Owlsight

Owlsight is Book Two of Darian's Tale trilogy.

Plot summary

It is four years after Darian left Errold's Grove at the end of Owlflight. He is firmly established as an adopted member of the traveling Tayledras group from k'Vala Vale and well advanced as Journeyman mage. The group is returning to k'Vala where he will continue his mage studies in a specialized path, that of the Healing mages, while planning k'Valdemar Vale to be built between Errold's Grove and Lord Breon's keep.

Meanwhile, Errold's Grove has grown and prospered. The Alder family moved into the village proper after the barbarian tribe Blood Bear attacked and their eldest daughter Keisha has been training as the new Healer. Her sister Shandi is Chosen by Karles leading to the family gaining stature for having not only a Healer but now a Herald-in-training in the family. Keisha has had difficulty with the Gifts part of her training and is worried that the imminent return of Darian will mean she has to move - the villagers had given her Justyn's former cottage as her workshop and home and Darian might want it back.

Darian and k'Vala Vale must step up building the new k'Valdemar Vale when news comes that another Northern tribe is following the same route that the invading barbarian army did years ago. As leader of the new Vale, he must also be prepared to take on the diplomatic duties needed to balance his duties to the village and getting along with Lord Breon, the local aristocracy. k'Valdemar's Healer and trondi'irn Nightwind snatches up Keisha after their visit to Errold's Grove and she commences training with both Nightwind and Darian as he continues his Healer mage path. Darian is both shocked and dismayed to find his Healing Adept teacher is the notorious Firesong.

In response to the closing nearness of the new Northern tribe to Errold's Grove, Queen Selenay dispatches a sizeable Guard force to the area under the joint command of Heralds Kerowyn and Eldan to take care of any military or diplomatic solutions that might be needed. They are later joined by Keisha's sister Herald Trainee Shandi in response to a powerful ForeSeeing.

Darian, Keisha and Shandi are instrumental in solving what brought the Northern tribe of Ghost Cat to Errold's Grove and Valdemar has a new set of allies to help guard the western border.

Publication History

Owlsight, Mercedes Lackey, copyright 1998, Daw Books, ISBN 0-88677-803-4