Author: JS Groves
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Chapter Forty-Eight – In which Khanaarre looks over the edge of the world
Trade talks took up the last few weeks of winter: Elana and Rennin locked in an assortment of offices with various combinations of the Prince of the White Steppes, the archons of Ghol Vidar, and a laundry list of local commercial interests. Although I had no standing to negotiate for my people, I was invited Read more
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Chapter Forty-Seven – In which Derrek suffers a pyrrhic victory
I could not, in all courtesy, take my eyes off the Prince of the White Steppes, but I would have given much to see the look on Prince Elana’s face when our host gave the full name of the Storm. Tal Thannuu was known in the south as the Demon God, ever at odds with Read more
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Chapter Forty-Six – In which Khanaarre feels very alone, and the party at last meets the Prince of the White Steppes
And so we settled in, enjoying the hospitality of Vol Mak Khan while we awaited the pleasure of the archons and the Prince of the White Steppes. After so many weeks rushing from one city-state to the next, our eyes always on the horizon for signs of another wyvern attack or oncoming storm, the enforced Read more
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Chapter Forty-Five – In which Derrek is reunited with his mothers
To say that I did not expect to see my mothers in the house of Vol Mak Khan was an understatement so vast that even I would not have found it funny. Our host, however, clearly had expected them, for they and their cook laid out a feast more than generous enough to provide for Read more
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Chapter Forty-Four – In which Khanaarre is welcomed by the archons of Ghol Vidar
The formal dining hall to which we were led was only a little larger than Ignmatmar’s breakfast room had been. A fire burned on one long wall, a scenic tapestry depicting the valley below hung on the wall opposite, flanked by banners in the blue and white colors of the house. The foot of the Read more
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Chapter Forty-Three – In which Derrek and the party settle in to Ghol Vidar
The three green-liveried rhu xian made themselves comfortable in the sitting room, taking a tea table by the massive glass window overlooking the city and the valley. I made myself comfortable on a cushion in the corner, out of everyone’s way but where I could look out the window. I had been a child the Read more
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Chapter Forty-Two – In which Khanaarre recovers from her injuries
The wyvern’s venomous spray was, by far, the worst physical pain that I ever experienced in my life. I slept almost all the first day, waking only long enough to drink a thin broth provided by the cyclops healer, Xijuma. The first time I woke, Rennin held me up while Elana fed me by hand. Read more
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Chapter Forty-One – In which Derrek loses his shit a little
Khanaarre screamed. The spray of venom, a half dozen droplets across her face and chest, burned through clothing and flesh and into her blood. Shinova and Vikatan, sheltering Darjaran and Khanaarre with their own mass screamed with her. So, I realized after a moment, did I. The wyvern was already dead: its massive head severed Read more
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Chapter Forty – In which Khanaarre rides into the desert to face a monster
Perhaps I should not have been so harsh with Derrek Rowan. Perhaps I should have left my mind unspoken and played things out by feel. But in that moment, I kept only what silence I could, and said only what was in my heart. He bowed his head low in apparent acceptance and understanding, and Read more
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Chapter Thirty-Nine – In which Derrek contemplates his return to the Holy Empire of the Rhu Xian
When my companions returned from dinner with the archons, they were exhausted and surly. Come morning, they were in little mood to discuss the night’s events. Before I was able to coax the story out of them, Thieria came to whisk them away, again. Having told the truth of who I was – most of Read more