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strength against someone more your own size?”
    The boy accepted my suggestion and a match was agreed. It ended well, and I was pleased to award him his prize. Thus began a succession of children’s games and races, no less hotly contested than the trials of their elders.
    The contests progressed and, little by little, the treasure mound was reduced. Tegid disappeared at some point in the proceedings and I was so caught up in my role as gift giver that some long time passed before I missed him. Turning to Goewyn, I said, “I wonder where Tegid has gone. Do you see him anywhere?”
    Before she could reply, there came a rush at the mound behind us. I heard the swift approach and saw a confused motion out of the corner of my eye. Even as my head swiveled toward the sound and movement, I saw hands reaching for Goewyn. In the same instant that I leapt to my feet, she was pulled from her chair. “Llew!” she cried and was borne roughly away.
    I hurled myself after her, but there were too many people, too much confusion. I could hardly move. Head down, I drove forward into the mass of bodies. Hands seized me. I was pressed back into my chair. Goewyn cried out again, but her voice was farther away, and the cry was cut off.
    I kicked free of the chair and made to leap from the mound. Even as I gained my feet, I was hauled down from behind, thrown to the ground, and pinned there. Voices strange and loud gabbled in my ears. I fought against those holding me down. “Let me go!” I shouted. “Release me!” But the hands held firm, and the chaos of voices resolved itself into laughter. They were laughing at me!
    Angry now, I struggled all the more. “Tegid!” I bellowed. “Tegid!”
    â€œI am here, Llew,” Tegid’s voice replied calmly.
    I looked around furiously, and saw Tegid’s face appear above me. “Release him,” the bard instructed.
    The weight of hands fell away; the circle of faces drew back. I jumped to my feet. “They’ve taken Goewyn,” I told him. “We were sitting here, and they—”
    There were smiles and a spattering of laughter. I halted. Tegid, his fingers laced around his staff, appeared unconcerned. “What is happening?” I demanded. “Did you hear me?”
    â€œI heard you, Llew,” the bard replied simply.
    His lack of concern appalled me. I opened my mouth to protest, and again heard the laughter. Gazing at those gathered around us, I saw their faces alight with mischief and mirth. It was only then I realized that I was the object of a prank. “Well, Tegid, what is it? What have you done?”
    â€œIt is not for me to say, lord,” he answered.
    It came to me then that this was another of those peculiar Celtic marriage customs. The trick required me to work the thing out for myself. Well, prank or custom, I was not amused. Turning away, I called, “Bran! Cynan! Follow me!”
    I strode down from the mound, a path opening before me as I hastened away. “Bran! Cynan!” I called again, and when they did not join me, I turned to see them standing motionless. “Follow me!” I shouted. “I need you.”
    Cynan, grinning, moved a step forward, then stopped, shaking his head slightly.
    â€œI go alone,” I remarked.
    â€œThat is the way of it,” Bran said.
    â€œSo be it!” Exasperation turning to anger, I whirled away across the field in the direction I had last seen Goewyn. It was a stupid jest, and I resented it.
    The trail led to the lakeside where I lost it on the stony shore. They might have gone in either direction—one way led along the lake toward the Dinas Dwr; the other rose to the heights and the ridge of Druim Vran above. Looking toward the crannog, I saw no sign of flight, so I pivoted the opposite way and strode toward the heights and Tegid’s grove.
    I reached the path and began the climb. The crowd followed behind, streaming along