Through the hall they filed, and down to the yard. Nesta pulled open a door that led to the north tower’s cellar and they aimed toward Dylan’s chamber.

“How is the bard?” Nesta asked the guard.

“I brought him some bread and ale at dawn, and he appeared weak.”

“Sir Marcus instructed that my woman is to tend to him. She is a healer and has brought some potions and herbs.” She lifted the basket meaningfully.

The guard unlocked the door for them. After they entered, Nesta managed to ease it mostly closed. She greeted Dylan loudly, then stepped very near and whispered. “I could not get the harp. I am so sorry.”

Dylan’s bright eyes dulled. Winnifred began making noises with the basket and clucking about the prisoner’s condition.

“Will you still do it? If you refuse, I cannot blame you, but—”

“I will do it.” Dylan’s expression appeared bleak, but his voice carried resolve. “For my lady, I will do it.”

Nesta didn’t turn a hair at that. She was in no position to question the motives behind Dylan’s choice. Besides, more than one just cause had been won because of a man’s chivalrous love.

She gestured for Winnifred. “Good. Then let us tend to you.”

A short while later, Nesta and the cloaked servant left the chamber. The prisoner was lying on the bed, huddled in blankets and face turned to the wall.

“We gave him a sleeping potion, and some herbs for the fever,” Nesta told the guard as she closed the door. “He should sleep most of the day.”

She caught up with the servant, and together they mounted the stairs and entered the yard. Iolo’s wagon stood a few feet away from the cellar portal. When Nesta hailed him, he walked to the end of the wagon to greet her.

While their bodies blocked the view, a veiled and cloaked figure climbed into the wagon and crawled under the hides.

Sir Leonard’s eyes glazed over long before they reached the town. Nesta and Genith continued to dull his wits with relentless chatter about women’s things.

They gossiped about ladies he did not know. They debated at length the beauty of certain new fashions. Genith launched a chamber-by-chamber description of how she intended to turn Anglesmore inside out with new furnishings when she was mistress.

Once in the town, they dawdled in each shop, commenting in detail on the wares. By the time they had finished with the third one Sir Leonard looked like a man performing a penance he considered too great for even his worst sins.

“You must find this very dull, Sir Leonard,” Nesta said as the trio headed toward a grocer’s shop.

“Nay, nay, you and Lady Genith are delightful company.”

“How courteous of you to say so. Still, if you would prefer to wait at the tavern, we will fetch you when we are done.”