Mae was 100% happy to not be walking this last
part of the journey. While her cloak and dress were mostly dry, her boots most
certainly were not and she HATED wet feet. She was warm riding on the wolf
since she had to hug him or she’d fall off. Only thing that reminded her how
miserable this was, was her cold, wet feet.
Jon outmiseried her by far. Not only wet feet,
but also having to try to stay awake. He started to doze off once and almost
fell off as the wolf leapt a stream. That startled him awake! Well, for a
bit…and then another startle! Maybe next time he would just go to sleep.
Getting eaten by a giant didn’t sound all that bad at the moment.
They had gotten a late start but the wolves were
well rested and made good time through mid-day. In fact, once the bridge and
Afon Usk were behind them, the valleys seemed to fly past them. The wolves
crossed into the valleys well south of the Plain of Usk and moved quickly into
the Bryniau Rhiannon. As they moved up into the hills, their pace slowed as the
wolves spent more time in the tree line avoiding open areas. The sun was riding
low in the sky when finally Blaidd Brawd stopped and lowered his
head and
growled. “Mam, he’s telling us it is time to get off. We must walk the rest of
the way as it is not safe for them here. He says we will be fine and to just
keep walking until we reach Ty Rhiannon.”
Kymeth signaled the troop to dismount and once
she had looked everyone over once, she turned to Blaidd Brawd and the other
wolves. “Thank you…” she said to empty woods. They were already gone.
“Well, the sun is setting and we must not be out
after sundown, even in these protected woods.” There was a well-worn path not
far away and they followed it as it rose up into the hills. They walked not
more than 10 minutes and the sounds of horses and music began to waft down
towards them. Another 10 minutes and the path led to a clearing with several
thatched roof wooden round houses surrounding a central, much larger, thatched
roof wooden round house extensively decorated with painted carvings of runes,
horses, large birds, and grifffons. Skulls of horses were stacked above gates
set into a split rail fence that surrounded the building. As they walked into
the clearing, 3m poles stood on either side of the path, also with runes and images deeply
carved into dark wood. The poles seemed to shimmer a bit as they passed.
They approached the central building straight
away. As they neared the gate, a stately woman stepped out from the enclosure.
A blazing diadem hung at her forehead that seemed to flare brightly when her
smile broke large across her face. Laughing with joy, she burst forward to
greet the bedraggled crew. “Kymeth, too long have we been apart! You kept
promising to visit and it only took the belching bowels of Chaos to get you
here! I thought perhaps you had forgotten your sister,” she said with a wry
smile.
Kymeth embraced her sister and the two stood for
a few moments silently. “Gwenhwyfars , a great evil has befallen Glamorganshire.
From your greeting, I see that you have heard. What news have you of
Rwbaddshire?”
“The birds tell me the fighting went badly.
Rwbadd lives but his father sits in the Circle of Ancestors now. We will
discuss more tomorrow about what is to be done. Tonight, we must celebrate your
arrival!” With that, she signaled for attendants and they were shown to a
prepared room with clean clothes laid out and water drawn for baths. “Hurry up,
Ama!” Mae cajoled as Ama splashed her. Jon was happy his tub was shielded from
the others.
Once everyone was adequately scrubbed, dressed,
and hair braided, they walked to the dining hall. It was festooned with feathers
and animal skulls and brightly lit with bronze sconces that glowed of their own
accord. There were several stone fire pits lining the walls and the hall was
very warm in the already cool night.
As they entered, Gwenhwyfars stood. Bedecked in gold
raiment now, she looked every bit the High Priestess of Rhiannon. She drew a
deep breath and began singing. Immediately every sound disappeared from the
hall except for the perfect pitch and melody that came from her. Every person
knelt as her voice echoed not just in the hall but in the heart. Her song was a
memory of childhood, of arrivals, and of departures. She continued for just a
few verses and she motioned to Kymeth, who stood with her children kneeling beside
her. She also breathed in deeply and then answered her sister’s greeting with a
song of promises and dreams, of gratitude, and of destiny. She stood looking every
bit the Noble Matriarch in an emerald gown and tiara. As she continued her song,
Rae stood and carried the song forward, losing herself in the power of the moment.
When she opened her eyes, all were staring at her in wonder. Except for her
mother, who stared in shock at the greeting ritual being disrupted…so
beautifully.
“Welcome to Ty Rhiannon. Tonight we shall feast for
tomorrow begins the scrutinies!” pealed Gwenhwyfars joyfully. Jon and Ama looked nervously at each other and didn't like the sound of that at all.
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