The Instruments

‘The instruments’, as they were called— nestilar in Dûrian—were the special items the One gave the Restorers to help them against the overwhelming forces of darkness they faced. They were foretold in the Lightists’ Book:

Book of Visions 12.17–19:

“The Glass of Seeing shall sear the evils that blemish my Way.
The Shell of Hearing shall destroy the lies that pervert my Way.
The Strings of Truth shall proclaim the words that restore my Way.”

The Return of the Prince 27.21:

“The Overguardian will uphold and guide them with the Sword of Light.”

Each Restorer had his or her own instrument:

Alanya Atémban (Lannie) had the Bess—the cowry-like Shell of Hearing.

Gelmion Atémbis (Gil) had the Blaise—the two-handled Glass of Seeing.

Danîsha Atémbellar had the Bellaril—the Strings of Truth, an instrument like a lute or guitar.

Shiván Aténnelor had the Blade of Darthane—the Sword of Light, originally wielded by

Garion don Lûcas, one of the Dûrian Founders.

The discovery, appearance and powers of each instrument are described below.

The Bess — Shell of Hearing

Lannie … lift[ed] out a strangely-shaped object from between two piles of decaying books. She carefully wiped the dust off.
   “This is beautiful!” she exclaimed, showing it to Shiván. He squinted in the dim light at the delicate turquoise and aquamarine swirls on the shiny, curved surface.
   “Very nice. What is it?”
   “A shell.” She turned it over, [revealing] a long, white-edged gap underneath. The shell was an oval pinched at

both ends, which filled her two hands. “It’s rather like a cowry, but I’ve never seen one this big, or with these colours.

I’ll keep this.” The Mindruler, Chapter 12, Scene 3.

The Bess enabled Lannie to hear things and hold conversations at a distance: the only cell phone in Dûrion!

The Blaise — Glass of Seeing

…There were some smaller items, including a double-handed magnifying glass. [Gil] picked the glass up and took it to one of the decaying books on the table. Held over the faded text, the four-inch glass gave quite a decent magnification. Not that he could read the words …

   Damion caught sight of Gil with the magnifying glass. “Keldon hallár!” The old man’s eyes were wide. He pointed at the two-handled instrument. “Bleys bissilac lasa.”
   “Shiván?” Gil queried.
   “He says it’s a ‘glass of seeing’…” The Mindruler, Chapter 12, Scene 3.

The Blaise (or, more properly, Bleys) enabled Gil to see things at a distance: its view could zoom over and past obstacles, like a camera drone.

   Danîsha gave an exclamation of satisfaction as she finished assembling the object in her lap. At first glance it looked like a guitar, but … it wasn’t: it was an oval, lute-like instrument made of highly-polished red wood, with a large body and a short neck. It had seven strings.
   Danîsha’s face was rapt. She took a deep breath, and ran her fingers over the strings. A deep, mellow music filled the underground chamber. Everyone turned, their faces filled with amazement. There were exclamations of “Bellaril! Bellaril!”, and dozens came running from the kitchen. An excited buzz of conversation broke out. ...
   “What a sound!” Shiván exclaimed. Lannie’s eyes were wide. “Fantastic!” she breathed.

The Mindruler, Chapter 12, Scene 3.

The Bellaril — Strings of Truth

When Danîsha played God’s music on the Bellaril the Restorers’ enemies were incapacitated—for as long as she kept playing.

The Blade — Sword of Light

The priest pulled aside his robe to reveal a belt on which hung a leather scabbard decorated with intricate curlicues. From it he drew a two-edged broadsword. The hilt end of the gleaming, silver blade was engraved with the flowing script Shiván had seen in the Lightist Book. The grip was covered in red leather bound with crossed silver threads. The pommel was an intricately patterned hemisphere of silver, matched by a large, cup-shaped hand guard. Linking the guard to the pommel were two silver arcs of metal on either side of the grip, within which the hand fitted. Together they made a circle—which, crossed by the long, straight blade, formed an ambon.
“This is the Blade of Darthane,” Frengor said softly. There was an intake of breath all round the room. “Prince’s Blood!” Shîr exclaimed. Resting the sword on his open palms, the priest held it

out to Shiván. “It belonged to one of the Founders of Dûrion, Garion don Lûcas, three hundred and sixty years ago. …

“Garion said that a time would come when it would again strike terror into the forces of darkness. I believe that time is now. I believe that you, Shiván Aténnelor, are the one to wield this blade. And with this gift the Travelling Order pledges its allegiance to the One’s Restorers.” The Mindruler, Chapter 34, Scene 1.

When Shiván led a charge flourishing the Blade aloft, the attackers’ numbers were greatly multiplied in the enemy’s eyes.