Del Rey / Ballantine, 1980. Paperback original. This is the first novel in the author's "World of Alfar" series.

THE RELUCTANT HERO Ivarr had been sold to the witch Birna. But now Birna was dead, slain by the evil sorcerer Lorimer. Ivarr was stranded in the land of the elves. His only chance to return to his own realm was to become a hero for group of outcast, incompetent elves and a wizard of doubtful qualifications. As he discovered, being a hero was a little difficult. First he had to seek out a magic sword concealed somewhere in the land of the fire giants. Then, to seize a horde of gold, he must somehow find and destroy a terrible dragon. And, finally, he would have to overcome the power of Lorimer and an army of dark elves. Ivarr knew nothing about being a hero, and the more he heard, the less he liked the idea. But a hero he'd be—or else!

WAR OF THE DARK ELVES Brak just wanted to help Ingvold, the elfin girl who was cursed by the witch-queen Hjordis to act as a hag. He never expected his efforts to lead him through a strange gate to the world of the Alfar, where the dark elves were fighting to destroy all the light elves. As a humble thrall, he had no business there. But he was trapped. Ingvold had given him the dragon's heart, the only hope the light elves had to summon aid from the Rhbus. He could not let that fall into the hands of Hjordis or Myrkjartan, the dreadful necromancer who was mustering armies of the dead against all that was good in the world. Betrayed by the wiles of the wizard Skalgr, Brak struggled to master the magic of the dragon's heart and recover the weapons of power that would, perhaps, bring victory to Ingvold and her people. It was too much, even for a hero. And Brak was no hero!

You can find an alternate cover edition here. THE MAGIC IN THE BOX Sigurd grew up with his grandmother, bothered only by the trolls that seemed bent on destroying their settlement. Then she died, leaving him a mysterious box he couldn't open and a confused warning against some dread warlord or wizard—he couldn't be sure of which from her final ravings. Then the grim warlord Halfdane came to abduct him by force into the Realm of the Alfar. Now he was a virtual prisoner in the hill fort of Halfdane, caught in a bitter war between light and dark elves. And he seemed trapped on the losing side. His only hope was to escape and somehow learn what powerful magic was contained in the box and which everyone seemed bent on stealing from him. Of course, there were a few walking dead, a cursed sword, and a multitude of savage trolls to be faced. But the strange wizard Jotull was willing—oh, very willing—to help him!

Leifr and Thurid were in trouble - worse than usual. In Leifr's efforts to recover his lost love, Ljosa, and Thurid's attempt to escape the Inquisitors they had fallen into the hands of the evil Master Wizard Djofull. Djofull had tricked them into swearing in blood that they would destroy the curse that afflicted Hraedsla-dalur or return to serve his vile plans.