The Circle of Sleep
A Short Story by Caralyn Inks
Edition Used for Analysis:
[Tales of the Witch World 3] (1989) Published by TOR, PB, 0-812-54757-8, 978-0-812-54757-3, $3.95, 343pg ~ cover by Victoria Poyser
Synopsis:
Felde is the patrol leader and a woman of power. The Patrol is trying to get to the Keep their Alizonian prisoner but they have been attacked over and over by a great hound they call “Ghost”. Just as they make it to the gates of the keep “Ghost” attacks again and the prisoner escapes. Just before Janydon the Alizonian escapes Felde notices him using magic on the image Min. When the skirmish is over and Jayydon has escaped Felde notices that Min’s image is bleeding and she know where he went.
Felde goes after Janydon intending to kill both the Alizonian and his hound. She follows them to Min’s Hold to find Min and several other Old Ones asllep on the stone in the middle of a translucent stone circle. Janydon and “Ghost” are there and Janydon is trying to wake them up. A battle ensues and Felde is the one who wakes up Min to discover the talisman she carries is part of the circle and Gate to other Worlds. Min and fellow Old Ones pass through the Gate and Felde becomes the new Guardian with Janydon and Neve who was “Ghost” as her partners.
Timeline Points:
- p151. After Nine Words in Winter. This must be a separate raid by a small group of Hounds of Alizon trying to reach The Waste through High Hallack sometime after the War (see also: The Stillborn Heritage & Falcon Magic).
- p152. 'Several years ago she had found the talisman …'
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