The Good Knight (A Gareth and Gwen Medieval Mystery)

him.
    “Careful.” Hywel caught her by the arms.
    “Gareth—”
    “I heard,” Hywel said. “And I heard what you said to Cadwaladr. That was not wise.”
    “I know.” Gwen touched a finger to the corner of her mouth. “A moment ago, I didn’t care.”
    Hywel looked past her to the courtyard. Gwen turned to follow his gaze. Cadwaladr was still glaring at her, his hands on his hips. Then one of his men caught his attention and he turned away, back to the hall. He hurried to come even with Cadell, who stood at the top of the steps to the hall, looking righteous and self-satisfied.
    “You should stay out of their way.” Hywel dabbed at the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief. “That has to hurt. He wore a ring.”
    Gwen swallowed. “I’ve felt worse.” And she had, at her father’s hands.
    Hywel gave her a dark look.
    “If you need me, I’ll be with Gareth.” She made to push past him but he held her arm and pulled her closer so he could look into her eyes.
    “I recommend that you do not sing with your brother during dinner tonight.”
    “The sight of those lords makes me sick anyway.”
    Hywel released her but didn’t leave and she led him past the horseboxes to the rear of the stables. He pulled up short just as one of the guards drove his fist into Gareth’s belly. Before Gwen could scream, Hywel clapped a hand over her mouth. “Quiet. Give it a moment.”
    Gwen pulled away. “How can you stand by and do nothing?”
    “You’d have me fire all the arrows in my quiver before the start of battle?” Hywel said. “That is unwise. Gareth has experienced worse. They’ll tire of him presently.” As he spoke, a guard twisted Gareth’s arm and he collapsed forward, just as another guard brought up his knee. Gareth folded in half over it with a moan.
    Gwen glared at Hywel, hating him in that moment. At his steady gaze, however, she subsided, still in the shadows. She sucked on her lip, half-turned away from where Gareth’s guards continued to rough him up. She wanted to clap her hands over her ears. It wasn’t that Gareth cried or screamed, but his breathy moans were more than she could bear.
    Finally, Hywel’s words proved true and Cadell’s men threw him face first into the cell. Gareth pushed up on his hands and turned back to them, blood pouring from a gash on his head. “ Dos i chwarae efo dy nain !” The flames behind Gareth’s eyes could have lit the stables on fire.
    Then a guard closed the door and the two men who remained settled themselves in front of the door, one leaning against the wall to the left of the door and the second on an overturned bucket.
    “We’ll give them time to get bored,” Hywel said. “Come. We must make a plan.”
    Reluctantly, Gwen returned with Hywel to his office. She slumped on the bench under the window, unable to think of anything to say.
    Hywel plopped into his chair. “Damn.” He ran a hand across his brow. “What a day.”
    “Damn right.” King Owain swung around the door frame and halted in the middle of the room. Both Gwen and Hywel stood, though Gwen didn’t think the King had even noticed her, so focused was he on his son. She tried to sidle towards the door, but stopped at Hywel’s warning look.
    “Sir,” Hywel said.
    King Owain put his hands on Hywel’s desk and leaned onto them. “I have put up with your defense of that man for four years, but no more.”
    “Gareth had nothing to do with Anarawd’s death, Father.” Hywel said this very calmly, his back straight and his hands resting at his sides.
    King Owain went red to the roots of his hair. He pointed his finger at his son. “How dare you defend him!”
    “I must defend him. He is my man.” Hywel paused. “Besides, in this case, Cadell is quite mistaken. Gareth did not take the seal from Anarawd. Gwen gave it to him.”
    “Gwen!” King Owain spun on his heel to glare at Gwen. She backed away until she hit the wall behind her and couldn’t go any further. She gazed at the King wide-eyed, unable to speak. King Owain turned back to Hywel. “Explain.”
    “Of course.” Hywel flicked his eyes to Gwen and then back to his father. Gwen held her breath, waiting for what he would say. “According to Cristina, who gave the seal to Gwen, Cadell himself had it in his quarters. That is where she found it. It may be that Cadell’s accusation of Gareth is an attempt to distract us from his own perfidy.”
    King Owain pressed up against Hywel’s desk, his face nearly