A Prayer for Dead Kings and Other Tales

*It was the blade of Ngrehim, forged by Dugaam in the name of Janasaath, Bladelord of the Carbáin, slayer of Moiriar, destroyer of Sollyra, destined ruler of all the world. Or at least that's what it said to Hjorn when he brushed up against it in the back of Garna's wagon.

I can grant thee the power thou seekest... the axe whispered.

Hjorn blinked.

Garna was the best wagon trader between Jandich and Cunoch on the great river, and no matter how often you looked through his overflowing wares, you were bound to find something you'd never seen before. But even within the carefully racked stacks of Gorbeyna pottery, cast-off Ilvani leather, oil-polished armor shards, and bones of questionable vintage, a talking axe that promised you the power you seek was unusual.*

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"Stories" tells the tale of a reclusive storyteller who yearns to be a hero -- and who is forced to rise to the occasion when the story of his own life becomes more heroic than he ever thought possible...