The Prince of Powys Read Online Free PDF Page B

of must be the
    only family she had. The gods know Ethelbald thinks of her
    as nothing but a pawn, to be used for an alliance . “Tel me of Judith.”
    “I’ve not seen her since she was taken to Caledonia.”
    “Yes, Brude does not ride into Saxon territory save for
    battle.”
    “Of course, he has to climb over Hadrian’s Wal to get into
    England.” Branda lowered her voice to a dreamy tone. “I hear
    tel he is a great warrior and handsome.”
    “In her marriage to Brude, your sister is more hostage than
    wife. She ensures him Ethelbald wil not bring an army against
    Pictland.” Gazing at her pouty expression, he again fought the
    temptation to kiss her rosy mouth.
    “Why do you speak so of Brude and Judith?”
    “Princess, I just wanted to show you there are other ways to
    look at things. Al is not as it appears. You may be more
    innocent of the ways of the world than you think.” He wanted to
    shout: Don’t you know I am betraying you? We are not in
    Caledonia. He knew when she discovered he held her as his hostage, she’d hate him and it shocked him to realize how that
    would wound him.
    As she leaned against his chest, he drove his horse into a hard
    galop across the moors. The sun hung low as Blaise guided his
    horse up the first steep mountain he came to. A maiden straight
    of posture with long red hair and a fresh, honest face herded her
    cows to the valey from grazing in high pasture. Absently, he
    greeted her in Welsh.
    Likewise, she replied, “May the wind be quiet and the sun
    shine this morn.”
    “Augh!” Blaise groaned at the pain in his chest. The Saxon
    had jabbed her elbow in his stomach. He tightened his grip on
    her, and though she fought hard, she was no match for his
    muscular build.
    “She speaks Welsh, not Pictish.” Branda rocked her body
    hard against him as he held her in the circle of his strong arms.
    hard against him as he held her in the circle of his strong arms.
    “Augh, you bit my arm. Bran’s head! Calm down. You can’t
    escape. Stay stil or you may harm yourself in the struggle.”
    She bucked against him like a wild horse. How could a twig
    of a girl be so strong? She must have some Welsh blood in
    her.
    He raised his voice. “If you got away from me, where would
    you go? You are in Wales.”
    “Liar! You said we were in Caledonia.”
    New pains shot through his legs and stomach as she continued
    the thrashing assault. “I did lie, for I said we went north, but we rode westward across marshland, then moors and now we ride
    up a mountain. I am a Powys Prince; where would I go but
    Wales?”
    The Saxon horse, frightened by the fray, reared on its hind
    legs and released a fierce neigh. Branda screamed. Blaise held
    her tight while he took control of the horse. He wished he were
    in the saddle of a Celtic pony. Little spooked them; they would
    turn and fight before running away. The steed bolted at a fast gait up the hil, bits of rock and rubble tumbling down. Blaise
    wrapped his left arm about the Princess and held her tight.
    Suddenly he heard a woman’s voice whispering melodic
    Welsh, soothing the horse who came to a halt. The grazer-maid
    had a way with animals like al Powys folk. The bucking slowed,
    then the neighing and snorting halted. The horse calmed.
    Relieved, but stil alert, Blaise held the Princess fast then turned to the redheaded maid and thanked her.
    She bowed, and he gestured for her to rise. “I was riding up
    the mountain to look out for English soldiers. Were you on the
    peak? Did you spot an army headed this way?”
    “Yes. Wel, a smal army.” The maid shrugged.
    “I need see for myself.” He clutched Branda tighter. “Come,
    Princess, we need to discover what your sire is up to.”
    He clucked the horse into a slow gait up the mountain. It
    tossed its large head and let loose a loud whinny. Blaise puled
    the steed to a halt, dismounted and, taking a leather thong from
    the saddle, he tied Branda’s hands to ensure she could not