Ashes and Echoes

The dagger was all too real. Talya’s fingers hovered a breath above the obsidian blade resting on the velvet-lined pedestal; its edge shimmered beneath the flickering lamplight like oil on water. Magic hummed through the room like the buzz of insects—low, invisible, suffocating. She never nicked nothing like this before. Now, she wasn’t sure she … Continue reading Ashes and Echoes

Dari

Dariyus Lamanya sat in the rear wagon, watching the road behind. Dari had signed on as a guard with Master Charvis when Brother Balasar deemed him ready to face the world outside the village. Yarjerit Balasar, Vater’s clan brother, raised Dari in the male-dominated clan after Vater died in battle. Brother Balasar recognized Dari’s divine … Continue reading Dari

Storms

Gods, I hate the cold. Ashlee lay with the blanket tucked up tight around her neck, the top of her head the only part visible, not wanting to get out of the warm bed. She heard Tori moving around in the kitchen and hoped she’d laid a fire to warm the house. Ashlee threw the … Continue reading Storms