This is the first volume in The Herald Spy series. It begins the autumn following the events of Bastion.
Overview[]
After completing his internship Circuit near the Bastion, Mags is a full Herald. He won't be an ordinary circuit Herald, of course; Mags is needed close to home for his abilities as a spy and his powerful Mindspeech gift. But he gets an assignment that won't employ much of his spy skills: try to keep a feud between two noble families from boiling over and tearing the Court apart. And then a freak accident affects the King's Own Herald.
Synopsis (Warning! SPOILERS)[]
Mags, Amily, Herald Jakyr and Master Bard Lita are returning to Haven, having finished their Circuit. Amily has a newly awakened Gift, a Wild Talent related to Animal Mindspeech, that allows her to eavesdrop through the senses of animals; a silent observer in the backs of their minds. Mags receives word from his cousin Bey that he has convinced the Sleepgivers that Mags is dead, so he will be safe from further attacks.
Bear and Lena have left the traveling group and settled at the manor of Baron Burns, where Lena is his Court Bard and Bear is the local Healer. Amily moves into Bear and Lena's former rooms attached to the greenhouse in the House of Healing. She is assigned to tend the plants until a replacement herb healer can be found to take on the duties. She is also attached to the Royal Chronicler and given charge of the Heraldic Archives.
Mags has been made a full Herald. He still has his stable room, with upgraded furniture, though he spends most of his downtime in Amily's rooms. He is officially assigned to the City Guard, but in reality establishes several new personae to continue his spy work for Nikolas. He makes frequent use of one of these throughout the book, playing "Magnus," the young cousin of the elderly Lord Chipman, who has agreed with Nikolas to play the role of supporting relative. This places Mags firmly in the circle of the footloose sons of the highborn.
Just as everyone is settling into their new roles, disaster strikes. A freak accident leaves Nikolas to drown in an icy river. Having witnessed the entire thing, Mags and Dallen intervene, pulling Nikolas from the water. Realizing that he isn't breathing, Mags begins what is essentially CPR, using the techniques Bear taught him. He resuscitates Nikolas, but not before his moment of actual death severs the bond with his Companion, Rolan. As the Death Bell begins to toll, Rolan chooses Amily to replace her father as King's Own Herald. Bringing Nikolas back to life stops the Death Bell, but Rolan's Choice cannot be undone. Amily is the new King's Own, while Nikolas is chosen by a second Companion, Evory.
While Nikolas recovers from his ordeal and Amily starts her new duties, Mags takes up the spywork Nikolas had been doing. He begins by rescuing a group of children from a cruel thief-master. He employs them first as messengers, listening for interesting tidbits, then as outright operatives. They live in the building next to Nikolas' pawn shop where they are cared for by another of Mags' rescues, Aunty Minda.
The peace of Haven is threatened when two feuding families of nobles who usually avoid each other come to town at the same time. The King assigns Mags and Amily to make monitoring the families their highest priority. Mags befriends Brand of House Raeylen, while Amily spies on the family of House Chendlar through their pets. As the Midwinter festivities progress, conflict becomes more likely. Violetta, the youngest Chendlar daughter, has a head full of romantic nonsense and decides she is in love with Brand. She sends him a letter which he throws in the fire. However, he later decides to pursue the connection, and they sleep together. She is convinced they are star-crossed lovers. After another armed conflict in the streets, the King orders Brand to wed the oldest Chendlar daughter. At first Violetta is devastated, but then seems resigned. The betrothal banquet does not turn out as planned, Amily catches the fleeing pair, and under second-stage Truth Spell he reveals his true self.
Characters[]
Main characters[]
Major characters[]
- Dallen - Mags' Companion
- Nikolas - King’s Own and Amily’s father
- Companion Rolan
- Lady Dia Jorthun
- Brand Kaltar
Minor characters[]
- Master Bard Lita Darvalis - former Dean of the Bardic Collegium
- Herald Jakyr - Mags' mentor on circuit
- Bardic-Trainee Rendall
- Trainee Matty
- Royal Chronicler
- Healer Daymon
- Healer Elked
- Companion Evory
- King Kiril
- Prince Sedric
- Aunty Minda - house mother for Mags' new gang of child informants
- Gripper - gang master
- Star - muff dog
- Lion - aged mastif
- Flora
- Princess Lydia
- Lord Hallendale
- Lord Kaltar of House Raeylen
- Queen
- Lady Porthia Kaltar
- House Chendlar:
- Lord Leverance
- Lady Leverance
- Aleniel - eldest daughter
- Brigette - middle daughter
- Talbot - nephew
- Kenteth - cousin
- Nurse - family servant
- Mags' messenger "lads":
- Coot
- Berk
- Grub
- Flea
- Ash
- Jo
- Mai
- Bet
- Silas
- Detch
- Sparrow
- Highborn young men:
- Rafe
- Sevast
- Byll
- Morin
Referenced characters[]
- Bey - Mags’ cousin and Sleepgiver
- Anhita (unnamed) - Bey's wife
- Healer Bear - Mags’ friend and Lena’s husband
- Bard Lena - Mags’ friend and Bear’s wife
- Baron Burns
- Herald-Trainee Robin - new Kirball champion
- Lord Tyler / Lord Chipman
- Dean Caelen
- Seneschal
- Leveret - Seneschal's Herald
- Duke Perrin
- Lord Jorthun of Ayersmark
- Master Soren
- Lissande
- Duke Erdenval
- Lelage
- Lord and Lady Abrogin
- Lord Jornan
- Master Jon - tavernkeeper at the Flag and Flagon
- Spelzan
- Guildmaster Ambrose
- Guildwife Saira
- Betrice
- Lord Abendale
- Lord Peramir
- Guildmaster Harl Kenton
- Cole Pieters
Places[]
- Haven, Valdemar
- Palace Complex, Haven
- Royal Palace of Valdemar, Palace Complex
- Collegia, Palace Complex
- Companions' Stables, Palace Complex
- Companion's Field, Palace Complex
- Herald's Wing, Royal Palace of Valdemar
- House of Healing, Palace Complex
- Greater Council Chamber, Royal Palace of Valdemar
- Flag and Flagon Tavern, Haven
Referenced places[]
- Karse
- The Bastion, Valdemar
- Heraldic Archives, Herald's Wing
- Duchy of Ayersmark, Valdemar
- Flora's, Haven
- Compass Rose Tavern, Haven
- Bird in the Hand Inn, Haven
- Guard armory, Haven
- Rose and Thorns Tavern, Haven
- Deel Street, Haven
- Abendale Hall, Valdemar
- Pelagirs
Terminology[]
- Vanner horses
- Kirball
- Warming-spaniel
- Sleepgiver
- Truth Spell
Gallery of cover images[]
