Krigstid av Katharine Kerr från Deverry-serien.
Draken på omslaget är inte röd, men scenen är en övergripande rödaktig färg.
Den unga pojken är Jahdo och han är faktiskt från en familj som använder illrar för att jaga råttor:
To earn their food, clothing, and other necessities, the Ratters, as their family came to be known, also took their ferrets round from house to house all over town. Wearing little muzzles to keep them from making kills, the ferrets chased the vermin out through holes in the walls, where the family caught the rats in wicker cages and drowned them and their fleas both in the lake - not the most pleasant of jobs, but growing up with it made it tolerable.
Vad gäller den, erm, mer särskiljande citat är den otäcka dvärgen Otho och citaten är:
‘You impacted pusboil from the hind-end of a leprous mule!’ Otho snapped.
‘Don’t you insult me, you stub-legged excuse for a man.’
‘Very well, I retract that. You’re a running sore on a leprous she-mule’s c**t.’
och vid rättegången:
‘And what did he call you, Lord Matyc,’ Cadmar said, ‘that makes you feel your honour’s at stake here?’
Matyc hesitated, his face turning just the slightest bit pale.
‘Unless you give out with the insult, I can hardly judge it, can I now?’
‘Very well, Your Grace. He called me a running sore on a leprous she-mule’s c**t.’