Arthur

'You think me insolent?' Cai folded his arms across his vast chest. 'Well, I tell you this, boy. If I make bold to speak his name it is because I have earned the right. Let us pray that when you reach my height and years you can do the same with me!'

My ears burned, as well they should. My father gave me a look of strong reproof. 'Forgive me, Lord Seneschal,' I replied meekly, my cheeks crimson with embarrassment.

Cai softened immediately. 'Still, if you are to be a help to Myrddin it is no doubt best for you to be where he is. Since he is not here, you must go there. It will be arranged.'

My father and I thanked him heartily, whereupon Cai said, 'In Arthur's name I extend to you the hospitality of the High King's hall. You will sup with us tonight. Tomorrow is soon enough to begin your journey.'

I remember almost nothing about that first night in Arthur's hall – except drinking too much wine before meat and falling asleep face down in my bowl. I awoke next morning in a strange part of the palace, near the kitchens, and found my way once more to the hall. The hall was empty, but I heard voices echoing from the doorway beyond and went out onto a portico to find my father and Cai saying farewell to one another.

With throbbing head I, too, bade my father farewell, and apologized to Cai for my embarrassing behaviour of the night before – whatever it had been. 'You will think me low and untutored,' I said, 'and I would not blame you. But I assure you I mean to be worthy of the honour of my service, Lord Seneschal.'

The big battlechief placed his hands on my shoulders and held my gaze with his eyes. 'Then be worthy, boy. No one stands between you and honour. Take it, seize it! It is yours if you want it.' And so it was.

I broke fast on bread and water – I could stomach nothing else – and I was given to the care of one of the Seneschal's stewards. My horse stood saddled and ready in the yard, so we left the city and rode north on the old Roman road into the Rheged wilderness. As we rode along, I learned that my companion's name was Tegyr. He had been a warrior once, but had lost his right hand in the Battle of Baedun Hill. Now he was Cai's chief steward and proud of it, for, as he said, 'I would have given my right hand anyway to serve the Pendragon. It is but small loss to bear.'

I liked him at once, and asked him about Caer Lial and the Pendragon. He answered me forthrightly and began to tell me about the ordering of the Pendragon's house and all I should know to be part of it.

He also told me about the Great Emrys, although I had been hearing stories of him since I was old enough to hear anything. The more he talked, the faster beat my heart to think that soon I would be meeting this exalted person in the flesh. I was nearly overwhelmed by the thought. Me, Aneirin, serving the Chief Bard of the Island of the Mighty!

At midday we left the old track and turned due west into the hills. But a while later we dropped down into the vale of Nith and followed the river a little south, to a sand-bounded peninsula. Here, on the foundation of an ancient hill fort was Arthur's rotunda erected. As we approached I could see the shapely form rising sharp against the sky. The hill on which it sat overlooked the sea, and at first I wondered at the wisdom of placing this secret edifice on a promontory where any passing ship could see it. But upon reaching the place I learned that although the expanse of sea was in full view of the hill, the rotunda itself remained below the crest of the mound, well out of sight of the casual observer.

We dismounted at the foot of the hill near some tents which had been set up for the labourers who worked on the shrine. These were empty now; there was no one else around. So, as Tegyr set about tethering the horses, I walked up to the shrine for a closer look.

The rotunda itself appeared strange to my eyes. Certainly, I had never seen a building like it: fully round, constructed on a series of circular stone foundations or tables of diminishing size, narrower at the entrance and then swelling gracefully out before curving inward as it rose to meet the sky. At first sight the thing appeared nothing more than an immense beehive of the kind often made of braided rope – but far more graceful and imposing. Indeed, the size and beauty of the rotunda and its situation on the sea inspired peace. The eye savoured the rising curve of the dome, the sea played upon the ear, and the soul drank in the tranquillity of the holy place.

I gazed upon the sacred edifice and felt my spirit yearn to be pan of all that this holy shrine symbolized: peace, beauty, honour, valour, courage… It was the Kingdom of Summer distilled into stone.

And such stone! The subtle blues and grays and whites were so worked to give light and colour and shape to the whole, in such a clever way that I did not wonder men passing by would not see it. The hues of sky and sea and cloud were its colours, and in certain lights and at certain times of day it would all but vanish.

If my first glimpse of the shrine awoke in me the desire to draw near and pray, my first glance at the Wise Emrys provoked the opposite effect. He came charging out from the interior of the rotunda, a mason's hammer in his upraised hand. 'Halt!' he called, in a voice that would have cowed a charging bull. I stopped and he flew towards me.

He was tall, much taller than I expected, and much younger. He was reputed to be of the Fair Folk, yet I had imagined him a very old man. He had known Vortigern; he had known Saint Dafyd; he had met Macsen Wledig! He was ancient!

Yet the man bearing down upon me was no older in appearance than my own father. His hair was dark and full, with only a fleck of silver here and there. Though his brow was lined, his countenance was still unwrinkled, and there were no creases about his eyes. His eyes! They were clear and deep and the colour of bright gold. I thought immediately of the soaring hawk and hunting wolf.

'I thought you were blind!' I blurted out the first thing that came into my head.

'I was, but no longer,' he replied. 'Who are you and what do you want here?"

Tegyr, who had been tending the horses, came running to my aid. The Emrys turned on him. 'Tegyr, it is you. Why do you come here like this?'

'Forgive me, Emrys. I should have signalled our arrival.' He glanced at the shrine soaring above us. 'The work is going well, Emrys. It is beautiful.'

The Emrys turned and glanced over his shoulder. 'It is nearly finished – at last,' he said. 'Only a few small matters remain.' Then he turned back to me. 'But you, boy – you have not answered me,' he said abruptly.

'My lord?'

'Your name – if you have one. What are you called?' He gazed so fiercely into my eyes that I felt his touch upon my soul and quite forgot who or what I was.

'An- Aneirin,' I stammered uncertainly. My own name sounded strange and unnatural in my ears. 'I am Aneirin ap Caw, Emrys.'

The Great Emrys tossed his head. 'You are well named, boy. Aptly named.' To Tegyr he said, 'Why is he here?'

'Cai has sent him, Emrys. He is to help you. If you do not wish him to stay, I will take him away.'

The Emrys regarded me narrowly. I could already feel myself in the saddle and heading back to Caer Lial. My heart sank to my feet. Most wretched of men, I felt myself rejected.

But the Emrys needed the help of two willing hands. I do not flatter myself that it was anything more than that. Yet it was enough for me. 'Since he is here, let him stay,' the Emrys said, and I was saved.

'Emrys,' said Tegyr, 'I must return to Caer Lial at once. Is there anything you require? I will have it brought.'

'Only this: bring word when Gwenhwyvar has returned. I will-have a message for her then.'

'It will be done, Lord Emrys.' Tegyr turned and hurried away. I saw that he took my horse with him.