Into that place I will even go for you, and risk what may befall me, if only you will find pardon for me.

Only, I do not know if you will find aught of Owen the prince there." "You must be in a bad way, my poor churl," said I, "if things are thus with you.

But if you will help me to that place, and there let me find what I may, there is naught that may not be forgiven you.
Even were it murder, I will pay the weregild for you, and you shall have cause to say that the place has no ill luck for you." "Thane," said the man, in a new voice that was strangely familiar to me, "you have spoken, and forgiven I shall surely be." Then he rose from behind the rock and came to my side, and took my hand and kissed it again and again, and surely I had seen his form before.
"Thane, I am Evan the outlaw, and my life is yours because you forgave me a little once, and saved me from the wolves, giving that life back to me when I knew it well nigh gone." I looked at the pale hair and beard of the man, and wondered.
Evan's had been black as night.
"It is Evan's voice," I said; "but you have changed strangely." "Needs must I, Thane, with every man's hand against me, if I would serve you and Owen the prince for your sake." Then I looked round for my shepherd, but he had fled.
"Come to the house with me," I said.

"I think that none will know you, and if they do so I will answer for you." "No, Thane; after tomorrow, seeing that even Howel sets such store on finding the valley, as men tell me, I shall be safe even from him.

I think that you are the only one who will trust me yet." There I knew that he was most likely right.