Let's check in and see what our other heroes were up to...     -----   SourceURL:file:///Macintosh%20HD/Original%20Writing/Kyrie/Phoenix%20RTF.rtf   Chapter 27.        The door to the meeting room crashed open, rebounding from the wall and being caught again by the massive scaled arm that had flung it wide.        Poplock was the first to speak, as Tobimar found himself momentarily speechless at King Toron's fearsome snarl of anger. "Oh. Bad news again."        The casual tone breached the [ Continue reading... ]

  Well, Phoenix had succeeded... but not everyone had survived...     -----     Chapter 26.        "Good travels to you, ayr-kin," Tinna said quietly, as she lit the apex point of the Five-Fire under Kimsha's body, the point to the East and the rising sun. "May the One and the Four receive you well, and forgive you the missteps along the path and the misfortunes that led you to this end. Chromaias, receive Kimsha of Waycross in your House of the Five Ways; as he wished, so we have done."        Kimsha's [ Continue reading... ]

This will be the last week of snippets, since the eARC is out. Next week I'll be back to doing more regular posts.     Our heroine had travelled quite a ways...     ----     Chapter 25.        Kyri looked up at the looming mountains ahead of her. It wasn't the first mountain range she'd seen since leaving Zarathanton, but it was by far the most forbidding she'd ever faced.        Of course, she admitted to herself, that might just be because I know what it is.        Now, for the first time [ Continue reading... ]

  And now they had to deal with what had happened...           Chapter 24.        Tobimar staggered as he placed yet another gasping body – a child, no more than ten in human terms, with delicately pointed ears and long silvery hair smeared with blood – on the altar. I can't fall now. We aren't even near done. He called on his meditations, the training Khoros had given him, released the reserves of his soul. Strength flowed back into his body, clarity to his thoughts. There'll be a price for that, later… [ Continue reading... ]

  Well, Tobimar and Poplock had found a problem with their interview...   -----       Chapter 23.        "My thanks, and those of the city, again, Tobimar," Toron said, sinking into one of the massive split-backed Sauran chairs with the air of one who knows he will soon be forced to rise, and relished the moment of stillness.        Poplock hung on a bit tighter as Tobimar gave an embarrassed wave and shrug. "We've just done what anyone would have," the young Human protested.        "If only it [ Continue reading... ]

  So Kyri was about to set out with a new, mysterious travelling companion...     -----       Chapter 22.      "Shadestriding," the wizard said, standing on the Great Road, "is a delicate business indeed. For this reason, it is vastly preferred that the one who strides the shades of reality be followed and assisted by those who can watch for the inevitable hazards and both warn of them, and – at least for a time – deal with them."        The head tilted, showing that he was looking at her to verify [ Continue reading... ]