Seekers Mask by P. C. Hodgell

[samvara]

The sequel to God Stalk and Dark of the Moon is classic high fantasy, it's rich, complex and beautiful. The enthusiastic forward is by Charles De Lint and it's completely justified.  I am utterly in love, I finished it, paused for half a day, and started again at the beginning.  After locating her her twin brother Highlord Torison, Jame has been swept up in the mire that is Kencyr politics. The Women's Hall wants her obedient, her brother's consort wants her broken, his noblemen want her hand, and the Assassins guild want her dead. So off she sets; with a blind ounce (read big cat) for company, a couple of highly dangerous magical artifacts, the ghost of her sadistic half brother Bane, and some unreliable and possibly demonic magical powers, what could possibly go wrong?