Dagonet rode beside the wagon that trundled along slowly. Inside, Lucan slept where Dagonet had left him. The fever was passing from him, and the best cure he could have now was sleep.
Dagonet's mind was in turmoil. Where was she? What had she gone through that she had let her son be taken from her? But in his heart, Dagonet knew the answers. And yet the pain was still too fresh, and Dagonet's mind refused to accept what his heart knew and grieved for.
"Dagonet!" Lancelot called to him, breaking him from his cheerless thoughts. "Arthur wants to see you."
Dagonet nodded, and pushed his horse forwards into a smooth canter to catch up with the Roman who rode at the head of the column.
"Arthur," he said simply, in greeting, as he slowed his horse down to a walk.
"Dagonet," Arthur returned the unadorned salute.
"You wanted to speak to me?" Dagonet probed.
"Yes." Arthur said, though he seemed disinclined to bring the point up. "Are they well?" he asked finally.
"The woman and the boy? Aye, they're well enough. The woman's fingers are healing, and though it looks like she was there for a long time, a month maybe, they'll be no lasting harm."
"And the child?"
"His arm is healing, and the fever is leaving him. I don't think he's been in that hellhole long. He'll live."
"Dagonet," Arthur began uncertainly, and Dagonet could sense that Arthur was about to broach a subject that troubled him. "The boy…what is he to you?"
Dagonet stiffened unconsciously, and this did not go unnoticed by Arthur. "He's just a child we rescued," Dagonet said, fighting to keep his words even.
"Dagonet, you lie so rarely that it is painfully obvious when you do. You need to keep in practise."
Dagonet flashed his a sheepish grin, before returning to gazing moodily out over the bleak snow-covered landscape.
Just when Arthur had given up all hope of ever receiving an answer, Dagonet spoke. "He's my son."
Whatever Arthur had been expecting, that was not it. He swung round sharply to stare at Dagonet, who was persistently avoiding his eyes.
"Your…your son?" he repeated incredulously.
Dagonet did not answer, and Arthur stared along the road ahead thoughtfully. "there's not much of a resemblance," he remarked.
"He takes after his mother," Dagonet answered roughly.
"Ah, yes. His mother." Arthur clearly did not want to bring the point up, but was dying to know who she was. As far as he knew, Dagonet had never had any romantic attatchement, but, he thought reflectively, he kne very little about the big silent knoght.
Realising that Arthur was never going to ask him directly, Dagonet answered the unspoken question. "She was a Woad," he said brusquely, trying to hide his racing emotions under a curt manner. He sighed then, and when he spoke again, his voice was gentler. "Do you remember a Woad woman that I brought to you? A Daughter of Merlin."
"yes," Arthur answered, narrowing his eyes as he tried to grasp hold of the memory. "Adrama, wasn't it?"
"Adara," Dagonet corrected shortly.
"And she is the child's mother?" Arthur pressed, watching Dagonet out of the corner of his eyes. All the knights were skilled in hiding emotion, but Arthur watched in amazement as pain and regret raced through the silent man's eyes.
"Was," Dagonet said, putting Arthur right even as he finally accepted the truth to himself.
Arhthur watched an inner struggle going on in Dagonet, until he finally spoke. "I'm going to ride ahead," he said curtly, and pushed his horse into a fast canter, leaving the column behind.
Arthur knew he should stop Dagonet, he knew it was too dangerous for anyone without the scouting skills of Tristran to be riding alone in country with not only Woads but also Saxons, but he did not have the heart to stop him.
When Dagonet was far out of sight of the column, he pushed his horse into a flat-out gallop, and raced through the snow, seeking relief in the stinging feeling of cold air on his face and the relief that speed brought.
When he finally slowed to a walk. He was amazed to find tears streaming down his face. His face screwed up with an almost physical pain, and as he raised his face to the heavens, a single word escaped his lips.
"Adara."