alt:
"The very blue cover of Nights. Also, a cathedral on a cloud, but mostly blue. And a quote:
"Prince Danyel!" The warrior called, his voice clear and carrying. "Come out and face me. Let you and I settle the animosity between our two peoples! There is no need for war; we will fight, man to man!
He who wins our conflict will decide all!"
The queen raised her voice just far enough to be heard by those of her people who stood with her on the top of the wall. "A gold coin to the archer who puts one in his eye.'
There was the sound like buzz of a hundred wasps. Then a sound like a sudden hard rain on a state roof.
Then silence.
Leaning a little past the battlement to get a better
line of sight, the queen smiled. "Nice grouping, archers. Well done. Wallace!"
"Majesty!" Her personal aide leapt forward.
"Go down and check the fletching on those arrows - it looks like we have at least three winners.""