And at last Howel spoke the best counsel yet, after many plans turned over between us.

“We will even take him to Dyfed, and nurse him to strength in Pembroke.  Then if aught is in the wind it will break out at once, lest he should return and spoil all.  Gerent will either have to bow to the storm and fight, or else he will get the upper hand and quiet things again.  If he can do that last, at least till Owen is back, all will be well.  Owen will take things in hand then, and will be master.”

That was indeed a way out of the trouble, and therein Nona helped us with Owen, so that at last he consented.  I will say that he knew little or nothing of possible trouble here, and we told him nothing, for, in the first place, we had no certainty thereof, and in the next, he was not strong enough to do anything against it if we had.

When we came to ask Gerent if Howel might take him to Dyfed, we found no difficulty at all, which surprised me not a little.  I think that the king knew that it was well for him to be across the channel in all quiet.

So it came to pass that in a few days all was ready for our going to Watchet to find Thorgils or some other shipmaster who would take us over.  We could wait at Norton until the time of sailing came, if we might not cross at once, and thence I should go back to Ina.

One may guess without any telling of mine what the parting with Owen was for Gerent.  As for myself, I was somewhat sorry to bid the old king farewell, for I liked him, and he was ever most kind to me.  But I was not sorry to leave his court, by any means, for those reasons of which I have spoken, and of them most of all for fear of more plotting against Owen.

Now I will say that the ride to Watchet, slow and careful for his sake who must yet travel in the litter, and in fair summer weather, is one that I love to look back on.  As may be supposed, by this time I and the princess were very good friends, and it is likely that I rode beside her for most of the way.  We had many things to talk of.

One thing I have not set down yet is, that it had been easy, after what he had done for us, to win full pardon for Evan from Gerent.  Now he rode with me, well armed and stalwart, as my servant, and one could hardly want a more likely looking one.  And Nona had some good words and friendly to say to him, which made him hold his head higher yet after a time.

Presently, since I was on my way back to Glastonbury and onwards, we must needs speak of Elfrida, and I told her how I had fared when I came back from Dyfed.  She laughed at me, and I laughed at myself also; for now I knew at last that the old fancy had in all truth passed from my mind.

So we came to Norton, and then sought Thorgils, and after that it was a week before he was ready.  I mind the wonder on the face of the Norseman when he saw Evan at my heels on the day when his ship came home and I met him on the wharf; but he was glad to see him there.