Book Preview Long ago so long ago that the details of the conflict are lost and only the merest legends remain the world of Velgarth was wracked by sorcerous wars. With the population decimated, the land was turned to wasteland and given over to the forest and the magically-engendered creatures those peoples had used to … Read more
Book Preview Paface-Cottegia at Haven (Capital) Long ago so long ago that the details of the conflict are lost and only the merest legends remain the world of Velgarth was wracked by sorcerous wars. The population was decimated. The land quickly turned to wilderness and was given over to the forest and the magically-engendered creatures … Read more
Book Preview A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the tree, but the young girl seated beneath it did not seem to notice. An adolescent of thirteen or thereabouts, she was, by her plain costume, a member of one of the solemn and straight-laced Hold families that lived in this Borderland of Valdemar come there … Read more
Book Preview Sweat ran down Herald Vanyel’s back, and his ankle hurt a little – he hadn’t twisted it, quite, when he’d slipped on the wooden floor of the salle back at the beginning of this bout, but it was still bothering him five exchanges later. A point of weakness, and one he’d better be … Read more
Book Preview The blue leather saddlebags and a canvas pack, all a-bulging with filthy clothing and miscellaneous gear, landed in the corner of Vanyel’s room with three dullthuds. The lute, still in its padded leather case, slithered over the back of one of the two overstuffed chairs and landed with a softerpumph, to rest in … Read more
Book Preview Your grandfather, said Vanyels brawny, fifteen-year-old cousin Radevel, was crazy. He has a point, Vanyel thought, hoping they werent about to take an uncontrolled dive down the last of the stairs. Radevels remark had probably been prompted by this very back staircase, one that started at one end of the third-floor servants hall … Read more
Book Preview Ancar, King of Hardorn, slumped in the cushioned embrace of his throne and stared out into the empty Great Hall. Empty, because he no longer bothered with holding audiences. He was not here to listen to the complaints of the people of Hardorn. When he wished them to learn of his will, there … Read more
Book Preview Chapter 1 Elspeth & Gwena.6 Chapter 2 The Celebration.20 Chapter 3 Darkwind & Vree.33 Chapter 4 Skif & Cymry.42 Chapter 5 Wintermoon, Corwith, & Ktathi53 Chapter 6 Nyara & Need.65 Chapter 7 Treyvan, Hydona, Jerven & Lytha.76 Chapter 8 Kethra & Kris???.99 Chapter 9 The Heartstone.113 Chapter 10 Skif & Nyara.122 Chapter 14 … Read more
Book Preview Chapter One ELSPETH..7 Chapter TwoDARKWIND..31 Chapter ThreeELSPETH..52 Chapter FourDARKWIND..71 Chapter FiveELSPETH..90 Chapter SixDARKWIND..109 Chapter SevenELSPETH..130 Chapter EightDARKWIND..152 Chapter NineELSPETH..178 Chapter TenDARKWIND..206 Chapter ElevenELSPETH..224 Chapter TwelveDARKWIND..242 Chapter Thirteen INTERLUDE.266 Chapter FourteenELSPETH..274 Chapter FifteenDARKWIND..297 Chapter SixteenELSPETH..313 Chapter SeventeenDARKWIND..340 Chapter EighteenELSPETH..360 Chapter NineteenINTERLUDE.375 Chapter TwentyDARKWIND..380 Chapter Twenty-oneELSPETH..406 A gentleman and a scholar Long ago, in the … Read more
Book Preview Karal lay as quietly as he could, keeping his breathing even to avoid jarring his head.. He kept his eyes closed against the light, hoping that the snow pack across his brow would eventually ease his throbbing headache. It was hard to think through the pain that stabbed from both temples and seemed … Read more
Book Preview Storm Rising includes black and white illustrations by Larry Dixon. All the black & white interior illustrations in this book are available as 8’ x 10” prints; either in a signed, open edition singly, or in a signed and numbered portfolio from: FIREBIRD ARTS & MUSIC, INC. P.O. Box 14785 Portland, OR 97214-9998 … Read more
Book Preview Emperor Charliss sat upon the Iron Throne, bowed down neither by the visible weight of his years nor the invisible weight of his power. He bore neither the heavy Wolf Crown on his head, nor the equally burdensome robes of state across his shoulders, though both lay nearby, on an ornately trimmed marble … Read more
Book Preview Long agoso long ago that the details of the conflict are lost and only the merest legends remainthe world of Velgarth was wracked by sorcerous wars. With the population decimated, the land was turned to wasteland and given over to the forest and the magically-engendered creatures those peoples had used to fight those … Read more
Book Preview Long agoso long ago that the details of the conflict are lost and only the merest legends remainthe world of Velgarth was wracked by sorcerous wars. The population was decimated. The land quickly turned to wilderness and was given over to the forest and the magically-engendered creatures that had been used to fight … Read more
Book Preview A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the tree, but the young girl seated beneath it did not seem to notice. An adolescent of thirteen or thereabouts, she was, by her plain costume, a member of one of the solemn and straight-laced Hold families that lived in this Borderland of Valdemarcome there to … Read more
Book Preview Tadrith Skandrakae extended his broad gray wings, stretching out his muscles to their fullest extent to take best advantage of the warm wind beneath him. Freedom at last! I thought I’d never get away from that Section meeting. He banked just slightly to his left, slipping sideways for the best line. I know … Read more
Book Preview From crown to talons, tailtip to wingtip, it will be a sculpture of light. Skandranon Rashkae rested his beaked head atop his crossed foreclaws and contemplated the city across the bay. Although his city was considered dazzling at night by the most jaded of observers, even by day, White Gryphon was a city … Read more
Book Preview Cold wind played against Skandranons nares-a wind as frigid as the hearts of the killers below. Their hearts pumped blood unlike any other creatures; thick black blood, warmed when their commanders willed it-only when they flew, only when they hunted, only when they killed. Their blood was cold, and yet it ran warmer … Read more