Tales from Earthsea

A violent storm capsizes the royal war galley in Enlad as two dragons duel above the clouds. One dragon falls in a final, fatal clash, suggesting a deep disruption of the world’s order. Royal wizard Root interprets the omen as a sign that balance has broken.

Root explains that the celestial duel reflects the world’s imbalance. The king lies ill and Arren’s fate grows tangled with the omen. The warning casts a shadow over the palace as rumors spread.

Transfixed by fear and anger, Arren murders his father, seizing the royal sword and fleeing the castle. The act shatters trust and triggers a desperate flight across the kingdom. The murder intensifies the world’s imbalance as the king’s illness deepens.

Arren wanders through a harsh desert where predatory wolves threaten him, but Sparrowhawk saves him from danger. The two form a wary alliance as they press on toward Hort Town. This marks the start of Arren’s journey toward responsibility.

On the road, Arren defies danger to rescue Therru from Hare’s predation. His triumph is short-lived when his sword is dumped into the sea, removing a crucial weapon from his grasp. Sparrowhawk’s intervention keeps them moving toward safety.

Sparrowhawk leads Arren and Therru to a farm kept by his oldest friend, Tenar, where they find a measure of safety. The farm becomes a temporary sanctuary against the world’s threats. Bonds among the trio deepen as they settle in.

Sparrowhawk’s defiance against Hare unsettles Hort Town’s ruler, the warlock Cob. To keep Arren’s sword from hostile hands, Sparrowhawk buys it from a merchant, concealing it from both sides as Cob’s influence grows. The threat of Cob looms over their fledgling alliance.

Back at the castle, Arren confesses to Therru that he killed his father and senses a strange, unseen presence trailing him. The presence feels like a malevolent double, driving him toward Cob’s fortress where he is captured. Cob’s domain marks the start of his manipulation.

Cob manipulates Arren by forcing him to reveal his true name, Lebannen, giving Cob control over him. The revelation is used to strengthen Cob’s bid to upset the balance through immortality. Sparrowhawk and Tenar sense that Cob’s plans are gathering momentum.

To lure Sparrowhawk into Cob’s fortress, Hare captures Tenar as bait. Therru is bound but manages to free herself, reigniting hope for a rescue. Sparrowhawk’s resolve hardens as he returns to confront Cob.

In a daring assault, Sparrowhawk penetrates Cob’s fortress to rescue Tenar. He uncovers Cob’s plan to open a door between life and death in pursuit of immortality, revealing the depth of the threat. The rescue escalates the conflict toward its final confrontation.

Cob dispatches Arren to kill Sparrowhawk, while Hare seizes the mage himself. The prince is pulled deeper into Cob’s web as the battle lines tighten. Arren must choose between loyalty, fear, and the chance for redemption.

Therru witnesses a second eerie copy of Arren and follows it into Cob’s domain. The light within Arren reveals his true name to Therru and explains Sparrowhawk’s and Tenar’s looming sunrise execution. Therru declares her own true name, Tehanu, and encourages Arren to reclaim his dignity.

Arren confronts Cob, drawing his sealed blade and severing Cob’s hand as Cob’s magic drains away. Cob ages rapidly and tries to escape with Therru to the highest tower. Therru reveals her dragon form and saves Arren in the struggle.

With Cob defeated, Sparrowhawk and Tenar depart the castle. Therru and Arren descend to a sunlit field; Therru becomes human again, and Arren vows to return home to atone but promises to visit in the future. Dragons fill the skies as the world’s balance is restored.