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Updated: June 21, 2025
I could not stay here long, nor could Howel, and it was certain that Gerent could not well guard Owen up to this time. And at last Howel spoke the best counsel yet, after many plans turned over between us. "We will even take him to Dyfed, and nurse him to strength in Pembroke. Then if aught is in the wind it will break out at once, lest he should return and spoil all.
There was some sort of an advance post by this time in the Roman camp at Roborough, and Ina sent a few men to take it, and that was easily done. Then Gerent heard that Ina was on him, and went to meet him, and so the two armies met on the westward slope of the hills above Norton, and there all day long the battle swayed to and fro until the Welsh broke and fled back to the town itself.
"I know you well, Owen, though it is plain that you would not have it so. Mind you the day when I met Gerent at the Parrett bridge? I do not often forget a face, and I saw you then, and asked who you were.
Gerent will either have to bow to the storm and fight, or else he will get the upper hand and quiet things again. If he can do that last, at least till Owen is back, all will be well. Owen will take things in hand then, and will be master." That was indeed a way out of the trouble, and therein Nona helped us with Owen, so that at last he consented.
The whole countryside turned out gladly, and the Watchet Norsemen helped also. In the end, on the next day they penned the outlaws into some combe, and took most of them, and then all was told by them, so far as they knew it. Gerent laid hands on four of the men who had sworn the oath Evan told me of, that evening after some leading outlaw had given their names, but Tregoz had escaped.
So we waited for the old king to speak, and at last he turned suddenly to the princess, setting his thin white hand on her shoulder, and said: "Now tell Oswald what foolishness brought you here, Nona, daughter of Howel, that he may say what he thinks thereof." "Maybe he also will think it foolishness, King Gerent," she said in her low clear voice.
We should have so much the more time in which to gather the levies. But, seeing that they were not yet gathered, it did not at first seem possible to Ina that we could help to save the little town, whose few men had beaten off today's attack, but would be surely overwhelmed by numbers on the morrow if Gerent chose.
For on all the Wessex border from Severn Sea to the Channel there was unrest. It seemed that the hand of Gerent had altogether slackened on his people, so that they did what they listed, and it was even worse than it had been in the days of Morgan and his brother, for at least they were answerable for what the men of Dyvnaint wrought of harm.
Gerent, the king of the West Welsh, as we called him, ruled over all the land of Devon and Cornwall, from the fens of the Tone and Parrett Rivers to the Land's End.
"As they took you, so have they taken Owen. We have lost him." "Is he slain?" "We think not. He was wounded and borne away. We cannot trace him or his captors. Gerent needs you, and I have a letter to your king." I asked him no more at this time, but I took him straightway to Ina, travel stained as he was.
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