The Bwy Hir Complete Trilogy Read Online Free PDF Page A

another word he stood and left his children busy in the kitchen. ‘God preserve us,’ he whispered.
    The rest of the morning came and went in a blur. The local policeman, James Mallard, not a local man, but decent enough, arrived and left with statements and a few Polaroid shots of the barn and its carbonised occupant. The body was finally removed mid morning, zipped in a black bag and taken away for disposal.
    By midday the smoke had vanished leaving behind an acrid stench that enveloped the entire farm and parched the throat.
    Anwen was curled up on the sofa with a crocheted blanket covering her from neck to toe and Bara was nestled at her feet snoring softly. Gwyn and his father were sitting together in the kitchen nursing hot tea in their hands.
    ‘Dad …’ Gwyn began, but his head ached and his throat felt raw.
    His father sighed deeply, shook his head and , holding eye contact with his son, he began to explain something he should have told him sooner, only he’d wanted to spare his son the burden for as long as possible. Gwyn wouldn’t come of age for another four weeks; he’d hoped he could have waited until then, but events had overtaken him, and so he began:
    ‘We come from a proud heritage Gwyn. Our surname carries great pride and tribute. Our family has shaped history, has kept the spirit of Wales alive, our ancient lineage has brought great honour …’
    Gwyn screwed up his eyes, his head felt full of wool, his father was talking in riddles, and all he wanted to do was sleep.
    ‘Damn it, listen to me Gwyn, this is important!’ His father thumped the table with a clenched fist bringing Gwyn back to full attention. ‘Gwyn, you will be twenty-one soon, this changes everything, everything . What you think you know about life will be turned on its head and what you did last night …’ His father faltered trying to find the right words, but he was damn well exhausted and his temper was starting to fray. ‘By god, Gwyn,’ he blurted, ‘you killed a Druid!’
    Gwyn was feeling light headed and he wished he hadn’t drunk quite so much at the pub last night. Everything felt dreamlike, maybe it was a dream, or perhaps he had banged his head when he fell in the yard, but whatever the reason his father’s voice came in and out in waves and Gwyn could not make sense of any of it, and for some reason he felt a smile split his face and he began to snigger.
    His father felt a fury rising in his belly. Usually slow to anger, his father’s face flushed red and he grabbed Gwyn by the nape of his neck , dragging his head forward.
    ‘This …’ his father rasped in his face while pulling a chain from under his shirt and holding it up to Gwyn’s eye, ‘… is a key to secrets beyond your imaginings. We are Chosen, Gwyn, our family is one of The Chosen and you damn well better accept it!’
    Gwyn tried to focus in on the gold shape thrust inches from his left eye. It was a small amulet in the shape of a Triskele.
    Gwyn leaned back in his chair as his father released his grip. They sat in silence until Gwyn gave a mumbled apology. He watched his father rise and stretch his back, Gwyn’s eyes followed him across the room and watched as his father knelt in the corner of the kitchen’s quarry tiled floor. He heard a small click followed by another small er click and his father returned to the table carrying a small rectangular shape wrapped in black velvet.
    ‘This will explain everything far better than I ever could Gwyn.’ His father handed him the small parcel and Gwyn carefully unwrapped the outer coverings to reveal a small leather bound notebook. Looking up expectantly to his father, the book gently held between his two meaty hands, Gwyn was confused and a little frightened.
    ‘In your hands is everything this family knows about the Bwy Hir, the Druids and our role as Chosen. It was written by your grandfather and passed down to me.’ He placed his hand on his son’s shoulder. ‘Take it upstairs with