Servant of the Bone Tree

Chapter 5: An Uneasy Truce

Emrys opened his eyes. The relentless beating had halted. He was still alive. Beaten, bruised, and as weak as a kitten, but alive. For a moment he was joyous. His pride was wounded, but if the fight had been stopped then he could return to the Dark World. He could train once more and come back to face his enemies with even stronger magic.

Then he saw who his savior was, and Emrys’s joy turned to disgust.

Prince Gwern stepped forward, and all druids and axe-bearers present bowed to him. He had his sword raised aloft, and pointed towards Emrys’s throat.

Emrys wanted to roar at him. He wanted to stand above his cousin and beat him into a paste. But his body was sapped of all strength. Emrys could only stay knelt on the floor, shaking.

“What do you think you’re doing, you fool?” Gwern snapped at his father.

“He had his choice to surrender.”

“What about temperance? When we had the man on his knees in the Ancestral Hall, you prevented me from killing him.”

“You are the heir now, Your Majesty. We do not need to show the man any patience. The axe-bearers know whom they serve.”

“But he challenged me to a duel in the stone circle.”

Morgan groaned and rolled his eyes. “You were a fool to accept,” he said. “There was no need for you to risk your honor in a duel with this man. Besides, he has been in the Dark World. He fights with a new, unnatural strength. The duel will not be a fair one, sire.”

“You’re telling me you don’t believe I can best him?”

“I am Regent of Cwm still, Gwern. My word goes until you come of age.”

Gwern glared at him. “You would still not defy me,” he said. “You are supposed to represent my wishes. My wishes are to duel this false heir, to make a public spectacle in front of him in front of the eyes of the people. Then they will see who is destined to become the true King. They will know that I am the Chosen One.”

Morgan and Gwern continued to lock eyes. A battle of wills. Emrys could sense the tension between them. Morgan had clearly devised this plan out of a desire for power, and had told Gwern all he wanted to hear. That he was the Chosen One. That he would lead Cwm to peace and glory.

But that plan had backfired. Swollen on his own importance, Gwern was making royal demands, despite the fact that he was not yet old enough to rule. But that didn’t matter. His voice was still that of a future King’s, and there were axe-bearers present to bear witness.

Morgan threw his axe onto the ground in fury. “Very well,” he said. “If the Heir thinks he knows best, then we will do as he says. Put Emrys back into his cell. Let him rot there until the solstice.”

Lloyd stepped forward to follow the command. Emrys, meanwhile, gathered his strength. He once again found his voice. “Halt,” he said.

Lloyd halted, almost instinctively.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Gwern hissed at him. “Do you serve me, or do you serve a traitor?”

“Listen to me Gwern,” Emrys continued. “If you throw me in a cell, I will only grow weaker. By the time that the solstice comes around, I will be a pale shadow of a man. And today, the people of this city saw me in my full strength. What will they think, when you enter the stone circle facing a weakened version of a great warrior?”

“Don’t listen to this nonsense,” said Morgan.

But Gwern didn’t reply. He was looking at Emrys, his eyes narrowed.

Emrys knew that he had him.

“The traitor is right,” Gwern said. “If I face a withered prisoner, then the people will not think that the fight is fair. They will judge me as a coward, and then what kind of ruler will I be? We cannot return Emrys to a cell. Give him chambers in the servant’s halls.”

Morgan’s mouth hanged open. “You want to house him? After all of his crimes? This man has killed a druid, and now three axe-bearers. He has caused terror in your city, and he has insulted you to your face.”

“I’ve given my orders, father. I believe that they are quite simple.” Gwern smirked. “It won’t matter in any case. An oaf with magical strength is still an oaf. I will cut him down with ease.”

#

Emrys thanked the ancestors for his good fortune. He sent a prayer of gratitude to the Dark World, where he hoped it would reach the ears of Dara, and the bone tree. As he was led into the Royal Halls, his sister’s hand linked in his, he felt as though he had received a blessing. Just hours before he had been condemned to die. Now he was being show to modest quarters with feather beds, and hearth that kept his sister warm. Servants brought them a platter of food, and Emrys regained some of his lost strength through mouthfuls of salty fish, and sweet, tangy honey on buttered loaves.

Angharad didn’t eat anything that Emrys offered. She just watched him. “What did I just witness, brother?” she said.

“Good fortune, sister. The kind that comes just once in a lifetime. Count your blessings. Now eat something. You look more ill than I’ve ever seen you.”

“Not that. What you did to those guards it wasn’t…human.”

“I’ve got a new strength now. It doesn’t matter. Eat.”

“You roared like an animal.”

Emrys sighed, realizing that Angharad wasn’t going to led this go. He held her hand gently, coaxing her into her bed. He tucked the soft quilt up tight to her chin, then he felt her forehead with the back of his hand.

It was hot and clammy, despite the fact that she was quivering as though she were near frozen.

“I received a new strength from the dark world,” he explained. “It isn’t pretty, but its what I need to defeat Gwern and ensure our safety.”

“Father would never have killed axe-bearers.”

“Father had the blessing of being beloved by his court. He didn’t know there were traitors living right under his nose.”

“I see.”

Angharad looked despondent. She wept, her tears leaving large wet blotches on the quilt she was wrapped in.

“I’m sorry if I frightened you,” Emrys said.

“It’s not that. I just wish that everything had stayed the same. Things are changing so quickly I can’t keep up. I just haven’t got the strength, brother.”

Emrys nodded. “You’re even weaker than usual.”

“I know. The illness has been growing whilst you were aware.” She smiled sadly at him. “I think sometimes it would be a blessing if I died. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about me all the time. I must be a burden.”

“Never talk of your death, Angharad.”

“I am cursed, Emrys. It could happen any day. You must be prepared for it.”

At that, Emrys said nothing. He put a spoonful of honey up to Angharad’s lips, and she ate at last. Though the sweetness made her gag, and she said she couldn’t stomach any more without vomiting.

#

When Angharad finally drifted off to sleep, Emrys wiped of the blood from his back wound. He smeared it upon his bone-charm necklace, and at once the small room began to fill with mist.

In a matter of seconds, he was back in the bone palace. Dara was waiting for him, arms crossed behind his back, smiling mysteriously.

“Couldn’t stay away?” Dara said. “I know, I know. I’m excellent company.”

“I need to train. Now.”