Flamesong

Trinesh, a lieutenant in the Tsolyáni army, is eager to prove himself to his superiors, one of whom is the imperial prince Mirusíya. Mirusíya and his army worship the warlike fire deity Vimúhla, who once wielded a legendary weapon named Flamesong. Trinesh' legionaries storm an isolated outpost occupied by the hostile empire of Yán Kór. The fastness is revealed to be an ancient temple that houses the access to a high-tech subway network. A group of Yán Kóryani noblewomen escape into one of the "tubeway cars". Trinesh and a handful of soldiers attempt to take the women as prisoners, but get trapped in the machine instead. The motley party begins an eventful journey from one tubeway station to another, each located in a distant and exotic land. No one in the party knows exactly how to operate the tubeway car, and a lengthy series of misfortunes follows. Personal chemistries in the claustrophobic environment are strained at first, but over time the characters learn to understand each other despite their differing world-views and backgrounds. Eventually it is revealed that one of the Yán Kóryany noblewomen is Flamesong come into human flesh, and that her intent is to assassinate Mirusíya. She is nearly successful, but ultimately slays another, less important officer. Trinesh, on the other hand, sets free a group of extra-dimensional aliens enslaved by the Yán Kóryani ruler, thus seriously damaging his fancies of world domination. Before parting ways, Trinesh and the Yán Kóryani noblewomen express their mutual respect. Trinesh himself declares his intent to become a general and pay a visit to his newfound Yán Kóryani friends, now as a conqueror. == Reception ==