Vanyel Ashkevron at sixteen, is the heir to a great estate, Forst Reach. However he doesn't measure up to what his father Lord Withen deems to be a "proper" man. Withen decides to send Vanyel away to school in Haven, the capital of Valdemar, under the supervision of his Aunt Herald-Mage Savil.
Savil initially has little interest in him because he has no psychic or magic powers, but soon realizes Vanyel is not as arrogant as Withen has described. Vanyel finds schooling at Haven more suited to his physical and mental nature, but is told he doesn't have the Bardic Gift, and so cannot become a true Bard. Feeling he's lost his lifelong dream, he drifts into depression. Vanyel begins to have feelings for Tylendel, one of Savil's protegés. Van learns that Tylendel is shay'a'chern, or homosexual. Eventually, they become lovers and later find they are lifebonded. This lifebond with 'Lendel produces the first happy time in the boy's life. Tylendel introduces Vanyel to Gala, his companion.
The happiness is short lived as Lord Staven, Tylendel's twin brother, is assassinated which drives Tylendel into an obsession for revenge. Vanyel is so naive as to not truly understand the path of madness his love is on and supports him in his quest for vengeance. Tylendel's revenge requires Vanyel to purloin two proscribed volumes of magic which Tylendel uses to build a gate "borrowing" Vanyel's latent magical energy and calling a pack of Wyrsa down on the Leshara family during a Sovvan Night celebration. That revenge attempt leads to Gala's repudiating Tylendel. Overwhelmed, Tylendel suicides, and the backlash opens all Vanyel's magic potential as well as leaving him emotionally scarred by the loss of his lifebond. Suffering from severe psychic and emotional damage, Vanyel is Chosen by a Companion, Yfandes, who reassures him through mind-speaking of her love and friendship and his worth. Unable to understand or control his newly "opened" powers, he "hears" angry thoughts around him, and despairs, attempting suicide.
Aunt Savil, realizing she cannot train Vanyel nor help him fully heal, takes Vanyel to the Tayledras, who are more advanced in Healing, Mind magic and Mage work.
Characters in the book[]
Characters appearing or mentioned in this story.
Main characters[]
Major characters[]
Minor characters[]
- Ashkevron family
- Withen Ashkevron
- Treesa Ileana Brendywhin-Ashkevron
- Mekeal Ashkevron
- Lissa Ashkevron
- Radevel Ashkevron
- Sandar - an Ashkevron cousin/fosterling
- Joserlin Corveau - an Ashkevron cousin/fosterling
- Jyllian - an Ashkevron cousin/fosterling
- Merthin - an Ashkevron cousin/fosterling
- Larence - an Ashkevron cousin
- Kerle - an Ashkevron cousin/fosterling
- Heforth - Vanyel's youngest brother
- Forst Reach residents
- Members of Vanyel's "court"
- Liers
- Tashi
- Reva
- Cress
- Jillian
- Kertire
- Jesalis
- Wendi
- Ratha
- Heralds and protegés
- Herald-Mage Mardic
- Herald-Mage Donni
- Herald-Mage Jaysen Kondre, Seneschal's Herald
- Herald-Mage Lancir, Queen's Own Herald
- Herald Rolf
- Herald Tantras
- Companions
- Garthhold residents
- Menfree
- Magnus
- Kern
- Tansy
- Megan
- Phellip
- Jo
- Weaponsmaster Kayla
- Duke Oden - Lord Marshal's second-in-command
- Lord Redel - one of Oden's pupils
- Bard Chadran - history teacher at Bardic Collegium
- Bard Breda
- Queen Elspeth the Peacemaker
- Evan Leshara
- Healer Andrel
- Leareth
- Krebain
- Gallen - Headman of the village of Covia
- Reva - Gallen's wife
- Veth - Gallen and Reva's son
Referenced characters[]
- Herald Seldasen - the author of one of Vanyel's required texts
- Joserlin Ashkevron
- Serina - Lady Treesa's sister
- Istal - Vanyel's tutor
- Veth Kethren - legendary hero
- Trevor Corey - Guard Recruiter / Trainer
- Lord Kendrick - Joserlin Corveau's first foster lord
- Master Orser - Lord Kendrick's armsmaster
- Lady Cedrys of Briary Holding - Lord Kendrick's neighbor
- Liaven - Lady Cedrys' son
- Herald-Mage Dominick - a former protege of Savil's
- Margret - the servant who tends Savil and her protegés
- Minstrel Shanse
- Nevis - flirt who tortured Tylendel with his undecided sexuality
- Staven Frelennye
- Wester Leshara
- Herald Shallan
- Companion Fortin - Mardic's Companion
- Tallo
- Magelord Grenvis
- Tayledras Adepts
- Sunsong k'Treva
- Brightwind k'Treva
- Stormwing k'Treva
- Rainstar k'Treva
- Fireflight k'Treva
Places[]
- Forst Reach, Valdemar
- Ashkevron Manor, Forst Reach
- Wyrfen Wood, Valdemar
- Halfway Inn, Valdemar
- Haven, Valdemar
- Royal Palace of Valdemar, Haven
- Companion's Field, Palace Complex, Haven
- Temple of the Grove, Companion's Field
- Temple Belltower, Temple of the Grove
- Red Nose Inn, Haven
- Westrel Keep, Valdemar
- Palace garden grotto, Palace Complex
- Pelagir Hills
- k'Treva Vale, Pelagirs
- k'Treva voorthayshen - the clan keep of k'Treva
- Garthhold, Pelagirs
- Covia, Pelagirs
Referenced places[]
- Bachelor's Hall, Ashkevron Manor
- Brenden Keep, Valdemar - manor of Lord Trevor Corey
- Gyrefalcon's Marches, Valdemar
- Southron Keep, Valdemar - one of the Great Courts of Valdemar
- Prytheree Ford, Valdemar
- Crescent Lake, Valdemar
Terminology[]
Awards[]
- Nomination, Lambda Award (Gay Men's Science Fiction/Fantasy), 1989
Translations[]
French:
- La Proie de la Magie, Pocket, 1997
- La Proie de la Magie, translated by Laurence Le Charpentier, Milady, 2010
Japanese:
- The book was also published as a manga in Japanese.
Polish:
- Sługa Magii, translated by Magdalena Polaszewska-Nicke, Zysk i S-ka, 1995
Turkish
- Büyünün Kuklası, Artemis Yayınlar, 1989
Gallery of cover images[]
