So the plunder fell to Eric, and it was worth having.  There was the ship and arms and captives, and the gold of Daffyd, and that of the traders, moreover, with some strange and precious woven goods from southern looms, silken and woollen, which yet remained in the hold, wondrous to look on.

Now, in halting words enough I went to thank Eric and his men for that which he had done for me and mine, which indeed was more than I knew how to put into words.

“Hold on, comrade,” he said, staying me.  “I will tell you somewhat.  Good friends enough we are with Howel nowadays, but it was not always so.  It was the doing of your fair princess that things came not to blows between us at one time, for we held that he was unreasonable in some matter of scatt {iv} to be paid.  She settled that matter for us with wise words, and we hold that to her we owe it that we are in Tenby today.  Howel could starve us out any time he chose.  And that the prince will own to you if you ask him, being an honest man, if hasty.  We shall miss Nona the princess sorely—­good luck to her.”

Then he must needs have all the bales of rich goods set on board our ship, as a wedding present to Nona, and so set a crew on board the prize, and she left us, heading homewards to Tenby.  We went back to our own ship at once after this was done, but Eric would see us safely to Watchet before he was satisfied, and so we took up the quiet passage again, little harmed enough.  Eric had a few wounded men, but we had not suffered from the arrows.

Presently the stars came out, and Nona and I sat with Owen under the awning in the quiet of the calm sea, while the men rowed under the shadow of the sail that held a little wind enough to help them homeward, and we went over all the things that the day had brought us.  And Owen said: 

“Now you may be at rest concerning me, Oswald, for there is not one left to lift a hand against me of whom I need think twice.  Daffyd was the last of the crew to which Morgan and Tregoz and Dunwal belonged, for Gerent has the rest in ward safely; and there they will bide, if I know aught of him, until I have to beg him to set them free beyond the shores of Cornwall.”

I will say now that this was true, for thence forward no man lifted hand or voice against my foster father.  The war and its hopeless ending quieted the men whom Morfed had led, and there was peace, in which men turned to Owen as the one who could keep it, and had given wise counsel which was once disregarded.

So it came to pass that I took home Nona with me, and set her as princess in the hall at Taunton amid the rejoicing of all the Welsh folk who were under me; for, as Ethelburga the queen had said, they knew that they had a friend in her.  And here we have bided ever since, and are happy in home and friends and work, for all seems to have gone well with us.  And as to those good friends of ours, there may yet be a little to tell before I set the pen aside.