The woman cocked her head back almost to her back and broke out in unrestrained laughter. “Lass, you’re more naive than I took you for! Sure as I’d love to give each and every customer a free garment, I’d not be in business long if I did that, now, would I?”
“You mean you didn’t—?”
“No. ’Twas the lad that brought you, that young cleric fellow who had to be reminded to keep his eyes in his head. Truth is, he’s got me makin’ somethin’ else for you right now. I asked him to get you here for a fitting, but he said it’d have to wait until you were ready. Well, as far as I’m concerned, this’d be as good a time as any. What do you think?”
Shal stood in open-mouthed astonishment. She might never have answered if her familiar hadn’t nudged her from behind. What are you waiting for, Mistress?
“Tarl? Tarl had you make that nightgown? I never … I never …”
“Never suspected? Now you’re puttin’ on a show, miss! Get in here and try on this wedding gown before the price of lace goes up. I daresay it’ll take a few yards to do you.”
Shal stood motionless for a minute, and then waltzed up the stairs. “Take as many yards as you need! I’m not getting any smaller, you know!”
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
JANE COOPER HONG resides in Burlington, Wisconsin, with her husband Tsong-Ming, whom she met in a laundry in Taiwan, and her daughter, Aleta, whom she wishes she’d met the same way. For the last several years, Jane has made a living doing publicity and writing promotional copy, so her editor was advised to watch out for excessive words like “new” and “exciting” in this novel. Jane has edited books in the DRAGONLANCE® series, among others, and written two short game pieces for TSR. Pool of Radiance is her first novel.
JAMES M. WARD was born on May 23, 1951. He started out reading Hardy Boys and lorn Swift books and has since become a huge fan of science fiction and fantasy. When asked about becoming a writer, he always replies, “If you aren’t witty, brilliant, and insightful, you have to be persistent, dogged, and not shy. I will leave it to the world to figure out which one I am.”
Jim has three genetically perfect male children—9, 18, and 19—and a charming wife. They live in a perfect twostory red brick home in a pleasant rural community.
Jim got his start in role-playing with the design of METAMORPHOSIS ALPHA, the first science-fiction role-playing game. He has been designing games and helping others to design them ever since.
Jim credits his start in gaming to learning to play poker with his dad and brothers. It wasn’t long before he learned not to try for inside straights or to try bluffing his dad, he states rather ruefully.
When asked what he would like to do when he grows up, Jim always replies, “Commanding the starship Enterprise would be nice.”
Jim has written, or collaborated in writing, numerous books for TSR.