A Close Shave: A Legends of Lasniniar Short: Legends of Lasniniar

By Jacquelyn Smith

A cold welcome in Dwarvenhome. Even after a few years as Barlo's friend, Iarion still feels like an intruder in the underground city.

The dwarves' usual wariness toward elves does not bother him. But Iarion senses something more at work. All of the dwarves seem on edge. Barlo included.

And when Iarion learns the real reason behind the rising tensions, he knows he has his work cut out for him.

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

• Language: English
• Publisher: WaywardScribe Press
• Release date: Jan 8, 2014
• ISBN: 9781927723180

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

A Close Shave

A CLOSE SHAVE

A LEGENDS OF LASNINIAR SHORT

JACQUELYN SMITH

WAYWARDSCRIBE PRESS

A Close Shave: A Legends of Lasniniar Short

Copyright © 2023 Jacquelyn Smith

Published by WaywardScribe Press

First published in January, 2014 as Legends of Lasniniar: A Close Shave

Cover and layout copyright © Jacquelyn Smith

Cover design by Jacquelyn Smith/WaywardScribe Press

Cover art copyright © John1179/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

A Close Shave

Deck the Dwarvenhall

A Note from Jacquelyn

About Jacquelyn Smith

A CLOSE SHAVE

Iarion walked briskly along the underground streets of Dwarvenhome, eager to reach Barlo’s front door. He did his best to ignore looks of askance as he passed. He knew he shouldn’t be surprised by the lack of welcome—he was an elf, after all—but this was hardly his first visit to the dwarven city. He had thought most of the dwarves had come to tolerate him. He felt painfully conspicuous among the short, bulky figures and bearded faces with his tall, lean frame. His complete lack of facial hair did nothing to disguise his angular features, and the tips of his pointed ears poked out from under his long, silver braids. The streets were well lit by rows of torches, so even his silent tread and dusky skin could not help him blend in.

He found his fingers drifting toward the knife at his belt and forced them away. The guards at the mountain gate had argued about allowing him to enter the city with his blade and bow, but in the end, they had grudgingly permitted him to remain armed. In all the years since his first visit to Dwarvenhome, he had never encountered such a dubious welcome.

What’s going on here? Everyone seems to be on edge.

In fact, the suspicious glares the dwarves were throwing about weren’t limited to Iarion. He passed several knots of dwarven men, women, and children on the streets who spoke to one another with tense expressions in their own hash tongue, their fists clenching as if spoiling for a fight. Iarion walked past them as quickly as he dared, not