Richard Blakemore

In the year of the forked serpent, Kurval came from beyond the sea, slew King Orkol and became King of Azakoria. On the day of his coronation, Kurval consults the oracle in the temple of the goddess Ashvarya, where he is supposed to gaze into a magical jewel called the Tear of Chronos, hoping for a vision of the future. But before Kurval can receive his vision, a young woman named Stella suddenly appears in a flash of light in the inner sanctum.
Not only is Stella a deadringer for the goddess, she also wears the Tear of Chronos around her neck. Can Stella help Kurval retain the throne he's barely won? And is she truly a goddess or just an imposter? The new sword and sorcery adventure by two-time Hugo finalist Cora Buhlert and her occasional alter ego, 1930s pulp writer Richard Blakemore. This is a novelette of 13500 words or approx. 45 print pages in the Kurval sword and sorcery series, but may be read as a standalone.
Includes an introduction and afterword.