“No,” Kre repeated, more calmly this time, his own eyes darting worriedly at the walls around them.  “I keep hearing those words… ‘we’ll explain everything later’… but there never is a later.  Between you and Kit and Red and… well, and even with Ser Terync… everyone is keeping secrets and hoarding truths when we could...Read More

“Kitalia!” Kre said in a chastising tone, which only earned him a stern, come-at-me glare from his companion.  He changed his tact almost immediately.  “Sorry, I mean… meant… let’s just not resort to name calling here.  Bel has been exceptionally kind to us.” Kitalia cocked her head to one side and her look changed to...Read More

Kitalia snorted, “I am certain it had a deep meaning in whatever language the Ancients used.”  “Bel,” Kre asked tentatively, “you seem to know a lot of history… What were the Ancients called before they were the Ancients?  You mentioned something before about a red tide… what was that?” It might have been Kre’s active...Read More

Bel nodded, brought her hands up to her lips, and slowly exhaled into them.  The light around them grew brighter, though it didn’t seem to be coming from her hands anymore.  With the intensity of the light turned up threefold, the two youths could finally clearly see the inside of the room around them. The...Read More

“That’s beautiful,” Kre said with a heavy exhale of pent-up breath.  “It suits you.” She nodded her thanks and smiled shyly.  “I miss him greatly,” she said, by way of explanation for her show of emotion. “You are nobility then?” Kitalia asked cautiously.  “To be titled so, would suggest that you are.” Sapphire seemed to...Read More

“That’s a nasty cut,” she said calmly, as if she were casually examining a child’s scraped knee.  “Kre, I’ll need your help,” she said without turning to face the young man.  He immediately stepped forward and, without opening her eyes, she took his hand in hers and guided his hand up to Kitalia’s head.  She...Read More

The two of them spun around and hit the floor, hard.  In his haste, Kre had forgotten that, while carrying Kitalia, their combined width was just a bit more than a standard doorway allowed.  The first sound was Kitalia’s head hitting the side of the door jamb, while the second sound following shortly after was...Read More

The voice again.  Kre drew Kitalia just a bit closer to him, whether for her peace of mind or for his, he wasn’t sure, but if he was hearing voices, he knew that he wanted her close by.  Judging by where the last door latch was, his hand quickly found this one.  A tug at...Read More

Kre’s searching hand finally found the latch and, by feel, he slowly worked out how the mechanism worked.  “Okay,” he called back to Kitalia, “I’m going to open the door now.” He eased his thumb onto the latch release and pressed firmly, but it didn’t budge.  He pressed it again with the same result.  He...Read More

The trembling in her hand grew more intense.  “Kre,” she said with a hoarse whisper, “this is not an underground cave system.” He barely heard her.  He was too preoccupied with the odd wall in front of him.  “Hmm?  What was that?”  He moved his questing hand off to the side, following one of the...Read More