Chapter 25 #2
‘Where is Nest?’ asked Becuma as they hurried out into the summer sunshine, where a guard waited.
‘With her nurse, Guardid,’ said Cordelia, nodding towards the women’s quarters.
A ring of men stood around the roundhouse, tools in their hands, ready to protect the women and children.
‘Where is my husband?’ she asked the guard.
‘He’s taken the messenger to the great hall,’ the man replied.
‘Then we shall also attend,’ she said, setting off, the guard hurrying to keep up.
At the doors, Buel stood with several other loyal men.
‘Aganippus said we were to accompany you,’ he said, opening the huge doors and leading the way inside.
Cordelia pushed past him in impatience.
‘Lagon?’ she called, hurrying the length of the room to the raised dais, where Aganippus was talking to a dark-haired man.
He was dressed in a rough, homespun tunic over tattered trousers, but his boots were sturdy.
He had his back to Cordelia as she hurried forward.
Her footsteps caused him to turn and Cordelia felt a rush of emotions at seeing her old friend. ‘Lagon, it is you!’ she exclaimed.
‘Cordelia,’ he said, hugging her tightly as she threw herself into his arms. ‘You look radiant; being queen suits you.’
‘Thank you,’ she said, half-laughing, half-crying in delight at the sight of him. ‘Why are you here?’
Aganippus beckoned her forward. ‘Come, my dear,’ he said, ‘and you, Lagon, we shall retire to the quieter rooms and discuss your journey before we announce your presence to the rest of the oppidum.’
Cordelia led the way to the dividing wall, where there was a smaller room with chairs and rugs – a place where she and Aganippus would invite friends when the rowdiness of the hall became too much to bear.
As the adrenaline rush of excitement at seeing her friend faded, panic was beginning to grip Cordelia.
Lagon looked better than when she had last seen him as they had departed the hill fort, then he had been covered in bruises, his lip split after the altercations at the handfasting ceremony.
He was thin but unharmed and he radiated a quiet confidence and determination.
Aganippus issued instructions to one of his men that they were not to be disturbed, then pulled the heavy curtain across the entrance.
The light in the room dimmed with this action and Cordelia felt a strange intensity fill the space.
Aganippus stood with his arms folded across his chest as Cordelia, turned to Lagon, indicating for him to sit beside her, her voice urgent.
‘What brings you so far from home?’ she said. ‘This breaks my heart, but I must ask, do you bring news of my father’s death?’
‘No, Cordelia,’ he said, grasping her hand in reassurance. ‘Quite the opposite.’
‘Lagon is here as your father’s emissary,’ said Aganippus. ‘Lear Bladudsunu was too ashamed to face us himself.’
‘Ashamed?’ said Cordelia. ‘Tell me, Lagon, what’s happened?’
‘After you left, things became worse with the Golden Dobvnni. Your father handed the running of the hill fort to Maglaurus and the man he claimed was the high priest, Caradoc. The men who your father said were priests and new members of the community were paid mercenaries and it wasn’t long before they turned on both your father and Caradoc. ’
‘Where was Goneril?’ asked Cordelia.
‘Your sister enjoyed the power of being married to a man who was behaving like a king in all but name and, unfortunately, it encouraged her darker side to show itself. We both know there is a venal side to Goneril, and with no one to challenge her, this hard-heartedness became more pronounced.’
Cordelia felt sadness washing through her. She loved her sister, but Lagon was correct. There was a ruthlessness to her eldest sister, which, when left unchecked, held a terrible cruelty.
‘To whom was this viciousness directed?’ asked Cordelia.
‘Your Fa,’ said Lagon and his voice caught as he continued, ‘and mine.’
He was pale with anger as Aganippus finally moved from his standing position near the doorway to sit opposite Lagon. His face was closed, guarded, and Cordelia knew him well enough to understand he sensed Lagon’s distress; Aganippus’s move to sit with them was a show of solidarity and brotherhood.
‘You’re among friends here, Lagon,’ Aganippus said. ‘You’re safe. Whatever you tell us will be treated with the utmost respect and consideration.’
‘Thank you,’ said Lagon. He swallowed, readying himself, then began to speak.
‘Three months after you left, your Fa’s senses seemed to right themselves.
He banished the mercenaries and set about making amends with the villagers, but Maglaurus and Goneril had enjoyed running the oppidum.
They plotted with Caradoc to imprison your father.
He was much weakened, but with my father, he tried to plead for a return to the old ways, to when the fort was prosperous.
‘Maglaurus is not a wise man. He believes he has knowledge above all others but he is lazy and stupid. He was easily duped by the leader of the mercenaries and, a week after your father had told them to leave, Maglaurus and Goneril welcomed them back. The first task was for them to imprison our fathers.’
‘Locrinus was taken alongside Fa?’ said Cordelia.
‘Yes, Maglaurus believed him a troublemaker and Goneril didn’t defend him.’
‘Did Ivor protest?’ asked Cordelia.
‘Ivor and Gael left the fort shortly after you,’ he said. ‘There has been no word from either of them since.’
‘I’m sorry, Lagon,’ she whispered.
‘It was a surprise when Regan and Henwinus arrived though,’ he said.
‘It transpires, Henwinus was more avaricious than we believed. They were halfway to his homestead of Dvmnonii when he decided to return to take advantage of Lear’s madness.
The Golden Dobvnni is a grand prize and he realised he had walked away from potential riches and power. ’
‘How was Regan?’
‘Ill,’ he said. ‘She was with child and it sat heavily upon her.’
‘Was the babe born?’ asked Aganippus.
‘Yes, a girl,’ said Lagon, ‘but she was ailing and she died within the day.’
Cordelia swallowed her sadness for her sister.
‘And Regan?’
‘Maddened by grief and determined to punish all who crossed her path.’
‘This is a tragedy,’ said Cordelia.
‘There is worse to come,’ he warned. ‘Not only did Maglaurus imprison our fathers, when mine asked to see Goneril, to appeal to her better nature, Maglaurus not only refused his request, he ordered my father to be blinded so he could never “see” anyone ever again. His blindness, he said, would be a reminder to my father to respect the new regime.’
‘No!’ exclaimed Cordelia and Aganippus together in horror.
‘And Goneril knew about this?’ asked Cordelia.
Lagon shook his head. ‘She was appalled when she discovered what had happened, but by then, there was nothing she could do, although, she did try to help my father.’
‘How?’ said Aganippus.
‘She provided healing unguents which she had hoarded and, thanks to these, his wounds healed well,’ said Lagon. ‘It was Goneril who was instrumental in helping me to escape with our fathers.’
‘She did?’ said Cordelia and a small glow of hope filled her heart.
‘Goneril provided us with clothes, money and a small donkey cart to enable us to leave under the cover of darkness,’ he said.
‘However, it’s been a long and hazardous journey.
Our fathers are lodged at a fort nearby, but neither wished to see you in their current state.
Your father is deeply ashamed of his behaviour and begs your forgiveness. He wishes to put things right.’
‘What are his intentions?’ asked Aganippus.
‘He wishes to raise an army and win back his land,’ said Lagon.
There was a long silence, then Aganippus stood.
‘You must rest, my friend,’ he said. ‘We shall discuss all you have told us and when we have reached our decision, you will be summoned.’