“I do not think this will delay things. I think it will hasten them. I am counting on it. I have a feeling that time is my enemy in this. I will force their hand, and see what happens.”

“Force it as you did the other night?”

Only Paul and David knew about the potion. And Nesta, of course.

She had neither spoken to him nor looked at him for two days now.

“She’ll try to get word to them about how that really was,” Paul said.

“I hope that she tries. I need to know how she communicates with them.”

He had allowed her to go into the yard in the mornings, to continue meeting with her farmers. Only now there was always someone watching her, to see if she slipped a message to one of them. So far, none had been passed.

Paul heaved himself to his feet and gave a groaning stretch. “Bed for me. Those men will start coming tomorrow, and I’ve my work set getting them ready.” He hesitated, and gazed into the hearth fire while his lips pursed. “Won’t be like the last time.”

Marcus knew that he was not referring to the defeat.

“Was an English army then, and our people fought like lions, I’m told. This time we go into our hills. Most of the men coming with us are at least partly Welsh, Marcus. What good will they be against their own?”

“I will not be relying only on them. I fear that before this is over, there will be English enough swelling our ranks. In the meantime, these men will not let us down. They will do their duty.” He caught Paul’s eye. “As we will, my friend.”

Chagrin flickered in Paul’s expression. He was embarrassed to have his own ambivalence seen for what it was.

As Paul left the chamber another man, not at all soiled and sweaty, entered.

“You appear to be a man with much on his mind, Mark. Lordly things, no doubt. I will leave tomorrow and let you have your fun.”

“You are welcome to stay.”

“There is war in the air, and I always stay away from that. Sieg is displeased with my decision, however. He thinks if we stay he will get at least one good battle in.”

“At most one, if I am fortunate.”

David took some ale from the servant, and then sent the man away. Marcus had learned not to mind the way the merchant would do things like that, as if he normally only pretended to know his place, and felt no need for the lie when among friends.

David settled himself on the bench where Paul had been. “Your bride spoke with me a while ago. Very courteous and sweet, she was.”

“Did she try to bribe you to sneak her away?”

“She offered no money.”

“If you dare to insinuate that she offered better than money—”