Shadow of Stone (The Pendragon Chronicles) by Ruth Nestvold Page B

Drystan rather than Arthur. They had freed Yseult from the Erainn raider Gamal, a battle at sea, the decks slippery with blood before it was over, the metallic smell of it stronger even than the sweat of the living and the emptied bowels of the dead.
    Cador took the wineskin, leaned his head back and squirted a shot into his mouth. His ears were growing warm from the wine and the taste was pleasant on his tongue. He turned to Gawain. "What do you think, will we be able to drive the Picts back to the frozen north?"
    His big friend clapped him on the shoulder. "Of course we will, Cador! We are Arthur's men, remember?"
    Cador nodded, wishing he had the same bravery and confidence as Gawain.
    Not to mention the same woman warming his bed.
    No. He would not allow his thoughts to go in that direction. Thank all the gods of Britain, native and Christian alike, that Gawain did not have the kind of power Yseult possessed — the ability to read a man's soul.
    * * * *
    In the early morning hours, Cador was shaken awake. "A messenger has arrived."
    Cador shot up from his bedroll, shaking his head to rid himself of the dregs of sleep and dreams, nightmares of emptiness and shadows. Yseult ?
    "Gwythyr," Gawain murmured, as if he heard Cador's half-formed thoughts.
    "Gwythyr?" Cador echoed. What did Ginevra's father have to do with anything?
    "He has marched north from Celliwig with a force of two centuries. He received a messenger from Yseult, just as we did." The joy in Gawain's voice was not lost on Cador, despite his half-awake state. "She has taken refuge with the priest Illtud and is awaiting reinforcements."
    Cador rubbed his eyes between thumb and forefinger, doing his best to wake up. Gwythyr was not only Arthur's father-in-law, he was the sub-king closest to Dyn Tagell. Ties were strong; Yseult had sought shelter with Gwythyr and Ginevra when she'd fled Marcus, and later had assisted in the birth of Arthur's son Loholt. Relationships between kings and subject kings were growing less well-defined every year, it seemed, but Gwythyr was indebted to Yseult through more than just custom.
    "Gwythyr will wait for us inland from Dyn Tagell. His messenger will take us to the spot."
    Cador pushed himself up in the confined space of the tent and dragged his hair out of his eyes. "I'm ready to ride."
    * * * *
    Gwythyr's fighting forces were awaiting them in a protected dale a few miles east of Dyn Tagell. Somewhere nearby, Cador thought he could hear a waterfall, or maybe it was just rapids from a stream.
    They dismounted, and he and Gawain greeted the gray-haired king of Cerniw.
    "Do you know if Yseult is safe?" Cador asked once the formalities were over.
    Gwythyr shook his head. "We've had no further news. But that could be a good sign — if the sons of Caw had her in their power, we would have heard."
    "What we don't know doesn't help us either way," Gawain said impatiently. "What do you know?"
    "My scouts reported a force of about two hundred men who laid siege to Dyn Tagell. When they attacked, they burned the mainland barracks and killed the soldiers there."
    "Two hundred," Cador said, nodding slowly. "We have that many already, half in cavalry. The question is, do we wait for the reinforcements from Lansyen and Isca to attack?"
    "No," Gawain said. "Yseult is there and may be in danger."
    "We should send a messenger to Illtud's church," Gwythyr suggested.
    "What if the messenger doesn't get through?" Cador asked.
    Gawain's expression was grim. "Then we know we need to move against the enemy."
    * * * *
    The messenger they sent to the mainland church of Dyn Tagell did not get through, or at least did not return. There was fear in the faint trembling of Cador's fingers as they broke their bread the next morning. He looked up, his gaze locking with that of Gawain, where he saw the same fear.
    After breaking their fast, they set off for Dyn Tagell, keeping to the protection of the wooded valley. Soon, however, they would have to come out