The Lord of Dynevor: A Tale of the Times of Edward the First

at least, to a quiet and uneventful life, chiefly diversified by hunting and fishing, and

taken a thoughtfulness beyond his years. Sometimes he appeared considerably oppressed by the weight of the responsibility with whic

the inclement winter drew on, to breathe more freely; for in the winter months all hostilities of necessity ceased, for the mountain

youth not yet eighteen -- and his large household to order; and though Griffeth gave him every help, Llewelyn and Howel stood sullenly aloof, and would not appear to

another outbreak later on. In the meantime, sanguine spirits like those of Wendot and Griffeth began to cherish hopes that the long and weary struggle was over at last, and that the nation, as a nation, would begin to realize the wisdom

glowing and burning by the wild words and the wilder songs of the old bard Wenwynwyn, who spent the best part of his time shut up in his own bare room, with hi

nevor was one which never for a moment entered his head. Had not Wenwynwyn grown old in his father's service? Had he not been born and bred at Dynevor? The young lord himself see

spent in rousing in the breasts of all who heard them the most fervent and unbounded patriotic enthusiasm? And was it to be marvelled at that he could not see or understand the changes of the times or the hopelessness of the long struggle, now that half the Welsh nobles were growing cool in the national cause, and the civilization and wealth

m. Had they not, at the cost of most bitter humiliation, gone to him as vassals, trusting to his promise that all who did homage for their lands should be confirmed in peaceful possession of the same? And how had he treated this act of painful submission? Was it greatly to be wondered at that their hearts burned with an unquenchable hatre

hronic state of gloom and sullen silence on the vexed question of English supremacy. But seldom a word passed the lips of either twin. They kept their secret -- if secret they had -- locked away in their own breasts. And d

me, and never spoke of Iscennen, and as the winter passed away and the spring began to awaken the world from her long white sleep, they betook themselves with zest to their past

g and languid all the winter, picked up strength and spirit as the da

rother of his, who had always been dearer

Dynevor brothers all their lives. He was active and energetic when the fit was on him, but he wearied soon of any active sport. He could no longer bound

long expeditions planned and carried out by the twins, it never occurred to Wendot to suspect that there was an ulterior motive for these, or to realize ho

nd a monk from the Abbey of Strata Florida was procured to give him instruction in the obscure science of reading and writing. Wendot, who had a natural love of study, and who had been ta

ons of Res Vychan; and the old bard would solemnly shake his head and predict certain ruin to the house when its master laid aside sw

r understanding of the blessings of peace and culture upon a world harried and exhausted with perpetual, aimless strife; but their more enl

employments and authority they had enjoyed of late, and would have gladly given them a share of authority in Dynevor; but thi

of the fruits of the earth and storing them up against the winter need, whilst the huntsmen brought in day by day stores of venison and game, which th

hought engrossed in the pleasures of the chase. He was not even aware that old Wenwynwyn was absent for several days fro

ome. But they spent many long hours in the great gallery where the arms of the retainers were laid up, and their heads were often to be seen close toge

windows as the daylight began to fail, when suddenly they beheld Wenwynwyn stalking through the lo

ast ret

an can count. Ah, woe the day; ah, woe the falling off! That I should live to see the sons of Dynevor thus fall away -- the young eaglets leaving their high estate to grovel with the carrion vulture and the coward crow! Ah! in

om the rest of the castle, and words spoken within its walls could be heard by none outside. It was a place that had h

cried the twins in a breath

ese eyes have seen the false, smiling face of the usurper, who sits in the halls which have rung to the sound of yon ha

very man of Iscennen is his foe. Do not I know it? Have we not proved it? There is

ipe for action. Tell us, has not that hour come? Hast thou not come to bid us draw t

ven as a sponge is wrung. Ay, the hour is come. The loyal patriots have looked upon your faces, my sons, and see in you their liberators. Go now, when the traitor whose life you saved is gloating over his spoil in his castle walls. Go and show him what it is to rob the young lions of their prey; show him what it is to strive with eagles, when only the blood of the painted

ng hunting expeditions. It was true that they had hunted game, that they had brought home abundance of spoil with them; but little had Llewelyn or Howel to do with the taking of that prey. They had been at Iscennen; they

enough for him, and he had withdrawn, in fear that if he did not do so some fatal mischance would befall him. He had reigned there as

Llewelyn ap Res Vychan, and Howel his brother. With the twins at their head, Iscennen would rise to a man; and then let Raoul Latimer look

satisfaction in his visit to his new estate, and lived upon it in terror

t the second object was really less dear to them than the first. If the hated Raoul could be slain, or made to fly in ignominy and disgrace, they cared little who reigned in his place. Their own tenure at Carregcennen unde

ife, as he had offered to do, for his brothers. Thus, though this consideration was not strong enough to keep the twins from indulging their ungovernable hatred to their foe, it made them cautious about openly appearing in the matter themselves; and when, upon a wild, blustering night not many days later, a little band of hardy Welshmen, all armed to the teeth, crept with the silent caution of wild beasts along a roc

possessions he had coveted, and who was fervently wishing that this second visit was safely over, was arouse

t in the darkness. "We are undone -- betrayed! Every ma

d allow him. In vain he called to his servants; they had every man of them fled. Below he heard the clash of arms, and the terrible gu

many feet was on the stairs. To attempt resistance was hopeless. Flight was the only resource left him, and in a mad impulse of terror he flung himself on the floor, a

iar to the shivering youth, though he could not have said exactly to w

e heard steps pass from the room; for even his foes did not credit him with the cowardice which wou

hiding place, resolved to try to find his way to the outer world, when he uttered a gasp and stood or rather crouched spellbound where he was; for, standing beside a table on which the dim light o

youth, as the man with a quick movement gr

ut it appeared to be, for the reply was spoken in the

n a bitter foe? By what right are you here wringing our life blood from us? Why should I not stamp the mise

me my life I will repair to the king's court without delay, and I will yield up to him ev

have another English tyrant set over us. Better kill

f his foe, and lifted his voi

ore these lands to your feudal lords, Llewelyn and Howel ap Res Vychan. It was by my doing that they were wrested from them. I confess it freely now. Grant me but my life, and I will undo the work I have done. I will restore to you your youthful chiefs. Again I swear it; and I have t

and bid the wretched youth rise and follow him. Raoul obeying, soon found himself in the presence of a wild crew of Welsh kerns, who were holding high revelry in the banqueting hall, whilst his own English servants -- those, at least, who had not effected their esc

present what were their feelings towards him. He stood cowering and quaking before that fierce assembly -- a pitiful object for all eyes. But at length his captor briefly informed him that his terms were accepted: that if he would write his request to the

anxious for his own safety that he took good care not to drop a hint as to the evil conduct of the people of Iscennen, which might draw upon them the royal wrath and upon him instant death. He simply represented that he was weary of his charge of this barren estate, that he preferred l

knew how to plead his cause well -- he made no trouble about restoring to Llewelyn and Howel their lands, only desiring that We

nevor, hoping with a fond hope that this act of clemency and justice on the part of Edward