The Bwy Hir Complete Trilogy Read Online Free PDF Page B

kissing it gently, his stubble brushing against her skin. She allowed the contact a moment longer, enjoying his touch before withdrawing her hand.
    ‘How are you, Dafydd, it has been a while has it not?  Word came to us as soon as it happened. What did actually happen Dafydd, I’d like to hear your version of events.’ She motioned for him to begin walking away from the Cerdd Carega and into the cover of the forest. She towered over him as they walked; his head barely reached her shoulder.
    ‘I woke up in the middle of the night … Gwyn was outside, practically naked, lying on his back with a shotgun in his hand … he says to me, “he tried to kill me!” pointing to a heap in the yard. It was dark, and so I grab the heap and turn it over and I saw this.’ He fished in his pocket and pulled out a fist. Awel staggered as he opened his hand to show a round silver medallion. It was decorated with an oak tree on the top half, the tree roots mirrored on the bottom half with a gold Triskele in the centre.
    ‘Why was a Druid on your land and why does your son believe he was in mortal danger? This makes no sense.’ Awel sounded concerned.
    ‘I don’t know what happened Awel, I swear it, all I know is I had a dead Druid in my yard and my barn was alight!’
    ‘The Druid torched your barn?’ Awel’s voice raised an octave.
    ‘ Yes, I mean no, no I mean yes. He was aiming at Gwyn’s head!’
    ‘The Druid used derwydd yn tân?’ Awel grabbed at Dafydd’s arm. ‘You are sure?’
    ‘Yes, I saw the hole punched through the barn wall, I heard the roar before I heard the gunshot . Gwyn shot in defence.’
    Awel tried to make sense of what she was hearing. To use derwydd yn tan except as the last line of defence was anathema, no Druid would dare. Yet she knew her old friend and knew he wasn’t lying. So why would a Druid attempt to kill one of the Chosen, especially one on the cusp of initiation?
    ‘So you let him burn in his own fire, deservedly so, but the Druids will not take kindly to one of their own being murdered, and it will be your word against theirs. You know the penalty for killing a Druid. You and your son are in great peril. Has a member of the Council arrived yet?’ Awel resumed their walking.
    ‘No, that’s just it, no-one has come, I expected a visit hours ago. It’s like the Druid didn’t exist, Awel, only I saw him and the fire and I have the amulet! Trevor Edwards, you know him?’ Awel nodded and he continued, ‘Him and his lot found the body in the ashes, only it wasn’t a man’s body, it was the remains of a big dog. Trevor says he’s “going to make inquiries.”’ Dafydd shrugged his shoulders.
    ‘Dafydd Morgan, the dog is one of the Helgi: a Druid Hound. ’
    Dafydd was getting very confused. ‘ Awel, I know about the Helgi but what about the Druid, where’s the Druid?’
    Awel held up her hand. ‘Calm yourself and listen. The Helgi aren’t born, they are created ... when a Druid dies he becomes a Helgi and joins the rest of the pack, a Druid doesn’t truly die until the Helgi dies.’
    Dafydd opened his mouth but Awel forestalled him. ‘No more questions for now, Dafydd, maybe I shouldn’t have told you about the Helgi, but what’s done is done. Go home Dafydd, deny any knowledge of Druids and Helgi on your lands, you must claim it is all a mystery to you.’
    Dafydd opened his mouth to disagree but she held a finger to his mouth. ‘Trust me Dafydd, I can’t protect you unless you do as you are told. Someone sent a Druid to your farm and I need to discover why. Go home, keep your family close, especially Anwen and I will be in touch, and throw that amulet away, you do not want to be caught with that.’
    He nodded once and she turned back towards the Cerdd Carega. He watched her leave. Should I trust her? Can I trust any of the Bwy Hir? Dafydd thought to himself. And why keep Anwen especially close instead of Gwyn? Anwen saw nothing . He stared at the amulet nestled in