Ollie leaned against the wall watching as Josephine Maria Ziegler tipped the contents on the floor. “Ya ain’t disproving my point.” So much for her hopes that the woman could manage the rest of the trip in peace. A cog rolled across the length of the strider and bounced off Ollie’s boot.
At the Edge
“Run.” Lula spoke the word softly, expectantly. I glanced sideways. Her eyes were locked ahead and she gave every appearance of being statue still.
Shaking out the Dragons
For those of you who haven’t been paying attention (and tsk for that), this year saw the Writers and Illustrators of the Future Gala return to its familiar time in April of 2022. This year also saw my dragons taking to the road to see the event in person again. They might have been a tad excited, but don’t worry I wrangled them out of the driver’s seat. Thus, dragons corralled we headed off to California to see everything old and new.
A Drop of Blood
Pricking her finger, the knife stung. Blood welled about the blade. Snapping her teeth together, Eswild hissed at the expected pain.
Doesn’t Have to Be
“It doesn’t always have to be you.”
The words echoed inside Ahuva Strong. The equipment’s hum couldn’t drown out Rayan’s accusation. Ahuva stared at the metal wall, until the cycle completed and flash forced them closed.
The Last Horn
Sige stood at the threshold voices washing over her. Here war lay behind, but they’d found new battles. Those of boasts and clashing bodies. Sige scoffed. Her hand moved to her belt sliding down at the missing hilt.
At Arrow’s Point
Flat. Flat. Flat.
The planes extended in every direction about Erieri. The planes of time, unending and never changing. At least that is what those without attention thought. In truth they constantly changed.
A Long Route
Thewyn leaned against a wall. Her boot left a smeared hollow in the mud, and her left rested against the building. If Dwayde hadn’t known better, he’d called her relaxed.
Word Shield
Water dripped in a contrary rhythm as Fastolph knelt at the Word Shield. His lantern’s flame echoed loudly in the silent chamber and did little against the cavern’s absolute darkness. Not that Fastolph noticed. Master Ephers words blazed in his mind.
Ship’s Hand
Even neural mirrors didn’t make the action less disturbing as I pulled my hands apart. First the soft outer layers, a kind of latex meant to simulate skin. Compelling enough for casual contact. Not that I ever had anything else.