Chapter Five
It hadn’t rained in weeks. Not a single drop had fallen since after midsummer, and soon Lughnasa would be upon us. In the withering fields and cramped stables, cattle and horses swatted at biting flies, and dogs lolled in alleyways or nipped at one another in the streets, irritated to restlessness by the oppressive heat.
Indoors, the Combrogi were little better. Malegant picked yet another fight with Lancelot, who was being vigorously defended by Garheis, Aggrivane’s youngest brother and Lancelot’s strongest devotee. At least Tristan wasn’t there to stir the pot. King Mark’s decision to call him back to Cornwall was fortuitous. Tristan disliked Malegant but regarded Lancelot even less kindly, so he would have done all he could to egg them both on.
Today was pleading day,
