"The things I have done for Darkover," and gotten terribly drunk for the first
time in years.
The hapless Planetary Administrator, Emmet Grayson, had stepped into the breach
left by the capture of Lyle Belfontaine, expressing outrage at the attack on
Comyn Castle and exerting himself to make the best of a bad situation. From him
they learned that Dirck Vancof had not succeeded in his attempt to escape. When
he had put the flyer down on the landing field and stepped out, dressed in
native clothing, he had been mistaken for a Darkovan and shot before anyone
bothered to ask questions. Marguerida suspected that his well-deserved execution
had saved Grayson a great deal of further embarrassment, and wondered to herself
if the shooting might not have been more deliberate than accidental.
Then for three weeks after their return, there had been no word from the
Federation. The continued silence from the Regional Relay Station had nearly
driven Grayson to distraction. When the Administrator had finally received a
message, years had dropped from his face. After that, it had only been a matter
of helping him organize their departure. Now, all they had to do was wait.
A distant booming sound brought her back to the present with a start, and then
there was a bright flare of light. A Big Ship plummeted downward, sending
billows of moisture up into the air as the heat of it vaporized the snow on the
tarmac. It was a glorious sight, the flare of the landing jets and the smooth
black hull of the ship standing out starkly against the whiteness behind it.
When the vapor began to settle, Marguerida could see heavy vehicles start across
the field. They rolled over the now snowless tarmac, and she thought she could
see ramps being lowered. It was very hard to be sure at this distance. The first
carrier reached the ramp and started up, into the belly of the ship, the rest
following. It was rather a letdown after all the anticipation. Grayson had
organized everything ably, and in half an hour, the last carrier was loaded
aboard. Marguerida could not help but wonder what awaited the men and women
leaving Darkover. Grayson had let slip a few things about the present state of
the Federation that suggested there was a civil war going on in parts of that
far-flung comglomeration of planets, that worlds had rebelled against Premier
Nagy and the Expansionist forces. She suspected they were lucky that they were
being taken away at all, but she knew her information was spotty at best.
The ramps vanished back into the black hull, and for several minutes there was
no activity to be seen. The sky was darkening and a few snowflakes began to fall
as the little group waited. Then a blaze surrounded the Big Ship for a moment,
and it ascended as swiftly as it had come down, lifting away as if it weighed
nothing instead of tons and tons. Like a sword of light it rose until it pierced
the clouds and was gone from view.
No one spoke for several seconds. "Well, that's the last of them," Roderick
announced cheerfully.
Marguerida looked at her redheaded younger son, glad to see that even the most
momentous events did not disturb his constant enthusiasm for everything. At
least she still had him to cluck over, now that Domenic was with Istvana Ridenow
in Neskaya.
"I doubt that, Rory," Mikhail said as sternly as he could, infected by his
younger son's high spirits in spite of himself.
"But didn't we throw them out?" the boy persisted.
"Not really-there were complex reasons for their leaving; but that does not mean
they will stay away forever, son."
"Father, I think you are being very gloomy. You have been like that ever since
you came back. I am sure they are gone for good."
Mikhail looked at Marguerida over Roderick's head, quirking his eyebrows a
little. She understood the unasked question, and wished she had an answer. She
had no sudden vision of the future, nor had she been plagued by any since their
return. It did not mean anything-the Federation or some other force might return
after she was dead. It was not a comforting thought, that she and Mikhail might
have to leave the problem to their children.
Marguerida turned and started back toward the doorway into the warmth of the
castle. "I hope you are right, Roderick," she said.
"Of course I am. Why would they leave if they were only going to turn around and
come back?"
"I don't know-but just remember than the Federation has the ability to return if
they choose, and we cannot assume anything."
"Oh. Well, I hope they don't, because they are bad people, like that Belfontaine
man."
"Not all of them are bad, Rory," Mikhail insisted, then shrugged at the
impossibility of explaining the complexities of interstellar politics to a
thirteen-year-old.
"And if they do, you can just . . ."
"No, Roderick!"
"But, Father! Why not? Or is this one of those things I'll understand when I am
older again? I am so sick of . . ."
"Yes, Rory," Marguerida interceded. "You are very tired of being told you don't
understand. And I am pretty sick of hearing you complain about it. Now let's get
something to eat."
She felt Mikhail just behind her, and turned to him, slipping into his arms and
feeling the coldness of his cheek against hers. Then, without word or thought,
they both looked back, through the open door, at the abandoned buildings on the
other side of the city. "What do you really think, caria?"
"That this is not the end, that it is not finished."
"Why?"
"I think that as long as there is the technology to travel between the stars,
there will always be the chance of visitors, Mik. And if the little we learned
from Grayson is accurate, and the Federation itself is coming to pieces, it will
not remain in bits forever."
"You sound like your father."
"I know. Someday, someone will come to Darkover from the stars again-it is as
inevitable as snow in winter. But that is for another day, another year." She
leaned against his shoulder and rested her head. Marguerida could sense the dark
tone of his thoughts, and wished she knew some way to brighten his mood. But
only time, she knew, would cure what ailed her husband and herself.
He reached a hand out and shut the door to the roof. They turned and started for
the stairs, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. At last he said, "And we will
meet that day when it comes, and not a second before."
Darkover
The Planet Savers (1962)
The Sword of Aldones (1962)
The Bloody Sun (1964)
Stars of Danger (1965)
Winds of Darkover (1970)
World Wreckers (1971)
Darkover Landfall (1972)
The Spell Sword (1974)
The Heritage of Hastur (1975)
The Shattered Chain (1976)
The Forbidden Tower (1977)
Stormqueen! (1978) (with Paul Edwin Zimmer)
The Keeper's Price (1980)
Two to Conquer (1980)
Sharra's Exile (1981)
Hawkmistress! (1982)
Sword of Chaos (1982)
Thendara House (1983)
City of Sorce
ry (1984)
The Darkover Saga (omnibus) (1984)
Free Amazons of Darkover (1985)
Star of Danger (1985)
Other Side of the Mirror (1987)
Red Sun of Darkover (1987)
Warrior Woman (1987)
Four Moons of Darkover (1988)
The Heirs of Hammerfell (1989)
Domains of Darkover (1990)
Leroni of Darkover (1991)
Renunciates of Darkover (1991)
Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover (1993)
Rediscovery (1993) (with Mercedes R Lackey)
Towers of Darkover (1993)
Snows of Darkover (1994)
Exile's Song (1996) (with Adrienne Martine-Barnes)
The Shadow Matrix (1997) (with Adrienne Martine-Barnes)
Traitor's Sun (1999) (with Adrienne Martine-Barnes)
The Ages of Chaos (omnibus) (2002)
The Forbidden Circle (omnibus) (2002)
Heritage And Exile (omnibus) (2002)
The Saga of the Renunciates (omnibus) (2002)
A World Divided (omnibus) (2003)
Claire Moffatt
1. Dark Satanic (1972)
2. The Inheritor (1984)
3. Witch Hill (1990)
Hunters (with Paul Edwin Zimmer)
1. Hunters of the Red Moon (1973)
2. The Survivors (1979)
Avalon
1. The Mists of Avalon (1979)
2. The Forest House (1993) (with Diana L Paxson)
3. Lady of Avalon (1997) (with Diana L Paxson)
The Forests of Avalon (1998)
4. Priestess of Avalon (2000) (with Diana L Paxson)
5. The Ancestors of Avalon (2003) (with Diana L Paxson)
Web of Light
Web of Darkness (1983)
Web of Light (1983)
Mists of Avalon
The High Queen (1994)
The King Stag (1994)
Mistress of Magic (1994)
The Prisoner in the Oak (1994)
Witchlight
1. Ghostlight (1995)
2. Witchlight (1996)
3. Gravelight (1997)
4. Heartlight (1998)
Glenraven (with Holly Lisle)
1. Glenraven (1996)
2. In the Rift (1998)
Clingfire (with Deborah J Ross)
1. The Fall of Neskaya (2001)
2. Zandru's Forge (2003)
Novels Top
The Door Through Space (1961)
Seven from the Stars (1961)
Falcons of Narabedla (1964)
Castle Terror (1965)
Souvenir of Monique (1967)
Bluebeard's Daughter (1968)
The Jewels of Arwen (1974)
The Parting of Arwen (1974)
The Endless Voyage (1975)
Drums of Darkness (1976)
The Brass Dragon (1978)
Ruins of Isis (1978)
The Catch Trap (1979)
The Endless Universe (1979)
The House Between the Worlds (1980)
Survey Ship (1980)
The Colors Of Space (1983)
Night's Daughter (1985)
Lythande (1986)
The Fall of Atlantis (1987)
The FireBrand (1987)
Tiger Burning Bright (1995) (with Mercedes R Lackey and Andre Norton)
The Gratitude of Kings (1997)
Collections Top
The Dark Intruder: And Other Stories (1964)
Greyhaven (1983) (with Paul Edwin Zimmer)
The Best of Marion Zimmer Bradley (1985)
Jamie: And Other Stories (1988)
Series contributed to Top
Trillium
1. Black Trillium (1990) (with Julian May and Andre Norton)
3. Golden Trillium (1993) (with Julian May and Andre Norton)
4. Lady of the Trillium (1995)
Anthology series Top
Sword And Sorceress
1. Sword And Sorceress I (1984)
2. Sword And Sorceress II (1985)
3. Sword And Sorceress III (1986)
4. Sword and Sorceress IV (1987)
5. Sword And Sorceress V (1988)
6. Sword And Sorceress VI (1990)
7. Sword And Sorceress VII (1990)
8. Sword And Sorceress VIII (1991)
9. Sword and Sorceress IX (1992)
10. Sword And Sorceress X (1993)
11. Sword And Sorceress XI (1994)
12. Sword And Sorceress XII (1995)
13. Sword And Sorceress XIII (1996)
14. Sword And Sorceress XIV (1997)
15. Sword And Sorceress XV (1998)
16. Sword And Sorceress XVI (1999)
17. Sword And Sorceress XVII (2000)
18. Sword And Sorceress XVIII (2001)
19. Sword And Sorceress XIX (2002)
20. Sword and Sorceress XX (2003)
Anthologies edited Top
Spells of Wonder (1989)
The Best of Marion Zimmer Bradley's "Fantasy Magazine" (1995)
Anthologies containing stories by Marion Zimmer Bradley Top
Women of Wonder (1974)
The Year's Best Fantasy Stories (1975)
A Century of Science Fiction 1950-1959 (1981)
100 Great Fantasy Short Short Stories (1984)
Top Fantasy (1984)
A Magic-Lover's Treasury of the Fantastic (1986)
Ghor, Kin-Slayer: The Saga of Genseric's Fifth-Born Son (1987)
The Merlin Chronicles (1991)
Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover (1993)
The Norton Book of Science Fiction (1993)
New Eves: Science Fiction About the Extraordinary Women of Today and Tomorrow (1994)
Excalibur (1995)
Space Opera (1996)
Short stories Top
Centaurus Changeling (1954)
The Climbing Wave (1955)
Exiles of Tomorrow (1955)
Death Between the Stars (1956)
Bird of Prey (1957)
A Dozen of Everything (1959)
The Wind People (1959)
The Wild One (1960)
Treason of the Blood (1962)
The Jewel of Arwen (1973)
The Day of the Butterflies (1976)
Hero's Moon (1976)
The Engine (1977)
The Keeper's Price (1978) (with Elisabeth Waters)
The Lesson of the Inn (1978)
The Secret of the Blue Star (1979)
To Keep the Oath (1979)
Blood Will Tell (1980)
Elbow Room (1980)
The Hawk-Master's Son (1980)
The Pledged Word (1983)
The Shadow (1984)
Knives (1985)
Everything but Freedom (1987)
Oathbreaker (1987)
The Walker Behind (1987)
House Rules (1988)
Man of Impulse (1988)
Firetrap (1990) (with Elisabeth Waters)
Amazon Fragment (1991)
Hilary's Homecoming (1993)
Hilary's Wedding (1993)
Jamie (1993)
Here There Be Dragons? (1995)
To Drive the Cold Winter Away (1996)
Awards Top
Hugo Best Novel nominee (1963) : The Sword of Aldones
Nebula Best Novel nominee (1975) : The Heritage of Hastur
Hugo Best Novel nominee (1978) : The Forbidden Tower
Books about Marion Zimmer Bradley Top
Leigh Brackett, Marion Zimmer Bradley and Anne McAffrey : Primary and Secondary Bibliography (1981) by Rosemarie Arbur
Marion Zimmer Bradley (1991) by Phil Stephensen-Payne
Links
Marion Zimmer Bradley's FANTASY Magazine
Marion Zimmer Bradley recommends
The Madagascar Manifesto (2002) by Janet Berliner and George Guthridge
"A shocking yet warmly human story. Very much worth reading."
"Easily one
of the best things I've read for a couple of years. I loved it."
The Unlikely Ones (1986) by Mary Brown
"Really wonderful...I shall read and re-read this one."
The Prince of Ill Luck (1994) by Susan Dexter
"One of the most delightfully funny books I've read in my life."
Met by Moonlight (1998) by Rosemary Edghill
"A story of true magic... It's been many years since I've read anything with such power and passion."
The Dragon Waiting (1983) by John M Ford
"I read it with delight, wonder, and fascination. The book plays, with a truly wonderful seriousness, the game of fantasy and history. I love it."
Children of the Night (1990) by Mercedes R Lackey
"Easily one of the best things I've read for a couple of years. I loved it."
Mercedes R Lackey
"A writer whose work I've loved all along."
The Little Country (1990) by Charles de Lint
"One of the most fascinating books of this decade."
Watchtower (1979) by Elizabeth A Lynn
"Marvelous."
Slob (1987) by Rex Miller
"Rex Miller is terrific. Slob scratches itches I didn't know I had. I'm looking forward to the next Jack Eichord book."
Unquenchable Fire (1988) by Rachel Pollack
"Surrealistic, imaginative, wildly original!"
Sword-Dancer (1986) by Jennifer Roberson
"This is wonderful...tough, touching...and superb."
Lady of the Forest (1992) by Jennifer Roberson
"A beautiful synthesis of all the Robin Hood legends and probably the best book I have read all year."
The Skystone (1992) by Jack Whyte
"It's one of the most interesting historical novels that I've ever read and I've read plenty."
Anne McCaffrey
C J Cherryh
Mercedes R Lackey
Terry Brooks
David Eddings
Piers Anthony
Robert Jordan
Andre Norton
Orson Scott Card
Paul Edwin Zimmer
Poul Anderson
Marion Zimmer Bradley, Traitor's Sun
(Series: Darkover # 34)
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