Since 1968 several thousand leather artefacts have been recovered in the city of Dordrecht, ranging in date from the 12th century through to the 17th century. At that time, Olaf Goubitz was employed at the Rijksdienst voor Oudheidkundig Bodemonderzoek (ROB) and was able to devote his time to the leather and thus the organic conservation lab was established. Over the years the quantity and importance of the Dordrecht archaeological leather finds made it obvious they certainly merited publication. In 2002 the leather footwear from Dordrecht and other sites was presented in Stepping Through Time. A chapter on Roman footwear by Carol van Driel-Murray and the Prehistoric footwear by Willy Groenman-van Waateringe completed the chronological range. The archaeological leather purses, bags and other small containers from Dordrecht and other sites appeared in Purses in Pieces in 2007. The third book was to cover the knife sheaths and sword scabbards from Dordrecht, numbering more than 300 to date. Goubitz had already begun to draw the decorated knife sheaths from Dordrecht that passed through his hands. The Medieval archaeological leather sheath and scabbard finds from the city of Dordrecht form the core collection for this volume, the third in the trilogy after Stepping Through Time and Purses in Pieces. It was finished by Marquita Volken. As with the previous volumes, a wider picture is presented, thus incorporating chapters on Prehistoric, Roman, and modern period sheaths and scabbards from other sites in the Netherlands and Europe. Sheaths and scabbards are covers for blades, so here scissors, agricultural tools and specialized knives are included along with knives, daggers, and swords. The aim, apart from presenting the Dordrecht collection, is also to provide a framework for research: chronology, typology, decoration styles, plus accessory items like suspension methods, cover-guards and handle grips in leather. A useful research technique for understanding a leather archaeological object is to reconstruct it. A select number of sheaths and scabbards have been reconstructed, providing insights on construction, decoration, and functional aspects. Few prehistoric knife sheaths are known in archaeology due to the rare survival of organic materials. Frozen or very dry, stable environments also preserve organic material but so far the only prehistoric sheath to have been found in ice is the grass sheath from the Iceman. Here is a selection of the sheaths and scabbards of which you can find a reconstruction in chapter 9 of Covering the Blade: - An Early Bronze Age ceremonial axe and leather case come from Ireland. It was discovered in a peat bog at Brockagh, Co. Kildare. - From the Dutch site at Kessel on the Rhine-Meuse Delta the finds of La Tène period swords and sheaths are the remains of a battle between the Batavians and Roman forces. Of the 22 swords recovered four were still in their scabbards. - The Merovingian finds from tomb 11 at the Cathedral of Saint-Denis FR included fragments of a small edge-seamed knife sheath with an attached case for the wood pick. - A decorated leather scabbard cover from Groningen NL, is the source for the hypothetical reconstruction of a seax scabbard. - A thirteenth century sword and scabbard have been preserved as the relics of Saint Maurice, a third century military leader martyred at Agaunum (present day Saint-Maurice, Switzerland). The scabbard has a wood core made of two laths shaped to the blade. - The upper section of a narrow fourteenth century hunting sword scabbard cover from Dordrecht is the model for this reconstruction. The scabbard has a peaked mouth, a reinforcement collar and a centre back closed seam. - The fourteenth century decorated scabbard from Leiden found with 137 other sword scabbards at the Marktenroute site, Leiden, a fourteenth century decorated leather scabbard cover is one of 28 examples decorated by creasing. - A fourteenth century leather scabbard cover from the Statenplein site, Dordrecht NL, is source for this reconstruction. - The nearly complete leather scabbard cover from the Statenplein site, Dordrecht NL, and the lower section of the same type of scabbard from the Tolbrugstraat site, Dordrecht NL, are the sources for the reconstruction of the falchion scabbard. - A fourteenth century decorated leather dagger scabbard cover from the Statenplein site, Dordrecht NL, is the source for this reconstruction. - From the Wood Quay site in Dublin comes an almost complete winged small knife sheath dated from AD 1180-1250. It is decorated with creased motifs front and back. - The edge-seamed Schleswig knife sheath was fitted with a metal half-chape (absent) and a riveted handle section consisting of five straps through pairs of slits and a fringed re-enforcement band. - Among the many fourteenth century sheaths from the Statenplein site is one decorated with a two headed beast. The decoration is made with creased lines and the stippled background made with a fragment of a fine-toothed comb. - A fourteenth century sheath for a large principal knife and a full set of byknives is often called a 'hunting set'. The hunting set sheath found at the Statenplein site at Dordrecht NL had a principal knife, a smaller knife, a honing steel, and a pair of bow spring scissors. - A fifteenth century fragmented sheath decorated with the apple tree motif from the Tolbrugstraat site at Dordrecht NL is the inspiration for a sheath for a knife and byknife honing steel.

Mercenary. Survivor. Queen. Casia Greythorne's world has shattered. Reeling from a devastating loss and the revelation of an identity she's not sure she wants, she also must master the strange magic awakening within her. But now she must lead her friends through cursed lands and the dwellings of gods, away from the crumbling empire and the king-emperor who clutches the crown with ever-bloodier hands. Knowing the true threat may be someone she came dangerously close to falling for... Elander Revenmar thought he knew who he was. He had a mission, a god he was content to serve. Then came a woman he should have stayed away from; whose life he never should have saved. Because salvation comes with a cost. And some debts must be paid in blood.

Following his beloved debut, Traitor's Blade, Sebastien de Castell returns with volume two of his fast-paced fantasy adventure series, inspired by the swashbuckling action and witty banter of The Three Musketeers. Knight's Shadow continues the series with a thrilling and dark tale of heroism and betrayal in a country crushed under the weight of its rulers' corruption. A few days after the horrifying murder of a duke and his family, Falcio val Mond, swordsman and First Cantor of the Greatcoats, begins a deadly pursuit to capture the killer. But Falcio soon discovers his own life is in mortal danger from a poison administered as a final act of revenge by one of his deadliest enemies. As chaos and civil war begin to overtake the country, Falcio has precious little time left to stop those determined to destroy his homeland.

It was foretold after Malek's first fall that twice more he would bring war, and that the last time, the very waters of the sea would obey him and fight for him. If this be so, then I cannot imagine how Sulare will escape his wrath... Book jacket.

In Blade of Secrets, a romantic YA fantasy adventure from the author of Daughter of the Pirate King, a teenage blacksmith with social anxiety is forced to go on the run to protect the world from the most powerful magical sword she's ever made. Eighteen-year-old Ziva prefers metal to people. She spends her days tucked away in her forge, safe from society and the anxiety it causes her, using her magical gift to craft unique weapons imbued with power. Then Ziva receives a commission from a powerful warlord, and the result is a sword capable of stealing its victims' secrets. A sword that can cut far deeper than the length of its blade. A sword with the strength to topple kingdoms. When Ziva learns of the warlord’s intentions to use the weapon to enslave all the world under her rule, she takes her sister and flees. Joined by a distractingly handsome mercenary and a young scholar with extensive knowledge of the world’s known magics, Ziva and her sister set out on a quest to keep the sword safe until they can find a worthy wielder or a way to destroy it entirely. Praise for the Bladesmith Duology: "An addictive page-turner. Loaded with action, betrayal, slow-burn romance—honestly, that is the best first kiss scene ever... Be prepared to laugh, cry, and gasp." — Mary E. Pearson, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Remnant Chronicles "Levenseller elevates her already intriguing fantasy world through her depiction of Ziva, whose anxiety will ring true for anyone who’s ever had a panic attack. Grab this and devour it." — Booklist, starred review "Blade of Secrets is an impactful, eye-opening journey of social anxiety that is flawlessly blended with Levenseller's signature flair for adventure and romance." —Bookstagram sensation Bridget Howard, @darkfaerietales_

The Day-Walker Born in terror, orphaned by violence. Neither human nor vampire, but both. Trained as an instrument of vengeance by a scientist who keeps him alive with ancient serums and secret technology. He uses his awesome powers to serve and protect the very species that despises and fears him--our own. Blade His lonely crusade against The Dark Ones has reached flash point. Humanity's primordial uneasy sleep, preparing to engage in an apocalyptic struggle in the nocturnal city streets. The weapons are fang and claw, shotgun and sword. The battlefield is the urban night. The game plan is the same for either side: Rule or die. Includes 8 pages of movie photos!

While Wylla rules Enthanin and civil war rages in Kirthanin, an even greater threat emerges from the subterranean lair of Malek.