The Nightmare (Shepherd King Taxus): Character Analysis
Overview
The Nightmare—the spirit of Aemmory Percyval Taxus, the ancient Shepherd King—is a central, morally ambiguous force in Two Twisted Crowns. He is introduced as a calculating, manipulative entity inhabiting Elspeth Spindle’s body after her death. His yellow eyes, clawlike hands, and slippery voice mark him as something other than human. Historically, Taxus was the boy who bargained with the Spirit of the Wood, created the Providence Cards, ruled Blunder, and was eventually betrayed and killed by Brutus Rowan. After five centuries trapped within the Nightmare Card, he awakened inside Elspeth and now manipulates the quest for the final Card—the Twin Alders—not merely to reunite the Deck, but to achieve cosmic balance and place Elm (the pale tree between Rowan and Yew) on the throne.
Plot Role
The Nightmare drives the novel’s main quest. He alone knows the location of the Twin Alders Card and the intricate barters required to reach it. In Chapter 4, he tells Ravyn, “The journey to the twelfth Card will three barters take.” He forces Ravyn, Jespyr, and the others to confront the Spirit of the Wood and the ancient alder trees. His final confrontation with Hauth Rowan—where he commands the yew trees to drag Hauth into the stone chamber, crowns Elm, and hands him his sword—is the climax that fulfills his aim of toppling the Rowan dynasty. Afterward, he reveals the means to free Elspeth: destroying the last Nightmare Card, which will cause his soul to disappear and allow her to return. He sacrifices himself so that she may live.
Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions
The Nightmare’s primary motivation is balance—ancient, cosmic equilibrium. He tells Ravyn, “My aim is vast. There are many truths to unveil in the wood. Circles that began centuries ago will finally loop.” This is explicit. He also seeks revenge on the Rowan line, but not blindly; he chooses to crown rather than kill Elm, showing a long-term strategic mind. Beneath his monstrous exterior, he harbors care for Elspeth. In Chapter 49, he admits, “I thought I was the father she deserved. That I could carry her through this terrible, violent world.” He is reluctant to leave her, waiting until the Deck is united and his purpose fulfilled. His traits include cunning, patience, ruthlessness (demonstrated when he threatens Hauth), and unexpected tenderness (his quiet farewell to Elspeth in Chapter 50). Interpretation: his five centuries of fury have been tempered by Elspeth’s wonder, suggesting redemption is possible even for a monster.
Chronological Arc
The Nightmare’s arc in Two Twisted Crowns follows three phases:
- Manipulation and Bargaining (Chapters 1–20): He emerges from the dungeon, negotiates with King Rowan under a Chalice (twisting the truth), and forces Ravyn to accept his terms. He reveals the three barters and begins leading the party toward the Twin Alders.
- Confrontation and Revelation (Chapters 30–45): At the twin alders, he cuts his hand to barter with the trees, enabling Ravyn to enter the Spirit’s realm. He later faces Hauth in the wood, using the yew trees to capture him, and crowns Elm.
- Sacrifice and Resolution (Chapters 49–50): He returns to the meadow, hands Ravyn the final Nightmare Card, and explains that destroying it will free Elspeth. In the final chapter, his consciousness fades as he bids Elspeth a quiet farewell, ending five centuries of existence.
Relationships
- Elspeth Spindle: The most intimate. She shares his mind and body. He refers to her as “my darling girl” and admits she gave him wonder. She understands his pain and calls him by his true name, Taxus. Their bond is one of mutual sacrifice.
- Ravyn Yew: Antagonistic but respectful. The Nightmare calls him “stupid bird” and mocks him, yet he trusts Ravyn to finish the quest and ultimately to destroy his Card. Ravyn, in turn, says a formal goodbye: “Goodbye, Taxus. Be wary. Be clever. Be good.”
- Elm Rowan: The Nightmare recognizes Elm as the “pale tree in winter” and grooms him for the throne. He hands Elm his sword and declares him “first of his name—King of the Elms.” Their relationship is that of a strategist to his chosen successor.
- His Children (Tilly and others): Deeply poignant. Their spirits wait five centuries in the yew tree. When Ravyn tells the Nightmare that his children wait, the Nightmare replies, “I, too, have waited.” His regret over his family is a key motivation.
- Hauth Rowan: Pure enmity. The Nightmare captures and humiliates Hauth, but does not kill him; he uses him as a pawn to crown Elm instead.
Key Decisions and Consequences
| Decision | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Barters with the twin alder trees to open the doorway | Allows Ravyn to reach the Spirit and obtain the Twin Alders Card. |
| Spares Hauth and crowns Elm | Ends the Rowan line’s violent rule; establishes a new, balanced monarchy. |
| Reveals the truth about the Nightmare Card | Enables Elspeth’s return via his own destruction. |
| Waits in the chamber before midnight | Gives Elm and Ione time to arrive with the final Cards. |
| Chooses to say farewell to Elspeth (rather than vanish without closure) | Provides emotional resolution and confirms his love for her. |
Theme and Symbol Connections
The Nightmare embodies the duology’s central themes:
- Sacrifice and Redemption: He willingly gives up his existence to restore Elspeth, mirroring the oldest barter of all. (/books/two-twisted-crowns/themes/sacrifice-and-redemption/)
- Identity and Transformation: He is both monster and father, Shepherd and Nightmare, Taxus and the King. His arc shows that identity can be reshaped by connection. (/books/two-twisted-crowns/themes/identity-and-transformation/)
- Power and Corruption: His original downfall came from wanting more, as he admits to Elspeth. Five centuries of vengeful power nearly consumed him. (/books/two-twisted-crowns/themes/power-and-corruption/)
- Love and Trust: His bond with Elspeth transcends possession. He trusts Ravyn and Elm to carry out his plan. (/books/two-twisted-crowns/themes/love-and-trust/)
- Choice and Autonomy: The Nightmare’s final choice—to be destroyed—is the ultimate assertion of autonomy over his own fate. (/books/two-twisted-crowns/themes/choice-and-autonomy/)
Book-Specific Questions and Answers
Q1: Why does the Nightmare wait so long to tell Ravyn how to free Elspeth?
A1: He admits in Chapter 49 that he “was not yet ready to bid Elspeth goodbye.” He needed to collect the Deck, rewrite history, and draw a path for Elm and Ravyn before he could let go.
Q2: What is the significance of the Nightmare’s sword and crown?
A2: The sword is the one he forged when he first bargained with the Spirit of the Wood; the crown is his own, twisted from yew branches. Both are symbols of his ancient kingship and the magic he once wielded. He later gives the sword to Elm.
Q3: Does the Nightmare truly care for Elspeth, or is he using her?
A3: The text makes explicit his care. He says, “I thought I was the father she deserved,” and in Chapter 50 he apologizes for dragging her into the dark. However, he also used her body to achieve his goals—both interpretations coexist.
Q4: Why does the Nightmare choose Elm, not Ravyn, as king?
A4: The Nightmare’s prophecy in Chapter 16 calls Elm “neither Rowan nor Yew, but somewhere between.” Elm represents balance—neither the corrupt Rowan line nor the complicit Yews. He is the pale tree that can end the bloodshed.
Q5: How does the Nightmare finally die?
A5: He instructs Ravyn to destroy the final Nightmare Card. In Chapter 51, Ravyn tears the Card in two, causing the Nightmare’s soul to disappear into the veil, leaving Elspeth free to return. His last words are spoken to her in Chapter 50: “It will be quiet. Gentle. Full of wonder.”
For further analysis of the ending and thematic connections, see the ending explained and the questions and answers.