Lenodara

## Lady Lenodara

* Dara
* Hawkmaiden
* Hawklady
* Banner

### Books

Magelord, Knights Magi, High Mage, Journeymage, Enchanter, Court Wizard, Shadowmage, Necromancer, Thaumaturge

### Short Stories

The Secret of Westwood Hall, The Road To Sevendor, The Spellmonger's Yule

## Introduction

Lenodara aka Dara becomes *Minalan's* third apprentice in the series. The first 3 YA Cadet Novels feature Dara as the protagonist. *Hawkmaiden*, *Hawklady* and *Sky Rider* are told from her point of view.

## Personality and Characteristics

She is always something of a rebel in her own family and isn't content with doing what other girls her age do. She isn't dreaming about a future husband and farm or sighing over the boys she sees around the domain the way her sister is.

She has bright red hair, pale complexation with lots of freckles. Most of the Westwood people with dark hair and complexion, darker then their Sevendori neighbors, but a few are born "flame-kissed" like Dara and her Mother before her. The Westwoods have several lore and sayings concerning their Red headed off springs.

To many of the Westwood adults, Dara is just a nuisance, always getting under foot and coming up with tricks to play on others. Being the youngest of six children can be difficult, especially without a mother and a father that still grieves.

During the night that *"The Snow that never melted"* she became very sick and for days afterwards. When she was tested it was discovered that she had the potential for strong rajira, but because of her age, they felt there was time before she started her training. She is also the first in generations of a native born Sevendori developing enough rajira to be trained. Her specialty is Beastmastery.

As a result of that night she has a permanent wide white streak in her hair.

## Family

She has 6 older siblings, 2 sisters and 4 brothers, but she is the only one with Red hair.

Her mother had died in child birth with her and her father was consumed with grief, so Dara was mostly raised by her Aunt and Uncle.

Dara is the youngest child of the Master of the Woods, at the Westwood yeomanry of Sevendor.

*The Family information is taken from Hawkmaiden.*

## Summary

About 6 months prior to the start of *Magelord*, when she is 12 years old, she was watching a falcon that nested in the cliffs of Rundeval, the highest mountain of Sevendor, and was drawn to possess a baby Silver-Hooded Raptor. *Hawkmaiden* tells the story of Dara achieving her dream of becoming a falconer and covers the changes in Sevendor up to the first magic fair.

### Hawkmaiden

*Hawkmaiden* is told from her POV and shows from a native Sevendori's perspective what and how the changes that Minalan makes effects them all.
While everyone else is concerned with the new Magelord and his doings, Dara is figuring out how to climb Rundeval, a mountain that is so tall and difficult no one has climbed it in over twenty years, at least not to the peak where the Silver-hooded raptors nest.

During her conversation with her brother Kyre, men from Sir Erantal arrive at the Westwoods to collect their tribute and taxes, during the confrontation Kamen, Dara's father falls and breaks his leg.

She had heard her father’s stories about the time he had climbed that mountain as a young man and since he was laid up with a broken leg, she encouraged him to repeat the same stories again. But this time she listens for information on how to climb the mountain.

She talks to her Uncle about the time that he had served as a Falconers apprentice at the Sevendor Castle, that was when there was a lord there, to learn what she can about training a Falcon. Dara's plan comes together when her Aunt details her to fix up one of the Nutwood cottages that is in need of repairs, so Dara exaggerates the amount of work that is needed so that she has an excuse to stay at the cabin while she is working on it. In reality she starts to gather her supplies and trains her throwing arm so she can climb the mountain. One of the other Westwoods children, Kalen comes along and helps her with the repairs to the cabin.

Through trial and error Dara manages to climb Rundeval, capture a nestling she names Frightful, and transport her safely to the cottage in the Nutwood. After just a few days she falls very ill and when Kalen comes back and finds her feverish he runs to the Manor and gets her Uncle Keram. Her Uncle moves Dara and Frightful back to the Manor where she is now accorded much respect for capturing the nestling on her own and training her.

The Night of the Snows That Never Melt happens and she becomes very ill and she gains a white streak in her hair.

She spends the rest of the summer and fall training her bird until one day when Frightful wouldn't mind her she found herself peering out of the birds eyes. Gareth comes along and discovers what she is up after she fainted and she tells him everything. Gareth explains to her about Beastmastery and helps her train a bit. After that she spends her time training as a Beastmaster as well as a Falconer without telling anyone about her magic; this earns her some coins from the animals that Frightful hunted.

When West Fleria lays Siege to Sevendor she is called upon to help with scouting and again when the enemy made it over Caolan’s Pass she assists the Westwoods men by bi-locating into Frightful as the bird over flew the enemy so she could report their movements.

With Gareth's encouragement she enters the Spellmonger's Trial and unexpectedly wins. The book ends with the Banquet of Champions.

### Hawklady

*Hawklady* begins when Dara starts her apprenticeship with Minalan, but first she has to learn to read and write.

In a conversation with Olmeg, Dara discovers that a mage can draw power and guidance from the lands that they were born to and grew up in.  But it also involves the duty of the wizard to protect and conserve the land and when they do they will gain even more support as needed.

The Day of the Dragons in Barrowbell happens and she soon finds herself welding the Alka Alon "Thoughtful Knife" preparing to go into battle. Dara practices with the thoughtful knife, slaughtering rotten pumpkins and splashing her fellow apprentices.

Dara’s father isn't very pleased to find out that his youngest daughter is going to go to war and insist that the Westwoods men will be the guards for the Magical Corps.

Dara and Frightful scout out the area around Castle Cambrian and is in her first battle.  She then takes the thoughtful knife out.  She rescues Sir Festaran and slays hundreds of Gurvani with the knife.

Minalan calls upon Dara to use the thoughtful knife to help slay the Dragon

Dara discovers the terrible cost of battles and the aftermath as she travels to Borrowbell.

Dara arrives in Borrowbell to discover that she is considered one of the Great Heroes of the battle and that people are fighting over hosting her in their homes.

Pentandra has selected a young noble woman, Lady Amara of Siviline House to host Dara.

Thus, begins Darra’s lessons on influencing nobility to further the aims of the Arcane orders.

While being feted by Gilmora society, Dara uncovers a plot to kill Minalan and assassinate the King.  With the help of Amara, Gareth and Sir Festaran the plot is reveled. Magelords Astyral and Mavone, with Lady Pentandra took over rounding up the rest of the traitors.

Minalan arrives in Borrowbell and the town goes wild, Dara and Sir Cei are presented with the Dragon Teeth.

When *King Rard I* arrives he ennobles Dara and she becomes Lady Lenodara of the Westwoods.

On the journey back to Sevendor, Ithalia discuss Frightful with Dara and then suggests that Frightful could become bigger.

### Sky Rider

*Skyriders* tells the story of her contending with the changes of her status and work on the transgenics with the Alka Alon's to create giant Hawks so they can be ridden into battle.

### Magelord

In *Magelord* she first appears when she wins the first Spellmonger's Trial. Upon winning the trial and a small piece of *irionite* she is also taken on as Minalan's apprentice. Because she looks through Frightful's eyes, Dara also proves proficient using the Thoughtful Knife. She and her family accompany Minalan to relieve the Siege of Castle Cambrian. Dara and Sire Cei combined attacks to slay the dragon that rampaged the castle and battlefield. King Rard ennobles her for her valor and deeds.

After that she appears in nearly every book.

### High Mage

Part of it takes place about the same time as *Sky Rider* and shows the events she was involved in with Minalan from his perspective.

#### The Fall of Anthatiel

Dara and the nascent Skyriders participated The Battle of the Red Ice. This is the first battle that the Skyriders participated in. With the use of one of the supply rods that helped to transport the barges, Dara drops a big boulder on the head of a dragon.

## The Sky Riders

As commander of the Sky Riders, a program that she instigated, she leads the aerial defense for all major conflicts.

## References

1. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Hawkmaiden: A Spellmonger Cadet Fantasy Novel . Unknown. Kindle Edition.
2. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Hawkmaiden: A Spellmonger Cadet Fantasy Novel . Unknown. Kindle Edition.
3. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Hawkmaiden: A Spellmonger Cadet Fantasy Novel . Unknown. Kindle Edition.
4. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Magelord (The Spellmonger Series Book 3) . Location 15129. Kindle Edition.