AMOS and the WILD WELSHMAN

Cynbel and Gwern joined hands and danced, breaking into song as they whirled around in circles.  The song had a joyous sound, but Amos had no idea what the words meant.  He looked at Jake, utterly confused.

“It’s a Celtic song,” said Jake.

Finally, when the two little men stopped spinning about, Cynbel said, “Amos, you are the great, great, great, great grandson of Owain Glyndwr. That’s why we’re celebrating.  I should have said ‘great’ twelve times to be accurate.”

“Wow! Owain Glyndwr?  You’re the kin of Owain Glyndwr?” Jake exclaimed, and then added, “That’s how Welsh people say it.  You would say Owen Glendower.”

“Who is Owen Glendower?” Amos asked.

“Lad, you never heard of him?  He was Wales’ greatest king,” Cynbel explained.  “In 1404 he drove evil King Edward and his English invaders out of our country. His most famous battle was the capture of Harlech Castle.  What an awesome castle it was, sitting there atop a high bluff on the Welsh seacoast with its four giant towers and thick stone walls.  No one thought a fortress as formidable as Harlech could ever be captured.  But Owain captured it and made it his headquarters. After he beat the English he was crowned king.  Oh, the good deeds he did as ruler.  He was the one who drove the druids out of Wales.  Before him there was no law in the land.  He brought justice and fair play.  He made Saint Winifred our patron saint.  You should have seen the celebrations.  Hordes of visitors came from Scotland, Ireland, Europe and the Middle East to pay their respects.  His flag was the Red Dragon on a green field. See this Red Dragon on my jacket?  It’s the royal emblem of Wales.”

“From behind the mountain Amos has come,” said Gwern in a voice filled with emotion. “Now that he is here with us he should learn the stories of his famous ancestor.  There are many tales I can tell you about Owain, the greatest of all the Welsh kings.”

“But I have to go home,” pleaded Amos. “My mother will be really upset if I’m late for dinner.”

“That is the very reason you should stay and listen to Gwern’s stories,” said Cynbel. “If you stay, you won’t be late for dinner.”

Amos looked at him in disbelief.