Shadows of Hyperion: Chapter 3

Time to move on -- and meet a new Hyperion! -----   Chapter 3. "That is … unwelcome news," Simon said, studying Wu Kung with a sour, sinking feeling in his gut. "You are certain?"   The Hyperion Monkey King grimaced. "Why do people always ask that? Would I say it that way if I were not? Yes, I am certain, as certain as you could tell me that I am wearing my robes! I can see your soul, and you have damaged it badly, about as badly as Ariane's." He raised both eyebrows. "Why are you upset, though? I thought you did not [ Continue reading... ]

Shadows of Hyperion: Chapter 2

We continue, this time with a new point of view... -----   Chapter 2. Malvchait, Master of Forces, was in a black mood.   It was not merely the inexplicable, embarrassing defeat that the Molothos had suffered, although that was undeniably a part of it. Still, he had only followed the orders of his superior – Faction Leader Dajzail of the Molothos. The worst of the humiliation had landed squarely on his carapace, not Malvchait's.   At the same time, it was certainly the human undercreatures who were to [ Continue reading... ]

Shadows of Hyperion: Chapter 1

And we begin the fourth novel in the Arenaverse! ------ SHADOWS of HYPERION Fourth in the Arenaverse Series     Chapter 1. "Ariane! Ariane, wake up!"   The voice was vaguely familiar, echoing out of the red-tinged blackness of pain.   "Ariane, can you hear me? Dammit, where's Gabrielle?"   "You don't look too well either, Marc. Sit down!"   That… that was Oasis. Marc?   She made an effort to open her eyes and say something; a vague moan was the [ Continue reading... ]

GODSWAR: The Spear of Athena, Chapters 23 and 24

So our heroes finally get back home... and arrive to a warm welcome! -----   Chapter 23. Ingram gripped his anai-k'ota tighter. "You ready, Urelle?" "Almost." She held up her hands, gazing through a triangle made between them. "Ah! There's the Seal!" "Good," Silvertail said – in his rat form, sitting on the radiantly beautiful Princess Holy Aura's right shoulder. Cold rain did nothing to dim either Ingram's spirits or the glory of the four Apocalypse Maidens. He felt somewhat guilty for staring, but he'd seen Urelle having a [ Continue reading... ]

GODSWAR: The Spear of Athena, Chapters 21 and 22

Couldn't post on Friday and the weekend was busy, so here, two for one! Raiagamor's getting ready for the new arrivals he expects, and our friends are busy learning from THEIR new friends! -----   Chapter 21. He divested himself of the constricting ceremonial armor with a sigh of pleasure. Of all the minor annoyances of pretending to be the General, Ares Incarnate, it was perhaps that armor that was the worst. Not only was it an impediment to the flowing free movement he preferred, it also incorporated, rather unavoidably, a [ Continue reading... ]

GODSWAR: The Spear of Athena, Chapter 20

So, they'd met some new people in an alley... -----     Chapter 20. Victoria spread her hands to indicate that she was no threat; the others copied her. "We are hardly enemies, sir," she said, "Or at least I would hope not, as we have not the least idea of where we are, and have little enough energy left for argument, let alone fighting. My niece," she gestured to Urelle, "is exhausted and in need of rest. Now might I ask who you are, and why we would be in danger?" The man – who appeared to be, now that Victoria got a better [ Continue reading... ]

GODSWAR: The Spear of Athena, Chapter 19

Our heroes had just left Mick's world... -----   Chapter 19. "By the Mothers, I am absolutely weary of this endless journey to world after world," Quester buzzed, trying to scrunch himself farther under the little overhang of rock that currently protected them from the downpour of chill rain. Lightning flashed in the distance, and a grumble of thunder followed a few seconds later. "We all are, Quester," Victoria snapped. Then she sighed. "My apologies. But yes, I am sure we all are. Yet we have no choice. As I understand it, even [ Continue reading... ]

GODSWAR: The Spear of Athena, Chapter 18

Well, they at least had a guide in this place... ----   Chapter 18. "All right, listen up," said Mick. He was now dressed in a leather jerkin, his wand in a holster on one side, a basket-hilted rapier on the other. "If we’re lucky, your Seal, or whatever, is just a little ways inside Elphame, right near the path, and so you can just be on your merry way. Sometimes my luck’s like that. But sometimes it really, really ain’t, and you poppin’ up in my bathroom makes me figure your luck, at least in this world, runs a lot like mine. So [ Continue reading... ]

GODSWAR: The Spear of Athena, Chapter 17

They're off on a tour of worlds to find a way back to theirs... ------   Chapter 17. "DUCK!" Ingram obeyed Quester instinctively, and the glittering red-razor shards passed through the area his neck had just occupied, severing several strands of his lavender hair. He tumbled forward and dodged sideways, as Quester cast his last javelin. The adorable blonde girl – seemingly younger than Urelle – with the frightening red eyes and glittering crystal-skeleton wings dodged the hard-thrown spear as though it had been a pillow and [ Continue reading... ]

GODSWAR: The Spear of Athena, Chapters 15 and 16

Couldn't post the usual on Friday, so today you get two! They finally reach the Seal... and discover what lies on the other side of something that walls off a country even from gods! -------   Chapter 15. Urelle watched as Druyar methodically unlocked the seven different locks sealing shut the immense door that was at the end of the lowest corridor in the Freehold, five levels below the ground, through other locked and guarded doors. The big man very carefully examined each lock, laboriously comparing the symbols on lock with [ Continue reading... ]