Prized Possession by Kathleen M. Fischer Historical, Romance 2001

About the Story

"Winter, 1182

"Stay close," your mother whispers, wrapping her arms around you, pulling you back into the folds of her silky blue kirtle. She rests her check upon your head. "It will all be over soon."

Embers swirl around you, thrown from fires raging in the corner towers. You marvel at their brilliance, and at the pillars of flames soaring high into the cold November night. How can things so terrifying, be so beautiful?

And then you hear the screams.

Your mother's grip tightens, and looking up you see the tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry, child," she says, "there is nothing we can do."" [--blurb from Competition Aught-One]

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