Divided Allegiance

Divided Allegiance (1988) is the second fantasy novel in the Deed of Paksenarrion series, following Sheepfarmer's Daughter. In the previous volume, Paks, Canna and Saben escaped crosscountry from Count Siniava's troops besieging Dwarfwatch, but Canna was wounded in the shoulder. Knowing that Canna was a Girdist, Paks placed her Saint Gird medallion against the wound and prayed for healing. Canna felt a sharp pain in her shoulder and the wound was soon healed. Later, they were suddenly attacked by brigands and only Paks avoided capture to reach the Duke. With the information Paks carried, Duke Phelan ambushed the Count's relief column and then broke the siege at Dwarfwatch. The militia found the brigands holding Saben and Canna, but the enemy tried to kill off their prisoners. Saben was killed outright, but Canna remained alive for a short while and asked that her medallion be given to Paks. When Duke Phelan finally cornered the Count in a deserted fort, he set an ambush party, led by Paks, outside the escape tunnel. As expected, the Count tried to flee the siege, but used the cover of a sleep spell. Paks, however, was awakened by a sharp pain on her chest from Canna's medallion and awoke the others to catch the fleeing Count. The Honeycat was executed on the spot at the Duke's order. In this novel, Paks becomes increasingly upset with the political alliances of Duke Phelan. The former pirate Alured had turned his coat and helped in the destruction of Count Siniava. In return, he requires the Duke and other allies to assist in his effort to become the Duke of Immer. Unfortunately, the Duke's forces are used to drive the citizens of each town into the city square, where Alured captures, tortures and kills those whom he accuses as Siniava's agents. The Duke releases Paks from his service, with rights of return, so she can try to seek further military skills. She also carries a message from Aliam Halveric to his wife. She works as a caravan guard to the Silver Pass and then accompanies Mancenion, a mage with elven blood, through the pass toward Ladyforest. Mancenion irritates Paks with his superiors ways and his tendency to withhold information. Mancenion does discover that her Dwarfwatch honors ring has magical influence over animals. Later, he uses her power over this ring to hold a snow cat helpless while he kills it. Paks has tried to talk him out of hurting the cat, but is told that either she or the cat must die. Later he mentions that she should have thought of making the cat run away if she objected so strongly to the killing. Paks is very upset over that unfair comment; he should have told her before the cat was killed. On the other side of the pass, Mancenion points out the ruins of an Elven city and suggests that they explore it. He has heard about the place from his elders and knows that there is still treasure somewhere inside. Sleeping among the ruins, both Paks and Mancenion have the same dream. Someone or

The first third of this book seemed mediocre compared to the writing and character development in the first book, SHEEPFARMER'S DAUGHTER. Paks didn't seem the same and the story seemed a bit forced. However, after this first adventure, the book really picks up. Do not put the book down because of this beginning...trust me, it gets a lot better.This book is the furthing story of Paks' development towards her destiny. We see her exporing her own belief system and becoming more of a young woman of the world, rather than the girl she still was at the end of the first book. The supporting characters are all vivid and important. They each have something to contribute to who Paks will become.I was shocked at the ending. It seemed to come out of nowhere...there was no way I could have expected Ms. Moon to end the book that way. It took a lot of courage for her to leave her readers hanging, wondering what would happen to Paks. Thankfully, I had the third book on hand and started it right away, just to find out what happened.This was a thoroughly absorbing book. I found that, after the first third or so, I could hardly put it down. As with the first book, I always wanted to find out what happened next. Ms. Moon's writing kept me engaged with the characters and made me care about what happened to them. Plus, she dangled just enough mystery in front of us to keep us intrigued with the overall story of the trilogy rather than the substories in the individual books. I highly recommend this book to all fantasy fans.

The second book of Paksenarrion's Deed is even better than the first. Paks embarks on a solo adventure after leaving the Company to its distasteful task. The magic and Tolkien-ness of the world is more apparant in this installment than in the first book, and we encounter many more elves, dwarves, gnomes, orcs, and other magical creatures. Evil makes a much more overt appearance in this novel, as well. Paks continues to grow as a warrior, an adventurer, and an active agent for good. She continues to explore the influence of Gird in her life, and encounters great battles, harrowing tortures, and huge learning experiences along the way. She makes several fascinating new friends, and some frightening new enemies.This book managed to keep me enthralled from beginning to end--the action starts almost from the first page and continues to the very last. I had a really hard time putting it down, and raced to get the last in the trilogy. This series is great!

Divided Allegiance is second in a trilogy. If you want to read it, try buying "The Deed of Paksenarrion". That book has all 3 books of the trilogy in it.

This is the dark book of the "Deed of Paksenarrion" series. The book continues to be good, but is the most nerve-racking of the series. Nevertheless, it rules.