“…Mintas all of your life?” He slowly opened his heavy eyelids and tried to focus in on the sound.  Coming out of his near-sleep state, it had been muffled by a sound very much like the buzzing of a fly near one’s ear.  “Pardon?” he asked, groggily. “Have you lived in the town of Mintas...Read More

“Here,” Kitalia said, handing Kre a small wooden cup full of something steaming. “What is it?” She ignored him and went back to her pack.  Holding the cup in his hands, he took a tentative sniff.  It smelled like vegetable soup.  He took a small sip and, despite burning his tongue in the process, he...Read More

“Neither can I,” he muttered as he gratefully slid from the saddle.  He stumbled a bit, trying to get the feeling back in his legs.  Kre had never really been as into riding as one would expect, especially given his father’s occupation and skill in working with horses.  He much preferred walking or riding in...Read More

Confused, Kre blinked slowly a few times.  “Weren’t you?” She laughed, and it was a clear sparkling kind of laugh.  The kind of laugh that frees the soul in a dance of joy and merriment.  “Oh, heh… oh, I cannot breathe… ha!”  The laugh was infectious and Kre found himself laughing along without fully realizing...Read More

Those first few years for the migrants, immediately after they arrived on the shores of this land, provide some semblance of an explanation as to the deep-seated discrimination and racism ingrained in the Tehynshin culture since they first established their civilization.  By no means did it excuse it, but it does offer insight into how...Read More

The first war lasted only a few weeks.  The Tehynshins, for all their bravado and arrogance, were a people with no support system, no wide assortment of weapons to wage war with, and no base from which to mount a defensive stand.  Additionally, it seemed that the Tehynshins were fighting as much amongst themselves as...Read More

“Your feelings are… justified,” she replied.  Kre hadn’t been expecting that as the response.  He was more stunned than he had been when she initially berated him.  That feeling didn’t last long as in the very next instant he felt an immense amount of pain as she punched him, hard, in the upper arm.  “Your...Read More

Realizing that she was being difficult on purpose and not having the energy to do more than stay upright in his saddle, Kre gave up.  It appeared that they would have a good amount of time together on the road and there was little sense in aggravating her so soon on their trip with endless...Read More

They were away shortly after the coffin started to burn.  Just prior to their departure, Kitalia excused herself to run back inside and Kre took that opportunity to grab the burlap sack of Terync’s few belongings and tie it onto the horse opposite his own bag.  He would gladly suffer Kitalia’s withering gaze if it...Read More

As he stood there, a log from the kitchen’s fire burning in his hand, he was struck with two thoughts.  “Can’t we bring his body with us?” Kitalia shook her head and her hair danced around her face.  “Bringing his body would only slow us down.  Plus, anyone we meet will easily remember two people...Read More