The Jewel in the Skull

Plot summary

The novel takes place at an indeterminate time after a nuclear holocaust, in a world where science and sorcery coexist and the Dark Empire of Granbretan expands across Europe. Count Brass, Lord Guardian of the Kamarg—a territory once part of France—inspects his lands and kills a baragoon, a swamp monster created from transformed slaves by the previous Lord Guardian, on his return to Castle Brass at Aigues-Mortes. There he is greeted by his daughter Yisselda and his friend Bowgentle, a philosopher-poet. Bowgentle argues for opposing Granbretan's evil, but Count Brass believes a united Europe will eventually know peace. At the Great Festival, Count Brass saves the bullfighter Mahtan Just in the bullring. Later, Baron Meliadus, an emissary from Granbretan, fails to persuade Count Brass to share his knowledge of European courts. Meliadus courts Yisselda, but she refuses to elope; he attempts to kidnap her, wounding Bowgentle, but is defeated by Count Brass and expelled from Kamarg. Meliadus swears an oath on the legendary Runestaff to gain power over Count Brass, win Yisselda, and destroy Kamarg. Meanwhile, a rebellion in the German province of Köln led by Duke Dorian Hawkmoon is crushed, and Hawkmoon is taken prisoner to Londra, the Granbretan capital. Baron Meliadus offers Hawkmoon freedom for himself and Köln if he kidnaps Yisselda; Hawkmoon agrees. To ensure loyalty, a Black Jewel is inserted in his forehead, which relays his sight to Londra and will destroy his brain if he betrays. Before departing, Hawkmoon meets the immortal King-Emperor of Granbretan.