Chronicle of Ages Read Online Free Page A

Lady Cara, and thou art …?’
    â€˜An advisor to Aurelius Caninus.’ Conan stalled as he thought up a name for himself. ‘Sir Eldred.’ He borrowed a deceased uncle’s name.
    â€˜I am pleased to meet thee, Sir Eldred.’ Cara gave a slight curtsy, although her social standing meant she was not bound to do so. ‘As an advisor to Aurelius, hast thou met his allies?’ Cara motioned to the main table where her honoured guests were seated.
    Conan glanced at the main table in the grip of Beltaine revelry. ‘They appear to have their hands full at present.’ His attention returned to Cara.
    Conan remembered Vortipor from childhood. The Protector of Dyfed had done well for himself. The Lady Cara was a vision of loveliness. Dark copper brown curls fell over the milky white skin of her shoulders and down her back in large orderly ringlets. Her eyes of hazel sparkled, full of life, and the luscious lips of her tiny mouth seemed, in Conan’s opinion, perfectly crafted for kissing.
    â€˜Hast thou not got better things to do, woman?’ Vortipor grabbed up his wife from behind and hauled her away, squealing and giggling.
    Conan stood, concerned by how the Lady was being manhandled. He watched as Vortipor relieved her of her pitcher and backing her up to the main table, proceeded to seduce her on it.
    â€˜Take it outside, Vortipor,’ Tory whacked his shoulder to get his attention, and then referred him to her son. Rhun was eleven years of age and watchingVortipor’s seduction technique with great interest.
    â€˜Little dragon, why art thou not in thy bed?’ Vortipor let his wife up from the table.
    â€˜I have a headache,’ he announced, and as soon as his mother’s attention was diverted, Rhun grinned broadly.
    â€˜Thou art a headache,’ Vortipor grumbled as he watched his wife return to their guests.
    â€˜Rhun.’ Maelgwn called for his son’s attention and waved him in close. ‘See that man over there, sitting on his own?’ Rhun nodded in accord. ‘I do not recall ever seeing him before.’
    â€˜Shall I find out his identity for thee, father?’ Rhun offered enthusiastically.
    â€˜Do that.’ Maelgwn whacked his boy’s behind and sent him on his way.
    â€˜Maelgwn!’ Tory caught onto their game. ‘What art thou asking him to do now?’
    â€˜Nothing,’ Maelgwn lied, knowing his wife didn’t like him exploiting their son’s talents in such ways.
    Tory watched Rhun like a hawk as he wandered up to the stranger across the room and struck up a conversation. Conan wasn’t very interested in talking to the lad, but that was no matter. Rhun was more interested in what the man was not saying and he only needed to be touching his victim to find out.
    After Rhun had annoyed him with a few unimportant questions, the stranger up and left the room, so the young Prince of Gwynedd returned to his father to report.
    â€˜He claims to be an advisor to Aurelius, one SirEldred,’ Rhun informed his father, but Vortipor and Brockwell took an interest in the boy’s truthsaying as well. ‘He lies,’ Rhun announced. ‘He is really the son of Aurelius, Conan, here to assess us.’
    Brockwell smiled upon learning of Conan’s deception. ‘I would say we art doing a better job of assessing him.’ Brockwell ruffled Rhun’s hair, well proud of him. ‘Thou art an excellent spy.’
    â€˜One more thing,’ Rhun addressed Vortipor. ‘He hast taken an interest in thy wife.’
    â€˜What! How dare he …’ The information near sent the Protector into a drunken rage.
    â€˜Vortipor!’ Maelgwn stood and grabbed hold of both Vortipor’s shoulders to get his full attention. ‘He has done naught but think thy wife attractive, which I am sure many men have done.’
    Vortipor saw reason and settled.
    â€˜Well, actually father, he thought