Ciara's Song: A Chronicle of Witch World (Witch World Chronicles)

Ciara's Song (1998) is the second novel in the Witch World Chronicles series, following Songsmith. Ciara is the daughter of Talyo and Lanlia, both from families with some Old Blood. Her brother Larian brought word of Duke Yvian's thrice horning of the Old Blood. Lanlia envisions the deaths of her two step-sons and takes steps to protect young Ciara. Talyo, Larian and Lanlia die at the hands of their neighbors at Elmsgarth, but Ciara is not found by the mob. Three days later, Lord Tarnoor arrives with his son Trovagh to look for survivors and to take away all portable items to keep them from the scavengers. They find Ciara and take her back with them to Aiskeep. In this novel, Ciara is heart-sick with grief and fear; she is having nightmares and unable to keep down her food. One night, Trovagh comes during a nightmare and hears Ciara speak of her loneliness, so he offers his own family to her. He swears to protect her and proposes marriage. When Ciara agrees, they perform as much of the betrothal ceremony as they remember and then return to their beds. Lord Tarnoor overhears their conversation and ceremony and is well pleased. He asks the Priestess of the Cup and Flame to oversee a formal betrothal ceremony for them and it is done. Now Ciara will be the daughter that he has always wanted. After that Ciara's health steadily improves, but Trovagh catches a cold that becomes pneumonia. Ciara prepares draughts for him as had her mother, but he becomes feverish and his lungs gurgle. Remembering the pendant given to her by Larian, Ciara sinks her mind into its gray mists and heals his illness. Later she heals a favorite horse who has broken his leg. Both times, the exhaustion and powerloss last for a week; obviously she is not a very strong healer. Lord Tarnoor, however, knows that she has enough of the Old Blood powers to inflame passions against her. Moreover, the powerful lords would have no qualms about using her for political ends. Something must be done to protect her from these enemies. One man suspects her powers, however, and intends her death. Seren tries to drown her in Teral Town, but a friendly merchant loudly orders a search for the missing girl and scares away the would-be killer. Seren tries to harm Ciara in other ways, but the betrayer is himself betrayed. Seren is driven out of his own garth and dies in a strange land. However, his son has sworn vengeance against the people of Aiskeep. This novel covers four generations at Aiskeep, from Lord Tarnoor to his great-granddaughter Aisling. It encompasses the history of Karsten from the thrice horning to the rise of Duke Shandro. During this time, the witches of Estcarp stir their southern mountains, killing the invading army of Duke Pagar of Kars. This is a time of great danger to anyone with the Old Blood. Indeed, anyone with any magical powers at all, including healing, are viewed with suspicion. Even an accusation of working for the witches of Estcarp

Oh yes, exactly! I, I suppose in contrast to those prior in reviews, LOVED this book incredibly. While I DO wish that Cee's story was expanded upon (towards the end it seemed a little rushed) I still can't wait for a sequel! I'm now reading the "Chronicles of Witchworld," and wish most desperately I could find a sequel on the story of Ciara's granddaughter.

although i did feel as if the authors were trying to piece two short stories into a book, i still found this book to be a great adventure. i love tro and cee especially. however, i hope norton and mcconchie will write another one where we learn more of what happens keelan and aisling.