I watched him striding down from the Kings’ Hill on the radiant way and I thought to myself: on this frame the Swift Sure Hand may yet stitch a king.

18

2

Return of the Hero

“Greetings, brother,” I said, as Liew came to stand before me. I would have embraced him as a kinsman, but his jaw was set and there was dread purpose in his eye. “I am glad to see you.”

He offered no greeting, but confronted Siawn Hy. “It is over,” he said-though he spoke quietly, his words were unyielding-“Put away that sword. We are going home.”

Siawn Hy stiffened. The blade in his hand swung instantly from my throat to Llew’s. But Llew grasped the naked blade with his bare hand and jerked it aside.

“Take him!” shouted Meldron, reaching for his knife.

A dozen spears swung towards Llew. But the spearheads, still wrapped in their cloth coverings, wavered uncertainly. The warriors of Meldron’s Wolf Pack obeyed, although they were reluctant to assault their own champion. The crowd surged dangerously, pressing more closely; some shouted defiance at Meidron’s order. The people did not understand what was happening, but clearly they did not like it.

“Llew!” I cried, sweeping the spears aside with the butt of my staff. “Hail, Liew!” 1 raised my staff and called to the crowd. “The champion has returned! Hail him, everyone!”

The Llwyddi cried out with a mighty voice. Llew turned his eyes to the people gathered all around, torches

19

held high, peering expectantly at him. It came to me that Llew did not know what his appearance meant to those looking on: Meidryn’s champion emerging from the Hero Mound. A dead king had gone into the dark portal, a living man had come out-mysteriously, inexplicably, yet in full sight of all: an Otherworid hero declaring his equality with the king we had just buried.

Before Meldron could react, I raised my hands for silence and said, “The king is dead, brother, but you are alive. You are back among your people, and that is cause for celebration.”

The people greeted this with loud approval. Meidron’s frown deepened as he sensed his moment slipping away. He had exaggerated his support, and underestimated the people’s regard for Llew.

Still he sought to recapture the advantage. “What do you mean, coming here like this?” he demanded.

“I have come to honor the king,” replied LIew slowly. His eyes flicked from the prince to Siawn Hy. Something passed between Siawn and Liew that I did not understand. But I saw Siawn bristling with anger, and Liew’s face harden once more as resolve returned. “And to do something I should have done long ago.”

“You speak of honor,” Meidron sneered, “but you steal it from the dead.”