Well, we should look in on what our villains are up to... ----- Chapter 26. Ugu found Queen Amanita in the Third Garden, one of the few spots of green in the Gray Capital. She was apparently experimenting with transformations, morphing a butterfly into a sort of winged centipede with a dozen sets of brilliant wings, then into a bird with butterfly wings, and other variations on flying pretty creatures. She has an excellent eye and appreciation for beauty, but her art is as cold as her smile, [ Continue reading... ]
Polychrome: Chapter 25
December 5, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Well, let's see what Erik's up to now... ------ Chapter 25. "Chancellor, we have stormclouds ahead." Inkarbleu glanced up from the small dining table we were sharing. "That is… unusual, is it not?" "Very, sir. Weather indications for this time of year are usually clear – for weeks or months at a time." The Captain looked grim. I rose and ran up the steps to the forward deck. Black stormclouds loomed up in a narrow front, focused on the Pearl of Gilgad, our ship, and her escorts. I narrowed my eyes, [ Continue reading... ]
Polychrome: Chapter 24
November 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment
We should see how our Heroine is doing... ------ Chapter 24. "He is clever! And lucky! Oh, Father, this might work, it might really work after all!" Polychrome was dancing around the viewing pool, the perfectly circular bowl of mist and rainbow through which Iris and those in the throne room could, when he willed it, see that which passed in the area of the Jewel of the Bridge. Iris watched her closely, a faint smile on his lips but a chill in his heart. He glanced over at Nimbus, [ Continue reading... ]
Polychrome: Chapter 23
November 21, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Back to Our Hero, who is out there looking for allies... ------- Chapter 23. The gates of the city of Gilgad stood wide before us, a full fifty feet high in a wall of white and black marble. The wide street continued on, with houses and larger buildings visible, street vendors, and hundreds of people bustling about the city's business. "You should be safe here, Amrin. At least as long as anyone is, and I hope that will turn out to be a long, long time." I shook his hand. "Many, many thanks, [ Continue reading... ]
Polychrome: Chapter 22
November 14, 2014 By Leave a Comment
And now we see what Ugu's reaction is to his forces' first brush with the True Mortal... ------ Chapter 22. "And so I will be sending several Hands of Temblors, perhaps even of Infernos, to teach a lesson to –" "SILENCE!" roared the King. Mombi stared at Ugu in confusion. "Y… Your Majesty?" He pointed his finger down at her and muttered two ancient words. The old witch, dressed in finery terribly unbecoming to her, suddenly hopped as though standing on red-hot coals. "Ow! [ Continue reading... ]
Polychrome: Chapter 21
November 7, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Well, Our Hero had finally embarked on his real Adventure... ------ Chapter 21. I walked straight to the East, not looking back. Not daring to look back for a while. It had been almost impossible not to just blurt it all out, looking at her then, when I knew I might die before reaching Oz, that this might be the last time I saw her. But she didn't need that burden, even if it was something she wanted to hear, which I really didn't think she did. I was pretty sure she did like me as a friend, [ Continue reading... ]
Polychrome: Chapter 20
October 31, 2014 By Leave a Comment
As the Heroes have started their move, so must the Villains... ------ Chapter 20. Ugu the Unbowed stood on the balcony overlooking the petrified Emerald City; halfway to the horizon the pure dead gray ended, in a line as sharply drawn as if by a knife, and the green of the surrounding lands began. "And so it begins." "Sire?" Cirrus Dawnglory – or, at least, the being who now wore his name and face – said, clearly unsure of what his King meant. "Ah, you are here. Excellent. Walk with me, [ Continue reading... ]
Polychrome Chapter 19
October 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment
And at last our Hero is ready to really start on his adventure! ----- Chapter 19. Polychrome danced lightly through the corridors of the Palace, out the gateway, and laughed. For there were gathered all the people of the Rainbow Kingdom, from the smallest child to the eldest of the wise old women, all gathered to see the Hero off. Far, far away, down the Way of Light that ran from the dawn to the sunset, she could see the tiny figures of Erik and Nimbus, and the much larger shape of [ Continue reading... ]
Polychrome: Chapter 18
October 17, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Iris had said he had some sort of final task for Erik... ----- Chapter 18. I felt the chill of the morning deep in my bones as I awoke. I never liked camping as a kid, and I don't like it any better now. Who was it who said that adventures were unpleasant things happening to people a long way away? I dragged myself out of the little tent and onto the remainder of the little shelf of rock I was on. I wasn't sure of the point of this little exercise, but you generally didn't argue with Iris [ Continue reading... ]
Polychrome: Chapter 17
October 10, 2014 By Leave a Comment
A King must consider his actions... ----- Chapter 17. Iris Mirabilis looked down from the balcony at the very top of his castle, moonlight streaming down and turning the blue-gray skystone to silver. Far below, he watched a small blonde-haired figure in a private courtyard, practicing cuts and jumps and rolls, sometimes stopping to indulge in strange sequences of movements that did not immediately make sense to him. Iris raised his gaze slightly, noticed another figure, slight and swathed in shifting rainbow hues, [ Continue reading... ]
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