The next task was to find Mabon ap Modron. First they had to free Mabon’s cousin, Halwn, from the prison in which his enemy Gofannon was holding him.
At the request of Cynfor, Gofannon released him at once. Halwn told them that to find Mabon they would have to ask the birds and the beasts and even the fishes. Some of the champions scorned such an idea, but Cynfor urged them to do as they were advised. Alone among the companions Gwrhyr knew all human tongues and the language of all creatures. He went first to the Blackbird of Carreglyn, who said,
“When I first came here there was an anvil, untouched except for the pecking of my beak every morning, and now the anvil is worn down to the size of an acorn. Never in all my time have I heard of Mabon. But older than me is the Stag of Trum Dreng.”
So Gwyhyr enquired of that beast, who said,
“When I first came here there was a plain all around me without any tree save an oak sapling which grew to be an oak of a hundred branches. Now nothing remains of that tree but a withered stump. Never in all my time have I heard of Mabon. But older than me is the Owl of Pren Gwydh.”
So Gwrhyr enquired of that bird, who said,
“When I first came here, this place was a wooded glen. And the Uch-Luth came and rooted up the trees. And there grew a second wood which was likewise cut down, and this wood you see is the third in this place. My wings are withered stumps, and in all my time I have never heard of the man you seek. But older than me is the Falcon of Tal Morva.”
So Gwrhyr and his companions travelled on and enquired of that creature.
“When I first came here, I could peck at the stars from the summit of a high rock. Now that rock is but a span high. And in all my time I have not heard of Mabon. But older than me is the Afanc of Barnavon. When I came here I struck my talons into the Afanc but he drew me down into the deep, and I scarcely escaped with my life. I sent my siblings to attack the beast, but at last he made peace with me, and besought me to take fifty spears out of his back. Unless he knows something of the one you seek, I cannot tell you who may. I will guide you to him.”
So they went on, and the Falcon explained to the Afanc that these were Cynfor’s men on a quest, and that they sought news of Mabon ap Modron. The Afanc replied,
“As much as I know I will say. With every summer I swim up the Afon Fraster until I come near the caves of the Bwgan, and there I have found such wrong as I never found elsewhere. Let two of you go with me riding me on each of my shoulders.”
Bledig and Gwrhyr rode on the shoulders of the great Afanc until they could hear the wailing from inside the shrove of thick trees. And it was the song of Mabon whom they sought, and who could not be released for gold or silver or for any gifts of wealth, but only through battle. Then the companions returned to Cynfor to beg his help and he summoned all his warriors to that place, and stormed the caves. Meanwhile Bledig and Bedwyr went up to the river once more on the shoulders of the Afanc, broke into the dungeon, and set Mabon ap Modron free.
But even though this task was accomplished, there yet remained four more. The next was to find the nine scalps of flaxen hair which Brynmor had required of Cledwyn, to spin the hairs into Aerona’s bridal cloak. Gwrhyr, who understood the language of ants, heard some of these creatures lamenting that a band of riders was threatening their habitation, whereupon he and the warriors drew their weapons and charged the riders away from the ant-hill, and carried it to safety on the blade of their great-sword, and so it escaped trampled from hooves. With these slain Forgoil, all that was needed was to collect their scalps which they put into a bag given to them by the ants for appreciation for saving their home.
