The rains this season had swelled it to twice its normal size and set the water to rushing. It flooded the banks, water churning over great fallen logs. And as though it were not enough, another storm brooded in the sky above the party as they stared at the obstacle in their path.

Gwenllian watched her men negotiate the banks, looking up and down the river for a place to ford. It was useless, she knew. This trip had been accursed from the outset, as anything must that included Ranulf Ombrier. Cursed, and she was impatient to have the journey ended.

Resigned to the delay, she ordered Madog to have the men find a place where the waters were not so treacherous and construct a bridge. She conferred with him briefly on the matter of their second cousin Gwyn, who had always had a talent for such projects but had never yet been given charge of the men even in this minor way. It was best to show faith in his skill now, and see if he could make as quick a job of it as she hoped. She told the men to look to Gwyn for their instruction. They were all accustomed to the work, and she watched with satisfaction as Gwyn immediately began a consultation with Vincent, an inventory of the trees surrounding them and the rope in their packs. With luck, a sturdy bridge would be planned and in place well before the sun went down. It would be temporary, but it would hold well enough to let them cross in the morning.

A likely place was found, a bend in the river where great boulders heaped on the shores and the waters ran more slowly, and the men began their work. Thomas and Tegwarad, strong as oxen, levered the huge rocks into the river bed as Gwyn instructed others in the setting of the supports. The first log was set, the point of it buried in the riverbed between the rocks. All around her was bustling activity.

It pleased her, gave her the satisfaction of action and forward motion after days spent in dragging through the mud and a morning spent staring at the obstacle. More than that, she worked with her men to fell the trees and each order she issued was obeyed, every hand turned to the task as she set it. All they saw, all they spoke of was that she had bested him. They did not see, had not guessed at the change wrought in her by a man’s kiss.