ays so. It was the doing of your fair princess that things came
not to blows between us at one time, for we held that he was
unreasonable in some matter of scatt {iv} to be paid. She
settled that matter for us with wise words, and we hold that to her
we owe it that we are in Tenby today. Howel could starve us out any
time he chose. And that the prince will own to you if you ask him,
being an honest man, if hasty. We shall miss Nona the princess
sorely--good luck to her."

Then he must needs have all the bales of rich goods set on board
our ship, as a wedding present to Nona, and so set a crew on board
the prize, and she left us, heading homewards to Tenby. We went
back to our own ship at once after this was done, but Eric would
see us safely to Watchet before he was satisfied, and so we took up
the quiet passage again, little harmed enough. Eric had a few
wounded men, but we had not suffered from the arrows.

Presently the stars came out, and Nona and I sat with Owen under
the awning in the quiet of the calm sea, while the men rowed under
the shadow of the sail that held a little wind enough to help them
homeward, and we went over all the things that the day had brought
us. And Owen said:

"Now you may be at rest concerning me, Oswald, for there is not one
left to lift a hand against me of whom I need think twice. Daffyd
was the last of the crew to which Morgan and Tregoz and Dunwal
belonged, for Gerent has the rest in ward safely; and there they
will bide, if I know aught of him, until I have to beg him to set
them free beyond the shores of Cornwall."

I will say now that this was true, for thence forward no man lifted
hand or voice against my foster father. The war and its hopeless
ending quieted the men whom Morfed had led, and there was peace, in
which men turned to Owen as the one who could keep it, and had
given wise counsel which was once disregarded.

So it came to pass that I took home Nona with me, and set her as
princess in the hall at Taunton amid the rejoicing of all the Welsh
folk who were under me; for, as Ethelburga the queen had said, they
knew that they had a friend in her. And here we have bided ever
since, and are happy in home and friends and work, for all seems to
have gone well with us. And as to those good friends of ours, there
may yet be a little to tell before I set the pen aside.

Owen passed to Exeter at the time we came home, for he would see
his uncle before he went to speak with I