Aldyth coughed yet again and cursed the thick layer of dust that hung in the air around the carriage. She was filled with emotions, squirming around in her head and so mixed up that she could hardly tell them apart. She was weary from the long journey and wished that it would end soon, but she also dreaded how it would be for her when they finally did reach the destination. Why did they insist on bringing me to that godforsaken place? She questioned herself yet another time. They know how I feel. They know the truth.
Cwenhild was sitting restlessly beside her, staring at the guard that rode around the carriage. She was clearly wishing that she was out there among her soldiers with a horse between her legs and a sword at her side. Aldous sat on the bench opposite them and seemed to be the only person in the entire procession that actually enjoyed the journey. As well he should, since it was his idea. He had received a rather rude summons from Cenweard, the self proclaimed king of Hereswith. Any sane king would have rejected it because of the subtle insults it contained, but not Aldous. Aldous could not abide rejecting people, and certainly not a fellow king – even if he despised said king. And it should certainly not be said about him that he did not do his bit to keep the peace.
So there they were; halfway between the border to Ermengard and the city of Dunham. It would not be long now, Aldyth knew with a rising uncertainty in her body. She could have refused the king’s order to come, but it would have been unbefitting of her station. In any event, it was too late to turn back, so there was nothing to do but steel herself for the things to come. It would be fine of course; it was not as if she was travelling into enemy lands at all…
The rest of the journey went smoothly, and they soon found themselves greeted by the foreign king and his daughter. ‘Be you welcome, my worthy guests!’ Cenweard thundered at them. He made a series of flourishes, that were no doubt intended to be grand gestures of welcoming, but it just looked ridiculous. ‘Come you into my home and be comfortable.’ He indicated the huge castle doors with another silly movement and they all began walking towards it. He just chattered on, having to answer his own questions seeing as he did not take long enough breaths for anyone else to get a word in. ‘You must certainly be weary after such a long journey?’ He asked when they were inside. ‘Yes, of course you are! Silly me. I will have my servants show you to your rooms to freshen up and then I shall prepare a feast to celebrate the long expected arrival.’
‘My thanks,’ was all Aldous had time to say before the other king hurried away to oversee the preparations for the feast. ‘How… intense,’ he muttered, as always trying to find the best in people.
‘How conceited and self-obsessed, you mean,’ offered Aldyth not quite able to keep the scorn out of her voice. To think I should have been afraid to come here. Afraid of him! Ha! He is like a child.
The servants looked at her horrified. ‘You should not speak so of the king,’ said the one.
‘A woman of your station…’ Exclaimed the other.
Well, he certainly have shown the servants their place in the world, she thought. She did not reply but merely smiled at them until they turned around and led them down the hallway.
They stopped in front of a big gold plaited door. ‘This will be your quarters while you are here, my lord, my lady. You will have your own maids should you want for anything.’ She bowed deeply before opening the door for them to enter. ‘If you will be so good,’ she said to Aldyth. ‘We will lead you to the servants’ quarters where we can find a bed for you.’
‘She will stay with us,’ said Aldous gently. ‘My thanks for your help, but we will be fine from here.’
‘My lord? But… It will be as you say of course.’ The servant looked genuinely bewildered. She made a clumsy curtsy before scurrying away down the corridor with her friend by the arm.
‘Not a very cheerful place this, is it?’ Asked Cwenhild, peering down the corridor for a minute before closing the door.
‘What would you expect from a castle run by a man like Cenweard?’
‘Nothing less, I suppose, but do be careful not to let your emotions take over every word you say in this place. That is not exactly the way one keeps a low profile.’ The queen frowned at her.
Aldyth realized that her words had been too daring. ‘I overspoke myself before,’ she admitted aloud. ‘I shall be more careful.’
‘Good then. I think a bath wouldn’t be out of place right now?’
‘I shall prepare it for you.’
The queen was already in the progress of removing the tight dress she had been convinced to wear. She it on the floor and let the undergarments follow it. She was a big woman, but it was all bone and muscle, there wasn’t a soft spot on her nor any curves to speak of. What pleasure the king found in that, she did not understand, but when he saw her wife’s naked skin he got the look of a hungry beast about him. ‘Make it a big tub, Aldyth,’ he said without taking his eyes off the queen. That was all the motivation she needed to hurry away on the errand.
She took her time to return to the room with tub and water, yet when she did they were still not finished and they did not even have decency of stopping because of her presence. The tub was on wheels so she just pushed it inside and closed the door behind her, but when she shut her eyes she were sure that that picture would never leave her. It did not take long before she heard a big splash accompanied by an uncharacteristically girly giggle from the queen. Aldyth shook her head, wondering if it was just her that had gotten old.
The feast was not a matter the king had taken lightly. It was a grand event held in the high ceilinged throne room. Anyone who bore any sort of dignified title were there. The only common soldiers admitted, though, were those who were on guard duty. In Ermengard they would all have been included, but this land did not have a battle queen but a king who saw soldiers only as a tool for power. That was how he had won himself the kingdom after all. Some might have thought he would have honoured his soldier highly by what they had achieved for him, but then that would have been someone who had no clue what sort of man Cenweard was.
Alydth kept her eyes away from him on the throne. She did not trust herself to keep unnoticed if she did look. The sight would set her blood boiling in rage. She did not know why she had been invited to the feast, seeing as she was only a maid. But there she was again; sitting by a table among lesser nobles and people who stood low in the king’s esteem.
Aldous of course sat by king’s table. He had Cwenhild seated to one side, the princess Wynflaeth directly across from him and some beautiful young noble woman to his other side. He was definitely enjoying himself, throwing smiles and compliments all around. Cwenhild looked less comfortable, she had trouble sitting still in her chair and in following the conversation. Aldyth sighed sadly. The poor girl, why can she not think it over rationally? She is unfit for this sort of life. She is merely breaking herself.
She let her eyes rest on Wynflaeth for a long time. She was not a great beauty, none of her features were very fine but in combination they made quite an attractive whole. She did not look happy at all. She just sat there hardly touching her food, not saying a word. She smiled when people addressed her but it only stayed for a few seconds before falling away. Her looks were all her father’s but Aldyth did not see much of him in her personality. Truth be told, she did not see much in her at all. She looked like an empty shell. She had also heard that she was not so bright.
The feast went on and the chattering got louder as the people got drunker and Aldyth just wanted it to end. Her head was pounding from the heat and the drink and the noise. She began to feel quite sick but kept her seat. She looked around for something to distract her and found nothing in the first glance.
Then she noticed a soldier walking over to king to tell him something. She thought the soldier seemed familiar somehow, but could not remember the specifics. Then it dawned on her. She knew that soldier well. His name was Hadwyn. Oh what have this despicable king done to him? He looks so old and worn out.
The king made an aggressive gesture and the soldier nodded curtly and walked away, a brisk look on his face. The only reply he gave the guard soldiers who greeted him at the door was a deep scowl. He closed the door unnecessarily loudly behind him.
A moment later the king stood up and brought silence into the hall. ‘I hope you have all have a festive evening and that none shall walk away hungry. I thank you all for your presence. Especially His Royal Majesty, the King of Ermengard. May your stay treat you well, honoured guest.’ He bowed towards Aldous with a handful of his funny arm gestures. After that speech the people began filing out of the hall, some walking more straight than others.
Aldyth followed Aldous and Cwenhild back to their quarters. She closed the door behind them and let herself dump into a cushioned armchair. ‘Ah… I thought that feast would never end,’ she said loudly, trying to drown the buzzing in her head.
‘I feel numb all over,’ agreed the queen.
Aldous shook his head at them. ‘Well, I think it was actually quite a lovely feast.’
‘Yes. You do, don’t you?’ Spat the queen, suddenly all stiff and hostile.
Aldous seemed very confused at that. ‘Whatever do you mean?’
‘Oh. Nothing at all. I am exhausted, we should get to bed.’
The king sighed, then nodded and began to make his preparations in silence. No more words were spoken that night.
Next morning the atmosphere was pressed. Cwenhild refused to say a word, stubborn as she could be at times.
‘Oh, don’t be such a child! Of all the days to be cross and impossible this is the worst. I have an important meeting to attend to and no time for your games.’ The king had finally lost his patience.
That did not sit well with the queen at all. ‘Oh, so I am playing games, am I? What games are you going to play with that… woman?’
‘Whatever woman are you talking about?’
‘That good-for-nothing-but-looking-pretty noble woman from the feast.’
‘Aethelfrith?’
‘I saw how you looked at her! How you had to touch every time you spoke to her!’
‘For the love of our God in the sky, would you control your jealousy, woman? I was just being courteous to her.’
‘You were just courting her, you mean.’
Aldyth just stood staring blankly at them as the argument grew more and more heated until at last she could stand it no longer. ‘Would you just shut up! Both of you!’ That certainly caught their attention creating a deep silence in the room. But Aldyth was not done. ‘How is it you are talking to each other? Do you think this is a behaviour suitable for the king and queen from a great nation?’ She waited, but got no answer. ‘Well I for one do not! Get yourselves together, we have a meeting to attend to.’
Cwenhild stood rooted the spot her eyes intensely focused on her own feet. Aldous was more pragmatic, he nodded to Aldyth and opened his mouth about to say something when his eyes caught something by the door.
Aldyth who stood with the back towards it turned and saw the princess standing there staring at them with her mouth gaping. She looked uncomfortable at having all their eyes directed at her in profound silence. ‘I’m... er... I heard heated voices. I thought...’ she trailed off bit did not move, her eyes darting from one to the other. Her forehead was creased in concentrated thought; she was evidently trying to figure something out without luck.
When she realized no one was going to say anything, she again broke the strained silence, looking directly at Aldyth. ‘How is it you talk to your superiors?’ She lost her nervousness, apparently convinced of the rightness in her words. ‘That is simply not acceptable! Why do you put up with,’ she said directed at Aldous. ‘You are a king; it is your right to demand the respect of those below you, especially from mere servants. They should not be allowed to utter a word without your permission. Do you teach no subservience in your country at all?’ She gave the king an imploring look, posing with her hands on her hips like only an unsatisfied woman can do. And to Aldyths own surprise, she noticed how much prettier the princess became when angry. She actually looked beautiful, stately like any queen she had ever known.’
It was Cwenhild who first took the word. Maybe she had noticed the change in the princess as well and felt intimidated by it. Aldyth could not start to imagine the conclusions to the thoughtprocesses going on in the foolish woman’s head. ‘Maybe you should not speak of things of which you know nothing,’ she said not without hostility.
The princess did not look pleased with that answer at all. She turned her gaze to Aldous willing him say something more befit a king’s station, but he was obliging. This was the third woman that had yelled at him in the space of a single morning. He did not seem about to dare say anything more, so Aldyth took the word instead, much to the princess’ distaste. ‘We all have our secrets and our own private arrangements, girl. My name was not always Aldyth and I was not always a mere servant, as you will. You should not worry your young head to much about the affairs of others or you might one day get yourself into waters deeper than you can handle. This is an honest counsel from a woman who has no reason to be honest to you, heed it if you will or ignore it at your own expense.’
The spirit went out of the young girl once more, as the creases came back upon her forehead. She still seemed unable to puzzle it all together. Several times she opened her mouth as if to speak but then apparently thought better of it. In the end she gave up, sniffed as if insulted and walked away, leaving the door open.
Nothing more was said until the time of the meeting. The queen insisted on going with Aldous even if the boringness of it would near kill her. Perhaps she was afraid to let him loose in castle known to contain beautiful young women. She certainly was prickly enough to reason like that. There was of course no access for the lowly, so Aldyth was left to do as she pleased in the meantime.
She decided to go outside for a stroll on the grounds, to get reacquainted with the place she had once know so well. To her delight she found that nothing much had changed. The stables had the same smell of hay, horse droppings and oiled leather and the practice yard was buzzing with sweating soldiers as ever. She looked out over the green fields that stretched out in front of the castle and saw squads of riders exercising or training horses. She felt a stab of sadness of knowing that she would probably never set foot there again. But she shook it off quickly. It had been many years and she had gotten used to her new life in Ermengard.
When she began to cross the yard to the gardens she noticed the soldier from the feast. She gave him a sad look while about to pass him by. He did not look well at all. She saw that he was in the process of washing blood off his hands with a sour grimace. Her heart broke a little for him then. Whatever work the king had him doing was probably the most unpleasant he could dig forth. He turned his head and looked at her questioningly and she realized that she had stopped short to watch him. She felt that she should say something, but uncertain how to do it without betraying too much.
When she hesitated he began to look annoyed, so she made a quick decision and walked over to him. ‘Hadwyn,’ she said. ‘I know who you were.’
He stared at her in surprise, dropping his washing brush on the ground. ‘Who are you?’
‘One who was here before the new king’s arrival. But do not ask more information than that. My heart breaks to see you like this. This was is not at all the bright future that had been promised you, I am so sorry.’
‘We must all accept the fate that is given us.’
‘But not without a fight. Do not let him destroy you, Hadwyn. You already look so old and broken. But do try not to let the bitterness take you over completely. You were always so kind and righteous. You and your fellows were the pride of the nation. Do remember that. The nation may have been broken, but as long as some of us still live, it is not forgotten.’ She touched her hand to his shoulder and walked away, amazed to find her eyes wet with bitter tears.
Cwenhild was sitting restlessly beside her, staring at the guard that rode around the carriage. She was clearly wishing that she was out there among her soldiers with a horse between her legs and a sword at her side. Aldous sat on the bench opposite them and seemed to be the only person in the entire procession that actually enjoyed the journey. As well he should, since it was his idea. He had received a rather rude summons from Cenweard, the self proclaimed king of Hereswith. Any sane king would have rejected it because of the subtle insults it contained, but not Aldous. Aldous could not abide rejecting people, and certainly not a fellow king – even if he despised said king. And it should certainly not be said about him that he did not do his bit to keep the peace.
So there they were; halfway between the border to Ermengard and the city of Dunham. It would not be long now, Aldyth knew with a rising uncertainty in her body. She could have refused the king’s order to come, but it would have been unbefitting of her station. In any event, it was too late to turn back, so there was nothing to do but steel herself for the things to come. It would be fine of course; it was not as if she was travelling into enemy lands at all…
The rest of the journey went smoothly, and they soon found themselves greeted by the foreign king and his daughter. ‘Be you welcome, my worthy guests!’ Cenweard thundered at them. He made a series of flourishes, that were no doubt intended to be grand gestures of welcoming, but it just looked ridiculous. ‘Come you into my home and be comfortable.’ He indicated the huge castle doors with another silly movement and they all began walking towards it. He just chattered on, having to answer his own questions seeing as he did not take long enough breaths for anyone else to get a word in. ‘You must certainly be weary after such a long journey?’ He asked when they were inside. ‘Yes, of course you are! Silly me. I will have my servants show you to your rooms to freshen up and then I shall prepare a feast to celebrate the long expected arrival.’
‘My thanks,’ was all Aldous had time to say before the other king hurried away to oversee the preparations for the feast. ‘How… intense,’ he muttered, as always trying to find the best in people.
‘How conceited and self-obsessed, you mean,’ offered Aldyth not quite able to keep the scorn out of her voice. To think I should have been afraid to come here. Afraid of him! Ha! He is like a child.
The servants looked at her horrified. ‘You should not speak so of the king,’ said the one.
‘A woman of your station…’ Exclaimed the other.
Well, he certainly have shown the servants their place in the world, she thought. She did not reply but merely smiled at them until they turned around and led them down the hallway.
They stopped in front of a big gold plaited door. ‘This will be your quarters while you are here, my lord, my lady. You will have your own maids should you want for anything.’ She bowed deeply before opening the door for them to enter. ‘If you will be so good,’ she said to Aldyth. ‘We will lead you to the servants’ quarters where we can find a bed for you.’
‘She will stay with us,’ said Aldous gently. ‘My thanks for your help, but we will be fine from here.’
‘My lord? But… It will be as you say of course.’ The servant looked genuinely bewildered. She made a clumsy curtsy before scurrying away down the corridor with her friend by the arm.
‘Not a very cheerful place this, is it?’ Asked Cwenhild, peering down the corridor for a minute before closing the door.
‘What would you expect from a castle run by a man like Cenweard?’
‘Nothing less, I suppose, but do be careful not to let your emotions take over every word you say in this place. That is not exactly the way one keeps a low profile.’ The queen frowned at her.
Aldyth realized that her words had been too daring. ‘I overspoke myself before,’ she admitted aloud. ‘I shall be more careful.’
‘Good then. I think a bath wouldn’t be out of place right now?’
‘I shall prepare it for you.’
The queen was already in the progress of removing the tight dress she had been convinced to wear. She it on the floor and let the undergarments follow it. She was a big woman, but it was all bone and muscle, there wasn’t a soft spot on her nor any curves to speak of. What pleasure the king found in that, she did not understand, but when he saw her wife’s naked skin he got the look of a hungry beast about him. ‘Make it a big tub, Aldyth,’ he said without taking his eyes off the queen. That was all the motivation she needed to hurry away on the errand.
She took her time to return to the room with tub and water, yet when she did they were still not finished and they did not even have decency of stopping because of her presence. The tub was on wheels so she just pushed it inside and closed the door behind her, but when she shut her eyes she were sure that that picture would never leave her. It did not take long before she heard a big splash accompanied by an uncharacteristically girly giggle from the queen. Aldyth shook her head, wondering if it was just her that had gotten old.
The feast was not a matter the king had taken lightly. It was a grand event held in the high ceilinged throne room. Anyone who bore any sort of dignified title were there. The only common soldiers admitted, though, were those who were on guard duty. In Ermengard they would all have been included, but this land did not have a battle queen but a king who saw soldiers only as a tool for power. That was how he had won himself the kingdom after all. Some might have thought he would have honoured his soldier highly by what they had achieved for him, but then that would have been someone who had no clue what sort of man Cenweard was.
Alydth kept her eyes away from him on the throne. She did not trust herself to keep unnoticed if she did look. The sight would set her blood boiling in rage. She did not know why she had been invited to the feast, seeing as she was only a maid. But there she was again; sitting by a table among lesser nobles and people who stood low in the king’s esteem.
Aldous of course sat by king’s table. He had Cwenhild seated to one side, the princess Wynflaeth directly across from him and some beautiful young noble woman to his other side. He was definitely enjoying himself, throwing smiles and compliments all around. Cwenhild looked less comfortable, she had trouble sitting still in her chair and in following the conversation. Aldyth sighed sadly. The poor girl, why can she not think it over rationally? She is unfit for this sort of life. She is merely breaking herself.
She let her eyes rest on Wynflaeth for a long time. She was not a great beauty, none of her features were very fine but in combination they made quite an attractive whole. She did not look happy at all. She just sat there hardly touching her food, not saying a word. She smiled when people addressed her but it only stayed for a few seconds before falling away. Her looks were all her father’s but Aldyth did not see much of him in her personality. Truth be told, she did not see much in her at all. She looked like an empty shell. She had also heard that she was not so bright.
The feast went on and the chattering got louder as the people got drunker and Aldyth just wanted it to end. Her head was pounding from the heat and the drink and the noise. She began to feel quite sick but kept her seat. She looked around for something to distract her and found nothing in the first glance.
Then she noticed a soldier walking over to king to tell him something. She thought the soldier seemed familiar somehow, but could not remember the specifics. Then it dawned on her. She knew that soldier well. His name was Hadwyn. Oh what have this despicable king done to him? He looks so old and worn out.
The king made an aggressive gesture and the soldier nodded curtly and walked away, a brisk look on his face. The only reply he gave the guard soldiers who greeted him at the door was a deep scowl. He closed the door unnecessarily loudly behind him.
A moment later the king stood up and brought silence into the hall. ‘I hope you have all have a festive evening and that none shall walk away hungry. I thank you all for your presence. Especially His Royal Majesty, the King of Ermengard. May your stay treat you well, honoured guest.’ He bowed towards Aldous with a handful of his funny arm gestures. After that speech the people began filing out of the hall, some walking more straight than others.
Aldyth followed Aldous and Cwenhild back to their quarters. She closed the door behind them and let herself dump into a cushioned armchair. ‘Ah… I thought that feast would never end,’ she said loudly, trying to drown the buzzing in her head.
‘I feel numb all over,’ agreed the queen.
Aldous shook his head at them. ‘Well, I think it was actually quite a lovely feast.’
‘Yes. You do, don’t you?’ Spat the queen, suddenly all stiff and hostile.
Aldous seemed very confused at that. ‘Whatever do you mean?’
‘Oh. Nothing at all. I am exhausted, we should get to bed.’
The king sighed, then nodded and began to make his preparations in silence. No more words were spoken that night.
Next morning the atmosphere was pressed. Cwenhild refused to say a word, stubborn as she could be at times.
‘Oh, don’t be such a child! Of all the days to be cross and impossible this is the worst. I have an important meeting to attend to and no time for your games.’ The king had finally lost his patience.
That did not sit well with the queen at all. ‘Oh, so I am playing games, am I? What games are you going to play with that… woman?’
‘Whatever woman are you talking about?’
‘That good-for-nothing-but-looking-pretty noble woman from the feast.’
‘Aethelfrith?’
‘I saw how you looked at her! How you had to touch every time you spoke to her!’
‘For the love of our God in the sky, would you control your jealousy, woman? I was just being courteous to her.’
‘You were just courting her, you mean.’
Aldyth just stood staring blankly at them as the argument grew more and more heated until at last she could stand it no longer. ‘Would you just shut up! Both of you!’ That certainly caught their attention creating a deep silence in the room. But Aldyth was not done. ‘How is it you are talking to each other? Do you think this is a behaviour suitable for the king and queen from a great nation?’ She waited, but got no answer. ‘Well I for one do not! Get yourselves together, we have a meeting to attend to.’
Cwenhild stood rooted the spot her eyes intensely focused on her own feet. Aldous was more pragmatic, he nodded to Aldyth and opened his mouth about to say something when his eyes caught something by the door.
Aldyth who stood with the back towards it turned and saw the princess standing there staring at them with her mouth gaping. She looked uncomfortable at having all their eyes directed at her in profound silence. ‘I’m... er... I heard heated voices. I thought...’ she trailed off bit did not move, her eyes darting from one to the other. Her forehead was creased in concentrated thought; she was evidently trying to figure something out without luck.
When she realized no one was going to say anything, she again broke the strained silence, looking directly at Aldyth. ‘How is it you talk to your superiors?’ She lost her nervousness, apparently convinced of the rightness in her words. ‘That is simply not acceptable! Why do you put up with,’ she said directed at Aldous. ‘You are a king; it is your right to demand the respect of those below you, especially from mere servants. They should not be allowed to utter a word without your permission. Do you teach no subservience in your country at all?’ She gave the king an imploring look, posing with her hands on her hips like only an unsatisfied woman can do. And to Aldyths own surprise, she noticed how much prettier the princess became when angry. She actually looked beautiful, stately like any queen she had ever known.’
It was Cwenhild who first took the word. Maybe she had noticed the change in the princess as well and felt intimidated by it. Aldyth could not start to imagine the conclusions to the thoughtprocesses going on in the foolish woman’s head. ‘Maybe you should not speak of things of which you know nothing,’ she said not without hostility.
The princess did not look pleased with that answer at all. She turned her gaze to Aldous willing him say something more befit a king’s station, but he was obliging. This was the third woman that had yelled at him in the space of a single morning. He did not seem about to dare say anything more, so Aldyth took the word instead, much to the princess’ distaste. ‘We all have our secrets and our own private arrangements, girl. My name was not always Aldyth and I was not always a mere servant, as you will. You should not worry your young head to much about the affairs of others or you might one day get yourself into waters deeper than you can handle. This is an honest counsel from a woman who has no reason to be honest to you, heed it if you will or ignore it at your own expense.’
The spirit went out of the young girl once more, as the creases came back upon her forehead. She still seemed unable to puzzle it all together. Several times she opened her mouth as if to speak but then apparently thought better of it. In the end she gave up, sniffed as if insulted and walked away, leaving the door open.
Nothing more was said until the time of the meeting. The queen insisted on going with Aldous even if the boringness of it would near kill her. Perhaps she was afraid to let him loose in castle known to contain beautiful young women. She certainly was prickly enough to reason like that. There was of course no access for the lowly, so Aldyth was left to do as she pleased in the meantime.
She decided to go outside for a stroll on the grounds, to get reacquainted with the place she had once know so well. To her delight she found that nothing much had changed. The stables had the same smell of hay, horse droppings and oiled leather and the practice yard was buzzing with sweating soldiers as ever. She looked out over the green fields that stretched out in front of the castle and saw squads of riders exercising or training horses. She felt a stab of sadness of knowing that she would probably never set foot there again. But she shook it off quickly. It had been many years and she had gotten used to her new life in Ermengard.
When she began to cross the yard to the gardens she noticed the soldier from the feast. She gave him a sad look while about to pass him by. He did not look well at all. She saw that he was in the process of washing blood off his hands with a sour grimace. Her heart broke a little for him then. Whatever work the king had him doing was probably the most unpleasant he could dig forth. He turned his head and looked at her questioningly and she realized that she had stopped short to watch him. She felt that she should say something, but uncertain how to do it without betraying too much.
When she hesitated he began to look annoyed, so she made a quick decision and walked over to him. ‘Hadwyn,’ she said. ‘I know who you were.’
He stared at her in surprise, dropping his washing brush on the ground. ‘Who are you?’
‘One who was here before the new king’s arrival. But do not ask more information than that. My heart breaks to see you like this. This was is not at all the bright future that had been promised you, I am so sorry.’
‘We must all accept the fate that is given us.’
‘But not without a fight. Do not let him destroy you, Hadwyn. You already look so old and broken. But do try not to let the bitterness take you over completely. You were always so kind and righteous. You and your fellows were the pride of the nation. Do remember that. The nation may have been broken, but as long as some of us still live, it is not forgotten.’ She touched her hand to his shoulder and walked away, amazed to find her eyes wet with bitter tears.
