He knew she thought him a falconer, like Hal, employed by some wealthy household before misfortune landed him here. There was no reason to tell her otherwise. It was the only thing he would be, from now on. Just a simple falconer, and not even one of great status such as Hal was.

“Can it not be taught, Welshman?” she asked with a grin, before taking another bite of her meal.

She never called him by his name. To her he was only Welshman, and each time she said it, his heart felt lighter. A simple Welshman, safe from anyone who would throw him in a tower.

“I think me your defenses are more use than any look,” he assured her. “The sight of your blade is enough to drive away all but the most witless.”

They gave a coin to a man who let them shelter for the night in a loft above his granary and Gryff counted himself witless when she bared her body to him, wrapped her legs around him, but would not set down her blade. Her fist stayed closed on the silver knife, though it stayed in its sheath and she never held it to him after that first night. He had begun to dream of the day she would let it go, and take off the dagger that hung from her neck as well. It became entwined with the vision of her in Aderinyth, as though he need only to bring her there and her doubt and distrust would melt away.

In the morning, they made their way to the crossroads outside of town. They could continue west through the rolling hills and dales and reach Wales in as little as a week. Or they could follow the southern road, travel much farther, moving southwest until they crossed into Wales closer to his home.

He still did not know where she intended to go – only that it was north of Aderinyth, and so the western path was hers, the shorter path. He could ask her destination, but somehow the words would not pass his lips. They stood at the crossroads without speaking, the heavy basket of provisions slung over his shoulder.

He would follow her, to wherever she journeyed. He could make his way to Aderinyth from there. Without her, if he must.

“Will we go south now, or later?” she asked.

In all their journeying, she had never asked him this. She only chose the road silently, leading him by hidden ways to where he wished to go. Now she stood very still, her eyes trained on the ground, a delicate color high on her cheeks.

“South?” he echoed.

“To Aderinyth. There is coin enough to last the journey now. If you want... If you would have me come there.”