Stormed Fortress

by Janny Wurts

  The High Kings who ruled during Paravian times had shorter reigns, provided there were sufficient progeny to support an early retirement. Crown office was extremely rigorous – many died young. Some reigned only a month or a year or two – others for a matter of days. A few hardy individuals held the throne for several decades, all dependent on how well, or how many times, they sustained the call to enact a direct liaison with the Paravians. Their perceptions were often dramatically altered after such encounter(s). The strength by which each individual king could surmount the changes varied widely.

  Succession of Crown Candidates and Caithdeinen

  By terms of the compact, the Fellowship of Seven must Name a crown candidate. Any one Sorcerer’s innate perception is deep enough, and wide enough, to make such an assessment based upon probability. The task is most often handled by Asandir, as his natural aptitude for executive action makes him the preeminent Sorcerer to serve in the field.

  The Crown Prince’s appointment is never automatic, and does not pass by direct descent. Nor do kings or any other office decreed by crown charter hold their seats until death – (Unlike town mayors, who are elected or selected by town council, but then rule for life term.) Royal lineages are not replaceable. They cannot be transplanted from another kingdom’s bound line of descent, as the Paravians matched each forebear in resonant accord with the needs of the specific crown territories.

  Provided that there are multiple blood relations, including cousins, to select from, the choice follows two factors: first, individual strength of character; and second, the quality of ‘natural calling’ –– this being any candidate (without bias toward male or female) – who displays the best aptitude for the post. Thus, if Arithon s’Ffalenn had possessed more than one relative, he may have passed the character requirement, but his natural calling as musician and initiate master may not have been deemed harmonious to the post. A cousin or relation of strong character, but who displayed more aptitude for the throne (by personal preference finding fulfilment and contentment in the position of arbitration) may have been chosen instead.

  The heritable traits of Athera’s crown lineages do not ever transfer to caithdeinen if a last royal line-bearer should die without issue. Caithdeinen do administer crown justice in the absence of the king, and this may be an ongoing responsibility if crown rule has passed into a permanent state of stewardship. In this novel’s historical setting, this only occurred in Melhalla since the last s’Ellestrion heir died childless. In such a case, succession of that realm’s caithdeinen will now become Fellowship chosen.

  Caithdeinen, or crown stewards, who stand behind a living royal heir, are selected for character and for the ability to think independently. In times of peace, under a crowned High King, they would have been selected from a picked lineage, which could change with times and circumstance. The candidate would be suited to know their crown ruler well, and have the courage to draw clear and honest conclusions. This post would not suit a sycophantic personality, for example.

  Proposed successors for caithdeinen and other charter seats are usually ‘designate.’ This term denotes a conditional appointment, bestowed by a council of elders. (Kyrialt s’Taleyn was designate for Shand, as Ianfar s’Gannley now is to Tysan.) An heir designate will inherit unless the choice is overruled upon proven grounds of incapacity. The appointment also can be upset by either a crowned High King (who would possess the requisite power of insight acquired through four attuned initiations) or a Fellowship Sorcerer’s direct word. Such a ruling would occur prior to or during the ceremony of investiture, where such an authority would be present. An heir chosen by Fellowship auspice automatically becomes invested without question. The investment ceremony then becomes a formality, wherein oath is sworn to uphold the post. Jeynsa s’Valerient, therefore, owns the power of her office by default – she has but to claim the responsibility.

  A Fellowship Sorcerer only executes the selection of a caithdein if the existing royal lineage should be actively threatened. In this manner, if the crown succession fails, that caithdein would stand steward for the throne in fact.

  Particulars of Clan Heritage

  All old blood lineages were determined by the Paravians at the time Mankind accepted the terms of the compact, yet the ‘system’ was not closed, and not every family assumed the same function. Some lineages stood for land rule – these guarded the interface between humanity and the Paravians. These individuals possessed Sighted vision or natural talent enough to be charged with protection and preservation of the boundaries of the free wilds.

  Other family lines were selected for adamant traits of character. These generally governed a town-based seat, and administered directly to human affairs in those areas where Mankind was free to live with least oversight. Sometimes land rule and town governance were held as dual functions. Checks and balances within the charter system were designed to thwart private concerns and blind ambition from degrading the compact’s intent: to hold Athera’s great mysteries, which are essential to Paravian survival, in balance with human activity.

  Clan seats held solely for governance would rule from a keep town without a focus circle – these were not located within the designate bounds of the free wilds, and were the backbone of charter law before the uprising incited by Davien. They administered the king’s justice in accord with those lineages holding the land rule.

  The crown was the voice of land rule, and governance, under the charter written by the Fellowship Sorcerers. The sanctioned High Kings enacted the first-hand liaison with the Paravians, and were the protectorate for the free wilds. They presented the petitions to the Centaur guardians, then executed the final arbitration, as the agents of the Fellowship’s compact. They appealed, and enacted, Paravian decree, concerning what could and could not be altered to preserve the overall harmony of the land’s mysteries.

  Each child born into clan lineage was subject to testing at each generation through the trial of Paravian presence. This testing could be refused, in which case, the candidate would revoke his charge to interact with the free wilds. A town-born individual could undergo the same test by free will choice. In rare cases this would occur, and a new lineage might arise from one candidate – just as an older, established lineage might become degraded, weaken and fail. Lacking Paravian presence, in recent generations the determinant factor has blurred. By the time of this novel’s setting, the range of human talent cannot be identified with such definitive accuracy. Those individuals with latent or weakened talent are no longer able to prove out the direct function of heritable lineage. Thus, a ‘talent deaf’ town born will see no apparent reason why the free wilds should not be considered another ripe acre of earth, ready for exploitation. Nor would such a person recognize why the old blood traits were not arbitrary politics.

  The prolonged absence of the Paravians now has created a schism that is growing increasingly difficult for each side to reconcile. The non-talented individuals do not discern the wider perceptions of their clan-born fellows. They see no convincing case left for the restraints imposed by the lapsed system of charter law. There is no such division of interests between the old blood lines and those who still follow charter law, since the underlying reason for the Fellowship’s restrictions is still actively recognized.

  The Designate Free Wilds, and Execution of the Compact

  At the forming of the compact, which defined the terms for Mankind’s permission to take sanctuary on Athera, the Fellowship Sorcerers had dispatched or contained the worst of the drake spawn. Paravians were in fact leaving their Second Age fortifications, which were tied to the web of Athera’s mysteries by means of the focus circles. These structures are intersect points – connections that link the resonant flow between sites that comprise Athera’s most exquisitely sensitive ground. The human families required immediate shelter. Those arrivals who already possessed the requisite awareness to inhabit a fortified circle, or who had talent that could be heightened to flower in proximity to such places were
appointed charge of them.

  The initial grants named in Third Age Year One went to individuals with the strongest heritable family traits – those born talents already able to perceive within the necessary range to handle the guiding purpose of their guardianship. These rulers also were charged to hold sacrosanct the high resonance land that could not be disturbed by any human activity. These areas were designated as sacrosanct areas deep inside the free wilds. Markers were set forth by the Centaur guardians delineating sectors where Mankind was not entitled to trespass.

  Other acreage was not so critically reactive. There, new towns were built for those who had less natural ‘tolerance’ for the higher resonance state of the original Second Age sites. Such land was given over to agriculture and roads in allotments generous enough to allow Mankind to raise children and survive. The governing seats for these settlements had an elected council, presided over by a family lineage chosen for tenacity of character more than aware talent. These seats were appended following Third Age Year One. Here, humanity had license to keep their affairs as they wished, based upon certain precepts laid down by charter right to inhabit that territory. Alestron fell into this category. So did Hanshire. A mixed population lived in these subsidiary towns. The least sensitive people found most comfort in the smaller villages and tended to choose areas furthest from the free wilds.

  Therefore, to a certain degree, acclimation to the higher resonance sites determined who came to live where, and who was comfortable setting down roots in each particular locale. This tended to isolate the older lineages to a degree – with marriages evolving with the need to raise a next generation of children able to manage the duties defined by the compact. Mixed bloodlines tended to fail more often, and parents were understandably protective of their offspring’s chances of a successful ‘testing’ against the Paravian presence. Records were kept to track the tried lineages, and note the most favourable crosses.

  While the general population in the towns were not inclined toward the traits of expanded awareness, it must be noted: the intuitive propensity to perceive is inherent in all of Mankind. Whether the quality remains latent depends upon how each individual aligns their focus and lifestyle.

  Latent gifts of any kind can be awakened. Dormant awareness can be raised through training and initiation. Few town born voluntarily choose such a course, unless pushed by circumstance to change. Most might view the arduous study, and the disorientation of learning to adjust to such an expansion an uncomfortable process. Encounter with a living Paravian was powerful enough to incite an accelerated shift by resonance. Yet the change could shove human perception too far, too fast, and leave what appeared to be a husk with a broken mind. Living amid the free wilds also enhances perception – as would time spent in close proximity to a focus circle, provided that buildings and the life patterns of the surrounding inhabitants did not interfere too much with the delicate frequency of the lane flow.

  Throughout the course of the early Third Age, mankind tended to clump into enclaves of greater or lesser sensitivity. Over time, this caused the old lines to strengthen their innate talent, while the less gifted ones devolved to a lower threshold of sensitivity. As centuries passed, half the population came to view the precepts defined by the Fellowship’s compact as rote rules without meaning. The factual foundation was forgotten, then lost, lying outside the range of sensory awareness the town-born population understood.

  For this reason, most Second Age sites fell to ruin after the uprising. (Jaelot being a rare exception). Town born alive now avoid such places, since crossing the free wilds, or travelling the forbidden ways, or spending time within old ruins, will alter human perception by resonance.

  Throughout Third Age history, there were no social strata, or concept of ‘nobility’ attached to any old lineage gift. Nor was there any stigma attached to the town born without access to active talent. The cultural boundaries were not fixed, but fluid, defined case by case through choice and perceptual awareness. Blood inheritance is not a predetermined prerequisite. Yet without risking comparative insanity, a town born who set out to develop such enhanced sensitivity would require a gradual initiation to assimilate the shift.

  Acknowledgements

  The culminating volume of the Alliance of Light could not have

  been accomplished without the grace of many helping hands,

  extra sets of eyes, and no end of cheerful encouragement. My

  heartfelt thanks to the following people who have been

  unflagging in their assistance:

  Jeff Watson

  Andrew Ginever

  Lynda-Marie Hauptman, Betsy Hosler, Jana Paniccia,

  Gale Skipworth, Karen Shull and Mark Timmony

  Jonathan Matson

  Jane Johnson, Sarah Hodgson, Harry Man,

  Dominic Forbes and the Voyager crew

  Bob and Sara Schwager

  and not least,

  My husband, Don Maitz, who never blinked when the wife

  was dreaming ‘off planet’ and talking to herself in Paravian.

  About the Author

  Stormed Fortress

  Janny Wurts is the author of numerous successful fantasy novels and the author, with Raymond E. Feist, of the worldwide bestselling Empire series. Her skill as a horsewoman, archer, offshore sailor and musician is reflected in her novels. She is also a talented artist and illustrates many of her own covers. She lives in Florida, USA.

  Her website may be found at: www.paravia.com/ JannyWurts.

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.

  By The Same Author

  Sorcerer’s Legacy

  The Cycle of Fire Trilogy

  Stormwarden

  Keeper of the Keys

  Shadowfane

  The Master of Whitestorm That Way Lies Camelot

  To Ride Hell’s Chasm

  The Wars of Light and Shadow

  The Curse of the Mistwraith The Ships of Merior Warhost of Vastmark Fugitive Prince The Wars of Light and Shadow

  Grand Conspiracy Peril’s Gate

  Traitor’s Knot

  Stormed Fortress

  With Raymond E. Feist

  Daughter of the Empire

  Servant of the Empire

  Mistress of the Empire

  Copyright

  HarperVoyager

  An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers

  77–85 Fulham Palace Road,

  Hammersmith, London W6 8JB

  First published in Great Britain by

  HarperCollinsPublishers 2007

  www.voyager-books.co.uk

  This paperback edition 2008 1

  Copyright © Janny Wurts 2007

  Janny Wurts asserts the moral right to

  be identified as the author of this work

  A catalogue record for this book is

  available from the British Library

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins eBooks.

  EPub Edition © JANUARY 2009 ISBN: 9780007318094

  About the Publisher

  Australia

  HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.

  25 Ryde Road (PO Box 321)

  Pymble, NSW 2073, Australia

  http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com.au

  Canada

  HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

  55 Avenue Road, Suite 2900

  Toronto, ON, M5R, 3L2, Canada

  http://www.harpercollinsebooks.ca

  New Zealand


  HarperCollinsPublishers (New Zealand) Limited

  P.O. Box 1

  Auckland, New Zealand

  http://www.harpercollinsebooks.co.nz

  United Kingdom

  HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

  77-85 Fulham Palace Road

  London, W6 8JB, UK

  http://www.harpercollinsebooks.co.uk

  United States

  HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

  10 East 53rd Street

  New York, NY 10022

  http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com