The petitioners were seen one by one and justice was pronounced. Almost all of the cases could have been dealt with in Lindinis’s magistrates’ court that stood just a hundred paces from the villa, but many folk, especially the pagan country dwellers, reckoned that a decision given in Royal Council was more binding than a judgment made in a court established by the Romans, and so they stored their grudges and feuds until the council was conveniently close by.
Arthur, representing the baby Mordred, dealt with them patiently, but he was relieved when the real business of the day could commence. That business was to dispose of the tangled ends left by the previous day’s fight. Owain’s warriors were given to Prince Gereint with Arthur’s recommendation that they be split between various troops. One of Gereint’s captains, a man called Llywarch, was appointed in Owain’s place as the new commander of the King’s guard, then a magistrate was given the task of tallying Owain’s wealth and sending to Kernow the portion that was owed in sarhaed. I noted how brusquely Arthur conducted the business, though never without giving each man present a chance to speak his mind. Such consultation could lead to interminable argument, but Arthur had the happy talent of understanding complicated matters swiftly and proposing compromises that pleased everyone. I noticed, too, how Gereint and Bedwin were content to let Arthur take the first place. Bedwin had placed all his hopes for Dumnonia’s future on Arthur’s sword and Bedwin was thus Arthur’s strongest supporter, while Gereint, who was Uther’s nephew, could have been a opponent, but the Prince had none of his uncle’s ambition and was happy that Arthur was willing to take the responsibility of government. Dumnonia had a new King’s champion, Arthur ab Uther, and the relief in the room was palpable.
Prince Cadwy of Isca was ordered to contribute to the sarhaed owed to Kernow. He protested against the decision, but quailed before Arthur’s anger and meekly agreed to pay one quarter of Kernow’s price. Arthur, I suspect, would have preferred to inflict a sterner punishment, but I was oath-bound not to reveal Cadwy’s part in the attack on the moor and there was no other evidence of his complicity, so Cadwy escaped a heavier judgement. Prince Tristan acknowledged Arthur’s decisions with a nod of his head.
The next business of the day was arranging the future of our King. Mordred had been living in Owain’s household and now he needed a new home. Bedwin proposed a man named Nabur who was the chief magistrate in Durnovaria. Another counsellor immediately protested, condemning Nabur for being a Christian.
Arthur rapped on the table to end a bitter argument before it began. “Is Nabur here?” he demanded.
A tall man stood at the back of the room. “I’m Nabur.” He was clean shaven and dressed in a Roman toga. “Nabur ap Lwyd,” he introduced himself formally. He was a young man with a narrow, grave face and receding hair that gave him the appearance of a bishop or a Druid.
“You have children, Nabur?” Arthur asked.
“Three living, Lord. Two boys and a girl. The girl is our Lord Mordred’s age.”
“And is there a Druid or Bard in Durnovaria?”
Nabur nodded. “Derella the Bard, Lord.”
Arthur spoke privately with Bedwin, who nodded, then Arthur smiled at Nabur. “Would you take the King into your care?”
“Gladly, Lord.”
“You may teach him your religion, Nabur ap Lwyd, but only when Derella is present, and Derella must become the boy’s tutor when he is five years of age. You will receive half a king’s allowance from the treasury and will be required to keep twenty guards about our Lord Mordred at all times. The price of his life is your soul and the souls of your whole family. Do you agree?”
Nabur blanched when he was told that his wife and children would die if he let Mordred be killed, but he still nodded acceptance. And no wonder. To be the King’s guardian gave Nabur a place very close to the centre of Dumnonia’s power. “I agree, Lord,” he said.
The last business of the council was the fate of Ladwys, Gundleus’s wife and lover, and slave to Owain. She was brought into the room where she stood defiantly in front of Arthur. “This day,” Arthur told her, “I ride north to Corinium where your husband is our captive. Do you wish to come?”