So these seven journeyed together till they reached a vast open plain in which was a fair castle. But though it seemed so close it was not until the evening of the third day that they really drew near to it, and in front of it a flock of sheep was spread, so many in number that there seemed no end to them. A shepherd stood on a mound watching over them, and by his side was a dog, as large as a horse nine winters old. ‘Whose is this castle, O herdsmen?’ asked the knights. ‘Stupid are ye truly,’ answered the herdsman. ‘All the world knows that this is the castle of Yspaddaden Penkawr.’ ‘And who art thou?’ ‘I am called Custennin, brother of Yspaddaden, and ill has he treated me. And who are you, and what do you here?’ ‘We come from Arthur the king, to seek Olwen the daughter of Yspaddaden,’ but at this news the shepherd gave a cry: ‘O men, be warned and turn back while there is yet time. Others have gone on that quest, but none have escaped to tell the tale,’ and he rose to his feet as if to leave them. Then Kilweh held out to him a ring of gold, and he tried to put it on his finger, but it was too small, so he placed it in his glove, and went home and gave it to his wife. ‘Whence came this ring?’ asked she, ‘for such good luck is not wont to befall thee.’ ‘The man to whom this ring belonged thou shalt see here in the evening,’ answered the shepherd; ‘he is Kilweh, son of Kilydd, cousin to king Arthur, and he has come to seek Olwen.’ And when the wife heard that she knew that Kilweh was her nephew, and her heart yearned after him, half with joy at the thought of seeing him, and half with sorrow for the doom she feared. Soon they heard steps approaching, and Kai and the rest entered into the house and ate and drank. After that the woman opened a chest, and out of it came a youth with curling yellow hair. ‘It is a pity to hid him thus,’ said Gwrhyr, ‘for well I know that he has done no evil.’ ‘Three and twenty of my sons has Yspaddaden slain, and I have no more hope of saving this one,’ replied she, and Kai was full of sorrow and answered: ‘Let him come with me and be my comrade, and he shall never be slain unless I am slain also.’ And so it was agreed. ‘What is your errand here?’ asked the woman. ‘We seek Olwen the maiden for this youth,’ answered Kai; ‘does she ever come hither so that she may be seen?’ ‘She comes every Saturday to wash her hair, and in the vessel where she washes she leaves all her rings, and never does she so much as send a messenger to fetch them.’ ‘Will she come if she is bidden?’ asked Kai, pondering. ‘She will come; but unless you pledge me your faith that you will not harm her I will not fetch her.’ ‘We pledge it,’ said they, and the maiden came.