“Then you came back to the Cornishman after I freed you?” I asked.

“That I did not, Thane, for the best of reasons.  He would have hanged me at once if he were in power, and I had not meant to let him set eyes on me again in any case, for he was treacherous.  I came back round the head waters of the Severn, through Wessex, where I was only a Weala, though, indeed, that is almost the same as an outlaw there; and there, by reason of Gerent’s seeking for me, I changed my looks and watched for Tregoz, for I found that he was yet about the place in hiding.  Thralls know and tell these things to men of their own sort, though they seem to know nothing if you ask them, Thane.”

“Then you wrote the letters?”

“I had them written by the old priest of Combwich by the Parrett River, who will tell you that he did so.  I took them myself to the palaces for you.”

“And was it you who slew Tregoz?”

“Ay, with that seax you gave me back at the Caerau wolf’s den.  I heard that he had been speaking with a sentry, and thereafter I followed him and heard his plan.  I saw him change arms with the sentry, and presently I fell on him, but the arrow had sped and I feared I was too late.  I had to cross the trench from the bushes where I was hidden.”

“But the poisoning at Glastonbury?—­How did you know of that?

“Easy it was to know of, but less easy to prevent.  I lurked round Glastonbury until I saw the girl, and knew that some fresh trouble was on hand for you.  I knew her, for I had seen to that at Norton, that I might learn somewhat, if I could, while she attended on the lady, the daughter of Dunwal.  She met her master there once or twice with messages, and it was by following her that I found his hiding in the hills.  It was not hard for me to get her to tell me all that she had to do, for I made her think that I was in the plotting.  Then she found it harder than had been expected to serve you, for she was kept about the lady.  So she asked me, and I told her to wait.  I thought she would most likely lose her chance altogether, and maybe but for your staying at the gate that day she would have done so.”

“It was not the first time that we have had half the household outside serving a hunting party,” I said.

“And each time I have been there, Thane, lest this should happen.  The girl told me that such times were her only chance, and I said she had better wait for such a one again.  I knew that in the open I could in some way spill the horn, so that she would be helpless and harmless afterward.  Therefore I bade her not to try to harm you in the house, for my own reasons, but told her that it were safer for herself to wait for some stirrup cup chance, as it were.  That day I saw that it had come, and I cut a thorn from the nearest bush and was ready.  I could not reach the girl to stumble against her.”

I minded that Thorgils had said that this Evan could beguile Loki himself with fair words, and I could well believe it.  But he did not do things by halves when he set himself a task, and I felt that but for him I should certainly have been a victim—­to Mara, or to whom?”