The Buried Giant

Axl, Beatrice and Gawain approach the cairn. Gawain reluctantly confirms that this is the place they were looking for. Gawain spots Wistan coming towards them with Edwin tethered to a rope, much like their own goat. Beatrice leaves the men and walks off alone. Axl watches her and feels that she has hurt him deeply in the past by leaving him alone.

Axl tethers the goat to a stake and asks Gawain if they can use his horse to make their way down the hill, thoughBeatrice does not want to go. Gawain pays no attention and explains to Axl that Axl was once a knight of Arthur, who cursed Arthur to his face, regarding the slaughter of the innocent Saxons.Gawain continues to defend the decisions made by Arthur at the time, while Axl has but a faint hint of that time.

Wistan and Edwin arrive. Axl explains that they’re going to use the goat to kill the dragon. Wistan ties Edwin to the stake with the goat. Gawain eyes Wistan and unsheathes his sword to lean on it. Wistan says, “Now here’s a custom divides Britons from Saxons,” explaining that Saxons would never blunt their blade that way (277).