Tarma shena Tale'sedrin had been a singer in the Clans, well-known for the rare beauty of her voice. The Tale'sedrin shaman taught her to read and write so that she might learn the songs of both the Shin'a'in and other peoples more easily.[1]
Tarma was the sole survivor of the slaughter of her entire clan. After being gang-raped and strangled she was left for dead. Fleeing to the neighboring Clan Liha'irden, she clings to life and sanity by harboring her desire for revenge. However by the traditions of the clans she can only seek revenge by offering her service to the fourfold Shin'a'in Star-Eyed Goddess, becoming Kal'enedral. Her sacrifice, which includes a pledge of celibacy for life and service to all the Shin'a'in clans, is accepted by the Warrior aspect of the Goddess becoming Kal'enedral.[2] She is trained in sword skill by spirit warriors, becoming adept enough to face the brigands who slew the members of her clan. However they are many and she is only one. One of her teachers cautions her to accept aid when it is offered.[2]
Tarma remembers this advice when Kethry introduces herself, explaining that she also wants to fight the bandits. After taking her revenge, Tarma and Kethry swear blood-oath, becoming clansibs. As part of that bonding Kethry agrees to help Tarma restore the Clan Tale'sedrin and teases that she will become just a "Shin'a'in broodmare." However, Tarma assures her that the Shin'a'in value their horses very highly.[2]
Kethry leads Tarma into the Pelagiris Forest after deciding that she needs a familiar. The kyree Warrl answers Kethry's call but instead of bonding to Kethry he chooses to bond with Tarma.[3]
Tarma, Kethry and Warrl become mercenaries,[4] and eventual join the Sunhawks mercenary company, commanded by Captain Idra.[5] Idra was a princess of Rethwellan who chose to leave her privileged life and become a mercenary. Her innate skill and early training led her to rise through the ranks to become captain of the Sunhawks and beloved by her followers. After Idra's death at the hand of her traitorous brother Raschar, Tarma, Warrl and Kethry as well as the Sunhawks are key to the coup that places Idra's other brother, Prince Stefansen, on the throne of Rethwellan. During the coup they meet Prince Roald of Valdemar. Tarma comes to trust Roald after she prays to her Goddess and it is revealed to her that he, as well as all the Heralds of Valdemar, are chosen by Companions who are guardian spirits. As a reward for their service Tarma and her clan sister are given lands and a manor house with which to found the school that is their dream.[5] There Tarma teaches fighting and tactical skills while Kethry teaches magery.[6] Tarma gets her wish to restore her clan when Kethry falls in love and marries the former Rethwellan archivist Jadrek bearing numerous children. The children are given the choice to join the Shin'a'in, which many of them do, becoming the seed of the re-born Clan of Tale'sedrin.[6]
Two of Tarma's famous students are Kethry's granddaughter, Kerowyn, and Prince Stefan's grandson, Prince Darenthallis Jadrevalyn.[7]
Due to the life-prolonging effect of magic, Tarma lived to be over 100 years old.[8] There is no record of when she passed away, but she later appeared to Elspeth[9] and to Karal[10] as a leshy'a Kal'enedral, spirit warrior of the Goddess.
In the series[]
- The Oathbound, Vows and Honor, volume 1
- Oathbreakers, Vows and Honor, volume 2
- Oathblood, Vows and Honor, volume 3
- "A Dragon in Distress" by Mercedes Lackey and Elisabeth Waters in Sword and Sorceress XII
- "Landscape of the Imagination" in Crossroads and Other Tales of Valdemar, Valdemar Anthology, volume 3
- By the Sword
- Winds of Change, Mage Winds, volume 2
- Storm Breaking, Mage Storms, volume 3
Music[]
- Wind's Four Quarters
- Gift of Amber
- Oathbound (song)
- Advice to Would-be Heroes
- The Leslac Version
- There's Always a Reason
- Oathbreakers (song)
- Suffer the Children
- The Swordlady
- Threes
References[]
- ↑ Tarma's origin and the story of meeting Kethry is told in "Sword Sworn," originally published in Marion Zimmer Bradley's anthology Sword and Sorceress III and later included in Mercedes Lackey's collection Oathblood.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Sword Sworn"
- ↑ The Oathbound, chapter 5
- ↑ The Oathbound
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Oathbreakers
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Oathblood
- ↑ By the Sword
- ↑ In answer to a question received in 2002, Lackey stated that Tarma and Kethry lived to be over 100 years old. (formerly on Mercedes Lackey's website, "Ask Misty Archive - Valdemar", the page has sadly been removed.)
- ↑ Winds of Change, Chapter 23
- ↑ Storm Breaking