Of Mites and Macros - Chapter 2
That damned container _still_ smelled faintly of the otter's musk. Vane coughed a couple times, paws pressed against the sides of the clear plastic to keep himself steady amid the giant's jostling steps. Low in the sky, the sun gave shadowed...
A Song Sung Twice
His voice full of hope, eyes sparkling bright A song filled the air, of lovers held tight. Those words found no ear, sung to the sky Heard not even by birds who flew by. Yet onward he sang, with all of his might. One day will come who brings me my...
A Faithful Slave
I am alone. It's dark, though I'm unable to see this for myself with the blindfold over my eyes. I only know it's dark because I know where I am. Master has left me kneeling in the closet while He has friends over, and I am not to let them see me. I...
Krater's Gym
Rain poured outside, the clouds doing their best to claim that it was night. In truth they weren't far off. It was after hours, and the gym was closed - mostly. Some patrons paid extra to stay late, and Krater certainly didn't mind. In fact, he would...
Of Mites and Macros - Chapter 3
The box was somewhat clean at least. There were no dishes to be left in the sink that wasn't there, no clothes strewn about waiting to be heaped into the washer they didn't have. Of course, the walls of dirt were another matter, and that communal sand...
Of Mites and Macros - Chapter 1
"We received our last communication three days ago," Mayor Forten said. "Our defenses have been breached." His voice came through nearly every radio, television, and phone around. It was almost as though the city itself drew in a breath, holding....
With Me Always
Sometimes, the thing I'm most grateful for about my career is the schedule. A writer generally still needs a schedule, but I get to choose what it is. For me, the night is my home. Something about the dark, sheathing me, protecting me. And nobody can...
The Road Beyond Rome - Part 4
Krater rolled out of the way of a black streak through the air, his own death contained in the rune passing over his shoulder. He didn't expect it to turn after missing him, and it slammed into one of the bands of his mage armor. Band and spell...
The Road Beyond Rome - Part 3
Rolling, grassy hills stretched out before Krater as he wound his way down a river. A trader's tip twenty leagues or so back told him there should be a settlement of some sort down here. As he crested a small rise, a few huts were revealed in the...
The Road Beyond Rome - Part 2
_"I can handle myself," Krater said. Nefertari just scowled at him with her glowing, red crocodile eyes. "You know I can. Who commands magic better than I?" At once red bands of runes surrounded him, binding his arms, legs, and tail._ _"You know much,...
The Road Beyond Rome - Part 1
_Don't you let my boys get hurt_. Krater let out a soft breath, straightening the shroud. Try as he might, the bearoo couldn't manage to ignore the light glow beneath that thin cloth. A single green rune, its light mocking the mage's sadness as the...
Defending the Legion
 Gaul was a pretty place, Krater decided, where it wasn't profaned by warcamps. At least the mages tended...