This novella is set in the world of The Curse of Chalion, where there are five gods. The fifth god – the Bastard – rules over the demons, who can ride along (and sometimes overtake) people. If those people can control the demon, they’re considered sorcerers.
Young Penric is on his way to his betrothal when he happens upon the party of a temple divine. The old lady is dying, and when Penric offers to help, he does not realize that that is an offer for her demon to jump to him.
He wakes up in the temple, his betrothal on hold while everyone figures out what to do with him, and the demon. They begin to talk, and Penric finds her sympathetic. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees, and he’s quickly thrown into the interesting world faced by sorcerers.
It’s a great story, but far too short – I need to seek out more.
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