acceptance of The Compact will help unify Darkover. Melisendra helps Carlina recover from her ordeal. Carlina realizes that the Priestesses of Avarra can work with the Sisterhood of the Sword to aid those unable to travel to the Island of Silence. It's hinted that these two groups will eventually evolve into the Order of Renunciates. Castle Asturias is attacked. Carlina, Melisendra and others escape. Rafael di Asturien and his son, Alaric, die when a staircase collapses, and with them, the only legitimate claimant to the Asturias throne. Paul Harrell is crowned king, having been mistaken for Bard. He marries Melisendra. The real Bard returns to the castle with Varzil the Good. The tower workers join Carlina in nursing the wounded. Bard and Paul straighten out their mistaken identity problem, Bard claiming that Paul was acting as his proxy. Geremy Hastur arrives, offering an alliance between Hastur and di Asturien. He reports that all of the Towers have now sworn neutrality, and that their stockpiles of laran weapons will be destroyed. The alliance must now hold Aldaran to his side of the Karadin River, since he has refused to sign The Compact. Aldaran attacks with clingfire, destroying the rest of the castle. Paul and Bard work to get the survivors out of the castle. Bard comes to realize that he must release Carlina in order to marry Melora, whom he truly loves. Major characters Bard mac Fianna (aka Bard di Asturien aka The Kilghard Wolf), nedestro nephew of King Ardrin of Asturias Rafael di Asturien, Bard's father Paul Harrell (aka Paolo Harryl), a Terran convict and duplicate of Bard di Asturien Carlina di Asturien, Bard's cousin and intended wife, later a priestess of Avarra called Sister Liriel Melora MacAran, a leronis Melisendra MacAran: the mother of Bard's only son Erlend Varzil Ridenow, (aka Varzil the Good), Keeper of Neskaya Tower Minor characters King Adrin di Asturien, Bard's uncle Beltran di Asturien, Carlina's brother Alaric di Asturien, Rafael di Asturien's son Geremy Hastur, a foster of the Asturien family, son of King Istvan of Carcosa Ginevra Harryl, Geremy Hastur's wife Gareth MacAran, an elderly laranzu References Sources Darkover books 1980 American novels Novels by Marion Zimmer Bradley American science fiction novels DAW Books books