So they made ready; the landlord paid them their wages; and they set out. They went by the very way that he had gone by to the castle where he killed the twenty-four robbers.
But how had they got on there since the year when he did that to her? The princess had borne a child, but she knew not who was the father. She had a tavern built not far from the castle, and said to her mother, ‘Mother dear, see what has befallen me, and how I now am. But I know not whom the child is by. You have let me have the tavern built. Whoever comes there I will entertain gratis, and ask him what he has learned in the world—whether he has any story to tell me, or whether he has had any strange experiences. Perhaps the man will turn up by whom I had the child.’
As luck would have it, the two brothers came through the village where the tavern was. There was a large sign-board, on which was written, ‘Every man may eat and drink to his heart’s desire, and smoke, only he must relate his experiences that he has gone through in the world.’ The elder lad said to his brother, ‘Brother dear, where are we? I don’t myself know.’ But right well he knew whom the tavern belonged to. They halted. Then he looked at the notice, and said to his mother, ‘See, mother dear, see what that is. See there is written that the victuals and drink are gratis.’
‘Let us go in, my son; we are very hungry, anyhow. Sure, we’ll find something to tell her, if only she’ll give us to eat and to drink.’
They went into the tavern. Straightway the hostess greeted them, and said, ‘Good-day, where do you come from?’
‘We come from a town out yonder. We have been working there; now we want to return home, where my husband is.’
She said, ‘Good. What might you drink, what will you eat? I will give you just what you want.’ [[149]]
‘Ah, my God!’ said she, ‘kind lady, if you would be so good as to give us something. We know you are a kind lady.’
So she said to her women-servants, ‘Bring wine here, bring beer here, bring food here, and for the two men bring something to smoke.’
When they brought it, they ate and drank.