Larger	Luthien's Gamble (Crimson Shadow, Bk 2) Author: R. A. Salvatore
	Book Information Publisher: Aspect Book Type: Paperback Rating: 10 ISBN-13: 9780446603614 - ISBN-10: 0446603619 Publication Date: 12/1/1996 Pages: 336

In The Sword of Bedwyr, young Luthien Bedwyr rebelled against the crushing rule of King Greensparrow and his cruel wizard-lords. To save his once proud land of Eriador, Luthien was given a magical cape that renders its wearer invisible -- but leaves behind an indelible scarlet silhouette. In Luthien's Gamble, we see Luthien at a crossroads: in spite of the urgings of his comrades to avoid further conflict with Greensparrow, Luthien feels compelled to continue the battle for his beloved country Eriador. Realizing that nobody else will take charge, and with the support of both dwarves and elves, Luthien and his followers stage guerilla raids on town after town. Luthien and his forces defeat scores of enemies and win huge numbers of allies. In the end, King Greensparrow sues for peace. Yet Luthien and Brind'Amour recognize that even in this time of celebration, Greensparrow cannot be trusted, and that the rumblings of a larger battle -- for the freedom of the known world -- loom in the not-too-distant future.

The battle to free Eriador from the grip of the tyrannical Wizard-King Greensparrow continues in this fitfully rousing sequel to The Sword of Bedwyr. Although the humans, elves and dwarves led by young Luthien Bedwyr, The Crimson Shadow, have retaken the city of Montfort from Greensparrow and have restored the city's ancient name of Caer MacDonald, the battle for freedom has just begun. An army of "cyclopians" led by the vicious Belsen Krieg advances to crush the rebels, who must gain allies from those reluctant to take on dangerous forces. The ancient wizard Brind D'Amou, who sparked recent events with his gift of a magical cape to Luthien, joins the rebels as an adviser and leader. Luthien himself, abetted by followers and comrades, devises brilliant tactics that destroy his immediate enemies and earn him much-needed allies.