The entire text of this story is now included in Chapter 5 of Gryphon in Light, volume one of The Kelvren's Saga series.
Overview[]
Kelvren was injured and neglected after battle, and only Treyvan's desperate solution saved his life. But it has changed Kelvren's body forever - it reacts to magic, and catastrophe could occur at any moment. What can he do now?
Characters[]
Main characters[]
- Kelvren Skothkar
- Darian Firkin
- Nightwind - Kelvren's trondi'irn
- Firesong
Minor characters[]
- Silverfox - Firesong's partner
- Tyrsell - the dyheli King stag
- Rukayasv- a mature Silver Gryphon from k'Leshya, appointed to Wingleader
- Kurrundas - a gryphon friend of Kelvren
- Sifrya - a dyheli, Snowfire's usual mount
- Ayshen - a hertasi
- Drusi - a hertasi, Ayshen's mate
Referenced characters[]
- Treyvan
- Snowfire
- Nightbird
- Greywinter
- Lord Breon
- Redhawk - a Silver Gryphon Chief
- Skandranon
- Mornelithe Falconsbane
- Kuari - Darian's Bondbird
- Hydona
Places[]
Referenced places[]
- Errold's Grove
- Deedun
- Kelmskeep
- White Gryphon
- K'Sheyna
- Urtho's Tower
- Ma'ar's stronghold
- Lake Evendim
Terminology[]
- Mindspeech
- Changecircle
- Kal'enal - another name for the Star-Eyed goddess
- Vale
- Heartstone
- Cataclysm
Story description (Warning!SPOILERS!)[]
In his new glowing body, Kelvren flies home to k'Valdemar Vale, expecting cheers and admiration. Two gryphons escort him to his landing. He is met on the ground by two more gryphons, one declaring she has replaced him as Wingleader. He is surprised by their hostility; even more so when they walk him into the Vale as a "prisoner." He encounters a friend from his Wing, who says only that she has been forbidden to talk to him. They arrive in a large Council clearing of many people, who immediately throw all kinds of binding spells and magical shield spells on him. With his body held paralyzed by King stag Tyrsell, he demands an explanation.
He does not grasp it until later, but it is obvious to everyone else that his new body has powerful anomalous magic. It can interfere with the magic around him. He is now a menace to the safety of the Vale.
After six days of fading in and out of consciousness, sometimes overhearing experts discussing and debating his condition, he wakes. And is outraged when his friends explain the political ramifications of his flight: what he thought was an expression of cheer and encouragement, the various villages and townspeople experienced as threatening magic. Not only is he not getting acclaim, his reputation is severely damaged.
Firesong offers three solutions for Kelvren's dangerous condition: banishment, training as an Adept Mage, or creating a portable Heartstone to carry with him.
Darian consoles Kelvren on the unfairness of it all, but reminds him that they both have duty. They affirm their close friendship bond.
In a later discussion about training with Firesong, Kelvren finally realizes that he cannot risk possibly affecting the Vale's Heartstone. They must move to a safe location far away from the Vale before they can train him. Firesong is pleased with his understanding.
Lastly, Firesong points out that this accident has actually freed Kelvren from obligations. He reveals that at the climax of the modern mage storms, they expected peak surges from both Urtho's Tower and Ma'ar's stronghold.[1] But they only experienced Urtho's. So the question remains: what of Ma'ar's stronghold? And would Kelvren be willing to explore its' former site, now the center of Lake Evendim?
Timeline note[]
The miniseries takes place after Owlknight. Firesong's demeanor is described as significantly different from his "brash flair of twenty years ago." This would advance the date a long time after the mage storms, if they are referencing his arrival in k'Sheyna Vale circa 1402 AF in Winds of Change. Perhaps they mean earlier, since he came into his powers very young.