Under the Vale and Other Tales of Valdemar Read online

  Ben Ohlander is a SFWA member and has coauthored novels with David Drake and Bill Forstchen. His first publication was a 1995 short story in the anthology Tapestries . He has returned to the short story format to explore aspects of conflict. He is a career Army officer with service in Afghanistan and Iraq and has worked as an analyst, software developer, and technical writer. He is married and lives in Ohio with three stepsons, one daughter, two cats, and a varying number of amphibians.

  Fiona Patton lives in rural Ontario with her spouse, Tanya Huff, and a pile of furry creatures. She has written seven novels for DAW, the latest being The Shining City, the third and final book in the Warriors of Estavia series. She has written over thirty short stories for DAW/Tekno Books anthologies. “The Watchman’s Ball” is her sixth story set in Mercedes Lackey’s world of Valdemar, the fourth featuring the Dann family of Haven.

  Kate Paulk masquerades as a mild-mannered software quality analyst during the day and spends most of what she sardonically describes as her “abundant spare time” writing. She is a regular contributor to the Valdemar anthologies, and her first novel, Impaler, is available in electronic and print form. She lives in semirural Pennsylvania with her husband, two demanding cats, and a very demanding imagination.

  After having been a production coordinator, proofreader, loan document researcher, and bookseller, Dan Shull is currently working full-tilt toward a degree in Communications, since all the cool jobs he is interested in look for that sort of thing. He was born, raised, and still lives in California, though he wouldn’t mind a change of scenery now and again—especially during the summers. He has been known to engage in the hobbies of reading, role-playing games, and vigorous, meandering discussions on everything from history to physics. While this is his first published work, he has been writing off and on since his parents gave him that electric typewriter back when he was ten.

  Kristin Schwengel’s work has appeared in several of the previous Valdemar anthologies, among others. She and her husband live near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a gray-and-brown tabby cat named (what else?) Gandalf. Her work as a massage therapist leaves her just enough time to divide between writing and other pastimes.

  Stephanie Shaver lives in Southern California, where she works in the games industry and enjoys soaking up the sunshine. When she isn’t working or writing, she’s probably cooking, camping, or herding cats. You can find her online at www.sdshaver.com.

  Elizabeth A. Vaughan writes fantasy romance. Her first novel, Warprize, was rereleased in April 2011. The Chronicles of the Warlands continues in WarCry, released in May 2011. You can learn more about her books at www.eavwrites.com. At the present, she is owned by three incredibly spoiled cats and lives in the Northwest Territory, on the outskirts of the Black Swamp, along Mad Anthony’s Trail on the banks of the Maumee River.

  Elisabeth Waters sold her first short story in 1980 to Marion Zimmer Bradley for The Keeper’s Price, the first of the Darkover anthologies. She then went on to sell short stories to a variety of anthologies. Her first novel, a fantasy called Changing Fate, was awarded the 1989 Gryphon Award. She is now finishing a sequel to it, in addition to her short story writing. She also edits the anthology series Sword and Sorceress. In addition to her writing, she has worked as a supernumerary with the San Francisco Opera, where she appeared in La Gioconda, Manon Lescaut, Madama Butterfly, Khovan-schina, Das Rheingold, Werther, and Idomeneo.

  Michael Z. Williamson and Gail Sanders are both veterans, though Mike is now retired from the military. For twenty years, they’ve run their own businesses selling historical weapons and armor, photography, and occasional prop, armorer, and consulting services for movies and TV. They work so well together that only one of them drafted this bio. You’ll have to guess which one. They can be found online at SharpPointyThings.com and www.MichaelZWilliamson.com

  About the Editor

  Mercedes Lackey is a full-time writer and has published numerous novels and works of short fiction, including the bestselling Heralds of Valdemar series. She is also a professional lyricist and a licensed wild bird rehabilita-tor. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and collaborator, artist Larry Dixon, and their flock of parrots.

  TITLES BY MERCEDES LACKEY

  available from DAW Books:

  THE HERALDS OF

  VALDEMAR

  ARROWS OF THE QUEEN

  ARROW’S FLIGHT

  ARROW’S FALL

  THE LAST HERALD-MAGE

  MAGIC’S PAWN

  MAGIC’S PROMISE

  MAGIC’S PRICE

  THE MAGE WINDS

  WINDS OF FATE

  WINDS OF CHANGE

  WINDS OF FURY

  THE MAGE STORMS

  STORM WARNING

  STORM RISING

  STORM BREAKING

  VOWS AND HONOR

  THE OATHBOUND

  OATHBREAKERS

  OATHBLOOD

  THE COLLEGIUM

  CHRONICLES

  FOUNDATION

  INTRIGUES

  CHANGES

  VALDEMAR ANTHOLOGIES:

  SWORD OF ICE

  SUN IN GLORY

  CROSSROADS

  MOVING TARGETS

  CHANGING THE WORLD

  FINDING THE WAY

  UNDER THE VALE

  BY THE SWORD

  BRIGHTLY BURNING

  TAKE A THIEF

  EXILE’S HONOR

  EXILE’S VALOR

  Written with LARRY DIXON:

  THE MAGE WARS

  THE BLACK GRYPHON

  THE WHITE GRYPHON

  THE SILVER GRYPHON

  DARIAN’S TALE

  OWLFLIGHT

  OWLSIGHT

  OWLKNIGHT

  OTHER NOVELS:

  GWENHWYFAR

  THE BLACK SWAN

  THE DRAGON JOUSTERS

  JOUST

  ALTA

  SANCTUARY

  AERIE

  THE ELEMENTAL MASTERS

  THE SERPENT’S SHADOW

  THE GATES OF SLEEP

  PHOENIX AND ASHES

  THE WIZARD OF LONDON

  RESERVED FOR THE CAT

  UNNATURAL ISSUE

  HOME FROM THE SEA*

  And don’t miss:

  THE VALDEMAR COMPANION

  Edited by John Helfers and Denise Little

  *Coming soon from DAW Books

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Acknowledgements

  The Simple Gifts - Mercedes Lackey

  Catch Fire, Draw Flame - Rosemary Edghill and Denise McCune

  In an Instant - Elizabeth A. Vaughan

  A Healer’s Work - Daniel Shull

  A Leash of Greyhounds - Elisabeth Waters

  Warp and Weft - Kristin Schwengel

  Discordance - Jennifer Brozek

  Slow and Steady - Brenda Cooper

  Sight and Sound - Stephanie D. Shaver

  The Bride’s Task - Michael Z. Williamson and Gail L. Sanders

  Fog of War - Ben Ohlander

  Heart’s Peril - Kate Paulk

  Heart’s Place - Sarah A. Hoyt

  Family Matters - Tanya Huff

  The Watchman’s Ball - Fiona Patton

  Judgment Day - Nancy Asire

  Under the Vale - Larry Dixon

  About the Authors

  About the Editor

  TITLES BY MERCEDES LACKEY