Out of the Deep
Valdemar Short Fiction
Mercedes Lackey
A young Prince of Valdemar thinks his Animal Mindspeech Gift isn't useful . . . until he finds out differently when he gets kidnapped by raiders and dumped into Lake Evendim, and is rescued by a mysterious gigantic creature.
First published July 2004 in the anthology Masters of Fantasy. Reprinted in Swords Against Darkness and the Grandmaster anthology. Also available to read free via the Baen website here.
Praise for the Valdemar anthologies:
“Fans of Lackey’s epic Valdemar series will devour this superb anthology. Of the thirteen stories included, there is no weak link—an attribute exceedingly rare in collections of this sort. Highly recommended.” —The Barnes & Noble Review
“Lackey’s delightful world of magic is inhabited by strong and believable men, women, and creatures, the most enchanting being the gryphons.” —Publishers Weekly
“Exceedingly well done, it helps keep readers unconfused while wandering the enormous fictional terrain the Valdemar oeuvre covers.” —Booklist
“Each story brings unique ideas that carry on the fantastical elements from the world created by Lackey. Fans new and old will step into a literary world that’s unlike any other and will be sucked into tales that will take them on wondrous journeys.” —RT Reviews