The second volume of David Eddings’ magnificent Elenium trilogy, now part of the Voyager Classics collection.
Ehlana, the young Queen of Elenia, clings to life by a thread, preserved within a crystalline tomb conjured by the sorceress Sephrenia. But there’s a price to pay – twelve Pandion Knights must sacrifice their lives to keep her alive for just one year.
Only one thing is powerful enough to save Ehlana – the Bhelliom, an exquisite and magical jewel that has been lost for centuries. Sparhawk, the Queen’s Champion, and his band of allies must set off on a perilous quest to locate the precious stone. But the evil God Azash has plans for it himself…
David Eddings was born in Washington State in 1931 and grew up near Seattle. He graduated from the University of Washington and went on to serve in the US Army. Subsequently he worked as a buyer for the Boeing company and taught college-level English. His first novel was a contemporary adventure, but he soon began a spectacular career as a fantasy writer with his bestselling series ‘The Belgariad’.