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“I beg to differ, Father. The truth always matters.”

His father paused, studying him shrewdly. “This is important to you.”

“Yes.”

“I ask again, Why?”

Leif had no definitive answer. “I witnessed for myself a small portion of the damage this incident incurred: a bride mourning a groom, a king severed from a brother, an allegiance undone. And all for what? We have been offered no sound reason for Anarawd’s death, and yet there must be one. If Cadwaladr cannot supply it, mayhap another can.”

“Even if that is the case, it does not signify that we must needs become involved.”

“We may lose nothing for turning Cadwaladr away, but if we prove his claim of innocence, we gain two thousand head of cattle.”

His father stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Your arguments have merit. As much as I wish to be rid of the Cymry, we can afford to guard them a while longer if it leads to so great an increase in our livestock.” He hesitated. “Your brother and his men have yet to return.”

“Knud will accompany me,” Leif said. “We work well together.” He had yet to inform his father of their narrow escape from Ongullsey. Some things were best left unsaid. Especially if they would undermine his desire to finish the job they had begun. “Any attempt to gain the trust of the locals would be undermined if the town were flooded by Vikings,” he continued. “Our best hope of learning what really happened is for Knud and I to go to Dinefwr alone.”

Leif’s father eyed him silently for a moment. “I would not have you underestimate the danger you are placing yourself in, Leif. Dinefwr Castle is inland. There will be no easy escape by sea should this undertaking go awry. And if your relationship to the jarl of Dyflin becomes known, you are as likely to become a target as you are to be given any special privileges.”

“I understand.” Every Norseman felt safer with the sea and a longboat within easy reach, but Rhiannon was the only person who knew of his parentage, and she would be far from Deheubarth. “I shall remain on my guard, as will Knud. And if it quickly becomes apparent that there is no proof to be had to support Cadwaladr’s claims, we shall return forthwith.”

“Very well.” His father offered him a nod of approval. “I am glad to see that you are willing to embark upon so risky a venture for the benefit of your people.”

Leif said nothing. If his actions prevented heightened ill will between the Cymry and the Norse, so much the better. If his father increased his wealth in livestock, he was glad. But his motivation ran deeper than both those things. He desired to uncover the truth and to make amends for past actions.

“Halfdan can provide you with funds for your journey.”

“I thank you, Father,” Leif said.

“Yes, well, you’d best find Knud and have him inform his wife that he is returning to sea sooner than he thought.”

Leif grimaced. “Mayhap he can bring Frida a trinket from Deheubarth to compensate for his long absence.”

“His safe return will be far more valuable to her,” his father said, starting for the door. “You’d best remember that.”

“What do you mean, we are to go to Deheubarth?” Knud said. “We’ve barely been home long enough to eat a hot meal.”

“I realize that,” Leif replied. “But the longer we wait, the less likely it is that we shall uncover the truth behind Cadwaladr’s claims.”

Knud moved out from behind the workbench, folded his arms across his ample chest, and glared at Leif. “Whose idea was this?”

It would be easy to blame his father. After all, he was the one who had insisted that Leif make the trip to Gwynedd. But Leif was not in the habit of misleading his friends, and to embark upon a quest for truth with a falsehood was the worst kind of beginning. “Mine.”

Knud’s glare deepened. “Do I need remind you that the Cymry were shooting arrows at us as we left their shores?”

“We will be far from Ongullsey and those who wished us ill.”

“Almost all the Cymry wish Norsemen ill,” Knud said.

“Mayhap if we were to help uncover the truth behind Anarawd’s death, it would promote goodwill between our nations.”

“They may have the right of it already. Why are you so determined that Cadwaladr has been wronged? He could be the murderer Owain Gwynedd believes him to be.”

Leif ran his fingers through his hair, wishing he had something tangible to which he could attribute his unease. “There is no clear motive for Cadwaladr to commit so heinous a crime. It has caused him to lose everything. He admits to having enemies. If someone wished to see him ruined, using Cadwaladr’s knife as the murder weapon would be a master stroke.”

“You do not think Cadwaladr is foolish enough to have used his own blade,” Knud said.

“It was a Viking-made knightly sword,” Leif responded. “Other members of the uchelwr had commented upon its unique design.”