This second anthology book contains the following short stories: The Stray, by Linda Evans. Set shortly after A Beautiful Friendship, this is the story of the second bonding ever between a human and a treecat, and the extraordinary first adventure of that newly created, uncommon couple. What Price Dreams? by David Weber. This tale of how Princess Adrienne, later Queen Adrienne I of Manticore, met her treecat Dianchect (or "Seeker of Dreams"), is another story about human-treecat interaction, exploring the background to the treecats' extraordinary status in Manticoran society. Queen's Gambit, by Jane Lindskold. Roger III, King of Manticore, dies in what appears to be a grav-skiing accident. His daughter Elizabeth rises to the throne, and suspects that the death of her father may not have been an accident at all. Meanwhile, a cabal of Manticoran politicians make their moves in an attempt to influence Elizabeth's regency. As all sides make their moves, the new Queen Elizabeth learns a hard lesson about politics and compromise in the process. The Hard Way Home, by David Weber. Lieutenant Commander Honor Harrington, executive officer of the cruiser HMS Broadsword, is participating in a series of evaluation exercises of a new type of pinnace when an avalanche strikes a holiday resort on the planet Gryphon, killing hundreds and burying many others under meters of snow. Honor must take command of the rescue operations and save as many people as she and the men and women of Broadsword can. Deck Load Strike, by Roland J. Green. The planet Silvestria, located close to a terminus of the Erewhon Wormhole Junction, is home to two low-tech warring nations. The strategic relevance of Silvestria is not lost to the Manticorans and their Havenite enemies. A war by proxy between both Silvestrian nations break out, with the Canmore Republic receiving support from Manticore and Erewhon, and the Kingdom of Chuiban being assisted by Havenite forces.