A Time of Dying — Richard Kirk

From out of the bonds of slavery there arose a warrior . . . a warrior feared across all lands, a warrior whose blade was stained with the blood of thousands - man and beast - who smiled as she killed, with hair as gold as summer sun, eyes as blue as the heavens, and a body which invited only love yet dealt bloody, merciless death to her enemies.

It started on the night of the Summer Gathering in Haral. The Black One arose from the depths; killing, torturing, dismembering its victims. Panic ruled the City. The Priests of Lord Vedast claimed that, in fulfilling an ancient prophecy, Raven and Spellbinder were responsible for the carnage. And so the two found themselves powerless bait for the monster . . . a devil who aimed to make Raven, Mistress of the World -- and murderer of Spellbinder!