“I believe not,” she replied, sitting down beside her brother and taking his hand. “Why do you ask?”
“Because he talks—I say it with all respect—like an idiot.”
Hafrydda laughed; and her brother thereupon gave her a full account of the recent interview.
“Now, my sister, you were always straightforward and wise. Give me a clear answer. Has Cormac been found?”
“No, he has not been found; but—”
“Then,” interrupted Bladud, in a savage tone that was very foreign to his nature, “Gadarn is a liar!”
“Oh, brother! say not so.”
“How can I help it? He gave me to understand that Cormac has been found—at least, well, no, not exactly found, but seen and heard of. I’m no better than the rest of you,” continued Bladud, with a sarcastic laugh. “It seems as if there were something in the air just now which prevents us all from expressing ourselves plainly.”
“Well, then, brother,” said Hafrydda, with a smile, “if he told you that Cormac has been seen and heard of, and is well, surely that may relieve your mind till to-morrow, when I know that some one who knows all about the boy is to be at our festival. We begin it with games, as usual. Shall you be there?”
“I’d rather not,” replied the prince almost testily; “but, of course, it would be ungracious not to appear. This, however, I do know, that I shall take no part in the sports.”