Читать книгу The Dragon Lord's Daughters - Bertrice Small - Страница 12

Chapter 5

When Averil and her husband entered the hall of the Dragon Lord they found their entire family gathered and waiting. Normally the main meal of the day would have been served at the noon hour, but a messenger sent ahead of Merin Pendragon had warned the keep of the master’s return. The lady Argel had therefore postponed the dinner, and the cook had had time to add more dishes, for the men with their lord would eat far more than the household of women and children he had been feeding. The order of their seating had been prearranged. Averil and Rhys, the feast’s guests of honor, were placed to the left and the right of the Dragon Lord. The lady Argel sat to the bride’s left followed by Roger Mortimer, Maia and Ysbail. To the bridegroom’s left was Gorawen, Lord Mortimer, Brynn Pendragon, and Junia.

By chance there was a traveling monk from the Cistercian order who had begged a night’s shelter from the Dragon Lord. He offered up a blessing for the meal and the young couple. Rhys FitzHugh was surprised when the servants set polished pewter plates and matching spoons before each diner. He had never seen such plates although he had heard of them. He noted the diners in the hall below the high board had the usual trenchers of bread. The servants then brought about the courses for the high board upon silver platters. There was trout broiled and set upon a bed of watercress. There was capon and venison, both roasted, and a rabbit pie in brown gravy. The last of the summer peas was served. Fresh bread, still warm from the ovens, and sweet butter were placed upon the table while other servants poured wine into the pewter cups at each place. When all had been consumed a final course of cheeses, pears, sugar wafers and jellies was brought forth and set upon the high board.

When the meal had been at last finished the guests at the high board washed their hands and face in bowls of scented water brought forth by the servants. Below the high board other servants were gathering up the bread trenchers, which would be distributed to the few poor gathered at the door to the kitchen garden. Lord Mortimer was impressed with Merin Pendragon’s hospitality and gentility, which was every bit as fine as his many English friends. And in some instances even better.

Now the Dragon Lord’s daughters got up to entertain the guests. Like most of the Welsh they were musical by inclination. Averil played upon the telyn, which was a Celtic type of harp. Maia, the pibgorn, a reed instrument peculiar to the Welsh. Junia favored the recorder, which she alternated with a small drum painted with a design, and the cymbalum, or bells, which were shaken in time with the music. She was the most skilled musician of the three sisters.

Outside the hall the day had now waned, and the twilight was followed by the night. All evidence of the meal was now gone from the high board, and the tables below it were set against the walls with their benches atop them. The large fire pit blazed, taking the damp chill off the evening. The rushes had been swept away, and the keep’s dogs lay sprawled by the warmth of the hearth snoring, as the men talked among themselves.

Gorawen moved discreetly to her daughter’s side. “It is time for me to escort you to your bed, Averil,” she murmured low. “Keep playing,” she instructed the other two girls.

Averil stood up quietly, her fingers sliding over her telyn’s strings in a brief finish. Her sisters quickly took up a more spritely tune thereby distracting the others from Averil’s departure. Following her mother, she left the hall. “Where are we going?” she asked her parent.

“To your chamber in the tower where you dressed earlier,” Gorawen replied. “The lady Argel and I prepared it for you and your bridegroom this afternoon. You will have privacy for your wedding night, daughter.”

“But what of Lord Mortimer and his son?” Averil inquired.

“They will sleep in the hall,” her mother responded. “There are bed spaces that are clean and ready for visitors. They will be just as comfortable there. Besides, the guest chamber is needed that you and your husband consummate your union. Merin will not allow you to depart until he is certain it has been done, Averil. He would not allow Rhys FitzHugh any excuse to repudiate you.”

“I do not think he would do such a thing, Mother. He is an honorable man,” the girl said as she had earlier.

“Truly honorable men do not kidnap innocent maidens, daughter,” her mother said sharply.