na. But presently he was
back with us at Taunton, bearing with him a wondrous present for
the bride from Gerent, and good and friendly words for me which
promised well for the peace of the border, at least while he lived.
And seeing that he lives yet, with Owen at his right hand, that has
been a long time.
Now Owen comes and goes, and none think it strange that he is most
friendly with Ina, for men have learnt that in the peace of the two
realms is happiness.
Presently Jago came back to Norton, for I needed some British
adviser at hand, for Evan, faithful and well trusted as he is as
our honest steward, and able to tell me of the needs of the people,
knows nought of the greater laws and ways, and Herewald minded me
of him. They had ever been good friends, and I could fully trust
him. So he rebuilt his house at Norton, where the land lay waste
round the old Roman walls which our Saxons hate, and there he is
now, helping me mightily with his knowledge of the Welsh customs,
which I do not wish to interfere with more than needful.
For, in the wisdom of Ina, we did not follow the old plan of
driving out and enslaving all the Welsh folk in this new-won land,
as had been the rule in the days of the first coming of our
forefathers when Saxons were few. Those manors whose owners had
fallen or would not bide under the new rule, Ina gave to thanes of
his own, and the men of Somerset and Dorset took what land they
would where the freeman had left them, but all others he left under
new and even-handed laws in peace.
So I had to content the men of both races as well as I could, and
men say that I wrought well. At least, I have had no murmuring, and
I may deem that they are right.
As one may suppose, there is no more welcome guest in our hall than
Thorgils, and at times he brings Eric or some other Tenby Dane with
him if a ship happens to cross hither. Once a year also he brings
Howel, and there is feasting in our hall, Saxon and Norseman,
Briton of the west and Briton from over sea together in all good
fellowship.
One evening it came to pass that Thorgils sat in our hall, which
was bright with the strange stuffs that came from the ship of
Daffyd, and we talked of the old ship a little, after he had sung
to us. And then I said idly:
"She must be getting old, comrade. When am I to give you that new
craft we once spoke of?"
Whereon he looked at Nona suddenly, and said:
"I mind that old promise. But now there is a
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