The Assistant Pig-Keeper is the first chapter of The Book of Three. It introduces the young hero, his mentors, the setting of the story in a land of enchantment, and a clairvoyant animal whose escape forms the basis of the plot.
Plot[]
At Caer Dallben, Taran wanted to make a sword, but Coll insisted on horseshoes. Taran tried to forge a blade anyway, to disappointing results. He spurred Coll to teach him swordplay across the farmyard, awakening Dallben the enchanter, who chided the two and asks Taran into the cottage for a lesson.
Dallben reminded Taran about the land of Prydain, its history and geography, and warned the youth about the Horned King, a violent warlord whose purposes were unknown. Taran voiced frustration over being confined to Caer Dallben, resulting in modest reproach from Dallben, who then resumed his morning meditations. While the enchanter dozed, Taran tried to touch The Book of Three, but burned his fingers on the cover of the ancient tome.
Leaving the cottage, Taran turned his frustrations to Coll who, in an effort to appease Taran, dubbed him "Assistant Pig-Keeper of Caer Dallben" (a superfluous epithet for a series of tasks he already performed), adding that he would also (continue to ) keep Hen Wen, an oracular pig.
A commotion interrupted Coll and roused Dallben. First bees, then chickens fled the farm in a frenzy, while oxen bellowed. The enchanter and the farmer went to fetch the Letter Sticks, a special tool required to divine wisdom from Hen Wen. Coll instructed Taran not to let Hen Wen out of his sight, but no sooner did he reach her pen than he found her frantically burrowing beneath the wall to freedom. Taran took a breath and plunged into the forest after her.
| The Book of Three |
|---|
| 1. The Assistant Pig-Keeper | 2. The Mask of the King | 3. Gurgi | 4. The Gwythaints | 5. The Broken Sword | 6. Eilonwy | 7. The Trap | 8. The Barrow | 9. Fflewddur Fflam | 10. The Sword Dyrnwyn | 11. Flight Through the Hills | 12. The Wolves | 13. The Hidden Valley | 14. The Black Lake | 15. King Eiddileg | 16. Doli | 17. The Fledgling | 18. The Flame of Dyrnwyn | 19. The Secret | 20. Welcomes |
