hast heard the story of how we went thither, my father and I, two +years agone now, and of what befell me there. I have never heard a +word of Wendot since, and I have thought of him so oft. Thou art +mistress here now; they all heed thy lightest word. Bid that the +brothers be brought hither to us. I do so long to see them +again!"</p> +<p>Gertrude was fairly trembling with excitement; but that was no +unusual thing for her, as she was an ardent, excitable little +mortal, and ever in a fever of some kind or another. The young +knight who had brought the news looked at her with unmistakable +admiration and pleasure, and seemed as though he would gladly have +obeyed any behest of hers; but he was fain to wait for the decision +of the stately Eleanor, the king's eldest and much-beloved child, +who in the temporary absence of her parents occupied a position of +no little importance in the household, and whose will, in the royal +apartments at any rate, was law.</p> +<p>But there were other listeners to Gertrude's eager words. At the +far end of the long gallery, which was occupied by the royal +children as their private apartment, a group of three young things +had been at play, but the urgency of Gertrude's tones had arrested +their attention, and they had drawn near to hear her last words. +One of these younger children was a black-eyed girl, with a very +handsome face and an imperious manner, which gave to onlookers the +idea that she was older than her years. Quick tempered, generous, +hasty, and self willed was the Lady Joanna, the second daughter of +the king; but her warm affections caused all who knew her to love +her; and her romantic temperament was always stirred to its depths +by any story that savoured of chivalry or heroism.</p> +<p>"What!" she cried; "is Wendot here -- Wendot of Dynevor, who +held the Eagle's Crag against half a hundred foemen to save thee, +sweetest Gertrude, from captivity or death? -- Eleanor, thou +knowest the story; thou must bid him hither at once! Why, I would +thank him with my own lips for his heroism. For is not Gertrude as +our own sister in love?"</p> +<p>"Ay, Eleanor, bid him come," pleaded Alphonso, a fragile-looking +boy a year younger than Joanna, whose violet-blue eyes and fair +skin were in marked contrast to her gipsy-like darkness of +complexion; and this request was echoed eagerly by another boy, a +fine, bold-looking lad, somewhat older than Alphonso, by name +Britten, who was brought up with the king's children, and treated +in every way like them, as the wardrobe rolls of the period show, +though what his rank and parentage were cannot now be established, +as no mention of him occurs in any other documents of that +time.</p> +<p>The Princess Eleanor, as she would now be called, although in +those far-back days the title of Lady was generally all that was +bestowed upon the children of the king, did not attempt to resist +the combined entreaties of her younger playfellows. Indeed, +although somewhat mature both in mind and appearance for her years, +she was by no means devoid of childish or feminine curiosity, and +was as willing to see the hero of Gertrude's oft-told tale as her +more youthful companions could be. Moreover, it was her father's +policy and pleasure to be generous and gracious towards all those +who submitted themselves to his feudal sovereignty; and to the +young he ever showed himself friendly and even paternal. The stern +soldier-king was a particularly tender and loving father, and his +wife the best of mothers, so that the family tie in their household +was a very strong and beautiful thing. When the monarch was called +away from his own royal residences to quell sedition or rebellion +in this turbulent country of Wales, his wife and children +accompanied him thither; and so it happened that in this rather +gloomy fastness in North Wales, when the rebellion of the warlike +Llewelyn had but just been crushed, the king's children were to be +found assembled within its walls, by their bright presence and +laughter-loving ways making the place gay and bright, and bringing +even into political matters something of the leniency and good +fellowship which seems to be the prerogative of childhood.</p> +<p>Thus it was that one powerful and turbulent noble, Einon ap +Cadwalader, had left as hostage of his good faith his only child, +the Lady Arthyn, to be the companion of the king's daughters. She +had been received with open arms by the warm-hearted Joanna, and +the two were fast friends already, although the Welsh girl was +several years the elder of the pair. But Joanna, who had been +educated in Spain by her grandmother and namesake, and who had only +recently come to be with her own parents, had enjoyed abroad a +liberty and importance which had developed her rapidly, and her +mind was as quick and forward as her body was active and +energetic.</p> +<p>Intercourse with Arthyn, too, had given to the younger princess +a great sympathy with the vanquished Welsh, and she was generously +eager that those who came to pay homage to her father should not +feel themselves in a position that was humiliating or galling. The +gentle Eleanor shared this feeling to the full, and was glad to +give to the young knight Sir Godfrey Challoner, who was one of her +own gentlemen-in-waiting, a gracious message for the young Lord of +Dynevor to the effect that she would be glad to receive him and his +brothers in her father's absence, and to give them places at the +royal table for the evening meal shortly to be served.</p> +<p>Great was the delight of Gertrude when the message was +despatched. Her companions crowded round her to hear again the +story of her adventure on the Eagle's Crag. Gertrude never knew how +she had been betrayed by Wendot's brothers. She believed that they +had been accidentally hindered from coming to her rescue by the +difficulties of the climb after the eagle's nest. There was a +faint, uncomfortable misgiving in her mind with regard to the +black-browed twins, but it did not amount to actual suspicion, far +less to any certainty of their enmity; and although Eleanor had +heard the whole story from her parents, she had not explained the +matter more fully to Gertrude.</p> +<p>An invitation from royalty was equal to a command, and the eager +children were not kept waiting long. The double doors at the end of +the long gallery, which had closed behind the retiring form of +Godfrey, opened once again to admit him, and closely in his wake +there followed two manly youths -- two, not four -- upon whose +faces every eye was instantly fixed in frank and kindly +scrutiny.</p> +<p>Wendot had developed rapidly during these two last years, +although he retained all his old marked characteristics. The waving +hair was still bright and sunny, the open face, with its rather +square features, was resolute, alert, manly, and strong. The +fearless blue eyes had not lost their far-away dreaminess, as +though the possessor were looking onward and outward beyond the +surroundings visible to others; and beneath the calm determination +of the expression was an underlying sweetness, which shone out from +time to time in the sunny smile which always won the heart of the +beholder. The figure was rather that of a man than a lad -- tall, +strongly knit, full of grace and power; and a faint yellow +moustache upon the upper lip showed the dawn of manhood in the +youth. There was something in his look which seemed to tell that he +had known sorrow, trial, and anxiety; but this in no way detracted +from the power or attractiveness of the countenance, but rather +gave it an added charm.</p> +<p>Griffeth retained his marked likeness to his brother, and was +almost his equal in height; but his cheek was pale and hollow, +while Wendot's was brown and healthy, his hands were slim and +white, and there was an air of languor and ill-health about him +which could not fail to make itself observed. He looked much +younger than his brother, despite his tall stature, and he blushed +like a boy as he saw the eyes of the ladies fixed upon them as they +came forward, bowing with no ungraceful deference.</p> +<p>"Wendot, Wendot. don't you know me?"</p> +<p>The young man started and raised his eyes towards the speaker. +So far, he had only been aware that there were a number of persons +collected at the upper end of the long gallery. Now he found +himself confronted by a pair of eager, dancing eyes, as soft and +dark as those of a forest deer, whilst two slim hands were held out +to him, and a silvery voice cried softly and playfully:</p> +<p>"O Wendot, Wendot, to think you have forgotten!"</p> +<p>"Lady Gertrude!"</p> +<p>"Ah, I am glad you have not forgotten, though methinks I have +changed more than you these past years. I should have known you +anywhere. But come, Wendot; I would present you to my friends and +companions, who would fain be acquainted with you. They know how +you saved my life that day, I have told the tale so oft.</p> +<p>"Let me present you first to our sweetest Lady Eleanor, our +great king's eldest daughter. You will love her, I know -- none can +help it. And she lets me call myself her sister."</p> +<p>Young things have a wonderful faculty of growing intimate in a +very brief space, and the formalities of those simpler times were +not excessive, especially away from the trammels of the court. In +ten minutes' time Wendot and his brother had grasped the names and +rank of all those to whom they had been presented, and were joining +in the eager talk with ease and with enjoyment. Joanna stood beside +Wendot, listening, with unfeigned interest, to his answers +respecting himself and those near and dear to him; whilst Alphonso +had drawn Griffeth to the embrasure of a window, and was looking up +into his face as they compared notes and exchanged ideas. It seemed +from the first as though a strong link formed itself between those +two.</p> +<p>"Your brothers would not come. Was that fear or shame or pride?" +asked Joanna, with a laughing look into Wendot's flushed face. +"Nay, think not that we would compel any to visit us who do it not +willingly. Gertrude has prepared us to find your brothers different +from you. Methinks she marvelled somewhat that they had come hither +at all with their submission."</p> +<p>Wendot hesitated, and the flush deepened on his face; but he was +too young to have learned the lesson of reticence, and there was +something in the free atmosphere of this place which prompted him +to frankness.</p> +<p>"I myself was surprised at it," he said. "Llewelyn and Howel +have not been friendly in their dealings with the English so far, +and we knew they aided Llewelyn of North Wales in the revolt which +has been lately quelled. But since our parents died we have seen +but little of them. They became joint owners of the commot of +Iscennen, and removed from Dynevor to the castle of Carregcennen in +their own territory, and until we met them some days since in +company with our kinsman Meredith ap Hes, coming to tender their +homage, as we ourselves are about to do, we knew not what to think +of them or what action they would take."</p> +<p>"Are both your parents dead, then?" asked Gertrude, with +sympathy in her eyes. "I heard that Res Vychan was no longer +living, but I knew not that the gentle Lady of Dynevor had passed +away also."</p> +<p>Wendot's face changed slightly as he answered:</p> +<p>"They both died within a few days of each other the winter after +you had been with us, Lady Gertrude. We were visited by a terrible +sickness that year, and our people sickened and died in great +numbers. Our parents did all they could for them, and first my +father fell ill and died, and scarce had the grave closed over him +before our mother was stricken, and followed him ere a week had +passed. Griffeth was also lying at the point of death, and we +despaired of his life also; but he battled through, and came back +to us from the very gates of the grave, and yet methinks sometimes +that he has never been the same since. He shoots up in height, but +he cannot do the things he did when he was two years younger.</p> +<p>"What think you of him, sweet Lady Gertrude? Is he changed from +what he was when last you saw him, ere the sickness had fastened +upon him?"</p> +<p>Several eyes were turned towards the slim, tall figure of the +Welsh lad leaning against the embrasure of the window. The sunlight +fell full upon his face, showing the sharpness of its outlines, the +delicate hectic colouring, the tracery of the blue veins beneath +the transparent skin. And just the same transparent look was +visible in the countenance of the young Prince Alphonso, who was +talking with the stranger youth, and more hearts than that of +Wendot felt a pang as their owners' eyes were turned upon the pair +beside the sunny window. But Wendot pressed for no answer to his +question, nor did Gertrude volunteer it; she only asked +quickly:</p> +<p>"Then Griffeth and you live yet at Dynevor, beautiful Dynevor, +and Llewelyn and Howel elsewhere?"</p> +<p>"Ay, at Carregcennen. We have our respective lands, though we +are minors yet; and our kinsman Meredith ap Res is our guardian, +though it is little we see of him."</p> +<p>"Meredith ap Res! I know him well," cried a girlish voice, in +accents which betrayed her Welsh origin. "He has ever been a +traitor to his country, a traitor to all who trust him; a covetous, +grasping man, who will clutch at what he can get, and never cease +scheming after lands and titles so long as the breath remains in +him."</p> +<p>They all turned to see who had spoken, and Arthyn -- the +headstrong, passionate, patriotic Arthyn, who, despite her love for +her present companions, bitterly resented being left a hostage in +the hands of the English king -- stood out before them, and spoke +in the fearless fashion which nobody present resented.</p> +<p>"Wendot of Dynevor, if you are he, beware of that man, and bid +your brothers beware of him, too. I know him; I have heard much of +him. Be sure he has an eye on your fair lands, and he will embroil +you yet with the English king if he can, that he may lay claim to +your patrimony. He brings you here to the court to make your peace, +to pay your homage. If I mistake not the man, you will not all of +you return whence you came. He will poison the king's mind. Some +traitorous practices will be alleged against you. Your lands will +be withheld. You will be fed with promises which will never be +fulfilled. And the kinsman who has sold himself body and soul to +the English alliance will rule your lands, in your names firstly +perchance, until his power is secure, and he can claim them boldly +as his own. See if it be not so."</p> +<p>"It shall not be so," cried Alphonso, suddenly advancing a step +forward and planting himself in the midst of the group.</p> +<p>His cheek was crimson now, there was fire in his eyes. He had +all the regal look of his royal father as he glanced up into +Wendot's face and spoke with an authority beyond his years.</p> +<p>"I, the king's son, give you my word of honour that this thing +shall not be. You are rightful Lord of Dynevor. You took not up +arms against my father in the late rebellion; you come at his +command to pay your homage to him. Therefore, whatever may be his +dealings with your brothers who have assisted the rebels, I pledge +my princely word that you shall return in peace to your own +possessions. My father is a just and righteous king, and I will be +his surety that he will do all that is right and just by you, +Wendot of Dynevor."</p> +<p>"Well spoken, Alphonso!" cried Joanna and Britton in a breath, +whilst Wendot took the hand extended to him, and bent over it with +a feeling of loyal gratitude and respect.</p> +<p>There was something very lovable in the fragile young prince, +and he seemed to win the hearts of all who came within the charm of +his personal presence. He combined his father's fearless nobility +with his mother's sweetness of disposition. Had he lived to ascend +the throne of England, one of the darkest pages of its annals might +never have been written.</p> +<p>But this hot discussion was brought to an end by the appearance +of the servants, who carried in the supper, laying it upon a long +table at the far end of the gallery. No great state was observed +even in the royal household, when the family was far away from the +atmosphere of the court as it was held at Westminster or +Windsor.</p> +<p>A certain number of servants were in attendance. There were a +few formalities gone through in the matter of tasting of dishes +served to the royal children, but they sat round the table without +ceremony; and when the chaplain had pronounced a blessing, which +was listened to reverently by the young people, who were all very +devout and responsive to religious influences, the unconstrained +chatter began again almost at once, and the Welsh lads lost all +sense of strangeness as they sat at the table of the king's +children.</p> +<p>"Our father and mother will not return for several days yet," +said Joanna to Wendot, whom she had placed between herself and +Gertrude; "but we have liberty to do what we wish and to go where +we like.</p> +<p>"Say, Gertrude, shall we tell Wendot on what we have set our +hearts? It may be he would help us to our end."</p> +<p>"I would do anything you bid me, gracious lady," answered Wendot +with boyish chivalry.</p> +<p>The girls were eying each other with flushed faces, their voices +were lowered so that they should not reach the ears of the Lady +Edeline, Joanna's governess, who was seated at the board, although +she seldom spoke unless directly addressed by Eleanor, who seemed +to be on friendly terms with her.</p> +<p>"Wendot," whispered Joanna cautiously, "have you ever hunted a +wolf in your mountains?"</p> +<p>"Ay, many a time, though they be more seldom seen now. But we +never rid ourselves altogether of them, do as we will."</p> +<p>"And have you killed one yourself?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I have done that, too."</p> +<p>"And is it very dangerous?"</p> +<p>"I scarce know; I never thought about it. I think not, if one is +well armed and has dogs trained to their duties."</p> +<p>Joanna's eyes were alight with excitement; her hands were locked +together tightly. Her animated face was set in lines of the +greatest determination and happiest anticipation.</p> +<p>"Wendot," she said, "there is a wolf up yonder in that wild +valley we can see from yon window, as you look towards the heights +of Snowdon. Some of our people have seen and tracked it, but they +say it is an old and wily one, and no one has got near it yet. +Wendot, we have set our hearts on having a wolf hunt of our very +own. We do not want all the men and dogs and the stir and fuss +which they would make if we were known to be going. I know what +that means. We are kept far away behind everybody, and only see the +dead animal after it has been killed miles away from us. We want to +be in the hunt ourselves -- Britten, Alphonso, Arthyn, Gertrude, +and I. Godfrey would perhaps be won over if Gertrude begged him, +and I know Raoul Latimer would -- he is always ready for what turns +up -- but that would not be enough. O Wendot, if you and your +brothers would but come, we should be safe without anybody else. +Raoul has dogs, and we could all be armed, and we would promise to +be very careful. We could get away early, as Gertrude did that day +she slipped off to the Eagle's Crag.</p> +<p>"Wendot, do answer -- do say you will come. You understand all +about hunting, even hunting wolves. You are not afraid?"</p> +<p>Wendot smiled at the notion. He did not entirely understand that +he was requested to take part in a bit of defiant frolic which the +young princes and princesses were well aware would not have been +permitted by their parents. All he grasped was that the Lady Joanna +requested his assistance in a hunt which she had planned, and with +the details of which he was perfectly familiar, and he agreed +willingly to her request, not sorry, either for his own sake or for +that of his more discontented brothers, that the monotony of the +days spent in waiting the return of the king should be beguiled by +anything so attractive and exciting as a wolf hunt.</p> +<p>The Dynevor brothers had often hunted wolves before, and saw no +special peril in the sport; and Joanna and Gertrude felt that not +even the most nervous guardian could hesitate to let them go with +such a stout protector.</p> +<p>"I do like him, Gertrude," said Joanna, when Wendot and his +brother had retired. "I hope if I ever have to marry, as people +generally do, especially if they are king's daughters, that I shall +find somebody as brave and handsome and knightly as your Wendot of +Dynevor."</p> +<p>For Gertrude and Joanna both took the view that the breaking of +the king's gold coin between them was equivalent to the most solemn +of troth plights.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a>. WELSH WOLVES.</h2> +<p>The Princess Joanna was accustomed to a great deal of her own +way. She had been born at Acre, whilst her parents had been absent +upon Edward's Crusade, and for many years she had remained in +Castile with her grandmother-godmother, who had treated her with +unwise distinction, and had taught her to regard herself almost as +a little queen. The high-spirited and self-willed girl had thus +acquired habits of independence and commanding ways which were +perhaps hardly suited to her tender years; but nevertheless there +was something in her bright vivacity and generous impetuosity which +always won the hearts of those about her, and there were few who +willingly thwarted her when her heart was set upon any particular +thing.</p> +<p>There were in attendance upon the king and his children a number +of gallant youths, sons of his nobles, who were admitted to +pleasant and easy intercourse with the royal family; so that when +Joanna and Alphonso set their hearts upon a private escapade of +their own, in the shape of a wolf hunt, it was not difficult to +enlist many brave champions in the cause quite as eager for the +danger and the sport as the royal children themselves. Joanna was +admitted to be a privileged person, and Alphonso, as the only son +of the king, had a certain authority of his own.</p> +<p>The graver and more responsible guardians of the young prince +and princesses might have hesitated before letting them have their +way in this matter; but Joanna took counsel of the younger and more +ardent spirits by whom she was surrounded, and a secret expedition +to a neighbouring rocky fastness was soon planned, which +expedition, by a little diplomacy and management, could be carried +out without exciting much remark.</p> +<p>The king and queen encouraged their family in hardy exercises +and early hours. If the royal children planned an early ride +through the fresh morning air, none would hinder their departure, +and they could easily shake off their slower attendants when the +time came, and join the bolder comrades who would be waiting for +them with all the needful accoutrements for the hunt on which their +minds were bent.</p> +<p>One or two of the more youthful and adventurous attendants might +come with them, but the soberer custodians might either be +dismissed or outridden. They were accustomed to the vagaries of the +Lady Joanna, and would not be greatly astonished at any freak on +her part.</p> +<p>And thus it came about that one clear, cold, exhilarating +morning in May, when the world was just waking from its dewy sleep +of night, that Joanna and Alphonso, together with Gertrude and +Arthyn, and young Sir Godfrey and another gentleman in attendance, +drew rein laughingly, after a breathless ride across a piece of +wild moorland, at the appointed spot, where a small but +well-equipped company was awaiting them with the spears, the dogs, +and the long, murderous-looking hunting knives needed by those who +follow the tracks of the wild creatures of the mountains.</p> +<p>This little band numbered in its ranks the four Dynevor +brothers; a tall, rather haughty-looking youth, by name Raoul +Latimer; and one or two more with whose names we have no concern. +Britten, who accompanied the royal party, sprang forward with a cry +of delight at seeing the muster, and began eagerly questioning +Raoul as to the capabilities of the dogs he had brought, and the +possible dangers to be encountered in the day's sport.</p> +<p>Gertrude and Joanna rode up to Wendot and greeted him warmly. +They had seen him only once since the first evening after his +arrival, and both girls stole curious glances at the dark faces of +the two brothers unknown as yet to them. They were almost surprised +that the twins had come at all, as they were not disposed to be +friendly towards the English amongst whom they were now mingling; +but here they were, and Gertrude greeted both with her pretty +grace, and they answered her words of welcome with more courtesy +than she had expected to find in them.</p> +<p>Llewelyn and Howel were submitting themselves to the inevitable +with what grace they could, but with very indignant and hostile +feelings hidden deep in their hearts. Their old hatred towards the +English remained unaltered. They would have fought the foe tooth +and nail to the last had they been able to find allies ready to +stand by them. But when their uncle of North Wales had submitted, +and all the smaller chieftains were crowding to the court to pay +homage, and when they knew that nothing but their own nominal +subjection would save them from being deprived of their lands, +which would go to enrich the rapacious Meredith ap Res, then indeed +did resistance at that time seem hopeless; and sooner than see +themselves thus despoiled by one who was no better than a vassal of +England, they had resolved to take the hated step, and do homage to +Edward for their lands. Indeed, these brothers had to do even more; +for, having been concerned in the late rebellion, they had +forfeited their claim upon their property, only that it was +Edward's policy to restore all lands the owners of which submitted +themselves to his authority. The brothers felt no doubt as to the +result of their submission, but the humiliation involved was great, +and it was hard work to keep their hatred of the English in check. +Those wild spirits had not been used to exercising self-control, +and the lesson came hard now that they were springing up towards +man's estate, with all the untempered recklessness and heat of +youth still in their veins.</p> +<p>Perhaps there was something in the expression of those two dark +faces that told its tale to one silent spectator of the meeting +between the Welsh and English; for as the party united forces and +pushed onwards and upwards towards the wild ravine where the haunt +of the wolf lay, the twin brothers heard themselves addressed in +their own language, and though the tones were sweet and silvery, +the words had a ring of passionate earnestness in them which went +straight to their hearts.</p> +<p>"Methinks I am not mistaken in you, sons of Dynevor. You have +not willingly left your mountain eyry for these halls where the +proud foeman holds his court and sits in judgment upon those who by +rights are free as air. I have heard of you before, Llewelyn and +Howel ap Res Vychan. You are not here, like your brethren, half won +over to the cause of the foe; you would fight with the last drop of +your blood for the liberty of our country."</p> +<p>Turning with a start, the brothers beheld the form of a slight +and graceful maiden, who was pushing her palfrey up beside them. +She appeared to be about their own age, and was very beautiful to +look upon, with a clear, dark skin, large, bright eyes, now glowing +with the enthusiasm so soon kindled in the breast of the children +of an oppressed people -- a people thrilling with the strange, deep +poetry of their race, which made much amends for their lack of +culture in other points.</p> +<p>Llewelyn and Howel, learning caution by experience, scarce knew +how to respond to this appeal; but the girl met their inquiring +glances by a vivid smile, and said:</p> +<p>"Nay, fear me not. I am one of yourselves -- one of our +country's own children. Think not that I am here of my own free +will. I deny not that I have learned to love some amongst our +conqueror's children and subjects, but that does not make me forget +who I am nor whence I have come. Let us talk together of our +country and of the slender hopes which yet remain that she may gird +herself up and make common cause against the foe. Oh, would that I +might live to see the day, even though my life might pay the +forfeit of my father's patriotism. Let Edward slay me -- ay, and +every hostage he holds in his hand -- so that our country shakes +off the foreign yoke, and unites under one head as one nation once +again."</p> +<p>These words kindled in the breast of the twin brothers such a +glow of joy and fervour as they had not known for many a weary day. +They made room for Arthyn to ride between them, and eager were the +confidences exchanged between the youthful patriots as they pursued +their way upwards. Little they heeded the black looks cast upon +them by Raoul Latimer, as he saw Arthyn's eager animation, and +understood how close was the bond which had thus quickly been +established between them and the proud, silent girl whose favours +he had been sedulously trying to win this many a day.</p> +<p>Raoul Latimer was a youth with a decided eye to the main chance. +He knew that Arthyn was her father's heiress, and that she would +succeed at his death to some of the richest lands in Wales. +Possibly her father might be deprived of these lands in his +lifetime, as he was a turbulent chieftain, by no means submissive +to Edward's rule. If that were the case, and if his daughter had +wedded a loyal Englishman of unquestionable fidelity, there would +be an excellent chance for that husband of succeeding to the broad +lands of Einon ap Cadwalader before many years had passed. +Therefore young Raoul paid open court to the proud Welsh maiden, +and was somewhat discomfited at the small progress he had made.</p> +<p>But he was a hot-headed youth, and had no intention of being +thrown into the shade by any beggarly Welshmen, be they sons of +Dynevor or no, so that when the party were forced by the character +of the ground to dismount from their horses and take to their own +feet, he pressed up to Arthyn and said banteringly:</p> +<p>"Sweet lady, why burden yourself with the entertainment of these +wild, uncivilized loons? Surely those who can but speak the +language of beasts deserve the treatment of beasts. It is not for +you to be thus --"</p> +<p>But the sentence was never finished. Perhaps the flash from +Arthyn's eye warned him he had gone too far in thus designating the +youths, who were, after all, her countrymen; but there was a better +reason still for this sudden pause, for Llewelyn's strong right +hand had flown out straight from the shoulder, and Raoul had +received on the mouth a stinging blow which had brought the red +blood upon his lips and the crimson tide of fury into his +cheeks.</p> +<p>With an inarticulate cry of rage he drew his dagger and sprang +upon the young Welshman. Swords were drawn in those days only too +readily, and in this case there had been provocation enough on both +sides to warrant bloodshed. The youths were locked at once in +fierce conflict, striking madly at each other with their shining +blades, before those who stood by well knew what had occurred.</p> +<p>It was only too common at such times that there should be +collision between the sons of England and Wales; and the suffering +and the penalty almost invariably fell upon the latter. This fact +was well known to the children of the king, and possibly prompted +the young Alphonso to his next act.</p> +<p>Drawing the small sword he always carried at his side, he threw +himself between the combatants, and striking up their blades he +cried in tones of such authority as only those can assume who feel +the right is theirs:</p> +<p>"Put up your weapons, gentlemen; I command you in the king's +name.</p> +<p>"Raoul, this is your doing, I warrant. Shame on you for thus +falling upon my father's guest in his absence, and he a stranger +and an alien! Shame on you, I say!"</p> +<p>But scarce had these words been uttered before a shrill cry +broke from several of the girls, who were watching the strange +scene with tremulous excitement. For young Llewelyn, maddened and +blinded by the heat of his passion, and not knowing either who +Alphonso was or by what right he interposed betwixt him and his +foe, turned furiously upon him, and before any one could interpose, +a deep red gash in the boy's wrist showed what the Welsh lad's +blade had done.</p> +<p>Wendot, Griffeth, and Godfrey flung themselves upon the mad +youth, and held him back by main force. In Raoul's eyes there was +an evil light of triumph and exultation.</p> +<p>"Llewelyn, Llewelyn, art mad? It is the king's son," cried +Wendot in their native tongue; whilst Joanna sprang towards her +brother and commenced binding up the gash, the lad never for a +moment losing his presence of mind, or forgetting in the smart of +the hurt the dignity of his position.</p> +<p>Llewelyn's fierce burst of passion had spent itself, and the +sense of Wendot's words had come home to him. He stood shamefaced +and sullen, but secretly somewhat afraid; whilst Arthyn trembled in +every limb, and if looks would have annihilated, Raoul would not +have existed as a corporate being a moment longer.</p> +<p>"Gentlemen," said Alphonso, turning to those about him, and +holding up his bandaged hand, "this is the result of accident -- +pure accident. Remember that, if it ever comes to the ears of my +father. This youth knew not what he did. The fault was mine for +exposing myself thus hastily. As you value the goodwill in which I +hold you all, keep this matter to yourselves. We are not prince or +subject today, but comrades bent on sport together. Remember and +obey my behest. It is not often I lay my commands upon you."</p> +<p>These words were listened to with gratitude and relief by all +the party save one, and his brow gloomed darker than before. Arthyn +saw it, and sprang towards Alphonso, who was smiling at his sister +in response to her quick words of praise.</p> +<p>"It was his fault -- his," she cried, pointing to the scowling +Raoul, who looked ill-pleased at having his lips thus sealed. "He +insulted him -- he insulted me. No man worthy the name would stand +still and listen. It is the way with these fine gallants of +England. They are ever stirring up strife, and my countrymen bear +the blame, the punishment, the odium --"</p> +<p>But Alphonso took her hand with a gesture of boyish +chivalry.</p> +<p>"None shall injure thee or thine whilst I am by, sweet Arthyn. +The nation is dear to me for thy sake, and thy countrymen shall be +as our honoured guests and brothers. Have we not learned to love +them for thy sake and their own? Trouble not thy head more over +this mischance, and let it not cloud our day's sport.</p> +<p>"Raoul," he added, with some sternness, "thou art a turbulent +spirit, and thou lackest the gentle courtesy of a true knight +towards those whose position is trying and difficult. Thou wilt not +win thy spurs if thou mendest not thy ways. Give thy hand now, +before my eyes, to the youth thou didst provoke. If thou marrest +the day's pleasure again, I shall have more to say to thee +yet."</p> +<p>It was not often that the gentle Alphonso spoke in such tones, +and therefore his words were the more heeded. Raoul, inwardly +consumed with rage at being thus singled out for rebuke, dared not +withstand the order given him, and grudgingly held out his hand. It +was not with much greater alacrity that Llewelyn took it, for there +was much stubborn sullenness in his disposition, and his passion, +though quickly aroused, did not quickly abate; but there was a +compulsion in the glance of the royal boy which enforced obedience; +and harmony being thus nominally restored, the party once more +breathed freely.</p> +<p>"And now upwards and onwards for the lair of the wolf," cried +Alphonso; "we have lost time enough already. Who knows the way to +his favourite haunts? Methinks they cannot be very far away +now."</p> +<p>"I should have thought we had had enough of Welsh wolves for one +day," muttered Raoul sullenly to Godfrey; but the latter gave him a +warning glance, and he forbore to speak more on the subject.</p> +<p>Gertrude had watched the whole scene with dilated eyes, and a +feeling of sympathy and repulsion she was perfectly unable to +analyze. When the party moved on again she stole up to Wendot's +side, and said as she glanced into his troubled face:</p> +<p>"He did not mean it? he will not do it again?"</p> +<p>Wendot glanced down at her with a start, and shook his head.</p> +<p>"He knew not that it was the king's son -- that I verily +believe; but I know not what Llewelyn may say or do at any time. He +never speaks to me of what is in his head. Lady Gertrude, you know +the king and his ways. Will he visit this rash deed upon my +brother's head? Will Llewelyn suffer for what he did in an impulse +of mad rage, provoked to it by yon haughty youth, whose words and +bearing are hard for any of us to brook?"</p> +<p>"Not if Alphonso can but get his ear; not if this thing is kept +secret, as he desires, as he has commanded. But I fear what Raoul +may say and do. He is treacherous, selfish, designing. The king +thinks well of him, but we love him not. I trust all will yet be +well."</p> +<p>"But you fear it may not," added Wendot, completing the sentence +as she had not the heart to do. "I fear the same thing myself. But +tell me again, Lady Gertrude, what would be the penalty of such an +act? Will they --"</p> +<p>"Alphonso has great influence with his father," answered +Gertrude quickly. "He will stand your brother's friend through all; +perchance he may be detained in some sort of captivity; perchance +he may not have his lands restored if this thing comes to the +king's ears. But his person will be safe. Fear not for that. +Methinks Alphonso would sooner lay down his own life than that harm +should befall from what chanced upon a day of sport planned by him +and Joanna."</p> +<p>And Gertrude, seeing that a load lay upon the heart of the young +Lord of Dynevor, set herself to chase the cloud from his brow, and +had so far succeeded that he looked himself again by the time a +warning shout from those in advance showed that some tracks of the +wild creature of whom they were in pursuit had been discovered in +the path.</p> +<p>"Do not run into danger," pleaded Gertrude, laying a hand on +Wendot's arm as he moved quickly forward to the front. "You are so +brave you never think of yourself; but do not let us have more +bloodshed today, save the blood of the ravenous beast if it must +be. I could find it in my heart to wish that we had not come forth +on this errand. The brightness of the day has been clouded +over."</p> +<p>Wendot answered by a responsive glance. There was something +soothing to him in the unsolicited sympathy of Gertrude. He had +thought little since they parted two years before of that childish +pledge given and received, although he always wore her talisman +about his neck, and sometimes looked at it with a smile. He had no +serious thoughts of trying to mate with an English noble's +daughter. He had had no leisure to spare for thoughts of wedlock at +all. But something in the trustful glance of those dark eyes +looking confidingly up to him sent a quick thrill through his +pulses, which was perhaps the first dawning life of the love of a +brave heart.</p> +<p>But there was an impatient call from the front, and Wendot +sprang forward, the huntsman awakening within him at the sight of +the slot of the quarry. He looked intently at the tracks in the +soft earth, and then pointed downwards in the direction of a deep +gully or cavernous opening in the hillside, which looked very dark +and gloomy to the party who stood in the sunshine of the open.</p> +<p>"The beast has gone that way," he said; "and by his tracks and +these bloodstains, he has prey in his mouth. Likely his mate may +have her lair in yon dark spot, and they may be rearing their young +in that safe retreat. See how the dogs strain and pant! They smell +the prey, and are eager to be off. We must be alert and wary, for +wolves with young ones to guard are fierce beyond their wont."</p> +<p>He looked doubtfully at the girls, whose faces were full of +mingled terror and excitement. Godfrey read his meaning, and +suggested that the ladies should remain in this vantage ground +whilst some of the rest went forward to reconnoitre.</p> +<p>But Joanna, ever bold and impetuous, would have none of +that.</p> +<p>"We will go on together," she said. "We shall be safest so. No +wolf, however fierce, will attack a number like ourselves. They +will fly if they can, and if they are brought to bay we need not go +near them. But why have we come so far to give up all the peril and +the sport at the last moment?"</p> +<p>"She speaks truth," said Wendot, to whom she seemed to look. "At +this season of the year wolves have meat in plenty, and will not +attack man save in self defence. If we track them silently to their +lair, we may surprise and kill the brood; but we are many, and can +leave force enough to defend the ladies whilst the rest fight the +battle with the creatures at bay."</p> +<p>Nobody really wished to be left behind, and there was a pleasant +feeling of safety in numbers. Slowly and cautiously they all +followed the track of the wolf downwards into the gloomy ravine, +which seemed to shut out all light of the sun between walls of +solid rock.</p> +<p>It was a curious freak in which nature had indulged in the +formation of this miniature crevasse between the hillsides. At the +base ran a dark turbid stream, which had hollowed out for itself a +sort of cavernous opening, and the walls of rock rose almost +precipitately on three sides, only leaving one track by which the +ravine could be entered. The stream came bubbling out from the +rock, passing through some underground passage; and within the +gloomy cavern thus produced the savage beasts had plainly made +their lair, for there were traces of blood and bones upon the +little rocky platform, and the trained ear of Wendot, who was +foremost, detected the sound of subdued and angry growling +proceeding from the natural cave they were approaching.</p> +<p>"The beasts are in there," he said, pausing, and the next moment +Raoul had loosed the dogs, who darted like arrows from bows along +the narrow track; and immediately a great he wolf had sprung out +with a cry of almost human rage, and had fastened upon one of the +assailants, whose piercing yell made the girls shrink back and +almost wish they had not come.</p> +<p>But Wendot was not far behind. He was not one of the huntsmen +who give all the peril to the dogs and keep out of the fray +themselves. Drawing his long hunting knife, and shouting to his +brothers to follow him, he sprang down upon the rocky platform +himself, and Llewelyn and Howel were at his side in a moment. +Godfrey would fain have followed, but his duty obliged him to +remain by the side of the princess; and he kept a firm though +respectful grasp upon Alphonso's arm, feeling that he must not by +any means permit the heir of England to adventure himself into the +fray. And indeed the boy's gashed hand hindered him from the use of +his weapon, and he could only look on with the most intense +interest whilst the conflict between the two fierce beasts and +their angry cubs was waged by the fearless lads, who had been +through many such encounters before, and showed such skill, such +address, such intrepidity in their attack, that the young prince +shouted aloud in admiration, and even the girls lost their first +sense of terror in the certainty of victory on the side of the +Welsh youths.</p> +<p>As for Raoul Latimer, he stood at a safe distance cheering on +his dogs, but not adventuring himself within reach of the murderous +fangs of the wolves. He occupied a position halfway between the +spot upon which the fray was taking place and the vantage ground +occupied by the royal party in full sight of the strife.</p> +<p>Arthyn had passed several scornful comments upon the care the +young gallant was taking of himself, when suddenly there was a cry +from the spectators; for one of the cubs, escaping from the melee, +ran full tilt towards Raoul, blind as it seemed with terror; and as +it came within reach of his weapon, the sharp blade gleamed in the +air, and the little creature gave one yell and rolled over in its +death agony. But that cry seemed to pierce the heart of the mother +wolf, and suddenly, with almost preternatural strength and +activity, she bounded clean over the forms of men and dogs, and +dashed straight at Raoul with all the ferocity of an animal at bay, +and of a mother robbed of her young.</p> +<p>The young man saw the attack; but his weapon was buried in the +body of the cub, and he had no time to disengage it. Turning with a +sharp cry of terror, he attempted to fly up the rocky path; but the +beast was upon him. She made a wild dash and fastened upon his +back, her fangs crushing one shoulder and her hot breath seeming to +scorch his cheek. With a wild yell of agony and terror Raoul threw +himself face downwards upon the ground, whilst his cry was shrilly +echoed by the girls -- all but Arthyn, who stood rigidly as if +turned to stone, a strange, fierce light blazing in her eyes.</p> +<p>But help was close at hand. Wendot had seen the spring, and had +followed close upon the charge of the maddened brute. Flinging +himself fearlessly upon the struggling pair, he plunged his knife +into the neck of the wolf, causing her to relax her hold of her +first foe and turn upon him. Had he stabbed her to the heart she +might have inflicted worse injury upon Raoul in her mortal +struggle; as it was, there was fierce fight left in her still. But +Wendot was kneeling upon the wildly struggling body with all his +strength, and had locked his hands fast round her throat.</p> +<p>"Quick, Llewelyn -- the knife!" he cried, and his brother was +beside him in an instant.</p> +<p>The merciful death stroke was given, and the three youths rose +from their crouching posture and looked each other in the eyes, +whilst the wolf lay still and dead by the side of her cub.</p> +<p>"Methinks we have had something too much of Welsh wolves," was +the only comment of Raoul, as he joined the royal party without a +word to the brothers who had saved his life.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a>. THE KING'S +JUDGMENT.</h2> +<p>The great King Edward had been sitting enthroned in the state +apartment of the castle, receiving the homage of those amongst the +Welsh lords and chieftains who had been summoned to pay their +homage to him and had obeyed this summons.</p> +<p>It was an imposing sight, and one not likely to be forgotten by +any who witnessed it for the first time. The courageous but gentle +Queen Eleanor, who was seldom absent from her lord's side be the +times peaceful or warlike, was seated beside him for the ceremony, +with her two elder daughters beside her. The young Alphonso stood +at the right hand of the king, his face bright with interest and +sympathy; and if ever the act of homage seemed to be paid with +effort by some rugged chieftain, or he saw a look of gloom or pain +upon the face of such a one, he was ever ready with some graceful +speech or small act of courtesy, which generally acted like a +charm. And the father regarded his son with a fond pride, and let +him take his own way with these haughty, untamable spirits, feeling +perhaps that the tact of the royal boy would do more to conciliate +and win hearts than any word or deed of his own.</p> +<p>Edward has been often harshly condemned for his cruelty and +treachery towards the vanquished Welsh; but it must be remembered +with regard to the first charge that the days were rude and cruel, +that the spirit of the age was fierce and headstrong, and that the +barons and nobles who were scheming for the fair lands of Wales +were guilty of many of the unjust and oppressive acts for which +Edward has since been held responsible. The Welsh were themselves a +very wild race, in some parts of the country barely civilized; and +there can be no denying that a vein of fierce treachery ran through +their composition, and that they often provoked their adversaries +to cruel retaliation. As for the king himself, his policy was on +the whole a merciful and just one, if the one point of his feudal +supremacy were conceded. To those who came to him with their act of +homage he confirmed their possession of ancestral estates, and +treated them with kindness and consideration. He was too keen a +statesman and too just a man to desire anything but a conciliatory +policy so far as it was possible. Only when really roused to anger +and resolved upon war did the fiercer side of his nature show +itself, and then, indeed, he could show himself terrible and +lion-like in his wrath.</p> +<p>The brothers of Dynevor were the last of those who came to pay +their act of homage. The day had waned, and the last light of +sunset was streaming into that long room as the fair-haired Wendot +bent his knee in response to the summons of the herald. The king's +eyes seemed to rest upon him with interest, and he spoke kindly to +the youth; but it was noted by some in the company that his brow +darkened when Llewelyn followed his brother's example, Howel +attending him as Griffeth had supported Wendot; and there was none +of the gracious urbanity in the royal countenance now that had +characterized it during the past hour.</p> +<p>Several faces amongst those in immediate attendance upon the +king and his family watched this closing scene with unwonted +interest. Gertrude stood with Joanna's hand clasped in hers, +quivering with excitement, and ever and anon casting quick looks +towards her brother, who stood behind the chair of state observant +and watchful, but without betraying his feelings either by word or +look. Raoul Latimer was there, a sneer upon his lips, a malevolent +light in his eyes, which deepened as they rested upon Llewelyn, +whilst Arthyn watched the twin brothers with a strange look in her +glowing eyes, her lips parted, her white teeth just showing +between, her whole expression one of tense expectancy and sympathy. +Once Llewelyn glanced up and met the look she bent on him. A dusky +flush overspread his cheek, and his fingers clenched themselves in +an unconscious movement understood only by himself.</p> +<p>The homage paid, there was a little stir at the lower end of the +hall as the doors were flung open for the royal party to take their +departure. Edward bent a searching look upon the four brothers, who +had fallen back somewhat, and were clustered together not far from +the royal group, and the next minute an attendant whispered to them +that it was the king's pleasure they should follow in his personal +retinue, as he had somewhat to say to them in private.</p> +<p>Wendot's heart beat rather faster than its wont. He had had some +foreboding of evil ever since that unlucky expedition, some days +back now, on which Llewelyn's sword had been drawn upon an English +subject, and had injured the king's son likewise. Raoul had for +very shame affected a sort of condescending friendliness towards +the brothers after they had been instrumental in saving him from +the fangs of the she wolf; but it was pretty evident to them that +his friendship was but skin deep; whilst every word that passed +between Arthyn and Llewelyn or his brother -- and these were many +-- was ranked as a dire offence.</p> +<p>Had Wendot been more conversant with the intrigues of courts, he +would have seen plainly that Raoul was paying his addresses to the +Welsh heiress, who plainly detested and abhorred him. The ambitious +and clever young man, who was well thought of by the king, and had +many friends amongst the nobles and barons, had a plan of his own +for securing to himself some of the richest territory in the +country, and was leaving no stone unturned in order to achieve that +object. A marriage with Arthyn would give him the hold he wanted +upon a very large estate. But indifferent as he was to the feelings +of the lady, he was wise enough to see that whilst she remained in +her present mood, and was the confidante and friend of the +princesses, he should not gain the king's consent to prosecuting +his nuptials by force, as he would gladly have done. Whereupon a +new scheme had entered his busy brain, as a second string to his +bow, and with the help of a kinsman high in favour with the king, +he had great hopes of gaining his point, which would at once +gratify his ambition and inflict vengeance upon a hated rival.</p> +<p>Raoul had hated the Dynevor brothers ever since he had detected +in Arthyn an interest in and sympathy for them, ever since he had +found her in close talk in their own tongue with the dark-browed +twins, whose antagonism to the English was scarcely disguised. He +had done all he knew to stir the hot blood in Llewelyn and Howel, +and that with some success. The lads were looked upon as dangerous +and treacherous by many of those in the castle; and from the +sneering look of coming triumph upon the face of young Latimer as +the party moved off towards the private apartments of the royal +family, it was plain that he anticipated a victory for himself and +a profound humiliation for his foes.</p> +<p>Supper was the first business of the hour, and the Dynevor +brothers sat at the lower table with the attendants of the king. +The meal was well-served and plentiful, but they bad small appetite +for it. Wendot felt as though a shadow hung upon them; and the +chief comfort he received was in stealing glances at the sweet, +sensitive face of Gertrude, who generally responded to his glance +by one of her flashing smiles.</p> +<p>Wendot wondered how it was that Lord Montacute had never sought +him out to speak to him. Little as the lad had thought of their +parting interview at Dynevor during the past two years, it all came +back with the greatest vividness as he looked upon the fine calm +face of the English noble. Was it possible he had forgotten the +half-pledge once given him? Or did he regret it, now that his +daughter was shooting up from a child into a sweet and gracious +maiden whom he felt disposed to worship with reverential awe? +Wendot did not think he was in love -- he would scarce have known +the meaning of the phrase and he as little understood the feelings +which had lately awakened within him; but he did feel conscious +that a new element had entered into his life, and with it a far +less bitter sense of antagonism to the English than he had +experienced in previous years.</p> +<p>After the supper was ended the royal family withdrew into an +inner room, and presently the four brothers were bidden to enter, +as the king had somewhat to say to them. The greater number of the +courtiers and attendants remained in the outer room, but Sir +Godfrey Challoner, Raoul Latimer, and one or two other gentlemen +were present in the smaller apartment. The queen and royal children +were also there, and their playfellows and companions, Gertrude +holding her father by the hand, and watching with intense interest +the approach of the brothers and the faces of the king and his +son.</p> +<p>Edward was seated before a table on which certain parchments +lay. Alphonso stood beside him, and Wendot fancied that he had only +just ended some earnest appeal, his parted lips and flushed cheeks +seeming to tell of recent eager speech. The king looked keenly at +the brothers as they made their obeisance to him, and singling out +Wendot, bid him by a gesture to approach nearer.</p> +<p>There was a kindliness in the royal countenance which encouraged +the youth, and few could approach the great soldier king without +experiencing something of the fascination which his powerful +individuality exercised over all his subjects.</p> +<p>"Come hither, boy," he said; "we have heard nought but good of +thee. Thou hast an eloquent advocate in yon maiden of Lord +Montacute's, and mine own son and daughters praise thy gallantry in +no measured terms. We have made careful examination into these +parchments here, containing reports of the late rebellion, and +cannot find that thou hast had part or lot in it. Thou hast paid +thy homage without dallying or delay; wherefore it is our pleasure +to confirm to thee thy possession of thy castle of Dynevor and its +territory. We only caution thee to remain loyal to him thou hast +owned as king, and we will establish thee in thy rights if in time +to come they be disputed by others, or thou stirrest up foes by thy +loyalty to us."</p> +<p>Wendot bowed low. If there was something bitter in having his +father's rightful inheritance granted to him as something of a +boon, at least there was much to sweeten the draught in the kindly +and gracious bearing of the king, and in Alphonso's friendly words +and looks. He had no father to look to in time of need, and felt a +great distrust of the kinsman who exercised some guardianship over +him; so that there was considerable relief for the youth in feeling +that the great King of England was his friend, and that he would +keep him from the aggression of foes.</p> +<p>He stood aside as Edward's glance passed on to Llewelyn and +Howel, and it was plain that the monarch's face changed and +hardened as he fixed his eye upon the twins.</p> +<p>"Llewelyn -- Howel," he said, "joint lords of Iscennen, we wish +that we had received the same good report of you that we have done +of your brethren. But it is not so. There be dark records in your +past which give little hope for the future. Nevertheless you are +yet young. Wisdom may come with the advance of years. But the hot +blood in you requires taming and curbing. You have proved +yourselves unfit for the place hitherto occupied as lords of the +broad lands bequeathed you by Res Vychan, your father. For the +present those lands are forfeit. You must win the right to call +them yours again by loyalty in the cause which every true Welshman +should have at heart, because it is the cause which alone can bring +peace and safety to your harassed country. It is not willingly that +we wrest from any man the lands that are his birthright. Less +willingly do we do this when homage, however unwilling and +reluctant, has been paid. But we have our duties to ourselves and +to our submitted subjects to consider, and it is not meet to send +firebrands alight into the world, when a spark may raise so fierce +a conflagration, and when hundreds of lives have to pay the penalty +of one mad act of headstrong youth. It is your youth that shall be +your excuse from the charge of graver offence, but those who are +too young to govern themselves are not fit to govern others."</p> +<p>Whilst the king had been speaking he had been closely studying +the faces of the twin brothers, who stood before him with their +eyes on the ground. These two lads, although by their stature and +appearance almost men, had not attained more than their sixteenth +year, and had by no means learned that control of feature which is +one of nature's hardest lessons. As the king's words made +themselves understood, their brows had darkened and their faces had +contracted with a fierce anger and rage, which betrayed itself also +in their clenched hands and heaving chests; and although they +remained speechless -- for the awe inspired by Edward's presence +could not but make itself felt even by them -- it was plain that +only the strongest efforts put upon themselves hindered them from +some outbreak of great violence.</p> +<p>Edward's eye rested sternly upon them for a moment, and then he +addressed himself once again to Wendot.</p> +<p>"To thee, Res Wendot," he said, "we give the charge of these two +turbulent brothers of thine. Had not the Prince Alphonso spoken for +them, we had kept them under our own care here in our fortress of +Rhuddlan. But he has pleaded for them that they have their liberty, +therefore into thy charge do we give them. Take them back with thee +to Dynevor, and strive to make them like unto thyself and thy +shadow there, who is, they tell me, thy youngest brother, and as +well disposed as thyself.</p> +<p>"Say, young man, wilt thou accept this charge, and be surety for +these haughty youths? If their own next-of-kin will not take this +office, we must look elsewhere for a sterner guardian."</p> +<p>For a moment Wendot hesitated, He knew well the untamable spirit +of his brothers, and the small influence he was likely to have upon +them, and for a moment his heart shrank from the task. But again he +bethought what his refusal must mean to them -- captivity of a more +or less irksome kind, harsh treatment perhaps, resulting in actual +imprisonment, and a sure loss of favour with any guardian who had +the least love for the English cause. At Dynevor they would at +least be free.</p> +<p>Surely, knowing all, they would not make his task too hard. The +tie of kindred was very close. Wendot remembered words spoken by +the dying bed of his parents, and his mind was quickly made up.</p> +<p>"I will be surety for them," he said briefly. "If they offend +again, let my life, my lands, be the forfeit."</p> +<p>The monarch gave him a searching glance. Perhaps some of the +effort with which he had spoken made itself audible in his tones. +He looked full at Wendot for a brief minute, and then turned to the +black-browed twins.</p> +<p>"You hear your brother's pledge," he said in low, stern tones. +"If you have the feelings of men of honour, you will respect the +motive which prompts him to give it, and add no difficulties to the +task he has imposed upon himself. Be loyal to him, and loyal to the +cause he has embraced, and perchance a day may come when you may so +have redeemed your past youthful follies as to claim and receive at +our hands the lands we now withhold. In the meantime they will be +administered by Raoul Latimer, who will draw the revenues and +maintain order there. He has proved his loyalty in many ways ere +this, and he is to be trusted, as one day I hope you twain may +be."</p> +<p>Llewelyn started as if he had been stung as these words crossed +the king's lips. His black eyes flashed fire, and as he lifted his +head and met the mocking glance of Raoul, it seemed for a moment as +if actually in the presence of the king he would have flown at his +antagonist's throat; but Wendot's hand was on his arm, and even +Howel had the self-command to whisper a word of caution. Alphonso +sprang gaily between the angry youth and his father's keen glance, +and began talking eagerly of Dynevor, asking how the brothers would +spend their time, now that they were all to live there once more; +whilst Arthyn, coming forward, drew Llewelyn gently backward, +casting at Raoul a look of such bitter scorn and hatred that he +involuntarily shrank before it.</p> +<p>"Thou hast taken a heavy burden upon thy young shoulders, lad," +said a well-remembered voice in Wendot's ear, and looking up, he +met the calm gaze of Lord Montacute bent upon him; whilst Gertrude, +flushing and sparkling, stood close beside her father. "Thinkest +thou that such tempers as those will be easily controlled?"</p> +<p>Wendot's face was grave, and looked manly in its noble +thoughtfulness.</p> +<p>"I know not what to say; but, in truth, I could have given no +other answer. Could I leave my own brethren to languish in +captivity, however honourable, when a word from me would free them? +Methinks, sir, thou scarce knowest what freedom is to us wild sons +of Wales, or how the very thought of any hindrance to perfect +liberty chafes our spirit and frets us past the limit of endurance. +Sooner than be fettered by bonds, however slack, I would spring +from yonder casement and dash myself to pieces upon the stones +below. To give my brothers up into unfriendly hands would be giving +them up to certain death. If my spirit could not brook such +control, how much less could theirs?"</p> +<p>Gertrude's soft eyes gave eloquent and sympathetic response. +Wendot had unconsciously addressed his justification to her rather +than to her father. Her quick sympathy gave him heart and hope. She +laid her hand upon his arm and said:</p> +<p>"I think thou art very noble, Wendot; it was like thee to do it. +I was almost grieved when I heard thee take the charge upon +thyself, for I fear it may be one of peril to thee. But I love thee +the more for thy generosity. Thou wilt be a true and brave knight +ere thou winnest thy spurs in battle."</p> +<p>Wendot's face flushed with shy happiness at hearing such frank +and unqualified praise from one he was beginning to hold so dear. +Lord Montacute laid his hand smilingly on his daughter's mouth, as +if to check her ready speech, and then bidding her join the Lady +Joanna, who was making signals to her from the other side of the +room, he drew Wendot a little away into an embrasure, and spoke to +him in tones of considerable gravity.</p> +<p>"Young man," he said, "I know not if thou hast any memory left +of the words I spake to thee when last we met at Dynevor?"</p> +<p>Wendot's colour again rose, but his glance did not waver.</p> +<p>"I remember right well," he answered simply. "I spoke words then +of which I have often thought since -- words that I have not +repented till today, nor indeed till I heard thee pass that pledge +which makes thee surety for thy turbulent brothers."</p> +<p>A quick, troubled look crossed Wendot's face, but he did not +speak, and Lord Montacute continued -- "I greatly fear that thou +hast undertaken more than thou canst accomplish; and that, instead +of drawing thy brothers from the paths of peril, thou wilt rather +be led by them into treacherous waters, which may at last overwhelm +thee. You are all young together, and many dangers beset the steps +of youth. Thou art true and loyal hearted, that I know well; but +thou art a Welshman, and --"</p> +<p>He paused and stopped short, and Wendot answered, not without +pride:</p> +<p>"I truly am a Welshman -- it is my boast to call myself that. If +you fear to give your daughter to one of that despised race, so be +it. I would not drag her down to degradation; I love her too well +for that. Keep her to thyself. I give thee back thy pledge."</p> +<p>Lord Montacute smiled as he laid his hand upon the young man's +shoulder.</p> +<p>"So hot and hasty, Wendot, as hasty as those black-haired twins. +Yet, boy, I like thee for thy outspoken candour, and I would not +have thee change it for the smooth treachery of courtly intrigue. +If I had nought else to think of, I would plight my daughter's hand +to thee, an ye both were willing, more gladly than to any man I +know. But, Wendot, she is mine only child, and very dear to me. +There are others who would fain win her smiles, others who would be +proud to do her lightest behest. She is yet but a child. Perchance +she has not seriously considered these matters. Still there will +come a time when she will do so, and --"</p> +<p>"Then let her choose where she will," cried Wendot, proudly and +hotly. "Think you I would wed one whose heart was given elsewhere? +Take back your pledge -- think of it no more. If the day comes when +I may come to her free and unfettered, and see if she has any +regard for me, good. I will come. But so long as you hold that +peril menaces my path, I will not ask her even to think of me. Let +her forget. I will not bind her by a word. It shall be as if those +words had never passed betwixt us."</p> +<p>Lord Montacute scarce knew if regret, relief, or admiration were +the feeling uppermost in his mind, as the youth he believed so +worthy of his fair daughter, and perhaps not entirely indifferent +to her dawning charms, thus frankly withdrew his claim upon her +hand. It seems strange to us that any one should be talking and +thinking so seriously of matrimony when the girl was but fourteen +and the youth three years her senior; but in those days marriages +were not only planned but consummated at an absurdly early age +according to our modern notions, and brides of fifteen and sixteen +were considered almost mature. Many young men of Wendot's age would +be seriously seeking a wife, and although no such thought had +entered his head until he had seen Gertrude again, it cannot be +denied that the idea had taken some hold upon him now, or that he +did not feel a qualm of pain and sorrow at thus yielding up one +bright hope just when the task he had taken upon himself seemed to +be clouding his life with anxiety and peril.</p> +<p>"Boy," said Lord Montacute, "I cannot forget what thou hast done +nor what she owes to thee. I love thee well, and would fain welcome +thee as a son; but my love for her bids me wait till we see what is +the result of this office thou hast taken on thyself. Thou hast +acted rightly and nobly, but in this world trouble often seems to +follow the steps of those who strive most after the right. If thine +own life, thine own possessions, are to pay the forfeit if thy +brethren fall away into rebellion -- and Edward, though a just man +and kind, can be stern to exact the uttermost penalty when he is +angered or defied -- then standest thou in sore peril, peril from +which I would shield my maid. Wherefore --"</p> +<p>"Nay, say no more -- say no more. I comprehend it all too well," +replied Wendot, not without a natural though only momentary feeling +of bitterness at the thought of what this pledge was already +costing him, but his native generosity and sweetness of temper soon +triumphed over all besides, and he said with his peculiarly bright +and steadfast smile, "You have judged rightly and well for us both, +my lord. Did I but drag her down to sorrow and shame, it would be +the bitterest drop in a bitter cup. A man placed as I am is better +without ties."</p> +<p>"Also the days will soon pass by, and the time will come when +this charge ceases. Then if the Lady Gertrude be still mistress of +her hand and heart, and if the Lord of Dynevor comes to try his +fate, methinks, by what I have seen and heard, that he may chance +to get no unkindly answer to his wooing."</p> +<p>Wendot made no reply, but only blushed deeply as he moved away. +He scarce knew whether he were glad or sorry that Gertrude came out +to meet him, and drew him towards the little group which had +gathered in a deep embrasure of the window. Joanna, Alphonso, and +Griffeth were there. They had been eagerly questioning the younger +lad about life at Dynevor, and what they would do when they were at +home all together. Joanna was longing to travel that way and lodge +a night there; and Gertrude was eloquent in praise of the castle, +and looked almost wistfully at Wendot to induce him to add his +voice to the general testimony. But he was unwontedly grave and +silent, and her soft eyes filled with tears. She knew that he was +heavy hearted, and it cut her to the quick; but he did not speak of +his trouble, and only Alphonso ventured to allude to it, and that +was by one quick sentence as he was taking his departure at +bedtime.</p> +<p>"Wendot," he said earnestly, "I will ever be thy friend. Fear +not. My father denies me nothing. Thy trial may be a hard one, but +thou wilt come nobly forth from it. I will see that harm to thee +comes not from thy generosity. Only be true to us, and thou shalt +not suffer."</p> +<p>Wendot made no reply, but the words were like a gleam of +sunshine breaking through the clouds; and one more such gleam was +in store for him on the morrow, when he bid a final adieu to +Gertrude before the general departure for Dynevor.</p> +<p>"I have my half gold coin, Wendot. I shall look at it every day +and think of thee. I am so happy that we have seen each other once +again. Thou wilt not forget me, Wendot?"</p> +<p>"Never so long as I live," he answered with sudden fervour, +raising the small hand he held to his lips. "And some day, +perchance, Lady Gertrude, I will come to thee again."</p> +<p>"I shall be waiting for thee," she answered, with a mixture of +arch sweetness and playfulness that he scarce knew whether to call +childlike confidence or maiden trust. But the look in her eyes went +to his heart, and was treasured there, like the memory of a +sunbeam, for many long days to come.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a>. TURBULENT +SPIRITS.</h2> +<p>The four sons of Res Vychan went back to Dynevor together, there +to settle down, outwardly at least, to a quiet and uneventful life, +chiefly diversified by hunting and fishing, and such adventures as +are inseparable from those pastimes in which eager lads are +engrossed.</p> +<p>Wendot both looked and felt older for his experiences in the +castle of Rhuddlan. His face had lost much of its boyishness, and +had taken a thoughtfulness beyond his years. Sometimes he appeared +considerably oppressed by the weight of the responsibility with +which he had charged himself, and would watch the movements and +listen to the talk of the twins with but slightly concealed +uneasiness.</p> +<p>Yet as days merged into weeks, and weeks lengthened into months, +and still there had been nothing to alarm him unduly, he began, as +the inclement winter drew on, to breathe more freely; for in the +winter months all hostilities of necessity ceased, for the mountain +passes were always blocked with snow, and both travelling and +fighting were practically out of the question for a considerable +time.</p> +<p>Wendot, too, had matters enough to occupy his mind quite apart +from the charge of his two haughty brothers. He had his own estates +to administer -- no light task for a youth not yet eighteen -- and +his large household to order; and though Griffeth gave him every +help, Llewelyn and Howel stood sullenly aloof, and would not appear +to take the least interest in anything that appertained to Dynevor, +although they gave no reason for their conduct, and were not in +other ways unfriendly to their brothers.</p> +<p>The country was for the time being quiet and at peace. Exhausted +by its own internal struggles and by the late disastrous campaign +against the English, the land was, as it were, resting and +recruiting itself, in preparation, perhaps, for another outbreak +later on. In the meantime, sanguine spirits like those of Wendot +and Griffeth began to cherish hopes that the long and weary +struggle was over at last, and that the nation, as a nation, would +begin to realize the wisdom and the advantage of making a friend +and ally of the powerful monarch of England, instead of provoking +him to acts of tyranny and retaliation by perpetual and fruitless +rebellions against a will far too strong to be successfully +resisted.</p> +<p>But Llewelyn and Howel never spoke of the English without words +and looks indicative of the deepest hatred; and the smouldering +fire in their breasts was kept glowing and burning by the wild +words and the wilder songs of the old bard Wenwynwyn, who spent the +best part of his time shut up in his own bare room, with his harp +for his companion, in which room Llewelyn and Howel spent much of +their time during the dark winter days, when they could be less and +less out of doors.</p> +<p>Since that adventure of the Eagle's Crag, Wendot had distrusted +the old minstrel, and was uneasy at the influence he exercised upon +the twins; but the idea of sending him from Dynevor was one which +never for a moment entered his head. Had not Wenwynwyn grown old in +his father's service? Had he not been born and bred at Dynevor? The +young lord himself seemed to have a scarce more assured right to +his place there than the ancient bard. Be he friend or be he foe, +at Dynevor he must remain so long as the breath remained in his +body.</p> +<p>The bard was, by hereditary instinct, attached to all the boys, +but of late there had been but little community of thought between +him and his young chieftain. Wendot well knew the reason. The old +man hated the English with the bitter, unreasoning, deadly hatred +of his wild, untutored nature. Had he not sprung from a race whose +lives had been spent in rousing in the breasts of all who heard +them the most fervent and unbounded patriotic enthusiasm? And was +it to be marvelled at that he could not see or understand the +changes of the times or the hopelessness of the long struggle, now +that half the Welsh nobles were growing cool in the national cause, +and the civilization and wealth of the sister country were +beginning to show them that their own condition left much to be +desired, and that there was something better and higher to be +achieved than a so-called liberty, only maintained at the cost of +perpetual bloodshed? or a series of petty feuds for supremacy, +which went far to keep the land in a state of semi-barbarism?</p> +<p>So the old bard sang his wild songs, and Llewelyn and Howel sat +by the glowing fire of logs that blazed in the long winter evenings +upon his hearth, listening to his fierce words, and hardening their +hearts and bracing their wills against any kind of submission to a +foreign yoke. A burning hatred against the English king also +consumed them. Had they not, at the cost of most bitter +humiliation, gone to him as vassals, trusting to his promise that +all who did homage for their lands should be confirmed in peaceful +possession of the same? And how had he treated this act of painful +submission? Was it greatly to be wondered at that their hearts +burned with an unquenchable hatred? To them Edward stood as the +type of all that was cruel and treacherous and grasping. They +brooded over their wrongs by day and by night; they carried their +dark looks with them when they stirred abroad or when they rested +at home. Wenwynwyn sympathized as none besides seemed to do, and he +became their great solace and chief counsellor.</p> +<p>Wendot might uneasily wonder what passed in that quiet room of +the old man's, but he never knew or guessed. He would better have +liked to hear Llewelyn burst forth into the old passionate +invective. He was uneasy at this chronic state of gloom and sullen +silence on the vexed question of English supremacy. But seldom a +word passed the lips of either twin. They kept their secret -- if +secret they had -- locked away in their own breasts. And days and +weeks and months passed by, and Wendot and Griffeth seemed almost +as much alone at Dynevor as they had been after their father's +death, when Llewelyn and Howel had betaken themselves to their +castle of Carregcennen.</p> +<p>But at least, if silent and sullen, they did not appear to +entertain any plan likely to raise anxiety in Wendot's mind as to +the pledge he had given to the king. They kept at home, and never +spoke of Iscennen, and as the winter passed away and the spring +began to awaken the world from her long white sleep, they betook +themselves with zest to their pastime of hunting, and went long +expeditions that sometimes lasted many days, returning laden with +spoil, and apparently in better spirits from the bracing nature of +their pursuits.</p> +<p>Griffeth, who had felt the cold somewhat keenly, and had been +drooping and languid all the winter, picked up strength and spirit +as the days grew longer and warmer, and began to enjoy open-air +life once more.</p> +<p>Wendot was much wrapped up in this young brother of his, who had +always been dearer to him than any being in the world besides.</p> +<p>Since he had been at death's door with the fever, Griffeth had +never recovered the robustness of health which had hitherto been +the characteristic of the Dynevor brothers all their lives. He was +active and energetic when the fit was on him, but he wearied soon +of any active sport. He could no longer bound up the mountain paths +with the fleetness and elasticity of a mountain deer, and in the +keen air of the higher peaks it was difficult for him to +breathe.</p> +<p>Still in the summer days he was almost his former self again, or +so Wendot hoped; and although Griffeth's lack of rude health +hindered both from joining the long expeditions planned and carried +out by the twins, it never occurred to Wendot to suspect that there +was an ulterior motive for these, or to realize how unwelcome his +presence would have been had he volunteered it, in lieu of staying +behind with Griffeth, and contenting himself with less adventurous +sports.</p> +<p>Spring turned to summer, and summer to autumn, and life at +Dynevor seemed to move quietly enough. Griffeth took a fancy to +book learning -- a rare enough accomplishment in those days -- and +a monk from the Abbey of Strata Florida was procured to give him +instruction in the obscure science of reading and writing. Wendot, +who had a natural love of study, and who had been taught something +of these mysteries by his mother -- she being for the age she lived +in a very cultivated woman -- shared his brother's studies, and +delighted in the acquirement of learning.</p> +<p>But this new development on the part of the Lord of Dynevor and +his brother seemed to divide them still more from the two remaining +sons of Res Vychan; and the old bard would solemnly shake his head +and predict certain ruin to the house when its master laid aside +sword for pen, and looked for counsel to the monk and missal +instead of to his good right hand and his faithful band of armed +retainers.</p> +<p>Wendot and Griffeth would smile at these dark sayings, and loved +their studies none the less because they opened out before them +some better understanding of the blessings of peace and culture +upon a world harried and exhausted with perpetual, aimless strife; +but their more enlightened opinions seemed but to widen the breach +between them and their brothers, and soon they began to be almost +strangers to each other.</p> +<p>Wendot and Griffeth regretted this without seeing how to mend +matters. They felt sorry for Llewelyn and Howel, deprived of the +employments and authority they had enjoyed of late, and would have +gladly given them a share of authority in Dynevor; but this they +would not accept, drawing more and more away into themselves, and +sharing their confidences with no one except Wenwynwyn.</p> +<p>The summer was now on the wane, and the blustering winds of the +equinox had begun to moan about the castle walls. The men were busy +getting in the last of the fruits of the earth and storing them up +against the winter need, whilst the huntsmen brought in day by day +stores of venison and game, which the women salted down for +consumption during the long dreary days when snow should shut them +within their own walls, and no fresh meat would be obtainable.</p> +<p>It was a busy season, and Wendot had time and mind alike full. +He heeded little the movements of his brothers, whom he thought +engrossed in the pleasures of the chase. He was not even aware that +old Wenwynwyn was absent for several days from the castle, for +since the estrangement between him and the old man he was often +days at a time without encountering him.</p> +<p>Llewelyn and Howel were visibly restless just now. They did not +go far from the castle, nor did they seem interested in the spoil +the hunters brought home. But they spent many long hours in the +great gallery where the arms of the retainers were laid up, and +their heads were often to be seen close together in deep +discussion, although if any person came near to disturb them they +would spring asunder, or begin loudly discussing some indifferent +theme.</p> +<p>They were in this vast, gloomy place, sitting together in the +deep embrasure of one of the narrow windows as the daylight began +to fail, when suddenly they beheld Wenwynwyn stalking through the +long gallery as if in search of them, and they sprang forward to +greet him with unconcealed eagerness.</p> +<p>"Thou hast returned."</p> +<p>"Ay, my sons, I have returned, and am the bearer of good news. +But this is not the place to speak. Stones have ears, and traitors +abound even in these hoary walls which have echoed to the songs of +the bard for more years than man can count. Ah, woe the day; ah, +woe the falling off! That I should live to see the sons of Dynevor +thus fall away -- the young eaglets leaving their high estate to +grovel with the carrion vulture and the coward crow! Ah! in old +days it was not so. But there are yet those of the degenerate race +in whom the spirit of their fathers burns. Come, my sons -- come +hither with me. I bring you a message from Iscennen that will +gladden your hearts to hear."</p> +<p>The boys pressed after him up the narrow, winding stair that led +to the room the bard called his own. It was remote from the rest of +the castle, and words spoken within its walls could be heard by +none outside. It was a place that had heard much plotting and +planning ere now, and what was to be spoken tonight was but the +sequel of what had gone before.</p> +<p>"Speak, Wenwynwyn, speak!" cried the twins in a breath. "Has he +returned thither?"</p> +<p>"Ay, my sons; he has come back in person to receive his 'dues,' +and to look into all that has passed in his absence. These eyes +have seen the false, smiling face of the usurper, who sits in the +halls which have rung to the sound of yon harp in days when the +accursed foot of the stranger would have been driven with blows +from the door. He is there, and --"</p> +<p>"And they hate and despise and contemn him," cried Llewelyn in +wild excitement. "Every man of Iscennen is his foe. Do not I know +it? Have we not proved it? There is no one but will rise at the +sound of my trumpet, to follow me to victory or death.</p> +<p>"Wenwynwyn, speak! thou hast bid us wait till the hour has come +till all things be ripe for action. Tell us, has not that hour +come? Hast thou not come to bid us draw the sword, and wrest our +rightful inheritance from the hand of the spoiler and alien?"</p> +<p>"Ay, verily, that hour has come," cried the old bard, with a +wild gesture. "The spoiler is there, lurking in his den. His eyes +are roving round in hungry greed to spoil the poor man of his +goods, to wrest the weapon from the strong. He is fearful in the +midst of his state -- fearful of those he calls his vassals -- +those he would crush with his iron glove, and wring dry even as a +sponge is wrung. Ay, the hour is come. The loyal patriots have +looked upon your faces, my sons, and see in you their liberators. +Go now, when the traitor whose life you saved is gloating over his +spoil in his castle walls. Go and show him what it is to rob the +young lions of their prey; show him what it is to strive with +eagles, when only the blood of the painted jay runs in his craven +veins. Saw I not fear, distrust, and hatred in every line of that +smooth face? Think you that he is happy in the possession of what +he sold his soul to gain? Go, and the victory will be yours. Go; +all Iscennen will be with you. Wenwynwyn has not sung his songs in +vain amongst those hardy people! He has prepared the way. Go! +victory lies before you."</p> +<p>The boys' hearts swelled within them at these words. It was not +for nothing that they, with their own faithful followers, sworn to +secrecy, had absented themselves again and again from Dynevor +Castle on the pretence of long hunting expeditions. It was true +that they had hunted game, that they had brought home abundance of +spoil with them; but little had Llewelyn or Howel to do with the +taking of that prey. They had been at Iscennen; they had travelled +the familiar tracks once again, and had found nothing but the most +enthusiastic welcome from their own people, the greatest hatred for +the foreign lordling, who had been foisted upon them by edict of +the king.</p> +<p>Truly Raoul Latimer had won but a barren triumph in gaining for +himself the lands of Iscennen. A very short residence there had +proved enough for him, and he had withdrawn, in fear that if he did +not do so some fatal mischance would befall him. He had reigned +there as an absentee ever since, not less cursed and hated for the +oppressive measures taken in his name than when he had been the +active agent.</p> +<p>Matters were ripe for revolt. There only wanted the time and the +occasion. The leader was already to hand -- the old lord, young in +years, Llewelyn ap Res Vychan, and Howel his brother. With the +twins at their head, Iscennen would rise to a man; and then let +Raoul Latimer look to himself! For the Welsh, when once aroused to +strike, struck hard; and it cannot be denied that they ofttimes +struck treacherously beside.</p> +<p>Small wonder if, as Wenwynwyn declared, young Raoul had found +but small satisfaction in his visit to his new estate, and lived +upon it in terror of his very life, though surrounded by the solid +walls of his own castle.</p> +<p>The hour had come. Llewelyn and Howel were about to taste the +keen joy of revenging themselves upon a foe they hated and +abhorred, about to take at least one step towards reinstating +themselves in their ancestral halls. But the second object was +really less dear to them than the first. If the hated Raoul could +be slain, or made to fly in ignominy and disgrace, they cared +little who reigned in his place. Their own tenure at Carregcennen +under existing circumstances they knew to be most insecure, and +although they had organized and were to lead the attack, they were +to do so disguised, and those who knew the share they were to take +were pledged not to betray it.</p> +<p>Loose as had grown the bond between the brothers of late, the +twins were not devoid of a certain rude code of honour of their +own, and had no wish to involve Wendot in ruin and disgrace. He was +surety for their good behaviour, and if it became known to Edward +that they had led the attack on one of his English subjects, +Dynevor itself might pay the forfeit of his displeasure, and Wendot +might have to answer with his life, as he had offered to do, for +his brothers. Thus, though this consideration was not strong enough +to keep the twins from indulging their ungovernable hatred to their +foe, it made them cautious about openly appearing in the matter +themselves; and when, upon a wild, blustering night not many days +later, a little band of hardy Welshmen, all armed to the teeth, +crept with the silent caution of wild beasts along a rocky pathway +which led by a subterranean way, known only to Llewelyn and Howel, +into the keep of the castle itself; none would have recognized in +the blackened faces of the two leaders, covered, as they appeared +to be, with a tangled growth of hair and beard, the countenances of +the sons of Res Vychan; whilst the stalwart, muscular figures +seemed rather to belong to men than lads, and assisted the disguise +not a little.</p> +<p>The hot-headed but by no means intrepid young Englishman, who +had not had the courage to remain long in the possessions he had +coveted, and who was fervently wishing that this second visit was +safely over, was aroused from his slumbers by the clash of arms, +and by the terrified cries of the guard he always placed about +him.</p> +<p>"The Welsh wolves are upon us!" he heard a voice cry out in the +darkness. "We are undone -- betrayed! Every man for himself! They +are murdering every soul they meet."</p> +<p>In a passion of rage and terror Raoul sprang from his bed, and +commenced hurrying into his clothes as fast as his trembling hands +would allow him. In vain he called to his servants; they had every +man of them fled. Below he heard the clash of arms, and the +terrible guttural cries with which the Welsh always rushed into +battle, and which echoed through the halls of Carregcennen like the +trump of doom.</p> +<p>It was a terrible moment for the young Englishman, alone, +half-armed, and at the mercy of a merciless foe. He looked wildly +round for some means of escape. The tread of many feet was on the +stairs. To attempt resistance was hopeless. Flight was the only +resource left him, and in a mad impulse of terror he flung himself +on the floor, and crept beneath the bed, the arras of which +concealed him from sight. There he lay panting and trembling, +whilst the door was burst open and armed men came flocking in.</p> +<p>"Ha, flown already!" cried a voice which did not seem entirely +unfamiliar to the shivering youth, though he could not have said +exactly to whom it belonged, and was in no mood to cudgel his +brains on the subject.</p> +<p>He understood too little of the Welsh tongue to follow what was +said, but with unspeakable relief he heard steps pass from the +room; for even his foes did not credit him with the cowardice which +would drive a man to perish like a rat in a hole rather than sword +in hand like a knight and a soldier.</p> +<p>The men had dashed out, hot in pursuit, believing him to be +attempting escape through some of the many outlets of the castle; +and Raoul, still shivering and craven, was just creeping out from +his hiding place, resolved to try to find his way to the outer +world, when he uttered a gasp and stood or rather crouched +spellbound where he was; for, standing beside a table on which the +dim light of a night candle burned, binding up a gash in his arm +with a scarf belonging to the Englishman, was a tall, stalwart, +soldierly figure, that turned quickly at the sound made by the +wretched Raoul.</p> +<p>"Spare me, spare me!" cried the miserable youth, as the man with +a quick movement grasped his weapon and advanced towards him.</p> +<p>He did not know if his English would be understood, but it +appeared to be, for the reply was spoken in the same tongue, though +the words had strong Welsh accent.</p> +<p>"And wherefore should I spare you? What have you done that we of +Iscennen should look upon you as other than a bitter foe? By what +right are you here wringing our life blood from us? Why should I +not stamp the miserable life out of you as you lie grovelling at my +feet? Wales were well quit of such craven hounds as you."</p> +<p>"Spare me, and I renounce my claim. I swear by all that is holy +that if you will but grant me my life I will repair to the king's +court without delay, and I will yield up to him every claim which I +have on these lands. I swear it by all that is holy in heaven and +earth."</p> +<p>"And what good shall we reap from that? We shall but have +another English tyrant set over us. Better kill thee outright, as a +warning to all who may come after."</p> +<p>But Raoul clasped the knees of his foe, and lifted his voice +again in passionate appeal.</p> +<p>"Kill me not; what good would that do you or your cause? I tell +you it would but raise Edward's ire, and he would come with fire +and sword to devastate these lands as I have never done. Listen, +and I will tell you what I will do. Spare but my life, and I will +entreat the king to restore these lands to your feudal lords, +Llewelyn and Howel ap Res Vychan. It was by my doing that they were +wrested from them. I confess it freely now. Grant me but my life, +and I will undo the work I have done. I will restore to you your +youthful chiefs. Again I swear it; and I have the ear of his Grace. +If thou hast thy country's cause at heart thou wilt hear me in this +thing. I will give you back the lords you all love. I will trouble +you no more myself. I would I had never seen this evil place. It +has been nought but a curse to me from the day it was +bestowed."</p> +<p>The man uttered a harsh laugh, and stood as if considering. +Raoul, whose eyes never left the shining blade his foe held +suspended in his hand, pleaded yet more and more eloquently, and, +as it seemed, with some effect, for the soldier presently sheathed +his weapon, and bid the wretched youth rise and follow him. Raoul +obeying, soon found himself in the presence of a wild crew of Welsh +kerns, who were holding high revelry in the banqueting hall, whilst +his own English servants -- those, at least, who had not effected +their escape -- lay dead upon the ground, the presence of bleeding +corpses at their very feet doing nothing to check the savage mirth +and revelry of the victors, who had been joined by the whole of the +Welsh garrison, only too glad of an excuse for rising against the +usurper.</p> +<p>A silence fell upon the company as the dark-bearded soldier +marched his captive into the hall, the yell of triumph being hushed +by commanding gesture from the captor. A long and unintelligible +debate followed, Raoul only gathering from the faces of those +present what were their feelings towards him. He stood cowering and +quaking before that fierce assembly -- a pitiful object for all +eyes. But at length his captor briefly informed him that his terms +were accepted: that if he would write his request to the king and +obtain its fulfilment, he should go free with a whole skin; but +that, pending the negotiation, which could be carried on by the +fathers of the Abbey of Strata Florida, he would remain a close +prisoner, and his ransom would be the king's consent.</p> +<p>These were the best terms the unhappy Raoul could obtain for +himself, and he was forced to abide by them. The fathers of the +abbey were honest and trustworthy, and carried his letters to the +king as soon as they had penned them for him. Raoul was clever in +diplomatic matters, and was so anxious for his own safety that he +took good care not to drop a hint as to the evil conduct of the +people of Iscennen, which might draw upon them the royal wrath and +upon him instant death. He simply represented that he was weary of +his charge of this barren estate, that he preferred life in England +and at the court, and found the revenues very barren and +unprofitable. As the former owners had redeemed their character by +quiet conduct during the past year and a half, his gracious +Majesty, he hinted, might be willing to gratify them and their +people by reinstating them.</p> +<p>And when Edward read this report, and heard the opinion of the +father who had brought it -- a wily and a patriotic Welshman, who +knew how to plead his cause well -- he made no trouble about +restoring to Llewelyn and Howel their lands, only desiring that +Wendot should renew his pledge for their loyalty and good conduct, +and still hold himself responsible for his brothers to the +king.</p> +<p>And so Llewelyn and Howel went back to Carregcennen, and Wendot +and Griffeth remained at Dynevor, hoping with a fond hope that this +act of clemency and justice on the part of Edward would overcome in +the mind of the twins the deeply-seated hatred they had cherished +so long.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a>. THE RED FLAME OF WAR.</h2> +<p>"Wendot, Wendot, it is our country's call! Thou canst not hang +back. United we stand; divided we fall. Will the Prince of Dynevor +be the man to bring ruin upon a noble cause, by banding with the +alien oppressor against his own brethren? I will not believe it of +thee. Wendot, speak -- say that thou wilt go with us!"</p> +<p>Wendot was standing in his own hall at Dynevor. In the +background was a crowd of retainers and soldiers, so eagerly +discussing some matter of vital interest that the brothers stepped +outside upon the battlemented terrace to be out of hearing of the +noise of their eager voices.</p> +<p>There was a deep gravity on Wendot's face, which was no longer +the face of a boy, but of a youth of two-and-twenty summers, and +one upon whom the cares and responsibilities of life had sat +somewhat heavily. The tall, well-knit frame had taken upon it the +stature and developed grace of manhood; the sun-browned face was +lined with traces of thought and care, though the blue eyes +sparkled with their old bright and ready smile, and the stern lines +of the lips were shaded and hidden by the drooping moustache of +golden brown. There were majesty, power, and intellect stamped upon +the face of the young Lord of Dynevor, and it was very plain to all +who observed his relations with those about him that he was master +of his own possession, and that though he was greatly beloved by +all who came in contact with him, he was respected and obeyed, and +in some things feared.</p> +<p>By his side stood Griffeth, almost as much his shadow as of +yore. To a casual observer the likeness between the brothers was +very remarkable, but a closer survey showed many points of +dissimilarity. Griffeth's figure was slight to spareness, and save +in moments of excitement there was something of languor in his +movements. The colour in his cheeks was not the healthy brown of +exposure to sun and wind, but the fleeting hectic flush of +long-standing insidious disease, and his eyes had a far-away look +-- dreamy and absorbed; whilst those of his brother expressed +rather watchful observation of what went on around him, and +resolution to mould those about him to his will.</p> +<p>Facing this fair-haired pair were the twin Lords of Iscennen, +considerably changed from the sullen-looking lads of old days, but +still with many of their characteristics unchanged. They were +taller and more stoutly built than Wendot and Griffeth, and their +dark skins and coal-black hair gave something of ferocity and +wildness to their appearance, which look was borne out by the style +of dress adopted, whilst the young Lords of Dynevor affected +something of the refinement and richness of apparel introduced by +the English.</p> +<p>For the past years a friendly intercourse had been kept up +between Dynevor and Carregcennen. The country had been at peace -- +such peace as internal dissensions would allow it -- and no one had +disturbed the sons of Res Vychan in the possession of their +ancestral rights. The tie between the brothers had therefore been +more closely drawn, and Wendot's responsibility for the submissive +behaviour of the turbulent twins had made him keep a constant eye +upon them, and had withheld them on their side from attempting to +foment the small and fruitless struggles against English authority +which were from time to time arising between the border-land chief +and the Lords of the Marches.</p> +<p>But now something very different was in the wind. After almost +five years of peace with England, revolt had broken out in North +Wales. David, the brother of Llewelyn, had commenced it, and the +prince had followed the example thus set him. He had broken out +into open rebellion, and had summoned the whole nation to stand by +him in one united and gallant effort to free the country from the +foreign foe, and unite it once again as an undivided province +beneath the rule of one sovereign.</p> +<p>The call was enthusiastically responded to. North Wales rose as +one man, and flocked to the banners of the prince and his brother. +South Wales was feeling the contagion of coming strife, and the +pulse of the nation beat wildly at the thought that they might win +liberty by the overthrow of the foe. One after another the petty +chiefs, who had sworn fealty to Edward, renounced their allegiance, +and mustered their forces to join those of Llewelyn and David. The +whole country was in a wild ferment of patriotic excitement. The +hour seemed to them to have arrived when all could once again band +together in triumphant vindication of their national rights.</p> +<p>Llewelyn and Howel ap Res Vychan were amongst the first to +tender their allegiance to the cause, and, having sent on a compact +band of armed men to announce their coming in person, had +themselves hurried to Dynevor to persuade their brothers there to +join the national cause.</p> +<p>And they found Wendot less indisposed than they had feared. The +five years which had passed over his head since he had fallen under +the spell of the English king's regal sway had a good deal weakened +the impression then made upon him. Edward had not visited the +country in person since that day, and the conduct of the English +Lords of the Marches, and of those who held lands in the subjected +country, was not such as to endear their cause to the hearts of the +sons of Wales. Heart-burnings and jealousies were frequent, and +Wendot had often had his spirit stirred within him at some tale of +outrage and wrong. The upright justice of the king was not observed +by his subjects, and the hatred to any kind of foreign yoke was +inherently strong in these sons of the mountains. In the studies +the Dynevor brothers had prosecuted together they had imbibed many +noble thoughts and many lofty aspirations, and these, mingling with +the patriotic instinct so strongly bound up in the hearts of +Cambria's sons, had taught them a distrust of princes and an +intense love for freedom's cause, as well as a strong conviction +that right must ever triumph over might.</p> +<p>So when the news arrived that the north was in open revolt, it +struck a chord in the hearts of both brothers; and when the +dark-browed twins came with the news that they had openly joined +the standard of Llewelyn, they did not encounter the opposition +they had expected, and it was with an eager hopefulness that they +urged upon the Lord of Dynevor to lend the strength of his arm to +the national cause.</p> +<p>"Wendot, bethink thee. When was not Dynevor in the van when her +country called on her? If thou wilt go with us, we shall carry all +the south with us; but hang thou back, and the cause may be lost. +Brother, why dost thou hesitate? why dost thou falter? It is the +voice of thy country calling thee. Wilt thou not heed that call? O +Wendot, thou knowest that when our parents lived -- when they bid +us not look upon the foe with too great bitterness -- it was only +because a divided Wales could not stand, and that submission to +England was better than the rending of the kingdom by internal +strife. But if she would have stood united against the foreign foe, +thinkest thou they would ever have held back? Nay; Res Vychan, our +father, would have been foremost in the strife. Are we not near in +blood to Llewelyn of Wales, prince of the north? Doth not the tie +of blood as well as the call of loyalty urge us to his side? Why +dost thou ponder still? Why dost thou hesitate? Throw to the wind +all idle scruples, and come. Think what a glorious future may lie +before our country if we will but stand together now!"</p> +<p>Wendot's cheek flushed, his eye kindled. He did indeed believe +that were his father living he would be one of the first to hasten +to his kinsman's side. If indeed the united country could be strong +enough to throw off the yoke, what a victory it would be! Was not +every son of Wales bound to his country's cause at such a time?</p> +<p>There was but one thing that made him hesitate. Was his word of +honour in any wise pledged to Edward? He had paid him homage for +his lands: did that act bind him to obedience at all costs?</p> +<p>But such refinements of honour were in advance of the thought of +the time, incomprehensible to the wilder spirits by whom he was +surrounded. Llewelyn answered the brief objection by a flood of +rude eloquence, and Howel struck in with another argument not +without its weight.</p> +<p>"Wendot, whatever course thou takest thou art damned in Edward's +eyes. Thou hast held thyself surety for us, and nought but death +will hold us back from the cry of our country in her need. Envious +eyes are cast already by the rapacious English upon these fair +lands of thine, which these years of peace have given thee +opportunity to enrich and beautify. Let the king once hear that we +have rebelled, and his nobles will claim thy lands, thy life, thy +liberty, and thou must either yield all in ignominious flight or +take up arms to defend thyself and thine own. I trow that no son of +Res Vychan will stand calmly by to see himself thus despoiled; and +if thou must fight, fight now, forestall the foe, and come out +sword in hand at thy country's call, and let us fight shoulder to +shoulder and hand to hand, as our forefathers have done before us. +Thou knowest somewhat of English rule, now that thou hast lived +beneath it these past years. Say, wilt thou still keep thy neck +beneath the yoke, or wilt thou do battle like a warrior for liberty +and independence? By our act thou art lost -- yet not even that +thought can hold us back -- then why not stand or fall as a +soldier, sword in hand, than be trapped like a rat in a hole in +inglorious inaction? For methinks whatever else betided thou +wouldst not raise thy hand against thy countrymen, even if thy +feudal lord should demand it of thee."</p> +<p>"Never!" cried Wendot fiercely, and his quick mind revolved the +situation thus thrust upon him whilst Howel was yet speaking.</p> +<p>He saw at once that a course of neutrality would be impossible +to him. Fight he must, either as Edward's vassal or his foe. The +first was impossible; the second was fraught with a keen joy and +secret sense of exultation. It was true what Howel said: he would +be held responsible for his brothers' revolt. The English harpies +would make every endeavour to poison the king's mind, so that they +might wrest from him his inheritance. He would be required to take +up arms against his brothers, and his refusal to do so would be his +death warrant. Disgrace and ruin lay before him should he abide by +such a course. The other promised at least glory and renown, and +perhaps a soldier's death, or, better still, the independence of +his country -- the final throwing off of the tyrant's yoke.</p> +<p>His heart swelled within him; his eyes shone with a strange +fire. Only one thought checked the immediate utterance of his +decision, and that was the vision of a pair of dark soft eyes, and +a child's face in which something of dawning womanhood was visible, +smiling upon him in complete and loving trust.</p> +<p>Yes, Wendot had not forgotten Gertrude; but time had done its +work, and the image of the fair face was somewhat dim and hazy. He +yet wore about his neck the half of the gold coin she had given +him; but if he sometimes sighed as he looked upon it, it was a sigh +without much real bitterness or regret. He had a tender spot in his +memory for the little maid he had saved at the risk of his own +life, but it amounted to little more than a pleasant memory. He had +no doubt that she had long ago been wedded to some English noble, +whose estates outshone those of Dynevor in her father's eyes.</p> +<p>During the first years after his return home he had wondered +somewhat whether the earl and his daughter would find their way +again to the rich valley of the Towy; but the years passed by and +they came not, and the brief dream of Wendot's dawning youth soon +ceased to have any real hold upon him. If her father had had any +thoughts of mating her with the Lord of Dynevor, he would have +taken steps for bringing the young people together.</p> +<p>The last doubt fled as Wendot thought this over; and whilst his +brothers yet spoke, pointing to the rich stretch of country that +lay before their eyes in all the glory of its autumn dress, and +asking if that were not an inheritance worthy to be fought for, +Wendot suddenly held out his hand, and said in clear, ringing +tones:</p> +<p>"Brothers, I go with you. I too will give my life and my all for +the liberty of our land. The Lord of Dynevor shall not be slack to +respond to his country's call. Methinks indeed the hour has come. I +will follow our kinsman whithersoever he shall bid."</p> +<p>Llewelyn and Howel grasped the outstretched hand, and from +within the castle walls there burst forth the strains of wild +melody from the harp of old Wenwynwyn. It seemed almost as though +he must have heard the words that bound Wendot to the national +cause, so exultant and triumphant were the strains which awoke +beneath his hands.</p> +<p>It was but a few days later that the four brothers rode forth +from beneath the arched gateway of Dynevor, all armed to the teeth, +and with a goodly following of armed attendants. Wendot and +Griffeth paused at a short distance from the castle to look back, +whilst a rush of strange and unwonted emotion brought the tears to +Griffeth's eyes which he trusted none saw beside.</p> +<p>There stood the grand old castle, his home from childhood -- the +place around which all the associations of a lifetime gathered. It +was to him the ideal of all that was beautiful and strong and even +holy -- the massive walls of the fortress rising grandly from the +rocky platform, with the dark background of trees now burning with +the rich hues of autumn. The fair valley stretched before their +eyes, every winding of which was familiar to them, as was also +every individual tree or crag or stretch of moorland fell as far as +eye could see. The very heart strings of Wendot and Griffeth seemed +bound round these homelike and familiar things; and there was +something strangely wistful in the glances thrown around him by the +young Lord of Dynevor as he reined in his horse, and motioning to +the armed followers to pass him, stood with Griffeth for a few +brief moments alone and silent, whilst the cavalcade was lost to +sight in the windings of the road.</p> +<p>"Is it a last farewell?" murmured the younger of the brothers +beneath his breath. "Shall I ever see this fair scene again?"</p> +<p>And Wendot answered not, for he had no words in which to do so. +He had been fully occupied all these last days -- too much occupied +to have had time for regretful thought; but Griffeth had been +visiting every haunt of his boyhood with strange feelings of +impending trouble, and his cheek was pale with the stress of his +emotion, and his voice was husky with the intensity of the strain +he was putting upon himself.</p> +<p>"Griffeth, Griffeth!" cried Wendot suddenly, "have I done wrong +in this thing? I asked not thy gentle counsel, yet thou didst not +bid me hold back. But tell me, have I been wrong? Could I have done +other than I have?"</p> +<p>"I think not that thou couldst. This seems like a call from our +country, to which no son of hers may be deaf. And it is true that +our brothers have undone thee, and that even wert thou not willing +to take up arms against them and thy countrymen, the rupture with +Edward is inevitable. No, I am with thee in what thou hast done. +The Lord of Dynevor must show himself strong in defence of his +country's rights.</p> +<p>"Yet my heart is heavy as I look around me. For we are going +forth to danger and death, and who knows what may betide ere we see +these fair lands again, or whether we may ever return to see them +more?"</p> +<p>Wendot would fain have replied with cheerful assurance, but a +strange rush of emotion came over him as he gazed at his +childhood's home, together with a sudden strong presentiment that +there was something prophetic in his brother's words. He gazed upon +the gray battlements and the brawling river with a passionate +ardour in his glance, and then turning quickly upon Griffeth, he +said:</p> +<p>"Brother, why shouldst thou leave it? thou art more fit for the +safe shelter of home than for the strife of a winter war. Why +shouldst thou come forth with us? Let us leave thee here in safety +--"</p> +<p>"Wendot!"</p> +<p>It was but one word, but the volume of reproach compressed into +it brought Wendot to a sudden stop. They looked into each other's +eyes a moment, and then Griffeth said, with his sweet, meaning +smile:</p> +<p>"We have never been separated yet, my Wendot; in sorrow and joy +we have ever been together. It is too late to change all that now. +I will be by thy side to the end. Be it for life or for death we +will ride forth together."</p> +<p>And so with one hard hand clasp that spoke volumes, and with one +more long, lingering look at the familiar towers of the old home, +Wendot and Griffeth, the Lords of Dynevor, rode forth to meet their +fate at the hands of the mighty English king.</p> +<p>Of that sudden, fierce, and partially successful revolt the +history books of the age give account. Llewelyn and his brother +David, joined by the whole strength of the North, and by much able +assistance from the South, drove back the English across the +border; and when Edward, hurrying to the spot, marched against +them, his army was utterly routed near the Menai Straits, and the +triumphant Welsh believed for a few brief months that they were +victors indeed, and that the power of the foe was hopelessly +broken.</p> +<p>Llewelyn with his army retired to the fastnesses of Snowdon, +where the English durst not pursue them, and these less hardy +soldiers suffered so terribly in the winter cold that the mortality +in their ranks caused the triumphant mountaineers to prophesy that +their work would be done for them without any more exertion on +their part.</p> +<p>But the lion-hearted King of England was not of the stuff that +easily submits to defeat. He knew well that Wales was in his power, +and that he had but to exercise patience and resolution, and the +final victory would be his.</p> +<p>Permitting no relaxation of his efforts in the North, even when +the winter's bitter cold was causing untold sufferings amongst his +soldiers, he commenced a muster of troops in the South, from which +country most of the disaffected nobles had drawn away to join the +insurgents under the Prince of Wales, as Llewelyn was called. It +was a shock of no small magnitude to that prince to hear that his +foe was thus employing himself; and leaving the fastnesses of +Snowdon with a picked band of his hardiest men, amongst whom he +numbered Llewelyn and Howel, he marched southward himself, hoping +to overthrow this new force before it had gathered power sufficient +to be dangerous.</p> +<p>Wendot would gladly have been of the number, for inaction, and +the rude barbarism he saw around him, were inexpressibly galling to +him; and the more he saw of the savage spirits by whom he was +surrounded the less he was able to hope for any permanent advantage +as the result of this rising. The jealousies of the respective +chiefs were hardly held in check even in the face of a common +peril. It was impossible not to foresee that the termination of a +war with England would only be the signal for an outbreak of +innumerable petty animosities and hostile feuds.</p> +<p>So Wendot would have been thankful to escape from this irksome +inactivity, and to join the band going south; but the condition of +Griffeth withheld him, for the youth was very ill, and he often +felt that this winter of hardship up in the mountain air was +killing him by inches, although he never complained.</p> +<p>It was out of the question for Griffeth to march or to fight. He +lay most of the day beside a little fire of peat, in a cabin that +Wendot and his men had constructed with their own hands, beneath +the shelter of a rock which broke the force of the north wind, and +formed some protection against the deep snow. Griffeth had borne +his share gallantly in the earlier part of the campaign, but a +slight wound had laid him aside; and since the intense cold had +come, he had only grown more white and wasted and feeble day by +day. Now that the sun was gaining a little more power, and that the +melting of the snow bespoke that spring was at hand, Wendot began +to hope the worst was over; but to leave his brother in such a +state was out of the question, and he saw Llewelyn and Howel depart +without attempting to join them.</p> +<p>Days and weeks had passed, and no news had been received by +those up in the mountains of the result of Llewelyn's expedition. +It was reported by scouts that Edward was at Carnarvon Castle in +person, making hostile demonstrations of a determined kind, which, +in the absence of their chief, the wild Welsh kerns knew not how to +repel. They were safe where they were, and awaited the return of +their leader; but a terrible stroke had yet to fall upon them, +which proved the final blow to all their hopes and ambitions.</p> +<p>It was a wild, windy night. Wendot had piled the fire high, and +was sitting with Griffeth talking of past days, and gazing with an +unconscious wistfulness into the glowing embers, which seemed to +him to take the semblance of those familiar towers and rocks which +he sometimes felt as though he should never see again. Griffeth +paused in the midst of something he was saying, and looked round +with a start. It seemed to both brothers as though a hand was +fumbling at the latch. Wendot rose and opened the door, and a tall, +gaunt figure staggered rather than walked into the room, and sank +down as if perfectly exhausted beside the glowing fire.</p> +<p>Griffeth uttered a startled exclamation.</p> +<p>"Llewelyn!" he cried sharply; and Wendot, barring the door, and +coming forward like one in a dream, asked with the calmness of one +who reads dire disaster:</p> +<p>"Where is Howel?"</p> +<p>"Dead," came the answer in a hollow voice, as though the speaker +was exhausted past words -- "dead by the side of Llewelyn our +prince. Would that I too lay beside them!"</p> +<p>Wendot, too stunned to say another word at that moment, busied +himself in getting his brother food and wine, of which he plainly +stood sorely in need. He ate ravenously and in perfect silence; and +his brothers watched him without having the heart to put another +question. Indeed they knew the worst: their prince dead; the flower +of their army slain -- their own brother among the number -- the +rest dispersed; the remaining forces without a leader, without a +rallying point, without a hope. What need of farther words?</p> +<p>Presently Llewelyn spoke again, this time with more strength, +but still with the sullenness of despair:</p> +<p>"It was a mere skirmish on the banks of the Wye. We were in +advance of the main body, and a party of English fell upon us. We +did our best to sell our lives dearly. I thought I had sold mine +when my time came, but I awoke and found myself beside the stream. +Howel was lying upon me, stark and dead, and our prince a few yards +away, with his own men round him. I do not think the foe knew whom +they had slain, or they would have taken at least his head away as +a trophy. I know not who took the news to our comrades, but they +learned it, and dispersed to the four winds. I was forced to remain +for some days in a shepherd's hut till my wounds were somewhat +healed, and since then I have been struggling back here, not +knowing what had befallen our camp in these mountains. Am I the +first to bear the, news, or has it been known before?"</p> +<p>"You are the first," answered Wendot in a strange, blank voice. +"We have heard nothing; we have been living in hopes of some +triumph, some victory. We will let our fellows rest in peace one +night longer. Tomorrow we must tell all, and decide what our action +must be."</p> +<p>"There is nothing more to hope for," said Llewelyn darkly. "Our +hope is dead, our last prince lies in a nameless grave. There is +but one choice open to us now. Let those who will submit themselves +to the proud usurper, and let us, who cannot so demean the name we +bear, go forth sword in hand, and die fighting to the last for the +country we may not live to deliver."</p> +<p>It seemed, indeed, as if Llewelyn's words were to prove +themselves true; for no sooner did the news of the disaster on the +banks of the Wye become known than the army began to melt away, +like the snow in the increasing power of the sun. The chiefs, +without a head, without a cause or a champion, either retired to +their own wild solitudes or hastened to make their peace with their +offended king; and only those who put honour before safety or life +itself stood forth sword in hand to die, if it might be, with face +to foe in defence of a cause which they knew was hopelessly +lost.</p> +<p>And amongst this gallant but reckless little band were the three +brothers of Dynevor, who, having once taken up the sword against +Edward, were determined not to lay it down until the hand of death +was cold upon each heart.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a>. CARNARVON CASTLE.</h2> +<p>"There has been a battle -- desperate fighting. They are +bringing the prisoners into the guardroom," cried Britton, bursting +into the royal apartments with small ceremony in his excitement. +"Come, Alphonso; come, Joanna -- let us go and see them. Our +fellows say they made a gallant stand, and fought like veritable +tigers. In sooth, I would I had been there. Methinks it is the last +of the fighting these parts will see for many a long year."</p> +<p>Alphonso sprang up at the word of his comrade, eager to go and +see the prisoners, his humane and kindly nature prompting him to +ascertain that no undue harshness was displayed towards them by the +rude soldiers. But Joanna, although her face was full of interest +and eagerness, shook her head with a little grimace and a glance in +the direction of her governess, Lady Edeline; for during the years +that had elapsed between the visit of the royal children to +Rhuddlan and this present visit to Carnarvon, Joanna had grown from +a child to a woman, and was no longer able to run about with her +brothers at will, though she still retained her old fearless, +independent spirit and impulsive generosity of temperament, and was +a universal favourite, despite the fact that she gave more trouble +than any of her younger sisters.</p> +<p>The royal family had been for some time in Wales. They had +wintered at Rhuddlan, where the little Princess Elizabeth had been +born the previous year, just prior to the outbreak of the +rebellion. Now they were at Carnarvon for greater security, the +king considering that fortress the stronger of the two. The +rebellion was practically at an end, but there was much to look +into and arrange with regard to the rebels and their affairs, and +there was the prospect of a considerable sojourn at the castle.</p> +<p>At this moment Edward was himself absent, though not far away. +It had been rumoured that there had been sharp, irregular fighting +all about the region of Snowdon, where the rebels had had their +headquarters. Considerable excitement had prevailed for some time +in the English ranks, and there was still complete uncertainty as +to the fate of Llewelyn, Prince of Wales; for although a rumour was +rife that he had fallen in fight, it had never been corroborated by +trustworthy testimony, and so long as that turbulent prince +remained alive there was no security for the peace or submission of +the country.</p> +<p>Thus it was that the news of a victory and the capture of +prisoners was exceedingly exciting to those within the castle. +Alphonso, who was looking somewhat stronger for his sojourn in the +bracing air of Wales, sprang up to go with Britton to make +inspection, and again Joanna secretly bewailed her fate at being a +girl, unable to take an equal share with her brother in such +matters.</p> +<p>The guardroom at the castle was a vast and really fine +apartment, with a vaulted roof and majestic pillars, that gave the +idea of much rude strength of construction. Just at this moment it +was the scene of an animated picture, and the boys paused at the +door by which they had entered to look about them with eager +curiosity.</p> +<p>The hall was full of soldiers, most of whom wore the English +king's badge, and were known by sight to them as being attached to +the castle; but mingled with these were other men, some in the +English dress, but many others wearing the wild garb of the sons of +the mountains, and these last had, for the most part, fetters on +their wrists, or were bound two and two together and guarded by the +English, whilst many of them were drooping under the effect of +ghastly wounds, and several forms lay stretched along the ground +indifferent to, or insensible of, their surroundings.</p> +<p>Desperate fighting there had been, indeed, to judge from +appearances, and Alphonso's gentle spirit was stirred within him as +he caught the sound of deep groans mingling with the loud voices of +the soldiers. He had inherited the gentle spirit of his mother, and +the generosity which always takes the part of the weak and +oppressed. It mattered not that these men had been taken with +swords drawn against his royal father; they were prisoners now, +they had lost their all; and if rebels from the English standpoint, +had been striving to free their country from what appeared to them +as the unjust inroads of a foreign foe.</p> +<p>Alphonso, himself sinking into an early grave, and fully aware +of his own state, saw life somewhat differently from his soldier +sire, and felt little sympathy for that lust of conquest which was +to the great Edward as the elixir of life. The lad's thoughts were +more of that eternal crown laid up in the bright land where the +sword comes not, and where the trump of war may never be heard. The +glory of an earthly diadem was as nothing to him, and he had all +that deep love for his fellow men which often characterizes those +who know that their time on earth is short.</p> +<p>Stepping forward, therefore, with the air of quiet authority +which he knew so well how to assume, he enforced silence by a +gesture; and as the soldiers respectfully fell back before him, he +walked through the groups of prisoners, speaking friendly words to +them in their own tongue, and finally gave strict command to the +captain of the guardroom to remove the fetters from those who were +wounded, and see that they had all due tendance and care, whilst +the rest were to be guarded with as little rigour as possible, and +shut up together, where they would have at least the consolation of +companionship in their misfortune.</p> +<p>The captain gave respectful heed to these words, and was by no +means loath to carry out his instructions. He was a humane man +himself, though inured to the horrors of war, and he, in common +with all who came into contact with the young prince, felt towards +him a great love and reverence; for there was something unearthly +at times in the radiant beauty of the young Alphonso's face, and +the growing conviction that he was not long for this world +increased the loving loyalty shown to him by all.</p> +<p>"Your Grace's behests shall be obeyed," answered the man +readily; "I myself will see that the wounded receive due and +fitting care. They are brave fellows, be they rebels or no, and +verily I believe there is not a man of them but would have laid +down his life a hundred times to save that of the two young leaders +who led them on to the last desperate sally. Such gallant feats of +arms I have seldom beheld, and it was sore trouble to capture +without killing them, so fiercely did they fight. But I bid the men +take them alive, if possible, as they seemed too gallant and noble +to fall in that vain struggle. Methinks, could they be tamed to +serve the king as valiantly as they fought for that forlorn hope, +they might be well worth the saving. I am always loath to see a +brave life flung away, be it of friend or foe."</p> +<p>"Right, good Poleyn; thy words do thee credit. And where are +these gallant leaders? Show me them, for I would fain speak a +kindly word to them. I would not that they feared my father's wrath +too much. Stern he may be, but cruel never, and it would please me +well to bid them submit themselves to him, that he might the more +readily forgive them. Tell me which they be."</p> +<p>"They are not here," answered the captain; "I had them removed +for greater comfort and security to mine own lodging. One of them +is so sore wounded that I feared he would not live to make +submission to the king unless he had prompt and skilful tendance; +whilst the other, although his hurts be fewer and less severe, +looks as if some mortal sickness were upon him. It may be nought +but the feebleness that follows loss of blood and hard fighting; +but I left them both to the care of my wife, who is the best tender +of the sick that I have ever known. They came under her hands last +night, brought on by our mounted fellows in advance of the rest. +Today they are somewhat recovered; but I have had scarce time to +think of them. I have been occupied since dawn with these other +prisoners."</p> +<p>"I would fain see these youths; said you not they were but +youths, Poleyn?" said Alphonso, whose interest was aroused by the +tale he had heard. "I will go to your lodging and request +admittance. Your worthy wife will not refuse me, I trow?"</p> +<p>The man smiled, and said that his wife would be proud indeed to +be so visited. Alphonso, to whom the intricacies of the castle were +well known, lost no time in finding the lodging of the captain of +the guard, and quickly obtained admittance to the presence of the +wounded youths, who occupied a comfortable chamber over the +gateway, and had plainly been well looked to by the capable and +kindly woman who called Poleyn her lord and master.</p> +<p>The bright light of day was excluded from the sickroom, and as +the prince stood in the doorway his eyes only took in the general +appearance of two recumbent figures, one lying upon a couch beside +a glowing fire of wood, and the other extended motionless upon a +bed in an attitude that bespoke slumber, his face bandaged in such +a way that in no case would it have been recognizable.</p> +<p>But as Alphonso's eyes grew used to the darkness, and fixed +themselves upon the face of the other youth, who was dressed and +lying on the couch, he suddenly gave a great start, and advanced +with quick steps to his side.</p> +<p>"Griffeth!" he cried suddenly.</p> +<p>The figure on the couch gave a start, a pair of hollow eyes +flashed open, there was a quick attempt to rise, checked by the +prince himself, and Griffeth exclaimed in the utmost +astonishment:</p> +<p>"Prince Alphonso!"</p> +<p>"Yes, Griffeth, it is I indeed;" and then the prince sat down on +the edge of the couch and gazed intently at the wasted features of +the youth, towards whom in days gone by he had felt such a strong +attachment.</p> +<p>There was something of sorrow and reproach in his glance as he +said gently:</p> +<p>"Griffeth, can it really be thou? I had not thought to have seen +thee in the ranks of our foes, fighting desperately against my +father's soldiers. Whence has come this bitter change in thy +feelings? and what is Wendot doing, who was to act as guardian +toward his younger brethren? Hast thou broken away from his +controlling hand? O Griffeth, I grieve to see thee here and in such +plight."</p> +<p>But Griffeth's sad glance met that of the young prince +unfalteringly and without shame, although there was something in it +of deep and settled sorrow. He made a gesture as though he would +have put out his hand, and Alphonso, who saw it, grasped it warmly, +generous even when he felt that he and his father had been somewhat +wronged.</p> +<p>"Think not that we took up arms willingly, Wendot and I," he +said faintly, yet with clearness and decision. "Ay, it is Wendot +who lies there, sore wounded, and sleeping soundly after a night of +fever and pain. We shall not disturb him, he is fast in dreamland; +and if you would listen to my tale, gentle prince, I trow you would +think something less hardly of us, who have lost our all, and have +failed to win the soldier's death that we went forth to seek, +knowing that it alone could make atonement for what must seem to +your royal father an act of treachery and breach of faith."</p> +<p>And then Griffeth told all his tale -- told of the wrongs +inflicted on hapless Wales in Edward's absence by the rapacious +nobles he had left behind him to preserve order, of the +ever-increasing discontent amongst the people, the wild hope, +infused by David's sudden rising, of uniting once and for all to +throw off the foreign yoke and become an independent nation again. +He told of the action taken by their twin brothers, of the pressure +brought to bear upon Wendot, of the vigilant hostility of their +rapacious kinsman Res ap Meredith, son of the old foe Meredith ap +Res, now an English knight, and eager to lay his hands upon the +broad lands of Dynevor. It was made plain to the prince how +desperate would have been Wendot's condition, thus beset with foes +and held responsible for his brothers' acts. Almost against his +will had he been persuaded, and at least he had played the man in +his country's hour of need, instead of trying to steer his way by a +cold neutrality, which would have ruined him with friend and foe +alike.</p> +<p>Griffeth told of the hardships of that campaign amongst the +mountains; of the death of Llewelyn the prince, and of his brother +Howel; and of the resolve of the gallant little band, thus bereft +of their hope, to go out and die sword in hand, and so end the +miserable struggle that had ceased to be aught but a mockery of +war. It was plainly a bitter thought even to the gentle Griffeth +that they had not met the death they craved, but had fallen alive +into the hands of the foe.</p> +<p>Alphonso gently chid him, and comforted him with brave and +kindly words; and then he asked what had befallen his brother +Llewelyn, and if he had likewise fallen in the fight.</p> +<p>"Nay; he was not with us when we made that last rally. He +commenced the march with us, but his wound broke out again, and we +were forced to leave him behind. He and a handful of faithful +servants from Iscennen and Dynevor were to try and push on to the +stronghold of Einon ap Cadwalader, and ask counsel and assistance +from him. In old days he and our father were friends. Although he +was one of the few who did not join Llewelyn in this rising, he has +ever been well-disposed towards his countrymen. So we hoped our +brother would find shelter and help there. If he had tried to march +with us, he must assuredly have died."</p> +<p>"Ha!" said Alphonso smilingly, "methinks Llewelyn will have no +trouble in gaining entrance there. Rememberest thou the Lady +Arthyn, who was with us at Rhuddlan when thou wast there before? +She hath left us of late to return to her father, whose loyalty has +been proved, and whose request for his child was listened to +graciously. But we shall be seeing them soon again, for my father +betrothed Arthyn's hand to Raoul Latimer, whom doubtless thou +rememberest as a somewhat haughty and quarrelsome lad. Time has +softened down some of his rude tempers, and he has ever been eager +for the match. My father has promised her hand in troth plight to +him, and we await the coming of her and her father for the ceremony +of betrothal.</p> +<p>"If I remember rightly, she was always a friend to thy brother. +If so, he will find a ready welcome at her father's house, for my +Lady Arthyn always had a soft spot in her heart for those we called +rebels. She was a true daughter of Wales, albeit she loved us well, +and she will like thy brother none the less that his sword has been +unsheathed against the English usurper."</p> +<p>And then the prince and the rebel subject both laughed, and that +laugh did more to bring them back to their old familiar relations +than all that had gone before.</p> +<p>Griffeth was easily led on to tell the story of the life at +Dynevor these past years; and Alphonso better understood from his +unconscious self-betrayal than from his previous explanation how +the fire of patriotic love burned in the hearts of these brothers. +He thought that had he been one of them he would have acted even as +they had done, and there was no anger but only a pitying affection +in his heart towards one whose life was overshadowed by a cloud so +like the one which hung upon the horizon of his own sky.</p> +<p>For it was plain to him that Griffeth's hold on life was very +slight; that he was suffering from the same insidious disease which +was sapping away his own health and strength. He had suspected it +years before, and this supposition had made a link between them +then; now he was certain of it, and certain, too, that the end +could not be very far off. The fine constitution of the young +Welshman had been undermined by the rigours of the past winter, and +there was little hope that the coming summer would restore to him +any of the fictitious strength which had long buoyed up Wendot with +the hope that his brother would yet live to grow to man's +estate.</p> +<p>"For myself I do not think I wish it," said Griffeth, with one +of his luminous glances at Alphonso; "life is very hard, and there +seems nothing left to live for. I know not how I could live away +from the woods and rocks of Dynevor. But there is Wendot -- my +dear, kind, most loving brother. It cuts me to the heart to think +of leaving him alone. Prince Alphonso, you are the king's son; will +you pardon Wendot his trespass, and stand his friend with your +royal father? I have no right to ask it. We have grievously +offended, but he is my brother --"</p> +<p>A violent fit of coughing came on, and the sentence was never +completed. Alphonso raised the wasted form in his arms, and soothed +the painful paroxysm as one who knows just what will best relieve +the sufferer. The sound roused Wendot, who had been sleeping for +many hours, and although he had been brought in last night in an +apparently almost dying state, his vigorous constitution was such +that even these few hours' quiet rest, and the nourishment +administered to him by the good woman who waited on him, had +infused new life into his frame, so that he had strength to sit up +in bed, and to push aside the bandage which had fallen over his +eyes, as he anxiously asked his brother what was amiss.</p> +<p>Then Alphonso came towards him, and, holding his hand in a +friendly clasp, told him that he had heard all the story, and that +he was still their friend, and would plead for them with his +father. Wendot, bewildered and astonished and ashamed, could scarce +believe his senses, and asked, with a proud independence which +raised a smile in Alphonso's eyes, that he might be led out to +speedy death -- the death by the headsman's axe, which was all he +had now to hope for. Life had no longer any charms for him, he +said; if only his young brother might be pardoned, he himself would +gladly pay the forfeit for both.</p> +<p>But Alphonso, upon whose generous spirit bravery and self +devotion, even in a foe, were never thrown away, replied kindly +that he would see if peace could not be made with his offended +sire, and that meantime Wendot must get well fast, and regain his +health and strength, so as to be fit to appear before the king in +person if he should be presently summoned.</p> +<p>But though the young prince left lighter hearts behind him in +the room where the two eagles of Dynevor were imprisoned, he found +that the task he had set himself with his father was a more +difficult one than he had anticipated. Edward was very greatly +incensed by this fierce and futile rebellion that had cost him so +many hundreds of brave lives, and had inflicted such sufferings on +his loyal troops. The disaster at Menai still rankled in his +breast, and it was with a very stern brow and a face of resolute +determination that he returned to Carnarvon to look into matters, +and to settle upon the fate of the many prisoners and vassals who +had once mere placed themselves or their lands in his sole power +through the act which had rendered them forfeit.</p> +<p>Nor was Alphonso's task rendered less difficult from the fact +that Sir Res ap Meredith had been before him, poisoning the king's +mind against many of the Welsh nobles, and particularly against the +sons of Res Vychan, in whose possession were the province and +castle of Dynevor. Upon that fair territory he had long cast +covetous eyes. He cared little in comparison for the more barren +and turbulent region of Iscennen, and it was upon Wendot and +Griffeth, but particularly upon Wendot, that the full bitterness of +his invective was poured. He had so imbued the king with the idea +that the youth was dangerous, turbulent, and treacherous (charges +that his conduct certainly seemed to bear out), that it was small +wonder if Edward, remembering his own former goodwill towards the +youth, should feel greatly incensed against him. And although he +listened to Alphonso's pleadings, and the lad told his story with +much simple eloquence and fervour, the stern lines of his brow did +not relax, and his lips set themselves into an ominous curve which +the prince liked little to see.</p> +<p>"Boy," he said, with an impatience that boded ill for the +success of the cause, "I verily believe wert thou in the place of +king, thou wouldst give to every rebel chief his lands again, and +be not contented until thine own throne came tottering about thine +ears. Mercy must temper justice, but if it take the place of +justice it becomes mere weakness. I trusted Wendot ap Res Vychan +once, and laid no hand upon his lands. Thou hast seen how this +trust has been rewarded. To reinstate him now would be madness. No. +I have in Sir Res ap Meredith a loyal and true servant, and his +claims upon his traitorous kinsman's lands may not be disregarded. +Dynevor will pass away from Wendot. It is throwing words away to +plead with me. My mind is made up. I trust not a traitor +twice."</p> +<p>There was something in his father's tone that warned Alphonso to +press the matter no more. He knew that when Edward thus spoke his +word was final and irrevocable; and all he ventured now to ask was, +"What will become of Wendot and his brother? You will not take +their lives, sweet sire?"</p> +<p>"Their lives I give to thee, my son," answered Edward, with a +gesture towards his boy which betrayed a deep love, and showed that +although he had denied him sternly he did not do so willingly. "As +thou hast pleaded for them, I will not sentence them to death; but +they remain my prisoners, and regain not their liberty. I know the +turbulent race from which they spring. Sir Res will have small +peace in his new possessions if any of the former princes of +Dynevor are at large in the country. Wendot and Griffeth remain my +prisoners."</p> +<p>"Nay, father; let them be my prisoners, I pray," cried Alphonso, +with unwonted energy and animation. "Thou hast granted me their +lives; grant me the keeping of their persons too. Nay, think not +that I will connive at their escape. Give whatsoever charge thou +wilt concerning the safety of their persons to those who guard us +in our daily life, but let me have them as gentlemen of mine own. +Call them prisoners an you will, but let their imprisonment be +light -- let me enjoy their company. Thou knowest that Britton is +fretting for a freer life, and that I see little of him now. I have +often longed for a companion to share my solitary hours. Give me +Griffeth and Wendot. They have the royal blood of Wales flowing in +their veins, and methinks they love me even as I love them. And, +father, Griffeth has not many months, methinks, to live; and I know +so well all he suffers that my heart goes out to him. He has the +love of books that I have, and we have so many thoughts which none +seem to understand save our two selves. And he and Wendot are as +one. It would be cruelty such as thou wouldst not inflict to +separate them whilst one has so short a time to live. Give me them +for mine own attendants, and bid the servants guard them as best +pleaseth thee. Sweet father, I have not asked many boons of thee. +Grant me this one, I pray thee, for my heart is verily set on +it."</p> +<p>There was something in this appeal, something in the look upon +Alphonso's face, something in the very words he had used, that made +it impossible to his father to refuse him. Blind his eyes as he +would to the truth, he was haunted by a terrible fear that the life +of his only son was surely slipping away. Alphonso did not often +speak of his health, and the hint just dropped struck chill upon +the father's heart. Passing his hand across his face to conceal the +sudden spasm of pain that contracted it, he rose hastily from his +chair, and said:</p> +<p>"Give thine own orders concerning these youths. I leave them in +thy hands. Make of them what it pleaseth thee. Only let them +understand that charge will be given to the custodians of the +castle, and of whatever place they visit in the future, that they +are prisoners at the king's pleasure, and that any attempt at +escape will be punished with instant and rigorous captivity."</p> +<p>"So be it," answered Alphonso, with brightening eyes. "I thank +thee, father, for the boon. Thou shalt never have cause to repent +it."</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a>. THE KING'S CLEMENCY.</h2> +<p>"Unhand me, sir. How dare you thus insult me? Let go my hand, or +I summon help instantly. I am come to seek the king. Will you raise +a tumult within hearing of his private apartments? Unhand me, I +say," and Arthyn's cheeks flamed dangerously, whilst her eyes +flashed fire.</p> +<p>But Raoul Latimer, though a craven before the face of an armed +foe, could be resolute enough when he had only an unprotected woman +to deal with, and was quite disposed to show his valour by pressing +his unwelcome salutations upon the cheek of the girl he regarded as +his future wife. His surprise at encountering Arthyn, whom he +believed far away in her father's castle, hastening alone down one +of the long corridors of Carnarvon Castle, had been very great. He +could not imagine what had thus brought her, and was eager to claim +from her the greeting he felt was his due.</p> +<p>But Arthyn had never lacked for spirit, and had always +confessedly abhorred Raoul, nor had absence seemed to make the +heart grow fonder, at least in her case. She repulsed him with such +hearty goodwill that his cowardly fury was aroused, and had not the +girl cried aloud in her anger and fear, he might have done her some +mischief. But even as she lifted her voice a door in the corridor +was flung open, and the king himself strode forth, not, as it +chanced, in response to the call, which had not reached his ears, +but upon an errand of his own. Now when he saw that at the doors of +his own private apartments one of his own gentlemen had dared to +lay rude hands upon a woman, his kingly wrath was stirred, and one +blow from his strong arm sent Raoul reeling across the corridor +till the wall stopped his farther progress.</p> +<p>"How now, malapert boy?" cried Edward in deep displeasure. "Is +it thus you disgrace your manhood by falling upon the defenceless, +and by brawling even within hearing of your sovereign? You are not +so wondrous valiant in battle, Raoul Latimer, that you can afford +to blast the small reputation you have.</p> +<p>"Sweet lady, be not afraid; thy king will protect thee from +farther insult.</p> +<p>"Ha, Arthyn, is it thou, my child? Nay, kneel not in such humbly +suppliant fashion; rise and kiss me, little one, for thou art only +less dear to me than mine own children. Come hither, maiden, and +speak to me. What has brought thee here alone and unannounced? And +what has raised this storm betwixt ye twain?"</p> +<p>"Sire -- my king -- hear me," cried Arthyn in a choked voice; +"and bid that wicked youth, whom I have ever hated, leave us. Let +me speak to you alone and in private. It is to you, gracious lord, +that I have come. Grant me, I pray you, the boon of but a few words +alone and in private. I have somewhat to tell your grace -- your +royal pardon to ask."</p> +<p>"Pardon? tush, maiden! thou canst not have offended greatly. But +come hither; what thou hast to say thou shalt say before the queen +and Eleanor. They have ever been as mother and sister to thee. Thou +hast no secrets for me which they may not hear?"</p> +<p>"Ah no; I would gladly speak all before them," answered Arthyn +eagerly, knowing that in the gentle Eleanor of Castile and her +daughter she would find the most sympathizing of friends.</p> +<p>Intensely patriotic as the girl had ever been, loving her +country above all else, and throwing heart and soul into that +country's cause, she had yet learned a deep love and reverence for +the family of the English king, amongst whom so many years of her +young life had been spent. She was able to do full justice to the +kindly and domestic side of the soldier king's nature, and, whilst +she regarded him as a foe to Wales, looked upon him personally as a +friend and protector.</p> +<p>Edward's gentleness and affection in his private life equalled +his stern, unbending policy in matters of state. It was very +tenderly and kindly that he led the girl to the private apartments +of the queen; and when once Arthyn found herself face to face with +one who had given to her more of mother love than any other being +in the world, she flung herself into the arms opened to receive +her, and out came the whole story which had brought her on this +secret mission to Carnarvon.</p> +<p>"Sweet lady, O most gracious madam, listen and plead for me with +the king. He is kind and good, and he knows what true love is. +Lady, it is as a wedded wife I come to you, craving pardon for what +I have done. But I ever hated that wicked Raoul Latimer, my +country's foe, and would have died rather than plight my troth to +him. And when he came to us -- he, my love, my life, he whom I +loved long years ago when we met as boy and girl, and whom I have +never forgotten -- what could I do? How could I resist?</p> +<p>"And my father approved. He gave my hand in wedlock. And now I +am come to pray your pardon for myself and for him whom I love. Oh, +do not turn a deaf ear to me! As you have loved when you were +young, pardon those who have done likewise."</p> +<p>King and queen exchanged glances, half of amusement, half of +astonishment, but there was no anger in either face. Raoul was no +favourite in the royal circle, and his visible cowardice in the +recent campaign had brought him into open disfavour with the +lion-hearted Edward. He loved Arthyn dearly, and this proof of her +independence of spirit, together with her artless confidence in his +kindliness of heart, pleased him not a little. He had been forced +during these past days to act a stern part towards many of the +Welsh nobles who had been brought before him. He was glad enough, +this thankless task accomplished, to allow the softer and more +kindly side of his nature to assert itself. And perhaps the +sympathetic glances of his son Alphonso, who had just entered the +room, helped to settle his resolve that Arthyn at least should +receive full and free forgiveness.</p> +<p>Eleanor had drawn her former playmate towards her, and was +eagerly questioning her as to the name of him to whom her heart and +hand were now given, and the answer sent a thrill of surprise +through the whole company.</p> +<p>"It is one whom you all know, sweet Eleanor -- Llewelyn, the son +of Res Vychan, Lord of Dynevor. Thou knowest, Eleanor, how he came +amongst us at Rhuddlan years agone now, and perchance thou sawest +even then how we loved one another, albeit it was but the love of +children. But we never have forgotten, and when he came to my +father's castle, wounded and weary and despairing after the +disaster which robbed Wales of her last native prince, what could +we do but receive and tend him? It was thus it came about, and love +did the rest."</p> +<p>"And so thou hast wed a rebel, maiden?" quoth Edward, in tones +that seemed to be stern by effort rather than by the will of the +speaker, whilst the kindly light in the eyes belied his assumed +harshness; "and having done so thou hast the hardihood to come and +tell us of it thine own self. Fie upon thee for a saucy wench! What +better dost thou expect for thyself and thy lord than a lodging in +the lowest dungeon of the keep?"</p> +<p>"I know that we ought to expect nothing better," answered +Arthyn, with her brightest smile, as she turned fearlessly upon the +king. "But do as you will with us, noble king, and we will not +rebel or complain, so that we may be together. And my dear lord bid +me give you this. He took it with his own hands from the dead hand +of Llewelyn, Prince of Wales, and he charged me to place it in your +hands as a pledge and token that your enemy ceased to live. Report +has told him that men say Llewelyn escaped that day, and that he +yet lives to rise against you again. By this signet you may know +that he lies dead and cold, and that with him has perished the last +hope of Wales ever to be ruled by a prince of her own."</p> +<p>Edward put forth his hand eagerly, and examined the signet ring, +which was one he himself had given to Llewelyn on the occasion of +his last submission. And as he looked upon it a great weight seemed +to be rolled from off him, for it was the first decided intimation +he had had that his foe was actually slain. Rumour had been rife +with reports of his escape, and although there had not been lacking +testimony to the effect that the prince had fallen in battle, the +fact had never been adequately established. A few quick questions +to Arthyn appeared to establish this beyond all doubt, and in the +expansion of the moment Edward was ready not only to forgive the +bearer of such welcome tidings, but to forget that he had ever been +an offender. One of the sons of Res Vychan had paid the price of +his breach of faith with his life; two more were prisoners at his +royal pleasure. Surely the family had suffered enough without +harsher vengeance being taken. Surely he might give to Arthyn the +liberty and possibly even the lands of her lord in return for the +welcome intelligence she had brought.</p> +<p>Alphonso, ever on the side of mercy, joined with the queen and +Eleanor in persuading the king to forgive and forget, and Arthyn +was sent home the day following laden with presents and good +wishes, bearing a full pardon to her lord from the English king, as +well as a half promise that when the country became somewhat more +settled he might make request for his commot of Iscennen with +reasonable chance of being heard.</p> +<p>Wendot and Griffeth both saw their new sister before her return, +and charged her with all sorts of friendly messages for Llewelyn. +If Wendot thought it hard that the brother who had always been +England's bitterest foe should be pardoned and rewarded, whilst he +himself should be left to pine in captivity, at least he made no +sign, and never let a word of bitterness pass his lips. Indeed he +was too ill greatly to trouble himself over his own condition or +the future that lay before him. Fever and ague had supervened upon +the wounds he had received, and whilst Griffeth was rapidly +recovering such measure of health and strength as he ever could +boast, Wendot lay helpless and feeble, scarce able to lift his head +from the pillow, and only just equal to the task of speaking to +Arthyn and comprehending the good news with which she came +charged.</p> +<p>The brothers had now been removed to better apartments, near to +those occupied by the prince, whose servants they nominally were. +Griffeth had begun to enter upon some of his duties towards his +royal patron, and the friendship begun in boyhood was rapidly +ripening to an intimacy which surprised them both. Such perfect +mutual understanding and sympathy was rare and precious; and +Griffeth did not even look back with longing to the old life, so +entirely had his heart gone out to the youthful prince, whose days +on earth, like his own, were plainly numbered.</p> +<p>Lady Gertrude Cherleton was still an inmate of the royal +household. She was now a ward of Edward's, her father having died a +year or two previously. She was not considered a minor any longer, +having attained the age of eighteen some time before, and the +management of her estates was left partially to her. But she +remained by choice the companion of Eleanor and Joanna, and would +probably continue to do so until she married. It was a source of +wonder to the court why she did not make choice of a husband +amongst the many suitors for her hand; but she had hitherto turned +a deaf ear to the pleadings of all. Sir Godfrey Challoner had long +been sighing at her feet, but she would have none of him, and +appeared to be proof against all the shafts of the blind god of +love.</p> +<p>But her intense excitement when she heard of the arrival at +Carnarvon of the two brothers from Dynevor told its own tale to the +Princess Joanna, who had ever been the girl's confidante in this +matter, and who had known from childhood how Gertrude had always +believed herself pledged. It was a charming secret for them to +cherish between them; and now that Wendot was once more beneath the +castle roof, the impulsive Joanna would launch out into extravagant +pictures of future happiness and prosperity. Her ardent +temperament, having no personal romance to feed upon -- for though +her hand had once been plighted, her future lord had been drowned +the previous year in a boating accident, and she was again free -- +delighted to throw itself into the concerns of her friend, and the +sense of power which had been so early implanted within her made +her confident of being able to overcome obstacles and attain the +object of her wishes, be the difficulties and dangers in their path +never so great.</p> +<p>"You shall be united, Gertrude, an he loves thee," cried the +generous Joanna, flinging her arms round the neck of her companion, +and kissing her again and again. "His life, his liberty, shall be +obtained, and thou and he shall be happy together. I have said it, +and I will do it."</p> +<p>Whatever was known to Joanna was known to Alphonso, who shared +all her feelings, and was most tenderly beloved by her. He was as +ardent in the cause as his sister could be; but he saw more of the +difficulties that beset their path, and knew better his father's +iron temperament, and how deeply Wendot had offended. Doubtless +much was due to the misrepresentations of Sir Res ap Meredith, who +had now secured for himself the coveted lands of Dynevor; but +whatever the cause, the eldest son of the house of Dynevor was the +object of the king's severe displeasure, and it was not likely he +would relax his vigilance or depart from his word, not even for the +prayers of his children or the tears of his favourite Gertrude. He +had pardoned Llewelyn at the instance of Arthyn; if the same game +were to be played over again by another of his daughters' +companions, he would not unnaturally believe that he was being +cajoled and trifled with.</p> +<p>"If it were only Griffeth it would be easy," said Alphonso +thoughtfully. "But Wendot --"</p> +<p>And there he stopped and shook his head.</p> +<p>It was some days before the king saw the new attendant of his +sons; but coming into Alphonso's private apartment one day +suddenly, he found several of the royal children gathered there, +and with them a fair-haired youth, who was reading to the prince +out of an illuminated missal. Alphonso was lying on a couch, and +his look of fragile weakness struck cold to the father's heart. Of +late the lad's strength had been failing rapidly, but Edward had +tried to blind his eyes to the truth. Now he took a hasty step +towards the couch, and Griffeth rose quickly from his seat and bent +the knee before the king.</p> +<p>"Ha, Wendot," said Edward, with a grave but not unkindly glance, +"I have not seen you at these new duties before. So you are a +student as well as a soldier? Well, the arts of peace will better +become you for the future. I remember your face well, young man. I +would it had not been my duty to place you under restraint; but you +have broken faith with me, and that grievously. How then can it be +possible to trust you in the future? You, as the head of the house, +should have set your brothers an example of honour and fealty. As +it is, it has been far otherwise, and now you will have to bear the +burden of that breach of trust and honour."</p> +<p>Twice Griffeth had opened his lips as if to speak, but Alphonso +laid his hand upon his arm with a warning touch, which said as +plainly as words could do, "Be silent."</p> +<p>So the youth held his peace, and only bent his head in +submission; and Edward, after a moment's pause, added more +kindly:</p> +<p>"And how fares it with your brother, Wendot? I hear that his +state is something precarious. I hope he has the best tendance the +castle can afford, for I would not that any member of my son's +household should suffer from lack of care."</p> +<p>"He has all that he needs, I thank you, sire," answered +Griffeth. "He lies sorely sick at this present time, but I trust he +will amend ere long."</p> +<p>And then the king turned to his son, and spoke with him on some +message of the state, and departed without heeding the excited +glances of Joanna or the restless way in which she kept looking +first at Alphonso and then at Gertrude.</p> +<p>But scarcely had the door closed behind the retiring form of the +king before the excitable girl had bounded to her brother's +side.</p> +<p>"O Alphonso," she cried, "did you do it on purpose? Tell me what +you have in your head."</p> +<p>Alphonso sat up and pushed the hair out of his eyes. Griffeth +was simply looking on in surprise and bewilderment. The prince laid +a hand upon his arm and spoke very earnestly.</p> +<p>"Griffeth," he said, "it seems to me that through this error of +my father's we may yet find means to compass the deliverance of +Wendot. There are none of those save ourselves who know which of +you twain is the first-born and which the youngest. In your faces +there is little to mark you one from the other. Griffeth, if thou +wilt be willing to be called Wendot-- if Wendot will consent to be +Griffeth -- then we may perchance make his way plain to depart and +live in liberty once more; for it is Wendot, and not Griffeth, who +has so roused my father's anger. Griffeth he might easily consent +to pardon; but Wendot he will keep as a hostage in his own hands +possibly for life itself."</p> +<p>Griffeth listened, and a strange look crept into his face. His +cheek flushed, and his breath came thick and fast. He knew +Alphonso's motive in suggesting this change of identity. The lads, +so closely drawn together in bonds of more than brotherly love, had +not opened to each other their innermost souls for nought. Alphonso +knew that no freedom, no liberty, would give to the true Griffeth +any extension of his brief span of life. His days were as assuredly +numbered as those of the royal lad himself, and life had ceased to +have attractions for the pair, whose spirits were almost on the +wing, who had set their hopes and aspirations higher than anything +which earth could give, and whose chiefest wish now was to remain +together until death should call them home.</p> +<p>Griffeth's only trouble had been the thought of leaving his +brother, and it was when he had realized from Alphonso's words that +the king was deeply offended with Wendot, and that it was almost +hopeless to think of his obtaining his liberty again, that the +heart of the lad sank in despondency and sorrow.</p> +<p>For one of the young eagles of Dynevor thus to be caged -- to be +left to pine away in hopeless captivity, his brother gone from him +as well as the prince who would stand his friend; possibly +incarcerated at last in some dreary fortress, there to linger out +his days in hopeless misery and inaction -- the thought had been so +terrible to Griffeth that there had been moments when he had almost +longed to hear that the leeches gave up hope of saving his +brother's life.</p> +<p>But Wendot was mending now; there was no doubt of ultimate +recovery. He would rise from his sickbed to find -- what? Griffeth +had not dared to ask himself this question before; but now a great +hope possessed him suddenly. He looked into Alphonso's eyes, and +the two instantly understood one another; as did also Gertrude and +Joanna, who stood by flushed and quivering.</p> +<p>"Let it be so," said Griffeth, in a voice which trembled a +little, although the words were firm and emphatic. "I take the name +the king has given me. I am Wendot, whom he believes the traitor +and the foe. Griffeth lies yonder, sick and helpless, a victim to +the influence of the first-born son of Res Vychan. It may be, when +the king hears more of him, he will in his clemency release and +pardon him.</p> +<p>"Ah, if I could but be the means of saving my brother -- the +brother dearer to me than life -- from the fate which others have +brought upon him, that I could lay down my life without a wish +ungratified! It has been the only thought of bitterness in my cup +that I must leave him alone -- and a prisoner."</p> +<p>Gertrude's face had flushed a deep red; she put out her hand and +clasped that of Griffeth hard; there was a little sob in her voice +as she said:</p> +<p>"Oh, if you will but save him -- if you will but save him!"</p> +<p>Griffeth looked into her sweet face, with its sensitive features +and soft eyes shining through a mist of tears, and he understood +something which had hitherto been a puzzle to him.</p> +<p>There had been days when the intermittent fever from which +Wendot suffered left him entirely for hours together, sometimes for +a whole day; and Griffeth had been sure that on some of these days, +in the hours of his own attendance on the prince, his brother had +received visits from others in the castle: for flowers had appeared +to brighten the sick room, and there had been a wonderful new look +of happiness in the patient's eyes, although he had said nothing to +his brother as to what had befallen him.</p> +<p>And in truth Wendot was half disposed to believe himself the +victim of some sweet hallucination, and was almost afraid to speak +of the fancies that floated from time to time before his eyes, lest +he should be told that his mind was wandering, and that he was the +victim of delusion.</p> +<p>Not once alone, but many times, during the hours of his tardy +convalescence, when he had been lying alone, crushed by the sense +of weariness and oppression which illness brings to one so little +accustomed to it, he had been roused by the sound of light +footfalls in his room; he had seen a graceful form flitting about, +bringing lightness and beauty in her wake, and leaving it behind +when she left. The vision of a sweet, small face, and the lustrous +dark eyes which had haunted him at intervals through the long years +of his young manhood, appeared again before him, and sometimes his +name was spoken in the gentle tones which had never been forgotten, +although the memory was growing dim.</p> +<p>Weak and dazed and feeble, both in body and mind, from the +exhausting and wasting illness that had followed the severe +winter's campaign, Wendot knew not if this vision was but the +figment of his own brain, or whether the passionate love he felt +rising up in his heart was lavished upon a mere phantom. But so +long as she flitted about him he was content to lie and watch her, +with the light of a great happiness in his eyes; and once when he +had called her name -- the never forgotten name of Gertrude -- he +had thought that she had come and taken his hand and had bent over +him with a wonderful light in her eyes, but the very effort he made +to rise up and grasp her hands, and learn if indeed it were a +creature of flesh and blood, had resulted in a lapse back into +unconsciousness, and he was silent as to the vision even to +Griffeth, lest perchance he should have to learn that it was but a +fevered dream, and that there was no Gertrude within the castle +walls at all.</p> +<p>But Gertrude knew all; it was no dream to her. She saw the love +light in the eyes dearest to her in the world. She had heard her +name called; she had seen that the love she had cherished for the +hero of her childhood had not been cherished in vain. Perhaps +Wendot had betrayed more in his sickness and weakness than he would +have allowed himself to do in his strength, knowing himself a +helpless, landless prisoner in the hands of the stern monarch who +occupied England's throne. But be that as it may, Gertrude had read +his secret and was happy, though with such a chastened happiness as +alone was possible to one who knew the peril in which her lover +lay, and how hopeless even Alphonso thought it to obtain for him +the king's pardon.</p> +<p>"My father would have betrothed us as children," said Gertrude, +her face glowing, but her voice steady and soft, for why should she +be ashamed of the faithful love of a lifetime?</p> +<p>"When we saw each other again he would have plighted us, but for +the fear of what Llewelyn and Howel would do. But think you I love +him less for his love to his country? Think you that I have aught +to reproach him with, when I know how he was forced into rebellion +by others? I care not what he has done. I love him, and I know that +he loves me. Sooner would I share a prison with him than a palace +with any man beside; yet I fear that in prison walls he will pine +and die, even as a caged eagle, and it is that fear which breaks my +heart.</p> +<p>"O Griffeth, Griffeth, if you can save him, how we will bless +you from, our hearts! Give him to me, and I will guard and cherish +him. I have wealth and lands for us both. Only his liberty is +lacking --"</p> +<p>"And that we will strive to compass yet," said Alphonso gently. +"Fear not, sweet Gertrude, and betray not thyself. Only remember +from this time forward that Wendot is my friend and companion here, +and that thy lover Griffeth lieth in yon chamber, sick and +stricken."</p> +<p>"I will remember," she answered resolutely; and so the change of +identity was accomplished, with the result that the old chroniclers +aver that Wendot, eldest son of Res Vychan, died in the king's +prison in England, whilst all that is known of the fate of Griffeth +is that he was with his brother in captivity in England in the year +1283, after which his name completely disappears, and no more is +known of him, good or bad.</p> +<p>That night there were commotion and distress in Carnarvon +Castle, for the young Alphonso broke a blood vessel in a violent +fit of coughing, and for some hours his life was in the utmost +danger.</p> +<p>The skill of the leeches, however, combined with the tender care +of his mother and sisters, averted for a time fatal consequences, +and in a few days the prince was reported to be out of immediate +danger. But the doctors all agreed that it would not be wise for +him to remain longer in the colder air of north Wales, and advised +an immediate removal to Windsor, where more comforts could be +obtained, and where the climate was milder and more genial.</p> +<p>Edward's work in Wales was done. The country was quiet, and he +had no longer any fear of serious rebellion. The first thought in +his mind was the precarious condition of his son, and immediate +steps were taken to convey the invalid southward by slow and gentle +stages.</p> +<p>A horse litter was prepared for him, and by his own special +request this easy conveyance was shared by him with the two Welsh +youths, to whom, as his father and mother thought, he had taken one +of those strange sick fancies not uncommon to those in his state of +health.</p> +<p>Wendot, as he called the younger brother, had been his most +devoted nurse during the days of peril, and his quick understanding +of the unspoken wishes of the prince had evoked a real and true +gratitude from the royal parents.</p> +<p>The real Wendot was by this time so far recovered as to be able +to bear the journey, and illness had so wasted him that he looked +no older than Griffeth; and though still perplexed at being called +Griffeth, and by no means understanding his brother's earnest +request that he would continue to answer to the name, he was too +weak to trouble his head much about the matter; and the two Welsh +brothers were regarded by the English attendants as too +insignificant to be worthy of much notice. The prince's freak to +have them as travelling-companions was humoured by his parents' +wish; but they little knew how much he was wrapped up in the +brothers, nor how completely his heart was set upon seeing the +accomplishment of his plan before he died.</p> +<p>Alphonso had all his senses about him, and the wistful look on +Griffeth's face, as the mountains of his beloved Wales grew dim in +the distance, was not lost upon him. Wendot was sleeping restlessly +in the litter, and Alphonso stretched out his hand, and laid it +gently upon Griffeth's.</p> +<p>"Art regretting that thou leavest all for me?" he asked gently; +and the answer was such a look of love as went to his very +heart.</p> +<p>"Nay; I would leave far more than that for thee, sweet prince, +but it is my last look at home. I shall see these grand, wild hills +no more."</p> +<p>"No, nor yet I," answered the prince, his own eyes growing +somewhat dim; "and I, too, have loved them well, though not as thou +lovest, my friend. But be content; there are fairer things, sweeter +scenes than even these, in store for us somewhere. Shall we repine +at leaving the beauties of earth, when the pearly gates of Paradise +are opening before our very eyes?</p> +<p>"O Griffeth, it is a wondrous thought how soon we may be soaring +above the very stars! And methinks it may well be given to thee to +wing thy way to thine own home for one last look ere thou departest +for the holy land whence we can never wish to return."</p> +<p>Griffeth gave him a bright, eager look.</p> +<p>"I will think that myself -- I will believe it. This is not my +last farewell."</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a>. A STRANGE BRIDAL.</h2> +<p>"My prince, tempt me not. It is hard to refuse; but there are +some things no man may do with honour, and, believe me, honour is +dearer to me than life, dearer even than liberty; though Heaven +alone knows how dear that is to every free-born son of Cambria. I +to leave my brother to wear away his days in captivity whilst I +escape under his name! Prince Alphonso, I know not what you think +my heart is made of. Am I to live in freedom, whilst he whom I love +best in the world bears the burden of my fault, and lingers out his +young life within the walls of the king's prison?"</p> +<p>Alphonso looked searchingly in Wendot's face, and realized for +the first time the youth's absolute ignorance of his brother's +state. No wonder he refused with scorn the proffered boon! Yet it +would be a hard task to break the sad tidings to one who so deeply +loved his gentle younger brother, from childhood his chosen +comrade.</p> +<p>Alphonso was lying on a couch in one of the smaller state +apartments of Windsor Castle, and the window, close to which he had +bidden his attendants wheel him, overlooked the beautiful valley of +the Thames. The first of the autumn tints were gilding the rich +stretches of woodland, whilst a faint blue haze hung over the +distance, and the river ran like a silver thread, glinting here and +there into golden brightness as some brighter ray of sunlight fell +upon it.</p> +<p>Alphonso loved the view commanded by this window. He and +Griffeth spent many long happy hours here, looking out on the fair +prospect, and exchanging whispered thoughts and bright aspirations +with regard to some land even fairer than the one they now +beheld.</p> +<p>But Wendot never looked at the beautiful valley without +experiencing a strange oppression of spirit. It reminded him of +that wilder valley of the Towy, and his eyes would grow dim and his +heart sick with the fruitless longing after home, which grew harder +and harder to hear with every week of captivity, now that his +bodily health was restored. Captivity was telling upon him, and he +was pining as an eagle pines when caught and shut up by man even in +a gilded cage. He looked pale and wan and wistful. Often he felt +stifled by the warm, close air of the valley, and felt that he must +die did he not escape to the freer air of the mountains.</p> +<p>But he seldom spoke of these feelings even to Griffeth, and +strangely enough his illness and these homesick longings produced +upon his outer man an effect which was wonderfully favourable to +the plan fermenting in the brains of the royal children and their +immediate companions.</p> +<p>Wendot had lost the sturdiness of figure, the brown colouring, +and the strength of limb which had distinguished him in old days +from Griffeth. A striking likeness had always existed between the +brothers, whose features were almost identical, and whose height +and contours were the same. Now that illness had sharpened the +outlines of Wendot's face, had reduced his fine proportions, and +had given to him something of the hollow-eyed wistfulness of +expression which Griffeth had so long worn, this likeness became so +remarkable that few in the castle knew one brother from the other. +Knowing this, they both answered indifferently to the name of +either, and any change of personality would be managed without +exciting the smallest fear of remark.</p> +<p>Wendot had been perplexed at times by the persistence with which +he had been addressed as Griffeth, even when he was certain that +the speaker was one of the few who knew him and his brother apart; +but he had not troubled his head much over the matter until this +day, when Alphonso had openly spoken to him of the plan that was in +their minds, and had bidden him prepare for a secret flight from +the castle, promising that there should be no ardent search after +him, as Wendot, and not Griffeth, was the culprit who had fallen +under the royal displeasure, and the king would care little for the +escape of the younger brother so long as he held the ex-Lord of +Dynevor in his own safe keeping.</p> +<p>Wendot's indignant refusal to leave his brother and make good +his own escape showed Alphonso how little he realized Griffeth's +condition, and with gentle sympathy, but with candour and +frankness, he explained to the elder brother how short would be the +period of Griffeth's captivity -- how soon and how complete the +release for which he was patiently and happily waiting.</p> +<p>Wendot gave a great start as the meaning of Alphonso's words +first broke upon him, and then he buried his face in his hands, and +sat motionless, neither answering nor moving. Alphonso looked at +him, and by-and-by put out his own wasted hand and laid it upon +Wendot's knee.</p> +<p>"Does it seem a sad thing to thee, Wendot? Believe me, there is +no sadness for Griffeth in the thought. Nay, is it not a blessed +thing to know that soon, very soon, we shall be free of this weary +burden of pain and sickness and weakness, and laying all aside will +pass away to the land of which the seer of old foretold that 'the +wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.' Thou +knowest not, perhaps, the sweetness of those words, but I know it +well, and Griffeth likewise.</p> +<p>"Nay, Wendot, thou must learn not to grudge him the rest and the +bliss of yon bright land. In this world he could look for nothing +save wearing weakness and lingering pain. Thou shouldst be glad +that the fiat has gone forth, and that the end may not be far off +-- the end of trouble and sorrow; for of the glory that shall +follow there shall be no end."</p> +<p>But Wendot broke in hoarsely and impetuously.</p> +<p>"If he must die, let him at least die in freedom, with the old +hills around him; let him be laid to rest beneath their shadow. You +say that he might well escape; that no cry would be made after him +so long as I were in the king's safe keeping. Let him then fly. Let +him fly to Llewelyn and Arthyn. They will give him tendance and a +home. He shall not die in prison, away from all that he holds dear. +I cannot brook the thought!"</p> +<p>"Nay, Wendot," answered Alphonso with a kindling smile, "thou +needest not grieve for thy brother because that he is here. Ask him +-- take it not from my lips; but I will tell thee this, that where +thou art and where I am is the place where Griffeth would fain end +his days. Ah! thou canst not understand, good youth, how when the +great and wonderful call comes for the human soul, how lightly +press the fetters of the flesh; how small these things of time and +place appear that erst have been of such moment. Griffeth and I are +treading the same path at the same time, and I think not even the +offer of a free pardon and unfettered liberty would draw him from +my side.</p> +<p>"Moreover, Wendot, he could not take the journey of which thou +speakest. The keen autumn air, which will give thee strength and +vigour, would but lay him low on the bed from which he would never +rise. His heart is here with me. Think not that thou art wronging +him in taking his name. The one load lying now upon his heart is +the thought that he is leaving thee in captivity. Let him but know +that thou art free -- that he has been thy helper in thy flight -- +and he will have nought left to wish for in this world. His soul +will be at peace."</p> +<p>Wendot rose and paced through the chamber, and then returned to +the side of the prince. His face betrayed many conflicting +emotions. He spoke with bitterness and impetuosity.</p> +<p>"And what good is life to me if I take you at your word and fly +this spot? Have I not lost all that makes life worth living? My +lands given to my traitorous kinsman; the brother who has been more +to me than life lying in a foreign grave. What use is life to one +so lonely and bereft? Where should I fly? what should I do? I have +never lived alone. I have always had another to live for and to +love. Methinks death would be the better thing than such a loveless +life."</p> +<p>"And why should thy life be loveless, Wendot?" asked Alphonso, +with kindling eyes and a brightening smile. "Dost not thou know? -- +does not thine own heart tell thee that one faithful heart beats +for thee and thee alone? Have I not seen thee with her times and +again? Have not your eyes told eloquent secrets -- though I know +not what your lips have said --"</p> +<p>Wendot's face was all in a glow, but he broke in hastily:</p> +<p>"Prince, prince, speak not of her. If I have been beguiled, if I +have betrayed the feelings which I cannot help, but which I must +hold sternly in check -- be not thou the one to taunt me with my +weakness. There is none like her in the world. I have known it for +long. But even because I know it so well I may not even dream of +her. It is not with me as of old, when her father spoke to me of +troth plight. I am a beggar, an outcast, a prisoner. She is rich, +honoured, courted. She is the brightest star of the court --"</p> +<p>"And she loveth thee, Wendot," interposed Alphonso firmly. "She +has loved thee from childhood with a faithful and true love which +merits better things than to be cast aside as if it were but dross. +What are lands and gold to a woman if her lover share them not? Is +it meet that she should suffer so cruelly simply because her father +has left her well endowed? Wendot, on Lord Montacute's dying bed +this daughter of his avowed her love for thee, and he gave her his +blessing and bade her act as she would. Art thou, then, to be the +one to break her heart, ay, and thine own, too, because thou art +too proud to take more than thou canst give?</p> +<p>"Fie, man! the world is wide and thou art young. Thou hast time +to win thy spurs and bring home noble spoil to lay at thy lady's +feet. Only let not pride stand in the way of her happiness and +thine own. Thou hast said that life is dark and drear unless it be +shared with some loved one. Then how canst thou hold back, when +thou hast confessed thine own love and learned that hers is thine? +Take it, and be grateful for the treasure thou hast won, and fear +not but that thou wilt bring as much as thou wilt receive. There +are strange chances in the fate of each one of us. Who knows but +that thou and she will not yet reign again in the halls of +Dynevor?"</p> +<p>Wendot started and flushed, and again paced down the whole +length of the room. When he returned to the window Alphonso had +gone, and in his place stood Gertrude herself, her sweet face dyed +rosy red with blushes, her hands half stretched out towards him, +her lips quivering with the intensity of her emotion.</p> +<p>He paused just one moment looking at her, and then holding out +his arms, he said:</p> +<p>"Gertrude!"</p> +<p>Next moment she was clasped in his close embrace, and was +shedding happy tears upon his shoulder.</p> +<p>"Oh!" said Gertrude at last, in a soft whisper, "it was worth +waiting for this. I never thought I could have been so happy."</p> +<p>"Joanna -- Alphonso, it is all settled. He will leave the castle +with me. He will help me now in the care of my lands. But he will +not move whilst Griffeth lives. And I think he is right. They have +so loved each other, and he will not leave his brother to die +amongst strangers in captivity."</p> +<p>"It is like him," said Joanna eagerly. "Gertrude, thou hast +found a very proper knight, as we told thee from the first, when he +was but a lad, and held the Eagle's Crag against a score of men. +But ye must be wedded soon, that there be no delay when once the +poor boy be gone. Every day he looks more shadowy and frail. +Methinks that our softer air ill suits him, for he hath dwindled to +a mere shadow since he came. You will not have to wait long."</p> +<p>"Joanna speaks the truth," said Alphonso, half sadly, half +smilingly. "He will not be with us long. But it is very true that +this marriage must be privately celebrated, and that without delay, +that when the day comes when 'Griffeth' flies from the castle, he +and his wife may go together."</p> +<p>"Ay, and my chaplain will make them man and wife, and breathe +not a word to any man," cried Joanna, who, now that she was older, +had her own retinue of servants, equal in number to those of her +sister, by whom she was dearly loved for her generosity and +frankness, so that she could always command ready and willing +obedience to any expressed wish of hers.</p> +<p>"You think he will? O Joanna, when shall it be?"</p> +<p>"It shall be at midnight in the chapel," said the girl, with the +prompt decision which characterized her. "Not tonight, but three +nights from this. Leave all things in my hands, sweet Gertrude; I +will see that nought is lacking to bind thee lawfully to thy lord. +My chaplain is a good and holy man from the west country. He loveth +those poor Welsh who are prisoners here, and spends much of his +time in ministering to them. He loves thy future lord and his dying +brother, and he knows somewhat of our plan, for I have revealed it +in the confessional, and he has not chided me for it.</p> +<p>"Oh, I can answer for him. He will be glad that thou shouldst +find so proper a knight; and he is kind of heart, and stanch to my +service. Fear not, sweet Gertrude: ere three days have gone by thou +shalt be a wedded wife; and when the time comes thou mayest steal +away with him thy plighted lord, and trust thy sister Joanna to +make thy peace with the king, if he be in any way angered or +grieved."</p> +<p>Gertrude threw herself into Joanna's arms and kissed her a +hundred times; and Joanna laughed, and said she deserved much +credit for plotting to rid herself of her dearest friend, but was +none the less loyal to the cause because Gertrude's gain would be +her loss.</p> +<p>So there came a strange night, never to be forgotten by those +who witnessed the proceedings, when Wendot ap Res Vychan and the +Lady Gertrude Cherleton stood at midnight before the altar in the +small private chapel of the castle, whilst the chaplain of the +Princess Joanna's private suite made them man and wife according to +the law of the Church. And of the few spectators who witnessed the +ceremony two were of royal blood -- Alphonso and Joanna -- and +beside them were only one or two attendants, sworn to secrecy, and +in full sympathy with the youthful lovers thus plighting their +troth and being united in wedlock at one and the same time.</p> +<p>Griffeth was not of the number who was present to witness this +ceremony. He was unable to rise from his bed, a sudden access of +illness having overtaken him, possibly as the result of the +excitement of hearing what was about to take place.</p> +<p>When the solemn words had been spoken, and the bride was led +away by her proud and happy spouse -- happy even in the midst of so +much peril and sorrow in the thought of the treasure he had won -- +she paused at the door of her apartments, whither he would have +left her (for so long as they remained within the walls of the +castle they would observe the same manner of life as before), and +glancing into his face said softly:</p> +<p>"May I not go with thee to tell the news to Griffeth?"</p> +<p>"Ay, well bethought," said Alphonso, who was leaning on Wendot's +other arm, the distance through the long passages being somewhat +fatiguing to him. "Let us go and show to him thy wife. None will +rejoice more than he to know that she is thine in very truth, and +that none can take her from thee."</p> +<p>Griffeth's room was nigh at hand, and thither Wendot led his +bride. A taper was burning beside the bed, and the sick youth lay +propped up with pillows, his breath coming in laboured gasps, +though his eyes were bright and full of comprehension as Wendot led +the slim, white-robed figure to his side.</p> +<p>But the elder brother was startled at the change he saw in his +patient since he had left him last. There was something in his look +that struck chill upon his heart. He came forward and took the +feeble hand in his. It was deadly cold, and the unearthly radiance +upon the lad's face was as significant in its own way. Had not +their mother looked at them with just such a smile when she had +slipped away into another world, whilst they were trying to +persuade themselves that she was better?</p> +<p>"My sister Gertrude," whispered Griffeth. "Oh, I am so happy! +You will be good to him -- you will comfort him.</p> +<p>"Wendot -- Gertrude --" he made a faint effort, and joined their +hands together; and then, as if his last earthly task was +accomplished, he seemed to look right on beyond them, whilst a +strange expression of awe and wonder shone from his closing +eyes.</p> +<p>"Howel," he whispered -- "father -- mother -- oh, I am coming! +Take me with you."</p> +<p>Then the head fell backwards, the light vanished from the eyes, +the cold hand fell nervelessly from Wendot's grasp, and they knew +that Griffeth was the king's prisoner no longer.</p> +<p>Three days later the Lady Gertrude Cherleton said farewell to +her royal companions, and started forth for her own estates in +Derbyshire, which she had purposed for some time to visit. Perhaps +had the minds of those in the castle been free to wonder at +anything so trivial as the movements of the young heiress, they +would have felt surprise at her selecting this time to betake +herself to a solitary and independent existence, away from all her +friends and playmates; but the mortal illness of the Prince +Alphonso occupied the whole attention of the castle. The remains of +the so-called Wendot, late of Dynevor, had been laid to rest with +little ceremony and no pomp, and the very existence of the other +brother was almost forgotten in the general dismay and grief which +permeated through all ranks of people both within and without the +castle walls.</p> +<p>The lady had a small but sufficient retinue; but it was +considered rather strange that she should not start until the dusk +had begun to gather round the castle, so that the confusion of the +start was a good deal increased from the darkness which was +stealing upon the place. Had there been much time or attention +free, it might have been noted by a keen observer that Lady +Gertrude had added to her personal attendants one who looked like a +tall and stout woman, though her hood was so closely drawn that her +face was seen by none of the warders, who, however, let her pass +unchallenged: for she rode beside her mistress, and was evidently +in the position of a trusted companion; for the lady was speaking +to her as they passed out through the gate, and there could +certainly be no reason for offering any obstruction to any servant +of hers.</p> +<p>If there were any fear or excitement in Gertrude's breast as she +and her husband passed out of the gate and rode quickly along the +path which led through the town, she did not betray it by look or +gesture. Her eagerness was mainly showed by a desire to push on +northward as fast as possible, and the light of a full harvest moon +made travelling almost as easy as by day. On they rode, by sleeping +hamlets and dreaming pastures, until the lights of Windsor lay +twinkling in the dim, hazy distance miles away.</p> +<p>Then Gertrude suddenly threw back her hood, and leaning towards +her companion -- they two had outridden their followers some time +before -- cried in a strange, tense voice:</p> +<p>"O Wendot husband, thou art free! Tomorrow will see us safe +within those halls of which thou art rightful lord. Captivity, +trouble, peril is at an end. Nothing can greatly hurt us now, for +are we not one in bonds that no man may dissever?"</p> +<p>"My noble, true-hearted wife," said Wendot, in accents of +intense feeling; and then he leaned forward and kissed her in the +whispering wood, and they rode forward through the glades of +silvery moonlight towards the new life that was awaiting them +beyond.</p> +<p>"Hills, wild rocks, woods, and water!" cried Wendot, with a +sudden kindling gleam in his eyes. "O Gertrude, thou didst not tell +me the half! I never guessed that England had aught so like home as +this. Truly it might be Dynevor itself -- that brawling torrent, +those craggy fells, and these gray stone walls. And to be free -- +free to breathe the fresh wind, to go where the fancy prompts, to +be loosed from all control save the sweet bonds that thou boldest +me in, dearest! Ah, my wife, thou knowest not what thou hast done +for me. How shall I thank thee for the boon?"</p> +<p>"Why, by being thine old self again, Vychan," said Gertrude, who +was standing by her husband's side on a natural terrace of rock +above the Hall which was to be their home. She had brought him out +early in the morning to see the sun rise upon their home, and the +rapture of his face, the passionate joy she saw written there, was +more than she had hoped for.</p> +<p>"Thou hast grown old and worn of late, too saddened, too grave +for thy years. Thou must grow young again, and be the bright-faced +youth to whom I gave my heart. Thy youth is not left so far behind +but what thou canst recall it ere it be too late."</p> +<p>"In sooth I shall grow young again here, sweetheart," quoth +Wendot, or Vychan, as we must call him now. He had an equal right +to that name with his father, though for convenience he had always +been addressed by the other; and now that Lady Gertrude had brought +her husband home, he was to be known as Res Vychan, one of the +descendants of the last princes of South Wales, who had taken his +wife's name also, as he was now the ruler of her land; so, +according to the fashion of the English people, he would henceforth +be known as Vychan Cherleton. His brother's name he could not bear +to hear applied to himself, and it was left to Joanna to explain +matters to the king and queen when the chance should arrive. None +else need ever know that the husband of the Lady Gertrude had ever +been a captive of Edward's; and the name of Griffeth ap Res Vychan +disappears from the ken of the chroniclers as if it had never been +known that he was once a prisoner in England.</p> +<p>There was no pursuit made after the missing Welshman. The king +and queen had other matters to think of, and the fondness of their +son for the youth would have been protection enough even if he had +not begged with his dying breath that his father would forgive and +forget. Lady Gertrude and her husband did not come to court for +very many years; and by the time they did so, Vychan Cherleton's +loyalty and service to the English cause were too well established +for any one to raise a question as to his birth or race.</p> +<p>If the king and queen ever knew they had been outwitted by their +children, they did not resent that this had been so, nor that an +act of mercy had been contrived greater than they might have felt +justified in ratifying.</p> +<p>But all this was yet in the future. As Vychan and his wife stood +on that high plateau overlooking the fair valley of the Derwent, it +seemed to Gertrude as though during the past three days her husband +had undergone some subtle change. There was a new light in his +eyes; his frame had lost its drooping air of languor; he had stood +the long days of rough riding without the smallest fatigue. It +really seemed as if the old Wendot had come back again, and she +smilingly asked him how it was that he had gained such strength in +so short a time.</p> +<p>"Ah, that question is soon answered, sweet wife. It is freedom +that is the elixir of life to us sons of Cambria. I know not if +your English-born men can brook the sense of fetter and constraint, +but it is death to us.</p> +<p>"Let us not think of it more. That page has closed for ever; and +never shall it reopen, for sooner will I die than fall alive into +the hands of a foe. Nay, sweetest Gertrude, look not so +reproachfully at me. Thou shalt soon see that I mean not to die, +but to live for thee. Here in this fair, free spot we begin our new +life together. It may be even yet -- for see, is not that bright +sky, illumined by those quivering shafts of light athwart our path, +an omen of good? -- that as thou showest me this fair spot with +which thou hast endowed me, I may one day show thee again and endow +thee with the broad lands of Dynevor."</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a>. THE NEW LORD OF +DYNEVOR.</h2> +<p>"Vychan, Vychan, the hour has come! That false traitor Sir Res +has risen in revolt against England's king. Loyal men are called +upon to put down the rebellion, and such as do so will be rewarded +with the lands reft from the traitor. Vychan, Vychan, lose not a +moment; arm and take the men, and fly to Dynevor! Now is the time +to strike the blow! And I will to Edward's court, to plead with him +for the lands and castle of Dynevor as my husband's guerdon for his +services. O Vychan, Vychan, have not I always said that thou +shouldest live to call thyself Lord of Dynevor again?"</p> +<p>Gertrude came flying to her husband with these words, looking +scarce less young and certainly none less bright and happy than she +had done four years back, when she and her husband had first stood +within the walls of her ancestral home. A beautiful, sturdy boy +hung upon her hand, keeping pace gallantly even with her flying +steps, and the joy of motherhood had given something of added +lustre to the soft beauty of her dark eyes; otherwise she was +scarce changed from the Gertrude of past days. As for Vychan, he +still retained the eagle glance, the almost boyish freshness of +colouring, and the soldier-like bearing which distinguished his +race, and the gold of his hair had not tarnished or faded, though +he had developed from the youth to the man, and was a noble +specimen of manhood in the zenith of its strength and beauty.</p> +<p>Rising hastily at his wife's approach, he gazed at her with +parted lips and glowing eyes, whilst she once more told him the +news, brought by a special messenger from the Princess Joanna, +brought thus, as both knew, with a special meaning which they well +understood. Four years of peaceful prosperity in England had in no +whit weakened Vychan's love for his own land or blunted the +soldier-like instincts of his race. There was something of the +light of battle and of conquest in his eye as he gazed at his wife, +and his voice rang out clear and trumpet-like as he gathered the +sense of the message she brought.</p> +<p>"Take up arms against that false traitor-kinsman of mine? ay, +verily, that I will. False first to his kindred and his country, +then false to the king who has trusted and rewarded him so nobly. +Res ap Meredith, methinks thine hour is come! Thou didst plot and +contrive to wrest from me the fair lands my father bequeathed me; +but I trow the day has dawned when the false lord shall be cast +forth, even as he has cast forth others, and when there shall be a +lord of the old race ruling at Dynevor, albeit he rule beneath a +new name."</p> +<p>"Heaven grant it may be so!" cried Gertrude, the tears of +excitement sparkling in her eyes; whilst little Griffeth, catching +some of the sense of his father's words, and understanding with the +quick instinct of childhood that there was something unwonted going +on, shook his little fist in the air, and cried:</p> +<p>"Dynevor, Dynevor! me fight for Dynevor, too."</p> +<p>The father picked up his son and held him in a close +embrace.</p> +<p>"Ay, Griffeth, my man, thou shalt reign at Dynevor one of these +days, please God to give us victory over false friends and +traitorous allies."</p> +<p>And even as the parents stood looking smilingly at the brave +child, the blast from the warder's trumpet gave notice that +strangers were approaching the Hall; and hurrying to the entrance +gate to be ready to receive the guests, Vychan and his wife beheld +a little troop of horsemen winding their way up the valley, headed +by a pair who appeared to be man and wife, and to hold some exalted +position, for the trappings of their steeds and the richness of +their own dress marked them as of no humble rank.</p> +<p>Visitors were sufficiently rare at this lonely place for this +sight to cause some stir in the Hall; and Gertrude, shading her +eyes with her hand, gazed eagerly at the two figures in advance. +Suddenly she gave a little cry of rapture, and bounded forward +through the gateway.</p> +<p>"It is Arthyn -- Arthyn and Llewelyn! Vychan, thy brother and +his wife are here. Oh, they have come to bid thee to the fray! They +bring tidings, and are come to summon thee to the fight.</p> +<p>"Arthyn, sweetest sister, ten thousand welcomes to our home! +Nay, I can scarce believe this is not a dream. How I have longed to +see thee here!"</p> +<p>Vychan was at his brother's side, as Arthyn, flinging herself +from her saddle, flew into Gertrude's arms. For some moments +nothing could be distinguished but the glad clamour of welcome, and +scarce had that subsided before it recommenced in the eager +salutations of the Welsh retainers, who saw in Vychan another of +the sons of their well-loved Lord, Res Vychan, the former Lord of +Dynevor and Iscennen, whose wise and merciful rule had never been +forgotten.</p> +<p>Vychan was touched, indeed, to see how well he was remembered, +and the sound of the familiar tongue sent thrills of strange +emotion through him. It was some time before he could free himself +from the throng of servants who pressed round him; and when he +could do so he followed his wife and guests into the banqueting +hall, where the noonday repast was spread, giving charge to his +seneschal for the hospitable entertainment of the retinue his +brother had brought and their lodgment within the walls of the +Hall.</p> +<p>When he reached the inner hall he found the servants spreading +the best viands of the house upon the table; whilst Gertrude, +Arthyn, and Llewelyn were gathered together in the embrasure of a +window in eager discussion. Gertrude broke away and came quickly +towards him, her face deeply flushed and her eyes very bright.</p> +<p>"Vychan, it is even as we have heard. That false traitor is in +open revolt, and he has been even more false than we knew. What +think you of this? -- he professed to be sorry for his revolt, and +sent a letter of urgent pleading to Llewelyn and Arthyn begging +them to use their influence with the king to obtain his pardon. +Believing him to be sincere, Llewelyn set out for England not more +than two short weeks back, taking with him, on account of the +unsettled state of the country, the pick of the men from +Carregcennen. And when this double-dyed traitor knows that Arthyn +is alone and unprotected in the castle, what does he do but send a +strong band of his soldiers, himself at their head, who obtain +entrance by the subterranean passage, slay the guard, and take +possession of the fortress. Arthyn has but bare time to escape with +a handful of men, and by hard riding to join her husband on the +road to England.</p> +<p>"So now have they turned aside to tell the tale to us, and to +summon thee to come with thy men and fight in the king's quarrel +against this wicked man. And whilst ye lead your soldiers into +Wales, Arthyn and I will to the court, to lay the story before the +royal Edward, and to gain from him the full and free grants of the +castles of Dynevor and Carregcennen for our husbands, who have +responded to his call, and have flown to wrest from the traitor the +possession he has so unrighteously grasped."</p> +<p>"Thy wife speaketh wise words, Vychan," said Llewelyn, whose +dark brows wore a threatening look, and who had the appearance of a +man deeply stirred to wrath, as indeed he well might be; "and it +were well that we lost no time in dallying here. How many men canst +thou summon to thy banner, and when can we be on the march for the +south? The Earl of Cornwall has been called upon to quell this +revolt, and he has summoned to his aid all loyal subjects of the +king who hold dear the peace and prosperity of their land.</p> +<p>"The days are gone by in which I should despise that call and +join the standard of revolt. The experience of the past has taught +me that in the English alliance is Wales's only hope of +tranquillity and true independence and civilization. When such men +as this Res ap Meredith break into revolt against Edward, it is +time for us to rally round his standard. What would our lives, our +lands, our liberties be worth were such a double-distilled traitor +as he transformed into a prince, as is his fond ambition?"</p> +<p>"True, Llewelyn, true. The race of kings has vanished from +Wales, and methinks there is no humiliation in owning as sovereign +lord the lion-hearted King of England. Moreover, has he not given +us a prince of our own, born upon Welsh soil, sprung of a kingly +race? We will rally round the standard of father and son, and trust +that in the future a brighter day will dawn for our long-distracted +country."</p> +<p>So forthwith there sped messengers through the wild valleys and +wilder fells of Derbyshire, and many a sturdy son of the mountains +came gladly and willingly at the call of the feudal lord whose wise +and kindly rule had made him greatly beloved. The fighting instinct +of the age and of the race was speedily aroused by this call to +arms, and the surrounding gentlemen and yeomen of the county +likewise pressed their services upon Vychan, glad to be able to +strike a blow to uphold the authority of a king whose wise and +brave rule had already made him the idol of the nation.</p> +<p>It was a goodly sight to see the brothers of Dynevor (as their +wives could not but call them once again) ride forth at the head of +this well-equipped following. Llewelyn marvelled at the discipline +displayed by the recruits -- a discipline decidedly in advance of +anything his own ruder followers could boast. But Welsh and English +for once were in brotherly accord, and rode shoulder to shoulder in +all good fellowship; and the English knew that their ruder comrades +from Cambria, if less well trained and drilled, would be able to +show them a lesson in fierce and desperate fighting, to which they +were far more inured than their more peaceable neighbours from the +sister country.</p> +<p>And fighting there was for all; but the struggle, if fierce, was +brief. Sir Res was a coward at heart, as it is the wont of a +traitor to be, and finding himself opposed by foes as relentless +and energetic as Vychan and Llewelyn, he was speedily driven from +fortress to fortress, till at length he was forced to surrender +himself a prisoner to the Earl of Gloucester; who, out of kindness +to his wife, Auda de Hastings, connived at his escape to +Ireland.</p> +<p>There he lived in seclusion for some time; but the spirit of +rebellion was still alive within him, and two years later he +returned to Wales, and succeeded in collecting an army of four +thousand turbulent spirits about him, at the head of which force he +fought a pitched battle with the king's justiciary, Robert de +Tibetot. His army was cut to pieces. He was taken prisoner himself, +and met a cruel death at York as the reward of his many acts of +treasonable rebellion.</p> +<p>But the halls of Dynevor saw him no more from the moment when +Res Vychan, with a swelling heart, first drove him forth, and +planted his own foot once again upon the soil dearer to him than +any other spot on earth. As he stood upon the familiar terrace, +looking over the wide, fair valley of the Towy, his heart swelled +with thankfulness and joy; and if a slow, unwonted tear found its +way to his eye, it was scarce a tear of sorrow, for he felt assured +that his brother Griffeth was sharing in the joy of this +restoration to the old home, and that his loving and gentle spirit +was not very far from him at this supreme hour of his life.</p> +<p>"Father, father, father!"</p> +<p>Vychan turned with a start at the sound of the joyous call, and +the next moment was clasping wife and son to his breast.</p> +<p>"Sweetheart! come so quickly? How couldst thou?"</p> +<p>"Ay, Vychan, love hath ever wings, and neither I nor Arthyn +could keep away, our business at the court once accomplished. +Vychan, husband, thou standest here Lord of Dynevor in thine own +right. Thou hast won back thine ancestral home, the boy's +inheritance.</p> +<p>"Seest thou this deed? Knowest thou the king's seal? Take it, +for it secureth all to thee under thy name of Vychan Cherleton. And +if in times to come those who come after know not that it was the +son of Res Vychan who thus reclaimed his patrimony, and if our +worthy chroniclers set down that Dynevor and its lands passed to +the keeping of the English, what matters it? We know the truth, and +those who have loved thee and thy father know who thou art and +whence thou hast come. Let that be sufficient for thee and for +me.</p> +<p>"Griffeth, little son, kiss thy father, and bid him welcome to +his own halls again -- the halls of Dynevor."</p> +<p>Vychan could not speak. He pressed one passionate kiss upon the +lips of his wife, and another upon the brow of his noble boy, who +looked every inch a Dynevor, with the true Dynevor features, and +the bold, fearless mien so like his father's.</p> +<p>Then commanding himself by an effort, he opened the king's +parchment and quickly mastered its contents, after which he took +his wife's hand and held out the other to his son.</p> +<p>"My faithful fellows are mustering in the hall to bid me welcome +once more to Dynevor. Come, sweet wife; I must show to them their +lady and their future lord.</p> +<p>"Arthyn -- where is she? Has she gone on to Iscennen to meet +Llewelyn there?"</p> +<p>"Ay, verily: she was as hungry for him as I for thee; and she +hath a similar mandate for him regarding his rights to +Carregcennen.</p> +<p>"O Vychan, dearest husband, I can scarce believe it is not all a +dream."</p> +<p>Indeed, to Vychan it seemed almost as though he dreamed, as in +the old familiar hall he stood, a little raised from the crowd of +armed retainers upon the steps of the wide oak staircase, as he +addressed to them a speech eloquent with that thrilling eloquence +which is the gift of all who speak from the heart, and speak to +hearts beating in deep and true response. Vychan thanked all those +who had so bravely fought for him, explained to all assembled there +his new position and his new name, bid them not think him less a +Welshman and a Dynevor because he bore his wife's arms and called +himself the servant of the English king, and held up before their +eyes the mandate of that English king confirming to him the lands +and halls of Dynevor.</p> +<p>A wild, ringing cheer broke from all who heard him as he thus +proved to their own satisfaction that the royal Edward was their +best friend, and as the new Lord of Dynevor held up his child for +them to see, and to own as future lord in the time-honoured +fashion, such a shout went up from the throats of all as made the +vaulted roof ring again. Blades were unsheathed and waved in wild +enthusiasm, and Gertrude's dark eyes glistened through a mist of +proud and happy tears.</p> +<p>Suddenly from some dim recess in the old ball there issued a +strain of wild music -- the sound of a harp played by no unskilled +hand; whilst mingling with the twang of the strings was the voice +of the ancient bard, cracked through age, yet still retaining the +old power and some of the old sweetness. And harp and voice were +raised alike in one of those triumph songs that have ever been as +the elixir of life to the strong, rude, sensitive sons of wild +Cambria.</p> +<p>"It is Wenwynwyn," quoth Vychan. "He is yet alive. I little +thought to see him more.</p> +<p>"Griffeth, boy, run to yon old man and bid him give thee his +blessing, and tell him that there is a son of Dynevor come back to +rule as Lord of Dynevor once again."</p> +<p>POSTSCRIPT.</p> +<p>The story of the sons of Res Vychan is very intricate and +difficult to follow, owing to the lack of contemporaneous +documents; but the main facts of their story as related in the +foregoing pages are true, though a certain license has been taken +for purposes of fiction.</p> +<p>They have been represented as somewhat younger than they were at +the time of these events, whilst the children of Edward the First +have been made some few years older than their true ages.</p> +<p>There is no actual historical warrant for the change of identity +between Wendot and Griffeth, and for the escape and reinstatement +of the former in the halls of Dynevor; but there are traditions +which point to a possibility that he did escape from prison, in +spite of the affirmation of the chroniclers, as there have been +those who claim descent from him, which they would hardly have done +if such had not been the case, for there is no record that he was +married before he was taken prisoner to England.</p> +<p>The children of the English king were not really at Rhuddlan +Castle in 1277, as represented here, as they were at that time too +young to accompany their father on his expeditions. If, however, +they had been as old as represented in these pages, there is little +doubt they would have accompanied him, as the monarch was a most +affectionate father, and loved to have wife and children about +him.</p> +<p>Arthyn is a fictitious character; as is also Gertrude. There is +no record that any of the sons of Res Vychan married or left +descendants, except the tradition alluded to above.</p> +<p>THE END.</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Lord of Dynevor, by Evelyn Everett-Green + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LORD OF DYNEVOR *** + +***** This file should be named 13227-h.htm or 13227-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/2/2/13227/ + +Produced by Martin Robb + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/13227.txt b/old/13227.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..da0ba81 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13227.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6139 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lord of Dynevor, by Evelyn Everett-Green + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lord of Dynevor + +Author: Evelyn Everett-Green + +Release Date: August 20, 2004 [EBook #13227] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LORD OF DYNEVOR *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + + + THE LORD OF DYNEVOR: + +A Tale of the Times of Edward the First + +by Evelyn Everett-Green. + + + + CHAPTER I. DYNEVOR CASTLE. + + +"La-ha-hoo! la-ha-hoo!" + +Far down the widening valley, and up the wild, picturesque ravine, rang +the strange but not unmusical call. It awoke the slumbering echoes of +the still place, and a hundred voices seemed to take up the cry, and +pass it on as from mouth to mouth. But the boy's quick ears were not to +be deceived by the mocking voices of the spirits of solitude, and +presently the call rang out again with greater clearness than before: + +"La-ha-hoo!" + +The boy stood with his head thrown back, his fair curls floating in the +mountain breeze, his blue eyes, clear and bright and keen as those of a +wild eaglet, fixed upon a craggy ridge on the opposite side of the +gorge, whilst his left hand was placed upon the collar of a huge +wolfhound who stood beside him, sniffing the wind and showing by every +tremulous movement his longing to be off and away, were it not for the +detaining hand of his young master. + +The lad was very simply dressed in a tunic of soft, well-dressed +leather, upon the breast of which was stamped some device which might +have been the badge of his house. His active limbs were encased in the +same strong, yielding material, and the only thing about him which +seemed to indicate rank or birth was a belt with a richly-chased gold +clasp and a poniard with a jewelled hilt. + +Perhaps the noble bearing of the boy was his best proof of right to the +noble name he bore. One of the last of the royal house of Dynevor, he +looked every inch a prince, as he stood bare-headed in the sunlight +amidst the everlasting hills of his well-loved home, too young to see +the clouds which were settling so darkly and so surely upon the bright +horizon of his life -- his dreams still of glory and triumph, +culminating in the complete emancipation of his well-loved country from +the hated English yoke. + +The dog strained and whined against the detaining clasp upon his neck, +but the boy held him fast. + +"Nay, Gelert, we are not going a-hunting," he said. "Hark! is not that +the sound of a horn? Are they not even now returning? Over yon fell they +come. Let me but hear their hail, and thou and I will be off to meet +them. I would they heard the news first from my lips. My mother bid me +warn them. I wot she fears what Llewelyn and Howel might say or do were +they to find English guests in our hall and they all unwarned." + +Once more the boy raised his voice in the wild call which had awakened +the echoes before, and this time his practised ear distinguished amongst +the multitudinous replies an answering shout from human lips. Releasing +Gelert, who dashed forward with a bay of delight, the lad commenced +springing from rock to rock up the narrowing gorge, until he reached a +spot where the dwindling stream could be crossed by a bound; from which +spot a wild path, more like a goat track than one intended for the foot +of man, led upwards towards the higher portions of the wild fell. + +The boy sped onwards with the fleetness and agility of a born +mountaineer. The hound bounded at his side; and before either had +traversed the path far, voices ahead of them became distinctly audible, +and a little group might be seen approaching, laden with the spoils of +the chase. + +In the van of the little party were three lads, one of whom bore so +striking a resemblance to the youth who now hastened to meet them, that +the relationship could not be for a moment doubted. As a matter of fact +the four were brothers; but they followed two distinct types -- Wendot +and Griffeth being fair and bright haired, whilst Llewelyn and Howel +(who were twins) were dark as night, with black hair and brows, swarthy +skins, and something of the wildness of aspect which often accompanies +such traits. + +Wendot, the eldest of the four, a well-grown youth of fifteen, who was +walking slightly in advance of his brothers, greeted Griffeth's approach +with a bright smile. + +"Ha, lad, thou shouldst have been with us! We have had rare sport today. +The good fellows behind can scarce carry the booty home. Thou must see +the noble stag that my bolt brought down. We will have his head to adorn +the hall -- his antlers are worth looking at, I warrant thee. But what +brings thee out so far from home? and why didst thou hail us as if we +were wanted?" + +"You are wanted," answered Griffeth, speaking so that all the brothers +might hear his words. "The mother herself bid me go in search of you, +and it is well you come home laden with meat, for we shall need to make +merry tonight. There are guests come to the castle today. Wenwynwyn was +stringing his harp even as I came away, to let them hear his skill in +music. They are to be lodged for so long as they will stay; but the +manner of their errand I know not." + +"Guests!" echoed all three brothers in a breath, and very eagerly; "why, +that is good hearing, for perchance we may now learn some news. Come +these strangers from the north? Perchance we shall hear somewhat of our +noble Prince Llewelyn, who is standing out so boldly for the rights of +our nation. Say they not that the English tyrant is on our borders now, +summoning him to pay the homage he repudiates with scorn? Oh, I would +that this were a message summoning all true Welshmen to take up arms in +his quarrel! Would not I fly to his standard, boy though I be! And would +I not shed the last drop of my blood in the glorious cause of liberty!" + +Llewelyn was the speaker, and his black eyes were glowing fiercely under +their straight bushy brows. His face was the least boyish of any of the +four, and his supple, sinewy frame had much of the strength of manhood +in it. The free, open-air life that all these lads had lived, and the +training they had received in all martial and hardy exercises, had given +them strength and height beyond their years. It was no idle boast on the +part of Llewelyn to speak of his readiness to fight. He would have +marched against the foe with the stoutest of his father's men-at-arms, +and doubtless have acquitted himself as well as any; for what the lads +lacked in strength they made up in their marvellous quickness and agility. + +The love of fighting seemed born in all these hardy sons of Wales, and +something of warfare was known to them even now, from the never-ending +struggles between themselves, and their resistance of the authority, +real or assumed, of the Lords of the Marches. But petty forays and +private feuds with hostile kinsmen was not the kind of fighting these +brothers longed to see and share. They had their own ideas and +aspirations, and eager glances were turned upon Griffeth, lest he might +be the bearer of some glorious piece of news that would mean open +warfare with England. + +But the boy's face was unresponsive and even a little downcast. He gave +a quick glance into the fierce, glowing face of Llewelyn, and then his +eyes turned upon Wendot. + +"There is no news like that," he said slowly. "The guests who have come +to Dynevor are English themselves." + +"English!" echoed Llewelyn fiercely, and he turned away with a smothered +word which sounded like an imprecation upon all the race of foreigners; +whilst Howel asked with quick indignation: + +"What right have English guests at Dynevor? Why were they received? Why +did not our good fellows fall upon them with the sword or drive them +back the way they came? Oh, if we had but been there --" + +"Tush, brother!" said young Griffeth quickly; "is not our father lord of +Dynevor? Dost think that thou canst usurp his authority? And when did +ever bold Welshmen fall upon unarmed strangers to smite with the sword? +Do we make war upon harmless travellers -- women and children? Fie upon +thee! it were a base thought. Let not our parents hear thee speak such +words." + +Howel looked a little discomfited by his younger brother's rebuke, +though he read nothing but sympathy and mute approbation in Llewelyn's +sullen face and gloomy eyes. He dropped a pace or so behind and joined +his twin, whilst Wendot and Griffeth led the way in front. + +"Who are these folks?" asked Wendot; "and whence come they? And why have +they thus presented themselves unarmed at Dynevor? Is it an errand of +peace? And why speakest thou of women and children?" + +"Why, brother, because the traveller has his little daughter with him, +and her woman is in their train of servants. I know not what has brought +them hither, but I gather they have lost their road, and lighted by +chance on Dynevor. Methinks they are on a visit to the Abbey of Strata +Florida; but at least they come as simple, unarmed strangers, and it is +the boast of Wales that even unarmed foes may travel through the breadth +and length of the land and meet no harm from its sons. For my part I +would have it always so. I would not wage war on all alike. Doubtless +there are those, even amongst the English, who are men of bravery and +honour." + +"I doubt it not," answered Wendot, with a gravity rather beyond his +years. "If all our mother teaches us be true, we Welshmen have been +worse enemies to one another than ever the English have been. I would +not let Llewelyn or Howel hear me say so, and I would fain believe it +not. But when we see how this fair land has been torn and rent by the +struggles after land and power, and how our own kinsman, Meredith ap +Res, is toying with Edward, and striving to take from us the lands we +hold yet -- so greatly diminished from the old portion claimed by the +lords of Dynevor -- we cannot call the English our only or even our +greatest foes. Ah, if Wales would but throw aside all her petty feuds, +and join as brothers fighting shoulder to shoulder for her independence, +then might there be some hope! But now --" + +Griffeth was looking with wide-open, wondering eyes into his brother's +face. He loved and reverenced Wendot in a fashion that was remarkable, +seeing that the elder brother was but two years and a half his senior. +But Wendot had always been grave and thoughtful beyond his years, and +had been taken much into the counsels of his parents, so that questions +which were almost new to the younger lad had been thought much of by the +eldest, the heir of the house of Dynevor. + +"Why, brother, thou talkest like a veritable monk for learning," he +said. "I knew not thou hadst the gift of such eloquent speech. Methought +it was the duty of every free-born son of Wales to hate the English tyrant." + +"Ay, and so I do when I think of his monstrous claims," cried Wendot +with flashing eyes. "Who is the King of England that he should lay claim +to our lands, our homage, our submission? My blood boils in my veins +when I think of things thus. And yet there are moments when it seems the +lesser ill to yield such homage to one whom the world praises as +statesman and soldier, than to see our land torn and distracted by petty +feuds, and split up into a hundred hostile factions. But let us not talk +further of this; it cuts me to the heart to think of it. Tell me more of +these same travellers. How did our parents receive them? And how long +purpose they to stay?" + +"Nay, that I have not heard. I was away over yon fell with Gelert when I +saw the company approach the castle, and ere I could find entrance the +strangers had been received and welcomed. The father of the maiden is an +English earl, Lord Montacute they call him. He is tall and soldier-like, +with an air of command like unto our father's. The damsel is a +fair-faced maiden, who scarce opens her lips; but she keeps close to our +mother's side, and seems loath to leave her for a moment. I heard her +father say that she had no mother of her own. Her name, they say, is +Lady Gertrude." + +"A damsel at Dynevor," said Wendot, with a smile; "methinks that will +please the mother well." + +"Come and see," cried Griffeth eagerly. "Let us hasten down to the +castle together." + +It was easy work for the brothers to traverse the rocky pathway. +Dangerous as the descent looked to others, they were as surefooted as +young chamois, and sprang from rock to rock with the utmost confidence. +The long summer sunlight came streaming up the valley in level rays of +shimmering gold, bathing the loftier crags in lambent fire, and filling +the lower lands with layers of soft shadow flecked here and there with +gold. A sudden turn in the narrow gorge, through which ran a brawling +tributary of the wider Towy, brought the brothers full in sight of their +ancestral home, and for a few seconds they paused breathless, gazing +with an unspeakable and ardent love upon the fair scene before them. + +The castle of Dynevor (or Dinas Vawr = Great Palace) stood in a +commanding position upon a rocky plateau overlooking the river Towy. +From its size and splendour -- as splendour went in those days -- it had +long been a favourite residence with the princes of South Wales; and in +a recent readjustment of disputed lands, consequent upon the perpetual +petty strife that was ruining the land, Res Vychan, the present Lord of +Dynevor, had made some considerable sacrifice in order to keep in his +own hands the fair palace of his fathers. + +The majestic pile stood out boldly from the mountain side, and was +approached by a winding road from the valley. A mere glance showed how +strong was the position it occupied, and how difficult such a place +would be to capture. On two sides the rock fell away almost sheer from +the castle walls, whilst on the other two a deep moat had been dug, +which was fed by small mountain rivulets that never ran dry; and the +entrance was commanded by a drawbridge, whose frowning portcullis was +kept by a grim warder looking fully equal to the office allotted to him. + +Lovely views were commanded from the narrow windows of the castle, and +from the battlements and the terraced walk that ran along two sides of +the building. And rough and rude as were the manners and customs of the +period, and partially uncivilized as the country was in those far-off +days, there was a strong vein of poetry lying latent in its sons and +daughters, and an ardent love for the beautiful in nature and for the +country they called their own, which went far to redeem their natures +from mere savagery and brute ferocity. + +This passionate love for their home was strong in all the brothers of +the house of Dynevor, and was deepened and intensified by the sense of +uncertainty now pervading the whole country with regard to foreign +aggression and the ever-increasing claims upon Welsh lands by the +English invaders. A sense as of coming doom hung over the fair +landscape, and Wendot's eyes grew dreamy as he stood gazing on the +familiar scene, and Griffeth had to touch his arm and hurry him down to +the castle. + +"Mother will be wanting us," he said. "What is the matter, Wendot? +Methinks I see the tears in thine eyes." + +"Nay, nay; tears are for women," answered Wendot with glowing cheeks, as +he dashed his hand across his eyes. "It is for us men to fight for our +rightful inheritance, that the women may not have to weep for their +desolated homes." + +Griffeth gave him a quick look, and then his eyes travelled lovingly +over the wide, fair scene, to the purple shadows and curling mists of +the valley, the dark mysterious woods in front, the clear, vivid +sunlight on the mountain tops, and the serried battlements of the +castle, now rising into larger proportions as the boys dropped down the +hillside towards the postern door, which led out upon the wild fell. +There was something of mute wistfulness in his own gaze as he did so. + +"Brother," he said thoughtfully, "I think I know what those feelings are +which bring tears to the eyes of men -- tears of which they need feel no +shame. Fear not to share with me all thy inmost thoughts. Have we not +ever been brothers in all things?" + +"Ay, truly have we; and I would keep nothing back, only I scarce know +how to frame my lips to give utterance to the thoughts which come +crowding into my brain. But see, we have no time for communing now. Go +on up the path to the postern; it is too narrow for company." + +Indeed, so narrow was the track, so steep the uncertain steps worn in +the face of the rock, so deep the fall if one false step were made, that +few save the brothers and wilder mountaineers ever sought admission by +the postern door. But Wendot and Griffeth had no fears, and quickly +scaled the steps and reached the entrance, passing through which they +found themselves in a narrow vaulted passage, very dark, which led, with +many twists and turns, and several ascending stairs, to the great hall +of the castle, where the members of the household were accustomed for +the most part to assemble. + +A door deeply set in an embrasure gave access to this place, and the +moment it was opened the sound of a harp became audible, and the +brothers paused in the deep shadow to observe what was going on in the +hall before they advanced further. + +A scene that would be strange and picturesque to our eyes, but was in +the main familiar to theirs, greeted them as they stood thus. The castle +hall was a huge place, large enough to contain a muster of armed men. A +great stone staircase wound upwards from it to a gallery above. There +was little furniture to be seen, and that was of a rude kind, though not +lacking in a certain massiveness and richness in the matter of carving, +which gave something baronial to the air of the place. The walls were +adorned with trophies of all sorts, some composed of arms, others of the +spoil of fell and forest. The skins of many savage beasts lay upon the +cold stone flooring of the place, imparting warmth and harmony by the +rich tints of the furs. Light was admitted through a row of narrow +windows both above and below; but the vast place would have been dim and +dark at this hour had it not been that the huge double doors with their +rude massive bolts stood wide open to the summer air, and the last beams +of the westering sun came shining in, lying level and warm upon the +group at the upper end of the hall, which had gathered around the +white-haired, white-bearded bard, who, with head thrown backwards, and +eyes alight with strange passions and feelings, was singing in a deep +and musical voice to the sound of his instrument. + +Old Wenwynwyn was a study in himself; his flowing hair, his fiery eyes, +his picturesque garb and free, untrammelled gestures giving him a weird +individuality of his own. But it was not upon him that the eyes of the +brothers dwelt, nor even upon the soldier-like figure of their stalwart +father leaning against the wall with folded arms, and eyes shining with +the patriotic fervour of his race. The attention of the lads was +enchained by another and more sumptuous figure --that of a fine-looking +man, approaching to middle life, who was seated at a little distance +from the minstrel, and was smiling with pleasure and appreciation at the +wild sweetness of the stream of melody poured forth. + +One glance at the dress of the stranger would have been enough to tell +the brothers his nationality. His under tunic, which reached almost to +the feet, was of the finest cloth, and was embroidered along the lower +border with gold thread. The sur-tunic was also richly embroidered; and +the heavy mantle clasped upon the shoulder with a rare jewel was of some +rich texture almost unknown to the boys. The make and set of his +garments, and the jewelled and plumed cap which he held upon his knee, +alike proclaimed him to be English; yet as he gazed upon the noble face, +and looked into the clear depths of the calm and fearless eyes, Wendot +felt no hostility towards the representative of the hostile race, but +rather a sort of reluctant admiration. + +"In faith he looks born to command," he whispered to Griffeth. "If all +were like unto him --" + +But the lad did not complete the sentence, for he had suddenly caught +sight of another figure, another face, and he stopped short in a sort of +bewildered amaze. + +In Dynevor Castle there had never been a girl child to share the honours +with her brothers. No sister had played in its halls, or tyrannized over +the lads or their parents. And now when Wendot's glance fell for the +first time upon this little fairy-like creature, this lovely little +golden-haired, blue-eyed maiden, he felt a new sensation enter his life, +and gazed as wonderingly at the apparition as if the child had been a ghost. + +And the soft shy eyes, with their fringe of dark lashes, were looking +straight at him. As he gazed the child suddenly rose, and darted towards +the brothers as if she had wings on her feet. + +"Oh, you have come back!" she said, looking from one to the other, and +for a moment seeming puzzled by the likeness; "and -- why, there are two +of you," and the child broke into the merriest and silveriest of laughs. +"Oh, I am so glad! I do like boys so much, and I never have any to play +with at home. I am so tired of this old man and his harp. Please let me +go somewhere with you," and she thrust her soft little hand confidingly +into Wendot's, looking up saucily into his face as she added, "You are +the biggest; I like you the best." + +Wendot's face glowed; but on the whole he was flattered by the attention +and the preference of the little maiden. He understood her soft English +speech perfectly, for all the Dynevor brothers had been instructed in +the English tongue by an English monk who had long lived at the castle. +Res Vychan, the present Lord of Dynevor, foresaw, and had foreseen many +years, the gradual usurpation of the English, and had considered that a +knowledge of that tongue would in all probability be an advantage to +those who were likely to be involved in the coming struggle. The boys +all possessed the quick musical ear of their race, and found no +difficulty in mastering the language; but neither Llewelyn nor Howel +would ever speak a single word of the hated tongue if they could help +it, though Wendot and Griffeth conversed often with the old monk right +willingly. + +So as Wendot looked down into the bright little upturned face, he was +able to reply readily and smilingly: + +"Where would you like to go, little lady, and what would you like me to +show you?" + +"Oh, everything -- all out there," said the little girl, with a wave of +her hand towards the front door. "I want to go and see the sun. I am +tired of it in here." + +Wendot led the child through the hall, and out upon the great terrace +which overlooked the steep descent to the valley and away to the glowing +west. Griffeth followed, glad that his elder brother had been preferred +before himself by the little maiden, yet half fascinated by her nameless +charm. Wendot lifted her up in his strong arms to see over the wide +stone balustrade, and she made him set her down there and perch himself +by her side; for she seemed loath to go back to the hall again, and the +boys were as willing as she to remain out in the open air. + +"It is pretty here," said the child graciously; "I think I should like +to live here sometimes, if it was always summer. Tell me your name, big +boy. I hope it is not very hard. Some people here have names I cannot +speak right." + +"They call me Res Wendot," answered the lad; "generally Wendot at home +here. This is Griffeth, my youngest brother. Those are not hard names, +are they?" + +"No, not very. And how old are you, Wendot?" + +"I am fifteen." + +"Oh, how big you are!" said the little lady, opening her eyes wide; "I +thought you must be much older than that. I am twelve, and you can lift +me up in your arms. But then I always was so little -- they all say so." + +"Yet you travel about with your father," said Wendot. + +"I never did before; but this time I begged, and he took me. Sometimes +he says he shall have to put me in a nunnery, because he has nobody to +take care of me when he has to travel about. But I don't think I should +like that; I would rather stay here." + +Wendot and Griffeth laughed; but the child was not at all disconcerted. +She was remarkably self possessed for her years, even if she was small +of stature and infantile in appearance. + +"What is your name?" asked Wendot; and the little maid answered, with +becoming gravity and importance: + +"I am called Lady Gertrude Cherleton; but you may call me Gertrude if +you like, because you are kind and I like you. Are there any more of +you? Have you any sisters?" + +"No; only two brothers." + +"More brothers! and what are their names?" + +"Llewelyn and Howel." + +"Llewelyn? Why, that is the name of the Prince of North Wales that the +king is going to fight against and conquer. Do you think when he has +done so that he will come here and conquer you, too?" + +Wendot's cheek burned a sudden red; but he made no reply, for at that +moment a head suddenly appeared round an angle of the wall, and a heavy +grip was laid upon the shoulder of the child. A wild face and a pair of +flashing black eyes were brought into close proximity with hers, and a +smothered voice spoke in fierce, low accents. + + + + CHAPTER II. THE BROTHERS + + +"What is that you dare to say?" + +The voice was harsh, the words were spoken with a rough accent, unlike +the gentler tones of Wendot and Griffeth. The child uttered a little cry +and shrank back away from the grip of the strong hand, and might have +been in some danger of losing her balance and of falling over the +balustrade, had not Wendot thrown a protecting arm round her, whilst +pushing back with the other hand that of the rude interloper. + +"Llewelyn! for shame!" he said in his own tongue. "Art thou a man, and +claimest the blood of princes, and yet canst stoop to frighten an +inoffensive child?" + +"She spoke of conquest -- the conquest of our country," cried Llewelyn +fiercely, in the hated English tongue, scowling darkly at the little +girl as he spoke. "Thinkest thou that I will stand patiently by and hear +such words? What right hath she or any one besides to speak of that +tyrant and usurper in such tones?" + +"He is not a tyrant, he is not a usurper!" cried the little Lady +Gertrude, recovering herself quickly, and, whilst still holding Wendot +by the hand, turning fearlessly upon the dark-faced lad who had startled +and terrified her at the first. "I know of whom you are speaking -- it +is of our great and noble King Edward. You do not know him -- you cannot +know how great and good he is. I will not hear you speak against him. I +love him next best to my own father. He is kind and good to everybody. +If you would all give your homage to him you would be happy and safe, +and he would protect you, and --" + +But Llewelyn's patience was exhausted; he would listen no more. With a +fierce gesture of hatred that made the child shrink back again he turned +upon her, and it seemed for a moment almost as though he would have +struck her, despite Wendot's sturdy protecting arm, had not his own +shoulder been suddenly grasped by an iron hand, and he himself +confronted by the stern countenance of his father. + +"What means this, boy?" asked Res Vychan severely. "Art thou daring to +raise thine arm against a child, a lady, and thy father's guest? For +shame! I blush for thee. Ask pardon instantly of the lady and of her +father. I will have no such dealings in mine house. Thou shouldst be +well assured of that." + +The black-browed boy was crimson with rage and shame, but there was no +yielding in the haughty face. He confronted his father with flashing +eyes, and as he did so he met the keen, grave glance of the stranger's +fixed upon him with a calm scrutiny which aroused his fiercest rage. + +"I will not ask pardon," he shouted. "I will not degrade my tongue by +uttering such words. I will not --" + +The father's hand descended heavily upon his son's head, in a blow which +would have stunned a lad less hardy and hard-headed. Res Vychan was not +one to be defied with impunity by his own sons, and he had had hard +encounters of will before now with Llewelyn. + +"Choose, boy," he said with brief sternness. "Either do my will and obey +me, or thou wilt remain a close prisoner till thou hast come to thy +senses. My guests shall not be insulted by thy forward tongue. Barbarous +and wild as the English love to call us, they shall find that Res Vychan +is not ignorant of those laws which govern the world in which they live +and move. Ask pardon of the lady, or to the dungeon thou goest." + +Llewelyn glanced up into his father's face, and saw no yielding there. +Howel was making vehement signs to him which he and he alone could +interpret. His other brothers were eagerly gazing at him, and Griffeth +even went so for as to murmur into his ear some words of entreaty. + +It seemed as though the silence which followed Res Vychan's words would +never be broken, but at last the culprit spoke, and spoke in a low, +sullen tone. + +"I meant no harm. I would not have hurt her." + +"Ask her pardon then, boy, and tell her so." + +"Nay, force him no more," said the little lady, who was regarding this +curious scene with lively interest, and who began to feel sorry for the +dark wild boy who had frightened her by his vehemence before; "I was to +blame myself. I should not have spoken as I did. + +"Father, tell them how my tongue is always running away with me. Hast +not thou told me a hundred times that it would get me into trouble one +of these days? It is right that he should love his country. Do not think +ill of him for that." + +"Ay, let the lad go now, good friend," quoth Lord Montacute. "No doubt +this little witch of mine was at the bottom of the mischief. Her tongue, +as she truly says, is a restless and mischievous possession. She has +found a stanch protector at least, and will come to no harm amongst thy +stalwart lads. I could envy thee such a double brace of boys. I would it +had pleased Providence to send me a son." + +"Nay, father, say not so," cried little Lady Gertrude coaxingly. "I +would not have a brother for all the world. Thou wouldst love him so +well, if thou hadst him, that thou wouldst have none to spare for thy +maid. I have seen how it ever is. I love to have all thy heart for mine +own." + +The father smiled, but Res Vychan's face was still severe, and he had +not loosed his clasp upon Llewelyn's arm. + +"Say that thou art sorry ere I let thee go," he said, in low but very +stern tones; and after a moment's hesitation, Llewelyn spoke in audible +tones. + +"I am sorry," he said slowly; "I am sorry." + +And then as his father's clasp upon his arm relaxed he darted away like +an arrow from the bow, and plunged with Howel through a dark and gloomy +doorway which led up a winding turret stair to a narrow circular +chamber, which the brothers shared together. + +"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" he panted fiercely; "ay, that indeed I am. Sorry +that I did not wring her neck as the fowler wrings the neck of the bird +his shaft hath brought down; sorry I did not cast her headlong down the +steep precipice, that there might be one less of the hated race +contaminating the air of our pure Wales with their poisonous breath. +Sorry! ay, that I am! I would my hand had done a deed which should have +set proud Edward's forces in battle array against us. I would that this +tampering with traitors were at an end, and that we warriors of South +Wales might stand shoulder to shoulder, firmly banded against the +foreign foe. I would plunge a dagger in the false heart of yon proud +Englishman as he lies sleeping in his bed tonight, if by doing so I +could set light to the smouldering flame of national hatred. + +"What sayest thou? Can we do nought to bring upon us an open war, which +is a thousand times better than this treacherous, hollow peace? Our +father and mother are half won over to the cause of slavery. They --" + +Llewelyn paused, choking back the fierce tide of passion which went far +to unman him. He had not forgotten the humiliation placed upon him so +recently, when his father had compelled him to sue for pardon to an +English maiden. His heart was burning, his soul was stirred to its +depths. He had to stop short lest his passion should carry him away. + +Howel seemed to understand him without the medium of words. The links +which bound the twin brothers together were very subtle and very strong. +If Llewelyn were the more violent and headstrong, Howel was more than +his equal in diplomacy. He shared every feeling of his brother's heart, +but he was less outspoken and less rash. + +"I know what thou wouldst do," he said thoughtfully: "thou wouldst force +upon our father a step which shall make a rupture with the English +inevitable. Thou wouldst do a thing which should bring upon us the wrath +of the mighty Edward, and force both ourselves and our neighbours to +take arms against him. Is not that so?" + +"Ay, truly; and could such a thing be, gladly would I lay down my life +in the cause of liberty and freedom." + +Howel was pondering deeply. + +"Perchance it might be done," he said. + +Llewelyn eagerly raised his head. + +"Thinkest thou so? How?" + +"I know not yet, but we shall have time for thought. Knowest thou that +the maid will remain here beneath our mother's charge for a while, +whilst our father goes forward as far as the Abbey of Strata Florida +with yon stranger, to guide him on his way? The maid will remain here +until her father's return." + +"How knowest thou that?" + +"I had it from Wenwynwyn's lips. He heard the discussion in the hall, +and it seems that this Lord Montacute would be glad to be free of the +care of the child for a while. Our mother delights in the charge of a +little maid, and thus it will be as I have said." + +A strange fire gleamed in Llewelyn's eyes. The brothers looked at each +other a good while in silence. + +"And thou thinkest --" said Llewelyn at last. + +Howel was some time in replying, and his answer was a little +indeterminate, although sufficiently significant. + +"Why, the maid will be left here; but when her father returns to claim +her, perchance she will not be found. If that were so, thinkest thou not +that nought but open war would lie before us?" + +Llewelyn's eyes glowed. He said not a word, and the darkness gathered +round the boys in the narrow chamber. They thought not of descending or +of asking for food, even after their day's hunting in the hills. They +were hardy, and seasoned to abstemious ways, and had no room for +thoughts of such a kind. Silence was settling down upon the castle, and +they had no intention of leaving their room again that night. Dark +thoughts were their companions as they undressed and made ready for bed; +and hardly were they settled there before the door opened, and the old +bard Wenwynwyn entered. + +This old man was almost like a father to these boys, and Llewelyn and +Howel were particularly attached to him and he to them. He shared to the +full their ardent love for their country and their untempered hatred of +the English race. He saw, as they did, nothing but ill in the +temporizing attitude now to be found amongst the smaller Welsh +chieftains with regard to the claims made by the English monarch; and +much of the fierce hostility to be found in the boys had been the result +of the lessons instilled into their mind by the wild-eyed, passionate +old bard, one of the last of a doomed race. + +"Wenwynwyn, is it thou?" + +"Ay, boys, it is I. You did well to abstain from sitting at meat with +the stranger tonight. The meat went nigh to choke me that was swallowed +in his presence." + +"How long stays he, contaminating our pure air?" + +"He himself is off by sunrise tomorrow, and Res Vychan goes with him. He +leaves behind the little maid in the care of thy mother." + +A strange smile crossed the face of the old man, invisible in the darkness. + +"Strange for the parent bird to leave the dove in the nest of the hawk +-- the eyry of the eagle." + +"Ha!" quoth Llewelyn quickly, "that thought hath likewise come to thee, +good Wenwynwyn." + +The old man made no direct response, but went on speaking in low even tones. + +"The maid has dwelt in the household of the great king. She has played +with his children, been the companion of the young princesses. She is +beloved of them and of the monarch and his wife. Let them but hear that +she is lost in the fastness of Dynevor, and the royal Edward will march +in person to her rescue. All the country will rise in arms to defend +itself. The north will join with the south, and Wales will shake off the +hated foreign yoke banded as one man against the foreign foe." + +The boys listened spellbound. They had often talked together of some +step which might kindle the conflagration, but had never yet seen the +occasion. Hot-headed, rash, reckless as were the youths; wild, tameless, +and fearless as was the ancient bard; they had still been unable to hit +upon any device which might set a light to the train. Discontent and +resentment were rife all over the country, but it was the fashion rather +to temporize with the invader than to defy him. There was a strong party +gathering in the country whose policy was that of paying homage to +Edward and retaining their lands under his protection and countenance, +as being more truly patriotic and farsighted than continuing the old +struggle for supremacy among themselves. This was a policy utterly +incomprehensible both to the boys and the old man, and stirred the blood +of the lads to boiling pitch. + +"What can we do?" asked Llewelyn hoarsely. + +"I will tell you," whispered the old man, approaching close to the bed +whereon the brothers lay wide-eyed and broad awake. "This very night I +leave the castle by the postern door, and in the moonlight I make my way +to the commot of Llanymddyvri, where dwells that bold patriot Maelgon ap +Caradoc. To him I tell all, and he will risk everything in the cause. It +will be very simply done. You boys must feign a while -- must feign +friendship for the maid thus left behind. Your brothers have won her +heart already; you must not be behind them. The dove must have no fear +of the young eaglets. She has a high courage of her own; she loves +adventure and frolic; she will long to stretch her wings, and wander +amid the mountain heights, under the stanch protection of her comrades +of Dynevor. + +"Then listen, boys. The day will come when the thing is to be done. In +some of the wild fastnesses of the upper Towy will be lurking the bold +bands of Maelgon ap Caradoc. Thither you must lead the unsuspicious +maid, first by some device getting rid of your brothers, who might try +to thwart the scheme. These bold fellows will carry off the maid to the +safe keeping of Maelgon, and once let her be his prisoner, there is no +fear of her escaping from his hands. Edward himself and all his forces +at his back will scarce wrest away the prize, and the whole country will +be united and in arms ere it suffer the tyrant to march through our fair +vales." + +Whilst within this upper turret chamber this plot was being concocted +against the innocent child by two passionate, hot-headed boys and one of +the ancient race of bards, the little maiden was herself sleeping +soundly and peacefully within a small inner closet, close to the room +where Gladys, the lady of the castle, reposed; and with the earliest +streak of dawn, when the child opened her eyes upon the strange bare +walls of the Welsh stronghold, the first thing that met her eyes was the +sweet and gentle face of the chatelaine bending tenderly over her. + +Although the present lady of Dynevor was the sister of the bold and +fierce Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales, who gave more trouble to the +King of England than did anybody else, she was herself of a gentle and +thoughtful disposition, more inclined to advocate peace than war, and +more far-seeing, temperate, and well-informed than most persons of her +time, and especially than the women, who for the most part had but very +vague ideas as to what was going on in the country. + +She had had many thoughts herself during the still hours of this summer +night, and when she bent over the sleeping child and wakened her by a +kiss, she felt a strange tenderness towards her, which seemed to be +reciprocated by the little one, who suddenly flung her arms about her +neck and kissed her passionately. + +"Is my father gone?" she asked, recollection coming back. + +"Not gone, but going soon," answered the Lady of Dynevor, smiling; "that +is why I have come to waken thee early, little Gertrude, that thou +mayest receive his farewell kiss and see him ride away. Thou wilt not be +grieved to be left with us for a while, little one? Thou wilt not pine +in his absence?" + +"Not if I have you to take care of me," answered the child confidingly +-- "you and Wendot and Griffeth. I am weary of always travelling on +rough roads. I will gladly stay here a while with you." + +There was the bustle of preparation going on in the hall when the lady +descended with the child hanging on to her hand. Gertrude broke away and +ran to her father, who was sitting at the board, with Wendot standing +beside him listening eagerly to his talk. The boy's handsome face was +alight, and he seemed full of eager interest in what was being said. +Lord Montacute frequently raised his head and gave the lad a look of +keen scrutiny. Even whilst caressing his little daughter his interest +seemed to be centred in Wendot, and when at parting the lad held his +stirrup for him, and gently restrained little Gertrude, who was in +danger of being trampled on by the pawing charger, Lord Montacute looked +for a moment very intently at the pair, and then let his glance wander +for a moment over the grand fortress of Dynevor and the beautiful valley +it commanded. + +Then he turned once more to Wendot with a kindly though penetrating smile. + +"In the absence of your father, Wendot, you are the master and guardian +of this castle, its occupants and its treasures. I render my little +daughter into your safe keeping. Of your hands I shall ask her back when +I return in a week's time." + +Wendot flushed with pleasure and gratification. What boy does not like +the thought of being looked upon as his father's substitute? He raised +his head with a gesture of pride, and clasped the little soft hand of +Gertrude more closely in his. + +"I will take the trust, Lord Montacute," he said. "I will hold myself +responsible for the safety of Lady Gertrude. At my hands demand her when +you return. If she is not safe and well, take my life as the forfeit." + +Lord Montacute smiled slightly at the manly words and bearing of the +lad, but he did not like him the less for either. As for little +Gertrude, she gazed up into the bold bright face of Wendot, and clasping +his hand in hers, she said: + +"Am I to belong to you now? I think I shall like that, you are so brave +and so kind to me." + +The father gave the pair another of his keen looks, and rode off in the +bright morning sunshine, promising not to be very long away. + +"I shan't fret, now that I have you and the Lady of Dynevor," said the +child confidingly to Wendot. "I've often been left for a long time at +the palace with the ladies Eleanor and Joanna, and with Alphonso and +Britton, but I shall like this much better. There is no governess here, +and we can do as we like. I want to know everything you do, and go +everywhere with you." + +Wendot promised to show the little lady everything she wanted, and led +her in to breakfast, which was a very important meal in those days. All +the four brothers were gathered at the board, and the child looked +rather shyly at the dark-browed twins, whom she hardly knew one from the +other, and whom she regarded with a certain amount of awe. But there was +nothing hostile in the manner of any of the party. Llewelyn was silent, +but when he did speak it was in very different tones from those of last +night; and Howel was almost brilliant in his sallies, and evoked many a +peal of laughter from the lighthearted little maiden. Partings with her +father were of too common occurrence to cause her much distress, and she +was too well used to strange places to feel lost in these new +surroundings, and she had her own nurse and attendant left with her. + +Full of natural curiosity, the child was eager to see everything of +interest near her temporary home, and the brothers were her very devoted +servants, taking her everywhere she wished to go, helping her over every +difficult place, and teaching her to have such confidence in them, and +such trust in their guidance, that she soon ceased to feel fear however +wild was the ascent or descent, however lonely the region in which she +found herself. + +Although Wendot continued her favourite, and Griffeth stood next, owing +to his likeness to his eldest brother, the twins soon won her favour +also. They were in some respects more interesting, as they were less +easily understood, wilder and stranger in their ways, and always full of +stories of adventure and warfare, which fascinated her imagination even +when she knew that they spoke of the strife between England and Wales. +She had a high spirit and a love of adventure, which association with +these stalwart boys rapidly developed. + +One thing about Llewelyn and Howel gratified her childlike vanity, and +gave her considerable pleasure. They would praise her agility and +courage, and urge her on to make trial of her strength and nerve, when +the more careful Wendot would beg her to be careful and not risk herself +by too great recklessness. A few days spent in this pure, free air +seemed to infuse new life into her frame, and the colour in her cheeks +and the light in her eyes deepened day by day, to the motherly +satisfaction of the Lady of Dynevor and the pride of Wendot, who +regarded the child as his especial charge. + +But in his father's absence many duties fell upon Wendot, and there came +a bright evening when he and Griffeth were occupied about the castle, +and only Llewelyn and Howel had leisure to wander with the little guest +to her favourite spot to see the red sun set. + +Llewelyn was full of talk that evening, and spoke with a rude eloquence +and fire that always riveted the attention of the child. He told of the +wild, lonely beauty of a certain mountain peak which he pointed out up +the valley, of the weird charm of the road thither, and above all of the +eagle's nest which was to be found there, and the young eaglets being +now reared therein, which he and Howel meant to capture and keep as +their own, and which they purposed to visit the very next day to see if +they were fit yet to leave the nest. + +Gertrude sat entranced as the boy talked, and when she heard of the +eagle's nest she gave a little cry of delight. + +"O Llewelyn, take me with you. Let me see the eagle's nest and the +little eaglets." + +But the boy shook his head doubtfully. + +"You could not get as far. It is a long way, and a very rough walk." + +The child shook back her curling hair defiantly. + +"I could do it! I know I could. I could go half the way on my palfrey, +and walk the rest. You would help me. You know how well I can climb. Oh, +do take me -- do take me! I should so love to see an eagle's nest." + +But still Llewelyn shook his head. + +"Wendot would not let you go; he would say it was too dangerous." + +Again came the little defiant toss. + +"I am not Wendot's slave; I can do as I choose." + +"If he finds out he will stop you." + +"But we need not tell him, need we?" + +"I thought you always told him everything." + +The child stamped her little foot. + +"I tell him things generally, but I can keep a secret. If he would stop +us from going, we will not tell him, nor Griffeth either. We will get up +very early and go by ourselves. We could do that, could we not, and come +back with the young eaglets in our hands? O let us go! let us do it +soon, and take me with you, kind Llewelyn! Indeed I shall not be in your +way. I will be very good. And you know you have taught me to climb so +well. I know I can go where you can go. You said so yourself once." + +Llewelyn turned his head away to conceal a smile half of triumph, half +of contempt. A strange flash was in his eyes as he looked up the valley +towards the crag upon which he had told the child the eyry of the eagles +hung. She thought he was hesitating still, and laid a soft little hand +upon his arm. + +"Please say that I may go." + +He turned quickly and looked at her. For a moment she shrank back from +the strange glow in his eyes; but her spirit rose again, and she said +rather haughtily: "You need not be angry with me. If you don't wish me +to come I will stay at home with Wendot. I do not choose to ask favours +of anybody if they will not give them readily." + +"I should like to take you if it would be safe," answered Llewelyn, +speaking as if ashamed of his petulance or reluctance. + +"Howel, could she climb to the crag where we can look down upon the eyry +if we helped her up the worst places?" + +"I think she could." + +The child's face flushed; she clasped her hands together and listened +eagerly whilst the brothers discussed the plan which in the end was +agreed to -- a very early start secretly from the castle before the day +dawned, the chief point to be observed beforehand being absolute +secrecy, so that the projected expedition should not reach the ears +either of Wendot, his mother, or Griffeth. It was to be carried out +entirely by the twins themselves, with Gertrude as their companion. + + + + CHAPTER III. THE EAGLE'S CRAG. + + +"Where is the maid, mother?" + +"Nay, I know not, my son. I thought she was with thee." + +"I have not seen her anywhere. I have been busy with the men." + +"Where are the other boys?" + +"That I know not either. I have seen none since I rose this morning. I +have been busy." + +"The maid had risen and dressed herself, and had slipped out betimes," +said the Lady of Dynevor, as she took her place at the board. "Methought +she would be with thee. She is a veritable sprite for flitting hither +and thither after thee. Doubtless she is with some of the others. Who +knows where the boys have gone this morning? They are not wont to be +absent at the breakfast hour." + +This last question was addressed to the servants who were at the lower +end of the board, and one of them spoke up in reply. By what he said it +appeared that Griffeth had started off early to fly a new falcon of his, +and it seemed probable that his brothers and little Lady Gertrude had +accompanied him; for whilst he had been discussing with the falconer the +best place for making the proposed trial, Llewelyn had been to the +stables and had saddled and led out the palfrey upon which their little +guest habitually rode, and there seemed no reason to doubt that all the +party had gone somewhere up upon the highlands to watch the maiden essay +of the bird. + +"She would be sure to long to see the trial," said Wendot, attacking the +viands before him with a hearty appetite. "She always loves to go with +us when there is anything to see or hear. I marvel that she spoke not of +it to me, but perchance it slipped her memory." + +The early risers were late at the meal, but no one was anxious about +them. When anything so engrossing as the flying of a young falcon was in +the wind, it was natural that so sublunary a matter as breakfast should +be forgotten. The servants had finished their meal, and had left the +table before there was any sign of the return of the wanderers, and then +it was only Griffeth who came bounding in, his face flushed and his eyes +shining as he caressed the hooded bird upon his wrist. + +"He is a beauty, Wendot. I would thou hadst been there to see. I took +him up to --" + +"Ay, tell us all that when thou hast had something to eat," said Wendot. +"And where is Gertrude? she must be well-nigh famished by this time." + +"Gertrude? Nay, I know not. I have not seen her. I would not have +wearied her with such a tramp through the heavy dews." + +"But she had her palfrey; Llewelyn led it away ere it was well light. +Were you not all together?" + +"Nay, I was all alone. Llewelyn and Howel were off and away before I was +ready; for when I sought them to ask if they would come, they were +nowhere to be found. As for the maid, I never thought of her. Where can +they have taken her so early?" + +A sudden look of anxiety crossed Wendot's face; but he repressed any +exclamation of dismay, and glanced at his mother to see if by any chance +she shared his feeling. But her face was calm and placid, and she said +composedly: + +"If she is with Llewelyn and Howel she will be safe. They have taken her +on some expedition in secret, but none will harm her with two such stout +protectors as they." + +And then the lady moved away to commence her round of household duties, +which in those days was no sinecure; whilst Wendot stood in the midst of +the great hall with a strange shadow upon his face. Griffeth, who was +eagerly discussing his breakfast, looked wonderingly at him. + +"Brother, what ails thee?" he said at length; "thou seemest ill at ease." + +"I am ill at ease," answered Wendot, and with a quick glance round him +to assure himself that there was no one by to hear, he approached +Griffeth with hasty steps and sat down beside him, speaking in a low, +rapid way and in English, "Griffeth, tell me, didst thou hear aught last +night ere thou fell asleep?" + +"Ay, I heard Wenwynwyn singing to his harp in his own chamber, but +nought beside." + +"I heard that too," said Wendot, "and for his singing I could not sleep; +so when it ceased not, I rose and stole to his room to ask him to +forbear, yet so wild and strange was the song he sang that at the door I +paused to listen; and what thinkest thou was the burden that he sang?" + +"Nay, I know not; tell me." + +"He sang a strange song that I have never heard before, of how a dove +was borne from safe shelter -- a young dove in the absence of the father +bird; not the mother bird, but the father -- and carried away to the +eagle's nest by two fierce young eaglets untamed and untamable, there to +be left till the kites come down to carry off the prize. + +"Ha! thou startest and changest colour! What is it thou fearest? Where +are Llewelyn and Howell and what have they done with the maid? What +kuowest thou, Griffeth?" + +"I know nought," answered Griffeth, "save that Wenwynwyn has been up to +the commot of Llanymddyvri, and thou knowest what all they of that place +feel towards the English. Then Llewelyn and Howel have been talking of +late of the eagle's nest on the crag halfway thither, and if they had +named it to Gertrude she would have been wild to go and see it. We know +when Wenwynwyn sings his songs how he ever calls Maelgon ap Caradoc the +kite, and the lords of Dynevor the eagles. But, Wendot, it could not be +-- a child -- a maid -- and our father's guest. I cannot believe it of +our own brothers." + +"I know not what to think, but my heart misgives me. Thou knowest what +Llewelyn ever was, and Howel is but his shadow. I have mistrusted this +strange friendship before now, remembering what chanced that first day, +and that Llewelyn never forgives or forgets; but I would not have +dreamed of such a thing as this. Yet, Griffeth, if the thing is so, +there is no time to lose. I am off for the crag this very minute. Thou +must quietly collect and arm a few of our stanchest men, together with +the English servants left here with their young mistress. Let all be +done secretly and quietly, and come after me with all speed. It may be +that we are on a fool's errand, and that our fears are groundless. But +truly it may be that our brothers are about to betray our guest into the +hands of one of England's most bitter foes. + +"Oh, methinks were her father to return, and I had her not safe to +deliver back to him, I would not for very shame live to see the day when +I must avow to him what had befallen his child at the hands of my brethren!" + +Griffeth was fully alive to the possible peril menacing the child, and +eagerly took his orders from his elder brother. It would not be +difficult to summon some dozen of the armed men on the place to +accompany him quietly and secretly. They would follow upon Wendot's +fleet steps with as little delay as might be, and would at least track +the fugitive and her guides, whether they succeeded in effecting a +rescue that day or not. + +Wendot waited for nothing but to give a few directions to his brother. +Scarce ten minutes had elapsed from the moment when the first +illumination of mind had come to him respecting some plot against the +life of an innocent child, before he had armed himself, and unleashed +two of the fleetest, strongest, fiercest of the hounds, and was speeding +up across the moor and fell towards the lonely crag of the eagle's nest, +which lay halfway between the castle of Dynevor and the abode of Maelgon +ap Caradoc. + +There was one advantage Wendot possessed over his brothers, and that was +that he could take the wild-deer tracks which led straight onward and +upward, whilst they with their charge would have to keep to the winding +mule track, which trebled the distance. The maiden's palfrey was none +too clever or surefooted upon these rough hillsides, and their progress +would be but slow. + +Wendot moved as if he had wings to his feet, and although the hot summer +sun began to beat down upon his head, and his breath came in deep, +laboured gasps, he felt neither heat nor fatigue, but pressed as eagerly +onwards and upwards as the strong, fleet hounds at his side. + +He knew he was on the right track; for ever and anon his path would +cross that which had been trodden by the feet of the boys and the horse +earlier in the day, and his own quick eyes and the deep baying of the +hounds told him at once whenever this was the case. Upwards and onwards, +onwards and upwards, sprang the brave lad with the untiring energy of a +strong and righteous purpose. He might be going to danger, he might be +going to his death; for if he came into open collision with the wild and +savage retainers of Maelgon, intent upon obtaining their prey, he knew +that they would think little of stabbing him to the heart rather than be +balked. There was no feud so far between Llanymddyvri and Dynevor, but +Wendot knew that his father was suspected of leaning towards the English +cause, and that it would take little to provoke some hostile +demonstration on the part of his wild and reckless neighbour. The whole +country was torn and rent by internecine strife, and there was a chronic +state of semi-warfare kept up between half the nobles of the country +against the other half. + +But of personal danger Wendot thought nothing. His own honour and that +of his father were at stake. If the little child left in their care were +treacherously given up to the foes of the English, the boy felt that he +should never lift up his head again. He must save her -- he would. Far +rather would he die in her defence than face her father with the story +of the base treachery of his brothers. + +The path grew wilder and steeper; the vegetation became more scant. The +heat of the sun was tempered by the cold of the upper air. It was easier +to climb, and the boy felt that his muscles were made of steel. + +Suddenly a new sound struck upon his ear. It was like the whinny of a +horse, only that there was in it a note of distress. Glancing sharply +about him, Wendot saw Lady Gertrude's small white palfrey standing +precariously on a ledge of rock, and looking pitifully about him, unable +to move either up or down. The creature had plainly been turned loose +and abandoned, and in trying to find his way home had stranded upon this +ledge, and was frightened to move a step. Wendot was fond of all +animals, and could not leave the pretty creature in such a predicament. + +"Besides, Gertrude may want him again for the descent," he said; and +although every moment was precious, he contrived to get the horse up the +steep bank and on to better ground, and then tethered him on a small +grassy plateau, where he could feed and take his ease in safety for an +hour or two to come. + +That matter accomplished, the lad was up and off again. He had now to +trust to the hounds to direct him, for he did not know what track his +brothers would have taken, and the hard rocks gave no indications which +he could follow. But the dogs were well used to their work, and with +their noses to the ground followed the trail unceasingly, indicating +from time to time by a deep bay that they were absolutely certain of +their direction. + +High overhead loomed the apex of the great crag. Wendot knew that he had +not much farther to go. He was able to distinguish the cairn of stones +which he and his brothers had once erected on the top in honour of their +having made the ascent in a marvellously short space of time. Wendot had +beaten that record today, he knew; but his eyes were full of anxiety +instead of triumph. He was scanning every track and every inch of +distance for traces of the foe he felt certain were somewhere at hand. +Had they been here already, and had they carried off the prey? Or were +they only on their way, and had he come in time to thwart their purpose yet? + +Ha! what was that? + +Wendot had reached the shoulder of the mountain; he could see across the +valley -- could see the narrow winding track which led to the stronghold +of Maelgon. The Eagle's Crag, as it was called, fell away precipitously +on the other side. No one could scale it on that face. The path from the +upper valley wound round circuitously towards it; and along this path, +in the brilliant sunshine, Wendot saw distinctly the approach of a small +band of armed men. Yes: they were approaching, they were not retreating. +Then they had not already taken their prey; they were coming to claim +it. The boy could have shouted aloud in his triumph and joy; but he held +his peace, for who could tell what peril might not lie in the way? + +The next moment he had scaled the steep, slippery rock which led to the +precipitous edge of the crag. Not a sign could he see of his brothers or +the child, but the hounds led right on to the very verge of the +precipice, and for a moment the boy's heart stood still. What if they +had grown afraid of the consequences of their own act, and had resolved +to get rid of the child in a sure and safe fashion! + +For a moment Wendot's blood ran cold. He recalled the traits of fierce +cruelty which had sometimes shown themselves in Llewelyn from childhood, +his well-known hatred of the English, his outburst of passion with +Gertrude, so quickly followed by a strange appearance of friendship. +Wendot knew his countrymen and his nation's characteristics, and knew +that fierce acts of treachery were often truly charged upon them. What +if -- But the thought was too repellent to be seriously pursued, and +shaking it off by an effort, he raised his voice and called his brothers +by name. + +And then, almost as it seemed from beneath his very feet, there came an +answering call; but the voice was not that of his brothers, but the cry +of a terrified child. + +"Oh, who are you? Do, please, come to me. I am so frightened. I know I +shall fall. I know I shall be killed. Do come to me quickly. I don't +know where Llewelyn and Howel have gone." + +"I am coming -- I am Wendot," cried the boy, his heart giving a sudden +bound. "You are not hurt, you are safe?" + +"Yes; only so giddy and frightened, and the sun is so hot and burning, +and yet it is cold, too. It is such a narrow place, and I cannot get up +or down. I can't see the eagle's nest, and they have been such a long +time going after it. They said they would bring the nest and the young +eagles up to me, but they have never come back. I'm afraid they are +killed or hurt. Oh, if you would only help me up, then we would go and +look for them together! Oh, I am so glad that you have come!" + +Wendot could not see the child, though every word she spoke was +distinctly audible. He certainly could not reach her from the place +where he now stood; but the hounds had been following the tracks of the +quarry they had been scenting all this way, and stood baying at a +certain spot some fifty yards away, and a little lower down than the +apex of the crag. It was long since Wendot had visited this spot, his +brothers knew it better than he; but when he got to the place indicated +by the dogs, he saw that there was a little precipitous path along the +face of the cliff, which, although very narrow and not a little +dangerous, did give foothold to an experienced mountaineer. How the +child had ever had the nerve to tread it he could not imagine, but +undoubtedly she was there, and he must get her back, if possible, and +down the mountainside, before those armed men from the upper valley +could reach them. + +But could he do this? He cast an apprehensive glance over his shoulder, +and saw to his dismay how quickly they were approaching. From their +quickened pace he fancied that his own movements had been observed. +Certainly there was not a moment to lose, and leaving the dogs to keep +guard at the entrance, he set his foot upon the perilous path and +carefully pursued his way. + +The face of the cliff jutted outwards for some yards, and then made a +sharp turn round an angle. At the spot where this turn occurred, a sort +of natural arch had formed itself over the narrow ledge which formed the +path, and immediately behind the arch there was a small plateau which +gave space to stand and move with some freedom, although a step over the +edge would plunge the unwary victim into the deep gulf beneath. The +cliff then fell away once again, but the ledge wound round it still, +until it ended in a shallow alcove some eight feet deep, which lay just +beneath the highest part of the crag, which overhung it by many yards. + +And it was crouched up against the cliff in this little alcove that +Wendot found Gertrude; cowering, white-faced, against the hard rock, +faint from want of food, terrified at the loneliness and at her own +fears for the safety of her companions, and so overwrought by the +tension of nerve she had undergone, that when Wendot did stand beside +her she could only cling to him sobbing passionately, and it was long +before he could even induce her to let him go, or to attempt to eat the +contents of a small package he had had the forethought to bring in his +wallet. + +He heard her tale as she sobbed in his arms. They had come here after +the eagle's nest. Llewelyn and Howel had been so kind! They had not +minded her being so slow, but had brought her all the way; and when she +wanted to follow them along the ledge to get a better view of the nest, +they had blindfolded her that she might not get giddy, and had put a +rope round her and brought her safely along the narrow ledge till she +had got to this place. But the nest could not be seen even from there, +and they had left her to see where it really was. They said they would +soon be back, but they had not come, and she had got first anxious and +then terrified about them, and then fearful for her own safety. At last +when faintness and giddiness had come upon her, and she could get no +answer to her repeated shouts, her spirit had altogether given way; and +unless Wendot had really come to her rescue, she was certain she should +have fallen down the precipice. She did not know now how she should ever +get back along the narrow ridge, she was so frightened and giddy. But if +Llewelyn and Howel would come, perhaps she might. + +Did Wendot know where they were? Would he take care of her now, and +bring her safe home? + +"I will if I can," answered the boy, with a strange light in his blue +eyes. "Griffeth is on his way with plenty of help. He will be here soon. +Do you think you could walk along the ridge now, if I were to hold you +up and help you? We should get home sooner if you could." + +But the child shrank back and put her hand before her eyes. + +"Oh, let us wait till Griffeth comes. I am so giddy still, and I am so +afraid I should fall. Hark! I'm sure I hear voices. They are coming +already. Oh, I am so glad! I do want to get home. Wendot, why do you +look like that? Why do you get out that thing? You are not going to fight?" + +"Lady Gertrude," said Wendot, speaking in a grave, manly way that at +once riveted the child's attention, "I am afraid that those voices do +not belong to our friends, but to a band of men who are coming to try +and take you prisoner to a castle up the valley there. No: do not be +frightened; I will save you from them if I can. There is help coming for +us, and I think I can hold this path against them for some time to come. +You must try and keep up heart and not be frightened. You may see some +hard blows struck, but you can shut your eyes and not think about it. If +they do kill me and carry you off, do not give up hope, for Griffeth and +our own men will be after you to rescue you. Now let me go, and try not +to be afraid. I think we can hold them at bay till we are more equally +matched." + +The child's eyes dilated with horror. She caught Wendot by the hand. + +"Give me up," she said firmly. "I will not have you killed for me. I +would rather go with them. Give me up, I say!" + +"No, Gertrude; I will not give you up," answered Wendot very quietly, +but with an inflexibility of tone which made his voice seem like that of +another person. "Your father placed you in my hands; to him I must +answer for your safety. What is life to a man without honour? Would you +have me stain my name for the sake of saving my life? I think not that +that is the English code of honour." + +Child as she was, little Gertrude understood well what was implied in +those words, and a new light flashed into her eyes. Something of the +soldier spirit awoke within her, and she snatched at a small dagger +Wendot carried in his belt, and drawing her small figure to its full +height, she said: + +"We will both fight, Wendot; we will both fight, and both die rather +than let them take us." + +He smiled, and just for a moment laid his hand upon her head; then he +drew on his mailed gloves and looked well to the buckles of the stout +leathern jerkin, almost as impervious to the stabs of his foes as a suit +of mail itself. The temper of his weapon he well knew; he had no fear +that it would play him false. He had not the headpiece of mail; he had +started in too great a hurry to arm himself completely, and speed was +too much an object for him to willingly encumber himself needlessly. But +as he skirted the narrow ledge, and placed himself beneath the +protecting arch, he smiled grimly to himself, and thought that the stone +would be as good a guard, and that here was a place where a man could +sell his life dear, and send many a foe to his account before striking +his own colours. + +Scarcely had he well established himself in the commanding position he +had resolved upon, when the sound of voices became more distinct. The +party had plainly arrived at the appointed place, and Wendot could hear +them discussing who was best fitted for the task of traversing the +dangerous ledge to bring back the captive who was to be found there. The +wild Welsh was unintelligible to Gertrude, or she would have known at +once what dark treachery had been planned and carried out by her trusted +companions; but Wendot's cheek glowed with shame, and he set his teeth +hard, resolved to redeem the honour of his father's name to the last +drop of his blood if he should be called upon to shed it in the cause. + +He heard the slow and cautious steps approaching along the path, and he +gripped his weapon more tightly in his hand. The red light of battle was +in his eyes, and the moment he caught sight of the form of the stalwart +soldier threading his perilous way along the path he sprang upon him +with a cry of fury, and hurled him into the gulf beneath. + +Down fell the man, utterly unprepared for such an attack, and his sharp +cry of terror was echoed from above by a dozen loud voices. + +Cries and shouts and questions assailed Wendot, but he answered never a +word. Those above knew not if it had been an accident, or if an ambushed +foe had hurled their comrade to destruction. Again came a long pause for +consideration -- and every moment wasted was all in favour of the pair +upon the ledge -- and then it became plain that some course of action +had been determined upon, and Wendot heard the cautious approach of +another foe. This man crept on his way much more cautiously, and the +youth held himself ready for a yet more determined spring. Luckily for +him, he could remain hidden until his opponent was close to him; and so +soon as he was certain from the sound that the man was reaching the +angle of the rock, he made another dash, and brought down his sword with +all the strength of his arm upon the head of the assailant. + +Once again into the heart of the abyss crashed the body of the +unfortunate soldier; but a sharp thrill of pain ran through Wendot's +frame, and a barbed arrow, well aimed at the joint of his leather +jerkin, plunged into his neck and stuck fast. + +The first assailant whom he had disposed of was but one of a close line, +following each other in rapid succession. As his face became visible to +the man now foremost a shout of surprise and anger rose up. + +"It is Res Wendot! It is one of the sons of the house of Dynevor! + +"Wendot, thou art mad! We are the friends of thy house. We are here at +the instigation of thine own kindred. Give us the maid, and thou shalt +go free. We would not harm thee." + +"Stir but one step nearer, and I slay thee as I have slain thy two +comrades," cried Wendot, in a voice which all might hear. "I deal not in +treachery towards those that trust us. I will answer for the safety of +the maid with mine own life. Of my hand her father will demand her when +he comes again. Shall we men of Wales give right cause to the English to +call us murderers, traitors, cowards? Take my life if you will, take it +a thousand times over if you will, it is only over my dead body that you +will reach that child." + +"Down with him -- traitor to the cause! He is sold to the English! He is +no countryman of ours! Spare him not! He is worthy of death! Down with +every Welshman who bands not with those who would uphold his country's +cause!" + +Such were the shouts which rent the air as the meaning of Wendot's words +made itself understood. As for the brave lad himself, he had plucked the +arrow from his neck, and now stood boldly on guard, resolved to husband +his strength and keep on the defensive only, hoping thus to gain time +until Griffeth and the armed men should arrive. + +He had all the advantage of the position; but his foes were strong men, +and came on thick and fast one after another, till it seemed as if the +lad might be forced backwards by sheer weight and pressure. But Wendot +was no novice at the use of arms: as his third foe fell upon him with +heavy blows of his weighted axe, he stepped backwards a pace, and let +the blows descend harmlessly upon the solid rock of the arch; until the +man, disgusted at the non-success of his endeavours to tempt his +adversary out of his defended position, threw away his blunted axe, and +was about to draw his sword for a thrust, when the boy sprang like +lightning upon him, and buried his poniard in his heart. + +Over went the man like a log, almost dragging Wendot with him as he +fell, and before the youth had had time to recover himself, he had +received a deep gash in his sword arm from the foe who pressed on next, +and who made a quick dash to try to get possession of the vantage ground +of the arch. + +But Wendot staggered back as if with weakness, let his adversary dash +through the arch after him; and then, hurling himself upon him as he +passed through, pushed him sheer off the ledge on the other side into +the yawning gulf beneath. + +The comrades of this last victim, who had just sent up a shout of +triumph, now changed their note, and it became a yell of rage. Wendot +was back in his old vantage ground, wounded by several arrows, spent by +blows, and growing faint from loss of blood, but dauntless and resolute +as ever, determined to sell his life dearly, and hold out as long as he +had breath left in him, sooner than let the helpless child fall into the +clutches of these fierce men, goaded now to madness by the opposition +they had met with. + +Hark! what was that? It was a shout, a hail, and then the familiar call +of the Dynevor brothers rang through the still air. + +"La-ha-boo!" + +It was Griffeth's voice. He had come at last. It was plain that the foe +had heard, and had paused; for if they were menaced from another +quarter, it was time to think of their own safety. + +Summoning up all his strength, Wendot sent back an answering hail, and +the next moment there was the sound of fierce voices and the clashing of +weapons overhead on the summit of the cliff; and in quick, urgent +accents Wendot's foes were ordered to retreat, as there was treachery +somewhere, and they had been betrayed. + +Wendot saw his antagonists lower their weapons, and return the way they +had come, with fearful backward glances, lest their boy foe should be +following them. But he had no wish to do that. He was spent and +exhausted and maimed. He turned backwards towards the safer shelter of +the little alcove, and sank down beside the trembling child, panting, +bleeding, and almost unconscious. + + + + CHAPTER IV. WENDOT'S REWARD. + + +"Father, father, father!" + +The shrill, glad cry broke from the lips of little Gertrude almost at +the same moment as Wendot sank at her feet, spent and fainting; and the +lad, making a great effort, opened his dim eyes to see the tall form of +the English noble stooping over his little daughter, gathering her in +his arms with a gesture of passionate endearment. + +Wendot fancied he must be dreaming; perhaps it was all a strange, +terrible dream: everything was swimming before his eyes in a sort of +blood-coloured mist. He gave up the effort to try to disentangle the +maze in which he seemed to be moving, and was sinking into +unconsciousness again when a sharp cry from his brother aroused him. + +"Wendot, Wendot! -- O father, see --they have killed him!" + +"Nay, lad, not that. Here, let me get to him. + +"Griffeth, run thou and tell the fellows to let down ropes from above to +draw him up. He cannot return along that narrow ledge. He and the child +had best be drawn up by those above. Tell them to lose no time. The boy +must be taken home to his mother's care. This narrow ledge is growing +like an oven. Bid one of the men run to the brook for a draught of water." + +Wendot's lips framed themselves to the word "water" as he heard it +spoken. If he had but a draught of water, perhaps he could speak again +and understand what was passing. As it was, he only heard the sound of a +confusion of voices, the clear tones of little Gertrude being the most +continuous and the most distinct. She seemed to be pouring some tale +into the ears of her listeners, and Wendot was certain, from the quick, +sudden movements of his father, who was supporting him as he lay, that +the story heard was exciting in him feelings of indignation and +amazement, although the boy's brain was too much confused to tell him +the reason for this displeasure. + +But the sense of rest and safety inspired by his father's presence was +very comforting; and when the wounded lad had been drawn to the summit +of the cliff by the strong, willing arms of the retainers, and his hurts +rudely dressed by kindly hands, and his parched throat refreshed by deep +draughts of cold water, he began to shake off the sense of unreality +which had made him feel like one in a dream, and to marvel at the +unexpected appearance on the lonely fell of his father and Lord Montacute. + +A sure-footed mountain pony was bearing him gently down the steep slope, +and his questioning look called Griffeth to his side. + +"What means all this, Griffeth?" he whispered. "Whence came they? and +what do they know? And Llewelyn and Howel, where are they? Can it be +that they --" + +He could not frame his lips to speak the words, but Griffeth understood +him without, and his cheek flushed. + +"I fear me it is indeed as we thought. She went with them, and they left +her alone on the ledge, where once the eagle's eyry used to be. +Maelgon's men came to carry her off thence. Had it not been for thee, +Wendot, she would have been in their hands ere now. I would I had stood +beside thee, brother. I would I had shared thy perils and thy hurts." + +"Thou didst better than that," answered Wendot, faintly smiling, "for +thou broughtest aid in the very nick of time. And how came it that our +father and our guest were with thee? Methought it must surely be a dream +when I saw them." + +"Ay, we met them journeying towards the castle when we had but made a +short mile from it. They would have reached last night but for an +accident to one of the beasts, which detained them on the road; but they +had started ere the sun rose, and were hard by when we encountered them. +Hearing our errand, some went forward as before, but others joined our +party. It was well we were thus reinforced, for Maelgon's men fight like +veritable wolves." + +"What knoweth our father of the matter? Spakest thou to him of Llewelyn +and Howel?" + +"I had perforce to do so, they questioned me so closely. I know not what +they thought. Our guest's face is not one that may be read like a book, +and our father only set his lips in his stern fashion, as though he +would never open them again. I trow he is sore displeased that sons of +his should thus act; but perchance it may not be so bad as we think." + +Wendot made no reply. He was growing too spent and weary to have words +or thoughts to spare. It seemed as if the long and weary descent would +never be accomplished; and the beat of the sun beating down upon them +mercilessly as they reached the lower ground turned him sick and faint. +Little Gertrude, mounted now upon her palfrey, was chattering +ceaselessly to her father, as he strode on beside her down the hillside; +but Lord Montacute was grave and silent; and as for the face of Res +Vychan, it looked as if carved out of marble, as he planted himself by +the side of the sturdy pony who carried his son, and placed his arm +round the lad to support him during that long and weary ride. + +It was plain that the thoughts of both men were of a very serious +complexion, and gave them food for much reflection and consideration. + +Griffeth bounded on a little ahead of the cavalcade, excited by the +events of the day, anxious for his brother, yet intensely proud of him, +envying him the chance of thus displaying his heroic qualities, yet only +wishing to have shared them -- not that anything should be detracted +from the halo which encircled Wendot. He had reached a turn in the path, +and for a moment was alone and out of sight of the company that +followed, when the hounds who had accompanied Wendot, and were now +returning with them, uttered a deep bay as of welcome, and the next +moment two dark and swarthy heads appeared from behind the shelter of +some great boulders, and the faces of Llewelyn and Howel looked +cautiously forth. + +In a moment Griffeth was by their side, various emotions struggling in +his face for mastery; but the tie of brotherhood was a strong one, and +his first words were those of warning. + +"It is all known -- our father knows, and hers. I know not what your +punishment will be. I have never seen our father look so stern. Do as +you will about returning home, but I wot not how you will be received." + +Llewelyn and Howel exchanged glances; and the former asked eagerly, "And +the maid?" + +"Is safe with her father and ours. Wendot risked his life to save her +from Maelgon's men. Nay, linger not to hear the tale, if you would fly +from the anger of those who know that you sought to betray her. It will +be no easy thing to make peace with our father. You know his thoughts +upon the sacredness of hospitality." + +But even as he spoke Griffeth saw the change that came over his +brothers' faces as they looked past him to something behind; then as he +himself turned quickly to see what it was, he beheld their father and +two of the servants approaching; and Res Vychan pointed sternly to the +two dark-leaded boys, now involuntarily quailing beneath the fiery +indignation in his eyes, and said: + +"Bind them hand and foot and carry them to the castle. They shall be +dealt with there as their offence shall warrant." + +Then turning on his heel, he rejoined the company; whilst Llewelyn and +Howel were brought captive to the paternal halls of Dynevor. + +Wendot knew very little of the occurrences of the next few days. He was +carried to the chamber that he shared with Griffeth, and there he lay +for several days and nights in a dreamy, semi-conscious state, tended by +his mother with all the skill and tenderness she possessed, and, save +when the pain of his wounds made him restless and feverish, sleeping +much, and troubling his head little about what went on within or without +the castle. He was dimly aware that little Gertrude came in and out of +his room sometimes, holding to his mother's hands, and that her gentle +prattle and little caressing gestures were very soothing and pleasant. +But he did not trouble his head to wonder how it was he was lying there, +nor what event had crippled him so; and only in the fevered visions of +the night did he see himself once again standing upon the narrow ledge +of the Eagle's Crag, with a host of foes bearing down upon him to +overpower and slay both him and his charge. + +But after a few days of feverish lassitude and drowsiness the lad's +magnificent constitution triumphed -- the fever left him; and though he +now lay weak and white upon his narrow bed, his mind was perfectly +clear, and he was eager and anxious to know what had happened whilst he +had been shut out from the life of the castle. + +His mother was naturally the one to whom he turned for information. He +saw that she was unwontedly pale and grave and thoughtful. As she sat +beside his bed with some needlework in her hands one bright afternoon, +when the sunlight was streaming into the chamber, and the air floating +in through the narrow casement was full of scent and song, his eyes +fixed themselves upon her face with more of purpose and reflection, and +he begged her to tell him all that had passed. + +"For I know that our guests are still here. Gertrude comes daily to see +me. But where are Llewelyn and Howel? I have not seen them once. Is my +father angry with them still? or have they been punished and forgiven?" + +"Your brothers are still close prisoners," answered the mother with a +sigh. "They have been chastised with more severity than any son of ours +has needed to be chastised before; but they still remain sullen and +obdurate and revengeful, and thy father will not permit them to come out +from their retirement so long as our guests remain. Perchance it is best +so, for it would but cause trouble in the house for them to meet. I +would that they could see matters differently; and yet there are many +amongst our people who would say that the true patriotism was theirs." + +"And our guests, mother -- why linger they still? Methought they Would +leave so soon as Lord Montacute returned." + +"So they purposed once; but he has wished to remain till thou art sound +once more, my son. He hath a very warm feeling towards thee, and would +speak to thee of something that is in his heart ere he quits Dynevor. He +has spoken of it to thy father and to me, but he wishes thee to hear it +from his own lips." + +Wendot's interest was aroused. Something in his mother's expression told +him that the thing of which she spoke was a matter of some importance. +As an eldest son and forward for his years, and of a reflective and +thoughtful turn, he had often been consulted by his parents, and +particularly by his mother, in matters rather beyond his comprehension, +and had shared in discussions which many youths of his age would have +shunned and despised. Now, therefore, he looked eagerly at his mother +and said: + +"What is it he wishes to say Canst thou not tell me thyself?" + +The Lady of Dynevor paused awhile in thought; and when she spoke, it did +not appear to be in direct reply to her son's question. + +"Wendot," she said gravely, "thou hast heard much talk of the troubled +state of these times and of the nation's affairs. Thou hast lived long +enough to see how hopeless some amongst us feel it ever to hope for +unity amongst ourselves. We are torn and distracted by faction and feud. +Families are banded together against families, and brothers strive with +brothers for the inheritance each claims as his own. Each lord of some +small territory tries to wrest from his weaker neighbour that which +belongs to him; and if for a moment at some great crisis petty feuds are +forgotten, and a blow is struck for national liberty, scarce has peace +been proclaimed again before the old strife breaks out once more, and +our fair land is desolated by a more grievous war than ever the English +wage." + +Wendot bent his head in voiceless assent. He knew something of his +country's history, and that his mother spoke only the sad truth. + +"My son," continued she after a pause, "it chances sometimes in this +troubled life of ours that we are called upon to make choice, not +between good and evil, but between two courses, both of which are beset +with difficulties and obstacles, both of which mingle together evil and +good, for which and against which much may be argued on both sides, and +many things that are true be said for and against both. To some such +choice as this has our poor country now come. Experience has taught us +that she is incapable of uniting all her forces and of making of herself +one compact, united kingdom. That course, and that alone, would be her +true salvation; but that course she will not take, and failing that, she +has to choose between being torn and rent by faction till she is an easy +prey to the English king, who will then divide her territories amongst +his own hungry and rapacious barons, or for the princes to submit to pay +him the homage for their lands which he (possibly with injustice) +demands, but which if paid will make of him their friend and protector, +and will enable the country to live in peace and prosperity, assured +that the king will support those who acknowledge him, and that he will +not deprive of their ancestral rights any who will bring their homage to +him, and hold their territory as it were from him. Understandest thou +thus much?" + +"Ay, mother, I understand it well; and though there is something in the +thought that stirs my blood and sets it coursing through my veins in +indignation -- for I see not by what right the English king lays claim +to our fair lands -- still I know that conquest gives to the conqueror a +right, and that if he chose to march against us with his armies, he +might well find us too much weakened by our petty feuds to resist his +strong veterans. And the English are not all bad. I have learned that +these many days whilst our guests have been with us. I have thought at +times that they would be true friends and allies, and that we might do +well to copy them in many ways. In truth, if the choice lies betwixt +being rent in pieces by each other and giving homage to the great +Edward, who can be merciful and just, I would rather choose the latter. +For there must be something grand and noble about him by what our little +maid says; and to pay homage is no such hard thing. Why, does not he +himself pay homage to the King of France for the lands he holds in his +kingdom?" + +A look of relief crossed the face of the mother as she heard these words +from her first-born son. She took his hand in hers and said earnestly: + +"Wendot, I am glad to hear thee speak thus, for thou art the heir of +Dynevor, and upon thee much may fall some day. Thou knowest what thy +brothers are -- I speak of Llewelyn and Howel. I cannot but fear for +them -- unless, indeed, the rapacious greed I sometimes see in Llewelyn +proves stronger than his fierce hatred to the English, and he prefers to +do homage for his lands rather than lose them. But thou art the head of +the family, and the chief power will rest with thee when thy father is +gone. I counsel thee, if the time comes when thou must make thy choice, +be not led away by blind hatred of the English. They may prove less +cruel foes than thine own countrymen are to one another. If Wales may +not be united under one native king, let her think well ere she rejects +the grace held out to all who will yield fealty to the English monarch. +That is what I wished to say to thee. Remember that the English are not +always cruel, always rapacious. There are generous, noble, honourable +men amongst them, of whom I am sure our guest is one." + +"Ay, he has a grand face," said Wendot. "A face one can both love and +trust. And all that the little one tells me of the king and his family +inclines my heart towards him and his. I will remember what you have +said, mother, and will ponder your words. Methinks it is no lovely thing +to hate as Llewelyn and Howel hate; it makes men act rather as fiends +than as honourable soldiers should." + +The conversation ended there, and was not renewed; but the very next day +Lord Montacute sought Wendot's room, when the lad was lying alone, +wearying somewhat of his own company, and the light sprang into his eyes +as he saw the guest approach, for in his own boyish way he had a great +admiration for this man. + +"Well, lad, I am glad to see thee looking something more substantial and +like thine own self," said Lord Montacute, seating himself upon the edge +of the bed and taking Wendot's hand in his. "This hand has done good +service to me and mine -- good service, indeed, to the King of England, +who would have been forced to chastise with some severity the outrage +planned upon a subject of his, and one dear to him from association with +his children. Tell me, boy, what can I do for thee when I tell this tale +to my lord of England? What boon hast thou to ask of him or of me? For +thou needest not fear; whatever it be it shall be granted." + +"Nay, I have no boon," answered Wendot, his cheek flushing. "I did but +do my duty by any guest beneath my father's roof. I was responsible for +the safety of the maid. I had taken that duty on myself. I want nothing; +she is safe, and that is enough. Only if you would speak to my father +for my brothers Llewelyn and Howel. I know they have merited deep +displeasure; yet they are but lads, and doubtless they were led away by +evil counsels. He would hear pleading better from you than from me." + +"It shall be done," said Lord Montacute, still regarding Wendot +steadily; "and now, boy, I would speak to thee seriously and gravely as +man to man, for thou hast proved thyself to be a man in action, in +courage, and in foresight. And thy parents tell me that thou art +acquainted with the burning questions of the day, and that thy brothers' +headstrong hatreds and prejudices do not blind thee." + +Wendot made no reply, but fixed his bright eyes steadily on Lord +Montacute's face. He on his side, after a brief silence, began again in +clear, terse phrases: + +"Lad, if thou livest thou wilt some day be Lord of Dynevor -- master of +this fair heritage, the fairest, perhaps, in all South Wales. Thou hast +noble blood in thy veins -- the blood of princes and kings; thou hast +much that men covet to call their own; but thou art surrounded by foes +who are jealous of thee, and by kinsmen who have already cast covetous +eyes on thy possessions." + +"Ay, that traitorous Meredith ap Res, whose mother is English, and who +would -- But pardon me. I would not willingly speak against your nation. +Indeed, I feel not bitter as others do; only --" + +"Boy, thou art right to be loyal and true. I like thee none the less for +the patriotic fervour which breaks out in thee. But I am glad that thou +shouldest see both sides of this matter, that thou shouldest see the +peril menacing thy brothers from thine own kinsman, who has strengthened +himself by an English alliance. It is useless to blind thine eyes to +what is coming. They tell me thou art not blind; and I come to thee, +lad, because I think well of thee, to ask if it would please thee to +strengthen thy position in thine own land and in Edward's sight by an +alliance with an English maiden of noble birth. Hast thou ever thought +of such a thing?" + +Wendot's wide-open eyes gave answer enough. Lord Montacute smiled +slightly as he said: + +"Ah, thou art full young for such thoughts; and thou livest not in the +atmosphere of courts, where babes are given in marriage almost from +their cradles. But listen, Res Wendot; I speak not in jest, I am a man +of my word. Thou hast risked thy life to save my little maid. Thou art a +noble youth, and I honour both thee and thy parents. The maid has told +me that she loves thee well, and would be well pleased to wed thee when +she is of the age to do so. These are but childish words, yet they may +prove themselves true in days to come. It is in the interests of all +those who have the peace and prosperity of this land at heart to +strengthen themselves in every way they can. My little daughter will +have an ample dower to bring her husband; and I will keep her for thee +if thou wilt be willing to claim her in days to come. I should like well +to see her ruling in these fair halls; and thou hast proved already that +thou art a knightly youth, whose hand she may well take with confidence +and pride. + +"Thy parents are willing; it waits only for thee to say. What thinkest +thou of a troth plight with the little maid?" + +Wendot's face glowed with a sort of boyish shame, not unmingled with +pride; but the idea was altogether too strange and new to him to be +readily grasped. + +"I have never thought of such things," he said shyly, "and I am too +young to wed. Perchance I may grow into some rough, uncouth fellow, who +may please not the maiden when she reaches years of discretion. Methinks +it would scarce be fair to plight her now, at least not with such a +plight as might not be broken. If our nations meet in fierce conflict, +as they yet may, it would be a cruel thing to have linked her hand with +that of a rebel, for such we are called by the English monarch, they +say, when we rise to fight for our liberties bequeathed by our ancestors. + +"Nay, noble lord, frown not on me. There be moments when methinks two +spirits strive within me, and I am fearful of trusting even myself. I +would not that grief or sorrow should touch her through me. Let me come +and claim her anon, when I have grown to man's estate, and can bring her +lands and revenues. But bind her not to one whose fate may be beset with +perils and shadows. There be those amongst our bards who see into the +future; and they tell us that a dark fate hangs over the house of +Dynevor, and that we four shall be the last to bear the name." + +Lord Montacute was looking grave and earnest. There was something in his +face which indicated disappointment, but also something that spoke of +relief. Possibly he himself had offered this troth plight with something +of hesitation, offered it out of gratitude to the noble lad, and out of +respect to his parents, who, as he saw, would prove valuable allies to +the English cause, could they but be induced to give their allegiance to +it. Yet there was another side to the picture, too; and Wendot was too +young for any one to predict with certainty what would be his course in +the future. The hot blood of his race ran in his veins; and though his +judgment was cool, and he saw things in a reasonable and manly light, it +would be rash to predict what the future might have in store for him. + +"Well, lad, thou hast spoken bravely and well," said the Englishman, +after a pause for thought. "Perchance thy words are right; perchance it +will be well to let matters rest as they are for the present. We will +have no solemn troth plight betwixt ye twain; but the maid shall be +promised to none other these next four years, so that if thou carest to +claim her ere she reaches woman's estate, thou shalt find her waiting +for thee. And now I must say thee farewell, for tomorrow we ride away +the way we came. I trust to see thee at the king's court one of these +days, and to make known to his royal majesty the noble youth of Dynevor." + +Wendot was left alone then for some time, pondering the strange offer +made to him, and wondering whether he had been foolish to refuse the +promised reward. He had never seriously thought of marriage, although in +those days wedlock was entered upon very young if there were any +advantage to be gained from it. A lad of fifteen is seldom sentimental; +but Wendot was conscious of a very warm spot in his heart for little +Gertrude, and he knew that he should miss her sorely when she went, and +think of her much. Would it have been a sweet or a bitter thing to have +felt himself pledged to a daughter of England? He felt that he could not +tell; but at least the decision was made now, and his words could not be +recalled. + +Just ere the sun set that summer's day there came down the stone +corridor which led to his room the patter of little feet, and he leaned +up on his elbow with brightening eyes as the door opened and little +Gertrude came dancing in. + +"I thought I was to have been married to you, Wendot, before we went +away," she said, looking into his face with the most trusting expression +in her soft dark eyes; "but father says you will come to marry me some +day at the king's court. Perhaps that will be better, for I should like +Eleanor and Joanna to see you. They would like you so, and you would +like them. But do come soon, Wendot. I do so like you; and I shall want +to show you to them all. And I have broken my gold coin in two -- the +one the king gave me once. I got the armourer to do it, and to make a +hole in each half. You must wear one half round your neck, and I will +wear the other. And that will be almost the same as being married, will +it not? And you will never forget me, will you?" + +Wendot let her hang the half of the coin round his neck by a silken +thread, strange new thoughts crowding into his mind as he felt her soft +little hands about him. Suddenly he clasped them in both of his and +pressed warm kisses upon them. Gertrude threw her arms about his neck in +a childish paroxysm of affection, saying as she did so between her kisses: + +"Now, it's just like being husband and wife; and we shall never forget +one another -- never." + + + + CHAPTER V. THE KING'S CHILDREN. + + +"Dynevor --did you say Dynevor? O Eleanor, it must be he!" + +A tall, slim, fair-faced maiden, with a very regal mien, looked up +quickly from an embroidery frame over which she was bending, and glanced +from the eager, flushed face of the younger girl who stood beside her to +that of a tall and stalwart English youth, who appeared to be the bearer +of a piece of news, and asked in her unconsciously queenly way: + +"What is it, Sir Godfrey, that you have told this impetuous child, to +have set her in such a quiver of excitement?" + +"Only this, gracious lady, that certain youthful chieftains from the +south have come hither to Rhuddlan to pay their homage to your royal +father. In his absence at Chester they have been lodged within the +castle walls, as becomes their station. It has been told me that amongst +them are four sons of one Res Vychan, lately dead, and that he was Lord +of Dynevor, which honour has descended to his eldest son. I was telling +what I knew to Lady Gertrude when she broke away to speak to you." + +"Eleanor, it must be he -- it must be they!" cried Gertrude, with +flushing cheek and kindling eye -- "Res Vychan, Lord of Dynevor, and his +four sons. It could be none else than they. O Eleanor, sweet Eleanor, +bid them be brought hither to see us! Thou hast heard the story of how +we went thither, my father and I, two years agone now, and of what +befell me there. I have never heard a word of Wendot since, and I have +thought of him so oft. Thou art mistress here now; they all heed thy +lightest word. Bid that the brothers be brought hither to us. I do so +long to see them again!" + +Gertrude was fairly trembling with excitement; but that was no unusual +thing for her, as she was an ardent, excitable little mortal, and ever +in a fever of some kind or another. The young knight who had brought the +news looked at her with unmistakable admiration and pleasure, and seemed +as though he would gladly have obeyed any behest of hers; but he was +fain to wait for the decision of the stately Eleanor, the king's eldest +and much-beloved child, who in the temporary absence of her parents +occupied a position of no little importance in the household, and whose +will, in the royal apartments at any rate, was law. + +But there were other listeners to Gertrude's eager words. At the far end +of the long gallery, which was occupied by the royal children as their +private apartment, a group of three young things had been at play, but +the urgency of Gertrude's tones had arrested their attention, and they +had drawn near to hear her last words. One of these younger children was +a black-eyed girl, with a very handsome face and an imperious manner, +which gave to onlookers the idea that she was older than her years. +Quick tempered, generous, hasty, and self willed was the Lady Joanna, +the second daughter of the king; but her warm affections caused all who +knew her to love her; and her romantic temperament was always stirred to +its depths by any story that savoured of chivalry or heroism. + +"What!" she cried; "is Wendot here -- Wendot of Dynevor, who held the +Eagle's Crag against half a hundred foemen to save thee, sweetest +Gertrude, from captivity or death? -- Eleanor, thou knowest the story; +thou must bid him hither at once! Why, I would thank him with my own +lips for his heroism. For is not Gertrude as our own sister in love?" + +"Ay, Eleanor, bid him come," pleaded Alphonso, a fragile-looking boy a +year younger than Joanna, whose violet-blue eyes and fair skin were in +marked contrast to her gipsy-like darkness of complexion; and this +request was echoed eagerly by another boy, a fine, bold-looking lad, +somewhat older than Alphonso, by name Britten, who was brought up with +the king's children, and treated in every way like them, as the wardrobe +rolls of the period show, though what his rank and parentage were cannot +now be established, as no mention of him occurs in any other documents +of that time. + +The Princess Eleanor, as she would now be called, although in those +far-back days the title of Lady was generally all that was bestowed upon +the children of the king, did not attempt to resist the combined +entreaties of her younger playfellows. Indeed, although somewhat mature +both in mind and appearance for her years, she was by no means devoid of +childish or feminine curiosity, and was as willing to see the hero of +Gertrude's oft-told tale as her more youthful companions could be. +Moreover, it was her father's policy and pleasure to be generous and +gracious towards all those who submitted themselves to his feudal +sovereignty; and to the young he ever showed himself friendly and even +paternal. The stern soldier-king was a particularly tender and loving +father, and his wife the best of mothers, so that the family tie in +their household was a very strong and beautiful thing. When the monarch +was called away from his own royal residences to quell sedition or +rebellion in this turbulent country of Wales, his wife and children +accompanied him thither; and so it happened that in this rather gloomy +fastness in North Wales, when the rebellion of the warlike Llewelyn had +but just been crushed, the king's children were to be found assembled +within its walls, by their bright presence and laughter-loving ways +making the place gay and bright, and bringing even into political +matters something of the leniency and good fellowship which seems to be +the prerogative of childhood. + +Thus it was that one powerful and turbulent noble, Einon ap Cadwalader, +had left as hostage of his good faith his only child, the Lady Arthyn, +to be the companion of the king's daughters. She had been received with +open arms by the warm-hearted Joanna, and the two were fast friends +already, although the Welsh girl was several years the elder of the +pair. But Joanna, who had been educated in Spain by her grandmother and +namesake, and who had only recently come to be with her own parents, had +enjoyed abroad a liberty and importance which had developed her rapidly, +and her mind was as quick and forward as her body was active and energetic. + +Intercourse with Arthyn, too, had given to the younger princess a great +sympathy with the vanquished Welsh, and she was generously eager that +those who came to pay homage to her father should not feel themselves in +a position that was humiliating or galling. The gentle Eleanor shared +this feeling to the full, and was glad to give to the young knight Sir +Godfrey Challoner, who was one of her own gentlemen-in-waiting, a +gracious message for the young Lord of Dynevor to the effect that she +would be glad to receive him and his brothers in her father's absence, +and to give them places at the royal table for the evening meal shortly +to be served. + +Great was the delight of Gertrude when the message was despatched. Her +companions crowded round her to hear again the story of her adventure on +the Eagle's Crag. Gertrude never knew how she had been betrayed by +Wendot's brothers. She believed that they had been accidentally hindered +from coming to her rescue by the difficulties of the climb after the +eagle's nest. There was a faint, uncomfortable misgiving in her mind +with regard to the black-browed twins, but it did not amount to actual +suspicion, far less to any certainty of their enmity; and although +Eleanor had heard the whole story from her parents, she had not +explained the matter more fully to Gertrude. + +An invitation from royalty was equal to a command, and the eager +children were not kept waiting long. The double doors at the end of the +long gallery, which had closed behind the retiring form of Godfrey, +opened once again to admit him, and closely in his wake there followed +two manly youths -- two, not four -- upon whose faces every eye was +instantly fixed in frank and kindly scrutiny. + +Wendot had developed rapidly during these two last years, although he +retained all his old marked characteristics. The waving hair was still +bright and sunny, the open face, with its rather square features, was +resolute, alert, manly, and strong. The fearless blue eyes had not lost +their far-away dreaminess, as though the possessor were looking onward +and outward beyond the surroundings visible to others; and beneath the +calm determination of the expression was an underlying sweetness, which +shone out from time to time in the sunny smile which always won the +heart of the beholder. The figure was rather that of a man than a lad -- +tall, strongly knit, full of grace and power; and a faint yellow +moustache upon the upper lip showed the dawn of manhood in the youth. +There was something in his look which seemed to tell that he had known +sorrow, trial, and anxiety; but this in no way detracted from the power +or attractiveness of the countenance, but rather gave it an added charm. + +Griffeth retained his marked likeness to his brother, and was almost his +equal in height; but his cheek was pale and hollow, while Wendot's was +brown and healthy, his hands were slim and white, and there was an air +of languor and ill-health about him which could not fail to make itself +observed. He looked much younger than his brother, despite his tall +stature, and he blushed like a boy as he saw the eyes of the ladies +fixed upon them as they came forward, bowing with no ungraceful deference. + +"Wendot, Wendot. don't you know me?" + +The young man started and raised his eyes towards the speaker. So far, +he had only been aware that there were a number of persons collected at +the upper end of the long gallery. Now he found himself confronted by a +pair of eager, dancing eyes, as soft and dark as those of a forest deer, +whilst two slim hands were held out to him, and a silvery voice cried +softly and playfully: + +"O Wendot, Wendot, to think you have forgotten!" + +"Lady Gertrude!" + +"Ah, I am glad you have not forgotten, though methinks I have changed +more than you these past years. I should have known you anywhere. But +come, Wendot; I would present you to my friends and companions, who +would fain be acquainted with you. They know how you saved my life that +day, I have told the tale so oft. + +"Let me present you first to our sweetest Lady Eleanor, our great king's +eldest daughter. You will love her, I know -- none can help it. And she +lets me call myself her sister." + +Young things have a wonderful faculty of growing intimate in a very +brief space, and the formalities of those simpler times were not +excessive, especially away from the trammels of the court. In ten +minutes' time Wendot and his brother had grasped the names and rank of +all those to whom they had been presented, and were joining in the eager +talk with ease and with enjoyment. Joanna stood beside Wendot, +listening, with unfeigned interest, to his answers respecting himself +and those near and dear to him; whilst Alphonso had drawn Griffeth to +the embrasure of a window, and was looking up into his face as they +compared notes and exchanged ideas. It seemed from the first as though a +strong link formed itself between those two. + +"Your brothers would not come. Was that fear or shame or pride?" asked +Joanna, with a laughing look into Wendot's flushed face. "Nay, think not +that we would compel any to visit us who do it not willingly. Gertrude +has prepared us to find your brothers different from you. Methinks she +marvelled somewhat that they had come hither at all with their submission." + +Wendot hesitated, and the flush deepened on his face; but he was too +young to have learned the lesson of reticence, and there was something +in the free atmosphere of this place which prompted him to frankness. + +"I myself was surprised at it," he said. "Llewelyn and Howel have not +been friendly in their dealings with the English so far, and we knew +they aided Llewelyn of North Wales in the revolt which has been lately +quelled. But since our parents died we have seen but little of them. +They became joint owners of the commot of Iscennen, and removed from +Dynevor to the castle of Carregcennen in their own territory, and until +we met them some days since in company with our kinsman Meredith ap Hes, +coming to tender their homage, as we ourselves are about to do, we knew +not what to think of them or what action they would take." + +"Are both your parents dead, then?" asked Gertrude, with sympathy in her +eyes. "I heard that Res Vychan was no longer living, but I knew not that +the gentle Lady of Dynevor had passed away also." + +Wendot's face changed slightly as he answered: + +"They both died within a few days of each other the winter after you had +been with us, Lady Gertrude. We were visited by a terrible sickness that +year, and our people sickened and died in great numbers. Our parents did +all they could for them, and first my father fell ill and died, and +scarce had the grave closed over him before our mother was stricken, and +followed him ere a week had passed. Griffeth was also lying at the point +of death, and we despaired of his life also; but he battled through, and +came back to us from the very gates of the grave, and yet methinks +sometimes that he has never been the same since. He shoots up in height, +but he cannot do the things he did when he was two years younger. + +"What think you of him, sweet Lady Gertrude? Is he changed from what he +was when last you saw him, ere the sickness had fastened upon him?" + +Several eyes were turned towards the slim, tall figure of the Welsh lad +leaning against the embrasure of the window. The sunlight fell full upon +his face, showing the sharpness of its outlines, the delicate hectic +colouring, the tracery of the blue veins beneath the transparent skin. +And just the same transparent look was visible in the countenance of the +young Prince Alphonso, who was talking with the stranger youth, and more +hearts than that of Wendot felt a pang as their owners' eyes were turned +upon the pair beside the sunny window. But Wendot pressed for no answer +to his question, nor did Gertrude volunteer it; she only asked quickly: + +"Then Griffeth and you live yet at Dynevor, beautiful Dynevor, and +Llewelyn and Howel elsewhere?" + +"Ay, at Carregcennen. We have our respective lands, though we are minors +yet; and our kinsman Meredith ap Res is our guardian, though it is +little we see of him." + +"Meredith ap Res! I know him well," cried a girlish voice, in accents +which betrayed her Welsh origin. "He has ever been a traitor to his +country, a traitor to all who trust him; a covetous, grasping man, who +will clutch at what he can get, and never cease scheming after lands and +titles so long as the breath remains in him." + +They all turned to see who had spoken, and Arthyn -- the headstrong, +passionate, patriotic Arthyn, who, despite her love for her present +companions, bitterly resented being left a hostage in the hands of the +English king -- stood out before them, and spoke in the fearless fashion +which nobody present resented. + +"Wendot of Dynevor, if you are he, beware of that man, and bid your +brothers beware of him, too. I know him; I have heard much of him. Be +sure he has an eye on your fair lands, and he will embroil you yet with +the English king if he can, that he may lay claim to your patrimony. He +brings you here to the court to make your peace, to pay your homage. If +I mistake not the man, you will not all of you return whence you came. +He will poison the king's mind. Some traitorous practices will be +alleged against you. Your lands will be withheld. You will be fed with +promises which will never be fulfilled. And the kinsman who has sold +himself body and soul to the English alliance will rule your lands, in +your names firstly perchance, until his power is secure, and he can +claim them boldly as his own. See if it be not so." + +"It shall not be so," cried Alphonso, suddenly advancing a step forward +and planting himself in the midst of the group. + +His cheek was crimson now, there was fire in his eyes. He had all the +regal look of his royal father as he glanced up into Wendot's face and +spoke with an authority beyond his years. + +"I, the king's son, give you my word of honour that this thing shall not +be. You are rightful Lord of Dynevor. You took not up arms against my +father in the late rebellion; you come at his command to pay your homage +to him. Therefore, whatever may be his dealings with your brothers who +have assisted the rebels, I pledge my princely word that you shall +return in peace to your own possessions. My father is a just and +righteous king, and I will be his surety that he will do all that is +right and just by you, Wendot of Dynevor." + +"Well spoken, Alphonso!" cried Joanna and Britton in a breath, whilst +Wendot took the hand extended to him, and bent over it with a feeling of +loyal gratitude and respect. + +There was something very lovable in the fragile young prince, and he +seemed to win the hearts of all who came within the charm of his +personal presence. He combined his father's fearless nobility with his +mother's sweetness of disposition. Had he lived to ascend the throne of +England, one of the darkest pages of its annals might never have been +written. + +But this hot discussion was brought to an end by the appearance of the +servants, who carried in the supper, laying it upon a long table at the +far end of the gallery. No great state was observed even in the royal +household, when the family was far away from the atmosphere of the court +as it was held at Westminster or Windsor. + +A certain number of servants were in attendance. There were a few +formalities gone through in the matter of tasting of dishes served to +the royal children, but they sat round the table without ceremony; and +when the chaplain had pronounced a blessing, which was listened to +reverently by the young people, who were all very devout and responsive +to religious influences, the unconstrained chatter began again almost at +once, and the Welsh lads lost all sense of strangeness as they sat at +the table of the king's children. + +"Our father and mother will not return for several days yet," said +Joanna to Wendot, whom she had placed between herself and Gertrude; "but +we have liberty to do what we wish and to go where we like. + +"Say, Gertrude, shall we tell Wendot on what we have set our hearts? It +may be he would help us to our end." + +"I would do anything you bid me, gracious lady," answered Wendot with +boyish chivalry. + +The girls were eying each other with flushed faces, their voices were +lowered so that they should not reach the ears of the Lady Edeline, +Joanna's governess, who was seated at the board, although she seldom +spoke unless directly addressed by Eleanor, who seemed to be on friendly +terms with her. + +"Wendot," whispered Joanna cautiously, "have you ever hunted a wolf in +your mountains?" + +"Ay, many a time, though they be more seldom seen now. But we never rid +ourselves altogether of them, do as we will." + +"And have you killed one yourself?" + +"Yes, I have done that, too." + +"And is it very dangerous?" + +"I scarce know; I never thought about it. I think not, if one is well +armed and has dogs trained to their duties." + +Joanna's eyes were alight with excitement; her hands were locked +together tightly. Her animated face was set in lines of the greatest +determination and happiest anticipation. + +"Wendot," she said, "there is a wolf up yonder in that wild valley we +can see from yon window, as you look towards the heights of Snowdon. +Some of our people have seen and tracked it, but they say it is an old +and wily one, and no one has got near it yet. Wendot, we have set our +hearts on having a wolf hunt of our very own. We do not want all the men +and dogs and the stir and fuss which they would make if we were known to +be going. I know what that means. We are kept far away behind everybody, +and only see the dead animal after it has been killed miles away from +us. We want to be in the hunt ourselves -- Britten, Alphonso, Arthyn, +Gertrude, and I. Godfrey would perhaps be won over if Gertrude begged +him, and I know Raoul Latimer would -- he is always ready for what turns +up -- but that would not be enough. O Wendot, if you and your brothers +would but come, we should be safe without anybody else. Raoul has dogs, +and we could all be armed, and we would promise to be very careful. We +could get away early, as Gertrude did that day she slipped off to the +Eagle's Crag. + +"Wendot, do answer -- do say you will come. You understand all about +hunting, even hunting wolves. You are not afraid?" + +Wendot smiled at the notion. He did not entirely understand that he was +requested to take part in a bit of defiant frolic which the young +princes and princesses were well aware would not have been permitted by +their parents. All he grasped was that the Lady Joanna requested his +assistance in a hunt which she had planned, and with the details of +which he was perfectly familiar, and he agreed willingly to her request, +not sorry, either for his own sake or for that of his more discontented +brothers, that the monotony of the days spent in waiting the return of +the king should be beguiled by anything so attractive and exciting as a +wolf hunt. + +The Dynevor brothers had often hunted wolves before, and saw no special +peril in the sport; and Joanna and Gertrude felt that not even the most +nervous guardian could hesitate to let them go with such a stout protector. + +"I do like him, Gertrude," said Joanna, when Wendot and his brother had +retired. "I hope if I ever have to marry, as people generally do, +especially if they are king's daughters, that I shall find somebody as +brave and handsome and knightly as your Wendot of Dynevor." + +For Gertrude and Joanna both took the view that the breaking of the +king's gold coin between them was equivalent to the most solemn of troth +plights. + + + + CHAPTER VI. WELSH WOLVES. + + +The Princess Joanna was accustomed to a great deal of her own way. She +had been born at Acre, whilst her parents had been absent upon Edward's +Crusade, and for many years she had remained in Castile with her +grandmother-godmother, who had treated her with unwise distinction, and +had taught her to regard herself almost as a little queen. The +high-spirited and self-willed girl had thus acquired habits of +independence and commanding ways which were perhaps hardly suited to her +tender years; but nevertheless there was something in her bright +vivacity and generous impetuosity which always won the hearts of those +about her, and there were few who willingly thwarted her when her heart +was set upon any particular thing. + +There were in attendance upon the king and his children a number of +gallant youths, sons of his nobles, who were admitted to pleasant and +easy intercourse with the royal family; so that when Joanna and Alphonso +set their hearts upon a private escapade of their own, in the shape of a +wolf hunt, it was not difficult to enlist many brave champions in the +cause quite as eager for the danger and the sport as the royal children +themselves. Joanna was admitted to be a privileged person, and Alphonso, +as the only son of the king, had a certain authority of his own. + +The graver and more responsible guardians of the young prince and +princesses might have hesitated before letting them have their way in +this matter; but Joanna took counsel of the younger and more ardent +spirits by whom she was surrounded, and a secret expedition to a +neighbouring rocky fastness was soon planned, which expedition, by a +little diplomacy and management, could be carried out without exciting +much remark. + +The king and queen encouraged their family in hardy exercises and early +hours. If the royal children planned an early ride through the fresh +morning air, none would hinder their departure, and they could easily +shake off their slower attendants when the time came, and join the +bolder comrades who would be waiting for them with all the needful +accoutrements for the hunt on which their minds were bent. + +One or two of the more youthful and adventurous attendants might come +with them, but the soberer custodians might either be dismissed or +outridden. They were accustomed to the vagaries of the Lady Joanna, and +would not be greatly astonished at any freak on her part. + +And thus it came about that one clear, cold, exhilarating morning in +May, when the world was just waking from its dewy sleep of night, that +Joanna and Alphonso, together with Gertrude and Arthyn, and young Sir +Godfrey and another gentleman in attendance, drew rein laughingly, after +a breathless ride across a piece of wild moorland, at the appointed +spot, where a small but well-equipped company was awaiting them with the +spears, the dogs, and the long, murderous-looking hunting knives needed +by those who follow the tracks of the wild creatures of the mountains. + +This little band numbered in its ranks the four Dynevor brothers; a +tall, rather haughty-looking youth, by name Raoul Latimer; and one or +two more with whose names we have no concern. Britten, who accompanied +the royal party, sprang forward with a cry of delight at seeing the +muster, and began eagerly questioning Raoul as to the capabilities of +the dogs he had brought, and the possible dangers to be encountered in +the day's sport. + +Gertrude and Joanna rode up to Wendot and greeted him warmly. They had +seen him only once since the first evening after his arrival, and both +girls stole curious glances at the dark faces of the two brothers +unknown as yet to them. They were almost surprised that the twins had +come at all, as they were not disposed to be friendly towards the +English amongst whom they were now mingling; but here they were, and +Gertrude greeted both with her pretty grace, and they answered her words +of welcome with more courtesy than she had expected to find in them. + +Llewelyn and Howel were submitting themselves to the inevitable with +what grace they could, but with very indignant and hostile feelings +hidden deep in their hearts. Their old hatred towards the English +remained unaltered. They would have fought the foe tooth and nail to the +last had they been able to find allies ready to stand by them. But when +their uncle of North Wales had submitted, and all the smaller chieftains +were crowding to the court to pay homage, and when they knew that +nothing but their own nominal subjection would save them from being +deprived of their lands, which would go to enrich the rapacious Meredith +ap Res, then indeed did resistance at that time seem hopeless; and +sooner than see themselves thus despoiled by one who was no better than +a vassal of England, they had resolved to take the hated step, and do +homage to Edward for their lands. Indeed, these brothers had to do even +more; for, having been concerned in the late rebellion, they had +forfeited their claim upon their property, only that it was Edward's +policy to restore all lands the owners of which submitted themselves to +his authority. The brothers felt no doubt as to the result of their +submission, but the humiliation involved was great, and it was hard work +to keep their hatred of the English in check. Those wild spirits had not +been used to exercising self-control, and the lesson came hard now that +they were springing up towards man's estate, with all the untempered +recklessness and heat of youth still in their veins. + +Perhaps there was something in the expression of those two dark faces +that told its tale to one silent spectator of the meeting between the +Welsh and English; for as the party united forces and pushed onwards and +upwards towards the wild ravine where the haunt of the wolf lay, the +twin brothers heard themselves addressed in their own language, and +though the tones were sweet and silvery, the words had a ring of +passionate earnestness in them which went straight to their hearts. + +"Methinks I am not mistaken in you, sons of Dynevor. You have not +willingly left your mountain eyry for these halls where the proud foeman +holds his court and sits in judgment upon those who by rights are free +as air. I have heard of you before, Llewelyn and Howel ap Res Vychan. +You are not here, like your brethren, half won over to the cause of the +foe; you would fight with the last drop of your blood for the liberty of +our country." + +Turning with a start, the brothers beheld the form of a slight and +graceful maiden, who was pushing her palfrey up beside them. She +appeared to be about their own age, and was very beautiful to look upon, +with a clear, dark skin, large, bright eyes, now glowing with the +enthusiasm so soon kindled in the breast of the children of an oppressed +people -- a people thrilling with the strange, deep poetry of their +race, which made much amends for their lack of culture in other points. + +Llewelyn and Howel, learning caution by experience, scarce knew how to +respond to this appeal; but the girl met their inquiring glances by a +vivid smile, and said: + +"Nay, fear me not. I am one of yourselves -- one of our country's own +children. Think not that I am here of my own free will. I deny not that +I have learned to love some amongst our conqueror's children and +subjects, but that does not make me forget who I am nor whence I have +come. Let us talk together of our country and of the slender hopes which +yet remain that she may gird herself up and make common cause against +the foe. Oh, would that I might live to see the day, even though my life +might pay the forfeit of my father's patriotism. Let Edward slay me -- +ay, and every hostage he holds in his hand -- so that our country shakes +off the foreign yoke, and unites under one head as one nation once again." + +These words kindled in the breast of the twin brothers such a glow of +joy and fervour as they had not known for many a weary day. They made +room for Arthyn to ride between them, and eager were the confidences +exchanged between the youthful patriots as they pursued their way +upwards. Little they heeded the black looks cast upon them by Raoul +Latimer, as he saw Arthyn's eager animation, and understood how close +was the bond which had thus quickly been established between them and +the proud, silent girl whose favours he had been sedulously trying to +win this many a day. + +Raoul Latimer was a youth with a decided eye to the main chance. He knew +that Arthyn was her father's heiress, and that she would succeed at his +death to some of the richest lands in Wales. Possibly her father might +be deprived of these lands in his lifetime, as he was a turbulent +chieftain, by no means submissive to Edward's rule. If that were the +case, and if his daughter had wedded a loyal Englishman of +unquestionable fidelity, there would be an excellent chance for that +husband of succeeding to the broad lands of Einon ap Cadwalader before +many years had passed. Therefore young Raoul paid open court to the +proud Welsh maiden, and was somewhat discomfited at the small progress +he had made. + +But he was a hot-headed youth, and had no intention of being thrown into +the shade by any beggarly Welshmen, be they sons of Dynevor or no, so +that when the party were forced by the character of the ground to +dismount from their horses and take to their own feet, he pressed up to +Arthyn and said banteringly: + +"Sweet lady, why burden yourself with the entertainment of these wild, +uncivilized loons? Surely those who can but speak the language of beasts +deserve the treatment of beasts. It is not for you to be thus --" + +But the sentence was never finished. Perhaps the flash from Arthyn's eye +warned him he had gone too far in thus designating the youths, who were, +after all, her countrymen; but there was a better reason still for this +sudden pause, for Llewelyn's strong right hand had flown out straight +from the shoulder, and Raoul had received on the mouth a stinging blow +which had brought the red blood upon his lips and the crimson tide of +fury into his cheeks. + +With an inarticulate cry of rage he drew his dagger and sprang upon the +young Welshman. Swords were drawn in those days only too readily, and in +this case there had been provocation enough on both sides to warrant +bloodshed. The youths were locked at once in fierce conflict, striking +madly at each other with their shining blades, before those who stood by +well knew what had occurred. + +It was only too common at such times that there should be collision +between the sons of England and Wales; and the suffering and the penalty +almost invariably fell upon the latter. This fact was well known to the +children of the king, and possibly prompted the young Alphonso to his +next act. + +Drawing the small sword he always carried at his side, he threw himself +between the combatants, and striking up their blades he cried in tones +of such authority as only those can assume who feel the right is theirs: + +"Put up your weapons, gentlemen; I command you in the king's name. + +"Raoul, this is your doing, I warrant. Shame on you for thus falling +upon my father's guest in his absence, and he a stranger and an alien! +Shame on you, I say!" + +But scarce had these words been uttered before a shrill cry broke from +several of the girls, who were watching the strange scene with tremulous +excitement. For young Llewelyn, maddened and blinded by the heat of his +passion, and not knowing either who Alphonso was or by what right he +interposed betwixt him and his foe, turned furiously upon him, and +before any one could interpose, a deep red gash in the boy's wrist +showed what the Welsh lad's blade had done. + +Wendot, Griffeth, and Godfrey flung themselves upon the mad youth, and +held him back by main force. In Raoul's eyes there was an evil light of +triumph and exultation. + +"Llewelyn, Llewelyn, art mad? It is the king's son," cried Wendot in +their native tongue; whilst Joanna sprang towards her brother and +commenced binding up the gash, the lad never for a moment losing his +presence of mind, or forgetting in the smart of the hurt the dignity of +his position. + +Llewelyn's fierce burst of passion had spent itself, and the sense of +Wendot's words had come home to him. He stood shamefaced and sullen, but +secretly somewhat afraid; whilst Arthyn trembled in every limb, and if +looks would have annihilated, Raoul would not have existed as a +corporate being a moment longer. + +"Gentlemen," said Alphonso, turning to those about him, and holding up +his bandaged hand, "this is the result of accident -- pure accident. +Remember that, if it ever comes to the ears of my father. This youth +knew not what he did. The fault was mine for exposing myself thus +hastily. As you value the goodwill in which I hold you all, keep this +matter to yourselves. We are not prince or subject today, but comrades +bent on sport together. Remember and obey my behest. It is not often I +lay my commands upon you." + +These words were listened to with gratitude and relief by all the party +save one, and his brow gloomed darker than before. Arthyn saw it, and +sprang towards Alphonso, who was smiling at his sister in response to +her quick words of praise. + +"It was his fault -- his," she cried, pointing to the scowling Raoul, +who looked ill-pleased at having his lips thus sealed. "He insulted him +-- he insulted me. No man worthy the name would stand still and listen. +It is the way with these fine gallants of England. They are ever +stirring up strife, and my countrymen bear the blame, the punishment, +the odium --" + +But Alphonso took her hand with a gesture of boyish chivalry. + +"None shall injure thee or thine whilst I am by, sweet Arthyn. The +nation is dear to me for thy sake, and thy countrymen shall be as our +honoured guests and brothers. Have we not learned to love them for thy +sake and their own? Trouble not thy head more over this mischance, and +let it not cloud our day's sport. + +"Raoul," he added, with some sternness, "thou art a turbulent spirit, +and thou lackest the gentle courtesy of a true knight towards those +whose position is trying and difficult. Thou wilt not win thy spurs if +thou mendest not thy ways. Give thy hand now, before my eyes, to the +youth thou didst provoke. If thou marrest the day's pleasure again, I +shall have more to say to thee yet." + +It was not often that the gentle Alphonso spoke in such tones, and +therefore his words were the more heeded. Raoul, inwardly consumed with +rage at being thus singled out for rebuke, dared not withstand the order +given him, and grudgingly held out his hand. It was not with much +greater alacrity that Llewelyn took it, for there was much stubborn +sullenness in his disposition, and his passion, though quickly aroused, +did not quickly abate; but there was a compulsion in the glance of the +royal boy which enforced obedience; and harmony being thus nominally +restored, the party once more breathed freely. + +"And now upwards and onwards for the lair of the wolf," cried Alphonso; +"we have lost time enough already. Who knows the way to his favourite +haunts? Methinks they cannot be very far away now." + +"I should have thought we had had enough of Welsh wolves for one day," +muttered Raoul sullenly to Godfrey; but the latter gave him a warning +glance, and he forbore to speak more on the subject. + +Gertrude had watched the whole scene with dilated eyes, and a feeling of +sympathy and repulsion she was perfectly unable to analyze. When the +party moved on again she stole up to Wendot's side, and said as she +glanced into his troubled face: + +"He did not mean it? he will not do it again?" + +Wendot glanced down at her with a start, and shook his head. + +"He knew not that it was the king's son -- that I verily believe; but I +know not what Llewelyn may say or do at any time. He never speaks to me +of what is in his head. Lady Gertrude, you know the king and his ways. +Will he visit this rash deed upon my brother's head? Will Llewelyn +suffer for what he did in an impulse of mad rage, provoked to it by yon +haughty youth, whose words and bearing are hard for any of us to brook?" + +"Not if Alphonso can but get his ear; not if this thing is kept secret, +as he desires, as he has commanded. But I fear what Raoul may say and +do. He is treacherous, selfish, designing. The king thinks well of him, +but we love him not. I trust all will yet be well." + +"But you fear it may not," added Wendot, completing the sentence as she +had not the heart to do. "I fear the same thing myself. But tell me +again, Lady Gertrude, what would be the penalty of such an act? Will +they --" + +"Alphonso has great influence with his father," answered Gertrude +quickly. "He will stand your brother's friend through all; perchance he +may be detained in some sort of captivity; perchance he may not have his +lands restored if this thing comes to the king's ears. But his person +will be safe. Fear not for that. Methinks Alphonso would sooner lay down +his own life than that harm should befall from what chanced upon a day +of sport planned by him and Joanna." + +And Gertrude, seeing that a load lay upon the heart of the young Lord of +Dynevor, set herself to chase the cloud from his brow, and had so far +succeeded that he looked himself again by the time a warning shout from +those in advance showed that some tracks of the wild creature of whom +they were in pursuit had been discovered in the path. + +"Do not run into danger," pleaded Gertrude, laying a hand on Wendot's +arm as he moved quickly forward to the front. "You are so brave you +never think of yourself; but do not let us have more bloodshed today, +save the blood of the ravenous beast if it must be. I could find it in +my heart to wish that we had not come forth on this errand. The +brightness of the day has been clouded over." + +Wendot answered by a responsive glance. There was something soothing to +him in the unsolicited sympathy of Gertrude. He had thought little since +they parted two years before of that childish pledge given and received, +although he always wore her talisman about his neck, and sometimes +looked at it with a smile. He had no serious thoughts of trying to mate +with an English noble's daughter. He had had no leisure to spare for +thoughts of wedlock at all. But something in the trustful glance of +those dark eyes looking confidingly up to him sent a quick thrill +through his pulses, which was perhaps the first dawning life of the love +of a brave heart. + +But there was an impatient call from the front, and Wendot sprang +forward, the huntsman awakening within him at the sight of the slot of +the quarry. He looked intently at the tracks in the soft earth, and then +pointed downwards in the direction of a deep gully or cavernous opening +in the hillside, which looked very dark and gloomy to the party who +stood in the sunshine of the open. + +"The beast has gone that way," he said; "and by his tracks and these +bloodstains, he has prey in his mouth. Likely his mate may have her lair +in yon dark spot, and they may be rearing their young in that safe +retreat. See how the dogs strain and pant! They smell the prey, and are +eager to be off. We must be alert and wary, for wolves with young ones +to guard are fierce beyond their wont." + +He looked doubtfully at the girls, whose faces were full of mingled +terror and excitement. Godfrey read his meaning, and suggested that the +ladies should remain in this vantage ground whilst some of the rest went +forward to reconnoitre. + +But Joanna, ever bold and impetuous, would have none of that. + +"We will go on together," she said. "We shall be safest so. No wolf, +however fierce, will attack a number like ourselves. They will fly if +they can, and if they are brought to bay we need not go near them. But +why have we come so far to give up all the peril and the sport at the +last moment?" + +"She speaks truth," said Wendot, to whom she seemed to look. "At this +season of the year wolves have meat in plenty, and will not attack man +save in self defence. If we track them silently to their lair, we may +surprise and kill the brood; but we are many, and can leave force enough +to defend the ladies whilst the rest fight the battle with the creatures +at bay." + +Nobody really wished to be left behind, and there was a pleasant feeling +of safety in numbers. Slowly and cautiously they all followed the track +of the wolf downwards into the gloomy ravine, which seemed to shut out +all light of the sun between walls of solid rock. + +It was a curious freak in which nature had indulged in the formation of +this miniature crevasse between the hillsides. At the base ran a dark +turbid stream, which had hollowed out for itself a sort of cavernous +opening, and the walls of rock rose almost precipitately on three sides, +only leaving one track by which the ravine could be entered. The stream +came bubbling out from the rock, passing through some underground +passage; and within the gloomy cavern thus produced the savage beasts +had plainly made their lair, for there were traces of blood and bones +upon the little rocky platform, and the trained ear of Wendot, who was +foremost, detected the sound of subdued and angry growling proceeding +from the natural cave they were approaching. + +"The beasts are in there," he said, pausing, and the next moment Raoul +had loosed the dogs, who darted like arrows from bows along the narrow +track; and immediately a great he wolf had sprung out with a cry of +almost human rage, and had fastened upon one of the assailants, whose +piercing yell made the girls shrink back and almost wish they had not come. + +But Wendot was not far behind. He was not one of the huntsmen who give +all the peril to the dogs and keep out of the fray themselves. Drawing +his long hunting knife, and shouting to his brothers to follow him, he +sprang down upon the rocky platform himself, and Llewelyn and Howel were +at his side in a moment. Godfrey would fain have followed, but his duty +obliged him to remain by the side of the princess; and he kept a firm +though respectful grasp upon Alphonso's arm, feeling that he must not by +any means permit the heir of England to adventure himself into the fray. +And indeed the boy's gashed hand hindered him from the use of his +weapon, and he could only look on with the most intense interest whilst +the conflict between the two fierce beasts and their angry cubs was +waged by the fearless lads, who had been through many such encounters +before, and showed such skill, such address, such intrepidity in their +attack, that the young prince shouted aloud in admiration, and even the +girls lost their first sense of terror in the certainty of victory on +the side of the Welsh youths. + +As for Raoul Latimer, he stood at a safe distance cheering on his dogs, +but not adventuring himself within reach of the murderous fangs of the +wolves. He occupied a position halfway between the spot upon which the +fray was taking place and the vantage ground occupied by the royal party +in full sight of the strife. + +Arthyn had passed several scornful comments upon the care the young +gallant was taking of himself, when suddenly there was a cry from the +spectators; for one of the cubs, escaping from the melee, ran full tilt +towards Raoul, blind as it seemed with terror; and as it came within +reach of his weapon, the sharp blade gleamed in the air, and the little +creature gave one yell and rolled over in its death agony. But that cry +seemed to pierce the heart of the mother wolf, and suddenly, with almost +preternatural strength and activity, she bounded clean over the forms of +men and dogs, and dashed straight at Raoul with all the ferocity of an +animal at bay, and of a mother robbed of her young. + +The young man saw the attack; but his weapon was buried in the body of +the cub, and he had no time to disengage it. Turning with a sharp cry of +terror, he attempted to fly up the rocky path; but the beast was upon +him. She made a wild dash and fastened upon his back, her fangs crushing +one shoulder and her hot breath seeming to scorch his cheek. With a wild +yell of agony and terror Raoul threw himself face downwards upon the +ground, whilst his cry was shrilly echoed by the girls -- all but +Arthyn, who stood rigidly as if turned to stone, a strange, fierce light +blazing in her eyes. + +But help was close at hand. Wendot had seen the spring, and had followed +close upon the charge of the maddened brute. Flinging himself fearlessly +upon the struggling pair, he plunged his knife into the neck of the +wolf, causing her to relax her hold of her first foe and turn upon him. +Had he stabbed her to the heart she might have inflicted worse injury +upon Raoul in her mortal struggle; as it was, there was fierce fight +left in her still. But Wendot was kneeling upon the wildly struggling +body with all his strength, and had locked his hands fast round her throat. + +"Quick, Llewelyn -- the knife!" he cried, and his brother was beside him +in an instant. + +The merciful death stroke was given, and the three youths rose from +their crouching posture and looked each other in the eyes, whilst the +wolf lay still and dead by the side of her cub. + +"Methinks we have had something too much of Welsh wolves," was the only +comment of Raoul, as he joined the royal party without a word to the +brothers who had saved his life. + + + + CHAPTER VII. THE KING'S JUDGMENT. + + +The great King Edward had been sitting enthroned in the state apartment +of the castle, receiving the homage of those amongst the Welsh lords and +chieftains who had been summoned to pay their homage to him and had +obeyed this summons. + +It was an imposing sight, and one not likely to be forgotten by any who +witnessed it for the first time. The courageous but gentle Queen +Eleanor, who was seldom absent from her lord's side be the times +peaceful or warlike, was seated beside him for the ceremony, with her +two elder daughters beside her. The young Alphonso stood at the right +hand of the king, his face bright with interest and sympathy; and if +ever the act of homage seemed to be paid with effort by some rugged +chieftain, or he saw a look of gloom or pain upon the face of such a +one, he was ever ready with some graceful speech or small act of +courtesy, which generally acted like a charm. And the father regarded +his son with a fond pride, and let him take his own way with these +haughty, untamable spirits, feeling perhaps that the tact of the royal +boy would do more to conciliate and win hearts than any word or deed of +his own. + +Edward has been often harshly condemned for his cruelty and treachery +towards the vanquished Welsh; but it must be remembered with regard to +the first charge that the days were rude and cruel, that the spirit of +the age was fierce and headstrong, and that the barons and nobles who +were scheming for the fair lands of Wales were guilty of many of the +unjust and oppressive acts for which Edward has since been held +responsible. The Welsh were themselves a very wild race, in some parts +of the country barely civilized; and there can be no denying that a vein +of fierce treachery ran through their composition, and that they often +provoked their adversaries to cruel retaliation. As for the king +himself, his policy was on the whole a merciful and just one, if the one +point of his feudal supremacy were conceded. To those who came to him +with their act of homage he confirmed their possession of ancestral +estates, and treated them with kindness and consideration. He was too +keen a statesman and too just a man to desire anything but a +conciliatory policy so far as it was possible. Only when really roused +to anger and resolved upon war did the fiercer side of his nature show +itself, and then, indeed, he could show himself terrible and lion-like +in his wrath. + +The brothers of Dynevor were the last of those who came to pay their act +of homage. The day had waned, and the last light of sunset was streaming +into that long room as the fair-haired Wendot bent his knee in response +to the summons of the herald. The king's eyes seemed to rest upon him +with interest, and he spoke kindly to the youth; but it was noted by +some in the company that his brow darkened when Llewelyn followed his +brother's example, Howel attending him as Griffeth had supported Wendot; +and there was none of the gracious urbanity in the royal countenance now +that had characterized it during the past hour. + +Several faces amongst those in immediate attendance upon the king and +his family watched this closing scene with unwonted interest. Gertrude +stood with Joanna's hand clasped in hers, quivering with excitement, and +ever and anon casting quick looks towards her brother, who stood behind +the chair of state observant and watchful, but without betraying his +feelings either by word or look. Raoul Latimer was there, a sneer upon +his lips, a malevolent light in his eyes, which deepened as they rested +upon Llewelyn, whilst Arthyn watched the twin brothers with a strange +look in her glowing eyes, her lips parted, her white teeth just showing +between, her whole expression one of tense expectancy and sympathy. Once +Llewelyn glanced up and met the look she bent on him. A dusky flush +overspread his cheek, and his fingers clenched themselves in an +unconscious movement understood only by himself. + +The homage paid, there was a little stir at the lower end of the hall as +the doors were flung open for the royal party to take their departure. +Edward bent a searching look upon the four brothers, who had fallen back +somewhat, and were clustered together not far from the royal group, and +the next minute an attendant whispered to them that it was the king's +pleasure they should follow in his personal retinue, as he had somewhat +to say to them in private. + +Wendot's heart beat rather faster than its wont. He had had some +foreboding of evil ever since that unlucky expedition, some days back +now, on which Llewelyn's sword had been drawn upon an English subject, +and had injured the king's son likewise. Raoul had for very shame +affected a sort of condescending friendliness towards the brothers after +they had been instrumental in saving him from the fangs of the she wolf; +but it was pretty evident to them that his friendship was but skin deep; +whilst every word that passed between Arthyn and Llewelyn or his brother +-- and these were many -- was ranked as a dire offence. + +Had Wendot been more conversant with the intrigues of courts, he would +have seen plainly that Raoul was paying his addresses to the Welsh +heiress, who plainly detested and abhorred him. The ambitious and clever +young man, who was well thought of by the king, and had many friends +amongst the nobles and barons, had a plan of his own for securing to +himself some of the richest territory in the country, and was leaving no +stone unturned in order to achieve that object. A marriage with Arthyn +would give him the hold he wanted upon a very large estate. But +indifferent as he was to the feelings of the lady, he was wise enough to +see that whilst she remained in her present mood, and was the confidante +and friend of the princesses, he should not gain the king's consent to +prosecuting his nuptials by force, as he would gladly have done. +Whereupon a new scheme had entered his busy brain, as a second string to +his bow, and with the help of a kinsman high in favour with the king, he +had great hopes of gaining his point, which would at once gratify his +ambition and inflict vengeance upon a hated rival. + +Raoul had hated the Dynevor brothers ever since he had detected in +Arthyn an interest in and sympathy for them, ever since he had found her +in close talk in their own tongue with the dark-browed twins, whose +antagonism to the English was scarcely disguised. He had done all he +knew to stir the hot blood in Llewelyn and Howel, and that with some +success. The lads were looked upon as dangerous and treacherous by many +of those in the castle; and from the sneering look of coming triumph +upon the face of young Latimer as the party moved off towards the +private apartments of the royal family, it was plain that he anticipated +a victory for himself and a profound humiliation for his foes. + +Supper was the first business of the hour, and the Dynevor brothers sat +at the lower table with the attendants of the king. The meal was +well-served and plentiful, but they bad small appetite for it. Wendot +felt as though a shadow hung upon them; and the chief comfort he +received was in stealing glances at the sweet, sensitive face of +Gertrude, who generally responded to his glance by one of her flashing +smiles. + +Wendot wondered how it was that Lord Montacute had never sought him out +to speak to him. Little as the lad had thought of their parting +interview at Dynevor during the past two years, it all came back with +the greatest vividness as he looked upon the fine calm face of the +English noble. Was it possible he had forgotten the half-pledge once +given him? Or did he regret it, now that his daughter was shooting up +from a child into a sweet and gracious maiden whom he felt disposed to +worship with reverential awe? Wendot did not think he was in love -- he +would scarce have known the meaning of the phrase and he as little +understood the feelings which had lately awakened within him; but he did +feel conscious that a new element had entered into his life, and with it +a far less bitter sense of antagonism to the English than he had +experienced in previous years. + +After the supper was ended the royal family withdrew into an inner room, +and presently the four brothers were bidden to enter, as the king had +somewhat to say to them. The greater number of the courtiers and +attendants remained in the outer room, but Sir Godfrey Challoner, Raoul +Latimer, and one or two other gentlemen were present in the smaller +apartment. The queen and royal children were also there, and their +playfellows and companions, Gertrude holding her father by the hand, and +watching with intense interest the approach of the brothers and the +faces of the king and his son. + +Edward was seated before a table on which certain parchments lay. +Alphonso stood beside him, and Wendot fancied that he had only just +ended some earnest appeal, his parted lips and flushed cheeks seeming to +tell of recent eager speech. The king looked keenly at the brothers as +they made their obeisance to him, and singling out Wendot, bid him by a +gesture to approach nearer. + +There was a kindliness in the royal countenance which encouraged the +youth, and few could approach the great soldier king without +experiencing something of the fascination which his powerful +individuality exercised over all his subjects. + +"Come hither, boy," he said; "we have heard nought but good of thee. +Thou hast an eloquent advocate in yon maiden of Lord Montacute's, and +mine own son and daughters praise thy gallantry in no measured terms. We +have made careful examination into these parchments here, containing +reports of the late rebellion, and cannot find that thou hast had part +or lot in it. Thou hast paid thy homage without dallying or delay; +wherefore it is our pleasure to confirm to thee thy possession of thy +castle of Dynevor and its territory. We only caution thee to remain +loyal to him thou hast owned as king, and we will establish thee in thy +rights if in time to come they be disputed by others, or thou stirrest +up foes by thy loyalty to us." + +Wendot bowed low. If there was something bitter in having his father's +rightful inheritance granted to him as something of a boon, at least +there was much to sweeten the draught in the kindly and gracious bearing +of the king, and in Alphonso's friendly words and looks. He had no +father to look to in time of need, and felt a great distrust of the +kinsman who exercised some guardianship over him; so that there was +considerable relief for the youth in feeling that the great King of +England was his friend, and that he would keep him from the aggression +of foes. + +He stood aside as Edward's glance passed on to Llewelyn and Howel, and +it was plain that the monarch's face changed and hardened as he fixed +his eye upon the twins. + +"Llewelyn -- Howel," he said, "joint lords of Iscennen, we wish that we +had received the same good report of you that we have done of your +brethren. But it is not so. There be dark records in your past which +give little hope for the future. Nevertheless you are yet young. Wisdom +may come with the advance of years. But the hot blood in you requires +taming and curbing. You have proved yourselves unfit for the place +hitherto occupied as lords of the broad lands bequeathed you by Res +Vychan, your father. For the present those lands are forfeit. You must +win the right to call them yours again by loyalty in the cause which +every true Welshman should have at heart, because it is the cause which +alone can bring peace and safety to your harassed country. It is not +willingly that we wrest from any man the lands that are his birthright. +Less willingly do we do this when homage, however unwilling and +reluctant, has been paid. But we have our duties to ourselves and to our +submitted subjects to consider, and it is not meet to send firebrands +alight into the world, when a spark may raise so fierce a conflagration, +and when hundreds of lives have to pay the penalty of one mad act of +headstrong youth. It is your youth that shall be your excuse from the +charge of graver offence, but those who are too young to govern +themselves are not fit to govern others." + +Whilst the king had been speaking he had been closely studying the faces +of the twin brothers, who stood before him with their eyes on the +ground. These two lads, although by their stature and appearance almost +men, had not attained more than their sixteenth year, and had by no +means learned that control of feature which is one of nature's hardest +lessons. As the king's words made themselves understood, their brows had +darkened and their faces had contracted with a fierce anger and rage, +which betrayed itself also in their clenched hands and heaving chests; +and although they remained speechless -- for the awe inspired by +Edward's presence could not but make itself felt even by them -- it was +plain that only the strongest efforts put upon themselves hindered them +from some outbreak of great violence. + +Edward's eye rested sternly upon them for a moment, and then he +addressed himself once again to Wendot. + +"To thee, Res Wendot," he said, "we give the charge of these two +turbulent brothers of thine. Had not the Prince Alphonso spoken for +them, we had kept them under our own care here in our fortress of +Rhuddlan. But he has pleaded for them that they have their liberty, +therefore into thy charge do we give them. Take them back with thee to +Dynevor, and strive to make them like unto thyself and thy shadow there, +who is, they tell me, thy youngest brother, and as well disposed as thyself. + +"Say, young man, wilt thou accept this charge, and be surety for these +haughty youths? If their own next-of-kin will not take this office, we +must look elsewhere for a sterner guardian." + +For a moment Wendot hesitated, He knew well the untamable spirit of his +brothers, and the small influence he was likely to have upon them, and +for a moment his heart shrank from the task. But again he bethought what +his refusal must mean to them -- captivity of a more or less irksome +kind, harsh treatment perhaps, resulting in actual imprisonment, and a +sure loss of favour with any guardian who had the least love for the +English cause. At Dynevor they would at least be free. + +Surely, knowing all, they would not make his task too hard. The tie of +kindred was very close. Wendot remembered words spoken by the dying bed +of his parents, and his mind was quickly made up. + +"I will be surety for them," he said briefly. "If they offend again, let +my life, my lands, be the forfeit." + +The monarch gave him a searching glance. Perhaps some of the effort with +which he had spoken made itself audible in his tones. He looked full at +Wendot for a brief minute, and then turned to the black-browed twins. + +"You hear your brother's pledge," he said in low, stern tones. "If you +have the feelings of men of honour, you will respect the motive which +prompts him to give it, and add no difficulties to the task he has +imposed upon himself. Be loyal to him, and loyal to the cause he has +embraced, and perchance a day may come when you may so have redeemed +your past youthful follies as to claim and receive at our hands the +lands we now withhold. In the meantime they will be administered by +Raoul Latimer, who will draw the revenues and maintain order there. He +has proved his loyalty in many ways ere this, and he is to be trusted, +as one day I hope you twain may be." + +Llewelyn started as if he had been stung as these words crossed the +king's lips. His black eyes flashed fire, and as he lifted his head and +met the mocking glance of Raoul, it seemed for a moment as if actually +in the presence of the king he would have flown at his antagonist's +throat; but Wendot's hand was on his arm, and even Howel had the +self-command to whisper a word of caution. Alphonso sprang gaily between +the angry youth and his father's keen glance, and began talking eagerly +of Dynevor, asking how the brothers would spend their time, now that +they were all to live there once more; whilst Arthyn, coming forward, +drew Llewelyn gently backward, casting at Raoul a look of such bitter +scorn and hatred that he involuntarily shrank before it. + +"Thou hast taken a heavy burden upon thy young shoulders, lad," said a +well-remembered voice in Wendot's ear, and looking up, he met the calm +gaze of Lord Montacute bent upon him; whilst Gertrude, flushing and +sparkling, stood close beside her father. "Thinkest thou that such +tempers as those will be easily controlled?" + +Wendot's face was grave, and looked manly in its noble thoughtfulness. + +"I know not what to say; but, in truth, I could have given no other +answer. Could I leave my own brethren to languish in captivity, however +honourable, when a word from me would free them? Methinks, sir, thou +scarce knowest what freedom is to us wild sons of Wales, or how the very +thought of any hindrance to perfect liberty chafes our spirit and frets +us past the limit of endurance. Sooner than be fettered by bonds, +however slack, I would spring from yonder casement and dash myself to +pieces upon the stones below. To give my brothers up into unfriendly +hands would be giving them up to certain death. If my spirit could not +brook such control, how much less could theirs?" + +Gertrude's soft eyes gave eloquent and sympathetic response. Wendot had +unconsciously addressed his justification to her rather than to her +father. Her quick sympathy gave him heart and hope. She laid her hand +upon his arm and said: + +"I think thou art very noble, Wendot; it was like thee to do it. I was +almost grieved when I heard thee take the charge upon thyself, for I +fear it may be one of peril to thee. But I love thee the more for thy +generosity. Thou wilt be a true and brave knight ere thou winnest thy +spurs in battle." + +Wendot's face flushed with shy happiness at hearing such frank and +unqualified praise from one he was beginning to hold so dear. Lord +Montacute laid his hand smilingly on his daughter's mouth, as if to +check her ready speech, and then bidding her join the Lady Joanna, who +was making signals to her from the other side of the room, he drew +Wendot a little away into an embrasure, and spoke to him in tones of +considerable gravity. + +"Young man," he said, "I know not if thou hast any memory left of the +words I spake to thee when last we met at Dynevor?" + +Wendot's colour again rose, but his glance did not waver. + +"I remember right well," he answered simply. "I spoke words then of +which I have often thought since -- words that I have not repented till +today, nor indeed till I heard thee pass that pledge which makes thee +surety for thy turbulent brothers." + +A quick, troubled look crossed Wendot's face, but he did not speak, and +Lord Montacute continued -- "I greatly fear that thou hast undertaken +more than thou canst accomplish; and that, instead of drawing thy +brothers from the paths of peril, thou wilt rather be led by them into +treacherous waters, which may at last overwhelm thee. You are all young +together, and many dangers beset the steps of youth. Thou art true and +loyal hearted, that I know well; but thou art a Welshman, and --" + +He paused and stopped short, and Wendot answered, not without pride: + +"I truly am a Welshman -- it is my boast to call myself that. If you +fear to give your daughter to one of that despised race, so be it. I +would not drag her down to degradation; I love her too well for that. +Keep her to thyself. I give thee back thy pledge." + +Lord Montacute smiled as he laid his hand upon the young man's shoulder. + +"So hot and hasty, Wendot, as hasty as those black-haired twins. Yet, +boy, I like thee for thy outspoken candour, and I would not have thee +change it for the smooth treachery of courtly intrigue. If I had nought +else to think of, I would plight my daughter's hand to thee, an ye both +were willing, more gladly than to any man I know. But, Wendot, she is +mine only child, and very dear to me. There are others who would fain +win her smiles, others who would be proud to do her lightest behest. She +is yet but a child. Perchance she has not seriously considered these +matters. Still there will come a time when she will do so, and --" + +"Then let her choose where she will," cried Wendot, proudly and hotly. +"Think you I would wed one whose heart was given elsewhere? Take back +your pledge -- think of it no more. If the day comes when I may come to +her free and unfettered, and see if she has any regard for me, good. I +will come. But so long as you hold that peril menaces my path, I will +not ask her even to think of me. Let her forget. I will not bind her by +a word. It shall be as if those words had never passed betwixt us." + +Lord Montacute scarce knew if regret, relief, or admiration were the +feeling uppermost in his mind, as the youth he believed so worthy of his +fair daughter, and perhaps not entirely indifferent to her dawning +charms, thus frankly withdrew his claim upon her hand. It seems strange +to us that any one should be talking and thinking so seriously of +matrimony when the girl was but fourteen and the youth three years her +senior; but in those days marriages were not only planned but +consummated at an absurdly early age according to our modern notions, +and brides of fifteen and sixteen were considered almost mature. Many +young men of Wendot's age would be seriously seeking a wife, and +although no such thought had entered his head until he had seen Gertrude +again, it cannot be denied that the idea had taken some hold upon him +now, or that he did not feel a qualm of pain and sorrow at thus yielding +up one bright hope just when the task he had taken upon himself seemed +to be clouding his life with anxiety and peril. + +"Boy," said Lord Montacute, "I cannot forget what thou hast done nor +what she owes to thee. I love thee well, and would fain welcome thee as +a son; but my love for her bids me wait till we see what is the result +of this office thou hast taken on thyself. Thou hast acted rightly and +nobly, but in this world trouble often seems to follow the steps of +those who strive most after the right. If thine own life, thine own +possessions, are to pay the forfeit if thy brethren fall away into +rebellion -- and Edward, though a just man and kind, can be stern to +exact the uttermost penalty when he is angered or defied -- then +standest thou in sore peril, peril from which I would shield my maid. +Wherefore --" + +"Nay, say no more -- say no more. I comprehend it all too well," replied +Wendot, not without a natural though only momentary feeling of +bitterness at the thought of what this pledge was already costing him, +but his native generosity and sweetness of temper soon triumphed over +all besides, and he said with his peculiarly bright and steadfast smile, +"You have judged rightly and well for us both, my lord. Did I but drag +her down to sorrow and shame, it would be the bitterest drop in a bitter +cup. A man placed as I am is better without ties." + +"Also the days will soon pass by, and the time will come when this +charge ceases. Then if the Lady Gertrude be still mistress of her hand +and heart, and if the Lord of Dynevor comes to try his fate, methinks, +by what I have seen and heard, that he may chance to get no unkindly +answer to his wooing." + +Wendot made no reply, but only blushed deeply as he moved away. He +scarce knew whether he were glad or sorry that Gertrude came out to meet +him, and drew him towards the little group which had gathered in a deep +embrasure of the window. Joanna, Alphonso, and Griffeth were there. They +had been eagerly questioning the younger lad about life at Dynevor, and +what they would do when they were at home all together. Joanna was +longing to travel that way and lodge a night there; and Gertrude was +eloquent in praise of the castle, and looked almost wistfully at Wendot +to induce him to add his voice to the general testimony. But he was +unwontedly grave and silent, and her soft eyes filled with tears. She +knew that he was heavy hearted, and it cut her to the quick; but he did +not speak of his trouble, and only Alphonso ventured to allude to it, +and that was by one quick sentence as he was taking his departure at +bedtime. + +"Wendot," he said earnestly, "I will ever be thy friend. Fear not. My +father denies me nothing. Thy trial may be a hard one, but thou wilt +come nobly forth from it. I will see that harm to thee comes not from +thy generosity. Only be true to us, and thou shalt not suffer." + +Wendot made no reply, but the words were like a gleam of sunshine +breaking through the clouds; and one more such gleam was in store for +him on the morrow, when he bid a final adieu to Gertrude before the +general departure for Dynevor. + +"I have my half gold coin, Wendot. I shall look at it every day and +think of thee. I am so happy that we have seen each other once again. +Thou wilt not forget me, Wendot?" + +"Never so long as I live," he answered with sudden fervour, raising the +small hand he held to his lips. "And some day, perchance, Lady Gertrude, +I will come to thee again." + +"I shall be waiting for thee," she answered, with a mixture of arch +sweetness and playfulness that he scarce knew whether to call childlike +confidence or maiden trust. But the look in her eyes went to his heart, +and was treasured there, like the memory of a sunbeam, for many long +days to come. + + + + CHAPTER VIII. TURBULENT SPIRITS. + + +The four sons of Res Vychan went back to Dynevor together, there to +settle down, outwardly at least, to a quiet and uneventful life, chiefly +diversified by hunting and fishing, and such adventures as are +inseparable from those pastimes in which eager lads are engrossed. + +Wendot both looked and felt older for his experiences in the castle of +Rhuddlan. His face had lost much of its boyishness, and had taken a +thoughtfulness beyond his years. Sometimes he appeared considerably +oppressed by the weight of the responsibility with which he had charged +himself, and would watch the movements and listen to the talk of the +twins with but slightly concealed uneasiness. + +Yet as days merged into weeks, and weeks lengthened into months, and +still there had been nothing to alarm him unduly, he began, as the +inclement winter drew on, to breathe more freely; for in the winter +months all hostilities of necessity ceased, for the mountain passes were +always blocked with snow, and both travelling and fighting were +practically out of the question for a considerable time. + +Wendot, too, had matters enough to occupy his mind quite apart from the +charge of his two haughty brothers. He had his own estates to administer +-- no light task for a youth not yet eighteen -- and his large household +to order; and though Griffeth gave him every help, Llewelyn and Howel +stood sullenly aloof, and would not appear to take the least interest in +anything that appertained to Dynevor, although they gave no reason for +their conduct, and were not in other ways unfriendly to their brothers. + +The country was for the time being quiet and at peace. Exhausted by its +own internal struggles and by the late disastrous campaign against the +English, the land was, as it were, resting and recruiting itself, in +preparation, perhaps, for another outbreak later on. In the meantime, +sanguine spirits like those of Wendot and Griffeth began to cherish +hopes that the long and weary struggle was over at last, and that the +nation, as a nation, would begin to realize the wisdom and the advantage +of making a friend and ally of the powerful monarch of England, instead +of provoking him to acts of tyranny and retaliation by perpetual and +fruitless rebellions against a will far too strong to be successfully +resisted. + +But Llewelyn and Howel never spoke of the English without words and +looks indicative of the deepest hatred; and the smouldering fire in +their breasts was kept glowing and burning by the wild words and the +wilder songs of the old bard Wenwynwyn, who spent the best part of his +time shut up in his own bare room, with his harp for his companion, in +which room Llewelyn and Howel spent much of their time during the dark +winter days, when they could be less and less out of doors. + +Since that adventure of the Eagle's Crag, Wendot had distrusted the old +minstrel, and was uneasy at the influence he exercised upon the twins; +but the idea of sending him from Dynevor was one which never for a +moment entered his head. Had not Wenwynwyn grown old in his father's +service? Had he not been born and bred at Dynevor? The young lord +himself seemed to have a scarce more assured right to his place there +than the ancient bard. Be he friend or be he foe, at Dynevor he must +remain so long as the breath remained in his body. + +The bard was, by hereditary instinct, attached to all the boys, but of +late there had been but little community of thought between him and his +young chieftain. Wendot well knew the reason. The old man hated the +English with the bitter, unreasoning, deadly hatred of his wild, +untutored nature. Had he not sprung from a race whose lives had been +spent in rousing in the breasts of all who heard them the most fervent +and unbounded patriotic enthusiasm? And was it to be marvelled at that +he could not see or understand the changes of the times or the +hopelessness of the long struggle, now that half the Welsh nobles were +growing cool in the national cause, and the civilization and wealth of +the sister country were beginning to show them that their own condition +left much to be desired, and that there was something better and higher +to be achieved than a so-called liberty, only maintained at the cost of +perpetual bloodshed? or a series of petty feuds for supremacy, which +went far to keep the land in a state of semi-barbarism? + +So the old bard sang his wild songs, and Llewelyn and Howel sat by the +glowing fire of logs that blazed in the long winter evenings upon his +hearth, listening to his fierce words, and hardening their hearts and +bracing their wills against any kind of submission to a foreign yoke. A +burning hatred against the English king also consumed them. Had they +not, at the cost of most bitter humiliation, gone to him as vassals, +trusting to his promise that all who did homage for their lands should +be confirmed in peaceful possession of the same? And how had he treated +this act of painful submission? Was it greatly to be wondered at that +their hearts burned with an unquenchable hatred? To them Edward stood as +the type of all that was cruel and treacherous and grasping. They +brooded over their wrongs by day and by night; they carried their dark +looks with them when they stirred abroad or when they rested at home. +Wenwynwyn sympathized as none besides seemed to do, and he became their +great solace and chief counsellor. + +Wendot might uneasily wonder what passed in that quiet room of the old +man's, but he never knew or guessed. He would better have liked to hear +Llewelyn burst forth into the old passionate invective. He was uneasy at +this chronic state of gloom and sullen silence on the vexed question of +English supremacy. But seldom a word passed the lips of either twin. +They kept their secret -- if secret they had -- locked away in their own +breasts. And days and weeks and months passed by, and Wendot and +Griffeth seemed almost as much alone at Dynevor as they had been after +their father's death, when Llewelyn and Howel had betaken themselves to +their castle of Carregcennen. + +But at least, if silent and sullen, they did not appear to entertain any +plan likely to raise anxiety in Wendot's mind as to the pledge he had +given to the king. They kept at home, and never spoke of Iscennen, and +as the winter passed away and the spring began to awaken the world from +her long white sleep, they betook themselves with zest to their pastime +of hunting, and went long expeditions that sometimes lasted many days, +returning laden with spoil, and apparently in better spirits from the +bracing nature of their pursuits. + +Griffeth, who had felt the cold somewhat keenly, and had been drooping +and languid all the winter, picked up strength and spirit as the days +grew longer and warmer, and began to enjoy open-air life once more. + +Wendot was much wrapped up in this young brother of his, who had always +been dearer to him than any being in the world besides. + +Since he had been at death's door with the fever, Griffeth had never +recovered the robustness of health which had hitherto been the +characteristic of the Dynevor brothers all their lives. He was active +and energetic when the fit was on him, but he wearied soon of any active +sport. He could no longer bound up the mountain paths with the fleetness +and elasticity of a mountain deer, and in the keen air of the higher +peaks it was difficult for him to breathe. + +Still in the summer days he was almost his former self again, or so +Wendot hoped; and although Griffeth's lack of rude health hindered both +from joining the long expeditions planned and carried out by the twins, +it never occurred to Wendot to suspect that there was an ulterior motive +for these, or to realize how unwelcome his presence would have been had +he volunteered it, in lieu of staying behind with Griffeth, and +contenting himself with less adventurous sports. + +Spring turned to summer, and summer to autumn, and life at Dynevor +seemed to move quietly enough. Griffeth took a fancy to book learning -- +a rare enough accomplishment in those days -- and a monk from the Abbey +of Strata Florida was procured to give him instruction in the obscure +science of reading and writing. Wendot, who had a natural love of study, +and who had been taught something of these mysteries by his mother -- +she being for the age she lived in a very cultivated woman -- shared his +brother's studies, and delighted in the acquirement of learning. + +But this new development on the part of the Lord of Dynevor and his +brother seemed to divide them still more from the two remaining sons of +Res Vychan; and the old bard would solemnly shake his head and predict +certain ruin to the house when its master laid aside sword for pen, and +looked for counsel to the monk and missal instead of to his good right +hand and his faithful band of armed retainers. + +Wendot and Griffeth would smile at these dark sayings, and loved their +studies none the less because they opened out before them some better +understanding of the blessings of peace and culture upon a world harried +and exhausted with perpetual, aimless strife; but their more enlightened +opinions seemed but to widen the breach between them and their brothers, +and soon they began to be almost strangers to each other. + +Wendot and Griffeth regretted this without seeing how to mend matters. +They felt sorry for Llewelyn and Howel, deprived of the employments and +authority they had enjoyed of late, and would have gladly given them a +share of authority in Dynevor; but this they would not accept, drawing +more and more away into themselves, and sharing their confidences with +no one except Wenwynwyn. + +The summer was now on the wane, and the blustering winds of the equinox +had begun to moan about the castle walls. The men were busy getting in +the last of the fruits of the earth and storing them up against the +winter need, whilst the huntsmen brought in day by day stores of venison +and game, which the women salted down for consumption during the long +dreary days when snow should shut them within their own walls, and no +fresh meat would be obtainable. + +It was a busy season, and Wendot had time and mind alike full. He heeded +little the movements of his brothers, whom he thought engrossed in the +pleasures of the chase. He was not even aware that old Wenwynwyn was +absent for several days from the castle, for since the estrangement +between him and the old man he was often days at a time without +encountering him. + +Llewelyn and Howel were visibly restless just now. They did not go far +from the castle, nor did they seem interested in the spoil the hunters +brought home. But they spent many long hours in the great gallery where +the arms of the retainers were laid up, and their heads were often to be +seen close together in deep discussion, although if any person came near +to disturb them they would spring asunder, or begin loudly discussing +some indifferent theme. + +They were in this vast, gloomy place, sitting together in the deep +embrasure of one of the narrow windows as the daylight began to fail, +when suddenly they beheld Wenwynwyn stalking through the long gallery as +if in search of them, and they sprang forward to greet him with +unconcealed eagerness. + +"Thou hast returned." + +"Ay, my sons, I have returned, and am the bearer of good news. But this +is not the place to speak. Stones have ears, and traitors abound even in +these hoary walls which have echoed to the songs of the bard for more +years than man can count. Ah, woe the day; ah, woe the falling off! That +I should live to see the sons of Dynevor thus fall away -- the young +eaglets leaving their high estate to grovel with the carrion vulture and +the coward crow! Ah! in old days it was not so. But there are yet those +of the degenerate race in whom the spirit of their fathers burns. Come, +my sons -- come hither with me. I bring you a message from Iscennen that +will gladden your hearts to hear." + +The boys pressed after him up the narrow, winding stair that led to the +room the bard called his own. It was remote from the rest of the castle, +and words spoken within its walls could be heard by none outside. It was +a place that had heard much plotting and planning ere now, and what was +to be spoken tonight was but the sequel of what had gone before. + +"Speak, Wenwynwyn, speak!" cried the twins in a breath. "Has he returned +thither?" + +"Ay, my sons; he has come back in person to receive his 'dues,' and to +look into all that has passed in his absence. These eyes have seen the +false, smiling face of the usurper, who sits in the halls which have +rung to the sound of yon harp in days when the accursed foot of the +stranger would have been driven with blows from the door. He is there, +and --" + +"And they hate and despise and contemn him," cried Llewelyn in wild +excitement. "Every man of Iscennen is his foe. Do not I know it? Have we +not proved it? There is no one but will rise at the sound of my trumpet, +to follow me to victory or death. + +"Wenwynwyn, speak! thou hast bid us wait till the hour has come till all +things be ripe for action. Tell us, has not that hour come? Hast thou +not come to bid us draw the sword, and wrest our rightful inheritance +from the hand of the spoiler and alien?" + +"Ay, verily, that hour has come," cried the old bard, with a wild +gesture. "The spoiler is there, lurking in his den. His eyes are roving +round in hungry greed to spoil the poor man of his goods, to wrest the +weapon from the strong. He is fearful in the midst of his state -- +fearful of those he calls his vassals -- those he would crush with his +iron glove, and wring dry even as a sponge is wrung. Ay, the hour is +come. The loyal patriots have looked upon your faces, my sons, and see +in you their liberators. Go now, when the traitor whose life you saved +is gloating over his spoil in his castle walls. Go and show him what it +is to rob the young lions of their prey; show him what it is to strive +with eagles, when only the blood of the painted jay runs in his craven +veins. Saw I not fear, distrust, and hatred in every line of that smooth +face? Think you that he is happy in the possession of what he sold his +soul to gain? Go, and the victory will be yours. Go; all Iscennen will +be with you. Wenwynwyn has not sung his songs in vain amongst those +hardy people! He has prepared the way. Go! victory lies before you." + +The boys' hearts swelled within them at these words. It was not for +nothing that they, with their own faithful followers, sworn to secrecy, +had absented themselves again and again from Dynevor Castle on the +pretence of long hunting expeditions. It was true that they had hunted +game, that they had brought home abundance of spoil with them; but +little had Llewelyn or Howel to do with the taking of that prey. They +had been at Iscennen; they had travelled the familiar tracks once again, +and had found nothing but the most enthusiastic welcome from their own +people, the greatest hatred for the foreign lordling, who had been +foisted upon them by edict of the king. + +Truly Raoul Latimer had won but a barren triumph in gaining for himself +the lands of Iscennen. A very short residence there had proved enough +for him, and he had withdrawn, in fear that if he did not do so some +fatal mischance would befall him. He had reigned there as an absentee +ever since, not less cursed and hated for the oppressive measures taken +in his name than when he had been the active agent. + +Matters were ripe for revolt. There only wanted the time and the +occasion. The leader was already to hand -- the old lord, young in +years, Llewelyn ap Res Vychan, and Howel his brother. With the twins at +their head, Iscennen would rise to a man; and then let Raoul Latimer +look to himself! For the Welsh, when once aroused to strike, struck +hard; and it cannot be denied that they ofttimes struck treacherously +beside. + +Small wonder if, as Wenwynwyn declared, young Raoul had found but small +satisfaction in his visit to his new estate, and lived upon it in terror +of his very life, though surrounded by the solid walls of his own castle. + +The hour had come. Llewelyn and Howel were about to taste the keen joy +of revenging themselves upon a foe they hated and abhorred, about to +take at least one step towards reinstating themselves in their ancestral +halls. But the second object was really less dear to them than the +first. If the hated Raoul could be slain, or made to fly in ignominy and +disgrace, they cared little who reigned in his place. Their own tenure +at Carregcennen under existing circumstances they knew to be most +insecure, and although they had organized and were to lead the attack, +they were to do so disguised, and those who knew the share they were to +take were pledged not to betray it. + +Loose as had grown the bond between the brothers of late, the twins were +not devoid of a certain rude code of honour of their own, and had no +wish to involve Wendot in ruin and disgrace. He was surety for their +good behaviour, and if it became known to Edward that they had led the +attack on one of his English subjects, Dynevor itself might pay the +forfeit of his displeasure, and Wendot might have to answer with his +life, as he had offered to do, for his brothers. Thus, though this +consideration was not strong enough to keep the twins from indulging +their ungovernable hatred to their foe, it made them cautious about +openly appearing in the matter themselves; and when, upon a wild, +blustering night not many days later, a little band of hardy Welshmen, +all armed to the teeth, crept with the silent caution of wild beasts +along a rocky pathway which led by a subterranean way, known only to +Llewelyn and Howel, into the keep of the castle itself; none would have +recognized in the blackened faces of the two leaders, covered, as they +appeared to be, with a tangled growth of hair and beard, the +countenances of the sons of Res Vychan; whilst the stalwart, muscular +figures seemed rather to belong to men than lads, and assisted the +disguise not a little. + +The hot-headed but by no means intrepid young Englishman, who had not +had the courage to remain long in the possessions he had coveted, and +who was fervently wishing that this second visit was safely over, was +aroused from his slumbers by the clash of arms, and by the terrified +cries of the guard he always placed about him. + +"The Welsh wolves are upon us!" he heard a voice cry out in the +darkness. "We are undone -- betrayed! Every man for himself! They are +murdering every soul they meet." + +In a passion of rage and terror Raoul sprang from his bed, and commenced +hurrying into his clothes as fast as his trembling hands would allow +him. In vain he called to his servants; they had every man of them fled. +Below he heard the clash of arms, and the terrible guttural cries with +which the Welsh always rushed into battle, and which echoed through the +halls of Carregcennen like the trump of doom. + +It was a terrible moment for the young Englishman, alone, half-armed, +and at the mercy of a merciless foe. He looked wildly round for some +means of escape. The tread of many feet was on the stairs. To attempt +resistance was hopeless. Flight was the only resource left him, and in a +mad impulse of terror he flung himself on the floor, and crept beneath +the bed, the arras of which concealed him from sight. There he lay +panting and trembling, whilst the door was burst open and armed men came +flocking in. + +"Ha, flown already!" cried a voice which did not seem entirely +unfamiliar to the shivering youth, though he could not have said exactly +to whom it belonged, and was in no mood to cudgel his brains on the subject. + +He understood too little of the Welsh tongue to follow what was said, +but with unspeakable relief he heard steps pass from the room; for even +his foes did not credit him with the cowardice which would drive a man +to perish like a rat in a hole rather than sword in hand like a knight +and a soldier. + +The men had dashed out, hot in pursuit, believing him to be attempting +escape through some of the many outlets of the castle; and Raoul, still +shivering and craven, was just creeping out from his hiding place, +resolved to try to find his way to the outer world, when he uttered a +gasp and stood or rather crouched spellbound where he was; for, standing +beside a table on which the dim light of a night candle burned, binding +up a gash in his arm with a scarf belonging to the Englishman, was a +tall, stalwart, soldierly figure, that turned quickly at the sound made +by the wretched Raoul. + +"Spare me, spare me!" cried the miserable youth, as the man with a quick +movement grasped his weapon and advanced towards him. + +He did not know if his English would be understood, but it appeared to +be, for the reply was spoken in the same tongue, though the words had +strong Welsh accent. + +"And wherefore should I spare you? What have you done that we of +Iscennen should look upon you as other than a bitter foe? By what right +are you here wringing our life blood from us? Why should I not stamp the +miserable life out of you as you lie grovelling at my feet? Wales were +well quit of such craven hounds as you." + +"Spare me, and I renounce my claim. I swear by all that is holy that if +you will but grant me my life I will repair to the king's court without +delay, and I will yield up to him every claim which I have on these +lands. I swear it by all that is holy in heaven and earth." + +"And what good shall we reap from that? We shall but have another +English tyrant set over us. Better kill thee outright, as a warning to +all who may come after." + +But Raoul clasped the knees of his foe, and lifted his voice again in +passionate appeal. + +"Kill me not; what good would that do you or your cause? I tell you it +would but raise Edward's ire, and he would come with fire and sword to +devastate these lands as I have never done. Listen, and I will tell you +what I will do. Spare but my life, and I will entreat the king to +restore these lands to your feudal lords, Llewelyn and Howel ap Res +Vychan. It was by my doing that they were wrested from them. I confess +it freely now. Grant me but my life, and I will undo the work I have +done. I will restore to you your youthful chiefs. Again I swear it; and +I have the ear of his Grace. If thou hast thy country's cause at heart +thou wilt hear me in this thing. I will give you back the lords you all +love. I will trouble you no more myself. I would I had never seen this +evil place. It has been nought but a curse to me from the day it was +bestowed." + +The man uttered a harsh laugh, and stood as if considering. Raoul, whose +eyes never left the shining blade his foe held suspended in his hand, +pleaded yet more and more eloquently, and, as it seemed, with some +effect, for the soldier presently sheathed his weapon, and bid the +wretched youth rise and follow him. Raoul obeying, soon found himself in +the presence of a wild crew of Welsh kerns, who were holding high +revelry in the banqueting hall, whilst his own English servants -- +those, at least, who had not effected their escape -- lay dead upon the +ground, the presence of bleeding corpses at their very feet doing +nothing to check the savage mirth and revelry of the victors, who had +been joined by the whole of the Welsh garrison, only too glad of an +excuse for rising against the usurper. + +A silence fell upon the company as the dark-bearded soldier marched his +captive into the hall, the yell of triumph being hushed by commanding +gesture from the captor. A long and unintelligible debate followed, +Raoul only gathering from the faces of those present what were their +feelings towards him. He stood cowering and quaking before that fierce +assembly -- a pitiful object for all eyes. But at length his captor +briefly informed him that his terms were accepted: that if he would +write his request to the king and obtain its fulfilment, he should go +free with a whole skin; but that, pending the negotiation, which could +be carried on by the fathers of the Abbey of Strata Florida, he would +remain a close prisoner, and his ransom would be the king's consent. + +These were the best terms the unhappy Raoul could obtain for himself, +and he was forced to abide by them. The fathers of the abbey were honest +and trustworthy, and carried his letters to the king as soon as they had +penned them for him. Raoul was clever in diplomatic matters, and was so +anxious for his own safety that he took good care not to drop a hint as +to the evil conduct of the people of Iscennen, which might draw upon +them the royal wrath and upon him instant death. He simply represented +that he was weary of his charge of this barren estate, that he preferred +life in England and at the court, and found the revenues very barren and +unprofitable. As the former owners had redeemed their character by quiet +conduct during the past year and a half, his gracious Majesty, he +hinted, might be willing to gratify them and their people by reinstating +them. + +And when Edward read this report, and heard the opinion of the father +who had brought it -- a wily and a patriotic Welshman, who knew how to +plead his cause well -- he made no trouble about restoring to Llewelyn +and Howel their lands, only desiring that Wendot should renew his pledge +for their loyalty and good conduct, and still hold himself responsible +for his brothers to the king. + +And so Llewelyn and Howel went back to Carregcennen, and Wendot and +Griffeth remained at Dynevor, hoping with a fond hope that this act of +clemency and justice on the part of Edward would overcome in the mind of +the twins the deeply-seated hatred they had cherished so long. + + + + CHAPTER IX. THE RED FLAME OF WAR. + + +"Wendot, Wendot, it is our country's call! Thou canst not hang back. +United we stand; divided we fall. Will the Prince of Dynevor be the man +to bring ruin upon a noble cause, by banding with the alien oppressor +against his own brethren? I will not believe it of thee. Wendot, speak +-- say that thou wilt go with us!" + +Wendot was standing in his own hall at Dynevor. In the background was a +crowd of retainers and soldiers, so eagerly discussing some matter of +vital interest that the brothers stepped outside upon the battlemented +terrace to be out of hearing of the noise of their eager voices. + +There was a deep gravity on Wendot's face, which was no longer the face +of a boy, but of a youth of two-and-twenty summers, and one upon whom +the cares and responsibilities of life had sat somewhat heavily. The +tall, well-knit frame had taken upon it the stature and developed grace +of manhood; the sun-browned face was lined with traces of thought and +care, though the blue eyes sparkled with their old bright and ready +smile, and the stern lines of the lips were shaded and hidden by the +drooping moustache of golden brown. There were majesty, power, and +intellect stamped upon the face of the young Lord of Dynevor, and it was +very plain to all who observed his relations with those about him that +he was master of his own possession, and that though he was greatly +beloved by all who came in contact with him, he was respected and +obeyed, and in some things feared. + +By his side stood Griffeth, almost as much his shadow as of yore. To a +casual observer the likeness between the brothers was very remarkable, +but a closer survey showed many points of dissimilarity. Griffeth's +figure was slight to spareness, and save in moments of excitement there +was something of languor in his movements. The colour in his cheeks was +not the healthy brown of exposure to sun and wind, but the fleeting +hectic flush of long-standing insidious disease, and his eyes had a +far-away look -- dreamy and absorbed; whilst those of his brother +expressed rather watchful observation of what went on around him, and +resolution to mould those about him to his will. + +Facing this fair-haired pair were the twin Lords of Iscennen, +considerably changed from the sullen-looking lads of old days, but still +with many of their characteristics unchanged. They were taller and more +stoutly built than Wendot and Griffeth, and their dark skins and +coal-black hair gave something of ferocity and wildness to their +appearance, which look was borne out by the style of dress adopted, +whilst the young Lords of Dynevor affected something of the refinement +and richness of apparel introduced by the English. + +For the past years a friendly intercourse had been kept up between +Dynevor and Carregcennen. The country had been at peace -- such peace as +internal dissensions would allow it -- and no one had disturbed the sons +of Res Vychan in the possession of their ancestral rights. The tie +between the brothers had therefore been more closely drawn, and Wendot's +responsibility for the submissive behaviour of the turbulent twins had +made him keep a constant eye upon them, and had withheld them on their +side from attempting to foment the small and fruitless struggles against +English authority which were from time to time arising between the +border-land chief and the Lords of the Marches. + +But now something very different was in the wind. After almost five +years of peace with England, revolt had broken out in North Wales. +David, the brother of Llewelyn, had commenced it, and the prince had +followed the example thus set him. He had broken out into open +rebellion, and had summoned the whole nation to stand by him in one +united and gallant effort to free the country from the foreign foe, and +unite it once again as an undivided province beneath the rule of one +sovereign. + +The call was enthusiastically responded to. North Wales rose as one man, +and flocked to the banners of the prince and his brother. South Wales +was feeling the contagion of coming strife, and the pulse of the nation +beat wildly at the thought that they might win liberty by the overthrow +of the foe. One after another the petty chiefs, who had sworn fealty to +Edward, renounced their allegiance, and mustered their forces to join +those of Llewelyn and David. The whole country was in a wild ferment of +patriotic excitement. The hour seemed to them to have arrived when all +could once again band together in triumphant vindication of their +national rights. + +Llewelyn and Howel ap Res Vychan were amongst the first to tender their +allegiance to the cause, and, having sent on a compact band of armed men +to announce their coming in person, had themselves hurried to Dynevor to +persuade their brothers there to join the national cause. + +And they found Wendot less indisposed than they had feared. The five +years which had passed over his head since he had fallen under the spell +of the English king's regal sway had a good deal weakened the impression +then made upon him. Edward had not visited the country in person since +that day, and the conduct of the English Lords of the Marches, and of +those who held lands in the subjected country, was not such as to endear +their cause to the hearts of the sons of Wales. Heart-burnings and +jealousies were frequent, and Wendot had often had his spirit stirred +within him at some tale of outrage and wrong. The upright justice of the +king was not observed by his subjects, and the hatred to any kind of +foreign yoke was inherently strong in these sons of the mountains. In +the studies the Dynevor brothers had prosecuted together they had +imbibed many noble thoughts and many lofty aspirations, and these, +mingling with the patriotic instinct so strongly bound up in the hearts +of Cambria's sons, had taught them a distrust of princes and an intense +love for freedom's cause, as well as a strong conviction that right must +ever triumph over might. + +So when the news arrived that the north was in open revolt, it struck a +chord in the hearts of both brothers; and when the dark-browed twins +came with the news that they had openly joined the standard of Llewelyn, +they did not encounter the opposition they had expected, and it was with +an eager hopefulness that they urged upon the Lord of Dynevor to lend +the strength of his arm to the national cause. + +"Wendot, bethink thee. When was not Dynevor in the van when her country +called on her? If thou wilt go with us, we shall carry all the south +with us; but hang thou back, and the cause may be lost. Brother, why +dost thou hesitate? why dost thou falter? It is the voice of thy country +calling thee. Wilt thou not heed that call? O Wendot, thou knowest that +when our parents lived -- when they bid us not look upon the foe with +too great bitterness -- it was only because a divided Wales could not +stand, and that submission to England was better than the rending of the +kingdom by internal strife. But if she would have stood united against +the foreign foe, thinkest thou they would ever have held back? Nay; Res +Vychan, our father, would have been foremost in the strife. Are we not +near in blood to Llewelyn of Wales, prince of the north? Doth not the +tie of blood as well as the call of loyalty urge us to his side? Why +dost thou ponder still? Why dost thou hesitate? Throw to the wind all +idle scruples, and come. Think what a glorious future may lie before our +country if we will but stand together now!" + +Wendot's cheek flushed, his eye kindled. He did indeed believe that were +his father living he would be one of the first to hasten to his +kinsman's side. If indeed the united country could be strong enough to +throw off the yoke, what a victory it would be! Was not every son of +Wales bound to his country's cause at such a time? + +There was but one thing that made him hesitate. Was his word of honour +in any wise pledged to Edward? He had paid him homage for his lands: did +that act bind him to obedience at all costs? + +But such refinements of honour were in advance of the thought of the +time, incomprehensible to the wilder spirits by whom he was surrounded. +Llewelyn answered the brief objection by a flood of rude eloquence, and +Howel struck in with another argument not without its weight. + +"Wendot, whatever course thou takest thou art damned in Edward's eyes. +Thou hast held thyself surety for us, and nought but death will hold us +back from the cry of our country in her need. Envious eyes are cast +already by the rapacious English upon these fair lands of thine, which +these years of peace have given thee opportunity to enrich and beautify. +Let the king once hear that we have rebelled, and his nobles will claim +thy lands, thy life, thy liberty, and thou must either yield all in +ignominious flight or take up arms to defend thyself and thine own. I +trow that no son of Res Vychan will stand calmly by to see himself thus +despoiled; and if thou must fight, fight now, forestall the foe, and +come out sword in hand at thy country's call, and let us fight shoulder +to shoulder and hand to hand, as our forefathers have done before us. +Thou knowest somewhat of English rule, now that thou hast lived beneath +it these past years. Say, wilt thou still keep thy neck beneath the +yoke, or wilt thou do battle like a warrior for liberty and +independence? By our act thou art lost -- yet not even that thought can +hold us back -- then why not stand or fall as a soldier, sword in hand, +than be trapped like a rat in a hole in inglorious inaction? For +methinks whatever else betided thou wouldst not raise thy hand against +thy countrymen, even if thy feudal lord should demand it of thee." + +"Never!" cried Wendot fiercely, and his quick mind revolved the +situation thus thrust upon him whilst Howel was yet speaking. + +He saw at once that a course of neutrality would be impossible to him. +Fight he must, either as Edward's vassal or his foe. The first was +impossible; the second was fraught with a keen joy and secret sense of +exultation. It was true what Howel said: he would be held responsible +for his brothers' revolt. The English harpies would make every endeavour +to poison the king's mind, so that they might wrest from him his +inheritance. He would be required to take up arms against his brothers, +and his refusal to do so would be his death warrant. Disgrace and ruin +lay before him should he abide by such a course. The other promised at +least glory and renown, and perhaps a soldier's death, or, better still, +the independence of his country -- the final throwing off of the +tyrant's yoke. + +His heart swelled within him; his eyes shone with a strange fire. Only +one thought checked the immediate utterance of his decision, and that +was the vision of a pair of dark soft eyes, and a child's face in which +something of dawning womanhood was visible, smiling upon him in complete +and loving trust. + +Yes, Wendot had not forgotten Gertrude; but time had done its work, and +the image of the fair face was somewhat dim and hazy. He yet wore about +his neck the half of the gold coin she had given him; but if he +sometimes sighed as he looked upon it, it was a sigh without much real +bitterness or regret. He had a tender spot in his memory for the little +maid he had saved at the risk of his own life, but it amounted to little +more than a pleasant memory. He had no doubt that she had long ago been +wedded to some English noble, whose estates outshone those of Dynevor in +her father's eyes. + +During the first years after his return home he had wondered somewhat +whether the earl and his daughter would find their way again to the rich +valley of the Towy; but the years passed by and they came not, and the +brief dream of Wendot's dawning youth soon ceased to have any real hold +upon him. If her father had had any thoughts of mating her with the Lord +of Dynevor, he would have taken steps for bringing the young people +together. + +The last doubt fled as Wendot thought this over; and whilst his brothers +yet spoke, pointing to the rich stretch of country that lay before their +eyes in all the glory of its autumn dress, and asking if that were not +an inheritance worthy to be fought for, Wendot suddenly held out his +hand, and said in clear, ringing tones: + +"Brothers, I go with you. I too will give my life and my all for the +liberty of our land. The Lord of Dynevor shall not be slack to respond +to his country's call. Methinks indeed the hour has come. I will follow +our kinsman whithersoever he shall bid." + +Llewelyn and Howel grasped the outstretched hand, and from within the +castle walls there burst forth the strains of wild melody from the harp +of old Wenwynwyn. It seemed almost as though he must have heard the +words that bound Wendot to the national cause, so exultant and +triumphant were the strains which awoke beneath his hands. + +It was but a few days later that the four brothers rode forth from +beneath the arched gateway of Dynevor, all armed to the teeth, and with +a goodly following of armed attendants. Wendot and Griffeth paused at a +short distance from the castle to look back, whilst a rush of strange +and unwonted emotion brought the tears to Griffeth's eyes which he +trusted none saw beside. + +There stood the grand old castle, his home from childhood -- the place +around which all the associations of a lifetime gathered. It was to him +the ideal of all that was beautiful and strong and even holy -- the +massive walls of the fortress rising grandly from the rocky platform, +with the dark background of trees now burning with the rich hues of +autumn. The fair valley stretched before their eyes, every winding of +which was familiar to them, as was also every individual tree or crag or +stretch of moorland fell as far as eye could see. The very heart strings +of Wendot and Griffeth seemed bound round these homelike and familiar +things; and there was something strangely wistful in the glances thrown +around him by the young Lord of Dynevor as he reined in his horse, and +motioning to the armed followers to pass him, stood with Griffeth for a +few brief moments alone and silent, whilst the cavalcade was lost to +sight in the windings of the road. + +"Is it a last farewell?" murmured the younger of the brothers beneath +his breath. "Shall I ever see this fair scene again?" + +And Wendot answered not, for he had no words in which to do so. He had +been fully occupied all these last days -- too much occupied to have had +time for regretful thought; but Griffeth had been visiting every haunt +of his boyhood with strange feelings of impending trouble, and his cheek +was pale with the stress of his emotion, and his voice was husky with +the intensity of the strain he was putting upon himself. + +"Griffeth, Griffeth!" cried Wendot suddenly, "have I done wrong in this +thing? I asked not thy gentle counsel, yet thou didst not bid me hold +back. But tell me, have I been wrong? Could I have done other than I have?" + +"I think not that thou couldst. This seems like a call from our country, +to which no son of hers may be deaf. And it is true that our brothers +have undone thee, and that even wert thou not willing to take up arms +against them and thy countrymen, the rupture with Edward is inevitable. +No, I am with thee in what thou hast done. The Lord of Dynevor must show +himself strong in defence of his country's rights. + +"Yet my heart is heavy as I look around me. For we are going forth to +danger and death, and who knows what may betide ere we see these fair +lands again, or whether we may ever return to see them more?" + +Wendot would fain have replied with cheerful assurance, but a strange +rush of emotion came over him as he gazed at his childhood's home, +together with a sudden strong presentiment that there was something +prophetic in his brother's words. He gazed upon the gray battlements and +the brawling river with a passionate ardour in his glance, and then +turning quickly upon Griffeth, he said: + +"Brother, why shouldst thou leave it? thou art more fit for the safe +shelter of home than for the strife of a winter war. Why shouldst thou +come forth with us? Let us leave thee here in safety --" + +"Wendot!" + +It was but one word, but the volume of reproach compressed into it +brought Wendot to a sudden stop. They looked into each other's eyes a +moment, and then Griffeth said, with his sweet, meaning smile: + +"We have never been separated yet, my Wendot; in sorrow and joy we have +ever been together. It is too late to change all that now. I will be by +thy side to the end. Be it for life or for death we will ride forth +together." + +And so with one hard hand clasp that spoke volumes, and with one more +long, lingering look at the familiar towers of the old home, Wendot and +Griffeth, the Lords of Dynevor, rode forth to meet their fate at the +hands of the mighty English king. + +Of that sudden, fierce, and partially successful revolt the history +books of the age give account. Llewelyn and his brother David, joined by +the whole strength of the North, and by much able assistance from the +South, drove back the English across the border; and when Edward, +hurrying to the spot, marched against them, his army was utterly routed +near the Menai Straits, and the triumphant Welsh believed for a few +brief months that they were victors indeed, and that the power of the +foe was hopelessly broken. + +Llewelyn with his army retired to the fastnesses of Snowdon, where the +English durst not pursue them, and these less hardy soldiers suffered so +terribly in the winter cold that the mortality in their ranks caused the +triumphant mountaineers to prophesy that their work would be done for +them without any more exertion on their part. + +But the lion-hearted King of England was not of the stuff that easily +submits to defeat. He knew well that Wales was in his power, and that he +had but to exercise patience and resolution, and the final victory would +be his. + +Permitting no relaxation of his efforts in the North, even when the +winter's bitter cold was causing untold sufferings amongst his soldiers, +he commenced a muster of troops in the South, from which country most of +the disaffected nobles had drawn away to join the insurgents under the +Prince of Wales, as Llewelyn was called. It was a shock of no small +magnitude to that prince to hear that his foe was thus employing +himself; and leaving the fastnesses of Snowdon with a picked band of his +hardiest men, amongst whom he numbered Llewelyn and Howel, he marched +southward himself, hoping to overthrow this new force before it had +gathered power sufficient to be dangerous. + +Wendot would gladly have been of the number, for inaction, and the rude +barbarism he saw around him, were inexpressibly galling to him; and the +more he saw of the savage spirits by whom he was surrounded the less he +was able to hope for any permanent advantage as the result of this +rising. The jealousies of the respective chiefs were hardly held in +check even in the face of a common peril. It was impossible not to +foresee that the termination of a war with England would only be the +signal for an outbreak of innumerable petty animosities and hostile feuds. + +So Wendot would have been thankful to escape from this irksome +inactivity, and to join the band going south; but the condition of +Griffeth withheld him, for the youth was very ill, and he often felt +that this winter of hardship up in the mountain air was killing him by +inches, although he never complained. + +It was out of the question for Griffeth to march or to fight. He lay +most of the day beside a little fire of peat, in a cabin that Wendot and +his men had constructed with their own hands, beneath the shelter of a +rock which broke the force of the north wind, and formed some protection +against the deep snow. Griffeth had borne his share gallantly in the +earlier part of the campaign, but a slight wound had laid him aside; and +since the intense cold had come, he had only grown more white and wasted +and feeble day by day. Now that the sun was gaining a little more power, +and that the melting of the snow bespoke that spring was at hand, Wendot +began to hope the worst was over; but to leave his brother in such a +state was out of the question, and he saw Llewelyn and Howel depart +without attempting to join them. + +Days and weeks had passed, and no news had been received by those up in +the mountains of the result of Llewelyn's expedition. It was reported by +scouts that Edward was at Carnarvon Castle in person, making hostile +demonstrations of a determined kind, which, in the absence of their +chief, the wild Welsh kerns knew not how to repel. They were safe where +they were, and awaited the return of their leader; but a terrible stroke +had yet to fall upon them, which proved the final blow to all their +hopes and ambitions. + +It was a wild, windy night. Wendot had piled the fire high, and was +sitting with Griffeth talking of past days, and gazing with an +unconscious wistfulness into the glowing embers, which seemed to him to +take the semblance of those familiar towers and rocks which he sometimes +felt as though he should never see again. Griffeth paused in the midst +of something he was saying, and looked round with a start. It seemed to +both brothers as though a hand was fumbling at the latch. Wendot rose +and opened the door, and a tall, gaunt figure staggered rather than +walked into the room, and sank down as if perfectly exhausted beside the +glowing fire. + +Griffeth uttered a startled exclamation. + +"Llewelyn!" he cried sharply; and Wendot, barring the door, and coming +forward like one in a dream, asked with the calmness of one who reads +dire disaster: + +"Where is Howel?" + +"Dead," came the answer in a hollow voice, as though the speaker was +exhausted past words -- "dead by the side of Llewelyn our prince. Would +that I too lay beside them!" + +Wendot, too stunned to say another word at that moment, busied himself +in getting his brother food and wine, of which he plainly stood sorely +in need. He ate ravenously and in perfect silence; and his brothers +watched him without having the heart to put another question. Indeed +they knew the worst: their prince dead; the flower of their army slain +-- their own brother among the number -- the rest dispersed; the +remaining forces without a leader, without a rallying point, without a +hope. What need of farther words? + +Presently Llewelyn spoke again, this time with more strength, but still +with the sullenness of despair: + +"It was a mere skirmish on the banks of the Wye. We were in advance of +the main body, and a party of English fell upon us. We did our best to +sell our lives dearly. I thought I had sold mine when my time came, but +I awoke and found myself beside the stream. Howel was lying upon me, +stark and dead, and our prince a few yards away, with his own men round +him. I do not think the foe knew whom they had slain, or they would have +taken at least his head away as a trophy. I know not who took the news +to our comrades, but they learned it, and dispersed to the four winds. I +was forced to remain for some days in a shepherd's hut till my wounds +were somewhat healed, and since then I have been struggling back here, +not knowing what had befallen our camp in these mountains. Am I the +first to bear the, news, or has it been known before?" + +"You are the first," answered Wendot in a strange, blank voice. "We have +heard nothing; we have been living in hopes of some triumph, some +victory. We will let our fellows rest in peace one night longer. +Tomorrow we must tell all, and decide what our action must be." + +"There is nothing more to hope for," said Llewelyn darkly. "Our hope is +dead, our last prince lies in a nameless grave. There is but one choice +open to us now. Let those who will submit themselves to the proud +usurper, and let us, who cannot so demean the name we bear, go forth +sword in hand, and die fighting to the last for the country we may not +live to deliver." + +It seemed, indeed, as if Llewelyn's words were to prove themselves true; +for no sooner did the news of the disaster on the banks of the Wye +become known than the army began to melt away, like the snow in the +increasing power of the sun. The chiefs, without a head, without a cause +or a champion, either retired to their own wild solitudes or hastened to +make their peace with their offended king; and only those who put honour +before safety or life itself stood forth sword in hand to die, if it +might be, with face to foe in defence of a cause which they knew was +hopelessly lost. + +And amongst this gallant but reckless little band were the three +brothers of Dynevor, who, having once taken up the sword against Edward, +were determined not to lay it down until the hand of death was cold upon +each heart. + + + + CHAPTER X. CARNARVON CASTLE. + + +"There has been a battle -- desperate fighting. They are bringing the +prisoners into the guardroom," cried Britton, bursting into the royal +apartments with small ceremony in his excitement. "Come, Alphonso; come, +Joanna -- let us go and see them. Our fellows say they made a gallant +stand, and fought like veritable tigers. In sooth, I would I had been +there. Methinks it is the last of the fighting these parts will see for +many a long year." + +Alphonso sprang up at the word of his comrade, eager to go and see the +prisoners, his humane and kindly nature prompting him to ascertain that +no undue harshness was displayed towards them by the rude soldiers. But +Joanna, although her face was full of interest and eagerness, shook her +head with a little grimace and a glance in the direction of her +governess, Lady Edeline; for during the years that had elapsed between +the visit of the royal children to Rhuddlan and this present visit to +Carnarvon, Joanna had grown from a child to a woman, and was no longer +able to run about with her brothers at will, though she still retained +her old fearless, independent spirit and impulsive generosity of +temperament, and was a universal favourite, despite the fact that she +gave more trouble than any of her younger sisters. + +The royal family had been for some time in Wales. They had wintered at +Rhuddlan, where the little Princess Elizabeth had been born the previous +year, just prior to the outbreak of the rebellion. Now they were at +Carnarvon for greater security, the king considering that fortress the +stronger of the two. The rebellion was practically at an end, but there +was much to look into and arrange with regard to the rebels and their +affairs, and there was the prospect of a considerable sojourn at the castle. + +At this moment Edward was himself absent, though not far away. It had +been rumoured that there had been sharp, irregular fighting all about +the region of Snowdon, where the rebels had had their headquarters. +Considerable excitement had prevailed for some time in the English +ranks, and there was still complete uncertainty as to the fate of +Llewelyn, Prince of Wales; for although a rumour was rife that he had +fallen in fight, it had never been corroborated by trustworthy +testimony, and so long as that turbulent prince remained alive there was +no security for the peace or submission of the country. + +Thus it was that the news of a victory and the capture of prisoners was +exceedingly exciting to those within the castle. Alphonso, who was +looking somewhat stronger for his sojourn in the bracing air of Wales, +sprang up to go with Britton to make inspection, and again Joanna +secretly bewailed her fate at being a girl, unable to take an equal +share with her brother in such matters. + +The guardroom at the castle was a vast and really fine apartment, with a +vaulted roof and majestic pillars, that gave the idea of much rude +strength of construction. Just at this moment it was the scene of an +animated picture, and the boys paused at the door by which they had +entered to look about them with eager curiosity. + +The hall was full of soldiers, most of whom wore the English king's +badge, and were known by sight to them as being attached to the castle; +but mingled with these were other men, some in the English dress, but +many others wearing the wild garb of the sons of the mountains, and +these last had, for the most part, fetters on their wrists, or were +bound two and two together and guarded by the English, whilst many of +them were drooping under the effect of ghastly wounds, and several forms +lay stretched along the ground indifferent to, or insensible of, their +surroundings. + +Desperate fighting there had been, indeed, to judge from appearances, +and Alphonso's gentle spirit was stirred within him as he caught the +sound of deep groans mingling with the loud voices of the soldiers. He +had inherited the gentle spirit of his mother, and the generosity which +always takes the part of the weak and oppressed. It mattered not that +these men had been taken with swords drawn against his royal father; +they were prisoners now, they had lost their all; and if rebels from the +English standpoint, had been striving to free their country from what +appeared to them as the unjust inroads of a foreign foe. + +Alphonso, himself sinking into an early grave, and fully aware of his +own state, saw life somewhat differently from his soldier sire, and felt +little sympathy for that lust of conquest which was to the great Edward +as the elixir of life. The lad's thoughts were more of that eternal +crown laid up in the bright land where the sword comes not, and where +the trump of war may never be heard. The glory of an earthly diadem was +as nothing to him, and he had all that deep love for his fellow men +which often characterizes those who know that their time on earth is short. + +Stepping forward, therefore, with the air of quiet authority which he +knew so well how to assume, he enforced silence by a gesture; and as the +soldiers respectfully fell back before him, he walked through the groups +of prisoners, speaking friendly words to them in their own tongue, and +finally gave strict command to the captain of the guardroom to remove +the fetters from those who were wounded, and see that they had all due +tendance and care, whilst the rest were to be guarded with as little +rigour as possible, and shut up together, where they would have at least +the consolation of companionship in their misfortune. + +The captain gave respectful heed to these words, and was by no means +loath to carry out his instructions. He was a humane man himself, though +inured to the horrors of war, and he, in common with all who came into +contact with the young prince, felt towards him a great love and +reverence; for there was something unearthly at times in the radiant +beauty of the young Alphonso's face, and the growing conviction that he +was not long for this world increased the loving loyalty shown to him by +all. + +"Your Grace's behests shall be obeyed," answered the man readily; "I +myself will see that the wounded receive due and fitting care. They are +brave fellows, be they rebels or no, and verily I believe there is not a +man of them but would have laid down his life a hundred times to save +that of the two young leaders who led them on to the last desperate +sally. Such gallant feats of arms I have seldom beheld, and it was sore +trouble to capture without killing them, so fiercely did they fight. But +I bid the men take them alive, if possible, as they seemed too gallant +and noble to fall in that vain struggle. Methinks, could they be tamed +to serve the king as valiantly as they fought for that forlorn hope, +they might be well worth the saving. I am always loath to see a brave +life flung away, be it of friend or foe." + +"Right, good Poleyn; thy words do thee credit. And where are these +gallant leaders? Show me them, for I would fain speak a kindly word to +them. I would not that they feared my father's wrath too much. Stern he +may be, but cruel never, and it would please me well to bid them submit +themselves to him, that he might the more readily forgive them. Tell me +which they be." + +"They are not here," answered the captain; "I had them removed for +greater comfort and security to mine own lodging. One of them is so sore +wounded that I feared he would not live to make submission to the king +unless he had prompt and skilful tendance; whilst the other, although +his hurts be fewer and less severe, looks as if some mortal sickness +were upon him. It may be nought but the feebleness that follows loss of +blood and hard fighting; but I left them both to the care of my wife, +who is the best tender of the sick that I have ever known. They came +under her hands last night, brought on by our mounted fellows in advance +of the rest. Today they are somewhat recovered; but I have had scarce +time to think of them. I have been occupied since dawn with these other +prisoners." + +"I would fain see these youths; said you not they were but youths, +Poleyn?" said Alphonso, whose interest was aroused by the tale he had +heard. "I will go to your lodging and request admittance. Your worthy +wife will not refuse me, I trow?" + +The man smiled, and said that his wife would be proud indeed to be so +visited. Alphonso, to whom the intricacies of the castle were well +known, lost no time in finding the lodging of the captain of the guard, +and quickly obtained admittance to the presence of the wounded youths, +who occupied a comfortable chamber over the gateway, and had plainly +been well looked to by the capable and kindly woman who called Poleyn +her lord and master. + +The bright light of day was excluded from the sickroom, and as the +prince stood in the doorway his eyes only took in the general appearance +of two recumbent figures, one lying upon a couch beside a glowing fire +of wood, and the other extended motionless upon a bed in an attitude +that bespoke slumber, his face bandaged in such a way that in no case +would it have been recognizable. + +But as Alphonso's eyes grew used to the darkness, and fixed themselves +upon the face of the other youth, who was dressed and lying on the +couch, he suddenly gave a great start, and advanced with quick steps to +his side. + +"Griffeth!" he cried suddenly. + +The figure on the couch gave a start, a pair of hollow eyes flashed +open, there was a quick attempt to rise, checked by the prince himself, +and Griffeth exclaimed in the utmost astonishment: + +"Prince Alphonso!" + +"Yes, Griffeth, it is I indeed;" and then the prince sat down on the +edge of the couch and gazed intently at the wasted features of the +youth, towards whom in days gone by he had felt such a strong attachment. + +There was something of sorrow and reproach in his glance as he said gently: + +"Griffeth, can it really be thou? I had not thought to have seen thee in +the ranks of our foes, fighting desperately against my father's +soldiers. Whence has come this bitter change in thy feelings? and what +is Wendot doing, who was to act as guardian toward his younger brethren? +Hast thou broken away from his controlling hand? O Griffeth, I grieve to +see thee here and in such plight." + +But Griffeth's sad glance met that of the young prince unfalteringly and +without shame, although there was something in it of deep and settled +sorrow. He made a gesture as though he would have put out his hand, and +Alphonso, who saw it, grasped it warmly, generous even when he felt that +he and his father had been somewhat wronged. + +"Think not that we took up arms willingly, Wendot and I," he said +faintly, yet with clearness and decision. "Ay, it is Wendot who lies +there, sore wounded, and sleeping soundly after a night of fever and +pain. We shall not disturb him, he is fast in dreamland; and if you +would listen to my tale, gentle prince, I trow you would think something +less hardly of us, who have lost our all, and have failed to win the +soldier's death that we went forth to seek, knowing that it alone could +make atonement for what must seem to your royal father an act of +treachery and breach of faith." + +And then Griffeth told all his tale -- told of the wrongs inflicted on +hapless Wales in Edward's absence by the rapacious nobles he had left +behind him to preserve order, of the ever-increasing discontent amongst +the people, the wild hope, infused by David's sudden rising, of uniting +once and for all to throw off the foreign yoke and become an independent +nation again. He told of the action taken by their twin brothers, of the +pressure brought to bear upon Wendot, of the vigilant hostility of their +rapacious kinsman Res ap Meredith, son of the old foe Meredith ap Res, +now an English knight, and eager to lay his hands upon the broad lands +of Dynevor. It was made plain to the prince how desperate would have +been Wendot's condition, thus beset with foes and held responsible for +his brothers' acts. Almost against his will had he been persuaded, and +at least he had played the man in his country's hour of need, instead of +trying to steer his way by a cold neutrality, which would have ruined +him with friend and foe alike. + +Griffeth told of the hardships of that campaign amongst the mountains; +of the death of Llewelyn the prince, and of his brother Howel; and of +the resolve of the gallant little band, thus bereft of their hope, to go +out and die sword in hand, and so end the miserable struggle that had +ceased to be aught but a mockery of war. It was plainly a bitter thought +even to the gentle Griffeth that they had not met the death they craved, +but had fallen alive into the hands of the foe. + +Alphonso gently chid him, and comforted him with brave and kindly words; +and then he asked what had befallen his brother Llewelyn, and if he had +likewise fallen in the fight. + +"Nay; he was not with us when we made that last rally. He commenced the +march with us, but his wound broke out again, and we were forced to +leave him behind. He and a handful of faithful servants from Iscennen +and Dynevor were to try and push on to the stronghold of Einon ap +Cadwalader, and ask counsel and assistance from him. In old days he and +our father were friends. Although he was one of the few who did not join +Llewelyn in this rising, he has ever been well-disposed towards his +countrymen. So we hoped our brother would find shelter and help there. +If he had tried to march with us, he must assuredly have died." + +"Ha!" said Alphonso smilingly, "methinks Llewelyn will have no trouble +in gaining entrance there. Rememberest thou the Lady Arthyn, who was +with us at Rhuddlan when thou wast there before? She hath left us of +late to return to her father, whose loyalty has been proved, and whose +request for his child was listened to graciously. But we shall be seeing +them soon again, for my father betrothed Arthyn's hand to Raoul Latimer, +whom doubtless thou rememberest as a somewhat haughty and quarrelsome +lad. Time has softened down some of his rude tempers, and he has ever +been eager for the match. My father has promised her hand in troth +plight to him, and we await the coming of her and her father for the +ceremony of betrothal. + +"If I remember rightly, she was always a friend to thy brother. If so, +he will find a ready welcome at her father's house, for my Lady Arthyn +always had a soft spot in her heart for those we called rebels. She was +a true daughter of Wales, albeit she loved us well, and she will like +thy brother none the less that his sword has been unsheathed against the +English usurper." + +And then the prince and the rebel subject both laughed, and that laugh +did more to bring them back to their old familiar relations than all +that had gone before. + +Griffeth was easily led on to tell the story of the life at Dynevor +these past years; and Alphonso better understood from his unconscious +self-betrayal than from his previous explanation how the fire of +patriotic love burned in the hearts of these brothers. He thought that +had he been one of them he would have acted even as they had done, and +there was no anger but only a pitying affection in his heart towards one +whose life was overshadowed by a cloud so like the one which hung upon +the horizon of his own sky. + +For it was plain to him that Griffeth's hold on life was very slight; +that he was suffering from the same insidious disease which was sapping +away his own health and strength. He had suspected it years before, and +this supposition had made a link between them then; now he was certain +of it, and certain, too, that the end could not be very far off. The +fine constitution of the young Welshman had been undermined by the +rigours of the past winter, and there was little hope that the coming +summer would restore to him any of the fictitious strength which had +long buoyed up Wendot with the hope that his brother would yet live to +grow to man's estate. + +"For myself I do not think I wish it," said Griffeth, with one of his +luminous glances at Alphonso; "life is very hard, and there seems +nothing left to live for. I know not how I could live away from the +woods and rocks of Dynevor. But there is Wendot -- my dear, kind, most +loving brother. It cuts me to the heart to think of leaving him alone. +Prince Alphonso, you are the king's son; will you pardon Wendot his +trespass, and stand his friend with your royal father? I have no right +to ask it. We have grievously offended, but he is my brother --" + +A violent fit of coughing came on, and the sentence was never completed. +Alphonso raised the wasted form in his arms, and soothed the painful +paroxysm as one who knows just what will best relieve the sufferer. The +sound roused Wendot, who had been sleeping for many hours, and although +he had been brought in last night in an apparently almost dying state, +his vigorous constitution was such that even these few hours' quiet +rest, and the nourishment administered to him by the good woman who +waited on him, had infused new life into his frame, so that he had +strength to sit up in bed, and to push aside the bandage which had +fallen over his eyes, as he anxiously asked his brother what was amiss. + +Then Alphonso came towards him, and, holding his hand in a friendly +clasp, told him that he had heard all the story, and that he was still +their friend, and would plead for them with his father. Wendot, +bewildered and astonished and ashamed, could scarce believe his senses, +and asked, with a proud independence which raised a smile in Alphonso's +eyes, that he might be led out to speedy death -- the death by the +headsman's axe, which was all he had now to hope for. Life had no longer +any charms for him, he said; if only his young brother might be +pardoned, he himself would gladly pay the forfeit for both. + +But Alphonso, upon whose generous spirit bravery and self devotion, even +in a foe, were never thrown away, replied kindly that he would see if +peace could not be made with his offended sire, and that meantime Wendot +must get well fast, and regain his health and strength, so as to be fit +to appear before the king in person if he should be presently summoned. + +But though the young prince left lighter hearts behind him in the room +where the two eagles of Dynevor were imprisoned, he found that the task +he had set himself with his father was a more difficult one than he had +anticipated. Edward was very greatly incensed by this fierce and futile +rebellion that had cost him so many hundreds of brave lives, and had +inflicted such sufferings on his loyal troops. The disaster at Menai +still rankled in his breast, and it was with a very stern brow and a +face of resolute determination that he returned to Carnarvon to look +into matters, and to settle upon the fate of the many prisoners and +vassals who had once mere placed themselves or their lands in his sole +power through the act which had rendered them forfeit. + +Nor was Alphonso's task rendered less difficult from the fact that Sir +Res ap Meredith had been before him, poisoning the king's mind against +many of the Welsh nobles, and particularly against the sons of Res +Vychan, in whose possession were the province and castle of Dynevor. +Upon that fair territory he had long cast covetous eyes. He cared little +in comparison for the more barren and turbulent region of Iscennen, and +it was upon Wendot and Griffeth, but particularly upon Wendot, that the +full bitterness of his invective was poured. He had so imbued the king +with the idea that the youth was dangerous, turbulent, and treacherous +(charges that his conduct certainly seemed to bear out), that it was +small wonder if Edward, remembering his own former goodwill towards the +youth, should feel greatly incensed against him. And although he +listened to Alphonso's pleadings, and the lad told his story with much +simple eloquence and fervour, the stern lines of his brow did not relax, +and his lips set themselves into an ominous curve which the prince liked +little to see. + +"Boy," he said, with an impatience that boded ill for the success of the +cause, "I verily believe wert thou in the place of king, thou wouldst +give to every rebel chief his lands again, and be not contented until +thine own throne came tottering about thine ears. Mercy must temper +justice, but if it take the place of justice it becomes mere weakness. I +trusted Wendot ap Res Vychan once, and laid no hand upon his lands. Thou +hast seen how this trust has been rewarded. To reinstate him now would +be madness. No. I have in Sir Res ap Meredith a loyal and true servant, +and his claims upon his traitorous kinsman's lands may not be +disregarded. Dynevor will pass away from Wendot. It is throwing words +away to plead with me. My mind is made up. I trust not a traitor twice." + +There was something in his father's tone that warned Alphonso to press +the matter no more. He knew that when Edward thus spoke his word was +final and irrevocable; and all he ventured now to ask was, "What will +become of Wendot and his brother? You will not take their lives, sweet +sire?" + +"Their lives I give to thee, my son," answered Edward, with a gesture +towards his boy which betrayed a deep love, and showed that although he +had denied him sternly he did not do so willingly. "As thou hast pleaded +for them, I will not sentence them to death; but they remain my +prisoners, and regain not their liberty. I know the turbulent race from +which they spring. Sir Res will have small peace in his new possessions +if any of the former princes of Dynevor are at large in the country. +Wendot and Griffeth remain my prisoners." + +"Nay, father; let them be my prisoners, I pray," cried Alphonso, with +unwonted energy and animation. "Thou hast granted me their lives; grant +me the keeping of their persons too. Nay, think not that I will connive +at their escape. Give whatsoever charge thou wilt concerning the safety +of their persons to those who guard us in our daily life, but let me +have them as gentlemen of mine own. Call them prisoners an you will, but +let their imprisonment be light -- let me enjoy their company. Thou +knowest that Britton is fretting for a freer life, and that I see little +of him now. I have often longed for a companion to share my solitary +hours. Give me Griffeth and Wendot. They have the royal blood of Wales +flowing in their veins, and methinks they love me even as I love them. +And, father, Griffeth has not many months, methinks, to live; and I know +so well all he suffers that my heart goes out to him. He has the love of +books that I have, and we have so many thoughts which none seem to +understand save our two selves. And he and Wendot are as one. It would +be cruelty such as thou wouldst not inflict to separate them whilst one +has so short a time to live. Give me them for mine own attendants, and +bid the servants guard them as best pleaseth thee. Sweet father, I have +not asked many boons of thee. Grant me this one, I pray thee, for my +heart is verily set on it." + +There was something in this appeal, something in the look upon +Alphonso's face, something in the very words he had used, that made it +impossible to his father to refuse him. Blind his eyes as he would to +the truth, he was haunted by a terrible fear that the life of his only +son was surely slipping away. Alphonso did not often speak of his +health, and the hint just dropped struck chill upon the father's heart. +Passing his hand across his face to conceal the sudden spasm of pain +that contracted it, he rose hastily from his chair, and said: + +"Give thine own orders concerning these youths. I leave them in thy +hands. Make of them what it pleaseth thee. Only let them understand that +charge will be given to the custodians of the castle, and of whatever +place they visit in the future, that they are prisoners at the king's +pleasure, and that any attempt at escape will be punished with instant +and rigorous captivity." + +"So be it," answered Alphonso, with brightening eyes. "I thank thee, +father, for the boon. Thou shalt never have cause to repent it." + + + + CHAPTER XI. THE KING'S CLEMENCY. + + +"Unhand me, sir. How dare you thus insult me? Let go my hand, or I +summon help instantly. I am come to seek the king. Will you raise a +tumult within hearing of his private apartments? Unhand me, I say," and +Arthyn's cheeks flamed dangerously, whilst her eyes flashed fire. + +But Raoul Latimer, though a craven before the face of an armed foe, +could be resolute enough when he had only an unprotected woman to deal +with, and was quite disposed to show his valour by pressing his +unwelcome salutations upon the cheek of the girl he regarded as his +future wife. His surprise at encountering Arthyn, whom he believed far +away in her father's castle, hastening alone down one of the long +corridors of Carnarvon Castle, had been very great. He could not imagine +what had thus brought her, and was eager to claim from her the greeting +he felt was his due. + +But Arthyn had never lacked for spirit, and had always confessedly +abhorred Raoul, nor had absence seemed to make the heart grow fonder, at +least in her case. She repulsed him with such hearty goodwill that his +cowardly fury was aroused, and had not the girl cried aloud in her anger +and fear, he might have done her some mischief. But even as she lifted +her voice a door in the corridor was flung open, and the king himself +strode forth, not, as it chanced, in response to the call, which had not +reached his ears, but upon an errand of his own. Now when he saw that at +the doors of his own private apartments one of his own gentlemen had +dared to lay rude hands upon a woman, his kingly wrath was stirred, and +one blow from his strong arm sent Raoul reeling across the corridor till +the wall stopped his farther progress. + +"How now, malapert boy?" cried Edward in deep displeasure. "Is it thus +you disgrace your manhood by falling upon the defenceless, and by +brawling even within hearing of your sovereign? You are not so wondrous +valiant in battle, Raoul Latimer, that you can afford to blast the small +reputation you have. + +"Sweet lady, be not afraid; thy king will protect thee from farther insult. + +"Ha, Arthyn, is it thou, my child? Nay, kneel not in such humbly +suppliant fashion; rise and kiss me, little one, for thou art only less +dear to me than mine own children. Come hither, maiden, and speak to me. +What has brought thee here alone and unannounced? And what has raised +this storm betwixt ye twain?" + +"Sire -- my king -- hear me," cried Arthyn in a choked voice; "and bid +that wicked youth, whom I have ever hated, leave us. Let me speak to you +alone and in private. It is to you, gracious lord, that I have come. +Grant me, I pray you, the boon of but a few words alone and in private. +I have somewhat to tell your grace -- your royal pardon to ask." + +"Pardon? tush, maiden! thou canst not have offended greatly. But come +hither; what thou hast to say thou shalt say before the queen and +Eleanor. They have ever been as mother and sister to thee. Thou hast no +secrets for me which they may not hear?" + +"Ah no; I would gladly speak all before them," answered Arthyn eagerly, +knowing that in the gentle Eleanor of Castile and her daughter she would +find the most sympathizing of friends. + +Intensely patriotic as the girl had ever been, loving her country above +all else, and throwing heart and soul into that country's cause, she had +yet learned a deep love and reverence for the family of the English +king, amongst whom so many years of her young life had been spent. She +was able to do full justice to the kindly and domestic side of the +soldier king's nature, and, whilst she regarded him as a foe to Wales, +looked upon him personally as a friend and protector. + +Edward's gentleness and affection in his private life equalled his +stern, unbending policy in matters of state. It was very tenderly and +kindly that he led the girl to the private apartments of the queen; and +when once Arthyn found herself face to face with one who had given to +her more of mother love than any other being in the world, she flung +herself into the arms opened to receive her, and out came the whole +story which had brought her on this secret mission to Carnarvon. + +"Sweet lady, O most gracious madam, listen and plead for me with the +king. He is kind and good, and he knows what true love is. Lady, it is +as a wedded wife I come to you, craving pardon for what I have done. But +I ever hated that wicked Raoul Latimer, my country's foe, and would have +died rather than plight my troth to him. And when he came to us -- he, +my love, my life, he whom I loved long years ago when we met as boy and +girl, and whom I have never forgotten -- what could I do? How could I +resist? + +"And my father approved. He gave my hand in wedlock. And now I am come +to pray your pardon for myself and for him whom I love. Oh, do not turn +a deaf ear to me! As you have loved when you were young, pardon those +who have done likewise." + +King and queen exchanged glances, half of amusement, half of +astonishment, but there was no anger in either face. Raoul was no +favourite in the royal circle, and his visible cowardice in the recent +campaign had brought him into open disfavour with the lion-hearted +Edward. He loved Arthyn dearly, and this proof of her independence of +spirit, together with her artless confidence in his kindliness of heart, +pleased him not a little. He had been forced during these past days to +act a stern part towards many of the Welsh nobles who had been brought +before him. He was glad enough, this thankless task accomplished, to +allow the softer and more kindly side of his nature to assert itself. +And perhaps the sympathetic glances of his son Alphonso, who had just +entered the room, helped to settle his resolve that Arthyn at least +should receive full and free forgiveness. + +Eleanor had drawn her former playmate towards her, and was eagerly +questioning her as to the name of him to whom her heart and hand were +now given, and the answer sent a thrill of surprise through the whole +company. + +"It is one whom you all know, sweet Eleanor -- Llewelyn, the son of Res +Vychan, Lord of Dynevor. Thou knowest, Eleanor, how he came amongst us +at Rhuddlan years agone now, and perchance thou sawest even then how we +loved one another, albeit it was but the love of children. But we never +have forgotten, and when he came to my father's castle, wounded and +weary and despairing after the disaster which robbed Wales of her last +native prince, what could we do but receive and tend him? It was thus it +came about, and love did the rest." + +"And so thou hast wed a rebel, maiden?" quoth Edward, in tones that +seemed to be stern by effort rather than by the will of the speaker, +whilst the kindly light in the eyes belied his assumed harshness; "and +having done so thou hast the hardihood to come and tell us of it thine +own self. Fie upon thee for a saucy wench! What better dost thou expect +for thyself and thy lord than a lodging in the lowest dungeon of the keep?" + +"I know that we ought to expect nothing better," answered Arthyn, with +her brightest smile, as she turned fearlessly upon the king. "But do as +you will with us, noble king, and we will not rebel or complain, so that +we may be together. And my dear lord bid me give you this. He took it +with his own hands from the dead hand of Llewelyn, Prince of Wales, and +he charged me to place it in your hands as a pledge and token that your +enemy ceased to live. Report has told him that men say Llewelyn escaped +that day, and that he yet lives to rise against you again. By this +signet you may know that he lies dead and cold, and that with him has +perished the last hope of Wales ever to be ruled by a prince of her own." + +Edward put forth his hand eagerly, and examined the signet ring, which +was one he himself had given to Llewelyn on the occasion of his last +submission. And as he looked upon it a great weight seemed to be rolled +from off him, for it was the first decided intimation he had had that +his foe was actually slain. Rumour had been rife with reports of his +escape, and although there had not been lacking testimony to the effect +that the prince had fallen in battle, the fact had never been adequately +established. A few quick questions to Arthyn appeared to establish this +beyond all doubt, and in the expansion of the moment Edward was ready +not only to forgive the bearer of such welcome tidings, but to forget +that he had ever been an offender. One of the sons of Res Vychan had +paid the price of his breach of faith with his life; two more were +prisoners at his royal pleasure. Surely the family had suffered enough +without harsher vengeance being taken. Surely he might give to Arthyn +the liberty and possibly even the lands of her lord in return for the +welcome intelligence she had brought. + +Alphonso, ever on the side of mercy, joined with the queen and Eleanor +in persuading the king to forgive and forget, and Arthyn was sent home +the day following laden with presents and good wishes, bearing a full +pardon to her lord from the English king, as well as a half promise that +when the country became somewhat more settled he might make request for +his commot of Iscennen with reasonable chance of being heard. + +Wendot and Griffeth both saw their new sister before her return, and +charged her with all sorts of friendly messages for Llewelyn. If Wendot +thought it hard that the brother who had always been England's bitterest +foe should be pardoned and rewarded, whilst he himself should be left to +pine in captivity, at least he made no sign, and never let a word of +bitterness pass his lips. Indeed he was too ill greatly to trouble +himself over his own condition or the future that lay before him. Fever +and ague had supervened upon the wounds he had received, and whilst +Griffeth was rapidly recovering such measure of health and strength as +he ever could boast, Wendot lay helpless and feeble, scarce able to lift +his head from the pillow, and only just equal to the task of speaking to +Arthyn and comprehending the good news with which she came charged. + +The brothers had now been removed to better apartments, near to those +occupied by the prince, whose servants they nominally were. Griffeth had +begun to enter upon some of his duties towards his royal patron, and the +friendship begun in boyhood was rapidly ripening to an intimacy which +surprised them both. Such perfect mutual understanding and sympathy was +rare and precious; and Griffeth did not even look back with longing to +the old life, so entirely had his heart gone out to the youthful prince, +whose days on earth, like his own, were plainly numbered. + +Lady Gertrude Cherleton was still an inmate of the royal household. She +was now a ward of Edward's, her father having died a year or two +previously. She was not considered a minor any longer, having attained +the age of eighteen some time before, and the management of her estates +was left partially to her. But she remained by choice the companion of +Eleanor and Joanna, and would probably continue to do so until she +married. It was a source of wonder to the court why she did not make +choice of a husband amongst the many suitors for her hand; but she had +hitherto turned a deaf ear to the pleadings of all. Sir Godfrey +Challoner had long been sighing at her feet, but she would have none of +him, and appeared to be proof against all the shafts of the blind god of +love. + +But her intense excitement when she heard of the arrival at Carnarvon of +the two brothers from Dynevor told its own tale to the Princess Joanna, +who had ever been the girl's confidante in this matter, and who had +known from childhood how Gertrude had always believed herself pledged. +It was a charming secret for them to cherish between them; and now that +Wendot was once more beneath the castle roof, the impulsive Joanna would +launch out into extravagant pictures of future happiness and prosperity. +Her ardent temperament, having no personal romance to feed upon -- for +though her hand had once been plighted, her future lord had been drowned +the previous year in a boating accident, and she was again free -- +delighted to throw itself into the concerns of her friend, and the sense +of power which had been so early implanted within her made her confident +of being able to overcome obstacles and attain the object of her wishes, +be the difficulties and dangers in their path never so great. + +"You shall be united, Gertrude, an he loves thee," cried the generous +Joanna, flinging her arms round the neck of her companion, and kissing +her again and again. "His life, his liberty, shall be obtained, and thou +and he shall be happy together. I have said it, and I will do it." + +Whatever was known to Joanna was known to Alphonso, who shared all her +feelings, and was most tenderly beloved by her. He was as ardent in the +cause as his sister could be; but he saw more of the difficulties that +beset their path, and knew better his father's iron temperament, and how +deeply Wendot had offended. Doubtless much was due to the +misrepresentations of Sir Res ap Meredith, who had now secured for +himself the coveted lands of Dynevor; but whatever the cause, the eldest +son of the house of Dynevor was the object of the king's severe +displeasure, and it was not likely he would relax his vigilance or +depart from his word, not even for the prayers of his children or the +tears of his favourite Gertrude. He had pardoned Llewelyn at the +instance of Arthyn; if the same game were to be played over again by +another of his daughters' companions, he would not unnaturally believe +that he was being cajoled and trifled with. + +"If it were only Griffeth it would be easy," said Alphonso thoughtfully. +"But Wendot --" + +And there he stopped and shook his head. + +It was some days before the king saw the new attendant of his sons; but +coming into Alphonso's private apartment one day suddenly, he found +several of the royal children gathered there, and with them a +fair-haired youth, who was reading to the prince out of an illuminated +missal. Alphonso was lying on a couch, and his look of fragile weakness +struck cold to the father's heart. Of late the lad's strength had been +failing rapidly, but Edward had tried to blind his eyes to the truth. +Now he took a hasty step towards the couch, and Griffeth rose quickly +from his seat and bent the knee before the king. + +"Ha, Wendot," said Edward, with a grave but not unkindly glance, "I have +not seen you at these new duties before. So you are a student as well as +a soldier? Well, the arts of peace will better become you for the +future. I remember your face well, young man. I would it had not been my +duty to place you under restraint; but you have broken faith with me, +and that grievously. How then can it be possible to trust you in the +future? You, as the head of the house, should have set your brothers an +example of honour and fealty. As it is, it has been far otherwise, and +now you will have to bear the burden of that breach of trust and honour." + +Twice Griffeth had opened his lips as if to speak, but Alphonso laid his +hand upon his arm with a warning touch, which said as plainly as words +could do, "Be silent." + +So the youth held his peace, and only bent his head in submission; and +Edward, after a moment's pause, added more kindly: + +"And how fares it with your brother, Wendot? I hear that his state is +something precarious. I hope he has the best tendance the castle can +afford, for I would not that any member of my son's household should +suffer from lack of care." + +"He has all that he needs, I thank you, sire," answered Griffeth. "He +lies sorely sick at this present time, but I trust he will amend ere long." + +And then the king turned to his son, and spoke with him on some message +of the state, and departed without heeding the excited glances of Joanna +or the restless way in which she kept looking first at Alphonso and then +at Gertrude. + +But scarcely had the door closed behind the retiring form of the king +before the excitable girl had bounded to her brother's side. + +"O Alphonso," she cried, "did you do it on purpose? Tell me what you +have in your head." + +Alphonso sat up and pushed the hair out of his eyes. Griffeth was simply +looking on in surprise and bewilderment. The prince laid a hand upon his +arm and spoke very earnestly. + +"Griffeth," he said, "it seems to me that through this error of my +father's we may yet find means to compass the deliverance of Wendot. +There are none of those save ourselves who know which of you twain is +the first-born and which the youngest. In your faces there is little to +mark you one from the other. Griffeth, if thou wilt be willing to be +called Wendot-- if Wendot will consent to be Griffeth -- then we may +perchance make his way plain to depart and live in liberty once more; +for it is Wendot, and not Griffeth, who has so roused my father's anger. +Griffeth he might easily consent to pardon; but Wendot he will keep as a +hostage in his own hands possibly for life itself." + +Griffeth listened, and a strange look crept into his face. His cheek +flushed, and his breath came thick and fast. He knew Alphonso's motive +in suggesting this change of identity. The lads, so closely drawn +together in bonds of more than brotherly love, had not opened to each +other their innermost souls for nought. Alphonso knew that no freedom, +no liberty, would give to the true Griffeth any extension of his brief +span of life. His days were as assuredly numbered as those of the royal +lad himself, and life had ceased to have attractions for the pair, whose +spirits were almost on the wing, who had set their hopes and aspirations +higher than anything which earth could give, and whose chiefest wish now +was to remain together until death should call them home. + +Griffeth's only trouble had been the thought of leaving his brother, and +it was when he had realized from Alphonso's words that the king was +deeply offended with Wendot, and that it was almost hopeless to think of +his obtaining his liberty again, that the heart of the lad sank in +despondency and sorrow. + +For one of the young eagles of Dynevor thus to be caged -- to be left to +pine away in hopeless captivity, his brother gone from him as well as +the prince who would stand his friend; possibly incarcerated at last in +some dreary fortress, there to linger out his days in hopeless misery +and inaction -- the thought had been so terrible to Griffeth that there +had been moments when he had almost longed to hear that the leeches gave +up hope of saving his brother's life. + +But Wendot was mending now; there was no doubt of ultimate recovery. He +would rise from his sickbed to find -- what? Griffeth had not dared to +ask himself this question before; but now a great hope possessed him +suddenly. He looked into Alphonso's eyes, and the two instantly +understood one another; as did also Gertrude and Joanna, who stood by +flushed and quivering. + +"Let it be so," said Griffeth, in a voice which trembled a little, +although the words were firm and emphatic. "I take the name the king has +given me. I am Wendot, whom he believes the traitor and the foe. +Griffeth lies yonder, sick and helpless, a victim to the influence of +the first-born son of Res Vychan. It may be, when the king hears more of +him, he will in his clemency release and pardon him. + +"Ah, if I could but be the means of saving my brother -- the brother +dearer to me than life -- from the fate which others have brought upon +him, that I could lay down my life without a wish ungratified! It has +been the only thought of bitterness in my cup that I must leave him +alone -- and a prisoner." + +Gertrude's face had flushed a deep red; she put out her hand and clasped +that of Griffeth hard; there was a little sob in her voice as she said: + +"Oh, if you will but save him -- if you will but save him!" + +Griffeth looked into her sweet face, with its sensitive features and +soft eyes shining through a mist of tears, and he understood something +which had hitherto been a puzzle to him. + +There had been days when the intermittent fever from which Wendot +suffered left him entirely for hours together, sometimes for a whole +day; and Griffeth had been sure that on some of these days, in the hours +of his own attendance on the prince, his brother had received visits +from others in the castle: for flowers had appeared to brighten the sick +room, and there had been a wonderful new look of happiness in the +patient's eyes, although he had said nothing to his brother as to what +had befallen him. + +And in truth Wendot was half disposed to believe himself the victim of +some sweet hallucination, and was almost afraid to speak of the fancies +that floated from time to time before his eyes, lest he should be told +that his mind was wandering, and that he was the victim of delusion. + +Not once alone, but many times, during the hours of his tardy +convalescence, when he had been lying alone, crushed by the sense of +weariness and oppression which illness brings to one so little +accustomed to it, he had been roused by the sound of light footfalls in +his room; he had seen a graceful form flitting about, bringing lightness +and beauty in her wake, and leaving it behind when she left. The vision +of a sweet, small face, and the lustrous dark eyes which had haunted him +at intervals through the long years of his young manhood, appeared again +before him, and sometimes his name was spoken in the gentle tones which +had never been forgotten, although the memory was growing dim. + +Weak and dazed and feeble, both in body and mind, from the exhausting +and wasting illness that had followed the severe winter's campaign, +Wendot knew not if this vision was but the figment of his own brain, or +whether the passionate love he felt rising up in his heart was lavished +upon a mere phantom. But so long as she flitted about him he was content +to lie and watch her, with the light of a great happiness in his eyes; +and once when he had called her name -- the never forgotten name of +Gertrude -- he had thought that she had come and taken his hand and had +bent over him with a wonderful light in her eyes, but the very effort he +made to rise up and grasp her hands, and learn if indeed it were a +creature of flesh and blood, had resulted in a lapse back into +unconsciousness, and he was silent as to the vision even to Griffeth, +lest perchance he should have to learn that it was but a fevered dream, +and that there was no Gertrude within the castle walls at all. + +But Gertrude knew all; it was no dream to her. She saw the love light in +the eyes dearest to her in the world. She had heard her name called; she +had seen that the love she had cherished for the hero of her childhood +had not been cherished in vain. Perhaps Wendot had betrayed more in his +sickness and weakness than he would have allowed himself to do in his +strength, knowing himself a helpless, landless prisoner in the hands of +the stern monarch who occupied England's throne. But be that as it may, +Gertrude had read his secret and was happy, though with such a chastened +happiness as alone was possible to one who knew the peril in which her +lover lay, and how hopeless even Alphonso thought it to obtain for him +the king's pardon. + +"My father would have betrothed us as children," said Gertrude, her face +glowing, but her voice steady and soft, for why should she be ashamed of +the faithful love of a lifetime? + +"When we saw each other again he would have plighted us, but for the +fear of what Llewelyn and Howel would do. But think you I love him less +for his love to his country? Think you that I have aught to reproach him +with, when I know how he was forced into rebellion by others? I care not +what he has done. I love him, and I know that he loves me. Sooner would +I share a prison with him than a palace with any man beside; yet I fear +that in prison walls he will pine and die, even as a caged eagle, and it +is that fear which breaks my heart. + +"O Griffeth, Griffeth, if you can save him, how we will bless you from, +our hearts! Give him to me, and I will guard and cherish him. I have +wealth and lands for us both. Only his liberty is lacking --" + +"And that we will strive to compass yet," said Alphonso gently. "Fear +not, sweet Gertrude, and betray not thyself. Only remember from this +time forward that Wendot is my friend and companion here, and that thy +lover Griffeth lieth in yon chamber, sick and stricken." + +"I will remember," she answered resolutely; and so the change of +identity was accomplished, with the result that the old chroniclers aver +that Wendot, eldest son of Res Vychan, died in the king's prison in +England, whilst all that is known of the fate of Griffeth is that he was +with his brother in captivity in England in the year 1283, after which +his name completely disappears, and no more is known of him, good or bad. + +That night there were commotion and distress in Carnarvon Castle, for +the young Alphonso broke a blood vessel in a violent fit of coughing, +and for some hours his life was in the utmost danger. + +The skill of the leeches, however, combined with the tender care of his +mother and sisters, averted for a time fatal consequences, and in a few +days the prince was reported to be out of immediate danger. But the +doctors all agreed that it would not be wise for him to remain longer in +the colder air of north Wales, and advised an immediate removal to +Windsor, where more comforts could be obtained, and where the climate +was milder and more genial. + +Edward's work in Wales was done. The country was quiet, and he had no +longer any fear of serious rebellion. The first thought in his mind was +the precarious condition of his son, and immediate steps were taken to +convey the invalid southward by slow and gentle stages. + +A horse litter was prepared for him, and by his own special request this +easy conveyance was shared by him with the two Welsh youths, to whom, as +his father and mother thought, he had taken one of those strange sick +fancies not uncommon to those in his state of health. + +Wendot, as he called the younger brother, had been his most devoted +nurse during the days of peril, and his quick understanding of the +unspoken wishes of the prince had evoked a real and true gratitude from +the royal parents. + +The real Wendot was by this time so far recovered as to be able to bear +the journey, and illness had so wasted him that he looked no older than +Griffeth; and though still perplexed at being called Griffeth, and by no +means understanding his brother's earnest request that he would continue +to answer to the name, he was too weak to trouble his head much about +the matter; and the two Welsh brothers were regarded by the English +attendants as too insignificant to be worthy of much notice. The +prince's freak to have them as travelling-companions was humoured by his +parents' wish; but they little knew how much he was wrapped up in the +brothers, nor how completely his heart was set upon seeing the +accomplishment of his plan before he died. + +Alphonso had all his senses about him, and the wistful look on +Griffeth's face, as the mountains of his beloved Wales grew dim in the +distance, was not lost upon him. Wendot was sleeping restlessly in the +litter, and Alphonso stretched out his hand, and laid it gently upon +Griffeth's. + +"Art regretting that thou leavest all for me?" he asked gently; and the +answer was such a look of love as went to his very heart. + +"Nay; I would leave far more than that for thee, sweet prince, but it is +my last look at home. I shall see these grand, wild hills no more." + +"No, nor yet I," answered the prince, his own eyes growing somewhat dim; +"and I, too, have loved them well, though not as thou lovest, my friend. +But be content; there are fairer things, sweeter scenes than even these, +in store for us somewhere. Shall we repine at leaving the beauties of +earth, when the pearly gates of Paradise are opening before our very eyes? + +"O Griffeth, it is a wondrous thought how soon we may be soaring above +the very stars! And methinks it may well be given to thee to wing thy +way to thine own home for one last look ere thou departest for the holy +land whence we can never wish to return." + +Griffeth gave him a bright, eager look. + +"I will think that myself -- I will believe it. This is not my last +farewell." + + + + CHAPTER XII. A STRANGE BRIDAL. + + +"My prince, tempt me not. It is hard to refuse; but there are some +things no man may do with honour, and, believe me, honour is dearer to +me than life, dearer even than liberty; though Heaven alone knows how +dear that is to every free-born son of Cambria. I to leave my brother to +wear away his days in captivity whilst I escape under his name! Prince +Alphonso, I know not what you think my heart is made of. Am I to live in +freedom, whilst he whom I love best in the world bears the burden of my +fault, and lingers out his young life within the walls of the king's +prison?" + +Alphonso looked searchingly in Wendot's face, and realized for the first +time the youth's absolute ignorance of his brother's state. No wonder he +refused with scorn the proffered boon! Yet it would be a hard task to +break the sad tidings to one who so deeply loved his gentle younger +brother, from childhood his chosen comrade. + +Alphonso was lying on a couch in one of the smaller state apartments of +Windsor Castle, and the window, close to which he had bidden his +attendants wheel him, overlooked the beautiful valley of the Thames. The +first of the autumn tints were gilding the rich stretches of woodland, +whilst a faint blue haze hung over the distance, and the river ran like +a silver thread, glinting here and there into golden brightness as some +brighter ray of sunlight fell upon it. + +Alphonso loved the view commanded by this window. He and Griffeth spent +many long happy hours here, looking out on the fair prospect, and +exchanging whispered thoughts and bright aspirations with regard to some +land even fairer than the one they now beheld. + +But Wendot never looked at the beautiful valley without experiencing a +strange oppression of spirit. It reminded him of that wilder valley of +the Towy, and his eyes would grow dim and his heart sick with the +fruitless longing after home, which grew harder and harder to hear with +every week of captivity, now that his bodily health was restored. +Captivity was telling upon him, and he was pining as an eagle pines when +caught and shut up by man even in a gilded cage. He looked pale and wan +and wistful. Often he felt stifled by the warm, close air of the valley, +and felt that he must die did he not escape to the freer air of the +mountains. + +But he seldom spoke of these feelings even to Griffeth, and strangely +enough his illness and these homesick longings produced upon his outer +man an effect which was wonderfully favourable to the plan fermenting in +the brains of the royal children and their immediate companions. + +Wendot had lost the sturdiness of figure, the brown colouring, and the +strength of limb which had distinguished him in old days from Griffeth. +A striking likeness had always existed between the brothers, whose +features were almost identical, and whose height and contours were the +same. Now that illness had sharpened the outlines of Wendot's face, had +reduced his fine proportions, and had given to him something of the +hollow-eyed wistfulness of expression which Griffeth had so long worn, +this likeness became so remarkable that few in the castle knew one +brother from the other. Knowing this, they both answered indifferently +to the name of either, and any change of personality would be managed +without exciting the smallest fear of remark. + +Wendot had been perplexed at times by the persistence with which he had +been addressed as Griffeth, even when he was certain that the speaker +was one of the few who knew him and his brother apart; but he had not +troubled his head much over the matter until this day, when Alphonso had +openly spoken to him of the plan that was in their minds, and had bidden +him prepare for a secret flight from the castle, promising that there +should be no ardent search after him, as Wendot, and not Griffeth, was +the culprit who had fallen under the royal displeasure, and the king +would care little for the escape of the younger brother so long as he +held the ex-Lord of Dynevor in his own safe keeping. + +Wendot's indignant refusal to leave his brother and make good his own +escape showed Alphonso how little he realized Griffeth's condition, and +with gentle sympathy, but with candour and frankness, he explained to +the elder brother how short would be the period of Griffeth's captivity +-- how soon and how complete the release for which he was patiently and +happily waiting. + +Wendot gave a great start as the meaning of Alphonso's words first broke +upon him, and then he buried his face in his hands, and sat motionless, +neither answering nor moving. Alphonso looked at him, and by-and-by put +out his own wasted hand and laid it upon Wendot's knee. + +"Does it seem a sad thing to thee, Wendot? Believe me, there is no +sadness for Griffeth in the thought. Nay, is it not a blessed thing to +know that soon, very soon, we shall be free of this weary burden of pain +and sickness and weakness, and laying all aside will pass away to the +land of which the seer of old foretold that 'the wicked cease from +troubling, and the weary are at rest.' Thou knowest not, perhaps, the +sweetness of those words, but I know it well, and Griffeth likewise. + +"Nay, Wendot, thou must learn not to grudge him the rest and the bliss +of yon bright land. In this world he could look for nothing save wearing +weakness and lingering pain. Thou shouldst be glad that the fiat has +gone forth, and that the end may not be far off -- the end of trouble +and sorrow; for of the glory that shall follow there shall be no end." + +But Wendot broke in hoarsely and impetuously. + +"If he must die, let him at least die in freedom, with the old hills +around him; let him be laid to rest beneath their shadow. You say that +he might well escape; that no cry would be made after him so long as I +were in the king's safe keeping. Let him then fly. Let him fly to +Llewelyn and Arthyn. They will give him tendance and a home. He shall +not die in prison, away from all that he holds dear. I cannot brook the +thought!" + +"Nay, Wendot," answered Alphonso with a kindling smile, "thou needest +not grieve for thy brother because that he is here. Ask him -- take it +not from my lips; but I will tell thee this, that where thou art and +where I am is the place where Griffeth would fain end his days. Ah! thou +canst not understand, good youth, how when the great and wonderful call +comes for the human soul, how lightly press the fetters of the flesh; +how small these things of time and place appear that erst have been of +such moment. Griffeth and I are treading the same path at the same time, +and I think not even the offer of a free pardon and unfettered liberty +would draw him from my side. + +"Moreover, Wendot, he could not take the journey of which thou speakest. +The keen autumn air, which will give thee strength and vigour, would but +lay him low on the bed from which he would never rise. His heart is here +with me. Think not that thou art wronging him in taking his name. The +one load lying now upon his heart is the thought that he is leaving thee +in captivity. Let him but know that thou art free -- that he has been +thy helper in thy flight -- and he will have nought left to wish for in +this world. His soul will be at peace." + +Wendot rose and paced through the chamber, and then returned to the side +of the prince. His face betrayed many conflicting emotions. He spoke +with bitterness and impetuosity. + +"And what good is life to me if I take you at your word and fly this +spot? Have I not lost all that makes life worth living? My lands given +to my traitorous kinsman; the brother who has been more to me than life +lying in a foreign grave. What use is life to one so lonely and bereft? +Where should I fly? what should I do? I have never lived alone. I have +always had another to live for and to love. Methinks death would be the +better thing than such a loveless life." + +"And why should thy life be loveless, Wendot?" asked Alphonso, with +kindling eyes and a brightening smile. "Dost not thou know? -- does not +thine own heart tell thee that one faithful heart beats for thee and +thee alone? Have I not seen thee with her times and again? Have not your +eyes told eloquent secrets -- though I know not what your lips have said --" + +Wendot's face was all in a glow, but he broke in hastily: + +"Prince, prince, speak not of her. If I have been beguiled, if I have +betrayed the feelings which I cannot help, but which I must hold sternly +in check -- be not thou the one to taunt me with my weakness. There is +none like her in the world. I have known it for long. But even because I +know it so well I may not even dream of her. It is not with me as of +old, when her father spoke to me of troth plight. I am a beggar, an +outcast, a prisoner. She is rich, honoured, courted. She is the +brightest star of the court --" + +"And she loveth thee, Wendot," interposed Alphonso firmly. "She has +loved thee from childhood with a faithful and true love which merits +better things than to be cast aside as if it were but dross. What are +lands and gold to a woman if her lover share them not? Is it meet that +she should suffer so cruelly simply because her father has left her well +endowed? Wendot, on Lord Montacute's dying bed this daughter of his +avowed her love for thee, and he gave her his blessing and bade her act +as she would. Art thou, then, to be the one to break her heart, ay, and +thine own, too, because thou art too proud to take more than thou canst +give? + +"Fie, man! the world is wide and thou art young. Thou hast time to win +thy spurs and bring home noble spoil to lay at thy lady's feet. Only let +not pride stand in the way of her happiness and thine own. Thou hast +said that life is dark and drear unless it be shared with some loved +one. Then how canst thou hold back, when thou hast confessed thine own +love and learned that hers is thine? Take it, and be grateful for the +treasure thou hast won, and fear not but that thou wilt bring as much as +thou wilt receive. There are strange chances in the fate of each one of +us. Who knows but that thou and she will not yet reign again in the +halls of Dynevor?" + +Wendot started and flushed, and again paced down the whole length of the +room. When he returned to the window Alphonso had gone, and in his place +stood Gertrude herself, her sweet face dyed rosy red with blushes, her +hands half stretched out towards him, her lips quivering with the +intensity of her emotion. + +He paused just one moment looking at her, and then holding out his arms, +he said: + +"Gertrude!" + +Next moment she was clasped in his close embrace, and was shedding happy +tears upon his shoulder. + +"Oh!" said Gertrude at last, in a soft whisper, "it was worth waiting +for this. I never thought I could have been so happy." + +"Joanna -- Alphonso, it is all settled. He will leave the castle with +me. He will help me now in the care of my lands. But he will not move +whilst Griffeth lives. And I think he is right. They have so loved each +other, and he will not leave his brother to die amongst strangers in +captivity." + +"It is like him," said Joanna eagerly. "Gertrude, thou hast found a very +proper knight, as we told thee from the first, when he was but a lad, +and held the Eagle's Crag against a score of men. But ye must be wedded +soon, that there be no delay when once the poor boy be gone. Every day +he looks more shadowy and frail. Methinks that our softer air ill suits +him, for he hath dwindled to a mere shadow since he came. You will not +have to wait long." + +"Joanna speaks the truth," said Alphonso, half sadly, half smilingly. +"He will not be with us long. But it is very true that this marriage +must be privately celebrated, and that without delay, that when the day +comes when 'Griffeth' flies from the castle, he and his wife may go +together." + +"Ay, and my chaplain will make them man and wife, and breathe not a word +to any man," cried Joanna, who, now that she was older, had her own +retinue of servants, equal in number to those of her sister, by whom she +was dearly loved for her generosity and frankness, so that she could +always command ready and willing obedience to any expressed wish of hers. + +"You think he will? O Joanna, when shall it be?" + +"It shall be at midnight in the chapel," said the girl, with the prompt +decision which characterized her. "Not tonight, but three nights from +this. Leave all things in my hands, sweet Gertrude; I will see that +nought is lacking to bind thee lawfully to thy lord. My chaplain is a +good and holy man from the west country. He loveth those poor Welsh who +are prisoners here, and spends much of his time in ministering to them. +He loves thy future lord and his dying brother, and he knows somewhat of +our plan, for I have revealed it in the confessional, and he has not +chided me for it. + +"Oh, I can answer for him. He will be glad that thou shouldst find so +proper a knight; and he is kind of heart, and stanch to my service. Fear +not, sweet Gertrude: ere three days have gone by thou shalt be a wedded +wife; and when the time comes thou mayest steal away with him thy +plighted lord, and trust thy sister Joanna to make thy peace with the +king, if he be in any way angered or grieved." + +Gertrude threw herself into Joanna's arms and kissed her a hundred +times; and Joanna laughed, and said she deserved much credit for +plotting to rid herself of her dearest friend, but was none the less +loyal to the cause because Gertrude's gain would be her loss. + +So there came a strange night, never to be forgotten by those who +witnessed the proceedings, when Wendot ap Res Vychan and the Lady +Gertrude Cherleton stood at midnight before the altar in the small +private chapel of the castle, whilst the chaplain of the Princess +Joanna's private suite made them man and wife according to the law of +the Church. And of the few spectators who witnessed the ceremony two +were of royal blood -- Alphonso and Joanna -- and beside them were only +one or two attendants, sworn to secrecy, and in full sympathy with the +youthful lovers thus plighting their troth and being united in wedlock +at one and the same time. + +Griffeth was not of the number who was present to witness this ceremony. +He was unable to rise from his bed, a sudden access of illness having +overtaken him, possibly as the result of the excitement of hearing what +was about to take place. + +When the solemn words had been spoken, and the bride was led away by her +proud and happy spouse -- happy even in the midst of so much peril and +sorrow in the thought of the treasure he had won -- she paused at the +door of her apartments, whither he would have left her (for so long as +they remained within the walls of the castle they would observe the same +manner of life as before), and glancing into his face said softly: + +"May I not go with thee to tell the news to Griffeth?" + +"Ay, well bethought," said Alphonso, who was leaning on Wendot's other +arm, the distance through the long passages being somewhat fatiguing to +him. "Let us go and show to him thy wife. None will rejoice more than he +to know that she is thine in very truth, and that none can take her from +thee." + +Griffeth's room was nigh at hand, and thither Wendot led his bride. A +taper was burning beside the bed, and the sick youth lay propped up with +pillows, his breath coming in laboured gasps, though his eyes were +bright and full of comprehension as Wendot led the slim, white-robed +figure to his side. + +But the elder brother was startled at the change he saw in his patient +since he had left him last. There was something in his look that struck +chill upon his heart. He came forward and took the feeble hand in his. +It was deadly cold, and the unearthly radiance upon the lad's face was +as significant in its own way. Had not their mother looked at them with +just such a smile when she had slipped away into another world, whilst +they were trying to persuade themselves that she was better? + +"My sister Gertrude," whispered Griffeth. "Oh, I am so happy! You will +be good to him -- you will comfort him. + +"Wendot -- Gertrude --" he made a faint effort, and joined their hands +together; and then, as if his last earthly task was accomplished, he +seemed to look right on beyond them, whilst a strange expression of awe +and wonder shone from his closing eyes. + +"Howel," he whispered -- "father -- mother -- oh, I am coming! Take me +with you." + +Then the head fell backwards, the light vanished from the eyes, the cold +hand fell nervelessly from Wendot's grasp, and they knew that Griffeth +was the king's prisoner no longer. + +Three days later the Lady Gertrude Cherleton said farewell to her royal +companions, and started forth for her own estates in Derbyshire, which +she had purposed for some time to visit. Perhaps had the minds of those +in the castle been free to wonder at anything so trivial as the +movements of the young heiress, they would have felt surprise at her +selecting this time to betake herself to a solitary and independent +existence, away from all her friends and playmates; but the mortal +illness of the Prince Alphonso occupied the whole attention of the +castle. The remains of the so-called Wendot, late of Dynevor, had been +laid to rest with little ceremony and no pomp, and the very existence of +the other brother was almost forgotten in the general dismay and grief +which permeated through all ranks of people both within and without the +castle walls. + +The lady had a small but sufficient retinue; but it was considered +rather strange that she should not start until the dusk had begun to +gather round the castle, so that the confusion of the start was a good +deal increased from the darkness which was stealing upon the place. Had +there been much time or attention free, it might have been noted by a +keen observer that Lady Gertrude had added to her personal attendants +one who looked like a tall and stout woman, though her hood was so +closely drawn that her face was seen by none of the warders, who, +however, let her pass unchallenged: for she rode beside her mistress, +and was evidently in the position of a trusted companion; for the lady +was speaking to her as they passed out through the gate, and there could +certainly be no reason for offering any obstruction to any servant of hers. + +If there were any fear or excitement in Gertrude's breast as she and her +husband passed out of the gate and rode quickly along the path which led +through the town, she did not betray it by look or gesture. Her +eagerness was mainly showed by a desire to push on northward as fast as +possible, and the light of a full harvest moon made travelling almost as +easy as by day. On they rode, by sleeping hamlets and dreaming pastures, +until the lights of Windsor lay twinkling in the dim, hazy distance +miles away. + +Then Gertrude suddenly threw back her hood, and leaning towards her +companion -- they two had outridden their followers some time before -- +cried in a strange, tense voice: + +"O Wendot husband, thou art free! Tomorrow will see us safe within those +halls of which thou art rightful lord. Captivity, trouble, peril is at +an end. Nothing can greatly hurt us now, for are we not one in bonds +that no man may dissever?" + +"My noble, true-hearted wife," said Wendot, in accents of intense +feeling; and then he leaned forward and kissed her in the whispering +wood, and they rode forward through the glades of silvery moonlight +towards the new life that was awaiting them beyond. + +"Hills, wild rocks, woods, and water!" cried Wendot, with a sudden +kindling gleam in his eyes. "O Gertrude, thou didst not tell me the +half! I never guessed that England had aught so like home as this. Truly +it might be Dynevor itself -- that brawling torrent, those craggy fells, +and these gray stone walls. And to be free -- free to breathe the fresh +wind, to go where the fancy prompts, to be loosed from all control save +the sweet bonds that thou boldest me in, dearest! Ah, my wife, thou +knowest not what thou hast done for me. How shall I thank thee for the +boon?" + +"Why, by being thine old self again, Vychan," said Gertrude, who was +standing by her husband's side on a natural terrace of rock above the +Hall which was to be their home. She had brought him out early in the +morning to see the sun rise upon their home, and the rapture of his +face, the passionate joy she saw written there, was more than she had +hoped for. + +"Thou hast grown old and worn of late, too saddened, too grave for thy +years. Thou must grow young again, and be the bright-faced youth to whom +I gave my heart. Thy youth is not left so far behind but what thou canst +recall it ere it be too late." + +"In sooth I shall grow young again here, sweetheart," quoth Wendot, or +Vychan, as we must call him now. He had an equal right to that name with +his father, though for convenience he had always been addressed by the +other; and now that Lady Gertrude had brought her husband home, he was +to be known as Res Vychan, one of the descendants of the last princes of +South Wales, who had taken his wife's name also, as he was now the ruler +of her land; so, according to the fashion of the English people, he +would henceforth be known as Vychan Cherleton. His brother's name he +could not bear to hear applied to himself, and it was left to Joanna to +explain matters to the king and queen when the chance should arrive. +None else need ever know that the husband of the Lady Gertrude had ever +been a captive of Edward's; and the name of Griffeth ap Res Vychan +disappears from the ken of the chroniclers as if it had never been known +that he was once a prisoner in England. + +There was no pursuit made after the missing Welshman. The king and queen +had other matters to think of, and the fondness of their son for the +youth would have been protection enough even if he had not begged with +his dying breath that his father would forgive and forget. Lady Gertrude +and her husband did not come to court for very many years; and by the +time they did so, Vychan Cherleton's loyalty and service to the English +cause were too well established for any one to raise a question as to +his birth or race. + +If the king and queen ever knew they had been outwitted by their +children, they did not resent that this had been so, nor that an act of +mercy had been contrived greater than they might have felt justified in +ratifying. + +But all this was yet in the future. As Vychan and his wife stood on that +high plateau overlooking the fair valley of the Derwent, it seemed to +Gertrude as though during the past three days her husband had undergone +some subtle change. There was a new light in his eyes; his frame had +lost its drooping air of languor; he had stood the long days of rough +riding without the smallest fatigue. It really seemed as if the old +Wendot had come back again, and she smilingly asked him how it was that +he had gained such strength in so short a time. + +"Ah, that question is soon answered, sweet wife. It is freedom that is +the elixir of life to us sons of Cambria. I know not if your +English-born men can brook the sense of fetter and constraint, but it is +death to us. + +"Let us not think of it more. That page has closed for ever; and never +shall it reopen, for sooner will I die than fall alive into the hands of +a foe. Nay, sweetest Gertrude, look not so reproachfully at me. Thou +shalt soon see that I mean not to die, but to live for thee. Here in +this fair, free spot we begin our new life together. It may be even yet +-- for see, is not that bright sky, illumined by those quivering shafts +of light athwart our path, an omen of good? -- that as thou showest me +this fair spot with which thou hast endowed me, I may one day show thee +again and endow thee with the broad lands of Dynevor." + + + + CHAPTER XIII. THE NEW LORD OF DYNEVOR. + + +"Vychan, Vychan, the hour has come! That false traitor Sir Res has risen +in revolt against England's king. Loyal men are called upon to put down +the rebellion, and such as do so will be rewarded with the lands reft +from the traitor. Vychan, Vychan, lose not a moment; arm and take the +men, and fly to Dynevor! Now is the time to strike the blow! And I will +to Edward's court, to plead with him for the lands and castle of Dynevor +as my husband's guerdon for his services. O Vychan, Vychan, have not I +always said that thou shouldest live to call thyself Lord of Dynevor again?" + +Gertrude came flying to her husband with these words, looking scarce +less young and certainly none less bright and happy than she had done +four years back, when she and her husband had first stood within the +walls of her ancestral home. A beautiful, sturdy boy hung upon her hand, +keeping pace gallantly even with her flying steps, and the joy of +motherhood had given something of added lustre to the soft beauty of her +dark eyes; otherwise she was scarce changed from the Gertrude of past +days. As for Vychan, he still retained the eagle glance, the almost +boyish freshness of colouring, and the soldier-like bearing which +distinguished his race, and the gold of his hair had not tarnished or +faded, though he had developed from the youth to the man, and was a +noble specimen of manhood in the zenith of its strength and beauty. + +Rising hastily at his wife's approach, he gazed at her with parted lips +and glowing eyes, whilst she once more told him the news, brought by a +special messenger from the Princess Joanna, brought thus, as both knew, +with a special meaning which they well understood. Four years of +peaceful prosperity in England had in no whit weakened Vychan's love for +his own land or blunted the soldier-like instincts of his race. There +was something of the light of battle and of conquest in his eye as he +gazed at his wife, and his voice rang out clear and trumpet-like as he +gathered the sense of the message she brought. + +"Take up arms against that false traitor-kinsman of mine? ay, verily, +that I will. False first to his kindred and his country, then false to +the king who has trusted and rewarded him so nobly. Res ap Meredith, +methinks thine hour is come! Thou didst plot and contrive to wrest from +me the fair lands my father bequeathed me; but I trow the day has dawned +when the false lord shall be cast forth, even as he has cast forth +others, and when there shall be a lord of the old race ruling at +Dynevor, albeit he rule beneath a new name." + +"Heaven grant it may be so!" cried Gertrude, the tears of excitement +sparkling in her eyes; whilst little Griffeth, catching some of the +sense of his father's words, and understanding with the quick instinct +of childhood that there was something unwonted going on, shook his +little fist in the air, and cried: + +"Dynevor, Dynevor! me fight for Dynevor, too." + +The father picked up his son and held him in a close embrace. + +"Ay, Griffeth, my man, thou shalt reign at Dynevor one of these days, +please God to give us victory over false friends and traitorous allies." + +And even as the parents stood looking smilingly at the brave child, the +blast from the warder's trumpet gave notice that strangers were +approaching the Hall; and hurrying to the entrance gate to be ready to +receive the guests, Vychan and his wife beheld a little troop of +horsemen winding their way up the valley, headed by a pair who appeared +to be man and wife, and to hold some exalted position, for the trappings +of their steeds and the richness of their own dress marked them as of no +humble rank. + +Visitors were sufficiently rare at this lonely place for this sight to +cause some stir in the Hall; and Gertrude, shading her eyes with her +hand, gazed eagerly at the two figures in advance. Suddenly she gave a +little cry of rapture, and bounded forward through the gateway. + +"It is Arthyn -- Arthyn and Llewelyn! Vychan, thy brother and his wife +are here. Oh, they have come to bid thee to the fray! They bring +tidings, and are come to summon thee to the fight. + +"Arthyn, sweetest sister, ten thousand welcomes to our home! Nay, I can +scarce believe this is not a dream. How I have longed to see thee here!" + +Vychan was at his brother's side, as Arthyn, flinging herself from her +saddle, flew into Gertrude's arms. For some moments nothing could be +distinguished but the glad clamour of welcome, and scarce had that +subsided before it recommenced in the eager salutations of the Welsh +retainers, who saw in Vychan another of the sons of their well-loved +Lord, Res Vychan, the former Lord of Dynevor and Iscennen, whose wise +and merciful rule had never been forgotten. + +Vychan was touched, indeed, to see how well he was remembered, and the +sound of the familiar tongue sent thrills of strange emotion through +him. It was some time before he could free himself from the throng of +servants who pressed round him; and when he could do so he followed his +wife and guests into the banqueting hall, where the noonday repast was +spread, giving charge to his seneschal for the hospitable entertainment +of the retinue his brother had brought and their lodgment within the +walls of the Hall. + +When he reached the inner hall he found the servants spreading the best +viands of the house upon the table; whilst Gertrude, Arthyn, and +Llewelyn were gathered together in the embrasure of a window in eager +discussion. Gertrude broke away and came quickly towards him, her face +deeply flushed and her eyes very bright. + +"Vychan, it is even as we have heard. That false traitor is in open +revolt, and he has been even more false than we knew. What think you of +this? -- he professed to be sorry for his revolt, and sent a letter of +urgent pleading to Llewelyn and Arthyn begging them to use their +influence with the king to obtain his pardon. Believing him to be +sincere, Llewelyn set out for England not more than two short weeks +back, taking with him, on account of the unsettled state of the country, +the pick of the men from Carregcennen. And when this double-dyed traitor +knows that Arthyn is alone and unprotected in the castle, what does he +do but send a strong band of his soldiers, himself at their head, who +obtain entrance by the subterranean passage, slay the guard, and take +possession of the fortress. Arthyn has but bare time to escape with a +handful of men, and by hard riding to join her husband on the road to +England. + +"So now have they turned aside to tell the tale to us, and to summon +thee to come with thy men and fight in the king's quarrel against this +wicked man. And whilst ye lead your soldiers into Wales, Arthyn and I +will to the court, to lay the story before the royal Edward, and to gain +from him the full and free grants of the castles of Dynevor and +Carregcennen for our husbands, who have responded to his call, and have +flown to wrest from the traitor the possession he has so unrighteously +grasped." + +"Thy wife speaketh wise words, Vychan," said Llewelyn, whose dark brows +wore a threatening look, and who had the appearance of a man deeply +stirred to wrath, as indeed he well might be; "and it were well that we +lost no time in dallying here. How many men canst thou summon to thy +banner, and when can we be on the march for the south? The Earl of +Cornwall has been called upon to quell this revolt, and he has summoned +to his aid all loyal subjects of the king who hold dear the peace and +prosperity of their land. + +"The days are gone by in which I should despise that call and join the +standard of revolt. The experience of the past has taught me that in the +English alliance is Wales's only hope of tranquillity and true +independence and civilization. When such men as this Res ap Meredith +break into revolt against Edward, it is time for us to rally round his +standard. What would our lives, our lands, our liberties be worth were +such a double-distilled traitor as he transformed into a prince, as is +his fond ambition?" + +"True, Llewelyn, true. The race of kings has vanished from Wales, and +methinks there is no humiliation in owning as sovereign lord the +lion-hearted King of England. Moreover, has he not given us a prince of +our own, born upon Welsh soil, sprung of a kingly race? We will rally +round the standard of father and son, and trust that in the future a +brighter day will dawn for our long-distracted country." + +So forthwith there sped messengers through the wild valleys and wilder +fells of Derbyshire, and many a sturdy son of the mountains came gladly +and willingly at the call of the feudal lord whose wise and kindly rule +had made him greatly beloved. The fighting instinct of the age and of +the race was speedily aroused by this call to arms, and the surrounding +gentlemen and yeomen of the county likewise pressed their services upon +Vychan, glad to be able to strike a blow to uphold the authority of a +king whose wise and brave rule had already made him the idol of the nation. + +It was a goodly sight to see the brothers of Dynevor (as their wives +could not but call them once again) ride forth at the head of this +well-equipped following. Llewelyn marvelled at the discipline displayed +by the recruits -- a discipline decidedly in advance of anything his own +ruder followers could boast. But Welsh and English for once were in +brotherly accord, and rode shoulder to shoulder in all good fellowship; +and the English knew that their ruder comrades from Cambria, if less +well trained and drilled, would be able to show them a lesson in fierce +and desperate fighting, to which they were far more inured than their +more peaceable neighbours from the sister country. + +And fighting there was for all; but the struggle, if fierce, was brief. +Sir Res was a coward at heart, as it is the wont of a traitor to be, and +finding himself opposed by foes as relentless and energetic as Vychan +and Llewelyn, he was speedily driven from fortress to fortress, till at +length he was forced to surrender himself a prisoner to the Earl of +Gloucester; who, out of kindness to his wife, Auda de Hastings, connived +at his escape to Ireland. + +There he lived in seclusion for some time; but the spirit of rebellion +was still alive within him, and two years later he returned to Wales, +and succeeded in collecting an army of four thousand turbulent spirits +about him, at the head of which force he fought a pitched battle with +the king's justiciary, Robert de Tibetot. His army was cut to pieces. He +was taken prisoner himself, and met a cruel death at York as the reward +of his many acts of treasonable rebellion. + +But the halls of Dynevor saw him no more from the moment when Res +Vychan, with a swelling heart, first drove him forth, and planted his +own foot once again upon the soil dearer to him than any other spot on +earth. As he stood upon the familiar terrace, looking over the wide, +fair valley of the Towy, his heart swelled with thankfulness and joy; +and if a slow, unwonted tear found its way to his eye, it was scarce a +tear of sorrow, for he felt assured that his brother Griffeth was +sharing in the joy of this restoration to the old home, and that his +loving and gentle spirit was not very far from him at this supreme hour +of his life. + +"Father, father, father!" + +Vychan turned with a start at the sound of the joyous call, and the next +moment was clasping wife and son to his breast. + +"Sweetheart! come so quickly? How couldst thou?" + +"Ay, Vychan, love hath ever wings, and neither I nor Arthyn could keep +away, our business at the court once accomplished. Vychan, husband, thou +standest here Lord of Dynevor in thine own right. Thou hast won back +thine ancestral home, the boy's inheritance. + +"Seest thou this deed? Knowest thou the king's seal? Take it, for it +secureth all to thee under thy name of Vychan Cherleton. And if in times +to come those who come after know not that it was the son of Res Vychan +who thus reclaimed his patrimony, and if our worthy chroniclers set down +that Dynevor and its lands passed to the keeping of the English, what +matters it? We know the truth, and those who have loved thee and thy +father know who thou art and whence thou hast come. Let that be +sufficient for thee and for me. + +"Griffeth, little son, kiss thy father, and bid him welcome to his own +halls again -- the halls of Dynevor." + +Vychan could not speak. He pressed one passionate kiss upon the lips of +his wife, and another upon the brow of his noble boy, who looked every +inch a Dynevor, with the true Dynevor features, and the bold, fearless +mien so like his father's. + +Then commanding himself by an effort, he opened the king's parchment and +quickly mastered its contents, after which he took his wife's hand and +held out the other to his son. + +"My faithful fellows are mustering in the hall to bid me welcome once +more to Dynevor. Come, sweet wife; I must show to them their lady and +their future lord. + +"Arthyn -- where is she? Has she gone on to Iscennen to meet Llewelyn +there?" + +"Ay, verily: she was as hungry for him as I for thee; and she hath a +similar mandate for him regarding his rights to Carregcennen. + +"O Vychan, dearest husband, I can scarce believe it is not all a dream." + +Indeed, to Vychan it seemed almost as though he dreamed, as in the old +familiar hall he stood, a little raised from the crowd of armed +retainers upon the steps of the wide oak staircase, as he addressed to +them a speech eloquent with that thrilling eloquence which is the gift +of all who speak from the heart, and speak to hearts beating in deep and +true response. Vychan thanked all those who had so bravely fought for +him, explained to all assembled there his new position and his new name, +bid them not think him less a Welshman and a Dynevor because he bore his +wife's arms and called himself the servant of the English king, and held +up before their eyes the mandate of that English king confirming to him +the lands and halls of Dynevor. + +A wild, ringing cheer broke from all who heard him as he thus proved to +their own satisfaction that the royal Edward was their best friend, and +as the new Lord of Dynevor held up his child for them to see, and to own +as future lord in the time-honoured fashion, such a shout went up from +the throats of all as made the vaulted roof ring again. Blades were +unsheathed and waved in wild enthusiasm, and Gertrude's dark eyes +glistened through a mist of proud and happy tears. + +Suddenly from some dim recess in the old ball there issued a strain of +wild music -- the sound of a harp played by no unskilled hand; whilst +mingling with the twang of the strings was the voice of the ancient +bard, cracked through age, yet still retaining the old power and some of +the old sweetness. And harp and voice were raised alike in one of those +triumph songs that have ever been as the elixir of life to the strong, +rude, sensitive sons of wild Cambria. + +"It is Wenwynwyn," quoth Vychan. "He is yet alive. I little thought to +see him more. + +"Griffeth, boy, run to yon old man and bid him give thee his blessing, +and tell him that there is a son of Dynevor come back to rule as Lord of +Dynevor once again." + +POSTSCRIPT. + +The story of the sons of Res Vychan is very intricate and difficult to +follow, owing to the lack of contemporaneous documents; but the main +facts of their story as related in the foregoing pages are true, though +a certain license has been taken for purposes of fiction. + +They have been represented as somewhat younger than they were at the +time of these events, whilst the children of Edward the First have been +made some few years older than their true ages. + +There is no actual historical warrant for the change of identity between +Wendot and Griffeth, and for the escape and reinstatement of the former +in the halls of Dynevor; but there are traditions which point to a +possibility that he did escape from prison, in spite of the affirmation +of the chroniclers, as there have been those who claim descent from him, +which they would hardly have done if such had not been the case, for +there is no record that he was married before he was taken prisoner to +England. + +The children of the English king were not really at Rhuddlan Castle in +1277, as represented here, as they were at that time too young to +accompany their father on his expeditions. If, however, they had been as +old as represented in these pages, there is little doubt they would have +accompanied him, as the monarch was a most affectionate father, and +loved to have wife and children about him. + +Arthyn is a fictitious character; as is also Gertrude. There is no +record that any of the sons of Res Vychan married or left descendants, +except the tradition alluded to above. + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Lord of Dynevor, by Evelyn Everett-Green + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LORD OF DYNEVOR *** + +***** This file should be named 13227.txt or 13227.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/2/2/13227/ + +Produced by Martin Robb + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/old/13227.zip b/old/13227.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3ef0756 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13227.zip |