We’ve not seen you in a fortnight!” My chains made it impossible for me to roll over, so I turned my pounding head to the light. Sun heated the pile of furs on which I lay, releasing a sharp, rancid scent. The barred window opposite the cell door looked out across the sunny, dirt yard, where the younger brother guard admitted two men at the gate, closing it behind them as they passed under a stone archway. The older brother acknowledged the men with a wave then returned to cleaning his horse’s hooves with a pick. “It’s fine to see you, Gareth.”The slimmer of the two riders addressed the young brother. To the older one he simply nodded. At least I finally knew which brother was which. “How fares our brother Gawain?” asked Gareth, which disconcerted me. I really didn’t need them to have more brothers. The skinny man dismounted in a fluid movement. “Gawain is well,” he said. “All’s well at Beran Byrig. So well that though the harvest is not finished, the granaries are quite full.”
