Free The Bwy Hir Complete Trilogy by Lowri Thomas Page A

his son and run for the hills, sparing Gwyn the pain of initiation and the yoke that was to follow.
    Four figures stood in a semicircle lit by the full moon set in the star strewn sky. Dafydd knew the four Chosen who stood in pairs on either side of the central figure. He knew Dai Jones, Will Richards, Ivor Bach and Trevor Ellis when he saw them, hidden under blue garb or not. Who he didn’t recognise was the Druid standing in front of them, hidden under a black cowl, it could be any of them.
    ‘Who are come hither desiring to receive admittance to the Order of The Triskele?’ chanted the Druid, as he turned to face Dafydd and Gwyn, the other Chosen gathered behind him.
    Dafydd gave his son a gentle push to his knees. ‘I, Gwyn Morgan of Fferm Ty Mawr ,’ he said in a trembling voice, his head bowed.
    ‘Who are come hither to swear to his honour?’
    ‘I, Dafydd ap Morgan, do swear to the honour of my son, Gwyn ap Dafydd ap Morgan.’ Dafydd was sweating as he stood behind his son.
    ‘Who are come hither to witness this privilege?’
    ‘We, the Chosen, do bear witness,’ spoke the men in unison, Dai Jones’ voice loudest of all.
    ‘Gwyn Morgan of Ty Mawr,’ intoned the Druid in a deep bard’s voice, ‘ye kneel as a supplicant before a sacred envoy of the Order of the Druid, ordained servants of the Bwy Hir. Ye doth kneel on the cusp of a new life as Chosen. We of the Druid Order would vouchsafe to receive you and bless you, to release you from the darkness, absolve you of all former vows, to give you protection and grant you service to the Bwy Hir through us, their representatives. Ye now hear the promise given to thee, and to all those blessed by the Bwy Hir that they in their great wisdom will most surely keep and protect. To you and your lands are granted protection, fertility and wealth, upon you is bestowed great privilege to give your blood to the continuance of all Bwy Hir, to praise and honour them, to serve no other until you are granted the final embrace on this earth, where upon you will swear to petition against their unjust banishment to all those who converge in the Kingdom of Heaven. Wherefore, after these promises are sealed, ye must faithfully, for your part, promise in the presence of these your witnesses, that ye will heed the call wherever you may be, serve diligently and zealously, keeping the old ways, balancing body and land as though they are one, to keep secret all that which is opened to you. Do you freely of your own volition embrace the three in one: Chosen, Druid, Bwy Hir?’
    ‘I do so embrace.’ Gwyn’s voice seemed reedy and weak in comparison to the Druid’s.
    ‘Then I bestow upon you the mark of the Chosen and grant you entry to the Solstices.’ The Druid held up a gold chain in his hands, the pendant identical to the one Dafydd carried around his neck, identical to all those belonging to the Chosen. ‘Receive this gift with bravery and reverence …’ The Druid held the necklace over Gwyn’s head while the hooded Chosen took position, one bracing each of Gwyn’s arms while the others unbuttoned his shirt and held it open.
    Slowly and with great ceremony the Druid laid the chain around Gwyn’s neck and pressed the cold pendant against his chest. With a merciless scowl the Druid pushed against the pendant with his open palm and said, ‘… as I seal the bond.’
    Gwyn threw his head back and howled as his skin burned.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER TWELVE
     
    A cluster of high ranking Druids had gathered around the Cerdd Carega in the Reception Hall to receive the Bwy Hir as each arrived. Ceremonial guards stood to attention at either side of the huge iron clad doors leading to the Halls proper, each with two Helgi sitting patiently at their feet.
    The hall was hushed with the exception of the sound of shuffling feet and the occasional soft whisper of nervous voices.
    Gwrnach was the first to arrive. The Druids shielded their eyes at the