Farek 6

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For a disconcerting moment, Farek looked at his window from his contorted position amidst bed-sheets and cushions.  He was sweaty and his throat was dry and he couldn’t tell from the overcast horizon out there what time of day it was.  He had overslept—of that much he was certain.  There was light on the mountains to the east, in the direction of Noress-That-Was, but the city still seemed dim.  Was it going to rain, at last?

“Guard,” he called, sitting on his bedside with his elbows on his knees. Continue reading Farek 6

Vaenuth 43

1479 - 4 - 6 Vaenuth 43

Old moss, dangling down the edge of the wide cistern opening, gave out beneath Vaenuth’s hands, and she slid down inside.  It was a controlled drop, and she landed on the sloped stones below along with a scattering of dirt and green.  The cistern was built on the hill above the Ra’las estate, shaded by a few trees and surrounded on all sides by distant towers and maze-like streets.  She had wrapped her sword belt around her torso, and her sword hung from her back. Continue reading Vaenuth 43

Vaenuth 42

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The city of Starath seemed to scrape the clouds with its blacked brick spires.  They rose all over the city, cornering big factories and warehouses and towering castles with ramparts or slanted roofs.  It wasn’t until Vaenuth and the crew of the Roost sailed down the channel between Starath and Blackrock Isle that she realized those were not towers that brushed the clouds.  Nor were those even the same clouds that roofed the sea—those spires spewed forth coal smoke into the heavens, smouldering a new, lower layer of clouds.  Starath was a machine that made metal. Continue reading Vaenuth 42

Lerran 39

1479 - 4 - 2 Lerran 39

Gadra was playing her lute again, plucked strings that echoed through the halls of the Lerran Estate.  Yesterday, one of the wealthy families had come to visit, interrupting Gadra’s attempts at practice.  Lerran had met with the lord of that house to discuss his concerns about the water shortages.  It had been close to two months since it had rained in Sheld, and many gardens were failing.  Tassina had been working overtime trying to help her plants.  Thankfully, the Shalan River kept running strong.  Lerran agreed to give the visiting lord a larger ration from the river.  It wasn’t a long term solution—the Shalan handled sewage too, though not upstream where the aqueducts began.  Sheld thrived on its rain cisterns though, and they were almost dried up.  The strings that Gadra played sounded as beautiful as distant raindrops, but they were not. Continue reading Lerran 39

Aralim 30

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Aralim’s return from the market was similar to most days, but his arrival at the West Corid estate was concluded in a much different way.  The streets he walked, with a pack laden with new clothes and a few preferred food items, were alive with the people of Rema.  He never grew accustomed to their vibrancy nor to their culture.  He passed a man with a straight robe that began like a towel wrapped around his armpits, while his shoulders were tattooed, one with a woman’s face, and the other with a skull.  Even the poorest of merchants seemed to wear jewelry, while Aralim wore none.  Of course, no one walked with a lantern staff in one hand, especially no one with a pack so laden.  The servants of the estate bought most of their food-goods, but Aralim explored the markets himself occasionally. Continue reading Aralim 30

Arn 9

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Judging by the dull ache in his arms and legs, Arn knew the poison still affected him.  He watched the sun rise through his window, unable to sleep.  He had only been able to slightly increase his dosage since he began this horrid process.  There were many stories of past leaders who had become immune to toxins by this process, but there were no clear instructions.  Arn could have spoken to Jorik the Embalmer, if he trusted another living soul.  But Arn did not. Continue reading Arn 9

Vaenuth 41

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If they had trained heavily before their long voyage had reached Sheld, then this voyage forth was full of battle.  Vaenuth could beat anyone they paired her against, though Tagg gave her the most trouble.  Many a day was full of sweat and bruises, and the occasional loss of blood drops.  The sailors aboard the Roost gave them a wide berth of the deck for their training.  Even Lerran’s guards joined in once in a while.  One of them rivalled Tagg in skill, and gave Vaenuth a bloody welt on her shoulder one afternoon.  Pressip had almost started a real fight because of that, until Vaenuth declared it was a training bruise, nothing more. Continue reading Vaenuth 41

Raya 26

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Raya and Benn spent another long day at the Archives, this time in the sunshine behind the main building.  Birds sang in the trees and the open air felt fresher and healthier to Raya, though the skies seemed to have been permanently darkened by ash from distant Mount Lukar.  They’d hadn’t spoken a word about the romantics Benn had brought up a few days earlier.  Nor had they found anything about the names Nalisa Orr, Axar, nor anything suspicious about Lotha and Viker. Dondar kept up his daily watch of the house they’d infiltrated.  Raya and Benn kept an eye out for any information about Dago, the mysterious vanished traveller. Continue reading Raya 26

Lerran 38

1479 - 3 - 24 Lerran 38

Lerran’s day was full of letters and documents.  With his warm breakfast and the kiss of his wife fading to distant memory, he pressed his palms to his temples and waited for his head ache to fade.  It did not.

The first letter, a short note scrawled on crinkled, over-chalked parchment, came from Lerran’s spy, Erril.  It was confirmation of his letter to Noress-That-Was on Lerran’s behalf.  Erril predicted they’d receive the letter in two-week’s time.  He was certain they’d be able to meet to discuss the terms of Lo Mallago’s sale during the 4th Moon, barring that, the 5th month. Continue reading Lerran 38