The Book of Three
'The Book of Three' is the first of Lloyd Alexander's five-part novel series The Chronicles of Prydain (first published 1964). It centers about the adventures of Taran, the protegee of the sorcerer Dallben, as he enters manhood while fighting the forces of Arawn Deathlord, the ultimate evil entity in the series.
Plot Synopsis
Taran, a boy living at Caer Dallben (a farm, and Dallben's residence) with Dallben and Coll, feels uneasy about the calm life he's leading, and naively dreams of great battles and heroic deeds. For humor, Coll promotes Taran Assistant Pig-Keeper in charge of Hen Wen, the oracle pig living at the farm. After a lesson by Dallben, in which he is taught about Arawn and his henchman, the Horned King, he is to take care of Hen Wen; but the farm animals suddenly are highly agitated, and a number of them - including Hen Wen - run off into the forest. Taran chases after the pig, but soon loses both her and his way, and to his terror encounters the Horned King and his warriors marching against Caer Dallben. Wounded in this encounter, he is found and tended by Lord Gwydion, a prince of Prydain's ruling house of Don. Explaining his situation to the prince, they both set of together to find Hen Wen.
During their search, they encounter Gurgi, a man-beast living in the forest. From him they gain a new lead on Hen Wen, but the trail ultimately grows cold. Also, they find themselves attacked by four armed riders and two undead warriors, the Cauldron-Born. Overpowered, Gwydion and Taran are taken to one of Arawn's outposts, Spiral Castle, where they meet the enchantress Queen Achren. In front of Taran she bids Gwydion to join her against Arawn, but when the prince refuses, she has them both dragged into the dungeons and into separate cells.
In his cells, Taran is unexpectedly visited by Princess Eilonwy, a young enchantress of the house of Llyr who is living with Achren. Taran asks her to free his companion (out of mistrust, he does not mention Gwydion's name), and the girl eventually frees him as well. While trying to escape through the old catacombs beneath the castle, Taran accidentally falls into the tomb of a long-forgotten king, where Eilonwy snatches the king's sword. Then suddenly, Spiral Castle collapses; Taran and Eilonwy barely manage to escape to the surface.
For one reason or another the companions, Taran and Princess Eilonwy, find themselves in the company of a bard, last name Flam. They continue the search for Hen Wen and encounter many new adventures and even make new friends including a very sour dwarf. Fantastic battles, rewards, and magical weapons help end this story with great flare.