fantasy

Random looked startled as the two of us came through into the library. He rose to his feet, which still left him shorter than either of us, and he shifted his attention to Bill. / „Merlin, who’s this?“ he asked. / „Your attorney, Bill Roth,“ I said. „You’ve always dealt with him through agents in the past. I thought you might like to-“ / Bill began dropping to one knee, „Your Majesty,“ on his lips, but Random caught him by the shoulders. / „Cut the crap,“ he…

„It’s about time,“ I said, to whatever lurked in the shad / ows. The sound that followed was not human. It was a low / snarl. I wondered what manner of beast I confronted. I was certain an attack was imminent, but it did not come. Instead the growl died down, and whatever it was spoke again. / „Feel your fear,“ came the whisper. / „Feel your own,“ I said, „while you still can.“ / The sounds of its breathing came heavy. The flames danced at my back. Smoke had dr…

After a pleasant time with a pretty lady, a series of stimulating hallway conversations, and a relaxing dinner with family and friends, it seemed almost fitting that it be time for something different and distracting. The idea of a small war seemed, at least, better than a big one, though I did not say that to Vialle. A moment’s careful thought, and I shaped the query: / „What’s going on?“ / „Dalt’s men are dug in near the western edge of Arden,“ she s…

Her name was Julia, and I’d been damn certain she was dead back on April 30 when it all began. My finding her grisly remains and destroying the doglike creature which I’d thought had killed her were pretty much the way it started. And we had been lovers, which I suppose was how things had really commenced. Long before. / Perhaps I could have trusted her more. Perhaps I should never have taken hex on that shadow-walls which led to denials that took h…