Talon of the Silver Hawk is the first novel in the Conclave of Shadows series. Kielianapuna is an Orosini boy who is undergoing his manhood ritual. Waiting on the mountainside, fasting and with only herbal infused water to drink, Kieli longs for a vision to show his adult name. On the third day of the ritual, he has not yet had a vision and he must leave soon, for he only has a few sips of water remaining. Then he notices the vultures gathering over Kapomi village and realizes that raiders are within the hills and that his village, Kulaam, will probably be the next target. He drinks his remaining water and takes a few wobbly steps down the hill, but slips and falls, injuring his left arm. Trying to stand, he becomes nauseated, falls back, vomits, and loses consciousness.
Almost immediately, a sharp pain on his left arm arouses him and he finds a silver hawk perched on his side, flexing its talons on his arm. As he stares into the black eyes of the hawk, he receive a message in his mind telling him "Rise and be a talon for your people". The bird launches itself over his shoulder and Kieli stands and starts for his village. When he arrives there, hie finds the raiders killing all within the village. He takes a sword from one raider and kills him, then rushes the raid leaders from their rear, but is shot with a crossbow before he can quite reach them. He faints from the loss of blood from his various injuries, but his last sight is on the silver hawk circling above, telling him "Linger, little brother, for your time is not yet".
The boy awakes in the village as he is attended by two men and several times later as they journey down to the lowlands. He finally regains full consciousness in a stable and learns that he has told the men during his previous periods of brief consciousness that he is Talon of the Silver Hawk. The men are Robert de Lyis and Pasko and the stable is part of an inn owned by Kendricks. Others working at the inn include Leo, the cook, and his wife, Martha, the baker, as well as Lela, Meggie, Lars, and Gibbs, the kitchen help and servers. Two other men, Magnus and Caleb, are brothers and associates of Robert. After reminding Talon that a life debt is owed, Robert tests Talon's skills and orgainizes a course of training while he is at the inn. Kendricks teaches him the rudiments of sword fighting, Caleb adds to his hunting and tracking knowledge, Pasko teaches everyday wisdom, Robert teaches him reading, Leo teaches him cooking, and everybody teaches him to speak Roldemish.
After some time, Talon is magically transported by Magnus to a far off island. There Talon lives in a hut with a transforming interior while he continues his lessons, now including magic. One day, while Magnus is away, the hut is visited by death-dancers, shadows darker that the night, who nearly kill Talon, although he gets in a few good licks. After his rescue, Talon learns that the other occupants of the island are part of the Conclave of Shadows. Although many are magicians, others are agents without magical talents, and the Conclave wants him to become such an agent. Since the alternative is to lose all his memories and become someone else, Talon accepts the offer, swearing loyalty to the Conclave. Despite this, Talon still doesn't know why they selected him or what they expect him to accomplish. He is told, however, that the next step is to make him the greatest swordsman in the world.
This novel takes place in Midkemia, the same world as the Krondar and SerpentWar series. However, the action takes place fifty years or more after the Riftwar and most of the people have changed. The Nameless One is now working through Kaspar, Duke of Olasko, who wants to conquer the Kingdom of the Isles. His agents have killed Talon's people and have other targets in mind. Everything Talon knows is driving him to kill the Duke, but first he has to kill the Duke's minions, for he probably will not survive the Duke's death.
In some ways, this novel moves very slowly. Like the story of young Pug, much of the plot involves Talon's training and experiences. The only real action that occurs is a few minutes during Talon's matches in the Tournament of Masters and the attack on the Orodon village. Thus, it is fairly obvious that this novel is establishing the characters and scenery for the rest of the series.
Talon is naive and ignorant, but readily absorbs everything taught to him. Overall, he is a very interesting and admirable young man. Nevertheless, he almost too patient with his mentors, trainers and handlers. Sinc Talon is the last living Orosini, I keep being reminded of Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans, but Robert is no Leatherstocking.
Recommended for Feist fans and anyone who enjoys tales of noble savages adjusting to civilization.
No comments:
Post a Comment