Caer Dallben, I am a warrior and I know my men. But when you face Ellidyr himself, I shall know beyond all doubt.
'Come,' said Morgant, helping Taran to his steed, 'we shall ride to my camp. Your task is ended. The Crochan is in my hands.'
Morgant's warriors took up the rest of the companions and they galloped swiftly into the wood. The war lord had made camp in a wide clearing, well protected by trees, its approach guarded by a deep ravine, and the tents had been blended in with a line of underbrush. Taran saw Lluagor and Melynlas tethered among the steeds of the warriors; a little apart, Islimach pawed the ground nervously and pulled at her halter.
Near the center of the clearing Taran caught his breath at the sight of the Black Crochan, which now had been removed from its sling. Though two of Morgant's warriors stood by it with drawn swords, Taran could not shake off the sense of fear and foreboding that hung like a dark mist about the cauldron.
'Do you not fear Arawn will attack you here and gain the cauldron once again?' Taran whispered.
Morgant's eyes hooded over and he gave Taran a glance both of anger and pride. 'Whoever challenges me shall be met,' he said coldly, 'be it the Lord of Annuvin himself.'
A warrior drew aside the curtain of one of the pavilions, and the war lord led them inside.
There, bound hand and foot, lay the still form of Ellidyr. His face was covered with blood and he appeared so grievously battered that Eilonwy could not stifle a cry of pity.
'How is this?' Taran exclaimed, turning to Morgant in shock and reproach. 'Sire,' he added quickly, 'your warriors had no right to use him so ill! This is shameful and dishonorable treatment.'
'Do you question my conduct?' Morgant replied. 'You have much to learn of obedience. My warriors heed my orders and so shall you. Prince Ellidyr dared to resist me. I caution you not to follow his example.'
At a call from Morgant, armed guards strode quickly into the tent. The war leader made a brief gesture toward Taran and his companions.
'Disarm them and bind them fast.'
Chapter 19
The War Lord
BEFORE THE STARTLED TARAN could draw his blade, a guard seized him and quickly lashed his arms behind his back. The bard, too, was seized. Screaming and kicking, Eilonwy fought vainly. For an instant Gurgi broke loose from his captors and flung himself toward King Morgant. But a warrior struck him brutally to the ground, leaped astride the limp figure, and trussed him tightly.
'Traitor!' Eilonwy shrieked. 'Liar! You dare to steal…'
'Silence her,' Morgant said coldly, and in another moment a gag muffled her cries.
Frantically Taran struggled to reach the girl's side, before he was thrown down and his legs secured with thongs. Morgant watched silently, his features fixed and without expression. The guards stepped away from the helpless companions. Morgant gestured for the warriors to leave the tent.
Taran, whose head still spun with confusion and disbelief, strained against his bonds. 'You are already a traitor,' he cried. 'Will you now be a murderer? We are under the protection of Gwydion; you will not escape his wrath!'
'I do not fear Gwydion,' answered Morgant, 'and his protection is worthless to you now. Worthless, indeed, to all Prydain. Even Gwydion is powerless against the Cauldron-Born.'
Taran stared at him in horror. 'You would not dare to use the Crochan against your own kinsmen, your own people. This is even more foul than treachery and murder!'
'Do you believe so?' Morgant replied. 'Then you have more lessons to learn than that of obedience. The cauldron belongs to him who knows how to keep it and how to use it. It is a weapon ready for a hand. For years Arawn was master of the cauldron, yet he lost it. Is this not proof he was unworthy, that he did not have the strength or cunning to prevent its slipping from his grasp ? Ellidyr, the proud fool, believed he could keep it. He is hardly fit to be cast into it.'
'What,' Taran cried, 'will you set yourself to rival Arawn?'
'To rival him?' Morgant asked with a hard smile. 'No. To surpass him. I know my worth, though I have chafed in the service of lesser men than I. Now I see the moment is ripe. There are few,' he continued haughtily, 'who understand the uses of power. And few who dare use it when it is offered them.
'Power such as this was offered once to Gwydion,' Morgant went on. 'He refused it. I shall not fail to take it. Shall you?'
'I?' asked Taran, with a terrified glance at Morgant.
King Morgant nodded. His eyes were hooded, but his falcon's face was keen and avid. 'Gwydion has spoken of you,' he said. 'He told me little, but that little is of interest. You are a bold youth? and perhaps more than that. How much more, I do not know. But I do know you are without family, without name or future. You can expect nothing. And yet,' Morgant added, 'you can expect everything,
'I would not offer this to one such as Ellidyr,' Morgant continued. 'He is too prideful, weakest where he believes himself strong. Do you remember I told you that I know good mettle? There is much that is possible with you, Taran of Caer Dallben. And this is what I offer? swear that you shall serve me as your liege lord and when the time is right you shall be my war leader, second only to me in all Prydain.'
'Why do you offer me this?' Taran cried. 'Why should you choose me?'
'As I have said,' Morgant answered, 'there is much you might achieve, if the way is opened for you. Do not deny you have dreamed long of glory. It is not impossible for you to find it, if I judge you well.'
'Judge me well,' Taran flung back, 'and you would know I scorn to serve an evil traitor!'
'I have no time to hear you vent your rage,' Morgant said. 'Many plans must be made between now and dawn. I shall leave you with this to consider: will you be first among my warriors? or first among my Cauldron- Born?'
'Give me to the cauldron, then!' Taran shouted. 'Cast me in it now, even as I live!'
'You have called me traitor,' Morgant answered, smiling. 'Do not call me fool. I, too, know the secret of the cauldron. Do you think I would have the Crochan shatter even before it began its work? Yes,' he went on, 'I, too, have been to the Marshes of Morva, long before the cauldron was taken from Annuvin. For I knew that sooner or later Gwydion must make this move against Arawn. And so I prepared myself. Did you pay a price for the Crochan? I, too, paid a price for the knowledge of its workings. I know how to destroy it, and I know how to make it yield a harvest of power.
'But you were bold, nonetheless, to hope to trick me,' Morgant added. 'You fear me,' he said, drawing closer to Taran, 'and there are many in Prydain who do. Yet you defy me. To dare that, there are few. This is rare metal indeed, ready to be tempered.'
Taran was about to speak, but the war lord raised his hand. 'Say no more. Instead, think carefully. If you refuse, you shall become a voiceless, mindless slave, without even hope of death to release you from your bondage.'
Taran's heart sank, but he raised his head proudly. 'If that is the destiny laid on me…'
'It will be a harder destiny than you believe,' Morgant said, his eyes flickering. 'A warrior does not fear to give up his own life. But will he sacrifice that of his comrades?'
Taran gasped with horror as Morgant went on.
'Yes,' said the war lord, 'one by one your companions shall be slain and given to the Crochan. Who will it devour before you cry a halt? Will it be the bard? Or the shabby creature that serves you? Or the young Princess? They shall go before you, even as you watch. And, at the last, yourself.
'Weigh this carefully,' said the war lord. 'I shall return for your answer.' He flung his black cloak about his shoulders and strode from the tent.
Taran struggled against his bonds, but they held firm. He sank back and bowed his head.
The bard, who had been silent this while, heaved a sorrowful sigh. 'In the Marshes of Morva,' he said, 'if I had only known, I should have asked Orddu to change me into a toad. At the time I didn't care for the idea. As I think of it now, it's a happier life than being a Cauldron warrior. At least there would have been dew circles to dance
