|
''The Symphony of Ages'' is a series of fantasy–romance books by Elizabeth Haydon. The books tell the story of Rhapsody, a young singer of considerable talent who travels across time to a new land only to learn that it was foretold in a prophecy. Along with her two companions, Rhapsody fights to reunite a kingdom ravaged by war and long-standing prejudice. The books in the series are as follows: ==Plot== Fourteen-year-old Gwydion is transported into a nearly one and one half millennia distant past to the Isle of Serendair by the mysterious Meridion. There he meets and falls in love with the young farmer's daughter Emily. They want to marry, yet when Gwydion goes to propose, he is taken back to his own time by Meridion. The devastated Emily runs away from home in search of him. Seven years later Emily, now called Rhapsody, lives in the town of Easton. A former prostitute, she studies to become a Namer and Singer, a profession which gives her semi-magical abilities. When she is pursued by the underlings of her former client Michael, who is obsessed with her, Rhapsody tries to enlist help of two Firbolg, accidentally renaming one of them, a ruthless assassin then called The Brother to Achmed the Snake. Against her will, she is forced by Achmed and his friend Grunthor to accompany them on a journey through the center of the Earth, along the root of Sagia, the Holy Tree. After a long time the three emerge on the opposite side of the Earth and learn that fourteen hundred years have passed. The lands in which they find themselves were settled by refugees from Serendair, which had been destroyed a very long time ago. Moreover, the original colonists, who sailed there with their king Gwylliam, crossed on their way from Serendair the meridian and thus became immortal (no longer aging, but still able to be killed or die of illness). Their descendants born already in the new lands are only extremely long-lived, though. The people from Serendair, called "Cymrians" by the natives, created a large, prosperous empire under the reign of King Gwylliam and his half-dragon wife, Anwyn, who held the titles of Lord and Lady Cymrian. Then the royal couple started to fight each other – the result was a great war between each of their followers, which lasted for many centuries. Now, several centuries after the war's end, the lands are divided in many independent domains. Rhapsody, Achmed and Grunthor, who had formed a strong friendship during their journey through the Earth, travel through the unknown territory, which should become their new home. They meet and befriend several natives – Llauron the Invoker, the manipulative High Priest of the Filidic order; Stephen Navarne, the kind widowed Duke of Navarne; and Ashe, a mysterious traveller with a magical sword and a dangerous secret. Achmed, accompanied by Grunthor and Rhapsody, travels to Canrif, the devastated former capital of the Cymrian Empire, now inhabited by the monster-like Firbolg. With force, wit and courage he seizes control of the place, uniting all Firbolg tribes and becoming a king of their realm, Ylorc. Soon it becomes apparent that something very strange is happening in the neighbouring countries – such as pointless bloody raids and kidnapping of children. This is the doing of a F'dor, a bloodthirsty fire demon from the Old World, bent on creating havoc and destruction. Rhapsody, Achmed and Grunthor team up to defeat the F'dor. Rhapsody finds again her childhood love - Ashe, who is in fact Gwydion of Manosse, grandson of Gwylliam and Anwyn. Together they are able to unite the Cymrians again - as the newly elected Lord and Lady Cymrian. The books following the original Rhapsody Trilogy (which consisted of ''Rhapsody'', ''Prophecy'' and ''Destiny'') describe the lives of our heroes after a 3-year gap. Ashe and Rhapsody, now Lord and Lady Cymrian, are planning to start a family. Achmed and Grunthor continue to rebuild Ylorc to its former glory. Achmed's most important project is the restoration of an ancient machine called the Light Catcher, a device that could be very beneficial but also very dangerous. In the Sorbold Empire, which neighbours the Cymrian Alliance, the rich power-hungry merchant Talquist plots to became the new Emperor after murdering the Empress Dowager and her son, leaving the empire without an heir. Also, a new F'dor emerges. After a twist of events Rhapsody gives birth to a son, Meridion. Talquist becomes obsessed with capturing the baby, convinced that the "Child of Time" could bring him immortality. His actions ultimately lead to the beginning of a war. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Symphony of Ages」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|