Free The Two Tanists (A Bard Without a Star, Book 2) by Michael A. Hooten

asleep, including Bran, who had obviously tried to stand
watch. Gwydion sent Cofach to bed, and then woke Bran, who startled much the
same way Adaf had. “What’s going on?” he demanded.
    Gwydion said, “Nothing. All
is well. I just wanted to see if you wanted me to take a watch.”
    “If you are up to it,” Bran
said. He looked around. “Is there something going on I should be made aware
of?”
    “All is well,” Gwydion
assured him. “Get some rest. Tomorrow is likely to be a busy day.”
    In the morning, Gwydion and
his company broke their fast with Gwillim and Kyrnin, and Gwydion tried once
more to trade for the heifer. “I can offer all six stallions and all six
falcons,” he said.
    “I meant it last night; she’s
not for sale or trade,” Kyrnin said.
    Bran and Gil looked at
Gwydion expectantly, and Gwillim looked furious. Gwydion just shrugged. “I
had to try, my lord. Perhaps you know who has the second best cow in this
land?”
    “I don’t,” Kyrnin said. “You
might look in Duvnecht.”
    “That is the land to the
north and east, yes?” Gwydion asked. “Many thanks. Perhaps I will try there.”
    Gwillim stayed in the caer,
still mad at his son, while Kyrnin led the group out to the barn. Gwydion
pulled Cofach aside and spoke softly to him while the horses were saddled and
the great stallions brought out. Sunlight reflected all around the courtyard
from the jewels, and Gwydion said, “Still not interested, my lord? They could
all be yours...”
    Kyrnin, who had been looking
at all the finery with a certain amount of lust, turned and said, “I’m afraid
not.”
    “Very well,” Gwydion said,
getting into the saddle. Adaf returned the jeweled weapons somewhat
reluctantly, and the rest of the company mounted up as well. Cofach went down
the line of stallions, paying special attention to the last one. He signaled
to Gwydion that everything looked good. Gwydion acknowledged him, then turned
to Kyrnin once more. “Perhaps I will return next year.”
    “And I will still say no.”
    “You are a wonderful trader!”
Gwydion said. “I look forward to seeing you again.” He led the company out
the gate, oblivious to their disappointed looks.
    Gil kept trying to talk to
Gwydion as they rode away from the caer, and Gwydion kept ignoring him. Gil
became more insistent, and finally Gwydion looked him in the eye and said,
“Shut up already! I’m concentrating on a few things right now.”
    “Like how to get that stupid
cow you came to steal?” Gil said.
    “No, like how to get her
home,” Gwydion said.
    “Don’t you think the getting
is the first part?”
    Looking around at the empty
road, Gwydion said, “That part’s been done.”
    Even Bran perked up. “You
have the heifer?” Dirgan asked incredulously. “Where did you hide her?”
    “In plain sight, of course.”
Gwydion turned around and yelled back at Cofach, “How is she doing?”
    “Seems none the worse for
looking like a stallion,” the chieftain said.
    “She’s one of the stallions?”
Gil said. “But when did you—”
    “Last night, after everyone
fell asleep, including you,” Gwydion said. “Now shut up, there are other
things going on that you can’t see.”
    “What do you mean?” Bran
asked sharply.
    “I mean,” Gwydion said
slowly, “that there is a curse on Dyfed. I thought it would assist my magic,
but it doesn’t, it makes it harder. While we are in close proximity, it is
easy enough to keep an illusion going, but the distance and the curse make it
very hard to maintain.”
    “How long do we have?” Bran
asked.
    “Um, Tanist?” Cofach called.
They turned around to see him leading five mules and a sleek brown heifer.
    “About that long,” Gwydion
said.
    Bran began to curse, slowly
and steadily.
    Gil said, “What do we do
now?”
    “We keep going, as fast as
possible,” Gwydion said. He shifted back into his natural form, and began
sorting through the voices on the winds. “The alarm hasn’t been