Sunday, April 27, 2008

Knights of the Silver Dragon Book Nine- Key to the Griffon's Lair by Candice Ransom

The Knights of the Silver Dragon were a famed company of adventurers who fought on the side of good. After a massive battle during the Troll Invasion, most of the Knights died, leaving only the Wizard Kendric behind.

When Kendric's apprentice Zellach, his brother Driskoll and his friend Moyra joined together to do good around the town of Curston, Kendric bestowed upon the three the name of the Knights of the Silver Dragon. Even though the three are just children, and not quite teenagers, they continue to investigate mysteries and defeat evil, even if it is sometimes overstated and not what they believe it to be.

The story begins with the Mop Faire, an annual fair at which people hire all sorts of servants. Moyra is looking for a woman who sells all sorts of amulets and charms, whom she met at the last Mop Faire. When she finds the woman, she buys a ring for Kellach that will keep him from being affected by spells. She is also hoping to buy her father a charm that will help him be a better thief. Moyra is a thief, too, but her father is a really incompetent thief, and she wants to help him become a better one. Sadly, the woman doesn't have a charm for that, but she presses on Moyra a small falcon in a cage.

Moyra is upset, saying that if she tries to return to Curston with the falcon, a bird only nobles can fly and which she can't possibly afford, she'll be arrested for stealing it. Given that it is a noble bird, Kellach says to try letting it out of the cage. They do so, and the bird leads them to a strange and spooky tavern, where they are met by a woman, Caroline, Lady Dardley. She begs them to help her.

It seems that her father has fallen under the sway of a magician he hired to be his court mage. Lord Dardley's father died in the Troll Invasion, and the magician has told him that his father's death was caused by Zellach's mentor, Kendric. Caroline is certain that Lord Dardley wouldn't have accepted this without the use of some kind of mind-affecting magic, and she begs the knights to set her father free.

This magician, Nimrae by name, has gathered together an army of undead monsters. The only way to save the town is to go to the Crypt of the Silver Knights that lies somewhere under Dardley lands, wake the spirits of the Silver Knights, and lead them into battle against the undead army. To that end, she gives them a silver key. The head of the key is embossed with a Griffon's head on one side, and a stylized sun design on the other. And then Caroline must go, but before she does, she tells them that her maid, the woman selling charms, can be used as a go-between between the Knights and her.

On their way home, Moyra feels something or someone watching and following them, so she has them duck into a nearby warehouse to throw off pursuit. They see no one, but a tuft of silvery-white fur is left behind on Moyra's boot.

Moyra doesn't want to tell anyone about the mission, but Zellach and Driskoll end up telling Zellach's mentor Kendric about the claims Nimrae is making. Kendric is not well, but he makes it clear that he knows Nimrae and has a low view of the man's abilities. He also tells them that Nimrae visited him recently, and tried to cast a spell on him, but failed. With Nimrae set to unleash his army in three days time, the Knights must find the tomb on their own, since Kendric is having dizzy spells.

Moyra also has them visit a friend of hers, a man named Rom, who is a Traveller who has left his people and settled down in Curston. Rom has known Moyra since she was a toddler, but he has a gift of foreseeing, called Beyond, and Moyra asks Rom for help. He reads the key with Beyond, and sees a forest with roads, but not roads. Circles. and then he nearly goes into convulsions. When they finally get the key from his grasp, he warns them about the Juckal, a white, wolf-like creature that prowls the forest. He tells Moyra to take the most care, as she has connected with the Juckal.

They are summoned back to Dardley Manor to meet Caroline that night, and keep watch over the stables, where her father has seen a prowler. They keep watch, and are rewarded with a meeting with the Juckal, who Kellach can talk to mind to mind. The Juckal says he is here to help them, then leaves before they can get any more information.

Later, they meet the Juckal's master, a former Knight of the Silver Dragon who was blinded before the last battle and left the order in shame. The Griffon who guards the tomb is the same Griffon that led to the deaths of the original Knights of the Silver Dragon. One of the Knights had been attempting to tame the Griffon, but when this knight rode his horse into the battle, the horse panicked at the sight of the Griffon, which attracted its attention, and it broke to kill and eat the horse. This lost the Knights the battle until Kendric cast a spell and saved the town.

Finally, the Knights learn the location of the Crypt: in the hunting preserve of Lord Dardley. But until Lord Dardley announces a hunt for the white wolf-like creature that has been spotted on his lands, the Knights have no way to get there. But can they sneak into the hunting preserve without attracting the attention of Nimrae?

This is a very enjoyable novel aimed at kids 8-12. The three characters are all within that age range or a little older. The actions the kids perform are all within the range of things that normal kids that age can do, with the exception, of course, of Kellach's ability to do magic. The kids are also portrayed as being realistically inventive and knowledgeable for their age range with Kellach, of course, being the smartest, as knowledge is paramount for wizards.

In short, this set of novels is perfect for any child into adventure and/or Dungeons and Dragons. There is nothing truly objectionable inside, either in themes or language. Some parents may find it objectionable that Moyra is a thief, but those familliar with D&D will understand that it is merely another class. Additionally, Moyra's father is a thief, a bad one, and during this novel, gives it up for honest work.

Even though this is a novel for younger readers, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone in the target age.

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