‘Will she take me too, do you think?’ Gwalchmai asked.
‘I believe so.’
‘I shall not go,’ said Agwaine. ‘There is much to do here.’
‘Without Layne there is little to hold me here,’ said Lennox sadly. ‘I’ll come with you, Gaelen.”
An hour before dusk the column arrived at the invisible bridge to Vallon, and spread out along the banks.
A man appeared on the far shore, a tall man with greying hair, wearing a velvet robe the colour of dark wine. He lifted his hand. Glittering lights rose from the water to hover in the air around the invisible bridge, which darkened, gleaming like silver in the fading light. Stronger and stronger grew the bridge as the light coalesced, shimmering and sparkling, until at last it seemed built of silver and gems. The man lifted his hand once more and stepped out upon the silver walkway. From behind him came the men and women of the Farlain and the Pallides.
A great silence settled on the clansmen as hope flared again in their hearts.
The man approached, his grey-streaked hair billowing in the breeze. He was full-bearded and his eyes were the green of a distant sea. ‘Caswallon!’ shouted Gaelen, running forward to meet him.
Caswallon opened his arms, tears sparkling in his eyes. The two men hugged one another warmly, then Gaelen pulled back to look at his foster-father. Caswallon seemed to have aged ten years since last they met.
‘What has happened to you?’ whispered Gaelen.
‘We will talk later. First let us enjoy the reunion.’
Wives and children ran to husbands and fathers, sons and brothers, and laughter swelled through the trees of Ana forest. ‘A long time since that sound was heard,’ said Caswallon.
Maeg was one of the last across the bridge. Silently she approached her husband, little Donal beside her riding on the back of the great hound, Render.
‘Leave us for a while, Gaelen. I will see you later,’ said Caswallon. He took Maeg’s hand, kissing her palm. Her eyes were full of tears and she leaned into him.
‘What have they done to you?’ she asked, holding back the sorrow and stroking his greying hair.
They? There is no “they”, Maeg. Time has done this. But it was necessary, for otherwise I would never have found you. It took me eleven years to learn all that I needed to fetch you home. But every day of that time I thought of you and I loved you.’
Donal slipped from Render’s back and tugged at the hem of Caswallon’s velvet robe. He was crying. Caswallon lifted him to his chest and hugged him tightly.
‘We won, Caswallon,’ said Maeg. ‘But the price was terrible.’
He nodded. ‘It always is. But we are together now, and we shall rebuild.’
Maeg caught sight of a silver-armoured woman staring at them. ‘Who is that?’ she asked Caswallon. He turned and saw Sigarni swing away and walk alone towards the trees.
‘That is the Queen, Maeg,’ he said, taking her into his arms. ‘She saved us all.’
‘She looked so sad,’ said Maeg, then turned back to her husband. ‘Welcome home, my love,’ she whispered, kissing him.
He couldn’t reply. Tears ran from his eyes and she led him away into the trees.
11
THREE DAYS AFTER the battle, Gaelen was summoned by an elderly druid and led to Taliesen’s chambers below the hall of the Gate where Caswallon awaited him. In the harsh light of the chamber Caswallon seemed even older; his hair was thinning and had turned white near the temples.
‘Welcome,’ he said, gesturing the clansman to be seated. He poured clear white wine into silver goblets, handed one to Gaelen and then sat down in a wide leather chair.
‘What happened to you, Caswallon?’
The older man chuckled. ‘Do I look so bad?’
‘No,’ lied Gaelen, ‘just older.’
‘I am older. It is eleven years since I asked you to find Laric and bring his warriors to Axta Glen. Eleven long years . . . lonely years.’
‘The Queen told me you led her to the Chalice Gate and then you stepped through. Within seconds you returned, only you were older and dressed, as now, in robes of velvet.’