For the future.
Forever.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book was written during a period of unprecedented upheaval in my personal and professional life. Without the aid of family, friends, and colleagues this book would not exist. To list everyone who helped me would be impossible. Please just know that I am grateful beyond what words can say.
I’d be remiss if I did not take the time to thank my writer’s group: Spencer Luster, Helen Kourous, Robert Wenzlaff, Marc Tassin, and Keith Flick. They cheerfully read the raw material and helped me winnow the wheat from the chaff. Thank you!
Kurt Lindower was kind enough to sit with me and share his love of hunting. This city girl has only ever hunted the wild grocery, but Kurt answered all of my questions patiently. He also blew away all the stereotypes and showed me his abiding passion and respect for all aspects of the sport. Of course, he still hasn’t shared his scrapple with me yet …
But for all the help that I’ve received, and all the research that I’ve done, any mistakes are my fault, and mine alone. I am perfectly capable of making horrible and embarrassing errors without any assistance.
Kandace Klumper, Patricia Merritt, and JoAnn Thompson were generous with their time and support, offering me constant reassurance. Tom Redding and Mary Fry read the final drafts, catching more mistakes than I care to mention. Phil Fry, Cathie Hansen, and Deb Spychalski are my long suffering coworkers, and I thank them again for their love, support and patience.
Anna Genoese, my editor, made this story stronger and richer with her deft touch. And my deep and abiding thanks go to Heather Brady, my copy editor.
But once again, most of all, credit must go to Jean Rabe, who pushed me into the pool, and to Meg Davis, who found me there.
TOR PARANORMAL ROMANCE BOOKS BY ELIZABETH VAUGHAN
Warprize
Warsworn
Warlord
Praise for Warsworn
“Readers will be delighted to learn more of the customs of this unique civilization, and they will enjoy the growing love between Lara and Keir. It is refreshing for the conflict in a romance to eschew petty misunderstandings and present, instead, life-and-death situations through which together the hero and heroine become stronger. The emphasis is on the emotional rather than the physical in Vaughan’s unusual and thoroughly enjoyable tale.”
—Booklist
“Warsworn is a moving continuation of Warprize. Bravo.”
—Jo Beverley
“The dramatic tension is riveting, and the emotional stakes are high in this excellent novel. Vaughan is an exceptional new talent, and the next chapter in this series will be highly anticipated!”
—Romantic Times BookReviews
Praise for Warprize
“I loved Warprize! Keir is a hero to savor, and Elizabeth Vaughan is an author to watch.”
—Claire Delacroix
“Vaughan’s brawny barbarian romance re-creates the delicious feeling of adventure and the thrill of exploring mysterious cultures created by Robert E. Howard in his Conan books and makes for a satisfying escapist read with its enjoyable romance between a plucky, near-naked heroine and a truly heroic hero.”
—Booklist
“The most entertaining book I’ve read all year.”
—All About Romance
“Warprize is simply mesmerizing. The story is told flawlessly … . Keir is a breathtaking hero; you will never look at a warlord the same way again.”
—ParaNormal Romance Reviews
“Ms. Vaughan has written a wonderful fantasy introducing two memorable characters. The story is well-written and fast paced. Run to the bookstore and pick up this debut novel by Elizabeth Vaughan. You won’t be disappointed by the touching relationship that grows between the Warlord and his Warprize.”
—A Romance Review
Dearest Readers,
Well that’s it then. My magic spell is cast and well done, as far as I can tell. Lara and Keir’s tale is over, at least for now. The snows are starting, blurring my vision of the Plains.
My workroom is a mess. There are cold cups of kavage scattered around. I have notes and papers piled to the ceiling and all over the floor. I don’t think I’ve seen daylight for about seventy-two hours. The fridge is full of moldy food and the cats are playing with gurtle fur and dust bunnies as large as they are.
Oh dear. No help for it then. Time to clean. Open the window, get out the broom and the dust cloth. Unfortunately the magic that I wield doesn’t lend itself to sweeping.
I’ll have to work on that.
So, to start, I think I’ll shift these notes over … what’s this? Under all these papers?
A pair of worn red leather gloves.
Oh, I remember her. A mercenary, with a sword for a heart. Bold and sassy that one, who faced destiny on her own terms. And what was his name? I can’t seem to remember … a wounded soul, that I’m certain. Oh my, now that I think about it, they …
Cleaning is overrated. Let me turn the computer back on, and get some more kavage.
For I have another story to tell.
Elizabeth
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
WARLORD
Copyright © 2007 by Elizabeth Vaughan
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
Tor® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
eISBN 9781429990738
First eBook Edition : March 2011
First Edition: March 2007
Warlord Page 29
