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A Flame in Hali
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Read A Flame in Hali
Clingfire: Book 3

A Flame in Hali (2004) (edit title/settings)

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

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Description edit see section history

This direct sequel to Zandru's Forge and the third book in the Clingfire trilogy is set in the era of The Hundred Kingdoms, a lawless time of war and unrest on the planet Darkover. Eduin Deslucido attempts to destroy the Hasturs and Varzil the Good, while his lover Dyannis tries to reconcile... read more

Summary edit see section history

The dying Rumail Deslucido uses his laran to imprint a compulsion on his son, Eduin: Kill the Hasturs, and Varzil Ridenow too!
Unable to comply, Eduin turns to drink to dull the voice in his head. He becomes a vagrant. Saravio, another disgraced laranzu, saves Eduin from death by exposure,... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

The dying Rumail Deslucido uses his laran to imprint a compulsion on his son, Eduin: Kill the Hasturs, and Varzil Ridenow too!
Unable to comply, Eduin turns to drink to dull the voice in his head. He becomes a vagrant. Saravio, another disgraced laranzu, saves Eduin from death by exposure, and befriends him. Saravio was turned out from Cedestri Tower. He now believes himself to be a servant of Naotalba, bride of Zandru. He no longer has conscious use of his laran, but his singing can ease pain and suffering. Eduin soon becomes as addicted to Saravio’s help as he once was to alcohol. Saravio undergoes a seizure, and Eduin discovers chaos within his brain. Eduin uses Saravio’s abilities to incite unrest in Thendara.

Dyannis Ridenow discovers a disturbance in Lake Hali is causing severe electrical storms. Further investigation by a Tower circle reveals that Cedestri Tower is siphoning energy through a rift in the Overworld, and using it to manufacture bonewater dust. The rift was caused by Varzil’s touching a relic of the Cataclysm, as told in “Zandru’s Forge.” King Carolin summons Varzil from Neskaya. On arrival at Thendara, Varzil and Dyannis find unrest against the Comyn. As Varzil plans to repair the rift in Lake Hali, Eduin plans a riot. Incited by Saravio’s laran, a crowd approaches the Tower workers at the lake and threatens them. Archers begin shooting at the laranzu. Desperately, Dyannis creates the illusion of a dragon threatening the crowd, which flees in panic. Several rioters are injured, and three people die. Dyannis blames herself. The Tower clears her of blame, and praises her for saving lives. Thwarted, Eduin and Saravio flee from Thendara.

Varzil leads a diplomatic mission to the kingdom of Isoldir, to persuade Cedestri Tower to sign the Compact. On the road, he asks Dyannis to consider training as a Keeper. As the mission approaches Isoldir, three aircars pass overhead, carrying crystalline bonewater and clingfire. It is a strike force aimed at the Aillards. Varzil tries to persuade them to turn back, but one aircar refuses. The next day, the diplomats arrive, to find Cedestri Tower in flames. Valeron has retaliated, mercifully using conventional weapons. Varzil provides first aid to the victims of the attack, then meets with Lord Ronal, ruler of Isoldir. He offers aid in restoring Cedestri Tower, while beseeching Isoldir to sign the Compact.

Saravio and Eduin arrive at Robardin’s Fort seeking work. Saravio is ill. The two seek shelter in a tent, only to find their tentmates are desperate thieves. Saravio’s laran defends them from attack, but fatally wounds their attackers. After some weeks working at casual labour, they take up with a band of travelling minstrels. Saravio’s singing proves useful, while Eduin acts as a roustabout. Eduin discovers the minstrels have been infected by the bonewater dust scattered from Cedestri Tower’s aircar. He uses his laran to heal them, and is told to go to Kirella and offer his services.

Travelling as Eduardo and Sandoval, they present themselves at the court of Lord Brynon in Kirella. When a page is injured by dogs, Eduin heals the child, pretending that Saravio is the actual healer. Although Saravio’s illness is deepening, the two manage to ease the mind of Lady Romilla, despite the interference of the court physician.

Dyannis and Varzil winter at Cedestri, helping to rebuild the tower. While there, Varzil confides his fears about Eduin, which Dyannis refuses to accept. Back at Hali, she realizes that she was responsible for giving Eduin the information he needed to find Felicia. Dismayed, Dyannis goes home to Sweetwater, planning to leave the Tower forever. But when she uses her laran to help Rohanne give birth, and to save Lerrys from threshold sickness, Dyannis realizes she cannot shirk her destiny.

At Midsummer, Lord Brynon’s court travels to Castle Valeron. Eduin finally convinces Julianna Aillard of the dangers posed by the Hasturs and Varzil. When an attack is launched against Hali, Eduin fears that Dyannis will be killed. At first he tries to use the Relays at Valeron Tower, but finds the tower is ruled by a disembodied mind which threatens him. After destroying the matrix housing the mind, Eduin travels to the Overworld, and thence to Hali.

He is too late to prevent the attack, and finds that Varzil is not at Hali after all. Sorrow, he confesses his guilt to Dyannis. Unable to save Hali, Eduin persuades the telepaths to open their minds and broadcast their deaths to all Darkover. He is aided in this by the spirit of Naotalba, who proves to be real after all. The horror of death by clingfire convinces all remaining laran-users to sign Varzil’s compact. Eduin and Dyannis die together.

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

Darkover, 4th planet of the Cottman System. Colonized by a lost starship from Earth, the colonists have reverted to a medieval level of technology, moderated by powerful psychic abilities. 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." The close of this era is heralded by the adoption of the Compact, instituted by Varzil the Good. A landmark and turning point in the history of Darkover, the Compact bans all distance weapons, making it a matter of honor that one who seeks to kill must himself face equal risk of death.
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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

Rumail Deslucido had cheated death before, but now it had come for him at last.

Glossary edit see section history

  • Laran: psychic potential, power, and energy
  • Gift: specific Laran abilities, unique to each genetic line.
  • Threshold sickness: ailment which afflicts many laran-users at puberty. Often fatal.
  • The Compact: A treaty, sponsored by Varzil Ridenow and Carolin Hastur, which bans the use of any weapon that acts beyond the reach of the user’s own hands.
  • 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.
  • Bonewater dust: A laran-produced radiological weapon
  • Overworld: the Astral Plane
  • Comyn: hereditary ruling class of Darkover. Those of Comyn birth usually possess laran to some extent.
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Series & Lists edit see section history

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

Preceded by Zandru's Forge.

This is book 5 of 6 in The Hundred Kingdoms. (standard series)

Preceded by Zandru's Forge, and followed by The Heirs of Hammerfell.

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

Preceded by Hawkmistress! (Darkover: The Hundred Kingdoms), and followed by Two to Conquer.

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: 2004
ISBN: 0756402182
Page Count: 480

Classification edit see section history

Books Cited by This Book edit see section history

   
  • Two to Conquer

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