As it screamed in its death throes its great arms encircled the woman. The breastplate buckled under the immense pressure and the Queen’s ribs snapped, jagged bone ripping into her. Then the beast released her and toppled to the earth. The woman staggered back, then fell. She struggled to rise, but agony lanced her.
The boys ran to her side, Gaelen kneeling by her and raising her
head to lay it on his lap. Gently he stroked the silver hair from her eyes.
‘Give the word to Taliesen,” whispered the Queen, blood staining her lips. She coughed weakly and swallowed. ‘We did it, lads,’ she said. ‘You did well, as I knew you would.’
Agwaine knelt on her right, taking her hand.
‘You saved us; you killed it,’ said Gaelen.
‘Listen to me, for I am dying now, but remember my words. I shall return to the Farlain. You will be older then. Men. Warriors. You will have suffered much and I will aid you again.’
Agwaine glanced at Gaelen. ‘What does she mean?’
Gaelen shrugged. The sound of running feet echoed in the clearing as Caswallon, Cambil and the clansmen raced into view. Caswallon knelt by Gaelen. ‘Are you all right?’
‘Yes. She saved us. She slew the beast.’
‘Who is she?’ asked Caswallon.
The Queen’s eyes opened.’Ah, it is you,’ she whispered, smiling. ‘Now the circle is complete, for you told me you would be with me at my death. How well you look. How young. How handsome! No… silver in your beard.”
Caswallon gazed down into the bright blue eyes and saw that the woman was fading fast. Her hand lifted towards him and he took it, holding it firm.
‘Did I do well, Caswallon? Tell me truly?’
‘You did well,’ answered Caswallon. ‘You saved the boys.’
‘But my kingdom? Was I… truly the Queen you desired me to be?’
‘Yes,’ answered Caswallon, nonplussed.
She smiled once more, then a tear formed and slowly fell to her pale cheek. ‘Poor Caswallon,’ she whispered. ‘You do not know whose hand you hold, but you will.’ Tears filled her eyes. Lifting her hand to his lips, he kissed the fingers. ‘I know you are brave beyond words,’ he said, ‘and I do not doubt you were a Queen beyond compare.”
Her eyes closed and a long broken sigh hissed from her throat. Caswallon sat for a moment, still holding onto the hand. Then he laid it gently across the Queen’s chest.
Cambil knelt beside him. ‘Who was she?” asked the Hunt Lord.
Caswallon stared down at the dead warrior woman. ‘Whoever she was, I mourn her passing.’
‘She was the Queen Beyond,” said Gaelen, ‘and she always won.’ Then he began to weep.
5
LENNOX SAT WITH his back against a tree as they stitched his shoulder and strapped his broken arm. His face was grey with pain, but he uttered no groan, merely squeezed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth.
His father Leofas said nothing, but pride shone in his eyes. Layne lay beside his brother, enduring the stitches in his chest in the same stoic fashion. Away from the others sat Badraig, tears flowing and head in hands. His son Draig had been killed the day before.
Even through his own immense relief Cambil felt the other man’s sorrow and, leaving his son Agwaine, he walked over to sit beside the hunter. He put his hand on Badraig’s shoulder.
‘I am sorry, my friend. Truly.’
The man nodded, but neither lifted his head nor answered.
Caswallon stood with the other clansmen looking down on the beast. Even in death it was a terrifying sight, its great jaws drawn back in a last snarl, its fangs, as long as a man’s fingers, bared and bloody.
‘I have never seen the like,’ muttered Caswallon, ‘and I pray I never shall again.’
They buried the Queen deep, marking the grave with flat white stones. Cambil promised to have a headstone carved. Then the men split into two groups, Badraig leading the five hunters back to the falls and burying what was left of the bodies; Cambil, Leofas and Caswallon staying with the boys. It was decided they would rest in the clearing until morning and then attempt the long walk back to the village.