When the Count's niece is kidnapped by elves, Kevin, a bard's apprentice, agrees to locate the young woman, unaware that she is not actually the Count's niece and that the elves are not actually elves.

"Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle"--Cover.

First full-length study of the use and perception of deceit in medieval warfare. Deception and trickery are a universal feature of warfare, from the Trojan horse to the inflatable tanks of the Second World War. The wars of the Central Middle Ages (c. 1000-1320) were no exception. This book looks at the various tricks reported in medieval chronicles, from the Normans feigning flight at the battle of Hastings (1066) to draw the English off Senlac Hill, to the Turks who infiltrated the Frankish camp at the Field of Blood (1119) disguised as bird sellers, to the Scottish camp followers descending on the field of Bannockburn (1314) waving laundry as banners to mimic a division of soldiers. This study also considers what contemporary society thought about deception on the battlefield: was it a legitimate way to fight? Was cunning considered an admirable quality in a warrior? Were the culturally and religious "other" thought to be more deceitful in war than Western Europeans? Through a detailed analysis of vocabulary and narrative devices, this book reveals a society with a profound moral ambivalence towards military deception, in which authors were able to celebrate a warrior's cunning while simultaneously condemning their enemies for similar acts of deceit. It also includes an appendix cataloguing over four hundred incidents of military deception as recorded in contemporary chronicle narratives.

Explains the history of Antarctica, focusing on the explorers and sailors drawn to the continent, the scientific investigations that have taken place there, and the geopolitical implications of the landmass.

Kalamar is high on hopes and dreams as he leaves the isolation of his family's farm to begin life in the capital with his Master. Reality, however, has different plans. He quickly discovers those around him, well-meaning or not, have other ideas and agendas. It may be his wish to live a quiet life of magical pursuit as his master's protege, but whether king or pawn, everyone is a piece in the game of life. Even staying out of the game makes him an obstacle for others. As Kalamar quietly navigates these deceptive currents, his every success only makes new and more determined enemies. Every thoughtful and wide-eyed choice only leads to greater dangers and more painful consequences should he fail. This book is a fantasy thriller taking a direct look at good versus evil and how even the smallest decisions feed into the greater narrative of each person's life. It is the first of the book series.