Lyskarion: The Song of the Wind

Lyskarion: The Song of the Wind, J.A. Cullum, Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing, 2001

The planet Tamar, home to nine different humanoid races, is moving inexorably toward war. Many years ago, there was a great battle among wizards, which led to much death and destruction, and a great fear of wizards among the general population. Therefore, there are very few wizards left.

Cormor, one of the wizards, decides that the only way to forestall another general war is to bring back the study of wizardry. So all children are to be tested for wizard potential. Two of them, Errin and Elise, knew each other as children when they mind-linked, then went their separate ways. The only problem is that Errin is part of a race of shape shifters that spend part of each year in the sea as dolphins. Elise has been taught her whole life to despise them as less than human.

The third, Jerevan, is found, at birth, to have wizard potential that is practically off the scale. His parents refuse to allow full wizard training. As an adult, Jerevan is asked by Derwen, another wizard, to undergo full wizard training. He refuses, and Derwen lays a curse on Jerevan, the sort of curse that can only be lifted by Jerevan becoming a better wizard than Derwen.

Every few hours, Jerevan experiences severe stomach cramps unless he gorges himself on food. A light snack won't work; the cramps stop when Jerevan's stomach is ready to burst. Later, when the rumblings of war get louder, and his weight reaches four figures, Jerevan is captured by pirates and used as free entertainment.

Meantime, Errin has become the keeper of Lyskarion, the greatest of the eight living crystals created by those wizards of long ago. He and Elise are back together, but she is afraid to mind-link with him, not knowing what the crystal has done to him.

This is more of a characters and dialogue novel than an action novel, so it's not a fast read. The reader's patience will be well rewarded, for the author has done a fine job with the story, the society building, and, especially, the characters in this book. It's a richly done tale that is highly recommended.