"Art clever, kinsman," Gwrtheyrn replied. "It is Emrys, to a certainty! or emissaries of his! Well that we are warned. They shall be warmly received, I promise!"
"Whence comes Ambrosius?" Mogneid asked. "As I travelled hither, I heard of him at Caerdydd."
"Look you, cousin," said Gwrtheyrn, "Ambrosius and I have some contention toward, concerning my lordship of Buallt, of which this overweening person claims the right to dispose, forsooth!—One cup more, kinsman Mogneid; it is of the Kentish vintage. Now when these Romanizers——"
"They are here," said Mogneid.
In truth, the clatter of horses' hooves resounded outside the building, and the voices of men. Twenty mail-clad soldiers entered the hall, with a keen-faced leader at their head.
"Greeting, King Gwrtheyrn," the officer cried, "from Ambrosius the Imperator!"
"Greeting!" returned Gwrtheyrn shortly. "What would the Lord Emrys say to us by your lips?"
"Thus says Aurelius Ambrosius to you, O Gwrtheyrn King of Erging: The renowned and mighty lord Ambrosius himself is now at Buallt, whither he is come to bestow the lordship of those lands—which are his as much as thine by hereditary right, be it said—upon the valiant prince Pascent thy son, for fitting appanage and livelihood. And he charges thee, O Gwrtheyrn, to attend him straightway, upon the morrow, to witness the installation of thy said son in all due form and order."
"Fore God!" Gwrtheyrn roared, "this is passing insolence! Hence to thy master, sir, and tell him that Gwrtheyrn permits not that another force from him what is his own! Or if it be too late now to make the return journey, why, there are my villeins' cow-houses at your service for the night. Ye shall have a guard set over you while ye are sleeping. Out of our presence, instantly, by blessed Paul!"
"So be it," said the soldier. "We will back to the lord of Britain."