Indomitable (short story)

Lore & Background

The story follows Jair Ohmsford, son of Wil Ohmsford, who is working in his parents' inn when Kimber Boh visits him. She tells him of a dream haunting Cogline, in which the shade of Allanon warns that a page from the Ildatch was not destroyed and must be eliminated. Jair agrees to travel to Hearthstone, where the shade of Allanon appears and instructs him to go to Dun Fee Aran, the lair of the Mwellrets, to destroy the page before its power grows.

During the journey, the three companions encounter a peddler who warns them against going. Jair struggles with his fear of returning to the place where he was once imprisoned by the lizard-like Mwellrets. Upon arrival, Jair slips sleeping medication into Cogline and Kimber's ale so he can enter the fortress alone. He uses his Wishsong to disguise himself and conjures an illusion of Allanon, causing panic among the Mwellrets.

Jair follows a Mwellret to the chamber where the page is guarded. When he tries to pick up the page, it burns him, revealing his presence. The Mwellrets search for him, and his illusion of warriors is quickly seen through. Desperately, Jair conjures an illusion of the weapons master Garet Jax, which he also inhabits, gaining Jax's fighting abilities. He slaughters the Mwellrets and destroys the Ildatch page, then escapes, realizing his Wishsong is far more powerful than he had known.

Reader's Guide

"Indomitable" serves as a direct sequel to *The Wishsong of Shannara*, bridging events in the Shannara timeline. It explores Jair Ohmsford's personal growth and the expansion of his Wishsong magic, showing him overcoming fear and discovering new depths of his power. The story also revisits key characters from the earlier novel, such as Cogline, Kimber Boh, and the shade of Allanon, while referencing the fallen weapons master Garet Jax. Published in the 2003 anthology *Legends II*, it provides additional context for readers of the Shannara series, though it remains a standalone short story. Its significance lies in its contribution to the lore of the Ildatch and the ongoing struggle against the remnants of dark magic in Brooks's world.

Did You Know?

• The remaining page of the Ildatch is guarded in the Mwellret lair Dun Fee Aran.
• Jair slips sleeping medication into Cogline and Kimber Boh's ale to enter the fortress alone.