The prince returns triumphant from a decisive battle, riding a superb, shimmering golden stallion, the prized steed of his vanquished foe. Even as the kingdom rejoices in the prince's victory, all is not well with the horse. It is rapidly wasting away from a strange ailment. The aged king seeks a magical procedure that will allow him to temporarily exchange minds with the horse and learn the reason for its decline. A short story.
Autorentext
Deborah J. Ross writes and edits fantasy and science fiction. Her most recent books include The Children of Kings (with Marion Zimmer Bradley); Lambda Literary Award Finalist/TipTree Award recommended list Collaborators (as Deborah Wheeler); and The Seven-Petaled Shield, an epic fantasy trilogy. Her short fiction has appeared in F & SF, Asimov's, Star Wars: Tales From Jabba's Palace, Realms of Fantasy, and Sword & Sorceress. Her work has earned Honorable Mention in Year's Best SF, and nominations for Gaylactic Spectrum Award, the National Fantasy Federation Speculative Fiction Award for Best Author, the Nebula Award, and inclusion in the Locus Recommended Reading List and Kirkus notable new release. When she's not writing, she knits for charity, plays classical piano, studies yoga, and rehabilitates service dogs.