Vanyel Ashkevron
Encyclopedia
Vanyel Ashkevron is the main character in "The Last Herald Mage" trilogy of books by author Mercedes Lackey
.
and worries about Vanyel's love of music and delight in beautiful clothing. In desperation, Withen sends his son to the capital city of Haven to be tutored by his somewhat estranged elder sister, Herald-Mage Savil. There, Vanyel, after he falls in love with an older Heraldic trainee named Tylendel, a protege of Savil realizes he is attracted to other men. Vanyel and Tylendel form a rare mystical "lifebond", a soul bonding between two people that makes them practically 'one' on a spiritual level.
A series of tragic events, which leaves Tylendel dead, forcibly brings about all of the "Heraldic Gifts" in Vanyel: psychic powers as well as the ability to do magic. He is Chosen by the Companion Yfandes and becomes a Herald-Mage. Throughout the Last Herald-Mage trilogy, he becomes recognized as the most powerful Mage in Valdemar.
In the book Magic's Price
, he is lifebonded again, this time to a Bard named Stefen. It is later revealed that Stefen is the reincarnation of Tylendel.
It is in this form he "appears" in the book Arrow's Flight
, when Heralds Talia and Kris are trapped by a snowstorm in Sorrows.
During the Mage Winds trilogy, Vanyel's spirit is able to hijack the magical power of the Tayledras Heartstone
in order to power the Heartstone in Haven. He also redirects the magical Gate of Herald Elspeth and Firesong k'Treva to bring them to Sorrows, before sending them to Haven.
During the Mage Storms trilogy; Vanyel's spirit, along with Yfandes and Stefen/Tylendel, travel to the remains of Urtho's Tower to perform the final "Counterstrike" that negates the Mage Storm. At that time, the trio is "sent on to where they are needed".
Vanyel is also important because he was the first of Mercedes Lackey's main characters to be gay, though there were other notable gay characters, such as Keren, Ylsa and Sherril from the Arrows of the Queen
trilogy.
), Vanyel is highly misunderstood by his family, alternately coddled by his frivolous mother and emotionally abused by his detached father, while his younger siblings and cousins mock and ignore him. The only refuge he finds is with his lively elder sister Lissa, who acts as his protector. Constant emotional abuse and neglect leads him to repress his emotions, and to deny himself emotional contact lest he be hurt. This makes his romance with Tylendel slow, only taking off after a nightmare reveals to both Vanyel's hatred of his self imposed isolation, and their mutual love. Vanyel becomes highly dependent upon Tylendel upon their whirlwind courtship and sudden intimacy; after his lover's death, he tries to commit suicide twice; once while in a state of shock immediately following Tylendel's demise, and once believing himself to be guilty of causing Tylendel's death. Eventually, he comes to realize that he has love still in his life, even if it is not nearly as intense as a life bond, including an intimate soul bond with his Companion Yfandes, though he continues to carry the pain and grief of Tylendel's death for the rest of his life. Even as a young man, Vanyel shows a large dose of cynicism, which leads to him scoffing at both the glory-hungry mannerisms of his younger brother and the self-sacrificing natures of the Heralds he meets. Nonetheless, he comes to realize the call of his powers and the responsibility he has to protect people with the tremendous power he commands, finally understanding what drives Heralds to do what they do.
In the second book (Magic's Promise
), although Vanyel has ceased to blame himself for Tylendel's death, and in spite of the twelve years separating the books, he is still desperately lonely, and misses his former lover, soon becoming confused about his sexuality and his relationships with others. Duty has contested his wish for oblivion, but his fear that those he loves will become targets against him, and his hurt that people fear his power, leads him to withdraw into a cold shell not unlike the one he used as a defense in the first book. Some years time also allows for Vanyel to tentatively start a new and better relationship with his father and male relatives, particularly through the vehicle of his newly discovered illegitimate nephew, Medren. The tragic climax of the book results in Vanyel being offered his peaceful end - the death he has wanted for twelve years - but refusing it, because Valdemar needs him and his abilities.
In the third book (Magic's Price
), Vanyel's fear of loved ones being used against him nearly leads him to reject the love and lifebonding that Bard Stefen, a reincarnation of Tylendel, offers him. When his beloved aunt, Herald Savil, along with some of his dearest friends, is brutally murdered, he becomes nearly unhinged with his desperate need for revenge, as well as his need to protect Valdemar from the threat of the murdering mage. Stefen accompanies him on this mission, and only his presence saves the day when Vanyel is captured and goes berserk, and when Stefen must summon the guard to combat the dark army he and Vanyel discover. Following Vanyel's death, Stefen tries to poison himself, only to be prevented by Vanyel's ghost, who says that Stefan can join him as a spirit, protecting Valdemar - but only if he dies a natural death.
The underlying emotional theme of the trilogy is the wish for death overcome by love and duty. Although the book ends on a happy note, with Vanyel and Stefen/Tylendel reunited as spirits, the overall tone of the series is emotive and tragic. Mercedes Lackey once facetiously described her plot tactics with Vanyel and with her other main characters as "Drop a mountain on them. Recover them, make them happy again. Then drop another mountain on them."
Vanyel's nephew is Bard Medren, who introduced him to his lover and lifebonded partner, Bard Stefen.
Vanyel is also the biological father of four children: twins—son Brightstar k'Treva and daughter Featherfire; Arden, the daughter of two retired lesbian fighters, and Herald Jisa, daughter of the King's Own Herald-Healer Shavri and later King's Own and Co-consort. It is through his children that he is also the direct ancestor of both Herald Elspeth and Healer-Adept Firesong k'Treva.
Mercedes Lackey
Mercedes "Misty" Lackey is a best-selling American author of fantasy novels. Many of her novels and trilogies are interlinked and set in the world of Velgarth, mostly in and around the country of Valdemar...
.
Life
Vanyel first appears as the delicate and soft firstborn son of a minor noble, an introverted and eventually emotionally detached young man who is unable to fit into to any of the options open to him. His father, Withen, is homophobicHomophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
and worries about Vanyel's love of music and delight in beautiful clothing. In desperation, Withen sends his son to the capital city of Haven to be tutored by his somewhat estranged elder sister, Herald-Mage Savil. There, Vanyel, after he falls in love with an older Heraldic trainee named Tylendel, a protege of Savil realizes he is attracted to other men. Vanyel and Tylendel form a rare mystical "lifebond", a soul bonding between two people that makes them practically 'one' on a spiritual level.
A series of tragic events, which leaves Tylendel dead, forcibly brings about all of the "Heraldic Gifts" in Vanyel: psychic powers as well as the ability to do magic. He is Chosen by the Companion Yfandes and becomes a Herald-Mage. Throughout the Last Herald-Mage trilogy, he becomes recognized as the most powerful Mage in Valdemar.
In the book Magic's Price
Magic's Price
Magic's Price is the 1992 fantasy novel and final in the The Last Herald Mage Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey.-Plot introduction:This is the last book in Lackey's Last Herald Mage trilogy, which tell the story of Vanyel Ashkevron, a legendary hero of Velgarth. The three books are Magic's Pawn, Magic's...
, he is lifebonded again, this time to a Bard named Stefen. It is later revealed that Stefen is the reincarnation of Tylendel.
Death and legacy
While fighting the army of Leareth, Vanyel is victorious. He is able to defeat Leareth by using the powerful "Final Strike". Because of who and what he is, he is offered the choice to continue protecting Valdemar. His spirit, as well as the spirits of Yfandes and Stefen/Tylendel, are joined with Wendwinter Forest (later known as the Forest of Sorrows). In this form, known as "Vanyel's Curse", they protect Valdemar's northern border from those that would harm Valdemar and the Heralds.It is in this form he "appears" in the book Arrow's Flight
Arrow's Flight
Arrow's Flight is a fantasy novel by Mercedes Lackey. Arrow's Flight was Lackey's second published work, and is the fifth in the "Heralds of Valdemar" series. The book is set in the fictional world of Velgarth...
, when Heralds Talia and Kris are trapped by a snowstorm in Sorrows.
During the Mage Winds trilogy, Vanyel's spirit is able to hijack the magical power of the Tayledras Heartstone
Heartstone
A heartstone is a fictional artifact common in dragon-related stories of high fantasy. It is a crystal of concentrated magic, and can be extracted from the heart of a slain dragon. It is believed that the heartstone is the source of a dragon's magic power, but this has never been proven definitively...
in order to power the Heartstone in Haven. He also redirects the magical Gate of Herald Elspeth and Firesong k'Treva to bring them to Sorrows, before sending them to Haven.
During the Mage Storms trilogy; Vanyel's spirit, along with Yfandes and Stefen/Tylendel, travel to the remains of Urtho's Tower to perform the final "Counterstrike" that negates the Mage Storm. At that time, the trio is "sent on to where they are needed".
Vanyel is also important because he was the first of Mercedes Lackey's main characters to be gay, though there were other notable gay characters, such as Keren, Ylsa and Sherril from the Arrows of the Queen
Arrows of the Queen
Arrows of the Queen is the name of a fantasy novel by Mercedes Lackey. It is the first book in the Heralds of Valdemar trilogy, coming before Arrow's Flight and Arrow's Fall. The book was first released in 1987, and was Lackey's first published work...
trilogy.
Character
Throughout Vanyel's trilogy, called "The Last Herald-Mage", he is shown as an emotional character, tending towards extreme depression. In the first book (Magic's PawnMagic's Pawn
Magic's Pawn is a 1989 fantasy novel by Mercedes Lackey. The first of The Last Herald Mage trilogy , it centers around a powerful Herald-Mage named Vanyel Ashkevron, in the kingdom of Valdemar; the planet is called Velgarth. Mages are those who can do magic...
), Vanyel is highly misunderstood by his family, alternately coddled by his frivolous mother and emotionally abused by his detached father, while his younger siblings and cousins mock and ignore him. The only refuge he finds is with his lively elder sister Lissa, who acts as his protector. Constant emotional abuse and neglect leads him to repress his emotions, and to deny himself emotional contact lest he be hurt. This makes his romance with Tylendel slow, only taking off after a nightmare reveals to both Vanyel's hatred of his self imposed isolation, and their mutual love. Vanyel becomes highly dependent upon Tylendel upon their whirlwind courtship and sudden intimacy; after his lover's death, he tries to commit suicide twice; once while in a state of shock immediately following Tylendel's demise, and once believing himself to be guilty of causing Tylendel's death. Eventually, he comes to realize that he has love still in his life, even if it is not nearly as intense as a life bond, including an intimate soul bond with his Companion Yfandes, though he continues to carry the pain and grief of Tylendel's death for the rest of his life. Even as a young man, Vanyel shows a large dose of cynicism, which leads to him scoffing at both the glory-hungry mannerisms of his younger brother and the self-sacrificing natures of the Heralds he meets. Nonetheless, he comes to realize the call of his powers and the responsibility he has to protect people with the tremendous power he commands, finally understanding what drives Heralds to do what they do.
In the second book (Magic's Promise
Magic's Promise
Magic's Promise is the second fantasy novel in the The Last Herald Mage Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey and published in 1992.- Plot introduction :...
), although Vanyel has ceased to blame himself for Tylendel's death, and in spite of the twelve years separating the books, he is still desperately lonely, and misses his former lover, soon becoming confused about his sexuality and his relationships with others. Duty has contested his wish for oblivion, but his fear that those he loves will become targets against him, and his hurt that people fear his power, leads him to withdraw into a cold shell not unlike the one he used as a defense in the first book. Some years time also allows for Vanyel to tentatively start a new and better relationship with his father and male relatives, particularly through the vehicle of his newly discovered illegitimate nephew, Medren. The tragic climax of the book results in Vanyel being offered his peaceful end - the death he has wanted for twelve years - but refusing it, because Valdemar needs him and his abilities.
In the third book (Magic's Price
Magic's Price
Magic's Price is the 1992 fantasy novel and final in the The Last Herald Mage Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey.-Plot introduction:This is the last book in Lackey's Last Herald Mage trilogy, which tell the story of Vanyel Ashkevron, a legendary hero of Velgarth. The three books are Magic's Pawn, Magic's...
), Vanyel's fear of loved ones being used against him nearly leads him to reject the love and lifebonding that Bard Stefen, a reincarnation of Tylendel, offers him. When his beloved aunt, Herald Savil, along with some of his dearest friends, is brutally murdered, he becomes nearly unhinged with his desperate need for revenge, as well as his need to protect Valdemar from the threat of the murdering mage. Stefen accompanies him on this mission, and only his presence saves the day when Vanyel is captured and goes berserk, and when Stefen must summon the guard to combat the dark army he and Vanyel discover. Following Vanyel's death, Stefen tries to poison himself, only to be prevented by Vanyel's ghost, who says that Stefan can join him as a spirit, protecting Valdemar - but only if he dies a natural death.
The underlying emotional theme of the trilogy is the wish for death overcome by love and duty. Although the book ends on a happy note, with Vanyel and Stefen/Tylendel reunited as spirits, the overall tone of the series is emotive and tragic. Mercedes Lackey once facetiously described her plot tactics with Vanyel and with her other main characters as "Drop a mountain on them. Recover them, make them happy again. Then drop another mountain on them."
Family ties
Vanyel is the son of Lord Withen and Lady Treesa Ashkevron of Forst Reach. He is the eldest son, but upon being Chosen his claim to the Withen's titles went to his younger brother Mekeal. Vanyel was trained by his aunt -Herald-Mage Savil Ashkevron - and the Tayledras Adepts Moondance and Starwind.Vanyel's nephew is Bard Medren, who introduced him to his lover and lifebonded partner, Bard Stefen.
Vanyel is also the biological father of four children: twins—son Brightstar k'Treva and daughter Featherfire; Arden, the daughter of two retired lesbian fighters, and Herald Jisa, daughter of the King's Own Herald-Healer Shavri and later King's Own and Co-consort. It is through his children that he is also the direct ancestor of both Herald Elspeth and Healer-Adept Firesong k'Treva.