Kre mutely followed Kitalia’s next instructions, which were to pull the coffin off of the cart and set it in the clearing atop a small pyre.  He had gathered a second armful of smaller branches and twigs when the realization of what he was doing hit him. “I can’t burn his body,” he said aloud...Read More

Nodding, Kre moved in a bit of a haze.  His mind was still trying to sort out everything that she had said, along with the idea that he was about to become a fugitive.  He grabbed his pack and upended it next to the lightly breathing bodies and waited for additional direction from Kitalia. She...Read More

“All right now,” Kre said, wiping his mouth with his sleeve, “I’ve eaten the stew, drunk the tea, and now I don’t suppose you could go ahead and please tell me what’s going on here?” Kitalia shook her head, “I do not suppose I shall ever get used to the lazy way that your people...Read More

The look the young Ylveryan girl shot at Kre was one of puzzlement mixed with pity, and it was a look she had apparently mastered over her years.  Kre’s anger suddenly abated and he immediately felt small and ashamed for his action in front of her. “Sorry,” he mumbled, “I just… I don’t know what’s...Read More

Even as Kre thought to be thankful that the young girl was still bound by the rope, she shuffled them off like they were no more bothersome than a curtain hanging in one’s path.  The thick hempen rope fell to the floor with a thud and the girl stretched luxuriously in one smooth, rippling motion....Read More

They set the poor man up near the front door, with a bucket of fresh water nearby.  Every now and again, Kre would wipe some of the cool water over Braun’s face with one of the spare dish cloths. “He’s burning up,” he noted to the others.  The Rangers paid no mind, they simply kept...Read More

The two made their way outside where the sky had grown darker with the sun barely lingering above the horizon.  The area was full of sounds, such as of birds moving about in the trees and the soft rustling of leaves in the cool night breeze.  Underneath the sounds of nature at work was an...Read More

“Kre,” Lowil said with a tsk, “you’re letting the stew burn.  You need to stir evenly, scraping the sides and bottom as you go.” Swearing softly to himself, Kre readjusted his grip on the wooden spoon and started to attack the pot more furiously.  After a couple of wayward splashes, the girl stood, shook her...Read More

The door to the cabin opened and the young female prisoner nearly fell over her own feet as she stumbled in.  Only a quick jerk of the rope kept her from slamming into the nearby table.  “I thought you elfy folk were light on your feet.”  Petriv laughed and pulled her over near the stove. ...Read More

With his boot still planted on the young girl’s back, Marce pushed down hard, roughly forcing her into the dirt.  “See, first is the skin.  You might not notice up here in this region where the sun burns bright all the time, but their skin is just a bit darker than ours… more yellowy, really.”...Read More