Free The Bard's Daughter (A Gareth and Gwen Medieval Mystery) by Sarah Woodbury Page B

expressions, but not tonight.
    Gwalchmai began with a long solo, and then Meilyr and Gwen joined him. The song was a complicated one, in which Gwen and her father traded melodies while Gwalchmai’s soprano soared above the rest. Gwen, Gwalchmai, and Meilyr held the last note in perfect harmony.
    And then Meilyr clutched his chest, staggered, and fell to the floor.
    The hall erupted once again in noise and confusion.
    Instantly, Cadfael was on his feet, Cadoc beside him, their faces a caricature of shock. Then Gwen caught Cadfael’s eye and lifted one shoulder, just slightly. Cadfael’s mouth snapped shut. With identically blank expressions, both men lowered themselves back into their chairs. Gwen was sorry to ruin Cadoc’s birth day feast, but since he was in on the deception, if not the exact moment it would occur, she couldn’t feel too bad. Meilyr and Gwen had felt that everyone’s surprise would be more authentic if the two of them chose the manner of Meilyr’s demise, rather than leaving it to the dark hours of the morning.
    Saran pushed her way through the crowd. “Let me past! I can help him.”
    The onlookers gave way, though Gwen heard an older man mutter something about it being “better this way.” Saran fell to her knees beside Meilyr and Gwen leaned over her father, to block them from the general view of the hall. Meilyr was trying to lie still and unmoving on his own but once Saran held a cloth under his nose and he breathed in the scent—only one breath but it was enough—he relaxed completely and his head flopped to one side.
    Saran slipped the cloth back into its pouch and sat back on her heels. Gruffydd, who had been crouching near Meilyr’s head, his hands resting on his knees, straightened. That motion quieted the hall and Gruffydd held up one hand. “He is dead.”
    Gwalchmai had pressed his back to the wall, watching the proceedings with wide eyes. Gwen went to him and pulled him into her arms. “It’s all right, Gwalchmai.”
    He’d known of the plan too, but even so, the shock of its implementation had a trickle of tears running down each cheek. Gwen kissed the top of his head and looked out at the other diners, most of whom had settled back into their seats. Gruffydd already had his men working to carry Meilyr from the hall.
    Cadoc appeared on Gwen’s left. “You saw Eva’s reaction to Robert’s announcement?”
    “ I did,” Gwen said.
    “ Did we miss something there?” Cadoc said.
    Gwen glanced at him. He was tall for fourteen, with a man’s voice, and his tone was that of a man too. He would make a fine heir to Cadfael if he kept his head. “Eva brought my father to the pantry the night Collen died.”
    “ She what?” Cadoc spoke louder than he should have and several heads turned in their direction. He moderated his tone. “Why didn’t you say so before?”
    “ I only found out about it a few hours before my father’s sentencing. And since I had no more evidence than a maidservant’s middle-of-the-night vision, I thought it best to leave it as it was,” Gwen said. “I had your agreement that my father didn’t murder Collen. Eva played a part, surely, but she didn’t murder her husband.”
    Cadoc pursed his lips. “Perhaps not.”
    “ She is too small and slight to subdue a man twice her size. But did she help it along?” Gwen nodded. “I think so.”
    “ I will keep an eye on Denis,” Cadoc said. “He’s worn gloves ever since he arrived.”
    “ Given Eva’s anger, that he is involved is a natural assumption,” Gwen said.
    “ I, for one, would like to know the reason behind her anger,” Cadoc said.
    “ I would say galanas , or the lack thereof,” Gwen said.
    “ You may be right.” Cadoc eyed Gwen. “If your hunch is correct, we should know more soon.”
    “ And if I’m wrong,” Gwen said. “Then my father will have a miraculous recovery.” She took a step towards the door, bringing Gwalchmai along with her. “I should be with him, my