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Dago 10

In Dago’s opinion, the problem with the Crimson Highway, and, more specifically, its Highwaymen, was their damned choke-hold on the world. They had become a fundamental institution upon which the modern world rested, and they knew it. When Dago had finally made his break, dashing through the open gate of Elpan before another gang or revolutionary group caught him, he had found the highway abandoned. It was, of course, not red in colour. It was built of grey cobblestones, stretching east and west from the gate until the rise of jungle trees and the canopy overhead obstructed Dago’s view of it. Continue reading Dago 10

Raya 1

The city of Vagren sat at a meeting place of many worlds. North and east were savannah, and the Eremes River ran from the city’s gates to a cove on the Boundless Sea. To the west lay rolling hills with only the occasional cliff to interrupt their gracefulness, and an occasional grove of thick cedars to add green to the dry grasses.

Against the steep incline of one such hill, the small, scattered village of Olston had grown into a town. With an economy based on the hill’s granite mine, the populace was a tough group that didn’t generally like outsiders. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, they seemed endlessly loyal to those they considered their family. Raya Ganner and her parents were thankful to be a part of the community, though Raya was the only one still contributing to it, as her parents health deteriorated with their age. Continue reading Raya 1

Vaenuth 13

Across the desert fled the remnants of Vaenuth’s caravan. Her business was alright—as long as the white lead in two of their three wagons made it to Rainrest safely. It had been four days since the massacre, and the windstorms in the morning still meant their journey was slow. Rather than starting late, Vaenuth made her small group press onward. She didn’t want any of the town’s people coming after them. Continue reading Vaenuth 13

Aralim 6

His Fifth Vision was a massive coupled barge, as the Numa called such a vessel, with two main masts and two quarter-masts. The ship’s sails were foiled yellow and grey canvas, her oar galleys seated three men abreast, ran fifty benches deep on both sides of the craft, and her two angular hulls resembled two halves of a watermelon—though closer in sharpness to a rectangle—resting side-by-side. The name was a reference to the crew’s god, Tag’na the Eternal Emperor. Many coupled barges, according to the public ambassador, were named ‘vision’, ‘reach’, or ‘horizon’. The Numa used the ships exclusively for distant travel. Continue reading Aralim 6

Dago 9

Dago was getting quite tired of Par and his goons. He wasn’t tired of the looting, the fighting, even the catching of women. In a way, it made Dago forget about the Jobless and the Hired versions of himself. This was him, a warring, surviving savage. But he was more experienced than these fools. And he knew it would not last. Chaos never lasted, which meant Dago couldn’t stay with Par forever. Continue reading Dago 9

Vaenuth 12

It was an incredibly windy day, and their fourth in the town of Logren. The sandstorm relented after noon and Vaenuth sent Crann with two of their wagons and most of her workers in the direction of the lead quarry. They had carefully planned instructions to deposit the contents of those wagons near the horizon-obstructing boulder two hours out of town. And then they were to return. Continue reading Vaenuth 12

Lerran 3

Captain Urro ran a tight ship on Storm, and Lerran let him handle his business as he knew how to. If Lerran had his way, the Gharo Family would run on merit, not just loyalty and blood. Blood was all-important, of course. It was in the name. But a woman, like Gadra, or any other of his sisters—they should not be held back by tradition. Continue reading Lerran 3

Vaenuth 11

Mae frowned when Vaenuth told him, over breakfast, that they sought white lead. They were eating a small meal of eggs and a flax porridge, with a very thin ale, at a table in Mae’s own house. It was unclear if he was the leader of the town, or just the look out who had been tasked with handling visitors. Vaenuth didn’t even know if the small settlement received any other visitors, or if her caravan was the first to warrant a host.

The big man at the end of the table finished his mouthful. “We cannot sell our white lead. It is too hard to procure. And too important” Continue reading Vaenuth 11

Vaenuth 10

Even a week after their fight with the Slithers, Banno seemed bruised, battered, and exhausted. He did little speaking, but kept at Vaenuth’s side as usual. After a quick breakfast meal of nuts and some meats their hunters had cut from the carcasses of antelope and hawks, the caravan got underway. This time it was Hulean who struck up the conversation as they set out on the first leg of the day’s journey. Continue reading Vaenuth 10

Dago 8

It was only after Parsetrin and his men showed Dago a bedroom for him to use in a looted house, and only after the noise of their slaves subsided, and only after he was surrounded by snores, that he let himself get out Miss Puzzle’s letter and read it once more. He had skimmed it quickly the night after he had found her, and her men, dead, but it had meant little to him. It meant little more now. “Dago Ai Ji Malzo will show you the way into Yarik, with persuasion. He is a sell sword, completing a job in Vagren. Speak to Lord Shea, a contact of mine in Ellakar, to arrange to bring Dago there.” Continue reading Dago 8