Aralim and his friends came upon the town of Nokire halfway along the Imperial Highway that connected Rainrest and Rema. The town was larger than Aralim had expected. Rainrest had not seemed much larger than this trade town. Aralim knew from his time on the Selected that Nokire was the last stop for caravans ranging out into the Expanse. Many such convoys considered this place their home and headquarters. Continue reading Aralim 154
As gentle as the rising sun, a breeze stirred the sheets that draped Arn. His eyes crept open and the ceiling came into focus—old, sagging, wooden beams. It was good to sleep beneath wood again, he thought. He rolled to one side, away from the incessant light. In his shadow, the round shoulder of Massema lay. She was a thing of beauty in her tranquility, Arn thought—a different sort of beauty than Thalla’s ferocity. Massema would not have survived on Razaad, but Arn did not care…not anymore. Continue reading Arn 77
“Atmos’ arse,” Narim mumbled crudely, as he slowly lowered Mavri’s chest onto the thick moss. He leaned back onto the overgrown rock. It seemed to bring him a great deal of relief, despite its hard surface. All three of the East Storm mercenaries were laden with Mavri’s equipment and supplies. Narim lifted his eyes to stare at his blacksmith charge, squinting lest sweat sting him. “You got half the Storm Fort in there?” Continue reading East Storm Company 16
When her responsibilities next permitted her to take a day to herself, Niamh once more set out across the city toward Myla’s chapel. Sometimes she spent all day helping her motherly friend in the garden—but today she took a detour. That strange note had been weighing on her. Continue reading Niamh 2
Magistrate Kivrad received the Ambassador and his entourage at an estate that overlooked Lake Chillag. The vibrant sails of fishing boats were visible far below, but the property of Aralim’s host was far less idyllic. The original manse had been heavily renovated—including the addition of a new wing—and the timber and other materials dotted the remaining space within the wooden palisade walls. Sweaty servants and guards ran about the place like ants. Twice, Aralim witnessed a guard strike a “servant”, and he was reminded of the breach of Tag’na’s laws that he had witnessed in the form of Hayan’s former slavery. Continue reading Aralim 153
The Archpriest’s voice echoed through the long sanctuary, full of strength and certainty. Head bowed to regard the dark, red and orange pillow beneath her knees, Niamh committed each word to her prayer. “Hallowed be his heavens, holy be his people,” intoned their young, dark-haired leader, and Niamh repeated the benediction aloud. Her voice was joined by two hundred others—a chorus praising their celestial guide, their Atmos. The familiarity of this practice stirred Niamh as much as her sense of their heavenly deity. Continue reading Niamh 1
Once more, Therelin and Kren traversed the familiar road betwixt Soros and Noress-That-Was. Although they had resolved to indeed visit Master Nolicrin next, their friendship with Lord Dakhu Lefayo warranted a report of their continued efforts. Along the way, Therelin slipped into yet another vision, this time of a gently-forested hill—with not another detail of note to set it apart from a dream. It was only the recurring symbology of the hill that placed it as a vision at all. Continue reading Therelin 42
The Boundless Star, with her charge, finally returned to Eastpoint at the end of the 9th Moon. For a few weeks, her crew was given shore leave—and for their trouble over the last few months, they were all given a small bonus. Tali took hers home to Warim, to give to her mother dearest. She told her ma, Mayela of Warim, all about her voyage to the grand city of the Joyous King, about her trek through the Raderan swamps, and about her hard work repairing the ship. Continue reading East Storm Company 15
As the weeks went by, Gamden was around less and less. He never commented on what the guards wanted with him or where they took him. Their conversation had been more occasional since their falling out in the employment of Master Quenden, of course, but now it was even more scarce. Often, the words they exchanged were nothing more than pleasantries. Arn found himself growing eager and anxious when a few days passed without a visit from Massema. His dark metal cage was so lonely that his muscles clenched until they hurt. Continue reading Arn 76
The magistrate of Soros—formally known as a Mazaar on the Isle of Var Nordos—received Therelin and Kren in her upstairs office at the Gallendris Estate on Coin Hill. Jannia Gallendris was a stern woman fresh into her middle years. She had sharply-cut, dark hair, matching the stately style of her rich red blouse and subtle, yet distinguished, jewelry. She looked up from her paperwork when the two magicians were shown in, finished making one mark, and then pushed the document away from her to give them her full attention. Continue reading Therelin 41