The Dragon Revenant Read Free Page B

much danger as the child. Tevylla caught her breath in a gasp.
    “How do you fare, lass?” Cullyn said.
    “Well enough, captain. I just remembered somewhat.”
    “And it was?”
    “I won’t tell anyone but Nevyn, but I think me I’d best tell him straightway.”
    Since as regent it was one of Lovyan’s duties to administer the laws of the gwerbretrhyn, Nevyn had her convene their private hearing in the chamber of justice, yet they were a scruffy little crew among the splendors. On the wall hung the dragon banners of Aberwyn and the golden sword of justice; the massive oak table and the high-backed gwerbretal chair stood on a floor made of slate tiles, inlaid in a key pattern, but Lovyan perched on the edge of the chair with Rhodda in her lap, while Nevyn had Bryc sit on the table itself so that he could bind the lad’s wrist as everyone gave their testimony. To Lovyan’s right Tevylla sat on a low bench with Cullyn hovering behind her. Once the testimony was over, the tieryn gave her granddaughter a little squeeze.
    “Oh ye gods,” Lovyan said. “It seems obvious this lad tried to kill our Rhodda, and yet somewhat makes me doubt his guilt.”
    “Quite so, Your Grace,” Nevyn said. “To be precise, his body was being used for the attempt, but his soul and mind are blameless. Now, Tewa, what’s this urgent story you have to tell?”
    “This morning when I woke, my lord, I had what I thought was a strange dream. Have you ever had one of those dreams where you think you’re wide awake? Our chamber, Rhodda’s cot, the hearth—it all looked exactly right, and dawn was coming in the window, but when I tried to move, I couldn’t, and I realized that I was still asleep.”
    “Dreams of that sort do happen.” Nevyn finished binding the lad’s wrist and turned to look at her. “What came after?”
    “I dreamt there was a witch in the chamber with me. My Mam used to say that a witch could draw out your soul and put it into a little jar. I laughed, then, but this morning I felt just that, like someone was trying to steal my soul.”
    Nevyn felt that weary sort of annoyance that comes from seeing your worst fear confirmed.
    “How did you fight this witch off?”
    “I don’t know.” She looked profoundly embarrassed. “I couldn’t move to give the sign of warding, and I couldn’t even really see where the witch was. I just knew that she was there with me. So, I … well, I just sort of pushed back. I called on the Goddess to protect me, and pushed the witch away. Does that make any sense, my lord?”
    “It does to me, Mistress Tewa. Just one thing, though. That witch was more likely to be a man than a woman. You see, our enemies were trying to do to you what they eventually did to Bryc. They can take over a person’s body for a little while, if he’s weak enough, and use it like their own.”
    Bryc moaned, tears starting in his eyes.
    “Your Grace,” he said to the tieryn. “I never would have. Never would I have hurt the lass. Please believe me.”
    Lovyan flicked Nevyn a questioning glance.
    “I believe him, Your Grace. Now that I know what they’re doing, I can put a stop to it, too. If I may make suggestions, Your Grace?”
    “Of course.”
    “Two things. Bryc needs to be sent away—not out of blame, mind, but for his sake.” He turned to the heartsick boy. “They’ve made a link with you now, lad, and they might try to use it again. If they’re successful, this time they’ll kill you. Do you understand? They’ll use you, then toss you aside.”
    His face pale, Bryc nodded a slow agreement.
    “The other thing is, the captain should be the child’s bodyguard from now on. Whenever you go outside, Mistress Tewa, you take him along with you. I can’t imagine anyone taking over Cullyn’s mind.”
    “No more can I,” Cullyn said. “I agree with Nevyn, Your Grace. Since they can’t work their stinking trickery anymore, they might send someone in here with a sword.”
    “Done, then.”