The Iron Ring

Informationen zum Autor Born on January 30, 1924, in Philadelphia, storyteller Lloyd Alexander spent his childhood filling his imagination with fantasies about other lands and eras. For ten years of his writing career, Alexander wrote for adults, then changed gears and wrote fiction for young people. Alexander has received a Newbery Medal, a Newbery Honor Award, a National Book Award, and several IRA-CBC Children's Choice Awards. He is also the author of many ALA Notable Children's Books and School Library Journal Best Books of the Year. Klappentext Tamar! the young king of Sundari! loses everything in a dice game--his kingdom! his riches! and even the right to call his life his own. To make good on his debt! he sets out on a journey that leads him into a world of magic! where animals can talk! the foolish are surprisingly wise! and danger awaits . . . Chapter 2: The Iron Ring "King of Sundari" --- Jaya half smiled --- "I spoke of the vagaries of the dice. Here you see proof. The odds were in my favor, yet fortune stood at your side. You have won. "Yes." Tamar breathed again. He stared at the diamond. Jaya scooped up the dice and once more dropped them into the cup. "A small loss," he said, "but I shall try to regain it." "No need." Tamar pushed the diamond and chain across the board. His hands shook, as if he had just been pulled back from the edge of a cliff. "Enough. I have no desire to play again. A friendly game-friends do not keep each others possessions. Take back your wager. I shall find you some better distraction, if it pleases you." "It does not please me. You dishonor me by scorning what you rightfully won." "Call it a gift. Call it whatever you choose. I play no more." "That is not for you to say," Jaya returned. "By rule, it is I who declare the game over. No. I set the stakes again. Double what they were." Tamar's face tightened. What Jaya proposed would have put most of Sundari's treasure at risk. Tamar shook his head. "A king serves his people as well as himself, and answers to them for his actions. For me, it would be reckless stewardship." "Will you be reckless with your honor? You agreed to the rules of aksha, did you not? Obey them." "Lower the stakes, then, as you first offered to do." "At first, yes. You did not accept. I no longer offer." Jaya leaned over the table. "The game continues; we will play it out. A childish pastime? Also a question of dharma. We are both bound by dharma, King of Sundari. "I do not break dharma," Jaya went on. "But you, if you choose to break yours by refusing, so be it. End the game-and shame yourself. Tamar's blood rose. "Take up the dice." Jaya rattled the cup and casually spilled out its contents. "How interesting. Once more, the odds favor me. Once more, will fortune favor you?" The dice danced on the board as Tamar threw in turn. Jaya's smile was thin as a thread. "You have won again, King of Sundari. Now, to me. At triple the stakes." Without awaiting a reply, Jaya cast the dice. When Tamar played in turn, his head spun like the ivory cubes. He dimly grasped that his score was higher than his opponent's. "Truly, you are fortune's darling," Jaya said. "We ...

Autorentext

Born on January 30, 1924, in Philadelphia, storyteller Lloyd Alexander spent his childhood filling his imagination with fantasies about other lands and eras. For ten years of his writing career, Alexander wrote for adults, then changed gears and wrote fiction for young people. Alexander has received a Newbery Medal, a Newbery Honor Award, a National Book Award, and several IRA-CBC Children’s Choice Awards. He is also the author of many ALA Notable Children’s Books and School Library Journal Best Books of the Year.

Klappentext

Tamar, the young king of Sundari, loses everything in a dice game--his kingdom, his riches, and even the right to call his life his own. To make good on his debt, he sets out on a journey that leads him into a world of magic, where animals can talk, the foolish are surprisingly wise, and danger awaits . . .

Zusammenfassung
When Tamar, the young king of Sundari, loses a dice game, he loses everything--his kingdom, its riches, and even the right to call his life his own. His bondage is symbolized by the iron ring that appears mysteriously on his finger. To Tamar, born to the warrior caste, honor is everything. So he sets out on a journey to make good on his debt--and even to give up his life if necessary. And that journey leads him into a world of magic, where animals can talk, the foolish are surprisingly wise, and danger awaits...

Leseprobe
Chapter 2: The Iron Ring "King of Sundari" --- Jaya half smiled --- "I spoke of the vagaries of the dice. Here you see proof. The odds were in my favor, yet fortune stood at your side. You have won. "Yes." Tamar breathed again. He stared at the diamond. Jaya scooped up the dice and once more dropped them into the cup. "A small loss," he said, "but I shall try to regain it." "No need." Tamar pushed the diamond and chain across the board. His hands shook, as if he had just been pulled back from the edge of a cliff. "Enough. I have no desire to play again. A friendly game-friends do not keep each others possessions. Take back your wager. I shall find you some better distraction, if it pleases you." "It does not please me. You dishonor me by scorning what you rightfully won." "Call it a gift. Call it whatever you choose. I play no more." "That is not for you to say," Jaya returned. "By rule, it is I who declare the game over. No. I set the stakes again. Double what they were." Tamar's face tightened. What Jaya proposed would have put most of Sundari's treasure at risk. Tamar shook his head. "A king serves his people as well as himself, and answers to them for his actions. For me, it would be reckless stewardship." "Will you be reckless with your honor? You agreed to the rules of aksha, did you not? Obey them." "Lower the stakes, then, as you first offered to do." "At first, yes. You did not accept. I no longer offer." Jaya leaned over the table. "The game continues; we will play it out. A childish pastime? Also a question of dharma. We are both bound by dharma, King of Sundari. "I do not break dharma," Jaya went on. "But you, if you choose to break yours by refusing, so be it. End the game-and shame yourself. Tamar's blood rose. "Take up the dice." Jaya rattled the cup and casually spilled out its contents. "How interesting. Once more, the odds favor me. Once more, will fortune favor you?" The dice danced on the board as Tamar threw in turn. Jaya's smile was thin as a thread. "You have won again, King of Sundari. Now, to me. At triple the stakes." Without awaiting a reply, Jaya cast the dice. When Tamar played in turn, his head spun like the ivory cubes. He dimly grasped that his score was higher than his opponent's. "Truly, you are fortune's darling," Jaya said. "We play on. Triple what I have lost." How long even a maharajah might continue so rashly, Tamar could not guess. Winning the next turn yet again, Tamar gave up trying to calculate what he had gained. King though he was, he had never imagined such wealth within his reach. His thoughts raced over all the plans he had, until now, only dreamed: waterways from the outlying hills to the public squares, parks and gardens throughout the city, wide streets, shining new buildings, houses for even the poorest of his subjects. He seized the dice cup eagerly, threw-and won again. He was giddy, flushed with wild joy and soaked in cold sweat. The king of Mahapura yawned. "The game grows boring. One final throw for each of us. But, to play for meaningless trinkets --- surely there are more exciting wagers. Something to add a touch of spice, a little stimulation." "Wager what you please," Tamar said impatiently. The game had caught him up and held him in its arms like a lover, whispering in his ear. "Honor binds you to accept it." As I do. Lay down the stakes. "Li…