Gunnora's Gift
A Short Story by Elisabeth Waters
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:
Kyria is heading to Gunnora’s shrine to pray for a child. For she has been married eight years and has produced one heir. As she travels up the mountain path her hawk finds a baby stuffed in a bowllike shelf in the cliff. That night she is visited by a vision of Raidham who claims the baby but Raaidham cannot claim the baby because a person must chose to follow Raidham. Another Goddess appears siding with Kyria. It is decided that they will let Gunnora decide.
Timeline Points:
- p358 'I'm going to Gunnora's shrine because I haven't borne a child in eight years of marriage, but I'm certainly not going to tell you that, Kyria thought, smiling politely at the innkeeper.'
- p359 'Harne would not send her away for her failure to bear him a child; she knew that. Even if he didn't care for her, and she had reason to think he did—he had always been kind to her, ever since she was turned over to him as a nervous fifteen-year-old bride—she was the key to his possession of her father's hold.' That means Kyria is 23.
- p361 'The Dales were not so thickly populated that anyone would want to throw a baby away—' (This takes place in High Hallack.)
- No specific indications of when this is set but probably in High Hallack sometime before the Invasion or sometime long after as there is no reference to it. Raidhan also appeared in Horn Crown in a similar stand-off with Gunnora in Arvon so it may take place sometime not long after that. It was published after The Gate of the Cat and before Storms of Victory so it may take place between the two. Since the Dales are sparsely populated and Radian appeared in Horn Crown, I suggest the earlier placement.
The Sorcerer’s recommend that you read next: Rite of Failure
