Category: prydain recaps

Taran urges Gwydion to let him ride after Achren, who has departed on one of Rhun’s horses. Gwydion doesn’t really say no, but says that he can’t delay his own quest to protect Achren, though there is “no safety for her beyond Caer Dallben.” He …

Achren says that Arawn can’t leave Annuvin in his true form, but fortunately for him, he has the ability to assume any form he wishes, such as appearing as Taran in order to entrap Gwydion. Well, that’s convenient! There’s a catch, though – when he’s …

This is it, friends – the final book in the Prydain series! The High King opens pretty much right where Taran Wanderer leaves off, with Taran and Gurgi traveling home to Caer Dallben from Commot Merin. They’ve stopped to camp for the night, when suddenly, …

The next day, Taran and Gurgi travel to the neighboring commot, with Annlaw’s wares loaded on Melynlas and Gurgi’s pony. (Does Gurgi’s pony have a name?) Arriving at Commot Isav, they see a group of men with tight faces, one of whom – Drudwas – …

The friendly old man invites Taran and Gurgi to come back to his home for some horse brutality – hospitality, that is. Taran offers to carry his buckets of clay for him, but soon finds the yoke unbearably heavy, and the old man has to …

Taran and Gurgi journey on into the Free Commots, where Taran continues to introduce himself only as “Taran Wanderer” and is glad that no one presses him for more information. He finds a smith named Hevydd laboring at his forge, and asks to be taught …

Were you waiting with bated breath to find out if Taran goes to the river with Llonio to check his nets? Well, the answer is yes. Yes, he does. Whew, I’m glad that tense cliffhanger is resolved! Lloyd Alexander taught me about osiers in “The …

Taran is sick with a fever for about two weeks, during which time Gurgi tends to him, and Fflewddur and Kaw return to Craddoc’s cottage. Fflewddur explains that when he got to Caer Dallben, Dallben told him that Taran was not Craddoc’s son, so Fflewddur …

Taran, Gurgi and Craddoc finish mending the cottage in time for the first snow of winter. Taran is pleased with his handiwork, in a depressed kind of way. Craddoc says that it is no longer his cottage, but both of theirs. They spend the long …