contents part i : stories by xina marie uhl the ruling elite the coming of the destroyer the pomegranate tree part ii : stories by janet loftis skin job talebones in the service of the queen about the authors a request of the reader part i where fantasy meets history the stories of xina marie uhl the ruling elite wind swept off the frozen ridge , worming its way around the leather armor-collar at my neck and the rags tied around my red , chafed hands .