The second son of a minor barron, Robert Smallmeadow dreams of impossible glory, impossible because he lives in the shadow of his cruel older brother, Ethelred. And then Pope Urban II proclaims the Crusades. Robert’s dreams of glory may come true—if he can find a sword.

And he does find a sword—or the sword finds him. For Wyrmslayer is a storied weapon, a blade with a mind, with a soul. But will the boy wield the sword—or will the sword wield the boy?

Steven Mohan, Jr. has published scores of short stories in markets as diverse as INTERZONE, POLYPHONY, and PARADOX, as well as several DAW original anthologies. His short fiction has won honorable mention in THE YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION and THE YEAR'S BEST FANTASY AND HORROR.