The Temptation of the Court of the Terrenon

A Wizard of Earthsea

The seduction and betrayal of Ged by Serret and the Lord Benderesk, and his escape from the Old Power of the Stone.

increasingupBearing stren­gth in each eventdowndecreasing
Arrival at the CourtArrival at the Court
The White Tower The Rescue Ged, exhausted, fell through a gate into the Court of the Terrenon. He woke in a luxurious bed, his wounds healed, dressed in fine clothes. The Lady Serret greeted him as an old friend. The Strange Hospitality Serret, beautiful and gentle, tended him. He remembered her from the meadow in Re Albi years ago. She was now the wife of the old Lord Benderesk. The tower was cold and isolated.
The Serret's SeductionThe Serret's Seduction
The Temptress The Promise of Power Serret tried to convince Ged to use the Terrenon stone, a trapped Old Power that could tell him the shadow's name. She offered him mastery over his destiny, wealth, and dominion. Ged's Resistance Ged was tempted, but he sensed the evil in the stone. He refused to touch it, saying the Old Powers are not for men to use. Serret grew angry and revealed her true allegiance.
The EscapeThe Escape
The Breaking Point Benderesk's Revelation Ged saw Benderesk listening, and realized Serret and Benderesk had been manipulating him. They wanted him to become a slave of the Stone. He refused, and Benderesk tried to curse Serret, but Ged stopped him. The Flight Serret, now revealed as a witch, killed the servants and led Ged to the gate. Outside, the Stone's servants attacked. Ged transformed into a hawk and flew away, leaving Serret to die. He escaped, but the otak had been killed.
after fleeing the gebbeth on the Osskil moors
over the next several days
the day of the confrontation