The Foundling Read Online Free PDF

Angharad whispered to her mother, “the choice is easy. Neither! Are there no other suitors? It’s not that I expect a crowd, all jostling and clamoring to marry me, but I’d really hate to think only two were interested, especially those two.”
    â€œAlas, daughter, there are none,” Queen Regat began, but
stopped as the Chief Steward came to murmur a few words in her ear. Queen Regat turned to Angharad and said:
    â€œOne more awaits. Geraint is his name. He is unknown to me, but he asks admittance to seek your hand.”
    Angharad shrugged and sighed wearily. “I’ve put up with this pair. I doubt a third could be more tiresome.”
    But the Princess caught her breath as the enchanter Geraint made his way through the Great Hall and stood before her. He came with no servants or attendants; he bore no magic wand or golden staff; his garments were plain and unadorned. Yet this youth was the fairest Angharad had ever seen. Nevertheless, despite her quickening heart and the color rising to her cheeks, she tossed her head and said lightly:
    â€œNow, Master Geraint, by what enchantments do you mean to court us?”
    Geraint smiled as he replied.
    â€œWhy, Princess, by none at all. Does a man court a woman with sorcery? It seems to me he must court her with love.”
    â€œBoldly spoken,” said Angharad, “but how shall you do so?”
    â€œAs a man to a woman,” answered Geraint. “And may you answer me freely, as a woman to a man.”
    As their eyes met, Angharad knew her heart could be given only to him. However, before she could reply, the enchanter Gildas stepped forward, sputtering and protesting. And the enchanter Grimgower sprang from his seat and angrily insisted that Geraint prove his skill, as they had been obliged to do.
    And so Geraint began. However, unlike the others, he drew no magical patterns, pronounced no magical spells. Instead, in common, quiet words he spoke of waters and woodlands, of sea and sky, of men and women, of childhood and old age; of the wonder and
beauty of living things, all closely woven one with the other as threads on the same loom.
    As he spoke, he stretched out his open hands, and all in the court fell silent, marveling. For now, born of his simple gesture, appeared flights of doves, fluttering and circling around him. Flowers blossomed at each motion of his fingers. He raised his arms and above his head stars glittered in a sparkling cloud and a shower of lights was scattered through the Great Hall.
    Then Geraint lowered his arms to his sides, and the enchantments vanished. He stood waiting, saying nothing more, while his glance and the glance of Angharad touched and held each other. Smiling, the Princess rose from her throne.
    â€œMy choice is made,” she said. “The enchanter Geraint has sought my hand and won my heart. And so shall we be wed.”
    Shouts of joy filled the Great Hall as Angharad and Geraint stepped forward to embrace.
    But Grimgower thrust himself between them. His face was livid with rage as he cried out to Queen Regat and all the company:
    â€œWhat trickery is this? He used no sorcery known to me or to any magician. He is an impostor! A false enchanter! Cast him out!”
    â€œHe has tried to dupe us,” fumed Gildas, his jowls shaking with indignation. “My colleague is correct. I heard no proper spells or charms. This upstart has no true power. A hoaxer! A mere juggler!”
    Angharad was about to protest, but the Queen gestured for her to be silent. Regat’s face was grave as she drew herself up and turned a severe gaze upon Geraint.
    â€œYou have heard these accusations,” Queen Regat said. “Are they true?”
    â€œYes,” Geraint answered willingly, “altogether true. Sorcery is not
my birthright. I have no inborn powers. What I showed, I fashioned by myself. The birds you saw? No doves, but only bits of white parchment. The flowers? Dry grass and