“I know what you’re thinking,” he continued quickly, still amazingly on the same breath, “that I should have stood trial already, but since one of the murders involved a man suspected of being a Dragon Knight, I was to report to the Citadel to stand trial there.  That’s why I was traveling south from Mintas.” ...Read More

“Perhaps,” mused Ras loudly so his companions could hear, “we simply talk to our new friend.  I mean, I get that Kersath likes his creepy jump-scares and broody mysteriousness… and Dain likes to try out his new herbal concoctions on any unsuspecting guinea pig he can find… and Talimar likes to be in control of,...Read More

Dain shook his head swiftly, “My recipe is just perfect.  It’s entirely possible that you’re just asking the wrong questions.” “Maybe the lad ate too much of it and it worked against itself.  He did have four helpings you know.  Even Beleg can only stomach two plates of Gnore’s slop, no matter how many of...Read More

“Well,” another of the gruff men began, “if the lad wants to say he’s a coal-headed, rock chewer… well, I suppose that’s his business.” “It does explain a bit though,” another seemed to agree, grinning through his thick beard.  “Only someone that addled would be crazy enough to ride with us.” The entire company, save...Read More

“Are you going to threaten to kill me again?” Kre asked.  He meant it in a half-joking way, or at least he hoped it would be taken that way.  In all honestly, the grinning Ylveryan terrified him.  Perhaps it was the way that Kersath smiled, with a curling of his lips that revealed his sharp...Read More

“Hells bells!  What is wrong with the lot of you?”  If the stunned faces weren’t looking directly at him, mouths agape, Kre wouldn’t have been certain that the voice was his own. “Well,” said one of his gruff looking captors, “that just takes all the fun out of it.”  Kre felt the steel-like grips on...Read More

“One we shall all hear very shortly,” Talimar said as he stepped onto the path from behind a tree.  He addressed his next question directly to Kersath, “Have you prepared him to meet the others?  They are here and getting impatient.” Kersath shook his head, “No, I did not.  I was feeling him out to...Read More

He supposed that he should be thankful for the non-answer answer, but there was still that nagging feeling that he wasn’t really free to leave if he so chose.  “Does that mean I’m a member of the company now?” Kersath laughed sharply and patted Maple’s neck.  “You are, how shall we say, aligned with our...Read More

“Rethinking your life now, are you?” Kersath said softly without a trace of sarcasm or pity. “A bit, yeah,” Kre responded.  He briefly wondered what tribe Kitalia was from and that led him to wonder if he’d ever see her again.  “Kersath?” “Hmm?” “How many tribes are there?” “Dozens really.  Maybe even in the hundreds. ...Read More

Kre knew he had said something wrong.  This was the kind of feeling he had quite often, usually when dealing with Syonette, Jem, or, more recently, with Kitalia.  It was that awkward stillness hanging over him like a dark cloud.  His cheeks felt the burn of shame that usually followed this kind of idiotic outburst...Read More