Originally published October 1962 | ||
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Nominations Hugo Award for Best Short Story Similar Works by Fritz Leiber, Other books | ||
The Unholy Grail is a sword and sorcery novella by Fritz Leiber, recounting the earliest adventure of the Gray Mouser.
First published in 1962, it is the nature of a prequel, as Leiber had by that time been chronicling the pair's adventures for thirty years. The story forms part three of the collection Swords and Deviltry.
Plot summary
In the forested realm of Duke Janarrl, magic is forbidden, but Glavas Rho, a wizard, still practices his craft in a forest glade protected by enchantments. His young apprentice, Mouse, still wavering between an allegiance to black or white magic, returns from a quest, but finds his master dead and the house destroyed. Enraged and saddened, he is captured by the Duke and his followers, but escapes and invokes a spell to confuse any followers. He also puts a spell on the Duke that will slowly kill him.
Badly wounded, Mouse is found by Ivrian, the Duke's daughter, who has also been secretly studying with Glavas Rho. He blames her for betraying him, and they are both captured by the Duke, who has Mouse put to torture in the nethermost dungeon of his castle.
Using the blackest of black magic, in the knowledge that it may rebound on him, Mouse manages to aim a spell at the Duke, using Ivrian as a focus. The Duke dies, his followers flee, and the couple are enabled to escape into the night.