The Last Herald-Mage Trilogy

Title: Magic's Pawn Author: Mercedes Lackey Publisher: DAW Books, USA Date of Publication: 1991 Details: Paperback, 352 pages ISBN: 0886773520

Back Cover Teaser:
Though Vanyel has been born with near-legendary abilities to work both Herald and Mage magic, he wants no part of such things. Nor does he seek a warrior's path, wishing ins. tead to become a Bard. Yet such talent as his if left untrained may prove a menace not only to Vanyel but to others as well. So he is sent to be fostered by his aunt, Savil, one of the famed Herald-Mages of Valdemar. But, strong-willed and self-centered, Vanyel is a challenge which even Savil cannot master alone. For soon he will become the focus of frightening forces, lending his raw magic to a spell that unleashes terrifying wyr-hunters on the land. And by the time Savil seeks the assistance of a Shin'a'in Adept, Vanyel's wild talent may already have grown beyond anyone's ability to contain, placing Vanyel, Savil, and Valdemar itself in desperate peril...

Title: Magic's Promise Author: Mercedes Lackey Publisher: DAW Books, USA Date of Publication: 1990 Details: Paperback, 320 pages ISBN: 0886774012

Back Cover Teaser:
The Wild Magic is taking its toll on the land. Many Heralds and Herald-Mages have died fighting to preserve the peace. Even Vanyel, the most powerful of all the Herald-Mages, is almost at the end of his strength, in need of a respite from the dual threats of war and dark magic. But for Vanyel, there can be no rest. Not when his Companion, Yfandes, receives a summons which can't be ignored - a desperate cry for help which draws them both into the heart of a magical holocaust in the neighboring kingdom. Almost overwhelmed by the devastation they discover there, Herald-Mage and Companion must try to unravel this tragic mystery. Is the young Prince Tashir, a newly Chosen Herald who can't control his own magic, responsible for the destruction? Or is Tashir a pawn in a deeper, more deadly game - and, if so, will Vanyel be able to find and defeat the true destroyer before this master of dark powers can strike again?

Title: Magic's Price Author: Mercedes Lackey Publisher: DAW Books, USA Date of Publication: 1990 Details: Paperback, 352 pages ISBN: 0886774268

Back Cover Teaser:
Valdemar - the once-peaceful kingdom protected by the magic of its Herald-Mages - is now beseiged on all fronts. The king lies near death, the neighboring land of Karse wages a relentless war against Valdemar, and the forces led by a master of dark forbidden magic are massing to strike the final devastating blow against the kingdom. And Vanyel, the most powerful Herald-Mage Valdemar has ever known, has become the primary target of the evil which is reaching to poison all the land. With all his fellow mages slain, Vanyel alone remains to defend his people against the dark master's army. Yet a dream vision has revealed to Vanyel the fate which awaits should he and his Companion Yfandes take up the dark master's challenge. And if either Vanyel or Yfandes falters, the dream will become a horrifying reality in which both Valdemar and its last Herald-Mage must pay the ultimate price...