Lioness Rampant is a fantasy novel by Tamora Pierce, the fourth and last in a series of books, The Song of the Lioness. It details an adventure of the knight Alanna of Trebond, and her final battle with her archenemy, Duke Roger of Conte.
Characters
Alanna of Trebond – Heroine. Jonathan of Conté – Prince, and later king of Tortall; Alanna's friend and former paramour. Gareth of Naxen the Younger – one of Alanna's friends; has succeeded his father as governor of the capital city. Raoul of Goldenlake – Another of Alanna's friends, and commander of the King's bodyguard. Alex of Tirragen – Yet another friend of Alanna's, who defects to her enemies' side. George Cooper – The capital city's 'King of the Thieves': Jonathan's spy, and ultimately Alanna's fiancé. Thom of Trebond – Alanna's twin brother: a powerful but arrogant magician. Roger of Conté – Antagonist: Jonathan's cousin and rival. Liam the Shang Dragon – a master of martial arts; Alanna's friend and paramour. Princess Thayet jian Wilima – a K'mir Princess of Sarain, Tortall's neighbor. Later Jonathan's queen. Buriram Tourakom – Thayet's maidservant and bodyguard. Princess Josiane of the Copper Isles – a traitor conspiring with Roger. Delia of Eldorne – Roger's former lover and assistant. Si-cham – Priest of the Mithran Order who tries to help Thom overcome his illness. Rispah – George's cousin. Marries Coram. Myles of Olau – A nobleman, and Alanna's adoptive father. Eleni Cooper – George's mother. Later marries Myles of Olau. Faithful – Alanna's telepathic cat, given her by her presiding goddess. Coram – Alanna's friend and caregiver since birth.
Plot summary
The first chapter of this book finds Alanna, Faithful, and Coram on a quest for the 'Dominion Jewel', which grants immense psychokinetic power to any monarch who owns it. In the town of Berat, Alanna befriends martial-arts champion Liam Ironarm, called the 'Dragon of Shang', who joins the quest. Liam begins training her in Shang fighting style, and the two become lovers. The party thence traverse the realm of Sarain, evading a civil war between the native 'K'miri' tribes and the ruler, Warlord jin Wilima, and acquire new companions in Princess Thayet, the Warlord's only child, and her K’miri protector Buriram Tourokom. At the mountain range known as the 'Roof of the World', Alanna becomes frustrated by the blizzards blocking their progress and her magical sense that trouble is occurring back in Tortall. She casts a spell on the group to keep them asleep and then ascends to the pass, where she undergoes a grueling physical trial to acquire the Jewel from its immortal guardian, Chitral. She succeeds in winning the Jewel and returns to the group, to find that Liam—who is afraid of magic—is angry at being bewitched by her. Their romantic relationship ends, though they continue as friends and colleagues.