On the back of my 1975 paperback is written-
"The young prince brought harsh news. There was no longer true magic in Enlad-the mages had forgotten their spells. The springs of wizardry were running dry..."
Well, this is not exactly the case, but as Donaldson (or the Haruchai) would say, it suffices as a mini-prologue. In LeGuin's simple yet multi-layered world of magic, Earthsea, it almost feels as if it's axis is the island of Roke. It may well be, it seems all winds revolve around the island and the school of wizardry, but, in actuality they really revolve around the Immanent Grove. The Grove's location appears to be constantly changing, but is it? Is it the world that's doing the changing? Now we're at least a decade, or so, removed from what has transpired on Atuan and a young man has traveled far to bring Roke troubling news.
Arren, the son of the Prince (familiar with some wizardry) of Enland and the Enlades, stands before the Archmage of Roke and relates an initial report from a sea captain to his father about the island of Naveduen to the far west of his homeland. It appeared to the captain that all spells and wizardry had vanished from the island and that it's people walked around in a delusional, apathetic stupor. Eventually, more traders return from that island and confirm the report. At first these reports are dismissed as tales of the Reach, but the Prince took them seriously. And when his personal wizard, Root, found he that could not remember his spells and patterning during the New Year's festival in Enlad, he, the Prince, invoked spells as well, to no avail.
"My father believes that this matter, and the tale of Naveduen, show some evil at work in our part of the world. He desires the counsel of the Wise."
The Archmage tells the youth that he is not sure how the counsel can help his father, but that his tale of strange happenings is not the first. That on Warhort, to the south, the springs of wizardy are supposedly running dry as well. Arren offers his service and sword to aid the Archmage against this encroaching evil, and the Archmage says he will consider it. The youth goes on to say that he doesn't know how he can help but that his ancestors were mages and that he may be able to learn some small mastery. The Archmage gently informs him that his people's line is ancient and righteous and that before they knew of magic they were great kings.
The boy is then dimissed for supper and bed by this, relatively, new Archmage: "the greatest wizard of all Earthsea, the man who had capped the Black well of Fundar and won the Ring of Erreth-Akbe from the Tombs of Atuan and built the deep-founded sea wall of Nepp; the sailor who knew the seas from Astowell to Selidor; the only living Dragonlord." at the fountain in the courtyard of the Greathouse near the Rowan Tree. We've met this guy somewhere before haven't we?
Sparrowhawk, Ged as he is known to the Master Doorkeeper, yet few others, then begins preparations to summon the council, to meet that night, to address these concerns, concerns that loom even greater than they appear, concerns that gnaw at the very root of wizardy and the safety of the world. His efforts range from seeking out the elusive Master Patterner in the Immanent Grove itself to preforming a sending to Kurremkarmerruk, the Master Namer, in his isolated tower to the northwest.
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Such a great story! A book filled with such beauty and wonder! And here, in the first chapter, we meet the Master Patterner of Earthsea! A man whose name we'll learn after the next book. But I suppose it's not a huge spoiler to say it now. And, since I can't contain my excitement:
I don't know where the peace is I left a lot of this chapter open on purpose, especially the brilliant scene leading up to and in the Grove...
). So I'm good to go too.