title: Magic's Pawn (The Last Herald-Mage Series, Book 1)
author:  Mercedes Lackey 
description: Vanyel's disdain for swordsmanship earns him an unexpected exile--at the High Court of Valdemar under the guardianship of his stern and implacable Aunt Savil, one of the legendary Herald-Mages. A young man's painful discovery of his own immense talents and his true nature form the core of this richly detailed fantasy, the first in a new series set in the same world as "The Heroes of Valdemar." Lackey's talent for characterization lends depth to this coming-of-age adventure that will appeal to most fantasy readers.<br />Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
zlib_text: Magics Price
  
  by
  
  Mercedes Lackey
  
    
  
  Last Herald Mage 3
  
    
  
  To
  
  Russell Galen
  
  Judith Louvis and Sally Paduch
  
  and everyone who dreams of wearing Whites
  
    
  
  One
  
    
  
  Sweat ran down Herald Vanyel’s back, and his ankle hurt a little - he hadn’t
  twisted it, quite, when he’d slipped on the wooden floor of the salle back at
  the beginning of this bout, but it was still bothering him five exchanges
  later.
  
  A point of weakness, and one he’d better be aware of, because his opponent was
  watching for such signs of weakness, sure as the sun rose.
  
  He watched his adversary’s eyes within the shadows of his helm. Watch the
  eyes, he remembered Jervis saying, over and over. The eyes will tell you what
  the hands won’t. So he studied those half-hidden eyes, and tried to hide his
  entire body behind the quillons of his blade.
  
  The eyes warned him, narrowing and glancing to the left just before Tantras
  moved. Vanyel was ready for him.
  
  Experience told him, just before their blades touched, that this wo