Foundation is a fantasy novel written in 2008 by Mercedes Lackey. It is the first book in the The Collegium Chronicles series. Chronologically, the series takes place between The Last Herald-Mage series and Brightly Burning.
The series is focused on Mags, an orphaned slave in a mine before he is Chosen. The framework of the series is the new Heralds' Collegium, which has made a major change in the training of Heralds. Formerly, Heralds were trained as apprentices to a master, like Tylendel and Vanyel. But the number of Chosen has grown rapidly, until one Herald might have to mentor up to eight trainees.[1] The new system is centralized and school-based, which has lasted to the "present day" reign of Queen Selenay.[2] Not all Heralds are in favor of the change, mainly citing lack of supervision as an objection.
Synopsis (Warning! SPOILERS!!)[]
Mags was an orphan enslaved in a gem mine along with other orphans. He was Chosen and brought to Haven. The new Herald, Bardic and Healers' Collegia are under construction, causing overcrowding in the old Collegium residences, so Mags is asked to sleep in a room in the Companion stables. Mags, who is used to sleeping in worse conditions, does not mind; however, one Herald accuses him of bringing all manner of illicit goods into his new quarters and nearly attacks him, until the Companions intervene.
Because of Mags' upbringing, he does not understand many things that most people in the Collegium find to be the utmost of importance; however with Dallen's help he finds two friends in the form of the Bardic and Healer trainees Lena and Bear. During the Midwinter break, Mags makes friends with Master Soren, and is introduced to his niece Lydia and their circle of friends.
Mags is soon trained by Nikolas, the King's Own Herald, in the art of spying, and is assigned to keep an eye on some foreign 'dignitaries' and their entourage who are visiting and causing trouble. One is going mad, complaining of eyes watching all the time. Lena remembers the song about the vrondi, assigned by Vanyel to watch for ... something. When asked, Rolan says they watch for "a particular kind of Gift."[3] The other members of the foreign delegation appear frightened and rumours spread that they and the Palace are haunted. Mags is able to discover the hauntings are pranks by a group of Trainees and Blues using their gifts and skills. Nikolas recruits the pranksters to keep the dignitaries on their toes so he can find out why they are in Valdemar.
Lena and Mags start an investigation into Mags’ background by looking through the Guard archives. Their search is stopped when a blizzard is foreseen and all of Haven has to bunker down. In the chaos at the Collegia, Bear goes missing. Mags deduces Bear is in the Guard archives and he and the search party of Guardsmen become worried when they notice signs that someone else has entered the archives as well.
Mags and the Guardsmen discover a deranged assassin has captured Bear and is holding him hostage. The search party confront and distract the assassin while the pranksters rescue Bear. Mags is shocked when the assassin recognises him but is unable to get any answers as the assassin commits suicide. The foreign delegation and their bodyguards also disappear, leaving behind a book of poetry and many questions about their goals.
Characters[]
Characters appearing or mentioned in the book.
Main Character[]
- Herald-Trainee Mags
Major Characters[]
- Dallen - Companion to Mags
- Cole Pieters - Mine owner and master of Mags
- Herald Jakyr - Assists Dallen with rescuing Mags from the mine and escorts him to Haven
- Dean Caelen - Dean of the newly established Herald Collegium
- Bardic-Trainee Lena - Mags’ first friend at the Collegium
- Healer-Trainee Bear - Mags and Lena’s friend at the Collegium
- Councillor Soren Mender - Friend of Mags, Guildmaster and member of the Privy Council
- Herald Nikolas - King's Own and Mags' mentor
- Foreign 'merchant' delegation
- Lord Krahailak - Head of delegation
- Unnamed mage - Member of delegation who is haunted by "the eyes"
- Various bodyguards - Merchants' escorts who bully the students during Weapons training
- Unnamed assassin - Kidnaps Bear
Minor Characters[]
- Jermayan - Jakyr 's Companion (unnamed)
- Dean Lita Darvalis - Dean of the Bardic Collegium and Head of the Bardic Circle
- Bardic-Trainee Brion - student in Mags' history class
- Herald Kyle - thinks the collegium is a bad idea
- Herald Holden - thinks the collegium is a good idea
- Lydia - Niece of Soren and friend of Mags
- Amily - Daughter of Nikolas and friend of Mags
- Herald-Trainee Barrett - Notorious prankster
- Colby - Barrett's Companion, also a prankster
- Gordo - assistant to Barrett's pranking
- Marc - Friend of Lydia, works in the Royal Kennels
- Dia - Friend of Lydia
- Tomas - Friend of Lydia
- Saski - Friend of Lydia
- Jak - Friend of Lydia
- Renton - Friend of Lydia
- Bard Aiken - Friend of Master Soren
- Father Gellet - Friend of Master Soren and Aiken
- Okley - Royal Falconer and Marc's father
- Blake - Distant cousin of Lydia, apprentice to Master Soren
- Eddin - Distant cousin of Lydia, apprentice to Master Soren
- Herald-Trainee Beren
- Herald-Trainee Lyr
- Chronicler Lilli - Tutors Mags, Beren, Lyr and Callin
- Weaponmaster
- Guard Archivist - Assists Mags and Lena with research into Mags' past
- Healer Praston - Dean of the Healer's Collegium
- Salenys - organized the search of Haven; likely a Guard commander
- Master Howarth - in charge of the palace servants
- Pieters family
- Jarrik - Oldest of Cole Pieters' sons
- Endal - One of Cole Pieters' sons
- Liem - One of Cole Pieters' sons
- Melak - One of Cole Pieters' sons
- Tyndale
- Mine kiddies
- Davey - One of the older child miners
- Burd - The littlest child miner
- Tansy - One of the child miners
- Ket - One of the child miners
- Felen - The "donkey boy" who removes waste rock from the mine tunnels
- Demmon - a child miner who died in a cave collapse
- Missa - Older child who became pregnant, then was forced to miscarry
- Guard Post
- Healer Betwick - Healer with the Guard who looks after Mags
- Cook Scully
- Sargent Taver - Guard-Clerk who teaches Mags basic numeracy skills
- Brion - Guard
- Tennit - Guard
- Scribe Myrden - Scribe who records Mags testimony about life at Cole Pieters' mine
Referenced Characters[]
- Herald Grevien - recommended as a tutor
- Tobias Marchand - Lena’s father, a famous Bard
- Lord Astley - Lord whose territory is close to Cole Pieters' mine
- Bumper - Lena's pet rabbit
- Kaley - Lena's best friend back home who gave her the rabbit
- Bardic-Trainee Callin - Trainee who is being tutored with Mags, Beren and Lyr
- Peshta - Dean Caelen's Companion
- Paako - Dean of Healers' Collegium
- Hamish - Marchand family steward
- Bard Stefen
- Herald-Mage Vanyel
- Char - man who cleaned in the Royal Mews long ago
- Rolan - King's Own Companion
- Kitri - Companion of the Herald set to watch the "merchant" delegation
Places[]
- Pieters mine
- unnamed Guard Post
- Haven, Valdemar
- Palace Complex, Haven
- Collegia, Palace Complex
- Companion's Stable, Palace Complex
- House of Mender, Haven
- Royal Kennels, Palace Complex
- Royal Palace of Valdemar, Palace Complex
- Guard Archives, Palace Complex
Referenced places[]
- Royal Mews, Palace Complex
- Blueflower Hill, Valdemar
Terminology[]
- Knockers - a type of legendary mine monster
- Whisps - a type of legendary mine monster
- Horrors - a type of legendary mine monster
- Vrondi
- Vrondi's Eyes - unnamed song about Vanyel using vrondi
References[]
- ↑ Chapter 9
- ↑ First depicted in Arrows of the Queen
- ↑ Nobody identifies it as the Mage-Gift, therefore, Vanyel's posthumous "forget spell" is in effect, meaning Bard Stefen has passed on.
Awards[]
- Preliminary Nominee, Gemmell Award (Legend Award), 2009
Translations[]
Polish:
- Początek, translated by Joanna Szczepańska, Zysk i S-ka, 2017
Gallery of cover images[]
