The island of Gont is a land famous for wizards. The Gontishman have gone forth to serve the Lords of the Archipelago as wizard or mage, or just for pure adventure.
The greatest voyager was a man called Sparrowhawk, but this tale is about the time before his fame.
His mother died when he was born and his father was very cold. His mother's sister; his aunt, only took care of him until he was able to take care of himself.
At 7, he saw his aunt say a rhyme to get a goat hop off of a roof. The next day, while herding the goats, he yelled out the same rhyme he heard his aunt utter, and instantly ALL the goats came to him at once, together. Not knowing what he was doing he kept repeating the rhyme until he was surrounded by the goats and couldn't free himself. His aunt saved him, and decided he had the power and would teach him the craft and rhymes to be a mage.
But, first his aunt made him promise not to tell the other children and bound his speech, yet he was still able to laugh....
Duny's aunt taught him all she knew.
He came to be known as Sparrowhawk because when he was younger he was always seen with a bird around him.
One day the Kargs came to attack the people living in Ten Alders. Among the 18 men and boys waiting to attack was Duny. He used a trick called fogweaving - a binding spell. It hid the villagers of Ten Alders and they were able to escape and surprise attack the Kargs. The Kargs were forced to flee! Unfortunately, Duny had overspent his power and could not eat or sleep or hear or speak. Not even the witch could help him. After 5 days a wizard came to the village and healed Duny.
On Duny's thirteenth birthday, his name was taken from him and he was given his true name: Ged.
He then left with Ogion, whom was to train him.
They traveled for many days and Ogion said little and taught him nothing. SO, one day Ged asked him when the training was going to start and Ogion replied it already had.
Ogion not once uttered a spell, and let things happen as they may, for example when it rained there's a simple spell to send the rain away, but Ogion let it rain and took shelter instead.
When they reached the mage's home in Re Albi he was taught to write and read the six hundred Runes of Hardic.
When he was sent out to look for herbs he ran into the daughter of the old Lord of Re Albi. She asked to learn of sorcery and he told her.
She asked if he could change his form and he refused for he did not know, but he would not tell her this, except that he didn't feel like it.
He went home and while his master was out tried looking for the spell, so that he may perform it for the girl the next day, what he found instead was a spell to bring back the dead. After reading the spell, something haunting took hold of the place and a dark shape appeared by the door. Ogion came and saved the boy and questioned him, and the boy told him all. Ogion was mad because he had warned the boy that the girl's mother was an enchantress meaning the girl is half witch.
Ogion offers to send Ged to Roke island should he choose, because there they will teach him all he is willing to learn. He will not keep Ged at his house against his will.
Ged chose to go to Roke.
Ged boared the ship called "Shadow", that was to take him to Roke island.
Ged made it to the School of Wizards (located in Thwil town), and the only way to enter through the door was by saying his name. The door he noticed once inside had been carved out of the tooth of a Great Dragon.
He enters and meets the Warder, whom he reads the letter sent from Ogion to him and then the Warder disappears. He is then met by a young man named Jasper. Jasper was to show him around and answer any question Sparrowhawk might have. He gave him a cloak, which now showed Sparrowhawk was one of them.
Ged eventually became friends with a boy called Vetch and swore to prove himself at to everyone.
Ged studied hard and mastered many things within just a month, where many it took a year.
Ged eventually thirsted to know more, to go beyond, he wanted to know how to permanently change objects into another object. He could not understand how it would change the world and lead to darkness. If he were a great wizard it would not matter, he could balance good and evil. He could do it!
WHile out wondering he fell asleep when taking shelter from the rain and when he woke a strange creature, an otak, had taken shelter in his cloak. Not an animal to be made a pet, but this little creature was not afraid and stayed with Ged.
They celebrated a festival, where everyone came together and it was there that Ged challenged Jasper. This is forbidden, for sorcerers to fight amongst each other. Vetch tried to intervene and stop the two.
Jasper challenged Ged to raise a spirit from the dead and Ged consented. He decided to call Elfarran, the fair lady of the Deed of Enlad.
A shadow-beast also appeared and attacked Ged. Vetch went to help him. The Archmage Nemmerle restored the balance and saved Ged. Unfortunately, a shadow was now released into the world. Also, by saving Ged, the Archmage Nemmerle used up all his power and now lay dying.
The next day the Nine Masters of Roke gathered to choose the new Archmage. Gensher of Way was chosen.
Ged new nothing of the events that occurred after for he lay deaf, blind and mute for the next four weeks.
Ged meets the new Archmage and avoids everyone. The Archmage tells him he must continue his training, until he is strong enough and wise enough to defend himself from the evil that he unleashed and waits for him.
Vetch came to him and returned Hoeg, the otak, for he was leaving Roke and returning home. He was now a full wizard.
Ged studied hard and eventually graduated.
