Caswallon welcomed her, offering her a cup of honey mead, and she sat beside him on a long, carved bench.

She shooed a couple of men from a table and gave it to Roger, then went back and retrieved his honey mead.

Hauling himself to his feet, the old man fetched a jug of honey mead and two goblets.

Reaching behind him, Gwalch lifted a jug of honey mead and took a swallow.

"Too angry to fetch me the flagon of honey mead you have in the kitchen?"

Beside each seated figure stood a flask of tej, the honey mead of the country.

Two days later a freshly snared pheasant appeared at the back door, with a skin of the honey mead.

"It was a miserable day when you crossed my doorway," said Maggrig, walking to the far table and pouring a goblet of honey mead.

"I'll be done me work soon," Dainsey explained, delivering one last glass of honey mead.

"I gived ye too much o' the honey mead," she said with a chuckle.