The Endless Knot Read Free

long to wait for fields to be tilled and grain to grow. But this day”—he laughed again—“this day, we have everything we need!” Cynan, with his fiery red hair and blue eyes agleam with delight and the contents of his cup, was so full of life— and so happy to be that way after the terrible events of the last days— that I laughed out loud with him. I laughed, even though my heart felt like a stone in my chest.
    â€œBetter than that, brother,” I told him, “we are free men and alive!”
    â€œSo we are!” Cynan cried. He threw his arm around my neck and pulled me to him in a sweaty embrace. We clung to one another, and I breathed a silent, sad farewell to my swordbrother. Bran and several Ravens came upon us then, saluted me, and hailed me king, pledging their undying loyalty. And while they were about it, the two kings, Calbha and Cynfarch, approached. “I give you good greeting,” said Calbha. “May your reign ever continue as it has begun.”
    â€œMay you prosper through all things,” Cynfarch added, “and may victory crown your every battle.”
    I thanked them and, as I excused myself from their presence, I glimpsed Goewyn moving off. Calbha saw my eyes straying after her, and said, “Go to her, Llew. She is waiting for you. Go.”
    I stepped quickly away. “Tegid, you and Nettles ready a boat. I will join you in a moment.”
    Professor Nettleton glanced at the darkening sky and said, “Go if you must, but hurry, Llew! The time-between-times will not wait.”
    I caught Goewyn as she passed between two houses. “Come with me,” I said quickly. “I must talk to you.”
    She made no reply, but put down the jar and extended her hand. I took it and led her between the cluster of huts to the perimeter of the crannog. We slipped through the shadows along the timber wall of the fortress and out through the untended gates.
    Goewyn remained silent while I fumbled after the words I wanted to say. Now that I had her attention, I did not know where to begin. She watched me, her eyes large and dark in the fading light, her flaxen hair glimmering like spun silver, her skin pale as ivory. The slender torc shone like a circle of light at her throat. Truly, she was the most beautiful woman I had ever known.
    â€œWhat is the matter?” she asked after a moment. “If there is anything that makes you unhappy, then change it. You are the king now.
    It is for you to say what will be.”
    â€œIt seems to me,” I told her sadly, “that there are some things even a king cannot change.”
    â€œWhat is the matter, Llew?” she asked again.
    I hesitated. She leaned nearer, waiting for my answer. I looked at her, lovely in the fading light.
    â€œI love you, Goewyn,” I said.
    She smiled, her eyes sparkling with laughter. “And it is this that makes you so unhappy?” she said lightly and leaned closer, raising her arms and lacing her fingers behind my head. “I love you too. There. Now we can be miserable together.”
    I felt her warm breath on my face. I wanted to take her in my arms and kiss her. I burned with the urge. Instead, I turned my face aside.
    â€œGoewyn, I would ask you to be my queen.”
    â€œAnd if you asked,” she said, speaking softly and low, “I would agree—as I have agreed in my heart a thousand times already.”
    Her voice . . . I could live within that voice. I could exist on it alone, lose myself completely, content to know nothing but the beauty of that voice.
    My mouth went dry, and I fought to swallow the clot of sand that suddenly clogged my throat. “Goewyn . . . I—”
    â€œLlew?” She had caught the despair in my tone.
    â€œGoewyn, I cannot . . . I cannot be king. I cannot ask you to be my queen.”
    She straightened and pulled away. “What do you mean?”
    â€œI mean that I cannot stay in Albion. I must