The Sorcerer's Conspectus:
A comprehensive view of Andre Norton's Witch World
by Lotsawatts
Through the Moon Gate
A Novella in the [Witch World Saga] by Jacqueline Lichtenberg
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:
[Tales of the Witch World 2] (1989) Published by TOR, PB, 0-812-54757-8, 978-0-812-54757-3, $3.95, 343pg ~ cover by Victoria Poyser
Synopsis:
Remora has left her Dale 1 where she tended herds to pursue visions of the Old Ones. She camps at night on a pass overlooking the Waste, but follows the sond of water to a place of the Old Ones: a mostly fallen circle of stones with a perfectly circular pool in the middle. She's compelled inside where she finds peace until a strange dark figure shoots out of the pool. He lands back in it but is unable to swim. Remora rescues him. 2
He's able to talk with her 3 and mentions flying to Denver to talk with a woman name Irene before being knocked out of the sky by a jet. He, at first, thinks it's a movie set and somehow Remora is responsible for him being there but quickly realizes this is not the case. As they camp by the fire (and she looks at his modern clothes in wonder) he introduces himself as Dorian St. John and she introduces herself. When he asks how far it is to civilization she mentions it being ten or fifteen days to Eroffkeep in the south. He then asks about the Waste but she tells him she has no idea how long it'll take to cross. 4
They talk for a while with Dorian asking if she can send him back, even offering her wealth to do so, but she tells him the truth that she doesn't know how and the Gate might not work and in any case is at the bottom of the pool and he can't swim. He describes some of Earth to her and her fears ease. Soon after they are attacked by a pack of wolf-like creatures from the Waste and flee to the Old One's pool for safety. When she reaches it, she's filled with a sudden knowledge of the place and its secrets and leads Dorian down and in to what were once food storage areas. Unfortunately something evil has taken root and sends them both forth gagging from the smell.
Dorian decides to try the runners since they're close to wolves and he almost has them, but Remora has a vision and fears for his safety. Unfortunately this causes the runners to attack them. Dorian, however, manages to fight them back, snarling out commands they're eventually forced to obey. As he finishes the sun rises. Though Remora goes to check on the pack's retreat some sun hits Dorian. Unlike the sun on Earth, however, it doesn't harm him and he rejoices in it. Unfortunately his need for blood is not eased, but Remora offers herself to him and the two plan to travel the Waste to Arvon 5 where he might get help for his vampirism.
Timeline Points:
- There is no mention of the invasion of High Hallack so this could take place sometime before that but the fact that Remora, a Daleswoman of High Hallack, knows of Arvon suggests this could be sometime after the Year of the Unicorn (the Great Bargain where the Were-Riders take the Dales Brides home to Arvon).
The Sorcerer’s recommend that you read next: The Circle of Sleep
Formatted and Edited by Jay Watts ~ May, 2022
Copyright ~ Andre-Norton.com
Duplication of this collection (in whole or in part) for profit of any kind NOT permitted.
