think he would not
go to Dyfed as a disgraced man, for I know he could not clear
himself at the time.

Now at supper, presently, there was Dunwal, looking anxious, as I
thought, but trying not to shew it. His daughter Mara was there
also, and as it happened she sat next to me. I suppose the
seneschal set her there as we had crossed from Dyfed together,
unless she had asked it, or gone to that seat without asking. She
was very pleasant, talking of the troubles of the voyage, and so
went on to speak sadly enough of the greater trouble that had
waited her.

"I am glad the king has kept us, however," she said. "I can be
content with the court rather than with our wild Dartmoor, as you
may guess. But all these things are too hard for me, and how any
man can plot against so wonderful looking a prince as Owen passes
me. I cannot but think that there is some mistake, and that my
uncle has no hand in the affair. That will be proved ere long, I do
believe."

I answered that indeed I hoped that it would prove so, and then
asked for Morfed, the priest who had crossed with us, as I did not
see him among the other clergy at the table. She told me that he
had left them, on foot, at the gate of Watchet, making his way
westward, as she believed. He had only joined their party for
easier travelling in Dyfed.

Then she must needs ask me questions about Thorgils' song, and
specially of Elfrida. I had no mind to tell her much, but it is
hard to refuse to answer a lady who speaks in all friendly wise and
pleasantly, so that I had to tell her much the same that I told
Nona the princess, and began to wonder if every lady who had the
chance would be as curious to know all about what story there was.
And that was a true foreboding of mine, for so it was, until I grew
used to it. But all this minded me of Nona and her warning, and I
was half sorry that the priest had not come here, to be taken care
of with Dunwal.

After that night we saw little of these two. Mara went to the house
of Jago, and Dunwal kept to himself about the palace boundaries
within the old ramparts, and seemed to shun notice. As for me, word
went to Ina that all was well, and he sent a letter back to say
that it would please him to know that I was with Owen for a time
yet. So I bided with him, and for a time all went well, for we
heard nought of Tregoz in any way, while another of his friends was
taken and imprisoned in some western fortress of Gerent's. Nor were
th