She traded her sword for a paintbrush. Time to trade back.

Ama practices her swordplay in the trees where none of the villagers have to watch, paints pictures no one wants, and then drinks in the tavern the rest of the time. She only has one escape. Her heart pounds as the vampire, whose name she doesn't even know, sinks his fangs into her throat. She stares at the two of them in the mirror, and for a second she's transported back to another time: she's a green soldier with dreams of valour, and he's her doting husband. Her dead husband. She panics and does something she's never done before.

Now her days are spent obsessing over a wish she gave up on a decade ago. But she's learned the hard way that the more you have, the more you can lose. Better to have nothing at all . . . right?

The Swordswoman and the Vampire is a historical fantasy romance novelette. See the book page on Elizabeth F. Shearly's website for content notes.