Marcus had seen it in the dusk, but it appeared even more accurate a likeness now as sunlight flooded the face. A hundred memories crowded into his head and heart. Some of them were painful, but the oldest and strongest were beautiful.

“Thank you, David. I am most grateful.”

“You must allow me to pay you for your journey,” Marcus said. He and David were in his solar, and his friend was inspecting the furnishings and objects with curiosity.

David always viewed things with a merchant’s eyes, and Marcus could see him weighing value and assessing quality. A few questions had already been asked about where some items had been procured. Marcus assumed those were the ones of which David approved.

“Do not insult me. Bringing the statue was a favor to a friend.” David lifted Dylan’s harp off the table where he had placed it to remove the sack. He plucked at the strings and cocked his head at the sound. “Where did you get this? It is old and rare.”

“That is a story that must wait for a long evening and much wine. Right now I want you to tell me about these bandits you met on the road.”

“It was early this morning. About five came at us. They lost heart once Sieg drew his sword, so it was of little account. Not your normal thieves, though. They had a banner.”

“Describe it.”

“A red dragon. That is an ancient symbol in Wales, is it not?” David spoke as if the conversation barely distracted him from his examination of the harp, but his vague smile said he knew the importance of what he was revealing.

“It is also the banner of Llygad’s men,” Marcus said. “I will need to send messengers and learn if others have been attacked, but it looks as though the odd pause in their activities has ended.”

“They are far from home if they are here,” David said.

“Sometimes they venture out of the mountains. Better pickings, for one thing.” Other possible reasons for their arrival poked into Marcus’s mind, however. He began mentally planning a little expedition to clear the rebels off his lands.

“Do not let Sieg know if you plan to go after them. He is restless for action, and will delay my journey if the chance for fighting presents itself.”

David set the harp down, and lifted a leather bag he had brought in with him. “I have some gifts for you. Cloth. This red is for you, so you can have a decent court garment made. You can wear it at your wedding, or are you already married?”

Marcus shook his head. “Genith is gone.”

“Gone? She has died?”

He pointed to the harp. “Gone. With the man who owned that.”