title: A Patchwork of Stories: 9 Tales from Sunny Side Up to Over Hard
author:  Kaye George 
description: Kaye George, an Agatha nominated short story writer, is the author of CHOKE, Mainly Murder Press, May 2011, as well as many short stories. She reviews for "Suspense Magazine", and writes for several newsletters and blogs. She, her husband, and a cat named Agamemnon live together in Texas, near Austin. Homepage: KayeGeorge.com Blog: TravelsWithKaye.blogspot.com
zlib_text: Forgotten Realms
  
  Ed Greenwood Presents Waterdeep: Blackstaff Tower
  
  By Steven E Schend
  
  Prologue  
  The North has sinfully warm days late in the year, which some call elf
  summers, that merely bulwark the wary for the inevitable chills of winter to
  come.  
  Malek Aldhanek, My Travels, the Year of the Gem Dragons (812 DR)  
  20 Marpenoth, Year of the Ageless One (1479 DR)  
  Are you sure you need to do this right now, Samark?" The young woman's short
  black hair rippled in the light breeze, never obscuring her bright indigo
  eyes. "I know it's important, but it's too nice a day. Why spoil our picnic by
  rifling through that tomb? Stay here, where it's warm and bright."  
  Vajra Safahr stretched languidly on the blanket. She luxuriated in the sun and
  playfully clamped her toes on the edge of Samark's robes. "Aren't there better
  things we could do with such a marvelous day?" She let one dusky shoulder slip
  free from her gray tunic as she leaned toward Samark and winked.  
  The old man, Samark "the