Category: chapters

I severed the connection, and the tent went dark. Outside, the fire had been extinguished, and whatever moon and stars hung above us did not cast enough light to penetrate the canvas. I could not even see Khanaarre’s silhouette. “Fuck,” she said. “Yeah,” I said. I waited for her to ask what seemed like the Read more

I should have seen it coming. Not the kick, per se, and certainly not Khanaarre’s attempted intervention, but my death-sentence. We had resisted the will of the Prince of the White Steppes, used his honor and pride against him. He could not retaliate against Elana, who he had acknowledged as his equal, or against Rennin, Read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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