>After seeing the cover illustration of the most recent novel
>(I'll post a link in a follow-up so everyone can judge for themselves)
>I'm more than just reminded. They're very similiar, in color, design,
>and even the rune inscriptions, the differences being the lack of the
>rose motif and the runes running silver rather than red on Alithiel.

I'll save you the trouble. (Well, provided that I found the right book. :) I was curious, so I went digging and found this image:

It doesn't resemble the Thorn as much as you think. The Thorn's hilt is much more intricate, and the Thorn's blade lacks the silver edges of Alithiel. (Unless those were added to the Alithiel illustration, despite being off-model, so that you could actually see the sword. :)

That said, Alithiel is quite nifty-looking.

(Huh. According to this, Janny Wurts draws her own cover art. I guess we can assume that's a pretty accurate representation, then. :)

--truss.