The Beast of Caer Baddan (80 page)

The King of Alt Clut, whom Owain had aided in his war first against the invading Eire, then the Novantae Pictii, and finally the fierce Attacotti.

The Vindi King of Ebrauc, whom Owain had rescued three times from the Angles.

Coel King of the Brigantae and brother-in-law to King Cynan, whom Owain had aided against the Maetae Pictii.

Emrys King of Pengwern, godfather to Owain's two sons and the father of Annon, whom Owain had rescued from the Attacotti and had trained to fight.

Iorwert King of Lerion, an Andoco clansman to Owain, and whom Owain had dueled for, hel
ped bring about peace between him and his neighbors, and who had given him Calybs.

Rythergh King of Ewyas, Swale’s father, also an Andoco clansman to Owain, whom Owain had help save from assassination.

Irael King of Glouia, Owain’s own father.

Erb King of Gwent, clansman to Owain's mother and whom Owain had just aided against attacking Deisi Eire in a war that that king had actually started by his own foolishness.

Algwn King of Went, whom Owain had saved from the wrath of the King of Lerion.

The King of Ceint, whom Owain had rescued many times from the invading Saxons.

Gourthigern King of Atrebat and Powys, Andoco clansman to Owain and married to Owain’s aunt Severa. Owain had saved his capital Venta from being overrun by the Gewissae and Dumnonni alliance.

Britu Prince of Atrebat and acting Governor of Powys, Owain’s clansman and one of his closest friends.

The Gadeon King of the Dumnonni, Owain’s own cousin, whom Owain had made peace with to end the feud between their clans.

The King of Regia, whom Owain had mediated for to the King of Ceint.

Nwython King of Colun, whom Owain had saved from invading Saxons.

Owain remembered them, and every punch,
kick, and knife stab that he endured for them. Every rope burn on his hands, club strike across his chest, and every time a sword blade had been pointed at his throat now screamed aloud for compensation.

He had withstood it for them, had risked his life a thousand times over since he was a young boy of fifteen and the emperors still ruled the island.

The final test was his painful and haunting death. The bright lights had stung his eyes. The foul smell of his own scorching body had filled his nostrils. The pain darting through his back had crippled him and even now would give him no rest. The horrible scars that he would carry on his face for the rest of his life were his proof that he had surrendered his life.

And these men would cast a vote to decide if he was worthy to rule them. They would decide if he had sacrificed enough.

Chapter Sixty Five: The End of All Things

“Cynan
King of Venedotia residing!” the announcer said.

Owain wondered on the man’s motives, asking himself why he had called for the Circle. He also was unsure if the king would have called the meeting had he known that Owain, but a moment before it, would decide against being with that king’s own niece, Lady Gwawl.

Cynan King of Venedotia took his chair around the ancient circular floor. There was a place to his right for the adviser, which the Mayor of Gloui now filled, and after him all of the Kings of Albion.

“Great Kings of Albion,” the King of Venedotia said, “We meet together for the first time in five hundred years, for the first time since the reign of Beli the Old, in the days of old long since. We come together because it has occurred to us that we owe Owain much praise, much thanksgiving, and much honor for all the foes that he vanquished for us and our own. But also that it is necessary for us to have him.
That without him we shall eventually be overrun by our enemies.”

Owain’s eyes lit up at these words for it came to him that this was the true answer to his deepest question.

The kings were electing him the Pendragon because they needed him to continue fighting their wars. If he retired his position as leader of the Army, they had no assurance that his successor would be as capable as he. Electing him the Pendragon would insure that Owain would, as long as he could still fight, be beating back the Eire, Pictii, Angles, or whomever peoples threatened Albion. He had spent ten years fighting their battles, and now they would force him to continue to fight by making their wars his own.

Owain smiled, for in spite of the political manipulation, he knew that it was a great honor and that the kings would not have agreed to meet had they not trusted him with that power.

“Owain Prince of Glouia,” the King of Venedotia said, “do you wish to address the Circle?”

“I do, Elder King,” Owain replied.

He rose to his feet and came to the center of the floor, where they all could see him.

“Great Kings of Albion,” Owain said. “You know well my ancestors who ruled many tribes, won many battles, and made many laws. You know all the wars that I have fought for you against the Angles, the Saxons, the Eire, the Attacotti, the Pictii,
the Gewissae-”

His mind raced at this word, thinking of the war in Hol and the dream that caused him to do the unimaginable. But his voice went steadily on.

“-and the Deisi Eire of Dyfed. I have battled for this land. I have served this land. I have defended this land. I have given up my life for this land. And I have returned from grave for this land. I was made dominae over the Army of Albion, and whatever your decision is, I shall continue to defend it as I have always done. I am Owain ap Irael Prince of Glouia, an Andoco of the house of Rheiden, of the line of Mascen.”

“Leave to speak, Elder King,” said the King of Colun.

“Speak, King Nwython,” the King of Venedotia replied.

Owain’s steady eyes fell back on Nwython King of Colun, and in an instant, he knew that the king was one man who would vote against him. Although Gratianna’s mother had been a mere chieftain’s niece, she was a Trinovanti and a lady. Owain had rejected her and then less than four years later married a Gewissae commoner. The King of Colun was unlikely to forget this slight no matter how many times Owain beat the Saxons away from his shores.

“Prince Owain,” the King of Colun said, “who is your wife? Who shall be called Queen of Albion?”

Owain did not pause to think but instead gave a prompt answer.

“Leola of the Gewissae is my wife. Euginius Aurelianus, my first born son, whom she bore to me, is my heir.”

The company was silent.

“And now, great Kings of Albion,” Owain said. “I leave you to your discussion. God keep you all.”

With that, he left the Hall of Kings.

Britu rose and followed Owain out.

“You have done what is right, Owain,” he said, when he had caught up to his cousin’s quick steps. “You have every reason to be proud.”

“Not proud, Clansman,” Owain replied. “Relieved. That is done. I shall return to Caer Baddan. I shall go back to my family. God keep you.”

“God keep you, Owain,” Britu said.

He could not help but be pleased of his cousin’s decision. The man, whom he had called a fiend a mere fifteen months before, had not only married a woman who possessed nothing at all but had stood by her, even when everything could be gained by a simple denial.

“I’m proud of you, Owain!” he yelled after him.

Owain waved a solitary hand but did not look back.

The doors to the garden open and in walked a company of woman. Britu saw his mother, Queen Severa, at the forefront, followed by Lady Gwawl and a teary-eyed Queen Madge.

“What is this?” Queen Severa whispered. “The Circle concluded so soon? What has happened?”

“Owain has stayed with Leola, Mother,” Britu replied, triumphantly.

“But he has given up the highest honor in the land!” she gasped.

“Ie,” Britu replied. “That he has.”

“I am relieved,” Queen Madge said, with a long sigh.

Queen Severa nodded in silence.

Although it was clear she did not wish to admit it, Britu was certain that his mother knew it was the correct thing for Owain to do.

Chapter Sixty Six: The Beginning of All Things

Leola was sitting in the garden with Gratianna and the babies. The servants had moved the cradle outside in the shade of the ash tree, and the boys were comfortable in the pleasant summer breeze. Gratianna ran all around the garden, picking flowers and throwing them up in the air.

Leola watched them all, determined to occupy her mind, and forget about the husband she no longer had.

Euginius fussed.

“Ah, sweet one,” Leola said taking him up. “Do not wake your brother. Shh there.”

As she stroked his little body, her gaze fell over the tunic that she had so meticulously embroidered for him. The perfectly stitched symbols of Owain's six trees seemed to jump out at her and steal her breath away.

“Leola?” came a voice behind her.

She gasped and clung to the baby in her arms, as her ears tingled with recognition.

Owain!

“Yea,” she replied. “I didn’t expect you to be back... so soon.”

“I did not wish to stay for the end of the Circle,” Owain replied. “It is over and done with. That is all.”

“What?” she asked.

What has happened?

But she could not utter the words to form the question.

“Tada!” Gratianna called to him. “Look at me!”

“I
see, my precious one!” he called back.

Leola could not look up even to see what the child was doing. The loud beating of her heart pounded in her head until she was dizzy.

His voice went steadily on.

“The meeting is over for me,” he said. “I have done my duty by attending.”

“What do you mean?” she gasped, hardly able to get the words out. “What did you say to them?”

Owain seemed perplexed by her questions.

“I have told the Kings of Albion that you are my wife,” he said, at last.

At first, she could only stare at him in confusion, not knowing how she should understand him.

You have given up the-

“But... the Pen...dra....gon-”