Author: Alicia Brown

As Morda taunts Taran, debating over what sort of animal he will change him into, Taran feels something gnawing at the ropes that bind his wrists. It’s Gurgi, in mouse form! (Morda put Kaw and Fflewddur in cages, but not Gurgi, which was not very …

Accompanied by Gurgi and Kaw, Taran heads off to Morda’s stronghold, leaving Fflewddur in the forest, along with Doli-as-frog. (Seems like Fflewddur could have just kept on carrying Doli and come with them, but whatevs.) Arriving at an impenetrable wall of thorns twice his height, …

Exhibit A. Taran, Fflewddur, and Gurgi ride out of the Valley Cantrevs and into the Hill Cantrevs. Fflewddur remarks that the Hill Cantrevs used to be rich pastureland for sheep with “fleece so thick you could sink your arm in it up to the elbow!” …

In a feat that seems to defy the laws of physics, Taran single-handedly rescues Smoit, dragging the bleeding king from the whirlpool at the foot of the waterfall and managing to avoid drowning himself. Fflewddur says Smoit has “cracked his skull and half his ribs” …

Taran, Fflewddur, and Gurgi arrive at the castle of King Smoit, who greets them effusively and comments that the last time he saw them, Taran was as “scrawny as a plucked chicken,” implying – without actually saying so – that Taran has filled out some …

Taran and Gurgi ride to Lord Goryon’s stronghold, which is described as “a large huddle of buildings circled by a barricade of wooden stakes lashed with osier,” which made me so happy, because I recently learned what osiers are! They find a stable boy, and …

Taran and Gurgi leave Morva and head to Cantrev Cadiffor, ruled by King Smoit, who Taran plans to ask for sturdier gear for the long journey ahead. They stop to camp for the night, but are set upon by a group of five armed horsemen. …

It’s springtime at Caer Dallben, but Taran’s not in the mood to enjoy it. Coll good-naturedly teases him about pining for Eilonwy. Taran says he has to talk to Dallben about something important, and ignores Coll’s warnings that Dallben has weighty things on his mind …

Last year, I started recapping Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain series chapter by chapter, as a way to indulge my fandom and remember what it was like when I read the books for the first time. So far, I’ve made it through three books in the series …

Eilonwy awakens, and answers Taran’s anxious “Do you know us?” by addressing him as “Taran of Caer Dallben” and saying that “only an Assistant Pig-Keeper could ask a question like that.” So her memory’s back and she’s fine, yay! She tells the companions the story …