Acorna's Quest

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Acorna's Quest is the second book in the Acorna series of fantasy novels. It was written by Anne McCaffrey and Margaret Ball, and published in 1998. The book immediately preceding it in the series is Acorna the Unicorn Girl and it is followed by Acorna's People and Acorna's World.

[edit] Plot synopsis

In this book, Acorna and her "uncle" Calum set off to find Acorna's homeworld and her people. However, their friends try to delay them, not wanting the two to set off into unknown space alone. In response to this, Acorna and Calum sneak away in the space ship Acedecki to get on with their quest unhindered. Unfortunately, Acorna discovers that there is a problem with the hydroponics system, and they are forced to stop at the agricultural planet Rushima for supplies. When they arrive, Rushima is in ruins. The settlers there inform the two space travelers that a band of space pirates called the Starfarers are responsible for the devastation. While leaving Rushima, the Acedecki is captured by the Starfarers and Acorna and Calum become prisoners of the Starfarers. They are rescued by a young Starfarer named Markel, who informs them that the current leadership of the Starfarers is actually a gang of Palomelese criminals who overthrew and spaced the old leaders, who would never have devastated Rushima.

Meanwhile, a strange ship arrives at Magonos Moon Base, and aboard it are four aliens known as the Linyaari. They are Unicorn people just like Acorna, and they come to that part of space to warn its inhabitants about an impending doom: the merciless alien race known as the Kleevi are on their way with a battle fleet and a mind to conquer the area and torture its inhabitants to death. They are also looking for the niece of one of their crew members, who was lost around three years ago when her parents were attacked by the Kleevi as well.