sign in| help
Search advanced search
 
Books
Search:
x dismiss this message

Did you know you can edit this page?

Zandru's Forge
  • Rated 0 stars
Read Zandru's Forge
Clingfire: Book 2

Zandru's Forge (2003) (edit title/settings)

by Marion Zimmer Bradley (Author), Deborah J. Ross (Author) (edit contributors)

Share this book on:
see page history

Description edit see section history

In the era of The Hundred Kingdoms, a time of war and unrest, a legendary friendship is forged between king and keeper which will lead to a new destiny for Darkover.

Summary edit see section history

Eduin MacEarn learns from his dying father Rumail, that he is actually Eduin Deslucido, Rumail tells him the Hasturs destroyed his family, and that he is the last hope for vengeance. Varzil Ridenow is denied permission to train at Arilinn, because his father refuses to allow it. He meets... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Eduin MacEarn learns from his dying father Rumail, that he is actually Eduin Deslucido, Rumail tells him the Hasturs destroyed his family, and that he is the last hope for vengeance. Varzil Ridenow is denied permission to train at Arilinn, because his father refuses to allow it. He meets Carolin Hastur who is studying there. Carolin Hastur believes that Varzil will eventually be very important to him, and to Darkover as well. Varzil and his father argue, almost coming to blows, but Felix is adamant that Varzil will not enter a Tower. Then, Harald, Varzil’s eldest brother is captured by catmen. When Varzil uses his laran to rescue Harald, Felix allows Varzil to be trained.
At Arilinn, Varzil and Carolin become friends. Eduin resents Varzil. While picking apples, Carolin falls and is pinned by a large tree branch. Varzil helps to free him, then resets his dislocated shoulder. He is increasingly concerned about Eduin’s secrecy and loneliness. Varzil learns the arts of healing through laran, and discovers the enduring harm caused by laran weapons such as bonewater dust. Carolin completes his laran training and returns to Hali. He invites Varzil and Eduin to come for the midwinter holidays.
King Felix Hastur is beginning to show signs of dementia. He is advised by Rakhal and Lyondri.
Carolin and Varzil visit the Lake of Hali, where Varzil experiences a vision of the Cataclysm which forever altered the Lake. The Laran workers at Hali discuss rebuilding other towers, to compensate for those lost during the Hastur rebellion a generation ago. Varzil and Carolin discuss a treaty forbidding the use of Laran as weaponry.
At King Felix’s court, Carolin and Rakhal are at odds over policy.
Dyannis Ridenow, Varzil’s sister, comes to train at Hali. Varzil disapproves of Dyannis dancing with Eduin. She responds by going to Eduin’s bed. More discussion over the ethical uses of Laran confirm the positions of Eduin, Rakhal, and Varzil. Carolin suffers a seizure under suspicious circumstances. Varzil accuses Eduin, whom Carolin defends.
In an arranged marriage, Carolin weds Alianora Ardais.
Felicia Leynier arrives at Arilinn, at the same time as Eduin leaves to see his sick father.
A recovering Rumail imposes his will on Eduin, and shows him how to defeat Truthspell.
Queen Taniquel Hastur-Acosta passes away, and Felicia attends her funeral.
Gwynn attempts to kill Carolin with a laran weapon, fails, and dies.
Auster suffers a stroke in the midst of Tower work. Varzil saves his life, while Felicia maintains the Circle in the Keeper’s place.
Varzil recommends that Felicia be trained as a Keeper, against Tower tradition.
Felicia and Varzil fall in love. At Hali, Dyannis reveals Felicia’s true identity to Eduin, not knowing of the feud between the families.
Felicia travels to Hestral Tower for Keeper training.
Carolin takes his two sons to school at Nevarsin. While he is away, King Felix dies, and Rakhal seizes the throne. Carolin and Orain assemble a small army beyond the Kadarin. Eduin takes a position at Hestral Tower. He plants a Trap Matrix in a device which Felicia will use. Rakhal destroys Highgarth for supporting Carolin. Carolin’s army acquires several Sentry Birds, valuable surveillance animals, and Rumal (actually Romilly), an animal trainer.
Eduin’s device damages Felicia’s mind and puts her in a coma.
Varzil uses the Relays to teleport himself to Hestral Tower.
Rakhal asks Hestral Tower for Clingfire. Loryn and Varzil destroy the remaining stock at Hestral.
Varzil discovers the ruined device, and suspects Eduin. He uses Truthspell to interrogate those working with Felicia at the time of the incident. The Deslucido Gift allows Eduin to avoid detection.
Rakhal sends armsmen to compel Hestral Tower to produce weaponry. They lay siege to the tower. Eduin uses a Circle to send hallucinations to Rakhal’s men, causing madness and terror. Varzil and Loryn stop the attack, and imprison Eduin.
Rakhal retaliates by forcing Hali to mount a Laran attack on Hestral. Varzil persuades Hali to stop, but Hestral Tower is destroyed. Eduin escapes during the confusion.
Carolin’s army meets Rakhal’s forces and defeats them in several horrific battles. Orain is captured by Lyondri.
Rakhal’s surviving forces are besieged at Hali. Rakhal tortures Orain, trying to force Carolin to surrender. Romilly sneaks into the castle and rescues Orain. Carolin’s forces storm the castle and capture Lyondri. Carolin kills Rakhal in single combat.
Together, Varzil and Carolin plan to implement a Compact to ban the use of Laran as a weapon.

Characters/People edit see section history

Show all 56 characters
Popular Covers

Loading covers…

Choose your book’s cover

Setting & Locations edit see section history

The Hundred Kingdoms era on Darkover. An age of war and strife retaining many of the decimating and disastrous effects of the Ages of Chaos. The lands which are later to become the Seven Domains are divided by continuous border conflicts into a multitude of small, belligerent kingdoms, named for convenience "The Hundred Kingdoms."
Show all 29 settings

Organizations edit see section history

  • Comyn Council: organization of telepaths, accepted as the ruling authority in all matters related to laran

First Sentence edit see section history

The great red sun of Darkover slanted across the courtyard at the entrance to Arilinn Tower on a morning in early autumn.

Glossary edit see section history

  • Laran: psychic potential, power, and energy
  • Gift: specific Laran abilities, unique to each genetic line.
  • Deslucido Gift: the ability to lie under Truthspell.
  • Aircar: Laran-powered mode of transport used by the Comyn.
  • Clingfire: A laran-produced incendiary weapon
  • Laranzu: trained user of Laran. (masc.)
  • Leronis: trained user of Laran. (fem.)
  • Tower: a place for the study and practice of laran
  • Relays: Laran powered arrays permitting instant communication between Towers
  • Keeper: the head of a Circle of laran-users
  • Circle: Group of laran-users working together in rapport.
  • Truthspell: a spell cast during legal proceedings. If a person under Truthspell tells a falsehood, his face ceases to glow
  • Comyn: hereditary ruling class of Darkover. Those of Comyn birth usually possess laran to some extent.
  • Sentry Bird: Large vulture-like bird. Can be trained to obey laran-users, and act as aerial surveillance.
  • Bonewater dust: A laran-produced radiological weapon
  • Catmen: Non-human natives of Darkover
Show all 16 glossary entries

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 2 of 3 in Clingfire. (standard series)

Preceded by The Fall of Neskaya, and followed by A Flame in Hali.

This is book 6 of 88 in Darkover. (standard series)

Preceded by The Fall of Neskaya, and followed by A Flame in Hali.

This is book 4 of 6 in The Hundred Kingdoms. (standard series)

Preceded by The Fall of Neskaya, and followed by A Flame in Hali.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Marion Zimmer Bradley (Author)
  2. Deborah J. Ross (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Daw Books
Country: USA
Publication Date: 2003
ISBN: 0756401496
Page Count: 480

Classification edit see section history

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

   
  • Hawkmistress! (Darkover: The Hundred Kingdoms)

We’re hiding the memorable quotes, table of contents, themes, errata, reading level, links to supplemental material, movie connections, books that influenced this book, books influenced by this book, books that cite this book and books cited by this book sections. If you would like to add content to them, you must first make them visible.

© 2006-2012 Shelfari | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy

Close