“There was a girl with golden hair.” The light of interest in Rhys’ eyes was so keen it sobered him a little. Gryff rubbed a hand across his face, thinking of how she had told him not to hide from memory. He would fail her in that, too. “When I am old and gray, ask me again,” he mumbled, and then took himself to his cold bed, where he tried to forget her mouth, her sighs, the beat of her heart.

He spent the morning observing the progress with the youngest goshawks. The falconers had not liked being told there would be no more strict secrecy about the nests. They had spent these past five years resisting in their own way, pretending to the Normans there were fewer birds come to nest and giving less than the promised number to the king. Most had bristled at Gryff’s command to give an honest account of the nestlings to the king’s men, but they obeyed him to a man.

They respected him because he had been trained by Philip Walch, and they obeyed him because he was their prince. It was Philip’s son, himself a falconer, who had told him that after his father’s death the falconers had agreed among themselves to obey no one but Prince Gruffydd. This was his comfort, to know that no more of them would die needlessly. Aderinyth’s one resource would no longer be held hostage to spite a king, and could be used to make a better life for his people. All of it was only possible because he had returned to them.

Now he watched two young gyrfalcons spread their feathers under the midmorning sun and wished he could keep one for himself. But one must go to Edward, and the other sold to bring in sorely needed coin. If his wedding happened soon enough, perhaps Hal would come and be able to see these two before they were traded away. He could bring Tiffin.

Even that thought was painful. Hal. Tiffin. Nan in a dark yard throwing knives into a post. All the memories he should not hide from but could not look at, even the happy ones. Especially the happy ones.

Word came that Will’s party was traversing the final hills, and Gryff went to the wall-walk atop the keep to watch their arrival. The castle that Edward had commanded built was barely started, but there was this one tower and it was enough to house the guests. Even better, it was set in a perfect place to overlook the hills and valleys of Aderinyth. It was a glorious view.