tears or laughter, of sorrow or loving kindness. Among all Arawn's deeds, this is one of the cruelest.'
AFTER MUCH SEARCHING, Gwydion discovered Hen Wen's tracks once more. They led over a barren field, then to a shallow ravine.
'Here they stop,' he said, frowning. 'Even on stony ground there should be some trace, but I can see nothing.'
Slowly and painstakingly he quartered the land on either side of the ravine. The weary and discouraged Taran could barely force himself to put one foot in front of the other, and was glad the dusk obliged Gwydion to halt.
Gwydion tethered Melyngar in a thicket. Taran sank to the ground and rested his head in his hands.
'She has disappeared too completely,' said Gwydion, bringing provisions from the saddlebag.
'Many things could have happened. Time is too short to ponder each one.'
'What can we do, then?' Taran asked fearfully. 'Is there no way to find her?'
'The surest search is not always the shortest,' said Gwydion, 'and we may need the help of other hands before it is done. There is an ancient dweller in the foothills of Eagle Mountains. His name is Medwyn, and it is said he understands the hearts and ways of every creature in Prydain. He, if anyone, should know where Hen Wen may be hiding.'
'If we could find him,' Taran began.
'You are right in saying 'if,' ' Gwydion answered. 'I have never seen him. Others have sought him and failed. We should have only faint hope. But that is better than none at all.'
A wind had risen, whispering among the black clusters of trees. From a distance came the lonely baying of hounds. Gwydion sat upright, tense as a bowstring.
'Is it the Horned King?' cried Taran. 'Has he followed us this closely?'
Gwydion shook his head. 'No hounds bell like those, save the pack of Gwyn the Hunter. And so,' he mused, 'Gwyn, too, rides abroad.'
'Another of Arawn's servants?' asked Taran, his voice betraying his anxiety.
'Gwyn owes allegiance to a lord unknown even to me,' Gwydion answered, 'and one perhaps greater than Arawn. Gwyn the Hunter rides alone with his dogs, and where he rides, slaughter follows. He has foreknowledge of death and battle, and watches from afar, marking the fall of warriors.'
Above the cry of the pack rose the long, clear notes of a hunting horn. Flung across the sky, the sound pierced Taran's breast like a cold blade of terror. Yet, unlike the music itself, the echoes from the hills sang less of fear than of grief. Fading, they sighed that sunlight and birds, bright mornings, warm fires, food and drink, friendship, and all good things had been lost beyond recovery. Gwydion laid a firm hand on Taran's brow.
'Gwyn's music is a warning,' Gwydion said. 'Take it as a warning, for whatever profit that knowledge may be. But do not listen overmuch to the echoes. Others have done so, and have wandered hopeless ever since.'
A whinny from Melyngar broke Taran's sleep. As Gwydion rose and went to her, Taran glimpsed a shadow dart behind a bush. He sat up quickly. Gwydion's back was turned. In the bright moonlight the shadow moved again. Choking back his fear, Taran leaped to his feet and plunged into the undergrowth. Thorns tore at him. He landed on something that grappled frantically. He lashed out, seized what felt like someone's head, and an unmistakable odor of wet wolfhound assailed his nose.
'Gurgi!' Taran cried furiously. 'You sneaking…' The creature curled into an awkward ball as Taran began shaking him.
'Enough, enough!' Gwydion called. 'Do not frighten the wits out of the poor thing!'
'Save your own life next time!' Taran retorted angrily to Gwydion, while Gurgi began howling at the top of his voice. 'I should have known a great war leader needs no help from an Assistant Pig-Keeper!'
'Unlike Assistant Pig-Keepers,' Gwydion said gently, 'I scorn the help of no man. And you should know better than to jump into thorn bushes without first making sure what you will find. Save your anger for a better purpose…' He hesitated and looked carefully at Taran. 'Why, I believe you did think my life was in danger.'
'If I had known it was only that stupid, silly Gurgi…'
'The fact is, you did not,' Gwydion said. 'So I shall take the intention for the deed. You may be many other things, Taran of Caer Dallben, but I see you are no coward. I offer you my thanks,' he added, bowing deeply.
'And what of poor Gurgi?' howled the creature. 'No thanks for him? oh, no? only smackings by great lords! Not even a small munching for helping find a piggy!'
'We didn't find any piggy,' Taran replied angrily. 'And if you ask me, you know too much about the Horned King. I wouldn't be surprised if you'd gone and told him…'
'No, no! The lord of the great horns pursues wise, miserable Gurgi with leaping and galloping. Gurgi fears terrible smackings and whackings. He follows kindly and mighty protectors. Faithful Gurgi will not leave them, never!'
'And what of the Horned King?' Gwydion asked quickly.
'Oh, very angry,' whined Gurgi. 'Wicked lords ride with mumblings and grumblings because they cannot find a piggy.'
'Where are they now?' asked Gwydion.
'Not far. They cross water, but only clever, unthanked Gurgi knows where. And they light fires with fearsome blazings.'
'Can you lead us to them?' Gwydion asked. 'I would learn their plans.'
Gurgi whimpered questioningly. 'Crunchings and munchings?'
'I knew he would get around to that,' said Taran.
Gwydion saddled Melyngar and, clinging to the shadows, they set out across the moonlit hills. Gurgi led the way, loping ahead, bent forward, his long arms dangling. They crossed one deep valley, then another, before Gurgi halted on a ridge. Below, the wide plain blazed with torches and Taran saw a great ring of flames.
'Crunchings and munchings now?' Gurgi suggested.
Disregarding him, Gwydion motioned for them all to descend the slope. There was little need for silence. A deep, hollow drumming throbbed over the crowded plain. Horses whickered; there came the shouts of men and the clank of weapons. Gwydion crouched in the bracken, watching intently. Around the fiery circle, warriors on high stilts beat upraised swords against their shields.
'What are those men?' Taran whispered. 'And the wicker baskets hanging from the posts?'
'They are the Proud Walkers,' Gwydion answered, 'in a dance of battle, an ancient rite of war from the days when men were no more than savages. The baskets? another ancient custom best forgotten.
'But look there!' Gwydion cried suddenly. 'The Horned King! And there,' he exclaimed, pointing to the columns of horsemen, 'I see the banners of the Cantrev Rheged! The banners of Dau Gleddyn and of Mawr! All the cantrevs of the south! Yes, now I understand!'
Before Gwydion could speak again, the Horned King, bearing a torch, rode to the wicker baskets and thrust the fire into them. Flames seized the osier cages; billows of foul smoke rose skyward. The warriors clashed their shields and shouted together with one voice. From the baskets rose the agonized screams of men. Taran gasped and turned away.
'We have seen enough,' Gwydion ordered. 'Hurry, let us be gone from here.'
DAWN HAD BROKEN when Gwydion halted at the edge of a barren field. Until now, he had not spoken. Even Gurgi had been silent, his eyes round with terror.
'This is a part of what I have journeyed so far to learn,' Gwydion said. His face was grim and pale. 'Arawn now dares try force of arms, with the Horned King as his war leader. The Horned King has raised a mighty host, and they will march against us. The Sons of Don are ill prepared for so powerful an enemy. They must be warned. I must return to Caer Dathyl immediately.''
From a corner of woodland, five mounted warriors cantered into the field. Taran sprang up. The first horseman spurred his mount to a gallop. Melyngar whinnied shrilly. The warriors drew their swords.
Chapter 5
