Let's see how this party finishes out... ------ Chapter 19. Finally starting to wind down, Poplock thought to himself. He'd managed to wander around most of the huge house of the Reflect while the others were in conversation; as he'd expected, in most cases people didn't even notice him if he was at all cautious, and at most they picked him up and moved him somewhere they felt he belonged. There wasn't a single thing he'd found that was indicative of anything wrong here; it was, he admitted, perhaps a bit [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 18
February 4, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Someone had arrived in an unexpected manner... ------ Chapter 18. Tobimar didn't have to look at Poplock to know the little Toad's eyes were even wider than normal. It has to be that thing about it being easier to focus magic into solid objects; they can use much smaller crystals for summoning living beings. The red-haired woman immediately bowed deeply to Kyri and Tobimar, again in the same way as Miri. Tobimar imitated her and saw Kyri do the same. "Welcome to Kaizatenzei, Phoenix, Tobimar," [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 17
February 2, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Let's join the party and see what's up! ------ Chapter 17. One major advantage of being thought a dumb animal was that you could look at pretty much everything whenever, and however, you wanted, and no one would even notice, let alone wonder why you were looking; at most they'd pick you up and throw you out, or return you to your apparent owner. Poplock smiled to himself. He'd spent almost four years in Zarathanton honing that skill, disappearing underfoot or being ignored sitting on a low table or [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 16
January 30, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Our friends had been invited to a party! ------ Chapter 16. "Come in," Tobimar's voice said cheerfully in response to her knock. Entering, she saw her friend's hair completely unbound, a flowing waterfall of smooth ebony startling in its length and black-shining perfection. "Balance, I know a lot of women – and a few men – who'd kill for hair like yours." "Why, thank you!" Tobimar bowed, the hair following in a smooth flow that he cast back from his face with a practiced gesture as he rose again. [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 15
January 28, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Well, our heroes finally had a chance to discuss what they'd found... ------ Chapter 15. "I have absolutely no idea what is going on now," Tobimar said bluntly. He rubbed his temples, in the vain hope that the pressure might force the ridiculous situation to align into something he could understand. Poplock, who had finished checking the rooms to make sure there were neither magical nor mundane spies, bounced his agreement. "This makes no sense." Kyri sank into a chair as her Raiment flowed [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 14
January 26, 2015 By Leave a Comment
So our friends had found something rather puzzling... ------ Chapter 14. Kyri forced herself to step forward, belatedly following Miri as the much smaller woman strode quickly in the direction of the beautiful city below them. She exchanged a disbelieving glance with Tobimar, and could see even Poplock's eyes wider than usual. This… makes no sense at all. Yet I can sense nothing dark. My powers may be reduced here, but they are not gone, and the only darkness I can sense at all is the forest [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 13
January 23, 2015 By Leave a Comment
And what's an epic fantasy without a villain? Let's see what our Bad Guy is up to. ------ Chapter 13. "You are tense this morning, Lord." It raised an eyebrow and smiled. With the false Justiciars no longer free to roam Evanwyl, it no longer cared about the use of words that might reveal its secret guise; the Justiciars could no longer accidentally reveal anything. What was surprising and amusing was Bolthawk's observation, and the fact that it was true. "You see clearly, Bolthawk. How did you [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 12
January 21, 2015 By 2 Comments
Time to get our friends THROUGH this pass and to the other side! ------ Chapter 12. Poplock tasted the air. Definitely more humid. "I think we're nearly down. Look at the mountains." Tobimar's gaze flicked to both sides, then he paused. "He's right, Kyri. This canyon's coming to an end, and the warmth, the feel of the air… I think we're almost there." Almost in Moonshade Hollow. It hadn't been – quite – a nonstop series of battles from one side of the pass to the other, but there [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 11
January 19, 2015 By Leave a Comment
The extended flashback is over, and new developments await! ------- Chapter 11. Kyri shook herself, breaking out of a reverie of remembrance, seeing again the darkness of Rivendream Pass, the serpent's corpse, the burned bush. The memories of how they had come here seeming to have streamed by her in a moment, and she shivered anew at the oppressive wrongness that now weighed upon her. "We were warned," she repeated. "Warned that even Myrionar's powers would be weakened [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 10
January 16, 2015 By 2 Comments
Kyri and the others had somewhere to go... ------ Chapter 10. The crumbling path stretched up, up, between slopes dotted with trees that were touched with a stronger, somehow virulent green, and then vanished into shadow cast by the mountains about. "Rivendream Pass," the Wanderer said quietly. "This is as far as my magic can take us, as close to your mystery as I can go without travelling with you." "So, will you?" Poplock asked. "Because that would be really useful, even if you're only half [ Continue reading... ]
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