Skandrannon and AmberDrake are both getting older and have settled into comfortable lives. The people of White Gryphon have been in Alliance with the Haighlei Empire for 12 years now, but that does not mean that they have not prepared themselves for other enemies. White Gryphon started up an elite guard made of humans and non-humans to protect their city; These became known as the Silver Gryphons. Among these are SilverBlade, AmberDrakes daughter, and Tadrith, Skan's son. They are both sick of growing up in the tales of the Fathers' heroisms. They wanted to prove themselves and make their own worths known. So finally, after rigorous training, they are both given their first assignments- a remote guard post in wild , unexplored territory. But something bad happens and Tadrith is forced out of the sky and plummets to the ground with SilverBlade. Bandly injured, and no way of communicating back, they are forced to take care of themselves. All magic has been drained from their equipment. Something evil and unknown lurks in the dark forest beyond them; Will help come in time, or will they both perish at the hands of this evil?

During the Final battle with the evil Ma'ar, Urtho told his people to escape the tower by way of mage Gate and flee as far as they could go. Skandrannon and AmberDrake, and some of the Kaled'a'in peoples ended up South, next to the sea. They decided, since there was no way to return to the tower and the other peoples, to build White Gryphon. 10 years later, they received a suprise. Little did they know that this land was already taken by the Haighlei Empire, the Black Kings of the South. Skan, Zhaneel, and AmberDrake decided to make Allies of these people, but soon after they arrive in Haighlei, treachery begins. A Court noble, who is opposite the Alliance, is murdered by what looks like large talons. If Skan doesn't prove his innocence, White Gryphon an their lives would be in danger.

The Harton School for Boys and Girls, run by Isabelle and Frederick Harton, is one of the few schools that takes students whose magic doesn't pertain to the elements, and who are, therefore, frequently ignored by the Elemental Masters. Such unheeded gifts include clairvoyance, telepathy, and the very rare ability to truly communicate with the dead. Sarah Jane's parents, missionary healers in Africa, send the 12-year-old to Harton, and she is happy there, especially after she befriends Nan, a street urchin. After an attempt is made on Sarah and Nan's lives, it is clear that a powerful Elemental Master wants one or both girls dead. Isabelle Harton must seek the aid of the Elemental Masters of London, though the Masters' Circle is led by Lord Alderscroft, who once cruelly jilted her.

Corfu in the 16th century. Key to Asia. Repository of a magic older than history itself. No wonder the demon Chernobog must possess the island- for with it in his grasp, Chernobog can finally crush Venice and defeat his immortal enemy, the Lion of San Marcos, who thwarted his previous bid for absolute power.Now all hope depends on the derring-do of the small band of heroes who fought against the demon before- and the inner strength of one reluctant young heroine. For the ancient powers of Corfu care nothing for either Chernobog's lust for power, or the human desire for freedom.And anyone who would wield the island's primordial magic must pay with a piece of his- or her- soul....

In To Light a Candle, the Demon Queen sends her forces against her human and elven enemies, sowing distraction and death. In the human City, the Queen's agents work to divide the Council and foment rebellion among the City's citizens. In the countryside, they target the most vulnerable and valuable---the young Elf Prince and the Wild Mages who might be the Demons' most dangerous enemies.To his own surprise, young Kellen, once the disappointing son of the great Mage who leads the City's Mage Council, has become a powerful Knight-Mage. Valued for his bravery and his skills as both wizard and warrior, Kellen joins the Elves' war councils. Yet he cannot convince the City of his birth that it is in terrible danger.Kellen's sister Idalia, a Wild Mage with great healing ability, has pledged her heart to Jermayan, a proud Elven warrior. Someday Idalia will pay a tragic Price for a world-saving work of Wild Magic, but until then, she will claim any joy life can offer her. Jermayan, who has learned much while fighting at Kellen's side and loving the human Idalia, finds that everything changes when he Bonds with a dragon while rescuing the Elf Prince and becomes the first Elven Mage in a thousand years.Furious at her enemies' success with the dragon, the Demon Queen attacks in force. Light struggles against Dark, like flickering candleflames buried deep in the shadow of Obsidian Mountain.

This story is about Kerowyn, granddaughter to the sorceress Kethry. Kerowyn wanted to raise and train horses but that dream was shattered when her brother was injured and his fiancee was kidnapped. She was forced to find her grandmother and the SwordSworn Tarma and train in the ways of the Sword. After facing her foes, Kerowyn becomes an outsider in her own land. She then becomes bound by the magical sword Need and goes on to become to legendary captian of the mercenary company, the SkyBolts. She also becomes Chosen which transforms her title to Herald-Captian Kerowyn. Queen Selenay also find love in this book because of Kerowyn.

Werehunter is a short story collection of Mercedes Lackey's early work.Lope through the night with a young woman who has been given the power to transform herself into a leopard, but who now finds herself pursued by a hunter who is more than human: Follow the adventures of Skitty, ship's cat extraordinaire, and telepathic problem-solver. Ride with a late night driver on a solitary road who learns that what appears to be a piece of cardboard blowing across the road is actually something very sinister in disguise. Join Lackey's celebrated occult detective Diana Tregarde as she attends a gathering of romance writers and encounters a visitor whose passionate desire is for fresh, warm blood. Return to the world of the Heralds of Valdemar. And there's much more.Lackey's many fans will know what to expect: unforgettable characters in spellbinding stories from a grand master of fantasy and science fiction. And readers just discovering her have a treat in store.The story Werehunter was originally the song Golden Eyes on the album Magic, Moondust & Melancholy , and was inspired by Andre Norton's Witch World series. The were characters from Year of the Unicorn and the Jargoon Pard meet their long lost kin in this short story.Stories include:WerehunterSKittyA Tale of Two SKittiesSCatA Better MousetrapThe Last of the SeasonSatanic, VersusNightsideWet WingsStolen SilverRoadkillOperation Desert FoxGreyGrey's Ghost

As a dark BloodPath-Mage continues to attack the borders of the k'Sheyna Vale, Darkwind continues to train Elspeth while, at the same time, receive training for his dormant mage power from his dear friends, the Gryphons Treyvan and his mate Hydona. But another problem persists, and that is of the renegade HeartStone. This HeartStone is so unstable it is like it has a mind of its own. If Mornelithe Falconsbane, the dark mage, were to get his "paws" on this he could have all the power he would ever hope for. Darkwinds calls for help from the other Tayledras clans. He receives as answer from Clan k'Treva, the same clan that trained Herald Vanyel. His answer came in the form of a very powerful Healing-Adept named Firesong. They all must work together to move the heartstone to its new vale, the one where half the clan was originally sent, because time is short ad Mornelithe Falconsbane is winning the fight.

Since Herald Vanyel's time, all forms of magic, except for Mind magic, ceased to exsist in Valdemar's borders. A mage couldn't even go into Valdemar before he was driven out because of the unseen "eyes" watching him or her. But now, magic is slowly coming back and Ancar, an evil bloodpath-mage from Hardorn knows it. Elspeth, Herald and Heir to the throne of Valdemar, must take up the task and go to seek outside help. She becomes bound to Kerowyn's Sword Need and through Elspeth, the Sword "awakens." and tells her story. Elspeth and Skif set off to go to Kethry and Tarma's Mage schools that are in Tale'sedrin. We are introduced to another main character, Darkwind k'Sheyna who is a Tayledras and a Mage. These are troubled times for his clas an well because their HeartStone went rogue, killing half the mages holding a Gate open and destroying the Gate, leaving half the clan somewhere out beyond their reach. Darkwind's father has changed and his mother was killed, so he vowed not to be a mage anymore. During this book, Elspeth's and Darkwind's paths meet and they decide they need to help eachother, for a dark and mysterious mage is trying to destroy the k'Sheyna Vale. It is left up to Darkwind to take up his dormant powers and train Elspeth in becoming the First Herald-Mag since Vanyel Ashkevron's time.

This is a book of change. The Clan k'Sheyna was successfully moved to its new Vale and Darkwind, Elspeth, Firesong, the 2 gryphons and their children head for Valdemar. There, the evil mage Ancar is threatening to attack because the "borders" protecting Valdemar were brought down by an OLD friend. (Find out who that is by reading). Ancar, who is only a half-trained Master at best, decided to be stupid and try a Gate spell, one which only Adepts can control. During this spell, he managed not to kill himself but the Gate brought him a "present"; The injured, half-dead person that was Mornelithe Falconsbane, a person whom Elspeth and Darkwind though they had already killed....a couple of times! Now Ancar has a new weapon and the Envoys to valdemar must train as many new Herald-Mages as possible. The get a suprise when Karse makes a truce and offers to help...but that's all to the good. There is also another unknown Ally among these people, one who can change the outcome of this battle if he can get control of himself.

Mercedes Lackey"She'll keep you up long past your bedtime." —New York Times bestselling author Stephen King In an isolated land where the lure of the "Moontide" leads to shipwrecks, a woman is torn between obeying her father or her king. When she chooses to follow a Fool, she discovers magic she'd never expected . . . at a price that might be too high . . . Tanith Lee"Few writers today can match the sheer beauty and inventiveness of Tanith Lee's writing." —Millennium Science Fiction and Fantasy Struggling under the curse of a dead comrade, Clirando, a warrior priestess unready to face the powers trapped within her, must face "The Heart of the Moon" to reveal what has been hidden . . . C.E. Murphy"A swift pace, a good mystery, a likeable protagonist, magic, danger — Urban Shaman has them in spades." —Jim Butcher, author of the bestselling series The Dresden Files In "Banshee Cries," ritual murders under a full moon lead Jo Walker to confront a Harbinger of Death. Maybe this "gift" she has is one she shouldn't ignore — because the next life she has to save might be her own!

Three fantasy romances by Mercedes Lackey, Tanith Lee, and C. Murphy. Stories include:"Moontide" by Mercedes LackeyIn an isolated land wher the lure of the "Moontide" leads to shipwrecks, a woman is torn between obeying her father or her king. When she chooses to follow a Fool, she discovers magic she'd never expected... at a price that might be too high...."The Heart of the Moon" by Tanith LeeStruggling under the curse of a dead comrade, Clirando, a warrior priestess unready to face the powers trapped within her, must face "The Heart of the Moon" to reveal what has been hidden...."Banshee Cries" by C.E. MurphyIn "Banshee Cries," ritual murders under a full moon lead Jo Walker to confront a Harbinger of Death. Maybe this "gift" she has is one she shouldn't ignore- because the next life she has to save might be her own!