Mystic and Rider Trivia Quiz

Answer: Senneth and Tayse

Senneth is a powerful mystic or magic wielder. She is also an intimate of King Baryn. In his own way as powerful as Senneth, Tayse serves in, and is one of the best fighters of, the king's elite guard known as the King's Riders. As often happens with strong personalities, the two don't get along well at first.

Justin is the other Rider. Kirra and Donnell are shape shifters, while Cammon is a sensitive or 'reader', what we might call an empath.

Answer: With hostility and suspicion

Tayse and Justin are soldiers, plainspoken, practical men of action. They have no use for magic or its practitioners.

Answer: No

Both sides come to value the skills and contributions of the other. In fact, by the end they are all fast friends.

Answer: On a fact finding mission for King Baryn

The King has asked Senneth to investigate rumors of civil unrest brewing throughout Gillengaria. Along the way, she and her companions encounter unexpected and disturbingly widespread persecution of mystics, which they trace to Coralinda Gisseltess and the order she leads, the Daughters of the Pale Mother. Even more unsettling, they come to suspect that this religious upheaval is intertwined with the building rebellion led by Coralinda's brother, Marlord Halchon.

Answer: A raelynx

A young raelynx (a red and black wildcat from the Lirrenlands) is terrorizing the small settlement. Senneth captures him and to the dismay of her companions takes him with them. In time, both she and Cammon learn to control the cat. Despite the logistical problems he presents, as when they must pass through a town or city, all the companions realize that they like having him nearby. And once or twice he proves very helpful indeed.

Answer: A young woman in danger of dying in childbirth

The girl's father is so profoundly bigoted that he believes it would be better for his daughter and her manifestly mystic baby to die. Senneth has to severely frighten the father and brothers in order to allow herself and Kirra, who both possess healing gifts, along with the girl's sister to attend the birth.

Answer: Tayse

As canny as he is, Tayse rides straight into the trap and is taken to the convent. There the Lestra tries to persuade him to leave the King's Riders to serve the Pale Mother, the goddess of the moon to whom her order is devoted. To his annoyance, Tayse gathers only very limited intelligence during his sojourn at the convent.

He does learn firsthand, though, that Coralinda Gisseltess is a charismatic and dangerous woman.

Answer: The raelynx

Senneth takes the great but necessary chance that she can mentally hold the cat, turning him loose while keeping him from hurting any of the convent's residents. But of course the Lestra doesn't know it is possible for anyone to control a raelynx, so she is frightened into letting Tayse go. Curiously though, Cammon senses someone inside the convent also exercising control of the raelynx. Clearly, it isn't Coralinda. Who could it be?

Answer: He is in love with Senneth.

Not only is Senneth a mystic, she is a headstrong, opinionated woman who wears men's clothes and wields a blade at need along with her magic fire. But she also possesses intelligence, honesty, integrity and the conviction that strength must be used to protect and aid the weak.

After she has rescued him from Luminen Convent, Tayse concludes that, despite his better judgment, his grudging admiration for the mystic has grown into love.

Answer: No

Coralinda's faith includes - as she see it necessitates - a profound hatred of magic and those who use it, most especially Senneth. Therefore, she apparently feels no compunction about breaking her word to withhold pursuit of Senneth's party.

Answer: Senneth is grievously injured and her friends kill all the men in the attacking band.

Senneth suffers a nearly fatal arrow wound, from which it takes her several days to recover with the unfailing care and love of her friends.

Answer: The lost sarramarra of Brasenthwaite

While helping Kirra nurse Senneth, Tayse inadvertently discovers Senneth's house mark, the brand that stamps her indelibly as belonging to one of the twelve noble houses of Gillengaria. In response to his stunned inquiry, Kirra reluctantly tells him the mark is that of Brasenthwaite, one of the four most powerful houses in the realm.

At this news the stalwart Tayse falls into despair. A sarramarra, much less a sarramarra of a great house, is immeasurably far beyond his reach.

Answer: Halchon attacks Senneth, and Tayse holds him off at swordpoint.

We learn much about Marlord Halchon Gisseltess in this scene: He is cold, ruthless and almost casually arrogant. He believes he should be king. And, he has a perverse obsession with Senneth. We also learn why Senneth fears him. He is ice to her fire. His touch drains her strength, both magical and physical, leaving her helpless.

It is fortunate indeed for Senneth that Tayse is present at the interview.

Answer: Queen Valery persuades King Baryn to let her keep him in a protected part of the palace grounds.

When Queen Valery learns that the companions have brought a raelynx with them to the palace, she becomes excited, readily agreeing with Cammon that he must not be confined in a cage any longer. Indeed, she expresses the desire that the cat be released into her private garden, which is walled and secure.

Answer: With a kiss

"Mystic and Rider" ends with Senneth and Tayse finally acknowledging their love and kissing in the moonlight.

The second book in the "Twelve Houses" series, "The Thirteenth House" ends with Kirra and Donnal in hawk form flying away from the palace, back to Danalustrous. The third book, "Dark Moon Defender," ends with Justin poised for a more or less friendly fencing match with Ellynor's brother Torin. "Reader and Raelynx" ends with Senneth calling fire from her hands.