It was time again for Britons to take charge of their own defenses. Artos, as Comes Britannorum, was the obvious dux bellorum, since he had attracted many of the best warriors to his company.
ONE ADDED ADVANTAGE of my trips to, and with, Prince Cador was that these journeys allowed me to take occasional detours to keep my promise to my sister, Lavinia. And show off to my mother that I was now Lord Artos’s messenger: in a position of trust to one of the most important men in Britain.
“That’s a fine horse you’re riding these days,” Odran said, admiring Ravus, the first time I rode the gray to Ide.
“So you’re back again,” my mother said disagreeably as she came to the door.
“Only briefly, Mother.” I peered around into the house to see if Lavinia was near.
“See the grand horse Galwyn is riding now,” Odran said, pointing to the saddlecloth and the bear insignia. “That’s the Comes’s device,” he added, obviously impressed.
“I ride as his messenger,” I said proudly. Even Mother’s usual disapproval could not dim the honor of that.
“So what can bring you here?” she demanded, waving dismissively to the small settlement by the old Roman fort.
But Lavinia, having heard my voice, came dashing around from the back of the house to throw her arms about my neck. “Galwyn! Galwyn! How grand to see you again! And Flora’s had her baby, a strapping son, and Melwas so proud, too….”
“Can you stop long enough for a meal?” Odran hesitated when he heard my mother sniff. “Surely, wife, we can spare your only son a mug of beer.”
“… Oh, and such a grand horse as you’re riding now! You have come up in the world, haven’t you, Galwyn?”
Lavinia said, lifting my spirits after my mother’s cool reception. “There’s a shady spot on the other side of the house where we can put your fine horse.” She tried to wrest the reins from my hand.
“I’ll do that,” I said, smiling at her to show I appreciated her willingness.
“Then I’ll get that beer for you.” Odran made it plain to my mother that I was welcome in his eyes, if not in hers.
“I shall find Flora, then,” Lavinia said. “She’s dying to show you her son. They named him Gallus … after you … for your gold ring,” she added in a whisper so Mother didn’t hear. But her eyes were merry as well as grateful. “She’ll be so glad to see you, Galwyn.”
I loosened Ravus’s girth and secured him to the tree, with a handful of grass to content him. Odran then ushered me into his house.
“Why did you have to take up with that warmongering Artos?” my mother asked, letting Odran pour mugs of the beer as she seated herself on the fireside stool.
“All Britain will one day be glad of the Comes Britan-norum, Mother.”
She gave a sniff.
“Then you think that the Saxons will invade-” Odran began.
“How would Galwyn know that, Odran?” she demanded. “He’s only a messenger.”
Odran raised his eyebrows and gave a little sigh. He was a good, patient man and my opinion was that my mother had been lucky indeed to find such a one.
I did not dispute her opinion of Lord Artos; there was no point. The sad fact was that, in my traveling, I had discovered many folk of the same mind. They firmly believed that the Saxons wouldn’t come if no one irritated them. Fortunately, the majority were taking Artos seriously, especially as there were more rumors about Aelle and his sons increasing their soldiery. Sometimes these rumors were embroidered with lurid details about Saxon habits.
Flora arrived, breathless with carrying her sturdy child. She bore greetings and apologies from Melwas, who was slaughtering that day and could not come.
So I spent a very pleasant few hours with my sisters and Odran, playing with my nephew.
Before I left that afternoon, Flora had a quiet word with me. Lavinia, now sixteen, was sincerely attracted to a young farmer and wished to marry him. But she had no dowry and his family needed what wealth a wife might bring.