Penric’s Mission – Lois McMaster Bujold

This novella is a bit of a sea change from the earlier Penric stories. Pen’s patron, the Princess Arch-Divine, has died, and he’s a bit adrift. He’s ended up in the service of the Duke of Adria, who sends him on a covert mission to meet with a general in a nearby land who’s contacted the duke about leaving for Adria. Since one of his demon Desdemona’s former carriers is from Cedonia, he should fit right in. But it’s quickly clear that it’s a set up.

Pen ends up helping General Adelis and his widowed sister Nikys flee Cedonia, and you end up learning a lot about what happened to him between the events of the last novella and this story. It ends on a bit of a cliff hanger – I’ll fully admit I went right out and grabbed the next novella – which I’m normally better about rationing. But I need to see what happens!