Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

335of Lludd of the Silver Hand—she was the most splendid maidenin the three Islands of the Mighty, and for her Gwythyr the son ofGreidawl and Gwyn the son of Nudd fight every first of May tilldoom,” and the two Iseults and Arthur's Queen, Gwenhwyvar.“All these did Kilydd's son Kilhwch adjure to obtain his boon.”Arthur, however, had never heard of Olwen nor of her kindred.He promised to seek for her, but at the end of a year no tidingsof her could be found, and Kilhwch declared that he woulddepart and leave Arthur shamed. Kai and Bedwyr, with the guideKynddelig, are at last bidden to go forth on the quest.Servitors of ArthurThese personages are very different from those who are calledby the same names in Malory or Tennyson. Kai, it is said, couldgo nine days under water. He could render himself at will as tallas a forest tree. So hot was his physical constitution that nothinghe bore in his hand could get wetted in the heaviest rain. “Verysubtle was Kai.” As for Bedwyr—the later Sir Bedivere—weare told that none equalled him in swiftness, and that, thoughone-armed, he was a match for any three warriors on the field ofbattle; his lance made a wound equal to those of nine. Besidesthese three there went also on the quest Gwrhyr, who knewall tongues, and Gwalchmai son of Arthur's sister Gwyar, andMenw, who could make the party invisible by magic spells.CustenninThe party journeyed till at last they came to a great castlebefore which was a flock of sheep kept by a shepherd who had by [389]him a mastiff big as a horse. The breath of this shepherd, we aretold, could burn up a tree. “He let no occasion pass without doingsome hurt or harm.” However, he received the party well, toldthem that he was Custennin, brother of Yspaddaden whose castlestood before them, and brought them home to his wife. The wifeturned out to be a sister of Kilhwch's mother Goleuddydd, and shewas rejoiced at seeing her nephew, but sorrowful at the thoughtthat he had come in search of Olwen, “for none ever returned