Stand rotated, slowly turned,
three sixty stance, all observed.
Child face calm, intense land scanned;
sight caught advancing rapid blur;
slowed, halted into shape of hare.
‘Well, young Tudful, hello there;
I take you’re here for my care?’
‘Ceinfach! You’ve been so long away!
Posted here by Auntie Llewei!
Held out arms, Ceinfach hopped up,
soft ears were stroked for good luck.
‘Thank you, my legs are very tired,
speeding fast through season’s mire.’
‘Rest and good meal is what you need;
we’ve saved you some lovely veggies!
Please, tell me what’s been going on?’
‘Patience, briefing will be done as one.’
Cradled Ceinfach approached gate;
two sentries snapped spear salute.
‘Why, thank you, chaps, kind indeed,
decent respect show for my deeds.’
Borne inside great hall, held aloft,
detail drill down chatter stopped.
Palmyredes gave welcome nod;
onto main table Ceinfach hopped.
Llewei smiled, bent, kissed forehead:
‘What news have you ascertained?’
‘The network itself is under strain;
dread death reports come from Llundain. [London]
Normal agents lost, just corvids;
report vicious acts across whole city.
Acts of murder, wholesale slaughter;
the Senate’s gone, there’s rule of one.
An army assembled, westward tracked,
whole city to charnel house reduced.’
Palmyredes face grim mask set,
‘It’s far worse than we all suspected.
No more good news should be expected.
Gwair, you must immediate ride,
I want trained eyes ahead, act as guide.
Ceinfach, my thanks to you, your network;
now we all must prove our life-oath’s worth.’