A summary of "Spark and Wind" by Alexey Pekhov

Published in 2008, this book concludes the sweeping story of the clash between light and dark mages across the continents of the fictional world of Khara. The novel’s pages weave together the destinies of a hired assassin, gifted sorceresses, and ancient creatures against the backdrop of a global war. This book is part of the "Wind and Sparks" series and is its fourth and final installment. The previous books in the series are "The Wind Seekers," "The Wormwood Wind," and "The Wind Reapers."

Shelter and Betrayal

A young Walker named Alga escapes from an advancing army of necromancers. Together with the priest Lerek, she reaches the northern stronghold — the stern mountain fortress of Thunderfang. The girl hopes to find safety here among the high stone walls. She is met by other wielders of light magic: the experienced Walkers Tirra and Sheela.

The peace doesn’t last long. A Nabator spy, working in tandem with a powerful necromancer, Lord Davi, infiltrates the citadel. The dark sorcerer murders Tirra in cold blood. He demands the location of Healer Shen. Alga doesn’t know the answer. Using a cunning magical weave (spell), she wounds the enemy and forces him to flee the fortress.

A few weeks later, Alga leaves the castle for a short jaunt to the city of Kanderg. A mage she knows, Ryle, promises her entertainment at an ice festival, but betrays her. He lures her into a trap where Lord Davi’s mercenaries await. Ryle is killed as unnecessary. Alga is kidnapped and taken south.

In captivity, the Walker is tortured with a special artifact that causes unbearable suffering. The necromancer Davi is eager for information. The tormented Alga finds the inner strength to break the psychological barrier and gains access to her "spark" (magical gift). The surge of released energy kills the sorcerer and his minions. The girl escapes, but soon falls into the hands of another pursuer – Alenari. One of the eight Cursed Mages intends to use the captive as bait for the Healer.

Snowy passes

Meanwhile, the assassin Ness’s squad makes its way through the snowy Katug Mountains. The journey is fraught with hardships. Ness is accompanied by Healer Shen, Walking Rhona, and the spirit of a Damned One named Typh, who is forced to inhabit the body of a village boy named Pork. Typh suffers from a serious illness, but Shen helps her heal. Ness is respected in the squad, having recently killed one of the Damned Ones, Rowan.

The travelers encounter wild mountain tribes, harsh blizzards, and enemy ambushes. The swirl of ice arrows and the magic of necromancers keep them constantly on guard. While crossing a chasm on a dilapidated suspension bridge, tragedy strikes. An avalanche crashes down onto the rocks. The bridge collapses. Rona and Shen fall into the abyss. Ness tries to hold them back, but fails. He is convinced his friends are dead.

War and swamps

Having lost his comrades, the assassin joins the regular imperial army. The war is escalating. The southern armies of the Damned, led by Mithifa, Leia, and Alenari, are relentlessly pushing north toward the capital of Corunn. Ness joins the bloody battles, becoming a centurion. His unit suffers heavy losses and is forced to retreat.

The road leads through the Forsaken Marshes, a forbidding place filled with toxic fumes and terrifying creatures. The soldiers fight off swamp monsters, fall into the quagmire, and struggle to find their way. At a rest stop among the ancient ruins, Ness suddenly hears Laen’s voice in his mind. The mercenary’s wife had died earlier, but her spirit miraculously survived. Ness realizes she is alive and within him. This discovery gives the warrior new hope.

Battle at the Volcano

Imperial troops take up defensive positions in the lands of Bragun-Zan. The area is covered in the gray ash of the dormant volcano Groh-ner-Tohh. The Nirites, ancient creatures composed of thick black smoke and crimson sparks, dwell here. They agree to aid humans in the fight against the necromancers.

Ness accidentally encounters Shen and Rona. They survived the fall into the abyss thanks to magic. The healer manages to heal Ness’s severe wounds. A massive battle begins. Tens of thousands of Nabatorians attack. Nirits tear enemy soldiers apart, and archers rain down arrows on the infantry.

At a critical moment, the mage Ghis performs an ancient ritual. He awakens the Groh-ner-Tohh volcano at the cost of his own life. Streams of molten lava and fiery demons erupt from the crater. The elements descend upon the Nabator army, incinerating entire regiments. The enemy is demoralized and flees.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Typh decides to take revenge on her longtime rival, Mitifa. Ness accompanies her. The two powerful Forsworn clash in a deadly magical duel. The air melts with spells, the earth turns to glass. Mitifa delivers a crushing blow. Typh dies. The wounded Mitifa hastily flees the battlefield.

Liberation of Alga

Shen, Rona, and Ness learn of Alenari’s whereabouts and set out to find Alga. Meanwhile, Alga makes a desperate escape from the high tower. She climbs down a steep wall, hides in the forest, but encounters patrols. The magical bracelet on her wrist prevents her from using the Gift.

In the forest, the necromancer Kadir catches up with her. He’s ready to kill the fugitive. Suddenly, Shen and Rona appear. The healer kills Kadir and removes the blocking bracelet from Alga’s wrist. An enraged Alenari appears. A battle ensues between the three mages and the single Forsworn. Shen and Rona combine light and dark magic into a single stream. This unlikely alliance pierces Alenari’s impenetrable shields and destroys her.

Wrath of the Colossus

The accursed Ley leads the remnants of his army to the walls of Corunn. He intends to use the ancient weapon — the Sculptor’s Colossus. The ritual requires royal blood. Ley is confident of success.

The mechanism activates, but the magic malfunctions. The Sculptor’s diaries, which the Damned used to base their plans, contained a fatal flaw. The Colossus spirals out of control. A huge beam of golden light strikes not the defenders of Corunn, but the Nabator troops. It burns soldiers, melts armor, and destroys necromancers. The Southern Army ceases to exist. Ley perishes in the flames.

The Hunt for Mitifa

Only Mitifa survived. Ness, Shen, and Rona pursue her relentlessly. The road leads them far to the east. Mitifa is cunning and cautious, avoiding large cities and hiding in the wilderness.

Ness devises a plan. In a small tavern, he poses as an antiquities dealer. He shows Mitifa the torn pages from the Sculptor’s real journal. A passion for ancient knowledge blinds the Forsworn. She agrees to the deal and follows Ness onto a deserted night road.

An ambush awaits her in the forest. Shen blinds the sorceress with a powerful spell. Mitifa tries to resist, unleashing a hurricane of magic on the trees. But Shen acts quickly. He presses an ancient artifact — the "Gift Quencher" — to her neck. The magic leaves the body of the Cursed One. Mitifa is defeated. Shen performs a complex ritual. He permanently erases Mitifa’s consciousness and transfers Laen’s spirit into her freed body. Ness’s wife returns to life.

Departure

The story concludes in the port city of Alsgar. The Empire celebrates victory. The Nabatorians are driven out, the war is over. Ness meets with the heads of the assassins’ guild and settles old debts.

Ness’s friends are waiting for him at the port. Shen and Rona plan to found a new school of magic, uniting the light and dark sides of the Gift. Ness and Laen, who has received a new body, board the schooner "Fireborn." They bid farewell to their comrades-in-arms. The ship raises its sails. Wind fills the taut fabric. The vessel sets sail, carrying the heroes away from war and deprivation forever.