Valdemar (08): Mage Winds (3)

This is a book of change. The Clan k'Sheyna was successfully moved to its new Vale and Darkwind, Elspeth, Firesong, the 2 gryphons and their children head for Valdemar. There, the evil mage Ancar is threatening to attack because the "borders" protecting Valdemar were brought down by an OLD friend. (Find out who that is by reading). Ancar, who is only a half-trained Master at best, decided to be stupid and try a Gate spell, one which only Adepts can control. During this spell, he managed not to kill himself but the Gate brought him a "present"; The injured, half-dead person that was Mornelithe Falconsbane, a person whom Elspeth and Darkwind though they had already killed....a couple of times! Now Ancar has a new weapon and the Envoys to valdemar must train as many new Herald-Mages as possible. The get a suprise when Karse makes a truce and offers to help...but that's all to the good. There is also another unknown Ally among these people, one who can change the outcome of this battle if he can get control of himself.

As a dark BloodPath-Mage continues to attack the borders of the k'Sheyna Vale, Darkwind continues to train Elspeth while, at the same time, receive training for his dormant mage power from his dear friends, the Gryphons Treyvan and his mate Hydona. But another problem persists, and that is of the renegade HeartStone. This HeartStone is so unstable it is like it has a mind of its own. If Mornelithe Falconsbane, the dark mage, were to get his "paws" on this he could have all the power he would ever hope for. Darkwinds calls for help from the other Tayledras clans. He receives as answer from Clan k'Treva, the same clan that trained Herald Vanyel. His answer came in the form of a very powerful Healing-Adept named Firesong. They all must work together to move the heartstone to its new vale, the one where half the clan was originally sent, because time is short ad Mornelithe Falconsbane is winning the fight.

Since Herald Vanyel's time, all forms of magic, except for Mind magic, ceased to exsist in Valdemar's borders. A mage couldn't even go into Valdemar before he was driven out because of the unseen "eyes" watching him or her. But now, magic is slowly coming back and Ancar, an evil bloodpath-mage from Hardorn knows it. Elspeth, Herald and Heir to the throne of Valdemar, must take up the task and go to seek outside help. She becomes bound to Kerowyn's Sword Need and through Elspeth, the Sword "awakens." and tells her story. Elspeth and Skif set off to go to Kethry and Tarma's Mage schools that are in Tale'sedrin. We are introduced to another main character, Darkwind k'Sheyna who is a Tayledras and a Mage. These are troubled times for his clas an well because their HeartStone went rogue, killing half the mages holding a Gate open and destroying the Gate, leaving half the clan somewhere out beyond their reach. Darkwind's father has changed and his mother was killed, so he vowed not to be a mage anymore. During this book, Elspeth's and Darkwind's paths meet and they decide they need to help eachother, for a dark and mysterious mage is trying to destroy the k'Sheyna Vale. It is left up to Darkwind to take up his dormant powers and train Elspeth in becoming the First Herald-Mag since Vanyel Ashkevron's time.