GOLDEN TRILLIUM

Third in the fantasy series following Black Trillium (1990, coauthored by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Julian May, and Norton) and Blood Trillium (1992, by May solo). Triplet Kadiya of Ruwenda—bearer of a wondrous three-eyed sword and a black trillium amulet—is drawn to Yatlan, a city in the swamps abandoned ages ago by the powerful Vanished Ones. Here, she is befriended by the Hassitti, a race created by the Vanished Ones to serve them and preserve the city, and learns of a deadly plague spreading across the land. Efforts to contact her sorceress- sister Haramis come to nought, and Kadiya realizes that an evil Vanished One, Varm, is behind all the trouble. Aided by the Hassitti, Kadiya travels into the timeless realm whence the Vanished Ones have retreated. She returns, through the agency of the magical golden trillium, with helpers, including famed warrior Lamaril, now aware that Varm's minions intend to awaken four ancient Sleepers—evil warriors against whom Ruwenda cannot stand. Even though protected by great magic, somehow the Sleepers must be destroyed. A satisfying installment, independently intelligible, with at least one more (from Bradley) still to come.