The Innkeeper's Song by Peter S. Beagle
"The Innkeeper's Song" is a fantasy novel that revolves around the struggle between an aging wizard and his formidable student, Arshadin. As the story unfolds, the dying wizard, known by various names including "The Man Who Laughs," faces a dire consequence if defeated: transformation into a grigaath, a powerful evil entity. Key to the plot are Lal and Nyateneri, two companions who embark on a quest to support the old wizard. Lal, a skilled storyteller and warrior, resurrects a drowned woman named Lukassa, who joins their journey, while Nyateneri is revealed to be a male named Soukyan, fleeing assassins from a monastic order.
The narrative is set against the backdrop of their experiences in an inn, The Gaff and Slasher, where they encounter various characters, including the bullying innkeeper Karsh and the stable boy Rosseth. As the group seeks to distract Arshadin to allow the old wizard time to recover, they face numerous challenges, including confrontations with Soukyan's assassins. The climax reveals the true power of a magical fox that accompanies them, ultimately leading to a confrontation that determines the fate of the old wizard and the balance of power in their world. The interplay of magic, identity, and friendship forms a rich tapestry in this engaging fantasy tale.
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The Innkeeper's Song
First published: 1993
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Fantasy—magical world
Time of work: Undefined, on another world
Locale: An inn called The Gaff and Slasher near a town called Corcorua
The Plot
Peter S. Beagle’s The Innkeeper’s Song is a fantasy novel that follows the exploits of a number of characters who attempt to assist an old, dying wizard (called “The Man Who Laughs,” “My Friend,” and “Tafiya”) as he engages in a duel of sorcery with his most talented student, Arshadin. The danger of this battle of sorcery lies in the fact that if the dying wizard fails to win, he will be transformed into a grigaath, a seemingly omnipotent, evil entity who will kill anything in his path. Even though the old wizard is extremely powerful, Arshadin’s powers are at least equal to his, and the old wizard can barely ward off Arshadin’s incessant attacks.
The major characters include two of the old wizards friends, Lal and Nyateneri. Lal is a dark-skinned woman who excels both in storytelling and in battle. Nyateneri is a tall, mysterious woman who appears to be a refugee from a fanatical monastic order. Along with Nyateneri comes a fox who possesses the magical capability of shape-shifting into the form of an old man. Before Lal and Nyateneri meet on the road, Lal comes across a dead woman, Lukassa, who has just drowned in a river. Lal resurrects Lukassa and takes her along on the trek to find the dying wizard. Another character, Lukassas fiancé, Tikat, pursues Lal, Lukassa, and Nyateneri all the way to The Gaff and Slasher.
At the inn, these wayfarers meet Karsh, the bellowing, bullying proprietor, as well as Rosseth, the stable boy, and Marinesha, the serving woman at the inn. Lal, Nyateneri, and Lukassa rent a room and then proceed to search for the dying wizard. Their search takes them to a red tower in which the old wizard and Arshadin fought. Soon afterward, the old wizard himself, on the verge of death, shows up at the inn.
Because the old wizard can hardly recuperate while Arshadin continues his magical assault upon him, Lal and Nyateneri decide to search out Arshadin and attack him. They realize that they cannot kill Arshadin, but they want to distract him long enough for the old wizard to gain back his former strength. A major subplot arises at this point in the story: Nyateneri turns out to be a male named Soukyan, and assassins from his former order are stalking him. Nyateneri/Soukyan kills two of the assassins before leaving the inn, but a third assassin follows him and Lal. Ultimately, they end up killing the assassin and then finding Arshadin, but their plans go awry. Their attempt to distract Arshadin only hastens Arshadin’s final assault on the old wizard.
Arshadin assumes the foxs human shape and appears before the old wizard and his companions at The Gaff and Slasher. Completely spent, the old wizard dies, only to rise again as a grigaath. In a climactic scene in a magical void, both Lukassa and the fox attempt to stop the grigaath. They eventually succeed, largely as a result of magical powers of the fox, who turns out to be more powerful than anyone would have imagined. The old wizard is restored, and he banishes Arshadin.