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Enemies of Peace: Chapter Eight

Elmara, Kingdom of Taruschkan ⸻ 5th Awaiting, 678th Year of the Common Reckoning Jakob greeted the dawn of the next Venera’s Day standing before what seemed to be half the Company of the Star, stripped to the waist and shivering slightly in the early morning chill. Arrayed ahead of him were two lines of men, forming a narrow alley of switches and clubs. Some of them brandished their weapons…

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Enemies of Peace: Chapter Seven

Kaschar, Kingdom of Taruschkan ⸻ 3rd Awaiting, 678th Year of the Common Reckoning Saint Luris’ Cathedral had just finished ringing out ten bells as Rosele and Ayren dressed again in the flickering candlelight of the artist’s bedchamber. The night watchman who would escort them to Pedra’s home was sure to arrive any moment, as did any visitor or obligation when one was otherwise indisposed. In…

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Enemies of Peace: Chapter Six

Kaschar, Kingdom of Taruschkan ⸻ 3rd Awaiting, 678th Year of the Common Reckoning There had never been a time in Pedra’s life when he had considered service to the Hontese crown over that of the House of Anaschen. It was not out of an over-abundance of love of country, which he had to admit was lacking of late. Rather, the opportunity had simply never presented itself. But having seen the Old…

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Enemies of Peace: Chapter Five

Kaschar, Kingdom of Taruschkan ⸻ 3rd Awaiting, 678th Year of the Common Reckoning It was still far too early for this. Aline wanted nothing to do with Oryn until at least midday, after she had had a chance to wake up properly and sharpen her knife. Yet something must have whispered to him that he was the last person she wanted to see at the moment, for there he stood outside her door, as if he…

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Enemies of Peace: Chapter Four

Regin’s Field, Kingdom of Taruschkan ⸻ 3rd Awaiting, 678th Year of the Common Reckoning Morning light streamed too brightly into the tent where Jakob lay sprawled across Gerta’s ample bosom, which rose and fell with the gentleness of lazy slumber. He wanted to claim that as his own doing but his companion had done more than enough for the both of them last night; in the end, he was content to…

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The Queen's Symphony: Chapter Six

The Queen’s Symphony: Chapter Six

The invitation arrived far too early that morning, in a thick cream-colored envelope filigreed with delicate gold-and-silver leaf and sealed in vermillion wax. In the center of the seal stood a coat of arms in shallow relief, quartered with stacks of coins in the first and third, then crossed halberds in the second and fourth. Lydus pulled a few coppers from his purse for the footman and closed…

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Dorim's Sorrow: Sample chapter 3

Dorim’s Sorrow: Sample chapter 3

Outskirts of Kaschar, Kingdom of Taruschkan ⸻ 3rd Awaiting, 678th Year of the Common Reckoning This was not how Magda had envisioned herself being invited to dine in the commander’s tent. In her mind, she envisioned an escort of knights, perhaps even a letter sealed with the Count of Valatin’s heron sigil. Even knowing that these were too fanciful to be true, they were pleasant enough. Finding…

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Dorim's Sorrow: Sample chapter 2

Dorim’s Sorrow: Sample chapter 2

Olmoren, Kingdom of Taruschkan ⸻ 2nd Harvest, 678th Year of the Common Reckoning An angry sun was setting at Arrel’s back. He scanned the shadows which fell heavier now on the western horizon, smothering the road ahead in a growing darkness. Beyond that, perhaps three or four days’ march if the autumn rains were kind, lay Kaschar. Edras and the other squires had pitched the commanders’ tents…

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Dorim's Sorrow: Chapter One

Dorim’s Sorrow: Chapter One

Kaschar, Kingdom of Taruschkan ⸻ 3rd Awaiting, 678th Year of the Common Reckoning “You are certain,” Pedra said, more a pronouncement than a question as he felt a sinking in his gut. “No doubt about it,” the man in the close-cropped hair and hood replied. He pointed at the letter Pedra clutched in his hand like some dead thing. “Master Harvil saw Lord Dorias gathering his banners with his own…

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Review: The Northman is good

Review: The Northman is good

Hwæt! Remember a time when men were men, women were women, and all quests for vengeance were inherently righteous? No? Well neither do I and neither does The Northman and that’s why it’s good. (more…)

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Chapter Twenty-Four: The Proselytes, or Piety

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Proselytes, or Piety

Only one people to my knowledge has ever been perfect and these I once named after their god. But surely, the people of God are not only the perfect ones, but also those who can only ever strive in mortality after perfection, else their Creator must be condemned to while away Its eternities in abject loneliness. – Words of the Emperor in Qepperdan, Matthieu Sartonné, as narrated to his page,…

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Interlude

On the second night, Jarun warmed his hands with a cup of the strongest tea the palace kitchens could devise. He stood opposite a polished brass mirror in his quarters, examining the smoothed wrinkles in his uniform tunic, and caught a glimpse of his eyes ringed in dark circles. A low groan escaped him. The emperor may look tired, he thought, but he is the emperor. Servants, especially imperial…

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Chapter Twenty-Three: The Revelers, or Bliss

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Revelers, or Bliss

Often I have wondered which was the most important decision of my life. Where was the fulcrum upon which my fortunes turned? Was it choosing to go to my love in Yusanai? Choosing to march west with Lord Leopold? Or perhaps even farther still. What if I had not fled from my father in anger that night in Heilicon? If I had stayed in Leganne all those Harvests ago instead of returning home in my…

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The Emissary: Chapter Five

The Emissary: Chapter Five

The wooden theater erected before in the square before Saint Felip’s Cathedral was of crude make, but befitting its rustic setting. Carin wondered how long it would be until this place saw such a monument as Arman’s dreams of the fine stone theaters of Vau and Ponterae, much less the grandest such edifices of Taruschkan. He was not so full of that particular Arcinan pride to begrudge Volaska and…

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New book cover layout just dropped

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Chapter Twenty-Two: The Servant, or Doubt

The Work of Souls Chapter Twenty-Two: The Servant, or Doubt

Memory is the sweetest and subtlest poison of all. – Words of the Emperor in Qepperdan, Matthieu Sartonné, as narrated to his page, Jarun Hichame The scant light which slipped through the curtains was pale and cold, as if the sun was but some distant, fragile thing. Dawn must have been near but not so much that Matthieu did not dread the wait for it. He stretched his limbs in the silence before…

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The Emissary: Chapter Four

The Emissary: Chapter Four

Nothing too grand, Arman thought ruefully as he worked his way back from whence he’d come earlier and would come once again after he completed this errand. Just a grandstand. The word Governor Rothae had used to describe Lord Carin was peculiar; so far, it seemed to fit. Some first duty this was to be, and for the entertainment of the viceroy himself along with half the court, as it happened. He…