called Gruffydd, “I speak for all of us when I say that we are grateful for your friendship and would like nothing more than to sit with you and drink your health and that of your people.” His eyes shifted to the baron and he hesitated for a moment, then continued, “Unfortunately, we cannot partake of that estimable luxury. Time presses. Do not think me rude, therefore, if I decline your hospitality. We are passing through your lands on our way to Elfael.”
“Elfael,” remarked Garran with a glance at his sister, who was quietly translating for Baron Neufmarché. “It does seem to be a busy place of late.”
“I will be brief,” said Gruffydd. “We go to join forces with Bran ap Brychan to aid him in his fight to reclaim the throne of Elfael from the Ffreinc. As God is my witness, Lord Bran has done me a very great service which I can never hope to repay in full. But I go to do what I can. Moreover, it has been borne upon me with some considerable force”—here he glanced at Lord Llewelyn—“that if any of us would be free in our own land, we must all be free. To that end, I have persuaded these lords to join me.” He put out a hand to his august companions and their commanders, who filled the benches at the board. He stepped before Garran to address him more directly. “I would persuade you, too, my lord.” He regarded the young king steadily. “Join us, Rhi Garran. Help us right a great wrong and win justice for Elfael, and all who call Cymru home, against the Ffreinc and their overreaching king.”
One of the lords stepped near to Gruffydd just then and whispered something in his ear. The king of Gwynedd squared himself, turned, and gazed boldly at the baron. “It seems I have spoken too freely,” Gruffydd said. “I am informed that we have a Ffreinc baron among us. Had I known that he was here—”
“Truly,” said Garran, “there is no harm done.” He turned and beckoned the baron and his sister nearer. “My lords, I present Baron Neufmarché, my liege lord, and with him, my sister Lady Mérian.”
“My lord baron,” said Gruffydd in stiff acknowledgement of Neufmarché. His hand went to the sword at his side and stayed there.
“As the baron is my overlord,” Garran continued, “it is well that he has heard your intentions for himself.”
“How so?” said Gruffydd suspiciously.
“For the fact that this was the very course he himself was urging only moments before we joined you here.”
“Mes seigneurs et mes rois,” said the baron. “C’est vrai.” Mérian translated for the Welsh kings, and explained that the baron had defied Red William’s summons and had come to Eiwas instead, and that he and Garran had just been discussing the need to aid the rebels of Elfael in their struggle against the crown. After a quick consultation with Bernard, she concluded, “Baron Neufmarché wishes you to know that he stands willing to pledge his men to the aid of Elfael, and asks only to be taken at his word.”
This provoked a hasty and heated discussion among the Welsh noblemen. Mérian watched as the debate seemed to roll back and forth. It was swiftly over, and the Welsh lords turned to face the baron with their answer. Gruffydd said, “We have argued your offer, Lord Baron, and it is most unexpected, to be sure—but no less welcome for that. We will accept your pledge and thank you for it.”
The baron expressed his gratitude to the Welsh kings for placing their trust in him, and then, through Mérian, asked, “How soon can you be ready to march?”
“We are already on the march,” replied Gruffydd. “Our men are on their way to Elfael even now.”
“Then,” replied the baron, when he had received Gruffydd’s answer, “we must make haste to overtake them. Among my people, it is counted a very great shame for a commander to lead from the rear.”
CHAPTER 39
Rhoddi scrambled through the upper branches of the greenwood canopy, skittering along the hidden path of the sky way, to drop deftly into the little clearing where the Grellon had set up camp after abandoning Cél Craidd the day before. He searched among the sleeping bodies huddled in their cloaks on the ground for the one he sought, and hastened to kneel beside it. “Bran!” he said, leaning close. “Owain says to come at once.”
Bran sat up. It was early still, the feeble