51�Թ�

“Arawn will soon know the Crochan waits to be plucked from our hands.”

“You already know Arawn’s threat has been turned aside. He may strike again, how or when no man can guess. But for the moment there is little fear.”

“The level of brutality was shocking,” an astonished Arawn said a day later, his wrist bandaged and his leg marked by a dark red and purple bruise.

They were the hounds of Arawn, a crowned king in the land of Annwn, the shadow-land of Hades.

Arawn thanked him for all he had done, and added: “When thou comest thyself to thine own dominions thou wilt see what I have done for thee.”