The Dales of Andre Norton's Witch World have endured wars, natural
disasters, the predations of strange creatures, and treachery. None
loves the land as well as Lorcan, orphaned at birth, who has sought his
birthright for as long as he can remember. Exiled from his native land
when it was invaded by Alizon, he spent his youth in Paltendale where
he was treated as an outsider, especially by Hogeth, an heir of that
dale, who resented Lorcan's presence when both were still young men.
When
he came of age, Lorcan left to seek his own destiny. Since then, he has
fought valiantly to rid the Dales of the Alizon invaders, but not even
his efforts can prevent the deaths of many people, and the destruction
of many keeps and garths. The war now over, he has survived, but so
have those who would plunder the lands of the survivors. And among the
plundering bandits is his nemesis from Paltendale, now more bitter and
determined to vanquish Lorcan.
During his travels Lorcan has
joined with five blank shields, who, fighting together for common
cause, become his boon companions. Then he meets a young noble lass,
from a dale known as Honeycoombe for its beekeeping. Her dale has been
decimated by the war, but with Lorcan and his band, she will try to
rebuild a home where they all can live in peace. Lorcan feels that he
might at last find happiness with the valiant fair maiden. But Hogeth
now leads marauders across the dales, destroying what they cannot
rightfully have, and there will be no peace in the dales until Lorcan
and Hogeth settle their old, bitter score.
