“Blood and fire, gold and steel and poetry, a river’s voice in the silence of the night, and the shining strings of a harp – all these and more I have known in my time... Now they are all gone, the men and women I knew when I was young, gone like words on the wind, and I am left here in the twilight to tell you their tale. Sit, then, and listen if you will to the words of Gwernin Kyuarwyd, called Storyteller…” So begins the tale of the young Gwernin’s adventures as a wandering storyteller and would-be bard in the chaos and contradictions of 6th century Britain. Along the way he encounters allies and enemies both human and supernatural, finds love and friendship, and learns the lore - and the true meaning - of a Bard’s profession. "A unique blend of history, myth and fantasy ... magical ... an unusually wonderful experience ... unexpectedly moving." -- PODler Book Review, May 4, 2007 "Excellence personified! ... unfolds like a blossoming rose in time-lapse. Grove is a consummate storyteller ... one of the best." -- POD Critic Review, April 9, 2007 "Smooth, well crafted, and entertaining... It's like a rich chocolate dessert, savor it and enjoy." -- Pub-ioneer Book Review, March 27, 2007 The year is 550 AD. In the east Justinian the Great rules over the remains of the Roman Empire; in Italy the Goths still hold Rome itself. In northern Europe tribes are on the march, and boundaries and alliances are changing with the seasons. In Britain King Arthur is dead, and he and his brief peace are passing into legend. And in the land which will one day be called Wales, a young man named Gwernin sets out on his summer circuit as a traveling storyteller, little knowing the adventures that lie ahead of him. Told in the true voice of a medieval storyteller, this novel is the first book in an exciting new series. The second volume, The Flight of the Hawk , is scheduled for publication in October 2007. "Blood and fire, gold and steel and poetry, a river's voice in the silence of the night, and the shining strings of a harp - all these and more I have known in my time. Steep mountains, dark forests, and the endless song of the rain; music and laughter and feasting in the fire-bright halls of kings; a dusty road, and a fast horse, and a good friend beside me; and the sweet taste of the mead of Dun Eidyn, with its bitter aftermath: a dragon's hoard of memories I have gathered, bright-colored as a long summer's day. Now they are all gone, the men and women I knew when I was young, gone like words on the wind, and I am left here in the twilight to tell you their tale. Sit, then, and listen if you will to the words of Gwernin Kyuarwyd, called Storyteller..." So begins the tale of the young Gwernin's adventures as a wandering storyteller and would-be bard in the chaos and contradictions of 6th century Britain. Along the way he encounters allies and enemies both human and supernatural, finds love and friendship, and learns the lore - and the true meaning - of a bard's profession: "Na, there will always be need for Bards," said Kyan. "If not to sing the warriors' deeds now, then to remember those who fought before, and teach those who will fight afterwards the way of it... We are like the pin in the cloak-clasp, the smallest, plainest part, and yet without it the brooch falls away and is lost, and the cloak with it, and the man perishes from the cold. So it is with us. If the Bards should ever take the Druids' road west, it would be a black day for the Cymry, for what is there to hold a people together who do not remember their past?" G. R. Grove is a storyteller and poet specializing in medieval Welsh tales. During the last ten years she has performed for a wide variety of audiences, including Welsh heritage groups, medieval recreationalists, federal employee associations, and neopagan festivals. Her book Storyteller grew out of her visits to Wales and her own experiences as a teller of tales. She has also published two books of poetry with Lulu.com. Used Book in Good Condition