Shadow of Stone (The Pendragon Chronicles) Read Online Free
Author: Ruth Nestvold
childbed two years ago, only a few months before Terrwyn had suffered the same fate.
"Cai is needed in Caer Leon to train the cavalry," Gawain said.
"Then Alun and I will have to do our best."
Suddenly Kustennin jumped up and strode toward the entrance of the atrium. "Mother!"
Not for the first time, Cador was struck by how his foster son had noticed a new arrival before anyone else — perhaps an indication that Kustennin had inherited some of his mother's power of knowing.
As the Queen Regent of Dumnonia entered the atrium, Cador rose, along with the rest of the men who had just been so intent on talk of war. Yseult smiled a greeting and brushed the embroidered linen shawl back from her hair, a gift from Cador the last Christmas that Terrwyn was still alive. Yseult was no longer young, but she still had a reputation as one of the great beauties of Britain, and given the way the men around him stared, it appeared well-deserved. Even Gawain — the warrior among Arthur's companions with the most dangerous reputation with women — drew in a sharp breath at the sight of the tall, silver-blond queen.
She strode forward with decisive, decidedly unfeminine steps, looking just as stunning as usual, despite having crossed the Erainn Sea and half the length of Dumnonia in the last few weeks. Kustennin led her forward, murmuring earnestly in her ear, and her expression clouded. As she approached, her gaze lit on Gawain. To Cador's surprise, she too drew in a sharp breath.
He glanced from one to the other. What was going on here?
Yseult stepped forward to embrace Cador, and he gave her a brotherly hug before exchanging a more formal kiss of peace. "We are glad you arrived safely, Yseult. I assume Kustennin told you the news?"
She nodded, her expression solemn. "I know it will sound selfish, but right now I am just glad that Brangwyn and Kurvenal were not in Caer Custoeint when the attack occurred."
Before he could respond, Enid entered the atrium with a servant to announce that dinner was served. His mother had mastered the challenge of so many unexpected guests brilliantly, serving the hare stuffed with sage and dried apples and the salmon in a sauce of clams as the first two courses, followed by a new main course of the spontaneously slaughtered chickens in a rich wine sauce with mushrooms and onions.
During the meal, Cador found himself glancing between Yseult and Gawain, interpreting relationships of all kinds into gazes caught and avoided. He hoped he was successfully maintaining the shield in his mind as Yseult had taught him so many years ago. There was no telling, Yseult had said then, who might possess blood of the Old Race and the ability to delve into others' thoughts. And now here he was, using that training against Yseult herself.
If only he also had her magic and could know for certain what the interaction between the two of them meant.
Servants were bringing out plates of sweet nut tarts and wine cakes when Cador noticed Gawain glance out the window at the gathering dusk. "Perhaps you were right, Cador. Sunlight will soon be gone, and while we could ride in the dark, we'd have to set up camp and would not be as rested in the morning. I think we'll take you up on your offer to stay the night. If we rise before dawn, we can make up the time."
"Certainly," Cador said, gesturing for a servant. "You are always welcome here."
While he asked the servant to inform Enid of the change in plans, he saw Gawain catch Yseult's attention, saw their gazes meet and lock, saw the light in Gawain's eyes. Yseult glanced away, but Cador had not imagined the look of intimacy that passed between them.
He felt the muscles of his stomach cramp, and all appetite for his favorite dessert vanished. Cador might not have the powers of the Old Race, but he didn't need them to interpret something so obvious — Yseult and Gawain were lovers. When had it happened? How had he missed it? Obviously they were trying to keep their
"Cai is needed in Caer Leon to train the cavalry," Gawain said.
"Then Alun and I will have to do our best."
Suddenly Kustennin jumped up and strode toward the entrance of the atrium. "Mother!"
Not for the first time, Cador was struck by how his foster son had noticed a new arrival before anyone else — perhaps an indication that Kustennin had inherited some of his mother's power of knowing.
As the Queen Regent of Dumnonia entered the atrium, Cador rose, along with the rest of the men who had just been so intent on talk of war. Yseult smiled a greeting and brushed the embroidered linen shawl back from her hair, a gift from Cador the last Christmas that Terrwyn was still alive. Yseult was no longer young, but she still had a reputation as one of the great beauties of Britain, and given the way the men around him stared, it appeared well-deserved. Even Gawain — the warrior among Arthur's companions with the most dangerous reputation with women — drew in a sharp breath at the sight of the tall, silver-blond queen.
She strode forward with decisive, decidedly unfeminine steps, looking just as stunning as usual, despite having crossed the Erainn Sea and half the length of Dumnonia in the last few weeks. Kustennin led her forward, murmuring earnestly in her ear, and her expression clouded. As she approached, her gaze lit on Gawain. To Cador's surprise, she too drew in a sharp breath.
He glanced from one to the other. What was going on here?
Yseult stepped forward to embrace Cador, and he gave her a brotherly hug before exchanging a more formal kiss of peace. "We are glad you arrived safely, Yseult. I assume Kustennin told you the news?"
She nodded, her expression solemn. "I know it will sound selfish, but right now I am just glad that Brangwyn and Kurvenal were not in Caer Custoeint when the attack occurred."
Before he could respond, Enid entered the atrium with a servant to announce that dinner was served. His mother had mastered the challenge of so many unexpected guests brilliantly, serving the hare stuffed with sage and dried apples and the salmon in a sauce of clams as the first two courses, followed by a new main course of the spontaneously slaughtered chickens in a rich wine sauce with mushrooms and onions.
During the meal, Cador found himself glancing between Yseult and Gawain, interpreting relationships of all kinds into gazes caught and avoided. He hoped he was successfully maintaining the shield in his mind as Yseult had taught him so many years ago. There was no telling, Yseult had said then, who might possess blood of the Old Race and the ability to delve into others' thoughts. And now here he was, using that training against Yseult herself.
If only he also had her magic and could know for certain what the interaction between the two of them meant.
Servants were bringing out plates of sweet nut tarts and wine cakes when Cador noticed Gawain glance out the window at the gathering dusk. "Perhaps you were right, Cador. Sunlight will soon be gone, and while we could ride in the dark, we'd have to set up camp and would not be as rested in the morning. I think we'll take you up on your offer to stay the night. If we rise before dawn, we can make up the time."
"Certainly," Cador said, gesturing for a servant. "You are always welcome here."
While he asked the servant to inform Enid of the change in plans, he saw Gawain catch Yseult's attention, saw their gazes meet and lock, saw the light in Gawain's eyes. Yseult glanced away, but Cador had not imagined the look of intimacy that passed between them.
He felt the muscles of his stomach cramp, and all appetite for his favorite dessert vanished. Cador might not have the powers of the Old Race, but he didn't need them to interpret something so obvious — Yseult and Gawain were lovers. When had it happened? How had he missed it? Obviously they were trying to keep their
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