in the walls, the holes invisible to those not looking for them.
“Put your weapons away,” the apparent leader said. He had a grizzled appearance, a black bushy beard shot through with gray. Plates of armor sewn into chain mail covered his frame. “Or the human lad in the middle dies.”
Four other guards stepped into the corridor, similarly armed.
“You, at the front. You trespass. Why?” the old guard questioned Richard, never taking his eyes off of Bran. “Answer truth or your companion dies.”
“We mean to share counsel with Lord Fafnir, wise leader of Caer Glain,” Richard said quickly. “We mean you and the colblynau no harm.”
“That is for me to decide,” the coblynau rumbled. “What is your business with Lord Fafnir? You are not dead only because of the Arendig Fawr armor your hellyll wear.”
“We bring a request and news from the Queen.”
“That may or may not be true,” the guard said. “The Queen is rarely spoken of in these halls. It is a crime to do so now, punishable by death. Regardless, you are here uninvited and have entered our home without the consent of Lord Fafnir. Tell me what you will and I will decide its import and your fate.”
“It is for Lord Fafnir alone,” Richard continued.
“He has made it clear he is to not be disturbed.”
“War is upon the world, coming to all heights of the Snowdon,” Lugh interceded, his spear glimmering lethal gold. “To your people. To my people.”
“We are impervious to war here. It has been ever so.”
“No longer,” Lugh argued.
The guard frowned deep into his beard. He gnashed his teeth and took a look at the rest of the company. His light blue eyes settled on Bran again before he turned to Richard for the first time, his spear still held rigidly at Bran’s throat. The portal knight could see a war taking place within the guard, his duty conflicting with the common sense that so many in power did not have.
Richard hoped common sense would prevail.
“What is your name?” he asked.
“I am Master Guardsman Henrick.”
“You have my word as a Knight of the Yn Saith,” Richard said, approaching the two guards with mere feet between. “Of what I speak is true.”
“The Seven?” The short man mulled it over. “Children’s stories.”
“Really?”
“The last knight to tread Caer Glain was named Mather Hobbes,” Henrick said. “He wielded Witchbane, also known as Arondight, and protected the colblynau from the witch—”
“Rosairh during the Shadow Rise several centuries ago,” Richard finished, growing impatient. “That’s why you can trust what I say. I am a knight and know the history.” He smiled his most dark smile. “If you don’t remove those blades from my companion’s neck, you will see Arondight’s wrath, and not much will be left of you, Master Guardsmen.”
“You are in no position to threaten us, whoever you think you are,” the coblynau said.
“You presume I care about my companion,” the knight said. “Besides, it’s not a threat. It’s a promise. Arondight has never suffered fools well. Not while I’ve wielded it, anyway.”
Henrick peered at Richard.
“If you possess Witchbane, reveal it.”
“That is for your liege only,” Richard said.
At this, Henrick grunted but removed his spearhead from Bran’s throat. His companion did the same. Bran relaxed visibly.
“Now, when was the last time someone visited Caer Glain from the mountain below?” Richard asked.
“At least a decade. Maybe more.”
“You know I speak truly then,” the knight said. “We would not be here unless the direst of circumstances warranted it. And they do. For the entirety of Annwn, they do.”
“Lord Fafnir will know of your arrival. More than that, I cannot say,” Henrick said, stroking his beard. “I cannot remember a time when he welcomed visitors with anything but a kick out the front door.” He paused. “Grace me with your name?”
“Richard McAllister.”
“How did you get past Llassar, Richard McAllister?”
“He was…indisposed.”
“I see,” Henrick snorted. “I just hope Lord Fafnir does not force me to join you in death.”
Richard stepped aside, allowing the Master Guardsman through. Henrick gave him and the others a cursory glance before striding down the hallway, the broad man mumbling darkly below his breath. The portal knight followed after Henrick, knowing he had won at least one battle in the war to reunite the Seelie Court.
Richard also knew there were more battles to come.
If he survived meeting Lord Fafnir.
The other coblynau guards closed ranks on the group from Arendig Fawr. Richard and the others were prisoners now, whether they liked it or not.