All the main characters from the first book return and several new characters are added. Adaron, the son of the Chief Bard, is a noble young man full of wisdom and can see things in dreams. Prince Ellidry, the youngest son of his family and thus without much of an inheritance, is arrogant and prideful. There is constant tension between him and Taran for most of the book. King Morgant and King Smoit are renowned warriors, but where Smoit is good-natured Morgant is vain and tends to keep his own counsel.
As the company retreats,
they are chased by Arawn’s guards as well as the dreaded Huntsmen of Annuvin, ruthless
warriors who grow stronger when one of their company is killed. They escape but
are separated from the rest of the warriors. Eventually they learn that the Cauldron has
been taken by three mysterious women and is now hidden in the dangerous Marshes
of Morva. The choice to seek the Cauldron themselves is a difficult one and it
is surprising that Adaon, who was put in charge of the band, defers to Taran
who decides to go forward. On their way to the marshes Adaon asks Taran to take
care of his few precious possessions should harm befall him. The most precious
is a brooch he wears that helps him see things clearly and gives him wisdom in
dreams. When Adaon saves Taran’s life from the Huntsmen and is mortally wounded
and Taran wears the brooch he realizes just how precious it is. With his new
wisdom Taran can lead the band safely through the dangerous marshes but is forced
to make the difficult decision to give the brooch to the three enchantresses in
return for the Cauldron. He then learns the only way to destroy the Cauldron,
which was the intention from the start, is for a living person to willingly
enter it to die. Devastated by this news they decide to bring the Cauldron back
to Caer Dallben and hope the old enchanter Dallben has some wisdom about what
to do with it.
The task of carrying the Cauldron
is nearly impossible and requires Taran to give up all hope of being a hero as
he must promise to Ellidyr, whose help and strength is needed when the Cauldron
gets stuck in the mud, to say that it was Ellidyr who found the Cauldron. Ellidyr had
earlier abandoned the group to seek the Cauldron himself. Another significant
betrayal occurs as they near the end of their journey, illustrating the power
of the Cauldron to tempt good men to evil in their quest for power. Just as good men can turn to evil so an evil
man can repent and from an unexpected source comes a willing victim to enter
the Cauldron and destroy it.
There is much action in
this story but what really drives the story is the characters and the difficult
choices they must make. Alexander presents issues of friendship, loyalty, honor,
and self-sacrifice in compelling but not didactic ways. He raises questions of what
is heroic, good leadership and how to judge those who turn from good to evil
and evil to good. Taran began the quest for the Cauldron with his new sword,
given by Dallben, full of excitement and hope for glory. He returns much
sobered and wiser from the adventure. He comments to Gwydion, “I had longed to
enter the world of men. Now I see it filled with sorrow, with cruelty and
treachery, with those who would destroy all around them.” Gwydion also reminds
him “but there are equal parts of love and joy. Think of Adaron and believe
this. Think , too, of your companions. Out of friendship for you, they would
have given up all they valued; indeed all they possessed.”
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