Crossroads: and Other Tales of Valdemar — Mercedes Lackey

In March 1987, Mercedes Lackey, a young author from Oklahoma, published her first novel, Arrows of the Queen. No one could have envisioned that this modest book about a magical land called Valdemar would be the beginning of a fantasy masterwork series that would span decades and include more than two dozen titles.

Now the voices of other authors add their own special ouches to the unique land where Heralds "Chosen" from all walks of life by magical horselike Companions patrol their ancient kingdom, dispensing justice, facing adversaries, and protecting their monarch and country from whatever threatens. Trained rigorously by the Herald's Collegium, these special protectors each have extraordinary Gifts: Mindspeaking, FarSeeing, FarSpeaking, Empathy, Firestarting and Foreseeing, and re bonded for life with their mysterious Companions.

Travel with Tanya Huff, Mickey Zucker Reichert, Fiona Patton, Judith Tarr, Rosemary Edghill and others in sixteen original stories--including an all-new story from Mercedes Lackey--to a world where:

A Herald grieving for his lost Companion finds that yen death cannot sever their bond when they are truly needed to help another...

A Valdemaran soldier hampered by Empathy finds hat the same Gift he fears can turn the tide of battle...

Two Heralds learn that love cannot overshadow duty...

A young shaman, troubled by the Gift of Dream Prophecy, finds that his powers can help defend Valdemar against attack....