In the award-winning pens of Kim Iverson Headlee and short-fiction veteran Patricia Duffy Novak comes this darkly humorous mage-out-of-water tale:

A funny thing occurred on the path to the battlefield.

Arthur, High Ruler of Brydein, need to fight the last of the rebel kings to acknowledge his right to govern all of them: his aged nemesis, King Urien of Dalriada. Before he may lead his military to where Urien’s makes sit ensconced, nevertheless, a fey guy appears from your midst of a sudden, eerie storm to about Kings block the way. The man promises to be the high king of an altogether unknown property… and he wields uncanny power famous brands which Arthur hasn’t seen.

Garrin, High Ruler of Helvar, actions right into a patch of mist. A breathing later, he’s standing toe to feet with a guy claiming to become the high king of the altogether unknown property… and this warrior-king is leading an army into Helvar, wielding a sword that resists Garrin’s magic. Just, the man insists that his sword isn’t enchanted and that Garrin isn’t in Helvar any more.

The actual bloody hell-or five hells, in Garrin’s case-is a higher king to do?

Their encounter reeks of the enemy mage’s dark arts, and no you are laughing.