‘The road you want lies close to the castle,’ the young man replied. ‘I’d be glad of your company,’ he added with a smile at both the young women, ‘if you’d care to ride with me.’
‘What do you think?’ Caradawc asked, turning to Viviane.
‘How far is the castle, sir?’ she asked thoughtfully. A diversion might in the long run prove quicker if they could travel on well-made roads the whole way.
‘Not far, my lady, not far at all — and I’m sure the good lord will insist that you rest a while and feast with the rest of us on venison and wine before you resume your journey.’
‘We haven’t time for that, sir, but we’ll gladly accompany you until we join the right road.’
Viviane wondered about the young man. He had appeared just at the time when they needed to know the way. Had he been sent to gu
