William H. Babcock - Cian of the Chariots - Chapter XIII: Foreboding and Danger lyrics

CHAPTER XIII. FOREBODING AND DANGER. I have become a predicting bard. – RED BOOK OF HERGEST. IN that morning's ride Arthur's fancy busied itself more than once in discomfort with the picture of two royally fair women face to face. But when it became real there was nothing to regret. Guinevere beamed and flowed and sparkled in full wisdom of rivalry, and won her reward; for this urgent speaking loveliness had power over him beyond any more reticent though nobler beauty. One kind thing he had done in preparing Caradoc to accept as authentic his kinsman of London; and Constantine accordingly was made very happy. The coronation pa**ed in all magnificence, a breathless, proud, bewildering time; and the army, now swollen to great proportions, went northward, leaving the young queen and the remnant of her people to face whatever might befall. Never in two generations had money flowed so freely nor in such variety of coinage through all the channels of trade, – Roman gold from Augustus to [Page 134] Honorius; the experimental island mintage of Allectus, the evanishing usurper, and Tetricus, the tyrant of an hour; older British pieces, ranging from the pure fine art of Cunebelline to mere Brigantine savagery; the fair coins of Ma**ilia and their Gaulish wheel-marked copies. Yet the multitudinous bits of bra** which alone had often served their needs before were with them still for lesser uses, being mainly the counterfeits or makeshifts of a hundred different hands. But what all these had brought was of necessity consumed or away. In food, apparel, arms, and men, the draft on the little kingdom had been excessive. Londoners looked about them on empty fields and barns, on empty shelves and warehouses, on lean garrisons, and streets with women and children only, and there were stirrings of disquiet. Never had their city been so tempting to a money-hungering enemy; never so ill defended. From the beginning Aurelia was alert to prepare and strengthen, with Osburn for her general in command, and Cian for her counsellor and guest. He was yet at the villa, guarded by Tigernach and a few tribesmen. She saw him often there, although, following Arthur's counsel, her main abode was now within the city wall. At times, with returning strength, he joined her in journeys, undertaken hastily hither and thither. [Page 135] At first these were indeed royal progresses, that she might feel amply guarded. But there was much to be done, and the cumbersomeness of such doing was against it. Also the cost and the loss of time and labor, when nothing could be spared, made it seem rather an evil than a good. So she took very soon to plainer ways, which yet seemed safe enough. Once, with Cian and Tigernach, she penetrated the Andred-wood to its inmost hill-chaos of wild thicketry, and was greeted tumultuously on an open plateau about old altars by a skin-clad a**emblage, more barbarous than any new-come Saxon, but with Vortimer's mother, and many older memories, to keep them vivid in Saxon-hating. She made great friendship there, for they delighted in her courage; and a band of their sturdiest men went back with her, where men were needed. But most often her wanderings were not so far. Returning from one of these, a sound of ill omen came to Cian midway between the city wall and the villa, a sound which had not been heard before since the Emperor left them, a wolf-howl out of the forest. At once that first desperate peril of the woman now beloved awoke in memory; and her call for aid seemed verily to shock and thrill him again, as the terrible pack broke around her, a note of far range and compa**, appalled, urgently appealing. He had [Page 136] this mainly in his thought as he turned to Tigernach, who rode near him. "Did you hear?" he queried. "Could one fail, having ears? After all, a wolf-cry is no very great thing in the woodlands." "But here it has a meaning. The wolf returns," answered one behind them. "What then?" demanded Tigernach. "First time or second time, wolf or Saxon or d**h's-head, the men of the Andred-wood are ready." "Well said!" exclaimed Cian. But he had a sense of trouble impending, as though in truth her need were calling to him. He hinted this to Tigernach, who kept silence a moment, then answered: "Prince Cian would have been quite well before this, if he had but eschewed the ways of those who loll in hot waters, and sprawl, gorging sumptuously, and are beaten in arms whenever they take the field." Cian laughed, saying, "That curse, at least, has not yet reached me." But no doubt his fevered nerves might have their share in so vague a dread. That night their converse was of secret and eerie things, the poet-mystic and mystic of the woods meeting on such ground with a fearsome comradery. Were they not face to face with knowledge and peril which went by the multitude unregarded, like ghosts in the day? [Page 137] When all was still except the low wind, Tigernach yet lingered, dozing. For all his disclaimer as they rode, a sense of menace to his leader and the queen hung about him, even at the gate of slumber. That leader's voice came again startlingly: "Tigernach!" He looked up with a start. Cian was speaking with deliberate gravity. "Either the dregs of fever-poison are yet in me, or I am haunted. I cannot feel that all is well with Aurelia. I seem to be aware of something like a far cry from her, and a dense cloud – nearing, nearing me." "It is fever-dreaming," answered Tigernach decisively. But he rose, and took down his cloak and sword-belt. "What are you about?" Cian demanded. "If it be truly no more than dreaming, what need" – "There will be sleep-walking or sleep-riding next; and I cannot tell what that might end in. Much better my riding – wide awake." He took a lance from one corner of the room. "Prince Cian, if I bring you word with all speed, will that content you?" Cian looked at the devoted obstinacy of his face, and laughed. "I would argue the matter if it would do any good," he said. "Nothing does any good to an ill but the remedy. I am the remedy." "More exactly, your journey, without sleep, after nothing. But – thank you!" [Page 138] This was given with a hand-clasp and grateful eyes. There was relief in the tone. Cian followed his partisan in thought a while. "Now he is crossing the courtyard; now mounted; now over the bridge; along the road with the moon rising behind him now" – until his own consciousness melted in a jumble of fancies. He knew nothing more until Tigernach stood in bright daylight before him. Cian studied that face, remembering slowly. "I see that all is well," said he. "Assuredly!" growled Tigernach; and he turned away. Later he revealed that he had seen the queen, very early astir as was her fashion, but easy in mind, even laughing. She was to ride somewhere, on some errand, perhaps even his way. "Then our royal lady will have an opportunity of explaining in person to Prince Cian that she did not really call him to her at midnight." Cian flushed and frowned. But he set the kind deed against the random words, and forebore. He even smiled inwardly, noting that they had a grievance in common. For wherein shall high and subtle prescience avail, if it lead utterly astray? Yet no doubt it was far better that all the prophecies of the world should fail than that harm should befall Aurelia. He watched for her through the day; but she did [Page 139] not come, nor did any certain tidings, except – late in the afternoon – that she had ridden eastward toward Oisin, who was always needing more and more for his amphibious mission. This made a ripple among them; but it appeared that she had gone well attended, and there could be no great danger by the way. They spoke little after sunset, for Cian was weary of himself and of all. He fell asleep quickly, with no soul-warning. Again a cry a**ailed him! This time it was real and insistent: "Wake and come! Wake and come!" A glare of lamplight filled his eyes. Moreover, a hand was shaking him. Then Tigernach broke his bewilderment with a great shout, rough and wrathful; and Cian all at once began tumbling into his apparel and armor, thrust at him faster than he could seize them. A few moments more, and they were mounted and speeding away.