Modesitt, L.E.
L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
TOR 2002
Hb with binding maps, 558 pages
ISBN # 0-765-30561-5
That one character is Alucius, heir to a nightsheep herding family in the Iron Valleys, a Wyominish-type place in the land of Corus. Alucius' father was killed many years ago while serving in the militia, so his grandsire has taken on the role of teaching Alucius how to fight. The Iron Valleys are poorly populated and situated between greater powers that strive against each other, one of the prizes being the self-governed Iron Valleys. Nightsheep wool brings a pretty price, for with it strong garments can be made that withstand bullets and sabers as does light armor. But nightsheep wool isn't the only commodity for which the Matrial is looking.
Over on the coast of Corus is Madrien, a land ruled by women, ruled by one woman with the title of Matrial. She rules with a magical power called Talent, which binds all men, captured and native, with silver torques around their necks. If the men don't do her bidding, she--or one of her compatriots--kills. And, obviously, not all of these deaths are just. The Matrial is now seeking more magical power, rare and ancient devices, throughout Corus. One of these items is a man from the Iron Valleys with strong Talent, though this is part of her hidden agenda. She tells her staff that the Iron Valleys would make a good natural buffer between much of Madrien and Lanachrona, which is true.
Talented people are rare on Corus. Ages ago there was a Cataclysm and many blame the Talented for that disaster (there are those with Talent that have been murdered because of it). And that is one of the reasons why Alucius and his family keep secret their abilities, though many suspect it because they are, after all, herders. It takes Talent to manage those beasts, and the other kinds of beasts that hunt the nightsheep. Sandwolves and the almost indestructible, zombie-like sanders are plentiful out on the range. So Alucius has done his share of killing even before getting conscripted into the militia. Alucius has more Talent even than most other herders. Not only can he manage nightsheep and guide bullets true to their target with his Talent, Alucius can also reach out with his senses to detect life several vingts in all directions. He can determine what that life is, by the life-color coming into his mind, whether animal or human, and of what kind (Matrite troopers are gray). He tells no one of his keen Talent, though, for fear of being exploited. With this Talent Alucius can sense when truth is spoken, and when it is not, and he can also hear better than anyone else. He can place an idea in someone else's mind so they believe it is their own. And he can trick other people with illusion into believing he is just a scraggly dog passing by, or only a gentle breeze, thus seeming invisible. Alucius can heal with his talent. And he can kill, or merely knock someone unconscious, with only a thought, even without touching his enemy. In one scene he blows up several canon with his mind, from a distance, though everyone believes it an accident.
As he grows into the knowledge of his abilities, Alucius serves the Iron Valleys militia well until he is injured by falling debris, knocked unconscious, left for dead, and captured by the Matrites. Because of his head injury, Alucius is able to trick the Matrite Talent-officer who interrogates him, thus hiding his abilities. Alucius is then collared and forced to serve as a Matrite trooper in the south, fighting Lanachronans. Secretly using his Talent, Alucius keeps himself and his companion captive-troopers alive time and again. He rises through the ranks, making squad leader in less than two years. But time is running short for Alucius. He senses it even before a wood-spirit gives him an enigmatic warning. One of these days his Talent will be found out, and the higher he raises in the ranks, the sooner the Matrial can exploit him. Alucius wants to go home to his family and his girl Wendra. But no one has ever before escaped Madrien. And besides, even if he could escape, how could he return home honorably and leave other innocent men to continue suffering with this injustice?
A sample of the text: "The Matrial broke off in midsentece, her violet eyes glazing over.... The marshal and her assistant stood and bowed, but the Matrial did not acknowledge the obeisance as she strode from the conference room.... 'Matrial, is there difficulty in there?' asked the submarshal. 'No!' snapped the dark-haired woman with the flawless skin and violet-purple eyes. 'There is a lamaial in the residence.' ...'How?' stammered the submarshal.... 'They can cast an illusion that there is no one where they stand. They can convince a careless guard that no one is there, even as they pass. It has been many years, but I knew there would be another. I can sense the focus of the life webs. He is nearing the crystal chamber.'"
Oh, Legacies is definitely a ten by my count, the best, and I can't wait to see the next in the series!
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