The Spell Sword

Did You Know?

• In Author's Notes on Chronology, Bradley states that in her view, The Spell Sword occurs about thirty years before Star of Danger.
• The telepathic focals called starstones in early books are also referred to as matrix stones.
• Esteban Lanart's descendants are called Lanart-Alton.

Plot summary

Andrew Carr, a technician on the Empire's Mapping and Exploration survey of Cottman IV (Darkover), crashes his survey plane in a mountain storm. He is guided to safety by a diaphanous figure named Callista, a Keeper communicating through the Overworld, though he dismisses the experience. Meanwhile, Damon Ridenow, a matrix technician dismissed from Arilinn for being too sensitive, travels to Armida with guardsmen. They are attacked by an unseen entity; only Damon survives. At Armida, he learns Callista Lanart has been kidnapped, but her twin Ellemir senses she is alive. Damon seeks Callista in the Overworld but finds only darkness. Andrew arrives at Armida, mistaking Ellemir for Callista. Damon deduces the cat-men hold Callista. Esteban Lanart, Lord Alton, arrives wounded from a similar attack; Damon saves a guard but cannot prevent Lord Alton's paralysis. Lord Alton approves Damon's marriage to Ellemir but opposes Andrew's interest in Callista due to her Keeper status. Damon uses Lord Alton's Alton gift of forced rapport to gain his sword skills, mounts a matrix jewel in his sword hilt, and departs for the Caves of Corresanti, skirmishing with cat-men along the way.