Oath-Bound
A Novella by Pauline Griffin
Edition Used for Analysis:
[Tales of the Witch World 1] (1989) Published by TOR, PB, 0-812-54757-8, 978-0-812-54757-3, $3.95, 343pg ~ cover by Victoria Poyser
Synopsis:
Tronel the Falconer is “Oath Bound” to Helmgard the captain of the Sulcar ship Water Swallow. Helmgard must return the Lady Qu`el to the gate for which she is the guardian. Helmgard cannot escort the Lady for his leg is broken, so he asks Tronel to accompany her. The Island that holds the gate is under the influence of the Dark Lord and the gate is guarded by a red-flecked mist. After gaining access to the gate for Lady Qu`el Tronel vows to forgo his battle with the likes of man and join Lady Qu`el in the battle against the Dark. He is now “Oath Bound” to a different master.
Timeline Points:
- p135 Falconer Tronel on board the Sulcar ship the Water Swallow.
- p135-136 Seven years ago, in southern waters, the Water Swallow came upon a hitherto unknown island with a gate in a circle of stone trees.
- P136 'Slow yellow fires burned in his screened eyes, but Tronel answered as the other knew full well he must.'
- p138 Tronel mentions Escore.1
- p141-142 Qu'el: "I fear that no part of all this world is safe as it was when I came into it. Wars have been fought and are being fought. Balances have been altered. Gates, old and new, have been wrenched open."
- P153 Qu'el: "Wait one year. Think well and use the time well. Spend some of it at Lormt, that repository of ancient knowledge, if you can, following whatever trails of knowledge catch your fancy."
Footnotes:
1. This must be after the Turning and after Kyllan leads the Old Race from Karsten into Escore in Three Against the Witch World. The Falconers attitude towards women hasn't changed, so this is probably before Falcon Blood and Seakeep/Falcon Hope and definitely before Falcon Law. It's possible Qu'el left her island shortly before The Turning if things had been relatively peaceful at that point. This is another island to the south probably somewhere near Usturt Spider Silk.
The Sorcerer’s recommend that you read next: Falcon's Chick
