One character is ridiculed, covertly, for the time he spends at church. The actual entities of the Light and the Dark become clearer in this book, though they are most clearly defined in the next one, 'Silver on the Tree.' They are recognize to be the powers that control the universe, and that they are the only powers which do so.

The things he does, however, are not condoned.

The man Caradog Prichard, nearing insanity and obsessed with killing Bran's white dog, Cafall, is once described as 'innocent' simply because he is not actually one of the Dark, though his actions clearly indicate that he is not at all innocent. Knowing that no one would believe him were he to tell the truth about his mission, Will lies a fair amount to his uncle and aunt about what is going on. Those feelings are, he says, good for men, but not the Old Ones. Will's reply is that the Light is there only to turn back the Dark, and that such emotions as pity cannot be allowed to sway the Light from its purpose. The question of the morality of the Light is raised when a man remarks that, at its heart, the power of the Light is very cold, often using men to their hurt for the greater good of mankind. Will must find the harp of gold, challenge the Grey King of the mountain, and wake the six Sleepers in preparation for the greatest rise of the Dark. But when he meets the strange boy Bran, with his white hair and golden eyes, the memories return. All his memories have been swept from his mind: the memories that would help him to find the second Thing of Power. A skillfully written young adults novel, but with a mix of good morals and doubtful ones.Īfter a long, dangerous illness, Will Stanton, last of the Old Ones, is sent to Wales to recuperate.

The grey king