THE SEVENTH BOOK OF LOST SWORDS

Wayfinder, one of the ten surviving Swords forged by the gods and imbued with tremendous magical powers, leads its wielder wherever he or she commands it to go. Brought by a mysterious shrouded figure, the Sword arrives at the hut of hulking young grape-grower Valdemar, who orders it to find him a wife. By chance, or so it seems, Valdemar becomes involved in the troubles of Prince Mark of Tasavalta; Mark and his friends seek the Sword Woundhealer in order to cure Mark's ailing wife. But the evil macrowizard Wood also covets the Swords, and sends his beautiful young assistant Tigris and some demons to the attack. Recognizing Wayfinder, Tigris makes an immediate decision and orders the Sword to direct her to a means of escaping Wood's domination. Sure enough, she ends up with Valdemar, but only after a spell cast by the vengeful Wood has wiped out her evil magic and recent memory. When Mark arrives on the scene, armed with Shieldbreaker and Sightblinder, intent on seizing Woundhealer, Wood fails to recognize him. A demon recaptures Wayfinder for Wood, so when he attacks Mark with that Sword, Shieldbreaker destroys not only Wayfinder but Wood himself. Soap-opera-ish, in that nobody seems to have anything much to do except chase after Swords; still, by now the characters are as familiar and comfortable as old shoes, the plotting agreeable enough, and the workout overall well up to par.