A figure stood at the far end, cloaked in black and beckoning him.

Short questions with long answers, my boy.

Her mouth set. “I’ve already lost one man I loved tonight. I will not lose the other.” She glared at him. “And curse you, you stone head, for making me say it first.

I never knew a woman could be fierce and beautiful and smart before I met you. Every time I see you I think of a hawk, beautiful and deadly.

A picture of the world, nothing more than a casting stone set in the heavens, intruded on Errol’s dismay. World without end. Was Illustra, their entire world, nothing more than a lot for the ultimate...

He pulled his hand back, aware now that sweat beaded on his forehead and that Rale watched him, his eyes dark, intense. Errol licked his lips. Did he want a drink? He hadn’t gone more...

Somebody’s been feeding the boy fables. Probably the king’s niece. Humph. Nice girl. Too many romantic notions, though.

Once Errol righted himself into some semblance of horsemanship, they set off at an easy canter. That is, the other horses set off at a canter, while Errol’s horse settled into a teeth-shattering trot. After...