Page 27

Knud grinned. “And we shall be within walking distance of the village of Aberffraw.”

“I would imagine the largest market on the island is held in the village closest to the llys,” Leif said, slowing his stroke as they neared the rocks. “With any luck, news from within the nearby court is freely shared amongst the merchants.”

“We shall learn what your father wishes to know even if we must needs go door-to-door with our wares,” Knud said.

Leif grimaced. He hoped it would not come to that.

“If we are fortunate, there will be room enough for visiting merchants to display their goods.”

Knud chuckled. “You have only to set your silver armbands on the ground and there will be customers aplenty.”

Leif slowed his rowing still more, allowing the waves to push the boat forward. Over the last two years, he had come to love creating unique items out of silver, but his affinity for the water had never dimmed. He should, perhaps, thank his father for demanding that he set sail for somewhere farther afield than Veisafjordr. Crossing the Irish Sea with Knud these past two days had been as exhilarating as it had been exhausting. But now that they were within so close a distance of Owain Gwynedd’s llys, it was time to focus on the task he’d been given.

“Steady now.” Leif kept his voice low as they entered the rocky inlet.

Beside him, Knud pressed his oar against a rock half submerged in the water. “It’s shallower than I’d hoped,” he said.

“Aye, but the narrow channel will obscure us from the view of any boats that may pass by,” Leif responded. “I daresay this inlet will serve our purposes very well.”

With a gentle grind, the hull scraped the pebbled seabed, and Leif rose to his feet. “This will do,” he said, stepping out of the gently rocking boat and into the water. The sudden cold seized his breath. It seemed that the Irish Sea was no warmer on Gwynedd’s shores than it was on Ireland’s.

“Here.” Knud tossed him a rope, and Leif waded a few feet farther to tie it around a large boulder.

“Now what?” he asked when Leif climbed back into the boat.

“Now we eat, rest, and wait for the sun to drop,” Leif said. “It will be harder for the locals to identify two Norsemen when the village is in shadows. But it will be easy enough for us to discover where the market is held.”

“The smell of cows and pigs lingers far too long at such places,” Knud said, securing his oars beneath his seat. “Why would anyone be a farmer when they could be out at sea or working silver?”

Leif grinned. “Why, indeed? Although, I daresay we should thank the men who work with such animals for putting food on our tables.”

“They could be bringing in fish.”

Leif handed him a slab of bread and cheese from the bag at his feet. “How does eating a cold mackerel sound right now?”

Knud’s eyes rolled upward. “You’ve made your point. The next time I meet a dairy farmer, I shall thank him profusely.”

“And hold your nose all the while.”

His friend took a large bite of cheese and chewed slowly. “More than likely.”

Leif chuckled. Mayhap they would come across a farmer with cow manure upon his shoes on the morrow. Watching Knud thank him for his work would be vastly entertaining. Particularly since Knud spoke almost no Gaelic.

Chapter 14

With the lowering of the sun, the temperature in the courtyard had cooled since Rhiannon and Gwenllian’s first visit. Grateful that she’d been able to persuade her cousin to take a second outing—this time to the stables—Rhiannon stood inside the stable doors, watching quietly as Gwenllian ran her hand down her mare’s nose.

“Forgive me for having neglected you this week, Hazel,” Gwenllian said. “I shall not let so many days pass without visiting you again.”

The horse snorted gently, and Rhiannon smiled. Gwenllian’s need for time with her horse was as essential as Rhiannon’s need for time with the sea.

“If the good weather holds, we could go for a ride on the morrow,” Rhiannon said.

“Yes.” Gwenllian’s answer was instant, but then memory returned, and the light in her eyes dimmed. “If I am well enough.”

Rhiannon offered her an encouraging smile. “You have done well today. There is no reason to claim happiness you do not feel, but if being with Hazel brings you even a little peace or joy, it is worth pursuing.”

Gwenllian nodded. “I do feel better when I am with her.”