Trial by Treason
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4.4 • 5 Ratings
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
A burgeoning Saxon enchanter confronts a demonic plot against the king in the sequel to Ironfoot, a historical fantasy series set in twelfth century England.
King Henry, campaigning in France, receives a muddled warning of a treasonous conspiracy in Lincoln Castle, his great fortress in the center of England. His enchanters report that the letter contains both truth and lies, but cannot determine which is which. Putting little stock in the warning, he sends an eager young knight to lead a troop of men and investigate, and since the letter includes hints of magic, Henry orders him to enlist the help of Durwin, the young Saxon whose education he has been financing these last two years.
Durwin takes an assistant and accompanies the troop to Lincoln, but quickly finds his blossoming abilities as a sage are not warmly received. Upon reaching town, it only takes a couple of hours for Durwin to realize that they are up against a vast Satanic conspiracy?and his companions may have already fallen into a deadly trap!
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Duncan's second Enchanter General standalone fantasy mystery (after Ironfoot) provides another complex conspiracy for Sage Durwin of Helmdon, a 12th-century Saxon magician, to unravel. In 1166, the skilled 22-year-old, who wears an iron boot on his deformed foot, is commissioned by King Henry II of England to accompany stuffy young Norman knight Sir Neil d'Airelle and his squire, Piers, to Lincoln Castle on a mission concerning high treason. In Lincoln, Durwin and spunky magical adept Eadig learn that castle Lord Richard de la Haye is incapacitated by a curse. Neil and Piers are taken prisoner by Richard's sage, Quentin, and Lincoln's four healers and sages have been replaced with traitorous Normans allowing the conspirators to perform the five-person pentacle magic required to summon Satan. Durwin and Eadig must stop the summoning and prevent demon-possessed Neil and Piers from murdering the king. This brisk, breezy tale is diminished by occasional repetition and a too-convenient ending. Nevertheless, Durwin's humor and confidence and his love at first sight with the large and buxom Lorvise, a remarkably talented magician are entertaining. Readers who enjoy a medieval setting and intricate descriptions of deciphering magical spells will be immersed in Duncan's enchanted world.
