Author | Raymond E. Feist |
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Country | United States United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Genre | Fantasy novel |
Publisher | Avon Eos, Harper Collins |
Preceded by | The Serpentwar Saga |
Followed by | The Darkwar Saga |
Conclave of Shadows is a series of fantasy novels by Raymond E. Feist, part of The Riftwar Cycle. The series picks up events following The Serpentwar Saga, and deals with the secret titular organization formed by the great magician Pug, and its initial struggle against evil necromancer Leso Varen while in the employ of Kaspar, Duke of Olasko.
Story of a boy, Talon of the Silver Hawk, from the mountains who has had his entire tribal race killed at the order of a Duke. Vowing revenge against the murderers of his family, he joins a secret organization known as the Conclave of Shadows, whose ultimate goal is said to oppose the evil in the world. Talon takes on a secret identity as Talwin Hawkins and the persona of a noble to gain enough fame and power to fulfill his vengeance upon his enemies. The story ends as he comes into the service of the Duke he reviles.
Continues the story of Talon, or Talwin Hawkins as he has become known, under the service of Kaspar, the powerful Duke of Olasko. Talwin awaits the moment his master betrays him, believing that it is in the Duke's nature to betray, so that he may bring justice to his slaughtered people without breaking his oath of service. He gets his chance when the Duke betrays him to a neighboring King, but is exiled before he can take his revenge the Duke. Unknown to Talwin the mysterious sorcerer Leso Varen holds a strange influence over the Duke, and that much of the Duke's ambition was fuelled by Varen's machinations. After months in prison, Talwin escapes, and wages a war against his former master, ultimately destroying everything the Duke held in his power. The sorcerer meanwhile seems to meet his end at Talwin's hand during the battle. The story ends as Talwin discovers that his people have not been completely eliminated when he discovers a young woman from his village and her son, and takes them as wife and child. Having had enough of bloodshed, Talwin decides to banish the Duke in order to have him contemplate all he has done, now that the veil of the Sorcerer had been broken.