Daughter of Time: A Time Travel Romance by Sarah Woodbury Read Free Book Online Page A

to start now.”
    I paced to the chair behind my desk and
threw myself into it. “Gilbert de Clare assails me in the south,
Humphrey de Bohun and his whelp of a grandson in Brecon, and Roger
Mortimer at Montgomery. They will maintain a constant pressure,
exerting just as much force as they can get away with without open
war.”
    “Clare risks that with this castle at
Caerphilly,” Goronwy said.
    “Henry has made it clear to all his barons
long since that they can keep what they take, both from our Prince
and from each other, as long as it doesn’t affect him,” Tudur said.
“This castle is in disputed territory—territory that is only Prince
Llywelyn’s as long as he can hold it.”
    “Which I’m not doing now!” I said. “I can’t
be everywhere at once, can’t maintain a standing army along the
whole of the Marche!”
    “The men of Brecon chose you as their lord,”
Goronwy said. “Bohun couldn’t lead them now, even if he held the
land. The men of Senghennydd will follow a similar course. They
will fight for you and not Clare, just as in Brecon.”
    “We can’t leave it to chance,” Geraint said.
“And we can’t send Gruffydd ap Rhys there by himself. He wasn’t
able to stand up to Clare the first time; I fear he will back down
the second time as well.”
    “He’s stronger than that,” Goronwy said.
“The fire in him is lit. No man can be picked off like a daisy and
banished from his lands without finding out where his spine
is.”
    “Or isn’t,” Tudur said.
    I shook my head. “Gruffydd will stand
strong. With my help and the support of my men, we can put him back
where he belongs. Send word to him at Dinas Bran to meet me in
Brecon.”
    “So we go?” Tudur said.
    “Yes, of course we go.” I sat forward to
finger the map in front of me. “We will ride south along the coast
road, swinging east to come into Brecon. From there we will
reconnoiter Senghennydd.”
    “What if Dafydd brings false news for some
devious purpose of his own?” Tudur said.
    I looked at him, and I could feel the mutual
holding-of-breath among the other men. Tudur refused to back down
and instead met my eyes. “Let it go, Tudur,” I said. “This news
from Clare isn’t surprising. I admit Dafydd took a certain glee in
its report, but I have no reason to think it false.”
    “And the woman?” Tudur said, pressing
further.
    “Excuse me?”
    The three men exchanged glances. It was
obvious that they had discussed this on their own before tackling
me with it.
    “Ahem.” Tudur cleared his throat, suddenly
nervous under my glare where before he’d been defiant. “Has it
occurred to you that the woman arriving as she did might be part of
a plot, whether Welsh or English? A spy in our midst if you
will?”
    A barked a laugh. “Most definitely it has.
However, Marged didn’t recognize Dafydd this morning, nor he her.
Besides, how often does a spy bring along her baby daughter?”
    “That’s the point, my lord,” Tudur said.
“Dafydd’s news on the heels of her appearance makes me
suspicious.”
    “Your constant occupation, I know.” The
others smiled, relieved I hadn’t lost my temper completely.
    “We know nothing of her, my lord,” Goronwy
said. “It’s not your usual practice with . . .ah . . . women.”
    I rested an elbow on the arm rest and my
finger to my chin, studying him. “You noticed that?”
    “My lord—” Goronwy said.
    I cut him off. “You’re right. It isn’t. Be
that as it may, she has my countenance and a safe haven in my
house.”
    All three sat back in their chairs, hearing
the finality in my voice. “Yes, my lord,” Goronwy said.
    Then I relented. They didn’t know of the
events of the evening before, but if they did, they would be even
more concerned. Why wasn’t I? My shoulders sagged. The day had
begun so well, but it wasn’t just my own life I risked, but all
Wales.
    “I ask you then, in your judgment, is it
better to leave her here or to bring her and her child on