I knew well enough, and it was plain when I minded the ealdorman that my vow was well known, and told, moreover, by Thorgils in Mara’s hearing.  This was a house where I should often be, and when Mara found out that Jago was a friend of Herewald of Glastonbury the rest was easy.

“Well, I will send to Jago today, and find out what he knows.  That Cornish damsel must be better watched.  Come, let us go and tell the king.”

So we went, and when Ina heard what we had to say he grew very grave, and asked many questions before he told us what his thoughts were.

“They have struck at Owen through you, my Thane, even as I feared,” he said.  “I think that the matter of the land of Tregoz has saved you, for I seem to see in this thrall one of his men who hates him and will thwart his plans.  There are yet men who will carry out what he planned ere he died.  Now I am glad that we soon shall be gone from hence, and that is the first time that I have been ready to leave Glastonbury.”

Now I will say that when Herewald’s messenger came back from Norton it was even as we thought.  Jago had no knowledge of the Welsh girl, or her sending.  But Mara was gone a fortnight or more since, for Gerent had sent her father for safer keeping to the terrible old castle of Tintagel on the wild shore, and she had followed to be as near him as she might.  Doubtless the girl might be found there also in time.

So I had no more warnings, and in a few days the strain on my mind wore off.  I sent a message through Jago to Owen to tell him what had happened, so that he should have less anxiety for his own comfort, while he knew that I was shortly to be far hence.

Before that came about, however, Erpwald and Elfrida were betrothed with all solemnity in the new church, for their wedding was to be held here also in the summer, when all was ready for a new mistress at Eastdean.  So Erpwald rode with us to Winchester a proud man, and by that time I thought I had forgotten that I ever held myself entitled to the place he had won.

But I did not forget the plotting, and as the days wore on, and my thoughts of it grew a little clearer, I began to wonder if the thrall who saved me from the poisoned horn might not be the man who slew Tregoz on the ramparts at Norton in the moonlight.  I must say that it went against the grain for me to believe that Mara had aught to do with contriving my end through her maid, but unless there was some crafty hand at work in the background, all unsuspected, it seemed that there could be none else.

And then one day I found the little letter that Nona had sent me.  In that I was warned against Morfed the Cornish priest, and I had forgotten him.

Now I will confess that two days after the Cheddar business I took that little brooch that Elfrida had given me, and dropped it into three fathoms of water as I rode by the mere one day.  There are foolishnesses one does not care to be reminded of.