THE RUBY KNIGHT

In The Diamond Throne (1989), Eddings wrote of how Ehlana, Queen of Elenia, had been poisoned, then frozen in crystal to save her life, while her knight and champion, Sparhawk, galloped off to find the talisman Bhelliom, the jewel whose power can save her life. Here, Sparhawk is accompanied by various knights, Sephrenia the magician, the young thief Talen, and the weird, powerful girl-child Flute. To locate Bhelliom, they must first summon up the ghost of King Sarak, who as the previous owner perhaps can offer advice. Menaced by a dangerous, insectile Seeker sent by their opponent, the evil god Azash, they draw slowly closer to Bhelliom—but the dwarf-troll Ghwerig, who made Bhelliom, wants his bauble back. Despite the crystal, time is running out for Ehlana. Flute turns out to be an avatar. Numerous complications, none of any great moment, serve to pad the proceedings. Heroic travelogue with lots of jolly banter and one or two confrontations with Evil: another one where the knights ride errantly forth while the plot stays home to sulk.