The Bard's Daughter (A Gareth and Gwen Medieval Mystery) by Sarah Woodbury Read Free Book Online

was one of a suitor. Gwen hadn’t ever felt an interest in him before, but she arranged her features so as not to appear immediately averse to Gruffydd’s attentions. At the very least, she needed him on her side.
    “ Actually, you can,” she said. “Did you know that Collen leaves behind a widow and a partner?”
    Gruffydd rubbed his chin. “I know of both. It was Denis who came to me this morning and reported that Collen was missing.”
    “ And the wife?” Gwen said.
    “ They were estranged, I understand. Lord Cadfael himself told her that Collen was dead.”
    “ Did Lord Cadfael promise to shelter her too?”
    Gruffydd smirked. “It seems that Denis and she have come to an agreement already. She told Lord Cadfael that he need not trouble himself with her affairs.”
    “ That was quick,” Gwen said.
    “ You can see them there.” Gruffydd tipped his head towards two people huddled together at the end of one of the long tables.
    Gwen cast a glance towards the couple. Denis was tall and slim, with pale, unlined skin and carefully brushed hair. His blonde head contrasted well with Eva’s dark locks. The pair weren’t quite holding hands, but their fingers were inches apart in the middle of the table. Eva’s hands were soft and white while Denis’ were encased in fine leather gloves.
    “ Collen’s body isn’t even buried!” Gwen said.
    “ It might not be buried for some time, given the cold.” Gruffydd was still looking at Gwen with gentle eyes. “As a murderer, there also may be some question as to the location and timing of your father’s burial.”
    Gwen shivered. “Don’t say that! Please don’t say that! I still have one more day to discover who killed Collen. It wasn’t my father. You have to believe me!”
    “ Gwen—” Gruffydd had been holding Gwen’s wrist all this time. He held it another moment and she let him, before she nodded to him and eased away. He let her go and she headed back to her bench.
    “ What was that about?” Gwalchmai said as Gwen handed him the cup.
    “ Everyone assumes that Father murdered Collen,” Gwen said.
    “ I don’t mean that,” Gwalchmai said. “I meant with Sir Gruffydd.”
    Gwen stopped with her own cup halfway to her lips. “Nothing, Gwalchmai. It was nothing.”
    “ It didn’t look like nothing,” Gwalchmai said.
    “ Just—” Gwen took a deep breath and let it out. Gwalchmai was at times far too perceptive and interested in the activities of his elders. “Just leave it.”
    Gwalchmai drank his mead and then set down his cup. “They don’t even care about Father, do they?”
    “ No,” Gwen said. “Nor that it makes no sense for him to have murdered Collen. Why would he have done such a thing? It gains him nothing but a death sentence.”
    “ Who does gain by his death, Gwen?” Gwalchmai said.
    Gwen’s eyes narrowed as she surveyed the hall. “Two people, at least: Collen’s widow, Eva, and his partner, Denis.” She looked at her brother. “It turns out that they have already joined forces.”
    “ You should talk to them.” Gwalchmai elbowed her in the ribs. “I’ll play one more song before The Battle of the Trees , something sweet to soften them up.”
    Gwen had to smile at that. She had very carefully left Gwalchmai out of her efforts to find the truth, but singing was harmless. Gwen rose as Gwalchmai started a ballad, and made her way along the wall to the rear of the hall, towards Eva and Denis.
    As she approached, Denis looked up and Eva turned. Gwen gave an involuntary gasp. There was no other way to say it: Eva was beautiful. Her black hair, which from across the hall had looked nothing out of the ordinary, was luxurious and thick, wound around her head and held by a coif, with tendrils hanging by each ear. She had the bluest eyes Gwen had ever seen, and a pale, almost translucent skin.
    As Gwen hesitated in front of her, Eva smiled. “Did you want to speak to us?”
    Gwen found her throat working. She should