The High King

yourself the burden.' He climbed to his feet and strode to the companions. With a grimy, broken-nailed hand he seized Eilonwy by the throat as if he meant to throttle her. 'Who are you, boy?' he demanded in a grating voice. His cold blue eyes narrowed. 'Who do you serve? What ransom will you bring? Answer quickly when Dorath asks a question.'

At the sound of the name Eilonwy caught her breath. Taran had spoken of Dorath. From Gurgi's terrified whimpering she judged he, too, had recognized the outlaw.

'Answer!' Dorath cried with a curse. He struck Eilonwy across the face. The girl stumbled and fell, her head singing from the blow. The golden sphere dropped from her jacket. Eilonwy strained at her bonds and tried to fling herself on top of the bau­ble. A booted foot kicked it from her. Dorath bent and snatched up the sphere, turning it curiously in the firelight.

'What is it?' questioned one of the ruffians, pressing closer to gape at the bauble.

'Gold it is,' said another. 'Come, Dorath, chop the thing apart and share it out.'

'Hands off, you swine,' Dorath growled. He thrust the bauble into his sheepskin. Mutters of protest rose from the band, but Dorath silenced them with a glance. He bent down to Eilonwy. 'Where did you steal such a trinket, you young thief. Will you keep your head on your shoulders? Then tell me where we can find more treasure like this.'

Eilonwy, though furious, kept silent.

Dorath grinned. 'You will speak soon enough,' he said, 'and only wish you had spoken earlier. First, let me see if your fellow has a tongue looser than yours.'

Gurgi, teeth chattering violently, had sunk his head deep into his sheepskin coat and tightly hunched his shoulders.

'Do you play turtle with me?' Dorath cried with a harsh laugh. He knotted his thick fingers in Gurgi's hair and jerked the creature's head upright. 'Small wonder you hide your face! It's ugly as ever I've seen!'

Dorath stopped suddenly and squinted closer. 'Ugly it is, and not one easily forgotten. So ho! We are old friends, you and I. You share my hospitality once more! When last we met, you were comrade to a pig-keeper.' He turned his glance on Eilonwy. 'But this is not the swineherd.'

Dorath gripped Eilonwy's face and roughly turned it from side to side. 'This beardless boy…' He grunted in surprise. 'What, then? Boy? No boy at all! A wench!'

Eilonwy could no longer contain herself. 'Wench indeed! I'm Eilonwy Daughter of Angharad Daughter of Regat Princess of Llyr. I don't like being tied up, I don't like being smacked. I don't like being pawed, and I'll thank you to stop doing all of that immediately!' Despite her bonds she kicked vigorously at the outlaw.

Dorath laughed and drew back a pace. 'My memory is that the Lord Swineherd spoke once of you.' He gave a mocking bow. 'Welcome, Princess Vixen. You are a choicer prize than any ransom. A long score lies between Dorath and your pig-keeper. You give me and my company the pleasure of settling a little of it.'

'I'll give you the pleasure of setting Gurgi and me loose this very instant,' Eilonwy flung at him. 'And I shall have my bauble again.'

Dorath's face had grown mottled. 'You shall go free,' he said between his teeth, 'after a time, my pretty Princess, after a time. When you shall be fitting company for pig-keepers, perhaps you may join the swineherd again. Perhaps he will even recognize your charms, whatever may be left of them.'

'Have you considered what will be left of you when Taran finds you?' Eilonwy retorted. Until now the Princess of Llyr had kept her self-possession. But she could sense the outlaw's thoughts behind his cold eyes and for the first time she was deeply afraid.

'Lord Swineherd and I will finish our reckoning when the time comes,' Dorath replied. Grinning, he bent toward her. But your time is now.'

Gurgi thrashed wildly in his bonds. 'Do not harm wise and kindly Princess!' he shouted. 'Oh, Gurgi will make you pay for hurtful wickedness!' He flung himself against Dorath and tried to sink his teeth into the outlaw's leg.

Cursing, Dorath turned on Gurgi and snatched out his sword. Eilonwy cried aloud.

But before the outlaw could begin his downward stroke a long shape sprang suddenly from the overhanging rocks. Dorath give a stifled shout. His weapon fell from his hand and he toppled backward, the furry shadow snarling and tearing at his throat. At the campfire the other outlaws leaped to their feet and screamed in terror. Gray shadows were all about, closing swiftly on them. Vainly the marauders sought to flee, but on all sides they were flung back, borne to the ground by the force of lean bodies and slashing fangs.

Gurgi began yelling fearfully. 'Help, oh help! Oh, evil spirits come to slay us all!'

Eilonwy forced herself upright. Behind her she could feel something sharp gnawing and worrying at her bonds. In another moment her hands were free. She stumbled forward while the gray shadow tore away the thongs holding her feet. In front of her lay the motionless body of Dorath. Quickly Eilonwy knelt and drew the bauble from the outlaw's sheepskin jacket. From her cupped hand the sphere shed golden rays on a huge wolf crouching before her. By the campfire she glimpsed other wolves, withdrawing as swiftly as they had come. Behind them all was silent. Eilonwy shuddered and looked away. The wolves had done their work well.

Gurgi had been freed by a gray she-wolf with a white blaze on her breast and, pleased though he was to be out of the warriors' clutches, he wrinkled his forehead and cast a distrustful glance at his rescuer. The wolf Briavael blinked her yellow eyes and grinned at him. Gurgi, nevertheless, chose to keep his distance.

For her own part, Eilonwy surprisingly felt no fear or uneasiness. The wolf Brynach sat on his haunches, watching her closely. Eilonwy put her hand on the animal's shaggy, muscular neck.

'I hope you know we're trying to thank you,' she said, 'though I'm not sure whether you understand or not. The only wolves I ever met personally lived far from here in Medwyn's valley.'

At this Brynach whined and wagged his tail.

'Well, you do understand that,' said Eilonwy. 'Medwyn…' She hesitated. 'There were two wolves…' She clapped her hands. 'It must be! I don't mean to say I can tell one wolf from another, at least not at first glance. But there's something about you that reminds me…In any case, if that's who you are, we're very glad to see you again. We're obliged to you and now we'll be on our way. Though I'm not exactly sure which way our way is, if you see what I mean.'

Brynach grinned and showed no sign of leav­ing. Instead, he remained on his haunches, opened his jaws, and gave a high pitched bark.

Eilonwy sighed and shook her head. 'We're lost and trying to find our companions, but I haven't any idea how to say Assistant Pig-Keeper in wolf speech.'

Gurgi, meantime, had picked up his wallet of food and slung it over his shoulder. At last seeing the wolves meant him no harm, he drew a little closer to Brynach and Briavael and looked at them with great interest, while they studied him no less curiously.

Eilonwy turned to Gurgi. 'I'm sure they're willing to help us. Oh, if I could only understand them! What good is it being half an enchantress if you can't even tell what a wolf is trying to say to you?' Eilonwy stopped short. 'But? but I think I did understand! I must have! There, one of them just said 'Tell us!' I could hear? no, not hear; I could feel it!'

She looked at Gurgi in amazement. 'It's not words at all. It's like listening without your ears or hearing with your heart. I know it, but I can't imagine how I do. And yet,' she added wonderingly, 'that's what Taliesin told me.'

'Oh, great wisdoml' Gurgi cried. 'Oh, clever listenings! Gurgi listens, too, but inside hears only rumblings and grumblings when his poor belly is empty! Oh, sorrow! Gurgi will never hear deep secret things like Princess.'

Eilonwy had dropped to her knees beside Brynach. Hurriedly she spoke of Taran, of all the companions and what had befallen them. Brynach pricked up his ears and barked sharply. The huge wolf rose from his haunches, shook the snow from his shaggy coat, and with his teeth gently plucked at Eilonwy's sleeve.

'He says we're to follow them,' Eilonwy told Gurgi. 'Come, we're in safe hands now. Or, should I say paws?'

The wolves padded silently and swiftly, following hidden trails and passages whose existence the girl would have never guessed. The two companions strove to keep up with Brynach's rapid pace; yet often, despite themselves, they were forced to halt and rest. At those times the wolves seemed satisfied to wait patiently until the companions were ready to journey once again. Brynach crouched at Eilonwy's side, his gray head between his paws, seldom drowsing, his ears alert and moving at every faint sound. Briavael, too, served as sentinel and guide,