Like a grey eel Lewys slid his skinny frame down from behind the high back of the saddle and adjusted his baldric before retaliating. ‘This ancient mercenary told me he was your father but it was only when I spotted the harp-bag slung from his saddle that I was forced to believe him. The damnable instrument has been bashing me in the backside ever since.’

I laughed. ‘This sounds like good ammunition for a bardic battle. I will start you off after dinner, Harper versus Poet. I am glad you have had an opportunity to get to know one another.’

Lewys hunched his bony shoulders. ‘Well, I am familiar with the back of his head anyway.’

Owen dismounted and as ever I admired his nimbleness, being generally of the belief that a man past fifty should be old and weak of knee. ‘And I will know this sing-song bard’s voice anywhere,’ he retorted, ‘and take evasive action.’

‘You can start right now then,’ I declared, detecting the start of a love-hate acquaintance. ‘Lewys you are in the West Tower with the squires – over there.’ I pointed to my right. ‘And you, my honoured father, are with me in the East Tower – all the way over there.’ I indicated the far end of the building that held the Great Hall. ‘Is that far enough apart? Refresh yourselves and come to the Great Hall when the dinner horn sounds. Oh, and I would ask you to speak English while you are here, for the benefit of Lady Margaret, our guest of honour, whose birthday we are celebrating.’

* * *

Our first evening began quietly with the aim of conserving our energy for the chase the following day. Owen and Lewys made their first attempt at a bardic battle but surprisingly both managed to agree that their efforts needed further work. A more polished performance was promised for later in the week. Music from the minstrels kept us cheerful through the meal and then Margaret and Edith retired early, leaving the men to gather round the hall fire and bemoan the state of the country over another flagon drawn from the cask of Breton wine I had acquired from my new vintner.