Kyri had made a very puzzling statement...   -----     Chapter 26. Poplock stared at her, as did Tobimar; Poplock hopped to her shoulder to talk to her more directly. "Um, that's what we've been trying to do for the last couple of weeks, Kyri. With all the magic I've got, all of Sasha's, and even Kelsley's." He could feel her pulse, sense it hammering far faster than it should be. "Magic – at least the magic we have – can't do it," she said quietly, still striding towards the south. "The Arbiter can't. Even the [ Continue reading... ]

Now they finally have someone they can ask questions...   -----   Chapter 23.      Poplock looked at Kyri, who was clearly weakened and shaking with reaction from the attack and shock, and Tobimar standing near her. Right, I can take this myself. "Okay, you've got a chance to talk. Better make the talk good. So you're a demon under Viedraverion's command?" Tashriel's face twisted in half-amusement, half-misery. "I was… on loan to Viedraverion. He made my real master, Balinshar, give me to him for a special project – [ Continue reading... ]

So there were some questions to be answered...   -----     Chapter 19.      "You wish to see… what, precisely?" Arbiter Kelsley asked. "Well, that's part of the problem," Poplock said. "We're not sure." Kelsley jumped. "By the Balance… were you always able to talk?" "Yep," he answered. It was still amusing to see people suddenly have to revise their entire evaluation of him in an instant. "Then why… ah. Because you were a far more dangerous weapon when not suspected. Obvious, really. But why reveal [ Continue reading... ]

At long last, Kyri and Tobimar have come back to Evanwyl...     -----     Chapter 13.      "Gharis again," murmured Tobimar. "Appropriate. It was the easiest of the outlying towns for us to get to from Rivendream," Poplock said. He was feeling perhaps unreasonably cheerful and optimistic; getting out of the vile, sanity-eroding nastiness of Rivendream had that effect. Maybe Evanwyl wasn't the sparkling perfection of Kaizatenzei, but compared to Rivendream Pass, well, close enough. "How do you want to do [ Continue reading... ]

The party had set out, and that means a long journey in the wilds...     -----     Chapter 9. Poplock caught a tenzili on the wing and crunched down. The glowy-stuff the little insects used gave them a particular tang that he liked. "That's… kind of eerie, Poplock," commented Tobimar. "What is? "When you eat those things you end up with a glowing mouth for an hour or so. So I just see this little floating smile and sudden flash of you gulping something else down." "I didn't realize that! Sounds [ Continue reading... ]

It's time for Our Heroes to set back out on their quest...   -----     Chapter 7.      "You know, I really hate to say goodbye," Poplock said, as he shook Hiriista's extended claw between his forepaws. "As do I, more than I can express. We make excellent teammates, all of us, do we not?" "Beyond any doubt," Kalshae said with a laugh. "I learned this to my sorrow… and my joy. A strange yet satisfying end to many things, despite our losses." "And one that's resolved so many of our questions," Tobimar said. [ Continue reading... ]

There had been losses in the battle, and now after...     Chapter 3.      Poplock gave his own little salute from atop Danrall's shoulder as Tanvol's body, clad in a pure white robe with the pattern of the Seven and One embroidered on it in gems and gold thread, was borne towards the shores of Enneisolaten by seven people: Lady Shae, Miri, Anora, Herminta Gantil and another Color whose name Poplock didn't quite remember, Hiriista… and Tobimar. Tobimar had insisted he be the Seventh, and none had argued with him. The Unity [ Continue reading... ]