Moving Targets and Other Tales of Valdemar

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Acknowledgements

Moving Targets

An Unexpected Guest

The Power of Three

What Fire Is

Dreams of Mountain Clover

The Cheat

A Dream Deferred

The Sword Dancer

Broken Bones

Live On

Passage at Arms

Heart, Home, and Hearth

Haven’s Own

Widdershins

Raves for the Previous Valdemar Anthologies:

“Fans of Lackey’s epic Valdemar series will devour this superb anthology. Of the thirteen stories included, there is no weak link—an attribute exceedingly rare in collections of this sort. Highly recommended.”

—The Barnes and Noble Review

“This high-quality anthology mixes pieces by experienced authors and enthusiastic fans of editor Lackey’s Valdemar. Valdemar fandom, especially, will revel in this sterling example of what such a mixture of fans’ and pros’ work can be. Engrossing even for newcomers to Valdemar.”—Booklist

“Josepha Sherman, Tanya Huff, Mickey Zucker Reichert, and Michelle West have quite good stories, and there’s another by Lackey herself. Familiarity with the series helps but is not a prerequisite to enjoying this book.”— Science Fiction Chronicle

“Each tale adheres to the Lackey laws of the realm yet provides each author’s personal stamp on the story. Well written and fun, Valdemarites will especially appreciate the magic of this book.”

—The Midwest Book Review

NOVELS 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

BY THE SWORD

BRIGHTLY BURNING

TAKE A THIEF

EXILE’S HONOR

EXILE’S VALOR

VALDEMAR ANTHOLOGIES

SWORD OF ICE

SUN IN GLORY

CROSSROADS

MOVING TARGETS

Written with LARRY DIXON:

THE MAGE WARS

THE BLACK GRYPHON

THE WHITE GRYPHON

THE SILVER GRYPHON

DARIAN’S TALE

OWLFLIGHT

OWLSIGHT

OWLKNIGHT

OTHER NOVELS

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

And don’t miss:

THE VALDEMAR COMPANION

Edited by John Helfers and Denise Little

Copyright © 2008 by Mercedes Lackey and Tekno Books

All Rights Reserved

DAW Book Collectors No. 1457

DAW Books are distributed by Penguin Group (USA).

eISBN : 978-1-101-49434-9

All characters and events in this book are fictitious.

Any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

First Printing, December 2008

DAW TRADEMARK REGISTERED

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—MARCA REGISTRADA

HECHO EN U.S.A.

S.A.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

“Moving Targets,” copyright © 2008 by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon

“An Unexpected Guest,” copyright © 2008 by Nancy Asire

“The Power of Three,” copyright © 2008 by Brenda Cooper

“What Fire Is,” copyright © 2008 by Janni Lee Simner

“Dreams of Mountain Clover,” copyright © 2008 by Mickey Zucker Reichert

“The Cheat,” copyright © 2008 by Richard Lee Byers

“A Dream Deferred,” copyright © 2008 by Kristin Schwengel

“The Sworddancer,” copyright © 2008 by Michael Z. Williamson

“Broken Bones,” copyright © 2008 by Stephanie Shaver

“Live On,” copyright © 2008 by Tanya Huff

“Passage at Arms,” copyright © 2008 by Rosemary Edghill

“Heart, Home and Hearth,” copyright © 2008 by Sarah Hoyt and Kate Paulk

“Haven’s Own,” copyright © 2008 by Fiona Patton

“Widdershins,” copyright © 2008 by Judith Tarr

Moving Targets

by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon

Mercedes Lackey is a full-time writer and has published numerous novels, including the best-selling Heralds of Valdemar series. She is also a professional lyricist and a licensed wild bird rehabilitator.

Larry Dixon is the husband of Mercedes Lackey, and a successful artist as well as science fiction writer. He and Mercedes live in Oklahoma.

Herald Elyn refrained from tearing her hair out. It wasn’t as if she wasn’t used to these four. They’d been assigned to her in a bunch when they’d all first been Chosen. They’d gotten into trouble in and around Haven as a group, and now, four years later, it would have been reasonable to assume that this foursome was beyond being able to surprise her.

It would be reasonable to assume that. Reasonable, but, unfortunately, wrong.