MARIE BRENNAN is an anthropologist and folklorist who shamelessly pillages her academic fields for material. She is the author of several acclaimed fantasy novels including "A Natural History of Dragons; "The Onyx Court Series: "Midnight Never Come, In Ashes Lie, A Star Shall Fall, "and "With Fate Conspire; Warrior; "and" Witch. "Her short stories have appeared in more than a dozen print and online publications.