Samhain, Year 10,235 Byd Hud
Bard Celyn and the Goblin Stor brought a young Tylwyth Teg–Fairy Caryn and seven other Tylwyth Teg girls to the northernmost camp being set up in the Wilderness to receive the incoming humans. All the girls were nine to eleven years old, and all had their hair braided, showing their elemental magic had manifested.
The northern camp lay on the northeast corner of the Coedwig Yr Elfiaid, the Elven Forest. The tall hardwoods loomed to the west, while the camp itself was surrounded by smaller trees and prairie. The camp was set up to receive 10,000 people. There was a large central clearing four hundred yards in diameter. Five wide roads ran out from this center like spokes on a wheel. Tents were set up between these spokes in two sections of 100 tents, with each tent containing 10 cots. A smaller road divided each section.
A royal tent was set up on the western side of the central clearing, on a small rise. Celyn, Stor, and the girls were brought before Ard Rí Artemis Rell and High Queen Robena in their tent. Rell, the former Delta operator brought from Earth, passed three deadly trials of Kingship, Fidelity, and Strength, and drew Caledfwlch from its stone, fulfilling an ancient prophecy and becoming Ard Rí, the High King of the Fae. In the process, he bonded with, and married, Robena fel Fulpa, a Tylwyth Teg Warden, also foretold in the prophecy.
Celyn and the children knelt, hands to the sides of their heads, palms forward in the Tylwyth Teg sign of deep respect. High Queen Robena did the same to Celyn, as Bards were highly esteemed in Tylwyth Teg culture. Rell watched it all, a frown deepening on his face as suspicion about the presence of the girls took hold.
Celyn, his face expressionless, spoke. “Your Grace, I do not bring you a tale of joy. I sat by a fire in the northern forest. Stor, and his friends Gar and Bun brought these girls to my fire. I was surprised, as I had not met any Goblins who declared for the Light, but I see Arawn’s hand in this meeting.”
Rell turned to look at the Goblins. “My bond-mate has told me about meeting Stor. I know how hard it must have been to go against everything your culture holds dear and embrace the Light. I am glad that you have. You have my thanks, and my respect.”
The Goblins bowed, the smiles on their faces showing the teeth that were filed flat.
Celyn continued. “Your Grace, you see these girls are of a similar age. All have manifested at least one elemental magic, and so are braided. All were summoned to the Palace at Caercartref by King Moel. I had warned Caryn before that, if he ever sent for her, she was to run and find a Bard. The Light brought her to Stor, who brought them to me.”
Robena’s face was set. “Do the girls know why they were summoned?”
“Caryn figured it out, your Grace. The behavior of the Tylwyth Teg Royal Guard that came for them alerted the others. Caryn got them free, and they were able to flee.”
Rell’s expression hardened into anger during the tale, edging into fury. He vividly remembered sharing Robena’s memory of the King’s attempt on his own daughter. Only the intervention of her Sworn Protector Noson prevented an obscenity. Robena felt his rage through their bond. Peace, my love. Anger in front of the children serves no purpose.
Rell took a deep breath, held it, then released it in a long exhale. His anger faded, replaced with a stern, serious look. Thank you, cariad-love. She smiled and gave him a slight nod. He stepped forward in front of Caryn. He bent down to put his face at her level. “It sounds like you were very brave, little princess.”
She reached up and touched his beard. She looked at Celyn and smiled. “It is just like you showed us that night at the fire! The Ard Rí is real!”
Rell’s stern look disappeared, replaced with a gentle smile. “Yes, little princess, I am real. I promise you I will do everything I can to bring justice for what happened to you all.”
Robena came forward with a female elf wearing the grey cloak of a Warden. “Plant-children, this is Warden Miresti. She will take you to get cleaned up and get some food in you.”
Robena then stood next to Rell, in front of Caryn. “My dear child! I am so sorry for your loss. Warden Miresti will take you to one of our trainers after you wash and eat. You are invited to become a Warden prentisiaid, an apprentice. If you accept, we will train you in our ways and how to use your magic. You will have a family again!”
Caryn burst into tears and lunged forward to hug Robena. Robena held her and stroked her hair. Caryn looked up and wiped her nose on her sleeve. “High Queen Robena, thank you! Thank you! I’ll be the best Warden ever!”
Dydd and Noson, Sworn Protectors of Rell and Robena, dropped their magical veils to become visible. They introduced themselves. Dydd bent down to look Caryn in the eyes. “Noson and I will be watching, prentisiaid. Should you ever need us, just ask.”
Noson bowed his head to Caryn. “It won’t be easy, plant, but thus far you’ve shown grit and ingenuity. You’ll need it!”
Caryn dried her eyes and stood straight before them. “For my parents, I will become a Warden and serve my people.” She looked at Celyn. “For Bard Celyn, I will serve the Light.”
Rell clapped. “Well said, prentisiaid! I look forward to the day you join the Wardens.”
Celyn waited for the children to leave, then sat with Stor, Robena and Rell. His fingers drummed the table as he composed his thoughts. Rell reached out and put his hand on Robena’s. I don’t think this will be easy, cariad. If you feel the need to leave at any time, no one will say anything.
Robena’s face went pale as she nodded. Small steps make a journey, Artemis. I am the High Queen. I will not leave you.
Rell smiled, squeezed her hand, and left it over hers.
Celyn’s fingers stopped drumming. His bardic voice was gone. His voice came out tight, clipped. “My king has a predilection for prepubescent girls.” He let that sit a moment as he took a deep breath. “Five years ago, I visited Caryn’s village and showed them the Prophecy of the Ard Rí. That is when I first met Caryn. Even then, villagers told me stories about things happening at the palace. Children disappearing, and sometimes their parents.”
He leaned forward and stared at Rell. “Three years later, I saw her right after her parents were killed by Goblins. Her fire-touch manifested, and she killed those responsible.”
Robena gasped, and Rell gripped her hand.
Celyn shifted his gaze to Robena. “I warned Caryn then that if King Moel ever invited her to the palace, she was to run away to you and the Wardens. A few months ago, Stor, Gar and Bun brought her and seven other girls to me. Moel had sent for each of them. Not only did Caryn run away, but she also got the other girls away. I suspect she is touched by more than fire, Your Grace, but I will let the Wardens figure that out. It was very brave, and very clever, of her to do that.”
Celyn looked back at Rell and recoiled. Rell’s Crawler persona had surfaced. Crawler was the Delta Operator, a legend among the hard, dangerous men in the world’s most highly trained military unit. Rell’s eyes were dark, and he exuded a palpable aura of menace.
Those dark eyes stared at Celyn. “You’re holding something back, Celyn. Don’t do that. I cannot act unless I have all the information.”
Celyn swallowed. “Forgive me, Your Grace. I only sought to save the High Queen the discomfort. It was presumptuous of me.”
Robena looked at Rell and put her other hand on top of Rell’s. He looked at her, his face relaxed, and his eyes became their normal blue. After a moment, he gave her a slight nod.
When he looked back at Celyn, he looked like himself again. “There is nothing to forgive, Celyn. But neither I, nor the High Queen, need protection from the truth.”
Celyn bowed his head to them, then continued. “Blodau, one of the girls, described the leader of the Tylwyth Teg patrol molesting her. He told her that he wanted her to be ‘well practiced’ when she got to the palace. He made her ‘practice’ on the other members of the patrol. Three members of the ten-man patrol refused to participate.” He handed a sealed roll of parchment to Rell. “I wrote out the names of those on the patrol and identified those who refused to participate.”
Robena took the parchment roll, broke the seal, and read the names. She gasped, closed her eyes, and a single tear fell. She looked at Rell. “The three who refused were from the Fulpa Clan. My clan. My father’s clan. They were found dead in their rooms.” Her face suddenly showed fury. “That bastard killed his own clan!”
Stor put his left hand on his forehead and his right hand on his chest. He spoke first in his native tongue: “Maker preserve us.” Then, in Trade. “This all truly Shadow!”
Rell couldn’t disagree. He looked at Robena, who looked pale after her outburst. He squeezed her hand. Peace, cariad. Your father is a walking dead man.
She looked at him and took a deep breath. I’m ok, and yes, he is.
Celyn looked at them and said, “Your Grace, the people know of this. Even now they are talking to each other about the monster their King has become. If something isn’t done, and soon, we could see a civil war among the Tylwyth Teg. We cannot accept Shadow in our royalty!”
Rell sprang to his feet. “No, Celyn, we will not accept Shadow anywhere in the Tylwyth Teg!” He paced to and fro before them. This went on for a few moments, with Celyn speaking quietly to Stor, who occasionally nodded. Robena’s head was tilted, showing she was communicating with Rell through their bond.
He stopped and looked at Celyn. “Can you get an audience with Elder Jala, without King Moel’s notice?”
Celyn thought for a moment. “Yes. Usually, Bards are received in the Royal Court, but I can arrange to keep my presence from the eyes of the King and Queen.”
Rell clapped him on the shoulder. “Make it happen. You need not hide yourself from King Moel, or take unnecessary risks, but do find time to meet with Jala. Share everything you know with him. Tell him that I will take no action yet, but that this cannot continue, and I will act soon.”
He looked at Robena, who nodded, her face still pale. “Either the Tylwyth Teg act, or I will. One way or the other, this ends!”
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