“Your Majesty?” Someone shook Bartholomew’s arm gently, their touch so light he thought he dreamed it. He grumbled, trying to burrow deeper under the covers. He knew that it was still night, the darkness wrapped around him tighter than any blanket. There was no crisis, no issue that required his…
Okay, so I took a little time off from writing “The Heir.” Part of that was just to catch my breath. Part of it was…well, real life intrusions. But it’s also because it’s time for the Tilt! For those of you unfamiliar with the Fiasco RPG rules, at the halfway…
Edrys leaned against the stone railing of her balcony and looked out over the Woods. They stretched as far as she could see in the dim moonlight. She leaned over the edge just a bit to look down into the courtyard below. A cheer rose up to her. Gods below,…
The memory of Azebel’s body pressed up against his should have buoyed Smythe’s spirits for the rest of the day, but the moment he stepped out of her chambers, his sour mood returned. What was that fool Bartholomew thinking? It was so painfully obvious that the girl was a fraud!…
Azebel stroked the necklace, admiring the way the candlelight danced and shimmered across its surface. Even more impressive was the way the spells within the necklace were woven together. She was familiar with the ward-spells and charms used by the denizens of Darkshire Woods and the surrounding kingdoms, and this…
Someone cleared his throat behind Bartholomew. He didn’t care. And he didn’t care that his knees were starting to ache. All that mattered was the girl. He held her tightly in his arms, pulling her close. “I thought I was alone,” he whispered. “I thought my family was gone forever.…
Edrys smoothed the front of her gown. The fabric simply wasn’t cooperating as it continued to bunch up around her waist. She fought off the frown that tugged at her brows. Maybe she shouldn’t have waited until she arrived in Darkshire Woods to purchase an appropriate gown. The tailors in…
Vance forced himself to keep walking at an even pace, head held high and arms at his side. The corridors outside of the king’s receiving room were filled with servants, commoners all, and it would not do for them to see him discomfited, no matter who much his thoughts were…
The chaos in the throne room gave Azebel the perfect chance to slip away. She didn’t need her magick to know what was coming next. Best to prepare herself for the inevitable confrontation. She slipped off the dais and headed for the nearest exit. Two guards in their best livery…
The day should have been happy, and Bartholomew would have celebrated if he could. But as he sat on his throne, he could feel the weight of the ghosts staring down at him, a burden even heavier than the crown on his head. Best to just get it over with.…