Gambit of the Glass Crowns: Vol. I of epic fantasy The Sundered Kingdoms Trilogy (30 page)

Again, there was only silence.

Connor pushed Declan aside and attempted to open the door, but it was locked. He pounded on it and shouted, “Rhodri, open this door!”

After a short silence, he heard his brother shuffling around in the room. The lock clicked, and Rhodri appeared.

“By the Goddess!” Connor gasped at his brother’s gaunt appearance. His cheeks had sunken far into his face and he had dark circles under his eyes. “Rhodri?”

“Con…‌nor.” He collapsed onto his shoulder, in tears.

“I am here.” Connor put his hand on his brother’s back, ignoring the pain Rhodri’s weight placed upon his chest. “Everything will be all right.”

“He does not sleep,” Declan whispered.

“Come, Rhodri.” Connor practically dragged his limp body into the room. “Do you not wish to rest?”

His only response was to sob louder.

“Help me get him into bed.”

They lifted Rhodri onto the mattress, but he would not let go of Connor until he lay next to him.

“Leave us,” Connor told his uncle.

“Are you cert‌—?”

“Leave.”

Declan obeyed, closing the door behind him.

Connor listened to his brother’s sobs and tried desperately to think of something he could do. Ceridwen would know. Ceridwen would know exactly what to do. He must think as she would.

When Rhodri eventually calmed, sniffling as a child with a cold, Connor sat up and coaxed his brother to lean on him. “Rhodri, do you remember when we were children?” he said, pulling a blanket over him. “Do you remember how we used to play in the willow groves?”

There was no answer.

“You and Declan would go off and do all the things older boys did, and I would tag along with you, despite your protests. Mother would insist you allow me to accompany you.”

Rhodri still made no acknowledgment of Connor’s words.

“I was so much younger than you. I must have been an annoyance, I know. You certainly begrudged me for wanting to come along with you on your adventures. But, do you remember, there was the day I followed you to the shore? To that grassy cliff that overlooked the sea?” He looked at Rhodri, hoping for a sound, but heard nothing. “We had not yet reached the cliff, but we were nearby. I had been bothering you, and you pushed me in the dirt, so I cried. You continued on without me, laughing that I wept. As I tried to catch up, blinded by the tears which stung my eyes, I slipped and tumbled into the water.”

Rhodri grew drowsy.

“I was under the water for what felt like an eternity, but it was mere moments. You jumped in after me and pulled me out. I choked on the sea water, certain you were going to yell at me, but you did not yell. You told me you were scared I had drowned.”

Rhodri slept soundly.

“You saved me that day, and by any gods who might listen, I swear I will save you from this.” Connor also closed his weary eyes, listening to his brother’s soft snoring.

When he opened his eyes, he realized he had also fallen asleep. For what length of time, he could not say, but the sun hung low in the afternoon sky. He climbed out of the bed, making certain not to wake his brother, and crept into the hall. He passed their childhood rooms and hurried on around the corner to Gawain’s quarters.

“Gawain?” Connor did not bother to knock before he opened the door.

“Connor? What is it?” Gawain sat up from the bed, where he lay reading. “Is something wrong?”

“What makes you think something is wrong?”

“You are weeping.” Gawain walked over to him.

“Am I?” Connor reached up and wiped his wet cheeks.

“Has something happened?”

He struggled to find the right words.

“Is it your brother?”

Connor nodded. “He is…‌I do not even know how to explain. His grief is immense. Unbearable.”

“I am sorry for him. How do you fare?”

“I must ask something of you.”

“You have but to name it,” Gawain assured him.

“When I approached you in Cærwyn about escorting me here, to Helygen, you agreed, but only on the condition you accompany me on my journey to Arlais.”

“Yes.” Gawain smiled.

“I must ask of you to break this condition.”

“What?”

“My brother‌—‌he is unwell. I cannot leave his side, not at this time. I must stay with him.”

“Then I shall stay here as well.”

“No, I cannot‌—‌will not‌—‌ask you to do that. I want you to leave for Arlais without me.”

“But‌—”

“You have questions that you need answered. It is unfair of me to ask you to delay seeing Ceridwen while I attend to my brother’s wellbeing.” He hoped Gawain would listen.

“I cannot deny my desperation to reach Arlais. Ceridwen holds answers I seek.” Gawain looked toward the window. “When would you travel to Arlais?”

“I hope to arrive for the Ddirym Festival.”

“That is at the end of this month, is it not?”

“So you see? We will meet up with one another in a short time.”

“I could wait and travel with you then.”

“No, Gawain.” Connor shook his head. “Please, do this for me. I need you to tell Ceridwen what has happened to Siana and Rhodri, and of my arrival.”

“Very well,” Gawain agreed, unable to argue. “I will make haste and leave today.”

“I did not mean you must leave this instant.”

“No, you are right. I must see Ceridwen.”

Connor could hear the spite hang on Gawain’s every word. “Very well, I shall see you off.”

“There is no need.” Gawain grabbed his pack. “Go and attend to your brother. We shall see one another at the Ddirym Festival at Arlais. And we shall drink ourselves blind and be merry.”

Connor managed a smile as he left the room. Behind him, he heard Gawain hurry down the hall to the main staircase.

Feeling a lump in his throat, Connor raced to the window bank overlooking the courtyard below. He scanned the area, spotting Gawain near the stables.

“You take care of him, you hear?” Gawain called to Víðófnir, standing at the stable doors. He walked over and stroked his mane, and Víðófnir allowed it. He then disappeared into the stables to mount his horse. When he returned outside, he approached Garth and Ioan, seated around a barrel with the other men. Each took turns drinking from a tankard and laughing heartily.

Garth stood to attention, holding onto the barrel to steady himself as he saluted by pounding his fist to his chest. Ioan clumsily stood too, uneasy on his feet before stumbling backward in his chair.

Connor could not make out what Gawain said to them, but he heard Garth shout, “What?”

Gawain shook his head, continuing to speak calmly. He pointed to the north, and seemed to be explaining something.

“What’m I to tell the duke?” Garth cried out. “He’ll have my balls!”

Gawain saluted him and Ioan before turning his horse to the main gates, ignoring Garth’s shouts for him to return.

Alric stood at the window in his chamber and looked out at the surrounding Cærwynian landscape. What was to become of this land? Braith pressed for war. He made it clear that even without Cærwyn’s support, Annwyd would take the offensive. Already, soldiers trained at the Vega outpost in the southern Brynlands. Troops in Annwyd were being gathered as well.

He was only glad Braith had left. It was far easier to retain his own thoughts without the king’s warmongering. Although Alric had seen many battle campaigns in his youth, the idea of war scared him in his older years. There was far more to consider now. He must think of his people, not only of himself.