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Page 209
They found one of Simon's men waiting in Cwm-du, but his news was two days old, not much more recent than what Efan had brought. Still, he had one new item to add. There had been a great cutting of trees in the forests near Monmouth, great trees, and the sound of the forges in the keep could be heard right through the nights.
"A great cutting of trees sounds more like attack than defense," Walter said.
"True enough," Simon agreed, shaking his head. "I do not like it."
"Nor I." Walter's statement was emphatic. "You know that Llewelyn has been urging Richard to attack Shrewsbury, do you not? I cannot guess how word of their plans could have come to Monmouth, but it is by no means impossible. So if Richard draws off his men from Abergavenny and Usk to join Llewelyn and go north, John of Monmouth might break the undermanned keeps before Richard could come back."
"Yes," Simon agreed, but he did not look happy. "I think we need to know more. What do you say we ride on to Abergavenny and stay the night? That will give time for Siorl himself to come from Monmouth and speak with us."
"I say we must do it," Walter said, sounding both approving and sympathetic; after all, Simon had only been married for three days.
However, Walter was delighted for himself. The longer he was away from Builth, the longer Marie would have to compose herself. Then he realized he might miss saying farewell to Sybelle if her parents refused her permission to stay, an idea that pleased him much less. But in a moment he had a solution to the problem. If she were gone from Builth when he returned, he would borrow a horse and ride on to Clyro, which was not more than twenty miles away. Lord Geoffrey had said they would stop there.
Simon sent two men back to tell Llewelyn what they had heard and what they planned to do, with specific instructions to be sure Rhiannon also got the message and, if Sybelle was still in Builth, that she was told Walter would return as soon as he could. At Abergavenny they discussed the matter with Gilbert Bassett, who was not inclined to scoff at their concern. He had had messages from Richard, and thus knew all but the latest news. This he liked as little as Simon and Walter.

 
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