At the far end of the Concourse, sunlight marked an open space. Leana glimpsed bright colors: the clansfolk gathered there to greet her. Her heart began to hop and blood rushed to her face. Then there they were.

“I do not speak of titles and agreements, my lord, but of Leana’s heart.” Her head came up, her eyes hardened. “Hear me now and hear me well: if you should ever cause her grief, you’ll answer to me. Good day, my lord.” Nasidda bowed her head in formal courtesy and strode away.

Leochtor nodded briskly. “ . . . If we move with all speed, a marriage might take place—”

With 'Gerrad's Quest', the narrative shifts from Gom's viewpoint to that of Hester, an old village woman, telling some of the tales about the wizard Gom to enthralled children gathered at her hearth. With this sixth book, we go back to the time right after the Battle of Sundor, the year Gerrad is born. Urolf, lord of Aelyth-Kintalyn, is bringing his bride, Leana, into his secret domain far to the west....

The next morning, Pioter was gone from the citadel and though Gerrad and Carrick searched hard and long, he was nowhere to be found.

“My wife and son wish me to let you speak before you go below. Have you anything to say?”

Pioter pointed to Crooker, his high voice ringing through the hall: “That man killed my father!”

“So shall you go home now?” Gerrad said quickly, clinging to the moment.

“We did it, Dregg.” As Gerrad said that, four men burst from the tunnel, coughing and hawking in full cry. “You certainly did,” cried one. “And we gets our ransom after all!”

Crooker burst in, seized Dregg by the shoulder and shook him roughly. “Hey—wake up. Gremla’s badly hurt and out for blood.”