Refuge In The Shadows

4.

"Wake up, cariad. It is time." A ten year-old Carys rubbed her tired eyes to see her mother fully dressed for the several days' trip ahead of them. They were headed to London–the very first time Carys ever ventured out of northern Wales. She sat up from bed and glanced at a sleeping Cadeyrn on the opposite side of the room. "Mam, will Cadeyrn be all right without me?" Carys asked anxiously. Eira smiled and helped her get dressed in trousers, a couple layers of shirts, and riding boots, "Your father is staying here to keep him company while we are away." After Eira buttoned up Carys's cloak, she gently pushed her to Cadeyrn's bed, "Let us say goodbye to your brother." Carys did not need to be told twice. She rushed over to his bedside and patted his shoulders. Like any trained fighter, Cadeyrn's eyes immediately shot open and frantically searched for a threat, but was slightly startled when Carys threw her arms around his neck.

"You are leaving?" Carys pulled back to see Cadeyrn's eyes well up with tears. She nodded and hugged him one more time before stepping back and allowing her mother to brush aside the mop of black curls from his forehead and kiss the top of his head–much to his embarrassment. "I will bring back your sister safe and sound in a few days' time," Eira promised. Cadeyrn nodded hesitantly and followed them out of the bedroom and into the kitchen where Gwilym was waiting with warm food for the journey. At the sight of her father, Carys launched herself into his awaiting arms. Clutching her tightly to his chest, Gwilym met his wife's gaze. They decided to not tell Carys the reason for the trip to London as all would be revealed to her in due time. Initially, Gwilym insisted that they make London a family affair, but Eira believed it was crucial that this was a mother and daughter experience.

Gwilym put Carys down and embraced his wife. After a flurry of goodbyes and well wishes, he and Cadeyrn hovered at the front door as Eira placed extra clothing and their piping hot breakfast in the saddlebag. She checked under her cloak to make sure she was adequately armed and turned to her daughter, "Do you have Rhiannon?" Carys nodded, showing her the blade she reverently clutched in her hands, the engraved design of a snarling dragon and the swirling letters spelling out the dagger's name on the silver hilt. Eira's lips curled up into a faint smile. During training, Carys proved she was more than capable to wield Eira's first ever weapon, even at such a young age.

Wasting no time, Eira picked Carys up and placed her on the saddle of their family horse. When she had made herself comfortable, Eira mounted the steed behind her and gripped the reins. She swiftly kicked the horse to a gallop and little by little, their cozy cottage shrunk until it was but a speck in the distance.

Unbeknownst to the young girl huddling against her mother for warmth, she would return to the countryside cottage quite different from when she left it.

*****

The horseback ride of almost four hundred kilometres to the city might have been quite a bore to a ten year-old child; however, Carys thought otherwise. She was immensely enthralled by the sudden change of scenery once they arrived within the outskirts of London. Gone were the fertile, lush plains that Carys was accustomed to. In their place stood smokestacks, trains, and cobblestone roads. While the sight was fascinating to Carys, she was not too thrilled about breathing in the smog-heavy air. Eira, noticing her discomfort, pushed up the collar of her daughter's cloak to cover her nose.

When they arrived in London, it was well into the night and the citizens had already retired to their flats. Instead of heading to the nearest inn, Eira left the horse at a stable and took her daughter deeper into the city. It was eerily quiet as mother and daughter strolled down the streets. Slowly, the wide cobblestone streets and charming shops transformed into litter-strewn, narrow roads lined with run-down tenement buildings and dark, looming factories. Eira kept one hand on Carys's shoulder while the other gripped the hilt of a kukri. Stopping in front of an empty warehouse building, Eira knelt down to face Carys at her eye-level, "Do you remember the countless times I have scolded you for climbing up every tree you saw?" Carys grinned sheepishly, "Yes, Mam."