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"Nothing, very likely." The heavy-faced man spat in the fire. "You
should have slit their gullets and spared 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
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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
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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
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