New Release sample: LIARS' QUEST

“He wouldn’t try todestroy my magic, would he?”

“If he finds out youhave any. I’d suggest pretending to be far less than you are, until this wholeridiculous inquiry is over.”

“Could you take me asyour servant? Take me to the warrior maidens?” Ash sighed and spread her arms.“I’m not exactly built to be a warrior, but … isn’t there something I could doto be useful?”

“I will confer withAunt Charlotte. Right now, Granny Phlox wants to see you. She might have somewords of wisdom to help you through this. And it’s only common sense to get youaway from the castle, from the curious and those who are angry you fooled themso easily.”

Leena squeezed Ash’sshoulder, then gave her a gentle shove forward. She stumbled a few steps andlooked back once. The older girl nodded to her and stepped back, clearly notgoing the rest of the way with her. This reluctance to return to the onlychildhood home she remembered was ridiculous, Ash knew, but she couldn’t helpit. Her legs wobbled for a few steps before she silently scolded herself tostop being a ninny. Granny Phlox was stern, but she was never cruel, and morethan once she had turned into a whirling fury to defend the children given intoher charge. If they were her pups, then she was a she-wolf, unhindered by herblindness.

Ash took several deepbreaths and focused on the muffled thud of her heart in her ears as sheapproached the door of the cottage. She wished now she had come back more oftento visit Granny Phlox, especially after nearly all the boys who had beenbrought here with her had gone away, either adopted or apprenticed. Three boyswho had been infants when Lady Charlotte brought them here still lived in thecottage and spent their days tending the cows and chickens and pigs in thenearby fields and byres. That was no excuse for neglecting the old woman whowas the only mother she could remember.