John Gwynne - Malice

‘Come on,’ Vonn said to his friends. ‘Best to make a retreat. I feel we’re outnumbered.’ He winked at Edana.

‘It’s a shame,’ Rafe called over his shoulder, ‘that Corban doesn’t have some of his sister’s courage, then maybe he wouldn’t need her to fight his battles for him.’ He pointed a finger at Cywen. ‘And you should remember that the King’s daughter may not be around to get you out of trouble next time.’ Then he strode into the crowd.

Cywen made to follow him but Edana touched her arm and she stopped.

‘Come on,’ Edana said, steering Cywen gently towards the paddocks. They walked in silence.

‘Thank you,’ said Cywen, stroking the colt. ‘Sometimes I do things before I think. Actually, a bit more than sometimes .’ She blushed at the thought of what she’d just done, and in front of Edana, daughter of the King. ‘Sorry,’ she said.

‘Are you going to tell me what that was all about?’

Edana listened intently as Cywen told of what had happened between Rafe and her brother, the sun dipping slowly towards the western horizon, turning the bay into an undulating sea of bronze. Around them the paddock gradually emptied of people, a crowd gathering towards the northern edge of the meadow as sunset approached.

‘. . and now I’m starting to worry about Gar as well, because neither of them has returned, and look how late it is,’ Cywen finished.

Edana looked past Cywen towards the giantsway. ‘I can see two riders. Look.’

‘I think it is them,’ Cywen said.

The girls marched across the meadow, Cywen half running and Edana walking beside her, her long strides keeping pace easily. They reached the road and followed it until the point where it forked east and west. The riders were closer now, one on a horse, the other a pony.

Cywen ran forward, hugging Gar’s leg as he pulled his piebald to a halt. ‘Where have you been?’ she cried. ‘You’ve been gone so long.’

‘Best ask your brother,’ said Gar, his face its usual stony expression.

Cywen looked at Corban as he trotted up on his pony. ‘Oh, Ban,’ she said, seeing his cut and bruised face.

‘Cywen,’ he mustered a smile. Then Edana walked up behind his sister. Corban flushed a shade of red.

Gar nodded to the blonde-haired girl.

’I’ve been watching Cywen working with the horses,’ Edana said. ‘I am most impressed with her skills. She told me she has a good teacher.’

‘She learns quickly, when she stops talking long enough to listen,’ said the stablemaster.

‘Where have you been, Ban?’ Cywen asked.

‘In the Baglun.’

‘What? Why?’ gasped Cywen.

‘Never you mind. But don’t tell Mam,’ he added quickly.

‘We’ll talk about the other thing later,’ Corban whispered, glancing at Edana.

‘The other thing? Do you mean Rafe?’ Cywen followed Corban’s gaze. ‘Don’t worry about Edana, she knows all about it.’

‘Oh,’ said Corban, shoulders slumping.

‘Your sister has had words with Rafe,’ said Edana.

‘What?’ Corban said with a squeak. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I was so angry, Ban, when Dath told me what happened to you. Well, I saw him walking in the crowd, Rafe, that is, and. .’

‘What did you do?’ said Gar sternly, a sick expression settling upon Corban.

‘Well, I don’t remember it very clearly, but I did knock him over, and punch him a bit. And kick him.’

‘His nose was bleeding when I arrived,’ added Edana.

Gar just stared at her, so Cywen looked to her brother for support. His face was set like stone.

‘My thanks,’ said Corban eventually, coldly, sounding as if he was having trouble breathing.

Cywen just looked at him, a weightless sensation growing in her stomach.

‘The next time I have a fight to conduct, I shall call for you to fight it for me.’

‘Rafe said something like that,’ Cywen said, then closed her mouth quickly and clasped a hand over it.

Corban grimaced.

‘Ban, don’t be silly,’ Cywen said. ‘Nobody will even remember it tomorrow. And stop screwing up your face like that, it makes you look like old Eluned, and that’s not a good thing, you know.’

Corban took a deep breath.

‘Anyway, better get you cleaned up and see what we can do about your cloak before Mam sees you. She’s likely to skin you if you turn up at the handbinding like that.’

‘I know,’ he said dejectedly.

’Speaking of mothers,’ said Edana, ‘I think I’d better go, otherwise my mam will be wanting to do something terrible to me .’

The stablemaster dipped his head. ‘My lady.’

‘Gar,’ Edana said with a smile, then she turned and walked quickly back towards the crowds in the meadow.

‘What an idiot ,’ said Corban, scowling.

‘No she’s not,’ snapped Cywen.

‘Not her, me .’

Cywen stopped herself from agreeing with him. I’ll remind him some other time , she thought, when he’s not quite so distraught .

‘And I’m not talking to you,’ said Corban, pointing a finger at his sister.

‘Come on, you two,’ said Gar. Suddenly he stood in his saddle, peering eastwards down the giantsway.

‘What is it,’ asked Cywen.

‘Two riders,’ Gar murmured. With a shrug he sat back and together they headed on towards the village.

‘What were you doing in the Baglun?’ Cywen asked. Corban ignored her. ‘Come on, Ban, I know it’s not nice, what happened with Rafe. Your poor face.’ She rested a hand on his leg. With a jerk of his wrist Corban steered Willow away.

‘Why are you punishing me ?’ she said, tears blooming. ‘If you want to get angry with someone, why don’t you try Rafe?’

Corban scowled at her and kicked Willow into a trot. Cywen began to jog after him, but when she drew level with Gar, the stablemaster called her.

‘Leave the lad a while,’ he said.

‘But. .’

‘Leave him be,’ he said sternly. ‘You’re not helping.’

‘Not you too,’ she muttered, kicking at the road.

‘I know you meant well, but sometimes, this time , it would have been better if you had thought before you acted. Do you not see, in Corban’s eyes your bravery has made him a coward twice over.’

‘He’s not a coward,’ she snapped.

‘It doesn’t matter what you or I think. He thinks it.’

‘Is it really such a big thing?’ she asked. ‘He’s only got a cut lip. I’ve had worse falling off a horse.’

‘It’s not about the cut. He will be entering the Rowan Field soon to begin his walk to manhood. This will rest heavy on him.’

‘What can I do?’ she asked.

‘Do? Nothing else, Elyon forbid. This is something he must come through by himself. Teach yourself to think before you act, that is something you could do.’ He looked at her bowed head. ‘Give him time.’

She nodded.

Dath came running down the road to meet them. Corban pulled to a halt, Dath reaching him just before Cywen and Gar.

‘How are you, Ban?’ said Dath, looking intently at his friend.

‘I’m well, Dath,’ he replied curtly. Then he sighed. ‘My chin’s a bit sore, to tell you the truth, so is my lip. And my ribs.’

‘I’ve got your gifts,’ said Dath.

‘Oh, I’d forgotten,’ said Corban, rooting around in Dath’s bag.

‘I heard what you did,’ Dath grinned at Cywen, ‘people are talking about it all around the fair.’ She pulled a face, causing his smile to flee.

‘This is for you,’ Corban muttered and threw something to Cywen.

‘It’s beautiful,’ she said, running her fingers over the horse carved on the brooch. ‘Thank you, Ban.’ More tears sprang to her eyes.