The Sorcerer's Conspectus:
A comprehensive view of Andre Norton's Witch World
by Lotsawatts
Falcon Law
A Novella in the [Witch World Saga] by Judith Tarr
See Also: [Martinez ~ Glossary] [Martinez ~ Races] [Schlobin ~ Survey] [Coulson's Index]
[Expanded Reading Order] [Bibliography Page] [Read it Here] [Return to Contents]
Edition Used for Analysis:
[Four from the Witch World] (1991) Published by TOR, PB, 0-812-51006-2, 978-0-812-51006-5, LCCN 88-29170, $3.95, 275pg ~ cover by Victoria Poyser
Synopsis:
A woman and a falconer could not be the one, said the code. Yet her falcon chose her, so she lived a lie, to fulfill a great destiny.
Timeline Points:
- p199. After Turning, new Eyrie
- p200. "She's dead, you know that. The one we had to guard against: the witch, the soul-stealer. Jonkara." "…a woman [Tanree] helped to destroy her." "Remember what she [Tanree] did to Rivery." (see: Falcon Blood).
Sorcerer's Notes:
Set after Falcon's Chick & We the Women, To Rebuild the Eyrie, Seakeep & Falcon Hope, Falcon Magic, and Falcon Blood. It seems this group of Falconers refused to settle in either Ravenfield or Salzarat and remained misogynistic until now. These are likely the Commandants mentioned in Falcon Hope and their followers.
In Falcon Hope Tarlach and Una set up a new Eyrie in Ravenfield and Seakeep. It is mentioned in that book that there will likely be a sundering of the Falconer race (p. 362): "If accepted at all, it [the plan to rebuild in Seakeep and Ravenfield] will never be by more than half our race. We will be sundered, riven column from column, comrade from comrade." It is entirely possible that the Eyrie here was created by those Falconers who would not accept the easing of treatment of women.
Yareth and Eirran, who are in To Rebuild the Eyrie, seem to have settled into quiet village life in Estcarp by the time Falcon Magic takes place.
This story is very obviously meant to be a sequel of sorts to Falcon Blood. It was written before Seakeep (published in 1991), but after To Rebuild the Eyrie (published 1987). Given the things that Eirran and Yareth find in the mountains, it's very unlikely a new Eyrie could be built there. Since the events of To Rebuild the Eyrie are mentioned in Falcon Magic (and Mouse herself is in The Warding of Witch World), it may be non-canonical. At the very least if the Falconers that broke off after the events of Falcon Hope did establish a new Eyrie in the mountains between Karsten and Estcarp it happened after To Rebuild the Eyrie. However, Falcon Hope makes it pretty clear that it's very unlikely any of the women from the Villages that are fleeing will join with a new Eyrie.
The Sorcerer’s recommend that you read next: Spider Silk
Formatted and Edited by Jay Watts ~ May, 2022
Copyright ~ Andre-Norton.com
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