Tamras has achieved her first goal, to be apprenticed to a warrior, but her choice of mentor causes trouble.
In Book II of the trilogy, Tamras’s apprenticeship as a warrior isn’t turning out quite the way she expected. Her unconventional choices lead to her crossing swords, almost literally, with Vintel, the war leader of Merin’s house. She finds herself embroiled in a power struggle she is doomed to lose, but the loss sends her on a journey that will change her destiny and decide the fate of her people.
Excerpt
“Is she the one?” Gnith’s eyes were on Maara’s face.
“Yes, Mother.”
“Dark.” said Gnith.
It was the first time I’d known Gnith to be unkind.
“She can hear you, Mother,” I said.
“Of course she can,” said Gnith. “She has ears on her, doesn’t she?”
“What’s that?” said Maara. “A wind through dry leaves? Black water whispering down a cave wall?” She turned to look at Gnith. “No, just the voice of a foolish old woman.”
Fourth Book in the Southern Swallow Series finds the Academician Li K'ai-men in exile on Hai-nan Island. China has a new invasion threat. A showdown between ingenuity and technology explodes as the Sung Dynasty tries to preserve itself.
Sometimes, vacations just don't turn out the way you hoped they would. An idyllic wilderness house boating get-a-way soon turns into a hellish nightmare...
