Synopsis

Roylant, prince-regent of the city-state Ayana-Lorto, intends to prove to everyone that he is a better king than his injured father, but is quickly showing signs of being an inept and suspicious ruler. He has an elaborate new gate built for the main entrance to the city, and the first person to enter it is Brult, from a hostile mountain tribe. To everyone’s surprise and amusement, Brult asks to be educated by the city’s scholars. Acting on a perverse impulse, Roylant grants his request. Brult learns fast, earning the respect of many and the name of Talsibur, but when Roylant learns “Talsi” adheres to the teachings of a remote spiritual leader, the Papermaker, (Paer) who might be a rival, Talsi is told to flee to the mountains. He joins a band of outlaws against his own people, and helps save Paer from an unjust execution, before he returns to Ayanalor to play an important role in building a new city when the old one is destroyed. The life-streams of Roylant and Talsi intersect at crucial times as they nearly change places, reluctantly learn from each other, and reach for their true selves. They are challenged and hindered in their growth by foreign powers, enemies, natural disasters, and by over a hundred finely sketched loving, spiteful, wise and foolish characters, but they are always propelled forward by Charnou, Roylant’s wife, guardian, and questioner; by Galeht, a tiny girl who taught Roylant what no one else could; by Melcin, a tragic poet whose love for Talsi could not overcome her own weakness; and by the Papermaker, who writes - on paper he makes himself - words that will prepare the planet Kazeltu for a great challenge.