Gruffudd stood at the edge of the lake at evening, his gaze distant as the fog curled and slithered like some beast across the water. The silence of the world pressed heavily on him. He could hear the soft murmur of the breeze and the rustle of leaves, but in his mind, the tension was unbearable. The coming departure weighed on him.
Tarwyn, standing beside him, shifted uncomfortably, his unease apparent in the way his eyes darted around. He couldn't keep his thoughts still.
"If we take all the fighting men, we leave Bala unprotected," Tarwyn muttered, his tone threaded with worry, "What will we do if they strike while we've taken Waladr's men."
Gruffudd's gaze hardened as he took in the view—waters mirrored the gray sky above, and the landscape was barren but for the sharp edges of distant hills. He sighed, pushing down his irritation before responding, his voice calm but with an undercurrent of steel. "Don't fret, I'll send word to Cornwen and surrounding areas. The people will be guarded. They're tougher than you think."
The boat waited nearby, its stillness mirroring the quiet tension that hung in the air. Gruffudd turned his focus back to Tarwyn. A sly grin played at the corner of his mouth, his voice taking on an edge of teasing. "Why don't you find a woman to keep your mind off things, hmm? Visit my little bird, she's quite ferocious," Tarwyn's face reddened immediately, a flush creeping from his neck to his forehead. He sputtered, confused and disgusted by the suggestion. "What? No..."
Gruffudd's smirk faded, his gaze sharpening as he studied Tarwyn. "Don't want a whore then? Not noble enough for you?"
The words hung in the air like a challenge, and Tarwyn felt his chest tighten, Don't tell me, confusion mixing with a sudden panic. He had not expected Gruffudd to turn the conversation in this direction, and the weight of it crushed him. "Noble.... lord what do you—?"
Gruffudd's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing. Without another word, he moved swiftly, the slap across Tarwyn's cheek landing with a sharp crack, the sound echoing in the stillness of the lake. Tarwyn staggered, caught off-guard by the brutality of the action. The sting of the slap lingered, the shock turning his mind dizzy.
Gruffudd stepped forward, his face a mask of fury, his voice low and dangerous. "Listen, cunt" he growled, grabbing Tarwyn by the collar and yanking him close. "I know you have been bedding my sister while her husband is away."
Tarwyn's heart raced, panic flooding his veins. His mouth went dry, his voice trembling as he tried to defend himself. "I can explain..."
"Don't lie to me," Gruffudd hissed, his grip tightening, digging into Tarwyn's tunic. "You put your hands on her again, and I swear, I'll cut your little pecker off. You hear me?"
The venom in Gruffudd's voice, cold and unyielding, caused Tarwyn's legs to shake beneath him. His stomach twisted with fear.
Gruffudd's eyes blazed with fury, and he shoved Tarwyn away, the younger man stumbling backward. "Answer me, cunt!" Gruffudd roared, his anger a tangible thing.
"I—I hear you, Lord!" Tarwyn gasped, his voice barely audible. His body was shaking now, and he struggled to keep his composure. His mind was a mess of guilt, fear, and confusion.
"You'll not be riding with us," Gruffudd announced, his voice sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. Tarwyn's head snapped up, confusion clouding his features.
"But, my lord..." Tarwyn began, only to be silenced by the cold glare Gruffudd cast his way.
"You'll stay behind," Gruffudd continued, his tone dripping with disdain. "With Ieuan, he has expressed his desire to stay here."
Tarwyn's face fell, a mix of frustration and humiliation washing over him. "Stay behind?" he echoed, disbelief evident in his voice. "But I'm needed on the field!"
"You'll be needed here," Gruffudd interrupted, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument. He leaned in, his eyes narrowing as he spoke with a mocking edge. "To protect the women and children."
Tarwyn's face flushed with anger and embarrassment, his hands clenching at his sides.
Gruffudd stared at him for a long moment, his chest heaving, before he gave a low grunt. "Good. Now get out of my sight you little shit." His voice had returned to a calm, measured tone, but the threat in his words still lingered like a shadow.
Tarwyn nodded quickly, not daring to speak further. He turned and all but ran, his heart pounding in his chest. The breath in his lungs felt thick, suffocating, and the adrenaline kept his body moving despite his shaking hands. The last thing he needed was Gruffudd's wrath hanging over him.
Gruffudd watched him go, a sense of finality in the way he held himself. His grip on the boat's oar tightened, and without a second glance at the retreating figure, he climbed into the boat.