He peered at Lia and Wynn from black hollows set too deep for the candlelight to reach. Where Sage Conall was fat like the swine he feasted upon, Sage Lorne was akin to rotting leather over bone. He resembled Conall in crimson attire alone.

His brother, Royal Sage Lorne, cleared his throat and spat in a wrinkled cloth he kept gripped in his hand. He responded with a snort and continued to stuff his face with greasy meat. They still had a fortnight of travel to the royal city of Anu and she’d prefer to face the king with her tongue attached. She’d rather fight bog goblins for a thousand years than spend another minute before Nemetona’s nobility. Lia tried to calm the loathing that brewed like bitter nightshade within her. Amazing how rebels quiet under lock and key.” “I see your tempers have calmed since leaving Rockberg this morning. Royal Sage Conall eyed them, his mouth dripping with jellied pork and wine. She might have just enough knitbone sewn in the hem of her cloak to set a poultice on them after they returned to the cart. Lia winced at the fresh blood seeping from her cousin’s wounds. Wynn stood beside her with his wrists and ankles shackled in chains. Lia Griene folded birch-white arms against her chest. For more about her and her writing visit her Web Site. She resides in Northern California enjoying life with her husband, two sons, four dogs and about 100,000 honeybees. She placed in the Semi-Finals of the Amazon Breakout Novel Award Contest, won an Honorable Mention in the 21st Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards, and took Writer’s Best in Show at the SCBWI CA North/Central Regional Conference. Is freedom too high a crown to reach, or will they forever remain in the hollows?Ĭhristina Mercer is an award-winning author of fiction for children and young adults. Will Kelven’s love withstand the darkness taking root inside Lia? In ARMS OF ANU, Lia and Kelven battle through a land of tyrants, war and magic. Follows Award-Winning Preteen/Teen Fantasy ARROW OF THE MIST

Arms of Anu by Christina Mercer