Kesht — William Alan Rieser

Kesht is the third novel in The Kaska Trilogy following Gam and Pmat. After finding and saving Pmat for the Tunkati, Kaska discovers that his Laikem friends have an implacable and deadly enemy at home on Gam where they have been dormant for ages. The klyf prove themselves numerous, vicious and merciless, especially when joined by one of Kaska's adopted, rebellious Kateling Tkat. Tragedies accumulate to the point that Kaska goes temporarily mad and reveals the awesome power of his khemba as he seeks vengeance for personal losses. Still, intellect and reason prevail as trauma piles upon tragedy to force Kaska to deal out sagacious solutions in order to preserve his achievements, family and friends. The Laikem, on being saved, discover an amazing truth about themselves and the Tunkati, masters of incandescence, deem Kaska the sage of the galaxy. He rules Gam not with an iron fist but with a crystalline heart.