CHAPTER 35
In the morning, after the meal, George stroked his freshly-shaven cheeks and walked slowly and stiffly over to join Gwyn. His allies and their huntsmen had gathered, as requested, and George was pleased to greet again those he had already met. There were eight pairs of them, lord or lady with a huntsman.
Gwyn said to George, “These noble lords are departing this morning, huntsman. How do we stand with the whelps from the breeding?”
George had already made morning rounds with Dyfnallt and looked over the four litters. The two from outsider blood he was reserving, all eleven of them, but the other two litters had sixteen suitable puppies, and the dams would each get one of last night’s whelps to nurse afterward.
“My lord king,” he said, careful to use the correct form, “there
