The Making of a Legend(2011)

Mercedes Lackey

Tarma and Kethry came to town looking for a meal, something cold to drink, and a chance to rest from their travels in the summer's heat. For the "bard" Leslac, however, this wasn't nearly heroic enough for his next ballad. And the town had a Wicked Overlord, so surely his heroes would want to do something about that--wouldn't they?

This story originally appeared in Sword & Sorceress 6, Jun 1990.