Who killed the Nazgul Captain, the Witch-King of Angmar?

If you've seen Jackson's movies, it appears that Eowyn fights the captain and is about to take a death blow when Merry distracts him with a stab to the leg that causes him to fall to his knees. Eowyn declares that she is no man, and gives him the face-jab-death-blow. The captain gets an attack of the crumples, and Elvis has left the building.

I must say that I prefer the version in the book in which Gandalf confirms that it was Merry's blade that dealt the fatal wound. Of course, Merry wouldn't have been there and had the chance to strike if not for Eowyn and her brave defense of Theoden. I have several reasons for my preference.

Which version of the scene do you prefer?

I'm diverting my focus for a few weeks to write a novella, a free reader magnet, a prequel to the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire series. I'll let you know when it's available. I am looking for title suggestions. Let me know your ideas.

In the meantime, here is a short excerpt from Power to Hurt, Book 2 in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire series. Used with the author's permission, of course:

Antonio whispered to Charles over a mug of punch in a Cambridge tavern. “They say it’s anchored in Boston Harbor. It’s a prize just begging to be taken.”

“Are all those warships and cannon on the heights doing the begging, you daft Spaniard?”

“Who chased our pretty little cutter into Charlestown?”

“The commander.”

“Whose ship and guns stove in the sides of our own lovely boat?”

“The commander’s.”

“Whose men chased us ashore and confiscated the swiftest ship of all?”

“The commander’s.”

“And whose dark ship should be the one to carry us across the waters to France?”

“You crazy Castilian, we’ll never get to that ship. If we get to it we’ll never take it. If we take it, we’ll never get it out of the harbor."

“And yet The Raven sits waiting for the touch of your hand upon her wheel to speed you across the way to find Washington.”

“We could never take it.”

“What a blow it would be to that commander to take his very own personal ship while he’s off chasing poor Alex with all his rangers. It would be fitting salt for his wounds, no?”

“What wounds?”

“The wounds he will have from failing to catch Alex and that map of his. I tell you there’s only a skeleton crew aboard The Raven. It’s a challenge to us, it is. Providence’s hand, I’m certain.”

“He took all his rangers?”

“That’s the rumor. Most of the crew spend their time filling their bellies with rum and such in Boston, if they can get it.”

“How would we get to it?”

Antonio rubbed his hands together and smiled broadly. “That’s the beauty of it. It’s simplicity itself.”

“Let’s hear it.”

You can get Power to Hurt here:

If you follow my blog, you'll not that I recently featured author Ron Lahr, author of The Kathaldi Chronicles, which you can find here:

A thief with dreams of adventure. An eternal battle against the Gods. Free drinks and grateful women.

Dirk is a scoundrel. Some would say a jerk. He’ll admit it. But his ambition only goes as far as his next heist. It’s not that he’s against noble causes or grand adventures. To hear him tell it, he’s had a few. As long as there’s something in it for him.

But when a childhood friend shows up with an unbelievable tale, Dirk must decide if he really is up for adventure worthy of the songs of bards. The last time the Kathaldi battled the Gods, they nearly destroyed the world. Can Dirk and his companions prevent the world from sliding into chaos once more?

If women and treasure await, he’s going to give it his best shot.

Come explore a richly detailed world of madness, monsters and mayhem, and help write the next chapter of The Kathaldi Chronicles.

Finally, let me present you with a treasure trove of fantasy books in this Spring Sale, among which you will find my own Threading the Rude Eye, and a plethora of other books you may like.

Check out these awesome specials!

I hope you find a few that you will enjoy.

Look for my next letter March 16.

Stanley