The Burning Blade (Len's Song, 2022 edition, Snippet 1)

A story fragment from the Dustsong Cycle

Prefatory Note

Len’s Song, 2022 edition, is the original serialized story on which the novella Dustsong: Len the Wanderer is based. Much of the material in the novella is similar but heavily rewritten and edited. Whole chapters have also been added or deleted. I recommend reading the novella first, if possible, or the available snippets of the 2023 edition of Len’s Song, and then perusing this older version to explore the differences.

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The Burning Blade

The man Len could scarcely tear his eyes from the blade the woman had pointed at his chest. Three feet of swirling flame and dully shining light brought forth sweat from his brow instantly, which left him perspiring sickly cold at the neck and beneath his tunic.