#13 Knife Children by Lois McMaster Bujold

This novella is set after years after the final book in the series, but I didn’t feel the need to reread everything even though it had been twenty years since I read them. There is enough backstory in this to help anyone understand what is going on in the books. Lakewalkers protect the land with their magic but keep their distance from the farmers and villagers that do not share their magical talents. Barr went against tradition and had a tryst with a farmer who had a child but he didn’t find out until several years later. He keeps an eye out on the child incase she develops lakewaker magic but since he doesn’t ride by that often he finds that she has run away from home on his latest ride by the farm. He volunteers to help with the search and finds her. Lily has developed the magic of her father’s people and doesn’t understand what is happening since she doesn’t know her father is a lakewalker. Barr finds her and due to fighting a blight he has to take her to his home camp and she learns about her parentage and the magic she possesses. This is a good introduction into this story universe and also works well as a reminder of the series.