Sword Saint Book Two Incomplete Chapter 7 I am
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The rest of the journey home passed easily. Dina split time between her Sister and her new paramour. She captivated Allard, Emily admitted to me later that I had been correct with paring those two together and that it didn’t seem to hinder her lessons at all. After that horrendous downpour the skies threatened but rarely delivered. For two weeks we traveled at a decent pace, stopped regularly and sparred with our guards and each other. All of the guards taking every opportunity to work with us to better their skills; every morning and evening with an occasional brief bout at lunch.
With such an abundance of training, Chandra and I improved our teamwork considerably. Emily took some time and helped us even more than I could have alone. Having another person pointing out our mistakes and taking the time for us to work through them helped. I made time to do the same for those two. I used both two weapons, we still had a few extra sets on the carriage, and my single. I tried to change my style to match the single longsword of the Kalabar raiders. With the dual blades I had to magically heighten my speed to make up for my lack of skill.
Only once did Emily ask if she could come at me fully enhanced. Her words were ‘magicked up’ but I understood the request. I didn’t enhance mine fully, but I did heighten more than even Chandra could pace. Dina let it be known that her Sister and I were about to match drawing everybody in the camp to spectate.
I knew that she wanted to just have the freedom of letting go without fear of hurting her opponent. She knew, without either of us mentioning it that I could out pace her and that my skill exceeded hers. Our bout lasted twenty minutes before Emily collapsed from exhaustion brought on from excessive usage of one’s own power. Emily over did it, of course, but we had both of our Postulants standing by in case anything happened.
Since the bout happened in the early evening we were able to take care of her and then rest for the night. I was impressed with her power, it surpassed Chandra’s, by how much I don’t know. I still had no way of gauging relative power levels.
During our travels, Celia made her presence known. That afternoon following our night in the tent and my healing, she provoked an argument with Chandra. When I asked about it later, neither could recall a disagreement between the two of them. The little minx kept me in her cross-hairs, never missing a spar or a teaching match, frequently riding with whomever rode along with me chatting amicably with both my companion at the time and myself.
Chandra for her part, would either ride off alone or join us in our discussions. Celia would frustrate her to no end, after that first blow up between the two of them, not once did I see the petite blond, be anything but kind and friendly to anyone in the camp. Chandra even said that she mostly stopped crying out at night when I asked how she had been sleeping.
That there was tension between the two of them, couldn’t be missed. Emily being Emily would point out as soon as one or the other left me for a few minutes that between the two of them, I had not been out of their collective sight since ‘that night’. Startled, I glared at my erstwhile riding companion for seeing it and then pointing it out. I sure as hell didn’t want to know that. The stout Sister continued to be amused at my situation, taunting me with made up plans that the girls had planned for the rest of my and my children’s lives.
The first time that I acknowledged that her taunts disturbed me, the evil woman pressed on, naming my children and my children’s children. I proved my idiocy when I blatantly told her to be ‘shut up’. She responded by naming each ones of my children’s occupations and their lives, spinning a creative, yet annoying yarn. Emily finally discontinued her hour long tease when both Celia and Chandra returned together and rode alongside us, asking what we were talking about.
I pointedly said that Emily was telling me a Fairy Tale. Since none of the three knew what one was, I effectively derailed Emily’s evil story by reciting Red Riding Hood. The three were an attentive audience, and I must admit, both Chandra and Celia were pretty which didn’t hurt. On top of that, they took turns making insightful comments and questions about the moral of the story. I didn’t know, and admitted it. We then got into a discussion about what we thought the moral could be. Emily sat back and just watched the three of us with that knowing smirk directed at me that she had been cultivating of late. At one point she did mention that ‘I would have to do better with my children. Not knowing simple answers would get me in trouble.’ She couldn’t contain her mirth, with the horse she rode on, going in circles while she tried to catch her breath half leaning over the edge of the saddle giggling herself.
“I hope that you fall off and she runs away. Twice!” I grimaced in disgust at my friend’s antics.
My two shadows glared at me for being rude to any Priestess, let alone a companion, it wasn’t until I pointed to that pair of identical glares that they looked at each other and rode off in a huff. Together. Even though they had been working in concert of late, I think that this was the first time that I saw them act as one. I felt a shiver of something run down my spine. I stopped my horse and prayed.
What have you planned for me, Bright Lady?
She didn’t respond, but I didn’t expect her to. I rode Juniper over to Allard and let him know that I would be back in a couple of hours. I needed to think. And escape from my stalkers. He wasn’t supposed to let me out of his sight but knew that my word was good. Without waiting for him to respond, we left at a full run. I don’t think that any of his men’s horses could have kept up anyway, Juniper was a thoroughbred, where his men’s mounts were mostly farm horses raised to be ridden.
I rode thinking of what it meant that the girls didn’t let me out of their collective sights. They were either planning or contesting something. I was that ‘I’ was that ‘something’, unless Emily had been completely wrong in her observations. Even I could see that she had been correct that they were both stalking me. Stalking. Yes, that word described it well.
When I told Emily earlier that I didn’t have any plans for either of them I lied. That didn’t mean that they didn’t have some for me. Chandra wanted me to ask her father and Mother Browynn if I could court her. I didn’t know who Celia needed to ask, but if she was to be the next duchess as she stated earlier then maybe no one.
Hell, hopefully they’ll keep the contest to themselves and deal with it after the war. That would give me enough time to get used to the idea of marriage. Even then, it might be too soon. Like I said earlier, they will let me know when the time comes. For now, I have a Postulant to train and a war to fight. Unfortunately for me, I did not believe things would go as I wanted. Both were too intent on having their way and I was not willing to hurt either over when and where.
I found the procession holding a merchant caravan that was also on its way to the capitol. Allard had stopped for the afternoon to restock. The caravan didn’t want to stay all that long but he wouldn’t let them go until I returned.
“I told him that you would be safe, but he didn’t listen to me.” Chandra pouted at me later.
“It’s his responsibility to keep everyone here safe and to get us to your father. Now go apologize to Allard for undermining his authority.” She did, but wasn’t happy about it. Celia looked smug when I sent Chandra off. So, I had to even up the equation or I wouldn’t hear the end of it.
“As for you, have you talked to Chandra about what happened yet?” She shook her head and lowered it in shame. I waited for Chandra to return before I continued. “Celia, I want you to talk to Chandra about what happened to you. She’s your friend and will help you get past the nightmares. If you need me, I’ll be here for you too.” Celia’s head shot up and she stared at me in disbelief and then at Chandra in accusation.
“Celia.” I barked. Once I had her attention again, I continued. “I didn’t sleep much that night, so I know that you have trouble sleeping. I also know about the damage that you incurred and what it means. Chandra didn’t tell me anything.” I softened my voice, “She won’t tell anyone including me what you say. It’s a nice night out and no one’s around. Why don’t you two take a walk and do some talking. I’ll be here when you get back and if you need me earlier just say so.” I repeated.
That Celia didn’t want me to know whatever happened to her to cause those nightmares or the wounds associated with them was evident. I could see her shame whenever she thought that I might know. I, on the other hand, was glad that I had killed that monster called Steven so she could start healing. Since this occurred while the men cleaned up dinner, I found Emily and asked her to take care of the soldiers, I informed her that the girls would need some time alone tonight. Sensing my mood, she didn’t rib me for once, and let it be.
Emily was way more insightful into people than I was.
With my heightened vision, I watched them and the area around them to make sure that they were safe. It must have taken some coaxing but Celia did open up, since Chandra did all the talking over the first hour and the trouble young woman the next. I resisted the urge to listen in, but settled for watching. Chandra held her friend most of the time, during their discussion and both of them were crying whenever I focused on them, though Chandra looked truly pissed from her occasional glances over her shoulder at me.
“When you are up to it, meet me at the training grounds.” She nodded and I went outside to ask directions. I thought that the grounds might be near the barracks and was proven correct by one of Allard’s men. I had been resting to recover as much of my strength before I started exerting myself again and thought that enough time had passed for me to return to my normal training regimen. I began stretching and continued until I felt comfortable enough to start working hard. Micro-focusing on a...
Celia’s infection cleared up completely a week before we entered the capitol. The scars she wouldn’t let me see but Chandra assured me that they were slowly fading. I knew that I couldn’t wait much longer for a; very long, very hot bath. It had been four days since my last one at a small town’s inn. According to Allard’s writ, he was supposed to take us straight away to the king, but since we didn’t enter the city until after nightfall, he agreed that we could stay at my house until we were...
We woke, it wasn’t quite dawn yet with the sun under the horizon gently lighting the morning sky. I wiggled out from under Celia’s grip and slipped out of the bed following Chandra as she exited the small water closet. We dressed, quietly washed and left the room without disturbing the still sleeping strawberry blond. Breakfast was a subdued affair, she was too nervous to contribute anything meaningful. “You will be fine, just believe in yourself.” *Mumble. “You’ll be fine, trust me.” I...
The weather remained overcast with the breeze gusting from the east. Celia rode with Chandra most of the time while I tended to ride with Sister Emily. Emily taking her charge to task, quizzed Dina on what she had learned from Allard the previous day at every chance possible. Until the third day of travel, Celia braved the brief but potent showers at the first sign of truly dark clouds that rolled all too fast in our direction. She bolted into her carriage and I caught Chandra looking...
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I called to the ladies in the house to come out and assist the slaver with the sliced leg and bring some rawhide to tie up the one that was knocked out. The rest I was sure were dead or almost dead. Kira brought me my scabbard and some bread. I pointed to the unconscious slaver; "Thanks. Make sure that you tie his wrists and his ankles tightly, if he starts to wake let me know if you haven't finished tying him up yet." I walked over to the slaver with the massive gash across his left leg....
"What about my sword? It cuts through everything and it glows." "If you say so, My Lord, but your sword doesn't glow. It is you that glows," Chandra responded. She thought for a second and then continued, "Does your sword cut through everything or do you enhance your strength to cut through your target?" I thought about that. She was probably right on that one she knew more about magic than I did. I enhanced my strength whenever I fought. Come to think of it, I enhanced my stamina...
Lady Janice, Chandra’s great grandmother, sat in her embroiderer chair sipping tea and waved me to sit after I thanked her for agreeing to seeing me on short notice. Her room was full of books stacked on either side of her chair, the den, well lit with numerous lamps and a large bay window to her left. The room had the same musty smell of my den plus a stronger odor than comfortable, consisting primarily of talc. “I told you, that you should have married that girl, now look at the...
I went out of my way to act like nothing happened the night before with Chandra. She mostly relaxed during breakfast and seemed to let go my teasing her from the previous night until I told her that I needed to check her wounds. She blanched at that. I led her into the carriage and pulled the curtains closed. I peeled the bandage off her face first. It looked like a week old scratch that so far had healed cleanly. I readied one of the bandages that she had brought and replaced the dressing...
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It wasn’t, but it certainly felt like fifteen minutes later when someone shook me awake. I was dry for the first time in days and ravenous. Chandra knelt beside my bed with a bowl of steaming stew, a mug of ale and a large chunk of bread. “Thank you.” She helped me sit up and snatched a pillow from a nearby bunk to prop behind my back. “My Lord, you have to be careful that you do not do too much. If your strength would have given away while on that cliff face, you would have died,” this she...
Home. Here I thought that I was going to have a nice relaxing afternoon. I was greeted by a small flying body that tried to bowl me over. “Charles!” She exclaimed, while wrapping her legs around my waist. “I missed you.” How she achieved a 40” vertical leap was beyond me. “What brought this on, I have been gone for only a few hours?” I said cupping my hands under her bottom supporting Celia. “I just missed you. What’s an hour?” Celia mumbled into my chest. “That’s ok, I guess. Hours are...
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I was glad of the short ride back. The same soldier that brought me the horse met me when I returned. He asked solicitously about my ride, not even mentioning the different livery of the horse. "I'll leave it up to you to return this horse and get yours back. Oh, and soldier, thank him for me would you. I was not in the best of tempers when I left." "Yes, Milord," the soldier responded and mounted the horse that I just left. I walked around the house to the exercise yard and knelt,...
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Leaving Kassandra’s Temple interior with a spring in my step, I ran into Emily. “Would you like to go to dinner with me?” “Sure, just let me wash up first.” “Ok, I’ll wait here for you.” I waited while she hurried in to the temple. A few minutes later she came out and I was still floating on cloud nine. “You seem unusually chipper.” She commented as we were leaving the grounds. “I was blessed by Mother Browynn and Our Lady responded.” I gave her a large grin. “Oh, that makes sense.” She...
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We rode at a much faster pace for the remainder of the day. The breaks were shorter, and the time spent walking was cut in half. No complaints came from the girl or from the horses. I still made her keep up her exercises, both mental and physical, for the journey. It was getting to be late afternoon when I noticed that the farms started getting closer together. The terrain was rolling and lush. We did pass one older man on the road, but he scurried off the road and hid before we approached,...
Because of our increased activity, I made sure that we ate very well. This did have a side effect of consuming our food all that much quicker. To alleviate this, whenever we came near a farmer's cart I tried to buy anything that was edible and portable. The farmers, who historically were always short on coin, were ecstatic to sell to me. Since we usually only bought a couple of apples or pears off a cart full of them, we pretty much paid for a bushel and just received the top couple of...
As soon as we were clear of town I picked up our pace. Unfortunately Orlanth was not the best rider, even with instruction. On top of that, Juniper was fast; I had to make sure that we didn't end up miles ahead of the kids without even trying. Orlanth's book was wrapped up and packed on an extra horse that the stable master provided me. The new horse seemed to be more of a plow horse than a riding horse. She did occasionally want to move slower than a brisk walk; otherwise she did not have...
There was a rude pounding on my door, the sun had not even crested the horizon yet. "Who is it and what do you want?" I called from my bed while I wiped the sleep from my eyes. "Damn your eyes man! What did you do to my garden?" Shouted an inconsolable Lord Grant. I dressed and loosened my sword before opening the door. The effete Lord Grant was fuming. His face was flushed with rage, I thought that he was about to attack me with the defoliated twig in his hand. I saw Chandra peek out...
I stopped partway to Duke Dwayne's estates for a chance to regroup. I looped the reins over a tree branch and knelt. I cried for a few minutes before I settled down. The anger had kept me sane enough to do what I had to do. Now that it was gone, my actions left an open wound. I didn't like it. I didn't have to like it. I knew that I had little choice in the matter. Still on my knees, exhausted from my crying, I prayed. Bright Lady, please forgive me. I felt her sad smile while her...
The horse kicking the wall of the barn that I was leaning against was one of the worst ways of waking up in the morning that I had ever experienced. There was a blanket across my legs and my sword was laid on my lap. Meri was nowhere in sight but there were plenty of other women and children already moving to do their morning chores. I slowly got up and stretched when I noticed that Meri was bringing me a bucket of water and a towel, while Kira was bringing me a platter of food. So much for...
She was alone in his bed when she woke up. She wondered where she was, everything seemed so strange…not a bad strange though. Usually when she woke up it was Mrs Johnson on 147 screaming off her head at her four boys for being late to school again. It was usually to the sound of Clay Brown, the stripper next door practicing his Elvis crotch grabs to Christina Aguilera’s ‘Dirty’. This definitely wasn’t Building 8 on Bertrand Road. It was all so quiet. She’d been here before but she’d never lain...
At least until we went to get our mounts the next morning, that is. We were up and ready before dawn, I sent Meri over to the stable to make sure that the horses would be ready for us to leave when we were done eating. Orlanth and I finished our meal and Meri still hadn't come back, I figured that something was amiss so I had him get his gear and meet me across the street. Instantly, I knew something was wrong when I approached the stable and no one was near it. I could see people...
I reluctantly let go of her hand as she glanced at the door to see who interrupted us. I figured that it was the kids and turned to meet them, Gail was there with the two of them in tow. "Meri, would you take my bags to my room, it is the one on the second level in the northeast corner. Then attend Miss Lori and go where she sends you. You too, Orlanth. After you get settled, I want you to do your exercises, and then you both have the rest of the evening to yourselves. Get some rest and I...
I heard a screech of "What?" coming from the Mother's office, followed by a low growl. I was almost out of the temple before Postulant Chandra caught up to me. Meri and the young petitioner were waiting to enter as I exited. I stopped before Meri, she looked lost and confused. "Meri, I want you to stay here for some training." Her eyes got big and she just looked at me. "You are to stay here and listen to the sisters. There is a set of weapons on my horse; they are for you. Don't...
After the drama of the afternoon, I was wondering what the Wizards would bring. The three of us rode out into the light rain; I could still see the sun through the clouds, so I didn't worry about a pending downpour. Chandra led the way to the guild; it was located on the second level on the western-most part of the ring. I could feel a red malaise encircling the compound, it made me hesitate for a second but I continued on. The guild grounds looked to have numerous adjoining buildings, I...
I now knew enough to get into serious trouble on the dance floor. The carriage pulled up, and I was shooed out the back and told to 'Go practice or something' by Miss Lori. So I followed her instructions and practiced. I was encouraged not to come back in, and they even went so far as to bring me food and drink and a book. Anything, really, to keep me occupied, the household went all-out to get her ready for tonight. Chandra came back looking dirty and tired, so I shooed her off to wash up...
I escorted Megan in, and we found Elizabeth in the sitting room reading a ledger of some sort. I remained standing after leading Megan to a couch. "I need to visit Lady Polyantha. Would it be too much for me to ask of you to entertain Lady Megan for a while until I return?" I asked Lady Elizabeth. She placed her finger on the ledger before she looked up. "It would be our pleasure, Charles. Are you sure that you want to be alone with Lady Polyantha? She does have an unsavory...
Cousin to the queen, damn. "Lord Allard, sheathe your weapons and see to your men. After we take care of them, you and I will need to talk. Just don't do anything dumb, I'd hate to have to kill you." I sheathed my sword after cleaning it off. He looked incredulous but followed my directions. Unfortunately for him, I only left one of his guards unscathed and four with a survivable wound. Two would be permanently crippled because of it, but they'd live. Bright Lady, watch over the souls...
Chandra and I were busy for the next couple of days. The only time we were able to relax was when the tailors came to measure us for the new outfits I wanted us to have. Lady Megan had plenty, according to Chandra, so we didn't have that extra delay. I did not let our schedule interfere with her training; I made plans with the Sisters for us to work on our teamwork. We made it an afternoon at the Temple. Chandra and I needed to learn how to work together as an effective team when push came...
I had a horse saddled for Megan the next morning. "Come, My Lady, I have a horse for you to ride. It seems that the rain has stopped." I bowed grandiosely, and offered her an orchid before she made ready for the day. "You seem to be in better spirits today, My Lord." "Why shouldn't I be? The rain has stopped, and there is a pair of beautiful maidens to ride at my side." I bowed with a flourish to each of them. Chandra looked at me funny when I bowed to her too. "Thank you, My...
Morning breakfast was peaceful. A little too peaceful, I thought. The ladies were going out of their way to be nice to each other and to me. Either they kissed and made up or they were a ticking time bomb. Knowing those two I guessed the latter and I definitely didn't want to be around when it went off. Fat chance of that. The sergeant at the gate was expecting us and presented me with a status report. There weren't any returnees from the messengers that were sent out the day before. Both...
She broke my stare and looked down in shame. "Everything." "Everything," I repeated. She just nodded. I patted the ground next to me and told her to sit. She sat. I laid back down with my hands behind my head and rested my eyes. My shoulder shouted in protest at the mistreatment. "What exactly did you tell him?" I was not all that surprised by her admission. It had to have taken a lot of fast talking on Chandra's part to get him to agree. "That you were a Wizard Lord, that you...
I wasn't sure which was the real Megan, and I would try to figure that out later. It was even possible that it was all just different facets of her personality. I just didn't know. It set me on edge. The first things that I noticed in the mining town on the Fairview side of the mountain were the iron collars. The men in iron collars were quiet, as we rode through town I didn't hear one make a sound. The second was that this town felt off. I couldn't quite place what bothered me, but...
Since I used so much strength earlier, fighting the wizard and then healing myself, I had to put off healing myself again. With Chandra's efforts getting the last of the poison and completely draining the last of my reserves. I didn't even notice that there was some left until I thought about it. I wanted to see if I could heal specific spots, and not use too much power instead of the brute force method that it felt like I had been using. But now that was going to have to wait until after I...
I awoke to the cook moving around in the kitchen well before dawn. I had finally fallen asleep sometime in the middle of the night while sprawled in the overstuffed chair that dominated the main room. She started kneading the dough with the occasional thump against the counter and I think that the thumping is what woke me. I checked my stitches and they seemed to be healing nicely. Cook, that's what she insisted on having me call her, was very generous with her food and gave me a plate of...
I could still hear the rain splattering against the roof above me when I woke. Hector and Armand both snored, and while it didn't bother me much when we slept outside, inside was another matter. I didn't get as much sleep as I hoped, I kept thinking that I left my enhanced hearing on, but that wasn't the case. These two were just noisy. I didn't know why I was up earlier than usual, but quietly washed and dressed. I disliked towel washing in the morning, I never felt clean enough...
I entered the bedroom from the bath wearing only my towel, I found Tara waiting for me wearing a diaphanous blouse that matched her pants. She was about a foot and a half shorter than I was and this girl with her self-assuredness had me on edge. She found another towel and offered to dry my hair. I sent her to see if my luggage had been brought up yet. As much as I wanted her, I didn't feel right doing so now. I didn't oppose casual sex. There were just too many unknowns to this situation....
My irritation with the prince and his inflexibility coupled with his daughter's dumping me left me in a mood. His actions confused me enough that I had no clue what he was really mad at. Fuck both of them. I hoped that food would cheer me up. I needed to be in a decent mood for our mock duel later. It wouldn't be fair to everyone if I wasn't. That still didn't prevent me from wanting to hit something and hit it hard. Tara was waiting for me in my room. It wouldn't be right to take out...
In the corridors of the palace, I passed the prince and he just gave me a quizzical look. I ignored him and I made my way back to my room. I waited to heal myself after I made it to my room because I was not sure that I would survive the aftershock. I carefully removed my clothes and walked into the bath. "Master, what happened to you?" "Tara, would you order some bread, cheese, fruit and ale for the two of us. Also, would you see if you can find me something for sunburn?" "Yes,...
‘ I need to get screwed.’ Tanyi Rokir twirled her pencil in her mouth, clutching the phone to her ear. Her friend Liz giggled at that on the other side of the phone. ‘ I’m serious Liz! It’s been so long I’ve started to have erotic dreams of Mr. D.’ ‘Well. He has been a faithful companion to you, Tanyi. He has earned the right to star in a dream or two.’ ‘True!’ Tanyi acknowledged ‘He has kept me rather warm during those empty nights. And don’t shoot the D as an erotic dream. He’s much better...
A few of the references in this sequel will make more sense if you have read “A Visit From Saint Michael,” but it does stand totally on its own and can be enjoyed even if you have never read the first story. This story centers around non-consensual pain, humiliation and slavery. If such a premise disturbs you, then I would advise you to skip this story. Or you can skim past those sections and read a very interesting tale involving one of the “old gods” of Mexico and much of South...
The acceptance letter wasn’t the only surprise to arrive in my mail box that spring. I was even more surprised when I received an invitation to apply to a Harvard Finals Club, all before I graduated from high school. I was also confused. Finals clubs are for the elite, the aristoclass. Not me. You also join them after you get to campus, not before you graduate high school. When I googled the club there was no information online. The group didn’t seem to exist. I wondered if it was some kind...
A gloomy scene had indeed just passed at the house of M. de Villefort. After the ladies had departed for the ball, whither all the entreaties of Madame de Villefort had failed in persuading him to accompany them, the procureur had shut himself up in his study, according to his custom, with a heap of papers calculated to alarm any one else, but which generally scarcely satisfied his inordinate desires. But this time the papers were a mere matter of form. Villefort had secluded himself, not to...
Patron Saint of a hundred hangovers knows the score of the Game. He doesn’t bother with trifles like friends & family, jobs & jabber, he has all the answers in one cupped hand. Sitting atop a glass mountain with a nose of broken blood vessels, he laughs at all the little people below, scurrying everywhere with so little to show for it. When their disillusioned young approach for tutelage he simply slurs. ‘Comeback to me when you can claim Jack Daniels as Kin, grasshoppers. The road to...
With a screech of rubber the Crown Vic fishtailed around the corner, narrowly missing a homeless man, asleep in a box before crashing into a dumpster, sending a startled cat flying over a wall. "You crazy-assed bastard," hissed the homeless man, stumbling, bleary-eyed from his box. "What der fucks with you? Are you high you mutha-" "Get the fuck back," snarled Bumfelt, almost falling from the car door, he dropped his badge and then his gun. "I'm in hot pursuit you box dwelling cunt. Get the-"...
The car slowed down as it passed. The driver, a bald guy with gray stubble on his face, leaned across the passenger seat and called through the window. “Need a ride, hon?” Kristen ignored him, facing down the street as if looking for her bus. Baldie drove on. It was the third offer she’d had since she’d been sitting here. The guys were creepy, but in a weird way she liked the attention. It meant she looked good, and she wanted to look good — for Patty. Of course, at her age, and with her...
I returned to the temple once the carriage was under way, I wanted to find the Mother before she got really angry. As I passed the common soldiers that would normally be training here, they all saluted me with their hands to their hearts and half bowed. I slowed, nodded back and tried to remember faces. I noticed one of the older men from yesterday's advanced class. I walked up to him and pulled out a handful of silvers in a small pouch." Would you see that his widow gets this, and make...
"Why did you decide to help me?" Since I awoke from my poisoning fully rested I didn't need any sleep. Yolanda, my little ball of energy, finally crashed a couple of hours before dawn and I let her sleep until the sun broke the horizon. "Because, you wonderful man, you returned my best friend. When I was married to that..." Her face clouded over. I just held her close. She was so tiny, I was afraid that I was going to break her. Even though she was stronger than she looked. "Megan was...
This story is told from the point of view of two people, Michel and Sally. Each section is prefixed by name. It is written for my enjoyment and hopefully yours as well. —– Michael: They call me Saint Michael behind my back, some with reverence, some with disdain and others with suspicion. All have a theory about my past but no-one knows the full story of the betrayal of my oath. —– Sally: It all began when my husband and I decided to build a family. I stopped taking the pill and we...