FIERCE: Sixteen Authors of Fantasy Read online

  Contents

  FIERCE Copyright Page

  Published by Novel Bundle Services, LLC

  Cover page

  - Moving Targets

  - Story

  - Afterword

  Future Bundles

  - Mageborn: The Blacksmith’s Son

  - Prologue

  - Chapter I

  - Chapter II

  - Chapter III

  - Chapter IV

  - Chapter V

  - Chapter VI

  - Chapter VII

  - Chapter VIII

  - Chapter IX

  - Chapter X

  - Chapter XI

  - Chapter XII

  - Chapter XIII

  - Chapter XIV

  - Chapter XV

  - Chapter XVI

  - Chapter XVII

  - Chapter XVIII

  - Chapter XIX

  - Chapter XX

  - Chapter XXI

  - Afterword

  Future Bundles

  - Chosen

  - Chapter I

  - Chapter II

  - Chapter III

  - Chapter IV

  - Chapter V

  - Chapter VI

  - Chapter VII

  - Chapter VIII

  - Chapter IX

  - Chapter X

  - Chapter XI

  - Chapter XII

  - Chapter XIII

  - Chapter XIV

  - Chapter XV

  - Chapter XVI

  - Chapter XVII

  - Chapter XVIII

  - Chapter XIX

  - Chapter XX

  - Chapter XXI

  - Chapter XXII

  - Chapter XXIII

  - Chapter XXIV

  - Chapter XXV

  - Chapter XXVI

  - Chapter XXVII

  - Chapter XXVIII

  - Chapter XXIX

  - Chapter XXX

  - Chapter XXXI

  - Chapter XXXII

  - Chapter XXXIII

  - Chapter XXXIV

  - Chapter XXXV

  - Chapter XXXVI

  - Chapter XXXVII

  - Chapter XXXVIII

  - Chapter XXXIX

  - Chapter XL

  - Chapter XLI

  - Chapter XLII

  - Chapter XLIII

  - Chapter XLIV

  - Chapter XLV

  - Chapter XLVI

  - Chapter XLVII

  - Chapter XLVIII

  - Chapter XLIX

  - Chapter L

  - Chapter LI

  - Afterword

  Future Bundles

  - A Quest of Heroes - Book #1 in the Sorcerer’s Ring

  - Chapter I

  - Chapter II

  - Chapter III

  - Chapter IV

  - Chapter V

  - Chapter VI

  - Chapter VII

  - Chapter VIII

  - Chapter IX

  - Chapter X

  - Chapter XI

  - Chapter XII

  - Chapter XIII

  - Chapter XIV

  - Chapter XV

  - Chapter XVI

  - Chapter XVII

  - Chapter XVIII

  - Chapter XIX

  - Chapter XX

  - Chapter XXI

  - Chapter XXII

  - Chapter XXIII

  - Chapter XXIV

  - Chapter XXV

  - Chapter XXVI

  - Chapter XXVII

  - Chapter XXVIII

  - Afterword

  Future Bundles

  - Whill of Agora

  - Chapter I

  - Chapter II

  - Chapter III

  - Chapter IV

  - Chapter V

  - Chapter VI

  - Chapter VII

  - Chapter VIII

  - Chapter IX

  - Chapter X

  - Chapter XI

  - Chapter XII

  - Chapter XIII

  - Chapter XIV

  - Chapter XV

  - Chapter XVI

  - Chapter XVII

  - Chapter XVIII

  - Chapter XIX

  - Chapter XX

  - Chapter XXI

  - Chapter XXII

  - Chapter XXIII

  - Chapter XXIV

  - Chapter XXV

  - Chapter XXVI

  - Chapter XXVII

  - Afterword

  Future Bundles

  - Requiem's Song - Dawn of Dragons, Book #1

  - LAIRA

  - RAEM

  - LAIRA

  - JEID

  - RAEM

  - TANIN

  - ISSARI

  - LAIRA

  - MAEV

  - ANGEL

  - JEID

  - LAIRA

  - SENA

  - ISSARI

  - JEID

  - LAIRA

  - ANGEL

  - TANIN

  - ISSARI

  - LAIRA

  - ISSARI

  - TANIN

  - LAIRA

  - RAEM

  - TANIN

  - LAIRA

  - TANIN

  - ISSARI

  - LAIRA

  - JEID

  - LAIRA

  - JEID

  - MAEV

  - LAIRA

  - SENA

  - JEID

  - ISSARI

  - RAEM

  - Afterword

  Future Bundles

  - Bound

  - Chapter I

  - Chapter II

  - Chapter III

  - Chapter IV

  - Chapter V

  - Chapter VI

  - Chapter VII

  - Chapter VIII

  - Chapter IX

  - Chapter X

  - Chapter XI

  - Chapter XII

  - Chapter XIII

  - Chapter XIV

  - Chapter XV

  - Chapter XVI

  - Chapter XVII

  - Chapter XVIII

  - Chapter XIX

  - Chapter XX

  - Chapter XXI

  - Chapter XXII

  - Chapter XXIII

  - Chapter XXIV

  - Chapter XXV

  - Chapter XXVI

  - Chapter XXVII

  - Chapter XXVIII

  - Chapter XXIX

  - Chapter XXX

  - Chapter XXXI

  - Chapter XXXII

  - Chapter XXXIII

  - Chapter XXXIV

  - Chapter XXXV

  - Chapter XXXVI

  - Chapter XXXVII

  - Chapter XXXVIII

  - Chapter XLIX

  - Afterword

  Future Bundles

  - The Pariahs

  - Prologue

  - Chapter I

  - Chapter II

  - Chapter III

  - Chapter IV

  - Chapter V

  - Epilogue

  - Afterword

  Future Bundles

  - The Fire Seer - A Coalition of Mages Novel

  - Chapter I

  - Chapter II

  - Chapter III

  - Chapter IV

  - Chapter V

  - Chapter VI

  - Chapter VII

  - Chapter VIII

  - Chapter IX

  - Chapter X

  - Chapter XI

  - Chapter XII

  - Chapter XIII

  - Chapter XIV

  - Chapter XV

  - Chapter XVI

  - Chapter XVII

  - Chapter XVIII

  - Chapter XIX

  - Chapter XX

  - Chapter XXI

  - Chapter XXII

  - Chapter
XXIII

  - Chapter XXIV

  - Chapter XXV

  - Chapter XXVI

  - Chapter XXVII

  - Chapter XXVIII

  - Chapter XXIX

  - Chapter XXX

  - Chapter XXXI

  - Chapter XXXII

  - Chapter XXXIII

  - Chapter XXXIV

  - Chapter XXXV

  - Chapter XXXVI

  - Chapter XXXVII

  - Chapter XXXVIII

  - Chapter XXXIX

  - Chapter XL

  - Chapter XLI

  - Chapter XLII

  - Chapter XLIII

  - Afterword

  Future Bundles

  - The Legends of Dimmingwood, Book #1 - Magic of Thieves

  - A Beginning

  - Chapter I

  - Chapter II

  - Chapter III

  - Chapter IV

  - Chapter V

  - Chapter VI

  - Chapter VII

  - Chapter VIII

  - Chapter IX

  - Chapter X

  - Chapter XI

  - Chapter XII

  - Chapter XIII

  - Chapter XIV

  - Not An Ending, But A Resting Place

  - Afterword

  Future Bundles

  - The Weight of Blood

  - Chapter I

  - Chapter II

  - Chapter III

  - Chapter IV

  - Chapter V

  - Chapter VI

  - Chapter VII

  - Chapter VIII

  - Chapter IX

  - Chapter X

  - Chapter XI

  - Chapter XII

  - Chapter XIII

  - Chapter XIV

  - Chapter XV

  - Chapter XVI

  - Chapter XVII

  - Epilogue

  - Afterword

  Future Bundles

  - Bear Heart

  - Chapter I

  - Chapter II

  - Chapter III

  - Chapter IV

  - Chapter V

  - Chapter VI

  - Chapter VII

  - Chapter VIII

  - Chapter IX

  - Chapter X

  - Chapter XI

  - Afterword

  K.J. Colt Books

  Future Bundles

  - Poison - A Fate’s Forsaken Prequel

  - Chapter I

  - Chapter II

  - Chapter III

  - Chapter IV

  - Chapter V

  - Chapter VI

  - Chapter VII

  - Chapter VIII

  - Chapter IX

  - Chapter X

  - Afterword

  Future Bundles

  - The Maskmaker’s Apprentice

  - Chapter I

  - Chapter II

  - Chapter III

  - Chapter IV

  - Chapter V

  - Chapter VI

  - Chapter VII

  - Chapter VIII

  - Chapter IX

  - Chapter X

  - Chapter XI

  - Chapter XII

  - Chapter XIII

  - Afterword

  Future Bundles

  - The Dark Citadel

  - Prologue

  - Chapter I

  - Chapter II

  - Chapter III

  - Chapter IV

  - Chapter V

  - Chapter VI

  - Chapter VII

  - Chapter VIII

  - Chapter IX

  - Chapter X

  - Chapter XI

  - Chapter XII

  - Chapter XIII

  - Chapter XIV

  - Chapter XV

  - Afterword

  Future Bundles

  - Blades of Magic: Book I

  - Chapter I

  - Chapter II

  - Chapter III

  - Chapter IV

  - Chapter V

  - Chapter VI

  - Chapter VII

  - Chapter VIII

  - Chapter IX

  - Chapter X

  - Chapter XI

  - Chapter XII

  - Chapter XIII

  - Chapter XIV

  - Chapter XV

  - Chapter XVI

  - Chapter XVII

  - Chapter XVIII

  - Chapter XIX

  - Chapter XX

  - Chapter XXI

  - Chapter XXII

  - Chapter XXIII

  - Chapter XXIV

  - Chapter XXV

  - Afterword

  Future Bundles

  Published by Novel Bundle Services, LLC

  www.novelbundles.com

  Cover Copyright © 2015 Novel Bundle Services, LLC

  FIERCE

  16 Adventure Fantasy Books

  Mercedes Lackey

  Michael G. Manning

  K. F. Breene

  Morgan Rice

  Michael James Ploof

  Daniel Arenson

  Kate Sparkes

  David Adams

  Amy Raby

  C. Greenwood

  David Dalglish

  K. J. Colt

  Shae Ford

  Endi Webb

  Michael Wallace

  Terah Edun

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  MOVING TARGETS

  Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon

  Story

  HERALD ELYN REFRAINED FROM TEARING her hair out. It wasn’t as if she wasn’t used to these four. They’d been assigned to her in a bunch when they’d all first been Chosen. They’d gotten into trouble in and around Haven as a group, and now, four years later, it would have been reasonable to assume that this foursome was beyond being able to surprise her.

  It would be reasonable to assume that. Reasonable, but unfortunately, wrong.

  Elyn stared at the wagon, hoping it was an hallucination. It wasn’t.

  It was a traders-caravan built to the specifications of a rich man with vague notions of “the romance of the open road.” So it was big; big enough that it took two stout horses to pull it. Expensive leaf springs sandwiched between wishbone axles peeked from behind carved, bentwood coachwork. It was luxuriously appointed within. And without—

  It was yellow. Bright yellow. And there were flowers painted on it, scrolling around the windows and door. The roof was red.

  Elyn groaned silently. Heralds were supposed to try to be inconspicuous. Hard enough when you were wearing a white uniform that screamed “I’m the Herald! Shoot me first!” But with this? They’d look like a lot of traveling actors. Or clowns. Would people even believe they were Heralds and not just entertainers dressed up as Heralds?

  “We could have it repainted,” said Trainee Laurel helpfully, gleefully gesturing at the wagon and then standing with one hand on her hip. “In fact, we probably should. White, with a blue roof. And with the crest of Valdemar on the side. The people would love that!” Elyn had to admit that she was probably right about that last part. Laurel was a pretty thing with abundant red hair, kind hearted, with a formidable Gift that was from some place in the Empathy family. She could make anyone like her and want to do what she wanted. Fortunately, she had a strong code of ethics. Unfortunately, she tended to think the best of everyone. They’d quickly learned not to allow her any say in judgments after she pleaded in favor of a violent murderer who had been caught literally red-handed by saying that his mother didn’t think he’d do that kind of thing.

  Repaint it white. As if that will make us less of a moving target? At least no enemy would ever take this wagon seriously. “We don’t have time,” Elyn said, truthfully. “It would have to be sanded down to the bare wood, otherwise everything else will bleed right through.”

  “Blue. Dark blue. Solid dark blue, no decorations, and I already have the paint and rounded up the workmen,” Trainee Alma trotted up with two of the palace carpenters in tow, each of them carrying two buckets of dark blue
paint. “I calculated it very carefully. One coat will do it. Night Blue cut one-to-three with Sky Blue has a drying index of six candlemarks, with a twelve-candlemark cure, and has an unprimed saturation well within limits. There will be plenty of time for it to dry before we leave tomorrow.” She waved a clipboard of papers, and punctuated her statement with a firm nod which proclaimed that questioning her figures was inadvisable under pain of explanation. Boyish, bookish Alma had been an Artificer-in-training before she had been Chosen; she made up for Laurel’s lack of practicality and then some. Strong-willed, rock-steady, and blindingly intelligent, she was always searching for the most ordinary explanation for the extraordinary. She also had no discernible Gift. Elyn sometimes wondered if that was because Alma herself had not yet mathematically proven she had one.

  “Aww. Do we have to paint it?” Trainee Arville asked plaintively. “I think it’s nice.” He was the tallest young man Elyn had ever seen, but you would never know it, because he was always slouching. He always looked a little unkempt. Not dirty, but untidy. Except when in his Whites, he could only be found in faded earth-tone field-laborer clothes, none of which seemed to be his size even if they were. Elyn knew he didn’t do it out of carelessness, nor because he was slovenly. It was as if everything he put on immediately had a mind of its own, and that mind was half-asleep.

  His Gift was as powerful as Laurel’s, and as odd. It was a rare Gift, and extremely difficult to train for. Luck. He could trip and fall and come up not only unhurt, but clutching something useful, important, or occasionally even valuable. He was almost never hit during fighting practice, not because he was good, but because his opponents always made inexplicable mistakes. Small children and animals adored him.

  “Yes, Arville, we do,” Alma said firmly. “Otherwise no one will take us seriously.”

  The fourth member of the quartet shrugged. “I doubt Father would care if we painted it pink,” Trainee Rod pointed out. Laurel opened her mouth to speak but when Elyn shot Laurel a look that said don’t even think it, she decided against it. Rod continued. “I doubt he even knows what color it is now. He probably just threw money at a bunch of coach-makers and said ‘Build me the best traveling van anyone has ever seen.’ What matters is that the horses he sent along are terrific.” Trainee Rod…or rather, Rod’s father…was wealthy enough that he could do things like that. Rod should have been spoiled rotten. He wasn’t. Rod’s father should have been livid that he was Chosen, but he wasn’t. Guildmaster Fredrich of the Goldsmith Guild was so proud of his son he nearly burst every time he looked at the young man. Then again, that handsome boy, blond and blue-eyed, certainly had a face and body that seemed created to wear a Herald’s Uniform.

  And Rod certainly did not have the head to be a Goldsmith, much less a Master, and even less a Guildmaster. His younger brother had seemingly inherited all the real cunning in the family, as Rod had inherited the looks, so when the Big White Talking Horse showed up it was actually a relief all around.

  Not that he was stupid, he just wasn’t nearly intelligent enough to succeed in the business as his father had; he was certainly no match for his brother or Alma when it came to feats of outright logic, and only had a casual consumer’s understanding of market forces. But he was clever about mechanical things, and most importantly for a Herald, absolutely determined to do the right thing, and doggedly persistent about seeing that it got done.