MERCEDES LACKEY

The Heralds of Valdemar are the kingdoms ancient order of protectors. They are drawn from all across the land, from all walks of life, and at all agesand all are Gifted with abilities beyond those of normal men and women. They are Mindspeakers, FarSeers, Empaths, ForeSeers, Firestarters, FarSpeakers, and more. These inborn talentscombined with training as emissaries, spies, judges, diplomats, scouts, counselors, warriors, and moremake them indispensable to their monarch and realm. Sought and Chosen by mysterious horse-like Companions, they are bonded for life to these telepathic, enigmatic creatures. The Heralds of Valdemar and their Companions ride circuit throughout the kingdom, protecting the peace and, when necessary, defending their land and monarch.Now, twenty-three authors ride with Mercedes Lackey to her magical land of Valdemar, adding their own unique voices to the Heralds, Bards, Healers, and other heroes of this beloved fantasy realm.Join Elizabeth Vaughan, Fiona Patton, Jennifer Brozek, Brenda Cooper, Rosemary Edghill, and others in twenty-two original stories, including a brand-new novella by Mercedes Lackey, to Valdemar, where:A Herald must crack an ancient code in a historic tapestry in order to arbitrate a dispute over land and lineageA Healers daughter flees the noble family that has trapped and enslaved her mother, and must seek help to free her motherA young woman who hides her clairvoyant powers from her towns Karsite priests ForeSees a threat, and must risk revealing her Gift to save her communityA Herald finds his assistant has been abducted by a man upon whom he had levied a heavy fine, and must foil the kidnappers plans to save his charge

Set around three thousand years before the rest of the Valdemar series, this is the ancient history of Velgarth and the story of Skandranon Rashkae, a gryphon with gleaming ebony feathers, keen magesight and acute intelligence. He is the fulfillment of all that the Mage of Silence, the human sorcerer called Urtho, intended to achieve when he created these magical beings to be his champions, the defenders of his realm.

New York Times-bestselling author Mercedes Lackeys Herald Spy series, set in the beloved fantasy world of Valdemar.Herald Mags, the King of Valdemars Herald-Spy, has been developing a clandestine network of young informants who operate not only on the streets of the capital city of Haven, but also in the Great Halls and kitchens of the wealthy and highborn. In his own established alternate personas, Mags observes the Court and the alleys alike, quietly gathering information to keep Haven and the Kingdom safe.His wife Amily, is growing into her position as the Kings Own Herald, though she is irritated to encounter many who still consider her father, Herald Nikolas, to be the real Kings Own. Nonetheless, she finds it increasingly useful to be underestimated, for there are dark things stirring in the shadows of Haven and up on the Hill.Someone has discovered many secrets of the women of the Court and the Collegiaand is using those secrets to terrorize and bully them. Someone is targeting the religious houses of women, too, leaving behind destruction and obscene ravings.But who? Someone at the Court? A disgruntled Palace servant? One of the members of the Collegia? Someone in the patriarchal sect of the god Sethor? Could the villain be a woman? And what is this person hoping to achieve? It isnt blackmail, for the letters demand nothing; the aim seems to be the victims panic and despair. But why?Mags and Amily take steps to minimize the damage while using both magic and wits to find the evildoer. But just as they appear to be on the verge of success, the letter-writer tires of terror and is now out for blood.Mags and Amily will have to track down someone who leaves few clues behind and thwart whatever plans have been set in motion, and quicklybefore terror turns to murder.

Talia ha obtenido el rango de heraldo de la reina pero, ¿logrará vencer el desafío que le plantea su propio poder? No puede creer que por fin lo haya conseguido. Pero, aunque parece haber cumplido su gran sueño, su nueva situacion la obligara a enfrentarse a retos cada vez mas temibles. De momento, Talia debe dirigirse hacia el norte para patrullar Valdemar y admi-nistrar la justicia de los heraldos en todo el reino. Sin embargo, para hacer cumplir sus dictados en este territorio sumido en la inquietud, necesitara de toda su habilidad y valor, ya que si utiliza mal sus poderes especiales, tanto ella como el reino de Valdemar pagaran las consecuencias. El vuelo de la flecha es la segunda novela ambientada en Valdemar, un universo magico en el que Mercedes Lackey desarrolla una compleja interaccion entre los humanos, los seres sobrenaturales y sus fascinantes culturas y costumbres.

Escogida por el Compañero Rolan, un caballo mágico dotado de poderes extraordinarios, Talia, una joven fugitiva, se convierte en estudiante de la guardia de elite de la reina. Talia posee ciertas aptitudes de la mente que solo un Compañero como Rolan es capaz de percibir. Mientras tanto, en Valdemar se esta fraguando una traicion diabolica capaz de destruir a la soberana. Enfrentada a enemigos desconocidos que no dudan en emplear la magia y el asesinato, la reina debe recurrir a Talia y a los heraldos para proteger el pais y garantizar el trono a su heredera, una niña que corre el peligro de caer bajo el dominio de sus enemigos.

La heredera al trono de Valdemar, Elspeth, ya tiene edad para casarse. Talia, heraldo de la reina, regresa a la corte y descubre que las intrigas diplomáticas rodean a la reina y su heredera, pues varias fuerzas combaten por controlar el futuro de Elspeth.Pero, en el mismo instante en que Talia esta a punto de descubrir al traidor que se oculta tras estos complots, es enviada a una mision al reino vecino; la reina le encarga que investigue el valor de la proposicion de matrimonio del principe Ancar. Horrorizada, Talia descubre que una magia distinta de la de los heraldos campa a sus anchas por el reino de Ancar, una brujeria antigua y malvada que puede destruir todo Valdemar a menos que Talia logre advertir a la reina a tiempo.

Mercedes Lackey es una de las autoras más veteranas y reconocidas del género fantástico en la actualidad. Escogida por el Compañero Rolan, un caballo mágico dotado de poderes extraordinarios, Talia, una joven fugitiva, se convierte en estudiante de la guardia de elite de la reina. Talia posee ciertas aptitudes de la mente que solo un Compañero como Rolan es capaz de percibir. Mientras tanto, en Valdemar se esta fraguando una traicion diabolica capaz de destruir a la soberana. Enfrentada a enemigos desconocidos que no dudan en emplear la magia y el asesinato, la reina debe recurrir a Talia y a los heraldos para proteger el pais y garantizar el trono a su heredera, una niña que corre el peligro de caer bajo el dominio de sus enemigos.

Mags was once an enslaved orphan living a harsh life in the mines, until the King''s Own Herald discovered his talent and trained him as a spy. Now a Herald in his own right, at the newly established Heralds'' Collegium, Mags has found a supportive family, including his Companion Dallen. Although normally a Herald in his first year of Whites would be sent off on circuit, Mags is needed close to home for his abilities as a spy and his powerful Mindspeech gift. There is a secret, treacherous plot within the royal court to destroy the Heralds. The situation becomes dire after the life of Mags'' mentor, King''s Own Nikolas, is imperiled. His daughter Amily is chosen as the new King''s Own, a complicated and dangerous job that is made more so by this perilous time. Can Mags and Amily save the court, the Heralds, and the Collegium itself?

Available in a single volume for the first time, Mercedes Lackey s debut trilogy of Valdemar! The Complete Arrows Trilogy" contains the three extraordinary novels that launched Mercedes Lackey s remarkable career and sparked the imaginations of millions of readers across the world." The Arrows trilogy tells the story of Talia, a daughter of the repressive Holderfolk, who is Chosen by the immortal Companion Rolan to become one of the legendary Heralds of Valdemar. Companions like Rolan are mystical horse-like beings with powers beyond imagining including the power to sense an awakening potential for special talents of the mind in certain young men and women, like Talia. With Rolan s help, Talia will learn to master her unique mental abilities of telepathy and empathy, and will grow from an uncertain and inexperienced Herald trainee to become the most important Herald of all: the Queen s Own. And together, Talia and Rolan will fight to protect the queen, the heir to the throne, and the entire kingdom from dangerous conspiracies, looming unrest, vicious treachery, and even an evil and ancient sorcery beyond the magic of the Heralds themselves."

Mags was a Herald of Valdemar. But he had once lived the brutal life of a child slave. When he was Chosen by his Companion Dallen, his young life was saved, and he slowly adjusted to being well fed, educated, and treasured as a trainee in the Heralds Collegium at Haven. Singled out by the Kings Own Herald, Mags would thrive in his secret training as a spy. His unusually strong Giftan ability to Mindspeak and Mindhear anyone, not just others who were Giftedmade him a perfect undercover agent for the king.Sequel to Mercedes Lackeys Closer to Home, this adventure continues Magss journey as Valdemars herald spy.

From a High Tower is the newest adventure in Mercedes Lackey’s Elemental Masters series, featuring a retelling of Rapunzel’s not-so-happily-ever-after ending.

When a man is caught stealing from a walled garden owned by a strange woman, he bargains away his youngest daughter in return for food for his family. The woman, rumored to be a witch, takes the golden-haired child and locks her away in a high tower. Sixteen years later, Giselle has lived an isolated life, but her adoptive mother has trained her in Air magic, and Giselle must use her new skills on a quest to avenge her broken heart...

Saved from a harsh life of destitution as an enslaved orphan, Mags has been recruited by the Kings Own Herald as a spy. In this special appointment, Mags has thrived - he is well fed, educated and treasured for his unusually powerful Gift, an ability to Mindspeak and Mindhear anyone, regardless of whether they are Gifted. This makes him the ideal undercover agent for the king.

Talia ha obtenido el rango de heraldo de la reina pero, ¿logrará vencer el desafío que le plantea su propio poder? No puede creer que por fin lo haya conseguido. Pero, aunque parece haber cumplido su gran sueño, su nueva situacion la obligara a enfrentarse a retos cada vez mas temibles. De momento, Talia debe dirigirse hacia el norte para patrullar Valdemar y admi-nistrar la justicia de los heraldos en todo el reino.Sin embargo, para hacer cumplir sus dictados en este territorio sumido en la inquietud, necesitara de toda su habilidad y valor, ya que si utiliza mal sus poderes especiales, tanto ella como el reino de Valdemar pagaran las consecuencias.

La heredera al trono de Valdemar, Elspeth, ya tiene edad para casarse. Talia, heraldo de la reina, regresa a la corte y descubre que las intrigas diplomáticas rodean a la reina y su heredera, pues varias fuerzas combaten por controlar el futuro de Elspeth. Pero, en el mismo instante en que Talia está a punto de descubrir al traidor que se oculta tras estos complots, es enviada a una misión al reino vecino; la reina le encarga que investigue el valor de la proposición de matrimonio del príncipe Ancar. Horrorizada, Talia descubre que una magia distinta de la de los heraldos campa a sus anchas por el reino de Ancar, una brujería antigua y malvada que puede destruir todo Valdemar a menos que Talia logre advertir a la reina a tiempo.

In March 1987, Mercedes Lackey, a young author from Oklahoma, published her first novel, " Arrows of the Queen." No one could have envisioned that this modest book about a magical land called Valdemar would be the beginning of a fantasy masterwork series that would span decades and include more than two dozen titles. Now the voices of other authors add their own special touches to the ancient land where Heralds Chosen from all walks of life by magical horse-like Companions patrol their ancient kingdom, dispensing justice, facing adversaries, and protecting their monarch and country from whatever threatens. Trained rigorously by the Herald s Collegium, these special protectors each have extraordinary Gifts: Mindspeaking, FarSeeing, FarSpeaking, Empathy, Firestarting and ForeSeeing, and are bonded for life with their mysterious Companions. Travel with these astounding adventurers in these original stories."

A SCANDAL IN BATTERSEA

The Nebula Awards Showcase volumes have been published annually since 1966, reprinting the winning and nominated stories of the Nebula Awards, voted on by the members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). The editor, selected by SFWAs anthology Committee (chaired by Mike Resnick), is American science fiction and fantasy writer Mercedes Lackey. This years Nebula winners are Ursula Vernon, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Nancy Kress, and Jeff VanderMeer, with Alaya Dawn Johnson winning the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy Book.