| |
In early l963, I began to write a quasi-adventure story, the kindest comment on which would be that it was my first effort. I was a young Signalman at the time, posted to Kingston, which provided all the setting for the story. I was posted to Calgary in September of the same year, and about the middle of next March, I was at Rivers, Manitoba, undergoing parachute training. I had borrowed a typewriter from a friend, and resolved to type up this first story, which I did, finishing it just a few days before we made our last jump.
However, it was too long to sell immediately, so I decided to do a short story first, and see what I could do. Upon arriving back at Calgary, I began the story of Rorick and the Sword of Avandal. As it continued, it became obvious that it was no short story, because I was on page thirty, written longhand on a small writing pad, and still far from finished. I decided to write it up into a book.
As I rode with Rorick and Conel of the Hills on the path of freedom, things came up which had little to do with the story itself. Conel the Wild (Conel of the Hills’ ancestor), Cael of the Versek, Icar the Farmer, the Old Island, Garthell, Ferdach Fight, Thumill of the Three Rings, all showed themselves Horagon was mentioned, but not by name, and the story of the Dwarves and the Arkh-bazd Whazar and the Great Green Other People were mentioned briefly. The Vakons were mentioned, and Donal the Bane came to Rorick at Orden. The Elder Folk received a bare mention in the form of Lhorannon (Lhorandon)and Troyan, and Brhandon, along with a few songs identified as “Elder Songs”. There were one or two mentions of Ammerlyn, Lhedu Andan (The Wandering Wizard), and a foretelling of Rorick of the Iron Hand, and the battle against the Darkness.
By the time I had written this book out in longhand, I was already, in my mind, going over the story of Darkon and the Kingship of Avantir. It got me first as a sort of story about the time of the falling of an Empire, but Ammerlyn’s coming was tied in with something greater, which finally came out. Anthropology interested me, so I worked out the approximate customs of all the mentioned races, and tied in with it came their languages. It seemed, though, too great en undertaking for one young Signalman with a pen and writing pad.
It would be senseless for me to deny that I was inspired by the work of JRR Tolkien. I was, but not for the plot. I read his “Lord of the Rings” twice, while I was still in Calgary, and after the second time, I was beginning to like them (although they were a bit long). Then, shortly after being posted to Shilo, Manitoba, I bought a typewriter, and wrote out the story of the Hygerian War several times, finally coming up with what I thought was a fairly good story.
However, I was still working out the big story, wishing there was any chance at all for a story as long as it promised to be. Then, “The Lord of The Rings” came out in paperback. On an impulse, I bought them, and this time, and I could see how good it really was. It did more, too. I decided that if one book that size could be written, then the Powers Above, so could another.
So Randell Rode out of Coerl, leaving Malik insane on the throne behind. Darkon watched things happen, from the death of Ross and Kithien to the betrayal of Randell and Ardan by Kedrex, servant of Malik. To Darkon fell the privilege of the barony of Avantir, though it was more like burden. The Sword was his, and the responsibility of uniting the Eastern part of Asbaln to stand along. Ammerlyn, though, had come to help him, and with his counsel, the young Vakon forged a kingdom, but a kingdom which stood by the strength of his Sword-arm alone.
Gorths, Keldhs, Harvatai all swept in to take a piece of Avantir. Brangwyn the Keldh was met by a united war-host, and after a great battle became a part of Avantir. Quird of the Harvatai was beaten and slain in battle, but he left a young son, Terrig, who swore revenge when he became old enough. Cleothen Clutha’s son of the Gorths led his men in later, and was beaten back twice. However, Avantir stood strong now, for when Grim Harld’s Foster, the adopted brother of Darkon, led a force of Vakon and Halvar Seamen after Rulf Thyrson and his men who settled across the Ilcaniar, Darkon held to his pledge, and led his own men to Rulf’s aid. He met Grim and killed him, but they had been raised so much together that, for a time, he lost all will to fight.
Avantir stood while Darkon cared little for life, but Artir, the youngest of the Barons, saw the danger, and spoke to Darkon like a traitor, which made him see where his duty lay. They rode to battle, but bad luck and a mist gave Darkon his first defeat. Cleothen took his refuge in the Marshland, where the cavalry of Avantir was at a disadvantage.
The rebellion of Hyrul of Golden Chain was put down, and Hyrul was brought into the King’s service, while aid unlooked for came out of the West; Dertha Arothen’s son with the Riders of the Blue Banner. The Derrakos, or Darkos, the wild swamp-dwellers, began to raid out of the swamp, and must be put down. At present, 1967, Darkon is fighting Corsairs and Derrakos, and is hoping yet to be able to drive the Gorths from Avantir before the Second Great War comes.
- JP Wagner
1967
Calgary, AB