Philippa stared at Crooky the Fool, who was standing before them, his head thrown back, grinning like the fool he was.
Dienwald said, “What was that, Crooky?”
“It rhymed, that’s what it did. I did well, did I not, master?”
Dienwald scratched behind his ear, smiled, and said, “Crooky, about the pain part. Come here and let me assist you to better understand it.’
“Oh, aye, you’ll cave in my poor ribs. I’m gone.” Crooky fell into the rushes and scooped them over himself until only his nose was showing.
“He must needs break into song when the spirits strike,” Philippa said. “Usually it is much worse. Now, I cannot imagine that you would willingly lay your head on the block. What are you planning, Bishop?”
Bishop said. “Before I tell you my plan, have you any idea why some long-ago Druid priests decided to weave a protective curse on a place that didn’t come to exist until centuries later?”
Philippa sat forward, her chin resting on her hands. “It is said that the Celtic Druid priests saw clearly into the future. I suppose that the priests could have divined a Druid descendant building a stronghold near to the edge of the sea, and that is why the priests created the curse, to keep Penwyth safe.”
Dienwald waved that away. “I have heard that too. But I am not certain that I believe it. Now, there are other important things to consider. Your future wife has a nice chin, and beautiful hair. Not curly and wild like my wench’s here, but red as a sunset over the Pendeen Hills.”
“Aye, and eyes as green as desire.”
“Where did that come from?” Philippa said.
Bishop handed her the parchment. Philippa read aloud:
“The enemy will die who comes by sea.
The enemy by land will cease to be.
The enemy will fail who uses the key.
Doubt this not,
This land is blessed for eternity.
Maiden’s heart, pure as fire
Maiden’s eyes, green as desire
Maiden’s hair, a wicked red
Any who force her will soon be dead.”
Crooky bounded up from the rushes. “What a fine curse! What an excellent rendering! By all the saints’ black toenails, I will write a curse as fine as that one, I swear it by every inch of my height!”
Dienwald said, nodding, “That’s quite some curse. It sounds like it’s directed at Merryn. Since I haven’t seen her for several years, I don’t know if she has a bosom to be remarked upon. Well, no matter, she cannot compare to my bountiful Philippa.”
“I don’t know about her bosom either,” Bishop said. As for the red hair and green eyes, he didn’t doubt for a moment that she had both. “Attend me, Dienwald. If the Druid priests did speak a curse to protect a descendan
t, mayhap it adds weight, but still, I cannot believe it. This Merryn, a descendant of ancient Druids?”
Dienwald said, “Four men have died because of the curse. You cannot discount it. Nor can you ignore the fact that Merryn is perfectly described in the curse, if indeed she does have green eyes.”
“I don’t discount it, you may be certain of that. But I ask myself: is it really a curse, something otherworldly and deadly that has come down from the ancient Druids, or is it something we can understand? I think it must be poison. The old man—Lord Vellan—is killing off these men, either he or his granddaughter.”
“That means,” Philippa said, “that Merryn knew enough to poison her first husband when she was but fourteen years old. That’s reaching too far, Bishop.”
“Then it is Lord Vellan,” Bishop said. “He had this curse all polished up and ready to read to the first husband upon his arrival.”
“Aye, he was prepared,” Philippa said.