Mum’s the Word: A Legends of Lasniniar Short: Legends of Lasniniar

By Jacquelyn Smith

A dwarf and an elf. As friendships in Lasniniar go, most people find Barlo and Iarion an odd pairing.

Wherever the unlikely duo travel, adventure follows close behind. Barlo and Iarion fall in and out of trouble on a regular basis. But even as they perform heroic deeds, they find time to bicker and banter.

The straightforward journey Barlo plans for them now should prove no problem—a piece of cake.

...Or so he thinks.

A stand-alone misadventure story from the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series by award-winning author, Jacquelyn Smith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WaywardScribe Press
• Release date: Dec 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9780987879950

Jacquelyn Smith

Jacquelyn Smith writes both epic and intrigue-based fantasy, and mysteries that range from cozy to kick-ass, with independent, strong-willed heroes, in search of their place in the world. These heroes take the problems they face seriously (but never themselves), and are supported by unlikely friendships they forge along the way. Jacquelyn is the author of the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series, the Fatal Empire fantasy intrigue series, the kick-ass Kira Brightwell mysteries, and the Mackenzie Quinn Canadian cozy mysteries. (She originally published several of the early Kira Brightwell titles under the pen name Kat Irwin, before killing Kat off to eliminate the many awkward questions about having a second identity.) When spending time in the real world, Jacquelyn lives on the suburban outskirts of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with her husband, Mark, and their feline owner, Xena, who is definitely a warrior princess. To learn more, visit: JacquelynSmithBooks.com

Book preview

Mum’s the Word

MUM’S THE WORD

A LEGENDS OF LASNINIAR SHORT

JACQUELYN SMITH

WAYWARDSCRIBE PRESS

For William Long.

Thank you for being such a supportive fan!

And for all the other awesome Lasniniar readers out there.

Thank you for coming on this journey with me.

Mum's the Word: A Legends of Lasniniar Short

Copyright © 2023 Jacquelyn Smith

Published by WaywardScribe Press

First published in December, 2012 as Legends of Lasniniar: Mum's the Word

Cover and layout copyright © Jacquelyn Smith

Cover design by Jacquelyn Smith/WaywardScribe Press

Cover art copyright © Nelli Valova/Dreamstime

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. All rights reserved. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

CONTENTS

Mum’s the Word

A Solstice Tale

A Note from Jacquelyn

About Jacquelyn Smith

MUM’S THE WORD

Barlo hoisted his pack and steeled himself before entering Melaquenya. Even though Lady Iadrawyn had made it abundantly clear he was welcome within the Light Elves’ wood, some of her subjects tended to forget the fact. Although many still remembered how he and the rest of the dwarves had stood with the elves and humans against Saviadro and his dark army, most younger Light Elves had never seen another dwarf besides Barlo, and the older ones clung to the unwitting betrayal the dwarves had dealt their people thousands of years ago.

He could feel their gazes on him as he passed, watching, and considering. Those who had fought in the war gave him friendly waves of greeting, but he wondered how long it would be before they, too, fell back on the ancient prejudices of their insular ways. It made him uneasy to think about it.

He wished he had Sinstari with him. He missed the wildcat’s familiar presence, but Sinstari had caught the scent of a lone female wandering near the Jagged Mountains, and had abandoned Barlo for something more interesting than a simple jaunt across the Adar Daran. Even though Barlo had cursed his wildcat companion for a faithless beast, he had encountered no problems on his way to Melaquenya, and foresaw a straightfoward return.

If not for his friendship with Iarion, Barlo would have had little to do with Melaquenya or its inhabitants. In fact, he was hoping to spend less time in the Light Elves’ wood going forward if everything went according to plan. His only potential stumbling block was Eransinta, Iarion’s overbearing, overprotective mother.

I suppose I can’t blame her for being a little clingy. She and Iarion did used to be twins, after all.

Barlo shook his head. Elven relations were so confusing. Light Elves were reborn with the memories of their previous lives. Iarion and Barlo had become close friends during Iarion’s previous lifetime, but in the life before that, he had been Alfialys, Eransinta’s twin brother. Saviadro had murdered him, and Eransinta