Part of the Storycuts series, this short story was previously published in the collection If You Liked School, You'll Love Work.

    

    In these four epic novels of sword and sorcery, discord rages throughout the land of Pandemia and the rightful rulers fight an unjust imperor.  The Cutting Edge: For fifteen years, Queen Inos and King Rap have ruled Krasnegar peacefully, but now darkness encroaches. When a royal family grows tyrannical and armies wage war along the Impire’s borderlands, Rap ignores them—until he learns the Protocol, a treaty controlling the use of magic, is in danger of being destroyed.  Upland Outlaws: The mad dwarf, Xinixo, rules as the imperor, enchanting his subjects and enemies to believe he is Shandie, the rightful ruler. Wielding the combined power of all the sorcerers under his control, he destroys or enslaves any who oppose him. But his greatest enemies, King Rap and the true Shandie, will stop at nothing to end his reign.  The Stricken Field: The sorcerer Xinixo still rules the Impire, but King Rap and Shandie continue to resist his reign, enlisting the help of the remaining free sorcerers of the world to destroy him. Their chances of victory remain slim . . . until a young pixie girl decides to join their cause.  The Living God: The imposter Xinixo continues to rule as war wages in the Impire. The troll sorcerers have joined the resistance and Rap is rallying the elves to his cause. His wife, Queen Inos, and Shandie negotiate with gnomes while the sorcerers of Thume and the pixie girl secretly organize a resistance to Xinixo’s rule. But the odds are against them as the prophesied Longday draws nearer.

    

    This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

    

    Contains:Not Long Before the EndWhat Good is a Glass Dagger?The Magic Goes AwayUnfinished Story #1and:The Magic May ReturnNotes for a Series of Stories to be Set in the Fantasy World of The Magic Goes Away

    But when entrancing Pict thrall Bridget falls into Thorolf’s arms begging for help, Thorolf cannot resist the golden-haired beauty’s pleas. He risks his life to spirit her safely back to her homeland, despite vowing never to return to Pictland. Now he must choose between guarding the truth of his past or giving his heart to the brave woman who heals him with her merest touch. A fated future… After being shunned by her people for possessing the gift of Touch, Bridget resigns herself to a solitary life on the outskirts of her village. When Viking raiders capture her and deliver her to their cruel Jarl, she fears that this new nightmare may never end. Yet within Thorolf’s protective embrace, Bridget lets herself hope for not only the shelter his strong arms promise, but also the acceptance her own people denied her. But when the truth of both of their pasts comes to light, will fate rip them apart forever? This novella-length Viking historical romance is part of the Viking Lore Series, but can also be enjoyed as a standalone story. Start reading today!

    

    

    

    Little does he care for the war that rages between men and monsters beyond the city walls, despite portents of its encroaching threat. Mortal life in the Realm of Beasts is short enough, and to leave the shelter of civilisation is to surrender to certain death.But death is coming to Excelsis. The forces of Destruction are on the move and the realm quakes with each thunderous step. In the wildlands, a sinister new foe overwhelms even the mighty Stormcast Eternals. Yet just as all seems lost, an unexpected champion rises – one to whom Niksar is inextricably linked – ready to lead a crusade into the very heart of darkness. Embroiled in this harrowing journey, Niksar is forced to choose between loyalty and the chance of survival, and in so doing discover his true worth in the greatest battle yet against the savage forces of Destruction.

    According to Wikipedia: "Jack London (12 January, 1876 – 22 November, 1916) was an American author who wrote The Call of the Wild and other books. A pioneer in the then-burgeoning world of commercial magazine fiction, he was one of the first Americans to make a lucrative career exclusively from writing."

    Table of Contents: List of Works by Collection and TitleList of Works in Alphabetical OrderRobert Frost BiographyA Boy's Will :: North of Boston :: Mountain Interval :: Miscellaneous PoemsA Boy's Will (1913)Into My OwnGhost HouseMy November GuestLove and a QuestionA Late WalkStarsStorm FearWind and Window FlowerTo the Thawing WindA Prayer in SpringFlower-gatheringRose PogoniaAsking for RosesWaiting--Afield at DuskIn a ValeA Dream PangIn NeglectThe Vantage PointMowingGoing for WaterRevelationThe Trial by ExistenceIn Equal SacrificeThe Tuft of FlowersSpoils of the DeadPan with UsThe Demiurge's LaughNow Close the WindowsA Line-storm SongOctoberMy ButterflyReluctanceNorth of Boston (1914)The Pasture Mending WallThe Death of the Hired ManThe MountainA Hundred CollarsHome BurialThe Black CottageBlueberriesA Servant to ServantsAfter Apple-pickingThe CodeThe Generations of MenThe HousekeeperThe FearThe Self-seekerThe Wood-pileGood HoursMountain Interval (1916; revised 1920)The Road Not Taken Christmas Trees An Old Man's Winter Night The Exposed Nest A Patch of Old Snow In the Home Stretch The Telephone Meeting and Passing Hyla Brook The Oven Bird Bond and Free Birches Pea BrushPutting in the Seed A Time to Talk The Cow in Apple Time An Encounter Range-finding The Hill Wife The Bonfire A Girl's Garden Locked Out The Last Word of a Bluebird "Out, Out—" Brown's Descent, or the Willy-nilly Slide The Gum-gatherer The Line-gang The Vanishing Red Snow The Sound of the Trees Miscellaneous Poems to 1920 "The Ax-Helve" "Fire and Ice" "The Flower Boat" "For Once, Then, Something" "Fragmentary Blue""Good-by and Keep Cold" "The Lockless Door""The Need of Being Versed in Country Things" "Not to Keep""Place for a Third" "Plowmen""The Runaway""To E.T.""The Valley's Singing Day""Wild Grapes"