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“A warning,” he said. “Quickly, Rhiannon. Someone is coming. You must go.”

“But what of you—” She turned her head, but he was gone.

Chapter 26

Rhiannon scoured the nearby trees and shrubbery. Nothing. The pendant still clasped tightly in her hand was the only proof that Leif had ever stood beside her. A breeze puffed by, bringing with it the distant murmur of men’s voices. With trembling fingers, she opened her purse and slid the pendant inside, then she tightened the drawstring once more and straightened her shoulders before she stepped out from behind the rhododendron bush.

Two horsemen were approaching from the forest. Keeping her head down, Rhiannon crossed the grassy area that bordered the river and started up the slope to the castle.

“Rhiannon!”

Her expectation that the men would not know her withered alongside her hope that they would be too preoccupied with their conversation to notice her. She paused, turning to face the riders. It was Hywel. And unless she was mistaken, his companion was Dai.

“Do you see who I discovered in the stables?” Hywel called.

“I do.” Rhiannon’s smile was natural. “Seeing Dai was the second-best thing that happened to me yesterday.”

“The second-best?” Hywel said.

The men were close enough now for her to see Hywel’s raised eyebrows and hear Dai’s throaty chuckle.

“If I did not know you’d seen Heledd as well, I might take offense,” Dai said.

Hywel’s expression cleared. “Your wife is also at the castle, then.”

“Yes, Your Highness. She’s the laundress.”

“Which is how you learned of the tabards’ discovery,” Hywel said.

Dai shifted in his saddle as though suddenly wishing to be anywhere else. “Yes, Your Highness.”

Rhiannon watched the exchange, her thoughts racing. “Is that where you have been?” she asked. “To see the spot where the tabards were found?”

Hywel’s eyes narrowed. “What do you know of such things?”

Mentally berating herself for speaking before she had taken the time to consider her words, Rhiannon shrugged. “Only that Cadwaladr’s tabards were located in the forest.”

“Heledd talks overly much,” Dai grumbled.

She probably should have corrected him, but Heledd was well able to defend herself against her husband, and it was better that both Hywel and Dai believe that Rhiannon had gleaned the information from her than from Leif. Besides, Hywel was regarding her with suspicion still.

“Why are you here without an escort?” he asked.

“I came to see the river.”

Dai slid from his saddle. “I see that you have not changed, Miss Rhiannon,” he said. “Always needing to be near the water.” He offered her the leather straps. “Allow me to assist you up. I’ll not ride while you walk.”

Fully prepared to refuse, Rhiannon took one more look at Hywel’s face and decided against it. For now, placating her cousin was a far better approach, especially if she wished to extract any further information from him.

“I thank you, Dai,” she said.

The older man assisted her into the saddle, stepped back, and offered her a crooked smile. “It’s like old times, miss.”

“It is.” Her responding smile was tinged with sadness. As wonderful as it was to see Dai and Heledd again, nothing would ever be quite the way it had once been.

“I appreciate your assistance this afternoon, Dai,” Hywel said.

The groom bowed. “Glad to be of service, Your Highness.”