Author Description

Lilly the Virgin woke to bright light, birdsong and panic. She had a thousand and one things to do today and she overslept. Despite being beautiful, buxom and brainy, her appearance said otherwise. Her hair was a snarled mess the envy of any rat domicile, her wrinkled clothes needed a good cleaning, and she was so tired she couldn't think straight. Her wide eyed messy appearance gave the village men more ammunition to prove a woman couldn't run a business. Never mind she tamed a dragon, a unicorn, a bridge troll and a King's Auditor. Every man in the village wanted her to settle down and be a proper woman. Surely one woman with her own business wouldn't topple the government or bring the world to an end. Sure, she wore britches instead of skirts, it helped her stay dry and move faster. It didn't mean she wanted to make sweeping social changes. It didn't matter what obstacles she overcame, the powers that be refused to admit a woman could accomplish anything outside of a home.When a secret cabal of women convinced her to do her civic duty, she figured there was no harm. All she had to do was set in judgment over a small trial. They claimed they wanted her to take her rightful place among the movers of society. Little did Lilly know they were preparing her for trials to come. If she knew these trials included a disaster of pixies, a kidnapped wizard, and being accused of Scott's murder, she might have stayed in bed.