The first book in the Heralds of Valdemar series, about a young girl named Talia, from a family of Holderkin. To avoid being forced into marriage at the age of thirteen, Talia runs away, only to be confronted by a large white stallion. Despite the fact that Talia holds a deep desire to be chosen as a Herald (a group of individuals who serve the kingdom) she is ignorant of how that choosing takes place.
So unbeknownst to Talia, the animal she has encountered is not in fact a horse, but is the Companion Rolan, who was Companion to the Queen's Own Herald. After the death of his Herald, Rolan left Haven, the capital of Valdemar, in search of the person who would become his Herald, and the new Queen's own.
Understanding Talia's ignorance, in the wake of the choosing Rolan blocks Talia's memory of the event, until such time as they can return to Haven, and others can explain what has happened to the young girl.
When they reach the capital, Talia is overjoyed that she has been chosen to be a Herald, and that she never has to return home.
During her training, Talia is tasked by the Queen, out of sheer desperation, with the taming of Princess Elspeth, also known as 'The Brat'. Unknown to anyone, the child's minder, Hulda, is an enemy agent, and she is influencing Elspeth, making sure that she will never be chosen as a Herald, and therefore never able to take the throne after her mother, for the heir to the throne MUST be a Herald.
Talia eventually discovers Hulda's secret, and informs the Queen, but Hulda receives a warning, and manages to flee before she can be caught.
Other trials beset Talia, the most trying of which is the bullying she suffers at the hands of the 'Blues' a group of young nobles who study classes at the Collegium. Not connected to any of the three main schools, they are mostly the indolent offspring of nobles, being educated to take up positions in their family's estates, or at court. At first the bullying is hurtful, but relatively harmless, but some of the youths are influenced by their parent, who see Talia's future position as Queen's Own Herald as a threat to their own power, and seek to rid themselves of the girl before she can influence the Queen.
For the role of the Queen's Own is that of the Queen's closest advisor, and why Rolan went in search of Talia. For Rolan is no ordinary Companion, if any could be called 'ordinary'. He is 'Grove-born', not having come from the mating of two Companions, but having appeared full-grown from the grove that stands at the centre of Companions Field.
Eventually the danger to Talia reaches critical mass, and an attempt is made on her life. She is nearly drowned in a freezing cold river, but survives by the narrowest of margins. After this the Heralds close ranks around her, preventing the possibility of a repeat. In the stress of the incident, Talia's mindgift, that of Empathy, finally surfaces, and Talia begins to train her power, as the ability to sense the emotions of others has many advantages, not the least of which is being able to tell when they are lying.
Talia is attempting to stretch herself, testing the boundaries of her new gift, when she is horrified to psychically witness the murder of her fellow Herald Ylsa. But she is able to use her gift to show others, namely Heralds Kris and Dirk, where Ylsa's body lies, and they are able to use their own mindgifts to retrieve both Ylsa, and the vital information that she carries.
In the aftermath, Ylsa's life-mate Keren succumbs to grief, but Talia is able, through her Empathy, to reach the grief-stricken Herald, showing her that she has much to live for, and saving her life.
Publishing Details
- Reading level: Ages 18 and up
- Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: DAW (March 3, 1987)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0886773784
- ISBN-13: 978-0886773786
- Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
Search Tags
arrows of the queen
100 1_ |a Lackey, Mercedes.
245 10 |a Arrows of the queen / |c Mercedes Lackey.
260 __ |a New York : |b DAW Books, Inc., |c c1987.
300 __ |a 320 p. ; |c 18 cm.
490 1_ |a The Heralds of Valdemar
490 1_ |a DAW book collectors ; |v no. 702
520 __ |a Talia, a runaway Holdgirl, is chosen to become a trainee herald in the queen’s elite guard and to care for young Princess Elspeth, heir to the throne. Talia is made a herald at the royal court after she rescues one of the legendary Companions. When she uncovers a plot to seize the throne, Talia must use her empathic powers to save the queen. Talia, a trainee Herald, must use her untried psychic and empathic powers to protect the Queen of Valdemar and her child from a deadly conspiracy that threatens to destroy the kingdom.
650 _0 |a Valdemar (Imaginary place) |v Fiction.
650 _1 |a Fantasy.
650 _1 |a Valdemar (Imaginary place) |v Fiction.
655 _7 |a Fantasy fiction. |2 gsafd
776 08 |i Online version: |a Lackey, Mercedes. |t Arrows of the queen. |d New York : DAW Books, c1987 |w (OCoLC)568755555
776 08 |i Online version: |a Lackey, Mercedes. |t Arrows of the queen. |d New York : DAW Books, Inc., c1987 |w (OCoLC)607882939
830 _0 |a Heralds of Valdemar.
Links
Wikipedia - Arrows of the Queen
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