Taran caught his breath, and it took all his strength to force himself not to shout Gwydion’s warning aloud.
“Ah, there you are!” Queen Teleria called, spying Taran. “I had thought to speak to you about—that’s right, young man, step up briskly, bow a little more deeply if you can, and, good Llyr, don’t scowl so—the royal feast tonight. You shall be pleased to know that, in honor of all of you, we’re planning to invite a perfectly wonderful bard, who claims to be a bard, that is, and who claims, by the way, to know you.”
“The self-styled bard,” said Magg, with ill-concealed distaste at the mention of Fflewddur, “has already been commanded to present himself at the feast.”
“Therefore, in the matter of new garments,” Teleria went on, “you had better go with Magg immediately and find some.”
“That has been seen to, as well, Lady Teleria,” murmured the Chief Steward, handing Taran a neatly folded cloak and jacket.
“Wonderful!” Teleria cried. “All that remains to be done is—well, I do believe everything has been done! I suggest, then, Taran of Caer Dallben, that you go and make yourself—don’t frown so, you’ll look old before your time—ready.”
Taran hardly had finished bowing to Queen Teleria when Eilonwy seized him and Gurgi by the arms and hastily drew them away. “You’ve seen Fflewddur, of course,” she whispered. “Now it’s getting to be more like old times. What a blessing to have him here! I’ve never met such silly women! Why, I don’t think there’s one of them that’s ever drawn a sword! All they want to talk about is sewing and embroidery and weaving, and how to run a castle. The ones who have husbands are always complaining about them, and the ones who haven’t are always complaining about the lack of them. They’ve never been out of Dinas Rhydnant in their lives! I told them a thing or two about some of our adventures; not the best ones—I’m saving those for later, when you can be there to tell your part in them.
“What we’ll do,” Eilonwy hurried on, her eyes sparkling, “after the feast, when no one’s watching, we’ll get hold of Fflewddur and go exploring for a few days. They’ll never miss us; there’s so many people coming and going around here. There’s bound to be a few adventures on Mona, but we certainly won’t find them in this stupid castle. Now, first thing, you must look out a sword for me—I wish I’d brought one from Caer Dallben. Not that I think we’ll need swords, but it’s better to have them just in case. Gurgi, of course, shall bring along his wallet of food—”
“Eilonwy,” Taran interrupted, “this cannot be.”
“How’s that?” asked Eilonwy. “Oh, very well, you needn’t bother with swords then. We’ll just go adventuring as we are.” She hesitated. “What’s the matter with you? I must say, you have the strangest expressions on your face from time to time. Right now, you look as if a mountain were about to fall on your head. As I was saying …”
“Eilonwy,” Taran said firmly, “you are not to leave Dinas Rhydnant.”
Eilonwy, so surprised she stopped talking for a moment, stared at him open-mouthed. “What?” she cried. “What did you say? Not leave the castle? Taran of Caer Dallben, I think the salt air must have pickled your wits!”
“Listen to me,” Taran said gravely, searching his mind for some means to warn the startled girl without revealing Gwydion’s secret, “Dinas Rhydnant is—unfamiliar to us. We know nothing of Mona. There may be—dangers that we …”
“Dangers!” cried Eilonwy. “You can be sure of that! And the biggest is that I’ll be bored to tears! Don’t think for an instant I mean to wear out my days in this castle! You, of all people, tell me I’m not to go adventuring! What, really, is the matter with you? I’m ready to believe you dropped your courage over the side of Rhun’s ship along with the anchor stone!”
“It is not a question of courage,” Taran began. “It is the better part of wisdom to …”
“Now you’re talking about wisdom!” Eilonwy cried. “Before, that was the last thing in the world you thought about!”
“This is different,” Taran said. “Can you not understand?” he pleaded, though he saw clearly from Eilonwy’s face that his words made no sense to her. For an instant he was tempted to blurt out the truth. Instead, he took the girl by the shoulders. “You are not to set foot outside this place,” he ordered angrily. “And if I think you have any idea of doing so, I shall ask King Rhuddlum to set a guard over you.”
“What?” cried Eilonwy. “How dare you!” Tears suddenly filled her eyes. “Yes, I do understand! You’re glad I’ve been sent to this wretched island and these clucking hens! You couldn’t wait for a chance to be rid of me! You actually want me to stay here and be lost in this dreadful castle. That’s worse than putting someone’s head in a sack of feathers!” Sobbing, Eilonwy stamped her foot. “Taran of Caer Dallben, I’m not speaking to you any more!”
CHAPTER FOUR
Shadows
The feast that evening was surely the merriest the castle had ever seen. Kaw, perched on the back of Taran’s chair, bobbed up and down and looked as if the banquet had been arranged entirely in his honor. King Rhuddlum beamed with good spirits; the talk and laughter of the guests rang through the Great Hall. Behind the long table, crowded with Queen Teleria’s ladies of the court, Magg flitted back and forth, snapping his fingers and whispering commands to servitors bearing endless dishes of food and flagons of drink. For Taran it was a waking nightmare; he sat silent and uneasy, his repast untouched.
“You needn’t look so gloomy,” said Eilonwy. “After all, you aren’t the one who has to stay here. If I’m trying to make the best of things, I must say you’re not exactly helpful. I want to remind you I’m still not speaking to you after the way you behaved today.”
Without waiting to hear Taran’s confused protests, Eilonwy tossed her head and began chattering to Prince Rhun. Taran bit his lip. He felt as though he were shouting a voiceless warning, while Eilonwy, all unwitting, raced gaily toward the brink of a cliff.
At the end of the feasting, Fflewddur tuned his harp, stepped to the middle of the Hall, and sang his new lay. Taran listened without pleasure, although he realized it was the best Fflewddur had yet composed. When the bard had done, and King Rhuddlum had begun to yawn, the guests rose from their seats at the table. Taran plucked Fflewddur’s sleeve and drew him aside.
“I’ve been thinking about the stables,” Taran said anxiously. “No matter what Magg says, it’s not a fitting place for you to sleep. I’ll speak to King Rhuddlum and I’m sure he’ll order Magg to give you back your chamber in the castle.” Taran hesitated. “I—I think somehow it would be better if we were all together. We are strangers here, and know nothing of the ways of this place.”
“Great Belin, don’t give yourself a moment’s concern about that,” replied the bard. “For my part, I prefer the stables. Indeed, that’s one reason I go wandering: to get away from stuffy, dreary castles. Besides,” he added behind his hand, “it would lead to trouble with Magg. And if he pushes me beyond endurance, there will be swordplay—a Fflam is hotheaded—which is hardly courteous behavior from a guest. No, no, we shall all be fine and meet again in the morning.” So saying, Fflewddur shouldered his harp, waved good night, and made his way from the Hall.
“Something tells me we should keep an eye on the castle,” Taran said to Gurgi. He put a forefinger under Kaw’s feet and set the bird on Gurgi’s shoulder, where the crow immediately began running his beak through Gurgi’s matted hair. “Stay close to Eilonwy’s chamber,” he went on. “I’ll join you soon. Keep Kaw with you and send him to me if anything seems amiss.”
Gurgi nodded. “Yes, yes,” he whispered. “Loyal Gurgi will stand with watchful waitings. He will guard dreamful drowsings of noble Princess.”
Unnoticed among the departing guests, Taran walked to the courtyard. Hoping to find Gwydion, he strode quickly toward the stables. Stars filled the clear night sky and a bright moon hung above the crags of Mona. In the stables, Taran discovered no trace of the Prince of Don, but c
ame only upon Fflewddur curled up in the straw, his arm flung around his harp and already snoring peacefully.
Taran turned once more to the castle, which had by now fallen into darkness. He stood a moment, wondering where else he might seek.
“Hullo, hullo!” Prince Rhun burst from around a corner at such a rate he nearly sent Taran sprawling. “Still awake, are you? So am I! My mother says it’s good for me to take a little stroll before sleeping. I suppose you’re doing the same? Very good! We shall walk along together.”
“That we shall not!” Taran retorted. Now, of all times, he had no wish to be hindered by the feckless Prince. “I—I seek the tailors,” he added quickly. “Where are they lodged?”
“You’re looking for tailors?” Rhun asked. “How odd! Whatever for?”
“My jacket,” Taran hurriedly answered. “It—it fits me badly. I must ask them to fix it.”
“In the middle of the night?” asked Rhun, his moon face puzzled. “Now, that really is surprising!” He pointed toward a shadowed side of the castle. “Their chambers are down there. But I shouldn’t think they’d be in a humor to stitch well if you rouse them up out of a sleep. Tailors can be touchy, you know. I advise you to wait until morning.”
“No, it must be done now,” Taran said, impatient to be rid of Rhun.
The Prince shrugged, wished him a cheerful good night, and trotted off again. Taran made his way toward a cluster of sheds beyond the stable. His search there was also in vain. Discouraged, he had decided to rejoin Gurgi when he stopped suddenly. A figure was moving quickly across the courtyard, not toward the main portal but to the farthest angle of the heavy stone wall.
Could Eilonwy have slipped away from Gurgi? Taran was about to call out. Then, fearful of waking the castle, he hurried after the figure. An instant later it seemed to disappear completely. Taran pressed on. At the wall he stumbled upon a narrow opening, barely wide enough to squeeze through. Taran plunged through the curtain of ivy concealing it and found himself beyond the castle on a rocky slope overlooking the harbor.
The figure, Taran suddenly realized, was not Eilonwy—too tall, the gait different. He caught his breath as the cloaked shape turned once for a furtive glance at the castle and the moonlight glittered for a moment over its features.
It was Magg.
Spiderlike, the Chief Steward was rapidly picking his way down a path. In a surge of fear and suspicion, Taran clambered blindly over jagged stones, trying his best to be both swift and silent. Despite the clear night the way was difficult to follow; boulders loomed to catch him unawares and break his stride. He longed for the light of Eilonwy’s bauble as he scrambled headlong after Magg toward the sleeping harbor.
Magg had come to level ground well ahead of Taran, and was scuttling along the sea wall until, at the far end, he reached a huge pile of rocks. With surprising agility the Chief Steward swung himself up, crawled over, and once more dropped out of sight. Casting caution aside, fearful he would lose track of Magg, Taran broke into a run. Along the wall moon-bright water lapped and whispered. A shadow moved for an instant among the stilted piers. In alarm Taran checked his pace, then hastened on. His eyes were playing tricks. Even the rocks themselves seemed to rise before him like crouching, threatening beasts.
Gritting his teeth, Taran climbed the dark barrier of rocks. Below, the water churned in glittering eddies and foamed among the stones. The surf rang in his ears as he hauled himself to the crest. There he clung, not daring to follow farther. Magg had stopped not many paces beyond, at the edge of a narrow spit of land. Taran saw him kneel and make a rapid motion. In another instant a light flared.
The Chief Steward had lit a torch and now raised it overhead, moving the flickering flame slowly back and forth. As Taran watched, fearful and puzzled, a tiny point of orange light glowed far seaward. This answering signal, Taran judged, could come only from a ship, though he could make out nothing of the vessel’s shape or distance. Magg waved the torch again, in a different pattern. The light from the ship repeated it, then winked out. Magg thrust his torch into the black water where it sputtered and died; he turned and strode quickly toward the tumble of rocks where Taran lay. Taran, left blinking in the sudden darkness, sought to clamber down before Magg should come upon him, but could find no foothold. In panic he groped for a jutting stone below him, slipped, caught vainly for another one. He could hear Magg scrabbling up the far side and let himself fall among the rocks. Wincing at the sharp pain, he tried to hide in the shadows. Magg’s head had just appeared at the crest when Taran was seized firmly from behind.
Taran snatched at his sword. A hand was clapped over his mouth, stifling his shout, and he was dragged rapidly toward the foaming wavelets, to be flung silently down amid the stones.
“Make no sound!” Gwydion’s voice whispered the command.
Taran went limp with relief. Overhead, Magg lowered himself from the mass of stones and passed no more than a dozen paces from the two crouching figures. Gwydion, clinging to the rocks above the surf, motioned for Taran to stay hidden. The Chief Steward, without a backward glance, hastened once more along the sea wall, heading for the castle.
“Seize him!” Taran urged. “A ship rides at anchor. I saw him signal it. We must make him tell us what he is about.”
Gwydion shook his head. His green eyes followed the retreating Magg and his lips drew tightly against his teeth in the lean smile of a stalking wolf. He still wore the rags of the shoemaker; but Dyrnwyn, the black sword, now hung at his belt. “Let him go,” he murmured. “The game is not played out.”
“But the signal,” Taran began.
Gwydion nodded. “I, too, saw it. I have been keeping watch over the castle since I left you. Though a moment ago,” he added, with some severity, “I feared an Assistant Pig-Keeper would stumble into a snare set to catch a traitor. Would you serve me? Then return at once to the castle. Stay close by the Princess.”
“Dare we let Magg go unhindered?” Taran asked.
“He must go unhindered for a time, at least,” replied Gwydion.
“The shoemaker will soon put down his awl and take up the sword. Until then, keep silent. I would not spoil Magg’s scheme before I learn more of it.
“The fisherfolk of Mona have already told a curious and harmless shoemaker part of what he must know,” Gwydion continued. “Enough to be certain of one thing: Achren is aboard that vessel.
“Yes,” Gwydion went on as Taran drew a sharp breath, “this much I suspected. Achren herself would not dare strike directly against Eilonwy. The castle is strong and well-guarded, only treachery could open its gates. Achren needed a hand to do her bidding. Now I know whose it is.”
Gwydion frowned deeply as he spoke on. “But why?” he murmured almost to himself. “Too much still remains hidden. If it is as I fear …” He shook his head quickly. “It does not please me to use Eilonwy as unwitting bait for a trap, but I cannot do otherwise.”
“Magg can be watched,” Taran said, “but what of Achren?”
“I must find some means to learn her plan as well as Magg’s,” replied Gwydion. “Go quickly now,” he ordered. “Soon all may grow clear. So I hope, for I would not see the Princess Eilonwy long in peril.”
Taran hastened to obey Gwydion’s command. Leaving the Prince of Don at the harbor, he made his way with all speed up the winding path to the castle, found the opening in the wall, and pressed through it into the dark courtyard. Eilonwy, he knew, would not be safe so long as Magg had the freedom of the castle. But Magg, at least, could be watched. The terror that chilled Taran’s heart came from the ship waiting in the night. Memory of Achren, beautiful and merciless, again returned to him. From a day long past he recalled her livid face, her voice that had spoken so softly of torment and death. It was her shadow that loomed behind the treacherous Chief Steward.
He hurried silently across the courtyard. A dim light shone from one of the chambers. Stealthily, Taran moved toward it, raised himself on tiptoe, and peered through the
casement. In the glow of an oil lamp he saw the Chief Steward. Magg clutched a long dagger which he brandished in the air, all the while making fierce grimaces. After a time he hid the weapon in his garments, then picked up a small looking glass into which he smiled, pursed his lips, and eyed himself with glances of deep satisfaction. Taran watched with rage and horror, hardly able to keep from bursting in upon him. With a final smirk, the Chief Steward put out the lamp. Taran clenched his fists, turned away, and entered the castle.
At Eilonwy’s chamber he found Gurgi crouched on the flagstones. Rumpled and half-asleep, Gurgi blinked and sprang to his feet. Kaw, as tousled as Gurgi himself, popped his head from under his wing.
“All is quiet,” Gurgi whispered. “Yes, yes, watchful Gurgi has not moved from portal! Valiant, sleepy Gurgi keeps noble Princess from harmful hurtings. His poor tender head is heavy, but it does not nod, oh no!”
“You have done well,” Taran said. “Sleep, my friend. Go and rest that poor tender head of yours and I shall stay here until daylight.”
While Gurgi, yawning and rubbing his eyes, crept down the corridor, Taran took his place before the chamber. He sank to the flagstones and, with hand on sword, rested his head on his knees and fought against his own weariness. Once or twice, despite his efforts, he drowsed, then started up suddenly. The vaulted corridor slowly lightened in the rising dawn. With relief Taran saw the first rays of morning and at last allowed himself to close his eyes.
“Taran of Caer Dallben!”
He stumbled to his feet and clutched his blade. Eilonwy, looking fresh and well-rested, stood in the doorway.
The Castle of Llyr Page 3
