The Castle of Llyr: Chapters 1–2

Eilonwy of the red-gold hair, the Princess Eilonwy Daughter of Angharad Daughter of Regat of the Royal House of Llyr, was leaving Caer Dallben. Dallben himself had so ordered it; and though Taran’s heart was suddenly and strangely heavy, he knew there was no gainsaying the old enchanter’s words.

Dallben, whose face was more careworn than usual and whose back was bowed as though under a heavy burden, embraced the girl at the cottage door.

“I wish you a fair voyage to the Isle of Mona,” Dallben went on. “King Rhuddlum and Queen Teleria are kindly and gracious. They are eager to stand in your family’s stead and serve as your protectors, and from Queen Teleria you shall learn how a princess should behave.”

“Hem!” Dallben said wryly. “I have never seen a fish with skinned knees, torn robe, and unshod feet. They would ill become him, as they ill become you.” He set a gnarled hand gently on Eilonwy’s shoulder.

“Hem!” Dallben said wryly. “I have never seen a fish with skinned knees, torn robe, and unshod feet. They would ill become him, as they ill become you.” He set a gnarled hand gently on Eilonwy’s shoulder.

“Watch over her carefully,” he said. “I have certain misgivings about letting you and Gurgi go with her, but if it will ease your parting, so be it.”

Shaggy-haired Gurgi, astride his pony, looked as mournful as an owl with a stomachache.

Kaw, the tame crow, perched in unwonted silence on Taran’s saddle.

The old warrior grinned and rubbed his shining bald head. “Did you tell her that?”
“Not—not exactly,” faltered Taran.

They cantered down the slope and dismounted at the water’s edge.

His cloak and jacket, worked with threads of gold and silver, were now sopping wet; the stranger, however, appeared not the least dismayed either by his ducking or the sodden state of his garments.

Instead, he grinned as cheerfully as if nothing whatever had befallen him.

Without further ado, and without stopping even to wring out his cloak, he bowed so low that Taran feared the young man would lose his balance; then he straightened up and in a solemn voice declared: “On behalf of Rhuddlum Son of Rhudd and Teleria Daughter of Tannwen, King and Queen of the Isle of Mona, greetings to the Princess Eilonwy of the Royal House of Llyr, and to—well—to all the rest of you,” he added, blinking rapidly as a thought suddenly occurred to him.

Taran, taken aback and not a little vexed by this scatterbrained behavior, stepped forward and presented the companions.

Taran, taken aback and not a little vexed by this scatterbrained behavior, stepped forward and presented the companions.

A water cask broke loose and went rolling down the deck, the sail flapped madly at the sudden change of course, and one bank of oars nearly snapped before the steersman regained the tiller from the undismayed Prince.

“Lash up the sail!” Rhun shouted happily. “Steady the helm!”

“He’s no more than a—a princeling, a clumsy, muddle-headed baby. Commanding the voyage? If the sailors listened to him, we’d be aground in no time. I’ve never sailed a ship, but I’ve no doubt I could do it better than he. I’ve never seen anyone so feckless.”

“He’s no more than a—a princeling, a clumsy, muddle-headed baby. Commanding the voyage? If the sailors listened to him, we’d be aground in no time. I’ve never sailed a ship, but I’ve no doubt I could do it better than he. I’ve never seen anyone so feckless.”

“I suppose you do,” Taran replied, all the more nettled by Eilonwy’s words. “Because he gave you his arm to lean on? A gallant, princely gesture. Lucky he didn’t pitch you over the side.”

“It’s my bauble,” said Eilonwy. “I always carry it with me. You never can tell when it will come in handy.”

“Unbelievable!” said Rhun. “You must show it to my parents. I wish we had a few of those trinkets around the castle.”

Gurgi curled up nearby, while Kaw, heedless of Taran’s entreaties to leave his high perch, roosted on the mast.

The companions grew used to the motion of the ship; the air was clear, sharp, and salt-laden, and Taran could taste the briny spray on his lips.

The vessel glided to the pier; the sailors cast the mooring lines and leaped ashore.

“Look at that disgracefully torn cloak! You must both have new raiment,” she declared.

The chamber was small, but neat and airy, bright with sunlight from a narrow casement.

Fragrant rushes covered the floor and in one corner stood a low couch and pallet of straw.

The bard seized Taran by the hand and began pumping it with all his might, at the same time clapping him resoundingly on the shoulder.

The bard seized Taran by the hand and began pumping it with all his might, at the same time clapping him resoundingly on the shoulder.

Fflewddur unslung his beloved instrument and looked at it ruefully.

It was Magg himself, come with the shoemaker, who stood humbly behind him.

The man was bent with age and garbed most shabbily.

At his broad belt hung curiously shaped knives, awls, and hanks of thongs.

He stared down at the aged man who had picked up a piece of leather and was now shaping it deftly with a crooked little knife.