It's been a while since we looked in on our villain... ----- Chapter 9. "All went well, then?" The light-destroying figure in the mirror-scroll smiled. "Exactly as we expected, yes," Kerlamion said in the eerie deep, howling tones of tortured air. "Condor is on his way back to you even now." It nodded, smiling; despite the human form, anyone watching would have known there was something desperately wrong from that smile alone. "Excellent, my King. I will keep an eye out for him; it would not [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix In Shadow: Chapter 8
January 12, 2015 By 2 Comments
They were at the Spiritsmith's... ------ Chapter 8. "What, young Prince? You thought my skills suited only to metalwork?" The Spiritsmith was dipping a pearlescent cloth into some other liquid that shimmered like moonlight. Kyri saw Tobimar give a wry smile. "I suppose I did assume that, yes. Clearly I was mistaken." "When making armor, can one neglect the padding, the straps, the parts that make it truly wearable and secure? And if these be weak, will they not define the weakness of the [ Continue reading... ]
POLYCHROME: Chapter 30
January 9, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Our Hero was in grave danger... ------ Chapter 30. Polychrome stood with a jerky haste uncharacteristic of her, and Iris looked at his daughter with a raised eyebrow. "Well!" she said, a bright and brittle smile on her face. "I… don't think we should be prying into any private life of our hero!" She gestured to close the viewing pool as she walked quickly away. "I… I really should be practicing. Nimbus says I need more training!" The doors of the Rainbow Throneroom closed behind [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 7
January 7, 2015 By 4 Comments
Let's check in on another character, shall we? ------- Chapter 7. Aran stumbled, fell to his knees, remained in that position, unmoving, for long moments, waiting for his head to clear. I've been … driving myself hard. Far too hard. A part of him tried to force him to lunge back to his feet, but now he knew that much of that was anger at himself, rage and guilt. "Sit still," he told himself, and sat down. He was near his destination, though he saw nothing to indicate that a path to the Hells lay [ Continue reading... ]
POLYCHROME: Chapter 29
January 2, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Our Hero was searching for a key... ------ Chapter 29. "Ha! You'll need to be faster than that, Erik!" Yeah, no kidding. Zenga was dodging most of the blows I sent at her, and I couldn't do nearly so well dodging hers. My armor did make up some of the difference, though. This was worthwhile practice, I had to admit. My workouts in the Rainbow Kingdom had been against Sky Fairies, and mostly near-pure blood, which meant that my True Mortal advantage was tremendously [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 5
December 31, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Well, Our Heroes had decided it was time to get moving... ------ Chapter 5. "A far finer parting, this, than the last time you left us, Kyri," said Jeridan Relion, the Watchland of Evanwyl. The ruler of the little country bowed extravagantly low to Kyri, and took her hand in his. Poplock felt the tiniest twitch from Tobimar at that, and wondered how long it would be before his friend talked to Kyri about what he felt. I mean, he can't be unaware of it… can he? "That it is, Jeridan," [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 4
December 29, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Kyri and her party had just had an unexpected guest arrive... Chapter 4. Tobimar hadn't recognized the tall Artan, but he knew the name that Kyri gasped as the warrior nearly fell face-first to the polished stone floor. He taught her entire family, including her parents, her brother, and her sister. Kyri reached the Artan warrior, whose deep-violet hair pooled slightly on the floor before him as he sat on all fours, arms and knees supporting him so he looked like a man broken. "Lythos… Sho-Ka-Taida, are [ Continue reading... ]
Polychrome: Chapter 28
December 26, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Well, it looked as though Erik was going to get a companion... ------ Chapter 28. "So, Lord Erik, we head for the Nome King's domain once we have landed?" I turned and smiled at Zenga. She was easy to smile at, having the dark-coffee skin of most of Pingaree's people combined with the sharper-cut features of her mother to produce a girl of striking beauty. "Yes and no, Princess." "You are far too young to speak in riddles," she retorted, leaning on the rail next to me. "That is the [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 3
December 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Kyri was remembering the recent past... ----- Chapter 3. The twin swords flickered at her like darting reflections from a pool of water, and Kyri realized just how very, very good Tobimar Silverun was with those weapons. In moments she deflected two strikes with her own sword, and still felt three, no, four impacts of those blades on her Raiment. And I've already increased my speed some. The raven-black hair was pulled back in a long ponytail that swirled behind Tobimar as he pirouetted away [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 2
December 22, 2014 By Leave a Comment
And now that the preliminaries are out of the way, let's get to our main characters! ------ Chapter 2. "Down!" Kyri shouted. Tobimar reacted just in time; the huge serpent's venom sprayed above his head, striking the grass and bushes behind them, almost instantly turning them gray and brittle. "Terian and Chromaias!" If that struck him, he could be killed! Not that getting hit by the thing's immense teeth or caught by coils the thickness of a strong man's thigh would be any better, but [ Continue reading... ]
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