title: Murder Most Medieval: Noble Tales of Ignoble Demises
author: Martin H. Greenberg
description: Here are thirteen deadly tales, all set within the dramatic turmoil of medieval Europe. Murder mystery fans and history buffs alike will be riveted by the selections offered by master anthologist Martin H. Greenberg and Nebula Award-winner John Helfers. You'll meet Peter Tremayne's seventh-century Celtic detective, Sister Fidelma, in "Like a Dog Returning;" discover Clayton Emery's take on Robin Hood in "Plucking a Mandrake;" learn about Brother Cadfael, soldier-turned-sleuthing-monk, from the wicked pen of Ellis Peters; and many others?all in the service of investigating crime in the Middle Ages, from the misdeeds of commoners to the felonies of kings.
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  _In Pursuit of Dragons_
  
  
  
  
  
  An Elemental Web Tale‌—‌A Short Novel
  
  
  
  
  
  **Anne Renwick**
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter One
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _Scotland_
  
  
  _March 1885_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  NATALIA ZAKHAROVA KINROSS, Lady of Kinlarig, knelt on the flagstone hearth
  seeing to the task of shoveling out the cold, dead ashes of last night’s fire.
  In the far corner of the chamber‌—‌part study, part laboratory‌—‌a rusty steam
  maid stood immobile, gathering cobwebs and dust. Coal was too scarce to waste
  on extravagances such as steambots when one lived in a cold, damp Scottish
  castle. Particularly when one’s husband had preferred to direct all funds to
  his lavish townhome in Edinburgh.
  
  
  _The rotten, inbred popinjay._
  
  
  Upon his death, a list of outstanding bills had been forwarded to her. A
  headache‌—‌beginning at the back of her neck and spreading upward to encompass
  her entire skull‌—‌had grown as she’d flipped through sheaves of paper
  detailing his extensive purchases. Unlike her, her h