None of it meant that Gryff was safe, that the king would not lock him away or worse. This was what it meant to have the blood of princes running in his veins.

“I would let him think me dead.”

He heard only the hard beat of his own heart in the silence that followed. It was presumptuous of him to even imply that this man, a stranger, might abandon honor for his sake. But it was a necessary part of this world, the continual assessment of potential allies and enemies.

“Hear me well, Gruffydd ab Iorwerth. I am a loyal servant of the king.” There was a hint of apology in Lord Robert’s face. “He will have truth from me, and know you live. Even if it means your death, I must tell him – though I think it will not be so dire.”

Gryff nodded, glad to know exactly what he could expect. “I mean you no insult. I have lived in the wilds these many years, and know little of king and court. In faith, I have had little news since Wales fell.”

“As I will give the king naught but truth, so too do I give it to you, and whatever news you seek. What would you know?”

Gryff took another careful sip of the wine, beating back the tide of questions that swelled in him. Better to learn what he could now, from this man who had no reason to twist the truth.

“Aderinyth.” He closed his eyes briefly, bracing himself. He had always known, in his heart, that he might never go back – that there might be nothing to go back to.  “What has Edward done to my people?”

“It goes hard in Wales, but Aderinyth is spared the very worst of it. The greatest wealth cannot be reached, for the falconers keep their secrets well. Only a dozen nesting places have the English discovered, and none of them the white gyrfalcons. Your people hold the knowledge hostage to good effect, despite all efforts to prise it from them.”

A wave of relief came over Gryff, to know there was not the same devastation in Aderinyth as had been rumored in the rest of Wales. His breath loosed, and he brought the cup to his lips again.

“They killed Philip Walch,” said Eluned softly from her place by the window, and he felt it like a stab to his heart. “He would not tell them. He did say that he swore a vow, as his father had done, and his father’s father before him, that none but the prince and his falconers would ever know the nesting places. They hanged him, and three others before they saw the vow would not be broken no matter how many falconers died.”