In celebration of the release of THE VERY BEST OF KATE ELLIOTT, we are sharing story excerpts from the collection.

Today’s preview comes from “Riding the Shore of the River of Death.”

This wooded western country far from their tribal lands in the east smelled raw and unpalatable to Kereka, but the hawk that circledoverhead had the same look as hawks in the grasslands. Some things
were the same no matter where you went, even if you had to ride into
the lands where foreigners made their homes to get what you wanted.
Even if you had to journey far from your father’s authority and
your mother’s tent to seize the glory of your first kill.

The
reverberant thunk of an axe striking wood surprised her; she’d
thought it was too early to hunt because they had yet to see any sign
of habitation. Ahead, barely visible within the stretch of pine and
beech through which they rode, her brother Belek unslipped his spear
from its brace against his boot and urged his mare into a run. Kereka
rose in her stirrups to watch him vanish into a clearing occluded by
summer’s leaves. Birds broke from cover, wings flashing. The
clatter of weapons, a sharp shriek, and then a man’s howl of pain
chased off through the bright woodland.

For more on THE VERY BEST OF KATE ELLIOTT, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover art by Julie Dillon.

Design by Elizabeth Story.