“He makes a good point,” the strongman called out with a sage nod. “Usually in any gambling situation, it’s the player with the most money on the line that gets to roll the dice.” “Well, I have two silvers here,” yelled out another of his friends, from his spot across the stage. “That’s twice your...Read More

As the evening went on, Kre watched the room’s occupants take their leave and depart for their own homes. For a brief moment, Kre wondered if he’d be allowed to go to his own home or if he’d have to return to being locked in the storage room of the town hall. “Kre dear,” prompted...Read More

Kre knew that shortly after he was arrested, Pete had been sent to the nearest Courier Station to dispatch a message to the outpost at the Jayde Line. He also knew that such a message would take weeks to make it there and it’d be another month before they could make it back to Mintas,...Read More

‘Perhaps Gantry wasn’t too far off…’ Kre thought to himself glumly. ‘Maybe I really should just make a run for the woods. I’m sure I could make a living in another town or even head up to the Jayde Line, talk to Mom and Dad, and get lost amongst all of the soldiers there.’ The...Read More

Kre closed his eyes and pursed his lips. He finally understood what she was getting at. She was afraid that he had given up on life. “Sy,” he said, opening his eyes and looking deeply into her own, “I can promise you, no, I swear to you that I haven’t given up. This, what’s happening...Read More

Kre and Syonette continued their walk to the Lodge in silence, with her still clinging to his arm as if trying to keep him anchored from being blown away by a fierce wind. The walk wasn’t a long one, only about two hundred paces or so, but they took their time, enjoying each other’s company....Read More

“I’ve never been in a hurricane before,” Kre protested blandly. “Some of us haven’t gotten to travel all over the realm.” Sy shook her head sadly, “You’re about to have your chance, all too soon. And this isn’t going to be a fun trip at all. Braun will make sure of that. “Also,” she added,...Read More

The trial, or whatever it ended up being, broke up fairly soon after that point. Most of the townsfolk spent the last two days sitting in the hall, sweating and fidgeting on the hard benches and wooden chairs. They shuffled off most of the chores to the teenage generation, all twenty-two of them, who weren’t...Read More

Art nodded his agreement with the plan as stated. “I’m afraid I’m at a loss when it comes to these covenants though. Mintas has not needed to enact any since I’ve been alive.” With a smile and a dismissive wave of his hand, Lowil tried to reassure his friend. “They really are just formalities. They’re...Read More

“Kre will travel freely,” Lowil snapped back, clearly frustrated at the desperate attempts by Braun to see the poor boy suffer. “He is, after all, only a suspect until the Citadel deems otherwise, as well as being the only witness. Witnesses don’t travel in chains nor would the Rangers bother to deal with anyone that...Read More