Long ago, the gods forged Twelve Swords of Power and threw them on
the gameboard of life to watch men scramble. But they forged too
well; the Swords could kill the gods themselves.
Now, the gods are gone, the Swords are scattered, the great
Mindsword reenters the world of men. Long lost from human sight, the
Sword of Glory brings mindless devotion to him who wields it. It is
Crown Prince Murat of Culm who finds it.
Murat, basically a decent man, intends to give Mindsword to
Princess Kristin of Tasavalta. Taken with the beautiful princess when
he first met her years ago, Murat resolves to keep Mindsword sheathed
until he lays it at her feet. But suddenly, faced with a band of
Brigands, concerned for the safety of his son, Prince Carlo, Murat
draws the sword.
Now the brigands – and his own son – give him the adulation
usually reserved for gods. It is not a comfortable state of affairs.
And there is worse to come.
The Princess herself falls under Mindsword's spell. Not at all
what Murat wanted: slavish devotion is no substitute for freely given
love.
Or is it? Murat finds that Kristin's adulation is not without its
attractions...
Meanwhile, the great dark King, thought dead for a dozen years,
senses the rediscovery of the Mindsword even in his madness, and
forges an alliance with Akbal, a most untrustworthy demon, to regain
the weapon.
And Prince Mark of Tasavalta, returning with Ben of Purkinje from
a journey on behalf of the Emperor, finds that he must do battle for
his beloved wife, for the kingdom, and perhaps for the soul of the
world.
Told with all Fred saberhagen's nimble style, quicksilver
invention and tremendous narrative gifts, MINDSWORD'S STORY will
delight its readers.
