Marchwyr sneaked back into the castle, hoping to avoid having to explain his whereabouts. He had been gone longer than he thought. The sun was already touching the top of the western hills and the red glaze of twilight was spreading over the land. After the encounter with the beautiful maiden by the well, he could scarcely feel his feet touching ground. Indeed he thought that he might very well tread upon a cloud so lightly that he could dance his way from the mountaintop across the sky to her kingdom - Ylleugedd! But first he must compose a verse fine enough for the contest.

Completely occupied by these thoughts, he floated into the castle and down the hall in a half dream, only to crash down to earth again with a bump and a groan. What could be worse? He had collided with his stern master Caswallawn!