CHAPTER 23
Rhian’s heart went out to George as he cried out and turned his back on them all. The violence against the cherry tree surprised her, and her hackles rose when he transformed into the horned man, shaking in fury. Several people in the crowd backed their horses away at the apparent threat in his posture and on his face.
He stood for a moment before speaking and she noted, with interest, how the deer pelt partway down his back covered the upper part of the scars, but not the rest.
“Greetings, my lord king,” the horned man said, in his deep, uncanny voice.
“You are always welcome here, great lord Cernunnos,” Llefelys replied. It seemed to Rhian that he spoke very carefully into the face of this rage.
“We owe you thanks for Morien, and apologies for the disruption of your hunt.
